So, I got ideas for two books at the same time. I started writing one, and then the other was screaming for attention in my resting hours, so I pivoted. I’m really glad I did. This story is set in the Safe Haven, but despite this, it’s like nothing that I’ve written before and I’m really excited by it.

Anyone across in the fan club on Facebook knows that I don’t do spoilers, but with this one, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I have no idea where the story will take me.

The Story That Wouldn't Wait: Why I Pivoted to My New Project

We’ve all heard the advice: pick a lane and stay in it. In the world of writing, that usually means finishing the manuscript you started before even glancing at the "shiny new idea" sitting in the corner. But recently, I found myself in a creative tug-of-war that forced me to throw the rulebook out the window.

It started with a bit of a double-whammy. I had two distinct book ideas hit me at almost the exact same moment. Naturally, I picked one, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work. But as any writer will tell you, characters have a funny way of ignoring your schedule. While I was working on the first story, the second story wasn't just knocking at the door—it was screaming for attention during every resting hour I had.

Giving In to the Creative Pivot

Eventually, the noise became too loud to ignore. I decided to pivot, setting aside the first project to see where the second would take me.

I am so incredibly glad I did.

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you stop fighting your intuition and just follow the flow. Since switching gears, the words have been coming with a speed and intensity that I haven't felt in a long time. It’s a reminder that sometimes the "distraction" isn't a distraction at all—it’s the story you were actually meant to be telling right now.

A New Side of Safe Haven

For those of you who have followed my work, you know I love writing the Safe Haven universe. This new book is set in it, but I want to be clear: it is like nothing I have ever written before.

Many aspects of this new story are uncharted territory for me. It’s darker, deeper, and frankly, a bit of a creative rebirth. It’s exhilarating to take a universe I love and give it a completely different feel.

The No-Spoiler Zone (Even for Me!)

Those of you in the FB fan club know my stance on spoilers: I don’t do them. I love the "aha!" moment too much.

But with this particular book, I couldn't give you a spoiler even if I wanted to. I have no idea where this story will take me. 

I’m delighted to announce that the Unsafe 5 audiobook is now live on Audible, Amazon and iTunes.

I’m excited to tell you that Unsafe 7, the 40th book in the Safe Haven universe, is now live on Amazon.

https://mybook.to/Unsafe7

Today was the second full day of writing the new project and another 5000 words are on the page. That’s 10000 in two days, and although that number isn’t that unusual for me, the nature of it is. Normally, when I begin a new story, I noodle it around for a few days. A thousand words here, 500 words there and bit by bit, I get my bearings. This time, it’s coming in floods, and I’m not sure what’s behind it, but you’re not going to hear me complaining.

I’ve adopted a similar methodology to what I used for Madhouse and The Devil’s Face. I’m writing in a room with subdued light and playing a mix of uncomfortable/disturbing music. The 2013 Evil Dead soundtrack has always been one of my favourites and today I forked out for the Sinister OST as well. They’re helping to create the perfect ambience for the tone of the story.

As with everything else I’ve ever written, I have no idea where this is going. I’m not someone who can work to plans. But with 10k words down, I don’t currently have an end in sight and so I’ll carry on writing until the characters have nothing left to say.

One thing is for sure. I’m having a lot of fun and that is the sole reason I write, so mission accomplished.

So, something happened last night, or more accurately, this morning (about 3 am) that hadn’t happened in the longest time. A story idea came into my head. I should point out that I generally have very disturbed sleep patterns and this was during a few moments of wakefulness before trying to turn over and drift off once more.

I usually make a point of trying not to think about writing in my downtime and when it happens, I push all such thoughts out of my mind. “If the idea is worth its weight in salt, it will come back to me when I’m in front of the laptop”, is my general ethos.

This was different, though. This wasn’t just a concept but the words to bring it to life. I was inside the head of this character, who is still anonymous for the moment, but I was seeing everything he was and it was pretty terrifying. The words came, one after the other and I repeated them over and over, desperate not to lose them. But one sentence ran into another and another and another and then I knew I had to get up and write it all down, because I couldn’t afford to lose something like this.

All I know for the moment is that it’s a horror story. More than that, I cannot say, but it was a hell of a way to wake up.