Why I Wrote Morfudd's Revenge

Hello Dear Reader and welcome to first in my “Why I wrote…” series of blogs.

When thinking up the initial concepts for Morfudd’s Revenge I was faced with a very difficult dichotomy. I wanted to write about a young person facing bullying, isolation, and mental health issues, but I also wanted my book to be incredibly funny. A tall order!

After much deliberation, I decided that the best way to depict these uncomfortable truths and also keep things humorous, was by turning the normal conventions of fiction on their head. The hero was a desperate, ugly, despicable serial killer, half-mad, delusional -- but with a quiet vulnerability and a fantastic sense of morbid humour. Likewise, the villains were good looking, successful, popular -- and odiously self-involved.

I set the story in the art world, a place of many pretentions. Only Morfudd has true talent, but his obnoxious exterior makes this almost impossible to see or appreciate -- until Morfudd finds his own way.

I also wanted it to be a love story. But just like the hero/villain aspects I wanted to turn convention on its head. Morgana, Morfudd’s one true and undying love, actually cannot stand him!

It was quite a challenge to get into Morfudd’s addled way of thinking, but his sense of humour helped a lot, and also the fact the at heart he was nothing but a soppy romantic.

The final character to come into my story was Mister Jollytoes -- Morfudd’s childhood bear, destroyed by his mother years ago but now back from the dead. It’s Mister J who goads Morfudd on, and this helps the reader see Morfudd’s darkest innermost psyche.

If any of this sounds intriguing and you would like to have a read of the finished novel please go to my website and buy a copy. But I warn you, you will never look at a teddy bear in the same way again!