Welcome to Heroes, Demons & Warlords!
Throughout this series, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on famous historical and fantastical battles, heroes, and monsters from literature, legend, and film. And of all things fantasy, including, of course, insights into my very own books, The Timothy Williams Saga and the up-and-coming Demon Hunter stories.
In this first episode, I’ll begin proceedings by offering a brief summary of myself and my books. I write young adult fantasy and adventure. If you’re of an older disposition, please don’t be put off! I’ve had encouraging feedback from plenty of adult readers. If you enjoy the subject matter of this series ― i.e., epic battles, monsters from Hell, heroes of legend all churned up with a hint of humour and an obsessive abundance of big guns and pointy swords ― then, without question, you’ll find my stories right up your alley!
The Timothy Williams Saga is crammed full of everything I adored while growing up. For me, as something of a teenage geek ― and if you’ve ever played Dungeons & Dragons, collected Citadel Miniatures, or owned a copy of the Talisman board game, I’m afraid you too qualify for this undesirable status ― the late 80s and early 90s weren’t so much a case of sex, drugs & rock ‘n’ roll but rather books, films, and D&D. Oh, and computer games ― lots of computer games. And all fuelled on an unhealthy diet of cookies, cakes and crisps. It was little wonder that, during my adolescent years, my face appeared under siege from a perpetual case of chickenpox.
While I was squeezing blackheads and devouring entire packets of custard creams, I was reading Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, The Wheel of Time, anything and everything by David Gemmell, Stephen Lawhead, Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Robert Jordan, Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, David Eddings. And watching film and television including Blackadder, Monty Python, Red Dwarf, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Robin of Sherwood, Sharpe, Star Trek, Highlander, Excalibur, Krull, and The Princess Bride. My Sunday afternoons weren’t spent playing football, cricket or *Knock Down Ginger but watching classic movies like A Bridge Too Far, Lawrence of Arabia, Zulu, Ben-Hur, El Cid…
In short, I enjoyed fantasy, science-fiction, and war in all its forms. Add heroes, battles, monsters, and a good twist of British humour, and I was in heaven. And so, years later, when ― after finally shedding my plague-ridden skin and putting aside my unhealthy teenage addictions (well, most of them) ― I picked up and sharpened my first Staedtler Noris HB pencil to begin writing Timothy Williams, I knew I wanted the story to be a mixture of all that I loved and more. In essence, I wanted to write a story to satisfy the needs of my younger self. And by Jove, I think I managed it! At least so far, two books down and three to go.
The Timothy Williams Saga
The year is 1999, and the story begins during a September night in the inconspicuous English village of Little Underwood. Tony Blair is prime minister. Manchester United are champions of Europe. Sir Cliff Richard will be top of the charts come Christmas. And a sleeping Timothy Williams is about to be chosen to save the world.
Timothy is a teenage geek. He has problematic hair, a distinct lack of coolness, an obsession with warfare, and is always picked last for everything. So when Timothy is chosen by the archangels to represent the forces of good against evil, he is naturally surprised and equally perturbed at the prospect. On the upside, he receives an ancient and powerful holy artifact to help protect him, but on the downside, the device does little to improve his hair.
When Timothy’s school becomes the subject of a demon takeover, he and his two friends, Rupert and George, must unmask their foe. Timothy is forced into a battle for survival, not only in the real world but in his very dreams where he must fight his nemesis to prevent Hell on Earth.
And when revelations about Timothy’s ancestry come to light, he must accept his past to save his future. Timothy Williams must survive to fight the Last Battle on the eve of the new century, and he must win to save our souls…
I know what you’re thinking, ‘Unlikely school geek defies the odds to save the world ― not again! Yawn, yawn… I’ve read a hundred and one books with the same plot. Why would I want to read another?’
Well, yes, you probably have, but not like this one. Yes, Timothy Williams and his friends, Rupert and George, are geeks. And yes, Timothy is chosen to save the world. But I promise you, here the scenario deviates from the familiar formula. How many other stories are laced with such varied content: epic battles, angels and demons, werewolves and zombies, Greek legends, the 7th Cavalry, ghouls and goblins, Dark-Age knights, First World War biplane duels, Iceni queens, Roman generals, Anglo-Saxon warlords, Napoleonic warships, Eastern Front tank battles, demon-hunting heroes, dodgy haircuts, school bullies, magic powers, demonic teachers and enough possessed wildlife to fill a Satanic zoo?
I’m betting not many. Besides, originality is in the telling, and who’s to say how the story ends? Except for me, of course. Will Timothy and his friends prevent Hell on Earth or will Lucifer, the Demon King, rule forevermore?
By the way, Book 3 will be written next year. I’ve made a start, but first, I wanted to get my spin-off project up and running: Demon Hunters. Zen Lee & the Yellow Emperor is out now, The Black Knight is on its way, and a third untitled installment will be unleashed before Christmas.
Thanks to the dreaded pandemic, I’ve found myself lagging behind where I hoped to be. Many found the spare time perfect for their creative needs, but lockdown only served to thwart my efforts to write. I envy those authors who have their very own nooks and crannies secreted about the house, a study here, an office there. All I have is a dilapidated shed and a very small understairs cupboard.
Homeschooling yanked up the handbrake on my plans. There was little opportunity to concentrate, and least of all to write. That being said, spending so much quality time with the family was an absolute joy, and I can assure you that the uncorking of champagne bottles on the day my two boys returned to school was purely coincidental.
Demon Hunters
The Demon Hunter books are a series of standalone novellas linked to the Timothy Williams universe. The stories tell the tale of history’s demon hunters.
Imagine for a moment that all the heroes of legend were not only real but were demon hunters too, fighting to protect humanity through the centuries from the Devil and his minions. These books will include my own creations like Zen Lee, the heroin in the first installment of the series. But also illustrious legends like Sir Lancelot (The Black Knight out soon!), Beowulf, Joan of Arc, Davy Crockett, Wyatt Earp, Robin Hood, Siegfried, Thor, Roland, Ivanhoe, Achilles…the list is endless and so, too, the potential.
I hope to include historical and fictional heroes from as many countries and cultures as possible, so in time, I’ll have a wide range of demon-hunting stories based on the world’s many myths and legends. It would be great to learn about your country’s favourite heroes too. I want to write about as many as I can! I’m very, very excited by the universe that I’m building. Zen Lee will return for more adventures, so too, Sir Lancelot. In fact, many of my heroes are lined up for a host of quests. I’ve got enough material to keep me writing well into my hundreds!
The Demon Hunter books are best described as historical heroic fantasy. They haven’t got the humour of the Timothy Williams books, not to say that they don’t have their moments ― it seems that I’m incapable of writing anything that doesn’t contain at least a small smidgen of silliness. Expect fast-paced heroic YA fantasy with magic swords, epic battles, monstrous demons, and heroes of myth and legend.
Going forward, some of the initial Demon Hunter stories will include direct links to the Timothy Williams plotline. These books won’t necessarily need to be read for the story to make sense, but they’ll enhance the reader’s experience and understanding of Timothy’s modern-day demon-hunting world.
The Chronicles of Wilfred
The Chronicles of Wilfred are a bit of fun. It’s an idea I’ve revisited but in audio form. Instead of a free read, it’s a free listen! Eventually, I intend to release these as a collection of short stories. I’ve got so many escapades planned for Wilfred, so be sure to keep an eye out for his adventures in the future. Expect the unexpected! Wilfred’s tales will sometimes be humorous, sometimes deadly serious, sometimes scary, sometimes utterly ludicrous ― but always action-packed and, hopefully, entertaining, however weird.
The angel Wilfred is a character in the Timothy Williams books, and now readers can listen to his backstory ― all 2000 years of it! Also, expect to see the angel make the odd appearance in the Demon Hunter stories too. Even the heroes of old need a little heavenly help on their quests from time to time.
That’s it for this episode. Now you know a bit about me, my books, and my writing style, perhaps you’ll give my stories a try. Next time I’ll be discussing the rise of fantasy in the 80s driven by (yes, you guessed it) the popularity of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game!
Thanks for reading.
*Knock Down Ginger is a childish prank that involves hammering on the door of a ginger-haired homeowner before running like a loon. I’m only joking. Apparently, the name originates from an old English poem and entails breaking windows, not banging on doors, and in this day and age is not to be encouraged! Be warned, if the homeowner catches you (ginger or otherwise), you’ll be in for a stern telling off! Incidentally, don’t dally if you play the equivalent game in the United States, Ding Dong Ditch. You’ll most likely get yourself shot.