Clash

CLASH

2011

The book that started my writing career. Having been told that writing comedy would get me nowhere, I tried writing crime. I never intended it to be Young Adult fiction; I just wrote a story about an eleven-year-old boy who gets on the wrong side of the class psycho. Essentially, Clash is a coming-of-age novel with elements of comedy, horror and crime. 

At the time of writing this book, I'd had so many rejections that I didn't expect this to be taken on at all. In fact, I only sent it out because I didn't know what else to do with it and a friend who had heard a talk by independent literary agent, Sarah Manson, said I should give her a try. Sarah got back to me within a week to request the full manuscript, and then called me up to offer me a contract. I was buzzing at the time. I thought, "This is it! I've made it. I'm gonna be rich!"

The book sold and I got an advance. It wasn't exactly life-changing, but it was a start. I was a genuine, bona-fide published author.

The launch party for Clash was a blast. I booked the local Arts Centre. Because of one of the themes in the book, a fire crew (with a fire engine) turned up in support. We had a teen rock called Hell's Marauders playing while I signed books - they even got me up on stage to sing Anarchy in the UK. Childhood dream come true!