Ischaemic follows a man blindsided by a DNA test revealing a twin brother he knew nothing about, who finds himself pulled into a dark web of identity, desire, and survival where the line between victim and monster blurs. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

My first book was a children’s book “The Visitors” with talking animals and aliens. It was fun to write, but I was also working on something much darker and more adult. 

‘The Walking Wounded” is on a much grander scale and only recently released after 10 years. Ischaemic is middle ground and allowed me to try new ideas and concepts. Looking from different angles. 

The novel explores queer identity in dark and complex ways. How did you balance representation with the story’s brutality?

As a queer writer I can use personal experiences and the stories of friends to balance things out, always remembering to draw the lines in the appropriate places. 

Ischaemic explores identity, shame, and control. Which theme feels most central to you?

For Joshua, it is definitley about manipulation and control.

Do you plan to revisit this darker psychological territory in future work?

I have another book called “The Walking Wounded” that switches things up a notch. A second book with these characters is on the cards.

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