When Life Writes the Story: Finding Inspiration in the Unexpected.

Hard at Work!

If you’ve read my previous blog, Murder, Music and Mayhem, you’ll know that my creative path has never been what you’d call straightforward. It’s zig-zagged from theatre stages and murder mystery scripts to swing tunes and now, finally, to novels. But behind A Ledger for the Dead, my debut book, lies something far more personal. It's a story that, in some ways, started with me.

About ten years ago, life threw me a curveball I never saw coming. An accident. Sudden, devastating, and life-changing. And it has left a mark far deeper than the physical scars. Recovery was slow, painful, and, at times, uncertain. But out of that difficult chapter of my life I found out who my friends really were, and I also discovered something unexpected: reflection. I began to wonder how a single moment, one twist of fate, can alter not just one life, but ripple through the lives of others too.

That thought became the seed of A Ledger for the Dead.

Notes. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

In my mind, I saw three people: Jason, Leah, and Mark, each carrying their own burdens, each haunted (in their own way) by what life had dealt them. Their stories were shaped by loss, guilt, and the weight of the past. Then, the threads began to intertwine and I began to explore what happens when broken people collide. When healing isn’t straightforward, and redemption doesn’t come with a clear map.

Of course, that doesn’t mean A Ledger for the Dead is autobiographical, far from it. But it is rooted in something real: emotion. The confusion, anger, and eventual hope that come from rebuilding yourself after life has been turned upside down. Writing it became a kind of therapy, a way to give shape to things I couldn’t easily say or even get my thoughts around.

Thing is, I never set out to write something quite so raw. I thought I’d pen a good mystery with a dark edge and a few twists. But the story seemed to have had other ideas. As the characters grew, their choices became messier and their emotions more real. Somewhere along the way, I stopped being in control and simply followed where they led. A process, I can tell you, is equal parts thrilling and terrifying. I have no way of knowing if other writers feel like this. All I can say is, it felt right.

A Chance to Relax. Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash

Because life itself doesn’t follow neat plots or perfect endings. It’s unpredictable, chaotic, and occasionally cruel. But it’s also beautiful in its resilience. Just like Jason, Leah, and Mark, I discovered that the human spirit, bruised though it may be, still has a remarkable way of piecing itself back together.

So, if you’ve ever wondered where writers get their ideas from, and, I can only really speak for myself, but the truth is often simpler than you think. I stole them from the everyday. From memory, emotion, laughter, and pain. Sometimes, the stories find us.

For me, A Ledger for the Dead isn’t just a book, it’s proof that creativity can grow from even the darkest soil. That out of loss and pain, we can build meaning. And that, maybe, writing really can help you make peace with your ghosts.

Looking for inspiration. Photo by Gary Ellis on Unsplash

If you’ve ever found inspiration in an unexpected place, I’d love to hear your story. Share your thoughts in the comments below — and if you’d like to read A Ledger for the Dead, you can buy it here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BB2CAMHMCBQ62