Why I Wrote Book 666
I’ve been writing this story in one form or another for over half of my life. I’m not exaggerating.
Growing up, the Devil was a constant presence. Here he was on a page of the Children’s Bible, tempting Jesus in the desert; there he was again, challenging Christ to a game of poker in Spanish Train. These two always seemed to be locking horns, like the Joker and Batman. Not to mention all the Devil’s Chairs and Devil’s Bridges dotted around the British landscape. (He visits us *a lot*).
Since I was “bad,” irreligious and had zero willpower, I was convinced as a kid that I’d end up in Hell. Realising I liked girls only reinforced this impression. Wilde’s “I can resist everything except temptation” could have been written for me.
I discovered two seminal books around the same time: Paradise Lost and The Screwtape Letters. Milton’s epic dominated my thought for the next couple of years; it was the subject of my GCSE art project. I still recite passages of it when I’m really drunk, to everyone’s chagrin.
The Screwtape Letters was something else. It’s possibly one of the most ingenious ideas an author has had. Wormwood has recently graduated and is on his first assignment; Screwtape, his decidedly unavuncular uncle, writes to advise him. These aren’t your standard pantomime devils in red tights. They’re deadly serious and dangerous.
Aged twelve, I was dying to write something set in my new favourite genre. So I composed what any Milton obsessed, Queen loving kid would: a heaven and hell themed rock opera called Out of Place. Damian Devil had somehow wound up in Heaven, but needed to solve the mystery of Desdemona, the Head Angel’s daughter who had vanished years ago ... Sophomoric in the extreme. Even worse, I can still remember the songs. Gah!
Realising Out of Place appealed to exactly one person, i.e. me, I shelved it. I couldn’t write music or sing anyway. What on earth had I been thinking? Perhaps it would fare better in another form. A book, maybe. I’d just have to come up with a story, at a time where people were prepared to listen.
I grew up and wrote a bunch of other books. Paranormal fiction came and went - I’d missed the boat *again.* Though I’d read Good Omens by this point, enjoyed its wry humour. The years passed; my idea seemed destined to remain an outline in a notebook somewhere, until ...
Thanks to Twitter, I know the date and time inspiration struck. 16/04/2019, 10:34am: “Good Omens is what happens if the angel and devil on your shoulder fell in love,” complete with GIF of Kronk and his conscience.
This throwaway tweet prompted a set up, a story. In a nod to Screwtape, Meg Wormwood is on her first mission and sending dispatches to her scary uncle. She finds herself falling for Selina, her target’s Guardian Angel. This is naturally taboo, so they’re forced to choose between love and centuries of tradition.
It’s been twenty two years in the making. I hope my readers enjoy it. I’ve liked writing it.
Growing up, the Devil was a constant presence. Here he was on a page of the Children’s Bible, tempting Jesus in the desert; there he was again, challenging Christ to a game of poker in Spanish Train. These two always seemed to be locking horns, like the Joker and Batman. Not to mention all the Devil’s Chairs and Devil’s Bridges dotted around the British landscape. (He visits us *a lot*).
Since I was “bad,” irreligious and had zero willpower, I was convinced as a kid that I’d end up in Hell. Realising I liked girls only reinforced this impression. Wilde’s “I can resist everything except temptation” could have been written for me.
I discovered two seminal books around the same time: Paradise Lost and The Screwtape Letters. Milton’s epic dominated my thought for the next couple of years; it was the subject of my GCSE art project. I still recite passages of it when I’m really drunk, to everyone’s chagrin.
The Screwtape Letters was something else. It’s possibly one of the most ingenious ideas an author has had. Wormwood has recently graduated and is on his first assignment; Screwtape, his decidedly unavuncular uncle, writes to advise him. These aren’t your standard pantomime devils in red tights. They’re deadly serious and dangerous.
Aged twelve, I was dying to write something set in my new favourite genre. So I composed what any Milton obsessed, Queen loving kid would: a heaven and hell themed rock opera called Out of Place. Damian Devil had somehow wound up in Heaven, but needed to solve the mystery of Desdemona, the Head Angel’s daughter who had vanished years ago ... Sophomoric in the extreme. Even worse, I can still remember the songs. Gah!
Realising Out of Place appealed to exactly one person, i.e. me, I shelved it. I couldn’t write music or sing anyway. What on earth had I been thinking? Perhaps it would fare better in another form. A book, maybe. I’d just have to come up with a story, at a time where people were prepared to listen.
I grew up and wrote a bunch of other books. Paranormal fiction came and went - I’d missed the boat *again.* Though I’d read Good Omens by this point, enjoyed its wry humour. The years passed; my idea seemed destined to remain an outline in a notebook somewhere, until ...
Thanks to Twitter, I know the date and time inspiration struck. 16/04/2019, 10:34am: “Good Omens is what happens if the angel and devil on your shoulder fell in love,” complete with GIF of Kronk and his conscience.
This throwaway tweet prompted a set up, a story. In a nod to Screwtape, Meg Wormwood is on her first mission and sending dispatches to her scary uncle. She finds herself falling for Selina, her target’s Guardian Angel. This is naturally taboo, so they’re forced to choose between love and centuries of tradition.
It’s been twenty two years in the making. I hope my readers enjoy it. I’ve liked writing it.
No comments have been added yet.
