It developed from that into an idea for a trilogy and so more people were recruited into what became a collaboration.
We have even made a little film to promote said novels.
It has all been terribly creative and arty; getting to work with actors, swanning about in the costume department at the National Theatre, Brazilian man model in tow, okaying cover illustration and design - drunken tantrums and sleepless nights fretting over makeup and wig design.
I had, for a few months, stepped into one of my own novels and loved every stressed, frantically busy moment of it.
Of course there were minor dramas, all swiftly dealt with and everybody was pretty amazing to work with.
So far, two of the novels have been published, the short film/book trailer is up in Youtube, and after nine months of post writing film/costume/casting etc, I finally have time to get to work on the third novel.
I miss the frantic months of film prep. I look forward to doing that again once the trilogy is completed.
It would be great to sell enough copies to pay my friends for their day of filming in a church yard, lurching about in the cold, covered in greasepaint.
I owe much to Matt and Toby Lee, the brothers who have created such awesome cover designs – without being paid a penny.
Sure, I write alone but this has been one huge collaborative effort.
We did it. We made books out of intangible ideas. They exist.
People
have read them and care about the characters and now they too have been
drawn in to this odd little world that came out of... well that tiny
part of my mind where lots of colourful people live.
And long may they live too.
And long may they live too.