The Inspiration Behind Aodhan McVeigh

,McVeigh is the first character that I have created where the origin story is kept from the reader. What do we know about him? Not much. "Far from Home: Book One" reveals some tiny antidotes about the character but not enough to shed light on this elusive man. He is like a shadow that stalks the night, which makes it harder for the main narrator of this story, Detective Varon, to locate him in the seedy districts of London.

The reader is informed that McVeigh encountered Victoria Reeds on a rainy day, and that they spoke to each other for the first time at Brownhurst Park. We know that he was exceptionally polite to Victoria, enough for her to lower her guard around him. Victoria found his manners pleasing, and even though he was not part of London's high society, he was the necessary break that she needed to get away from all the drama and lavish lifestyle that she never truly loved- only inherited. Victoria was destined to marry a man that she did not care for, and then suddenly this stranger appears before her with a pleasant looking face and an Irish brogue that allures her from the start. The reader knows through Victoria's diary entries that the pair of them met in secret after that fateful day, and that her heart grew attached to a man that she hardly knew. Was it witchcraft or true love? Was her affections sincere for him, or did she see McVeigh as a way out? A chance to finally run away from home? And what happens now to this young woman that is entirely ignorant of the real world, or the great horrors that lie beyond the edges of her own imagination?

When I wrote the character of Aodhan McVeigh, I did two things consistently. I replayed a recording of "Annabelle Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe in the background whenever it was time to write "Far from Home,", and I would binge watch the BBC television show "Penny Dreadful" after completing a few chapters.

Quote from Penny Dreadful

For those of you that don't know the show, it centers around the main character, Vanessa Ives, as she battles with her darkest demons. The demon being herself, since she knows that the Devil desires her, and she must do everything in her power to fight the dark forces that are unleashed to obtain her soul. This show has vampires, werewolves, and other haunting creatures. A lover of classic Gothic literature and other dark tales, it was an easy sale for me.

Anyways, back to the central character of the "Far from Home" book series; it is Aodhan McVeigh that brings out the monster that lies inside of Victoria. He is the corrupted influence, the dark force that tempts her to her doom. Sometimes a person can be attracted to the darkness, just as much as the light. I sincerely believe that is the case for Victoria Reeds. Whatever power he has over the poor girl, she willingly steps into it, but what will happen to her now that she is disarmed and easily influenced by the seductive power of Aodhan McVeigh?

"Far from Home" is a trilogy of a marginally short stories, since each of them is considered to be a novella. When I hold the physical book in my hand I can feel the lightness of the novella, but the shortness of this text does not detract the true elements of mystery or danger that lies between the text. Victoria Reeds life is in danger! She is unaware of the true nature of McVeigh, and even more so when it comes to his reputation. Will she be able to escape such horrors or will it be too late?

To uncover these secrets you can grab a copy of "Far from Home: Book One" on Amazon by clicking the link here. Interested in a free copy? Why not try out a different format by downloading it straight from the Google Play store by clicking on this link.

Happy reading everyone!