The Blue Mask follows a lead singer and lead guitarist who grapples with addiction, loss, and the unpredictable highs and lows of stardom. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I wanted to explore another world that I have not lived in. That’s one of the things about fiction that I love – the ability to get lost in a world you would perhaps never experience. I wanted to deal with the 90s and the lack of social media, smartphones, and instant information. That time period was easier in many ways than now, when everyone can find out almost anything and so much is permanently on file, so to speak. The AIDS epidemic was also raging – at a time when having AIDS was 100% fatal. As well, I wanted to explore the rock stardom angle – where the public perception is not always the same as the private perception of people. And of course, the cost of being a rock star – the compromises that must be made, the price of fame, and the dark side of being in the spotlight.

What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?

I enjoyed writing them all – Alix and Joel especially, as they have such an incredibly close relationship. Both were a challenge. I found Alix was more problematic as she has demons that she fights privately and does not often share. Both of them have had past traumas that have affected their current behaviour. The British characters were an absolute delight and a lot of fun. The rest of the band and Ash, Robin, and Brad were also demanding. As this book contains a lot of characters, one of the issues was maintaining their identities within the sub-stories and by-plays. There are a lot of voices in The Blue Mask.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The AIDS epidemic was important, especially the attitude towards AIDS patients at that time. There were a lot of misconceptions and many suffered from more than just the disease – the shunning, the lack of acceptance and compassion, and the ignorance surrounding the disease and those who had it. I also wanted to explore the cost of achieving your dreams. No one warned the band how high that would be, which is often the case with musicians, actors, artists, etc when they first start out. There is always the initial push, the pursuit of exposure and popularity, and the need for acceptance. Once achieved at high levels, privacy becomes a rare thing. My main theme, however, was the enduring friendship between these characters and the fact that they treated each other as family. There was never a question that they would not support each other, being there through thick and thin.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be published?

The Blue Mask is actually the third book in a trilogy. Both book 1 (The Alley View) and book 2 (The Blue Angel) have been written but I need to do more research as the trilogy begins in 1985. My intention was to start on book 1 after The Blue Mask was published. Characters, however, are wild cards and have minds of their own. The characters in The Blue Mask decided that they weren’t finished yet, so I began a new write this year with book 4 (The Beat Goes On) to complete the series. It picks up where The Blue Mask ends. I have completed the first draft and am working on rewrites. If all goes well, it should be out later in 2025. Then I will return to book 1 – The Alley View, which brings the characters together and covers the formation of the band and its first year.

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Drugs, sex and rock and roll—that was the name of the game for hard rock musicians like the Blue Mask. Founded by singer Alix Lane and lead guitarist Joel Stark in 1985, they lived the anthem. A year later both the band and their drummer were dead. 1988 saw a new Blue Mask, cleaned up, regrouped and touring. It is now 1990. AIDS is still an epidemic for both hetero- and homosexuals. Social media is not a thing. Or smartphones. Or the age of unlimited information. But it is the year of the Blue Mask. Dreams do come true, and their star ascends with international fame and success. Nothing can go wrong for Alix and Joel’s band and their close circle of friends. Until it does. But this group has only each other to rely on and they will survive tragedy. This is their story.