Resurrection follows a man that is overtaken by a demonic antagonist. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling story?

I have always been a fan of the supernatural and tragedies, through books and film, and the way they reflect societal issues. A major influence of particular significance has been the Tragedy of Doctor Faustus, where the protagonist enters into a pact- or a deal that is too good to be true. I feel as readers we have to question the motives for someone to sell their soul. Is it for the pursuit of greater power, like Dr Faustus? Or is it an act of desperation or vengeance? Does the character have nothing to lose? In answering these questions in the supernatural I feel that we are on a path to self-discovery. The journey of self discovery for the character of Adam follows a downward spiral that ultimately causes him to feel the need for reciprocity, but with tragic consequences.

The Dark Passenger is an intriguing character with a unique voice. What were some driving ideals behind the character’s development?

The dark passenger idea originally comes from the Jeff Lindsay Dexter novels, though in Resurrection it reflects the swirling influence of the voice that overtakes the subconscious. What starts as an inner monologue quickly develops into something far more sinister. The dark passenger also symbolises our own personal inner demons and the voice we create from a history of depression and anxiety, clouding our sense of self. The growing power of the dark passenger in Resurrection ultimately takes over like the Hulk with Bruce Banner, leaving the real self in the backseat, taken hostage as they bear witness to all manner of indescribable evil.

In developing the transition into the dark passenger, I was also exploring the idea behind cells and cell mutations, and if cells can regenerate or change their genetic information. Imagine if they completely change to create a completely different entity within a person. Would it be a complete transformation? Or would they hold onto past memories?

Again, I’m hoping by posing these questions that readers can do some navel gazing and ponder the significance of their own sense of identity.

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

Themes that were crucial to the novel relate to the importance of how power corrupts and how evil often manifests by preying on weaker minds. The novel also involves the process of Self-discovery, which can also be both frightening or rewarding depending on perspective and the events that affect the individual, For instance , the characters of Adam and Sarah are vastly different and have shaped a very unique path for each to follow. Do these destinies converge at the end like a Robert Frost poem? you decide. It also thematically follows both the path of self-destruction one can find themselves on, while also allowing the classic clash between good and evil.

Another crucial theme is about how we can idolise or make terrible choices under desperation. In Resurrection, no characters are perfect. The original protagonist is deeply flawed and the dark passenger at times can be strangely charming or empathetic at times despite enacting acts of atrocity. It is often in their desperation that all characters show who they truly are.

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

Despite the insistence by my wife Chivonne that I should write a traditional crime novel (a side project), I’m currently working on a YA fantasy novel in the style of Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Name of the Wind, etc.

The working title is called The Way of the Guardians and it focuses on the fantasy world of Celesk where a group of people called The Guardians have to fight for survival and to prevent the world order from descending into one of chaos and evil. I’m determined not to write lengthy passages about Characters that hike for miles on end; rather it starts off with an epic battle, a siege and very much a tense chase style thriller as the heroes avoid the great might of the villainous Valezk and his vast army.

There’s also some dedication and subversion to the original Hero’s Journey as the heroes debate their own existence, along with the villains. Like the force in Star Wars, there is also a completely new religion or ideology in The Way of the Guardians.

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