So, this blog is actually part 3 in a series. Back in 2018, it began here and then in 2019, it continued here. And now, all these years later I’m about to publish a book that could’ve very nearly never made it past the first forgotten draft. The Signs Are Coming is being published THIS MONDAY! Oh boy, it’s been a helluva journey. So much has happened, so much has changed and I’ve learnt so much writing this book. And in fact, I reckon I could write a book about how I wrote this book! But instead, I’m going to write a blog about it instead, and that’s what today is all about.

Back in 2013, I was on a train journey heading into London St Pancras, into a city which I’ve always adored and been in awe of. An idea was brewing in my mind and that idea was the beginning of The Signs Are Coming. I remember writing the prologue (which actually has been replaced) on the tube over to Paddington and being so excited at the prospect that I was going to write an immensely scary, terrifying, dark-humoured thriller. Yet…it wasn’t to be.

I remember writing the first few chapters and being so damn proud of them. It was some of the best writing I’ve ever done and the characters were absolutely crazy amazing. I got to a point in the book where I had the mystery all built up, the humour solid, the characters all set, and a huge dollop of crazy injected into it, and then…I had to stop. Because I didn’t know where it was going. I didn’t know the ending and I couldn’t plan the ending because I knew I couldn’t half-a**e it. And at the time, my brain wasn’t ready to take it on, so I had to say farewell for now and saved my draft and let it be.

But I knew in my heart of hearts that this was a book I couldn’t give up on, and I always wanted to go back to it. I even re-read it so many times, hoping desperately that I’d be able to figure out the rest of the plot but I just couldn’t do it. And I regretted it so much because I knew this book was going to be the best thing I’d ever written…but I just didn’t know how to write it.

Then, 2018 came and I was working up in London. A new spark of inspiration hit me as I was doing much more creative work and was actually inspired to restart it. I actually re-wrote the first chapter in a notebook, telling myself I was actually going to do it this time, but even that didn’t make it easier. There was only one thing that would, and it wasn’t anything to do with writing and I owe absolutely everything to this place. GOOGLE.

I researched something that is so critical to my plot and within and instant…it was as if I’d been given the sign I’d been searching for for all these years. I found the thing that was going to make my plot work and now I knew how to write this book. I researched and researched and found more and more and more information, and this book that had been stuck hidden away for five years finally, FINALLY had a plot. I finally knew where I was going and I actually wrote a full first draft.

But it was still too short, but at least it was a start. Then, 2019 came and I wanted to go back and do this with another book idea that I knew was a killer but I could never figure out. I’d tried to put that idea into at least six other books but had never found the place for it. I even considered making that plot the sequel to The Signs Are Coming because I wanted these characters to have that plot in their lives, but then I realised…it didn’t need to be a sequel. It was the missing piece to The Signs Are Coming that was going to glue it all together. It was such a moment of piercing clarity and honestly? It’s one of the best moments of my life.

Soon enough, the plot was sorted and was working swimmingly, but there was something else that needed my attention. Dark wasn’t playing ball, and he wanted the plot to go his way, not my way. And for a character who was meant to be good at switching off their feelings, Dark made his feelings known very very strongly and shoved his wants and needs right in between the lines of my neatly made plot, skewing it and changing everything. I genuinely spent months debating whether I could do it. Whether I could change the plot because he wanted me to or whether I was going to have to shut him down. It wouldn’t work, I insisted. I can’t do what you’re asking me to do because it’ll change everything. You need to just play ball and go with what I want you to do, please Dark!

But Dark said no. So I told him and myself that I’d let him dictate the scene he wanted to change and if it worked, then I’d let him win. And what did he do? He killed it. He absolutely killed the scene and with one of his satisfied smiles, he basically gave this author a massive ‘told you so’ that I couldn’t argue with it. And I am so damn glad he didn’t listen because what he did to my book made it a thousand billion times better than what I’d initially written. He made everything make sense, and of course he would, because he was the one living it. He knew what he wanted more than I did and I was too caught up in my plans to see that. And since then? I’ve let him take control of the plot…to an extent. Paul’s been easier to figure out but again, a lot of his character changed when Dark decided to take the reins. Not that he doesn’t have his moments. Just last weekend, Paul decided he wanted to change a crucial piece of dialogue, even though he had no idea what to say, but when he eventually got the words out, they were purer and better than anything I could’ve thought I’d be putting in the book so close to publication.

So, basically what I’m trying to say is, this book, like The Luke Bright Series books has been a challenge. A different kind of challenge but a challenge all the same. And I don’t think I’m ever going to write a book like this again. Not one which involved so much research or planning or theory…next time I’m going to try to make my job easier.

But one thing I did worry about once upon a time, was whether this book was beyond me. Whether I should be publishing it, whether I could publish it, whether I would do it justice.

Well, I am pleased to say that I have. I have done it justice and it’s absolutely f**king perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better book and getting reviews like I have been getting, it doesn’t seem real. But I did that. Me. I wrote that book and it’s all mine.

Monday’s going to be emotional and it’s going to be an intense day as I say goodbye to another one of my works. But just knowing I got here when eight years ago, I was ready to can that book and never touch it again…it just makes you realise…

Never give up on something if you truly believe it in. Because I believed in The Signs, and now…they’re finally coming…

The Signs Are Coming will be released on 6th September 2021, but e-copies are available to pre-order NOW! Please follow me on my blog and social media links. Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.

N.A.K.