Backfire is a relentless espionage thriller where a hardened operative and a cunning businesswoman navigate a web of betrayal, government corruption, and deadly alliances. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

My motivation for the Jaywalker series is to address a subject of supreme importance for humanity, which is already beginning to arise. There are also elements of overcoming trauma and general hardship in life, which I have personally had life-changing experiences with. But these messages are subtle and blended into my favourite genre. Backfire is the starting point, and there are hints as to where the series is headed, but the beginning needed to be a thrilling story in itself while building the scene for what’s to come. I feel like I’ve achieved that.

Jayden is a compelling protagonist. What were some sources that informed his character’s development?

From a core perspective, Jayden is a sensationalised version of myself, much like many protagonists out there. His temperament and motivations are much like my own, and there are similarities in background circumstances as well. Writing Jayden into Backfire was an extremely natural process–instinctive. Creating the other characters was more challenging, but equally, if not, more enjoyable.

If Backfire were adapted into a film, who would be your dream cast for Jayden and Patricia?

I’m not familiar enough with the current suite of actors in the matching age range to give a worthwhile answer to this one. I have watched very few movies in the last decade as I prefer to read. But to give you an idea, I’d say a 40-ish-year-old Matt Damon would have nailed Jayden, and a 30-ish-year old Eva Green or Anne Hathaway for Patricia.

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