I started to write this particular book in 2019, shortly after the publication of my last one which was the fourth in a series named Lies and Consequences. With that series completed, my mind turned to the first two novels I had written in a series called Heirs and Descendents: The Desolate Garden and Percy Crow, both of these books featured Lord Harry Paterson.
When those first novels were written I had no intention of making them into a four-book series, but with the other one series having four, it seemed logical to complete another two featuring Lord Harry, who is perhaps my favourite protagonist.
I can’t remember the exact chronological order of events that then happened, but suffice it to say my health took an unhelpful hand. Prior to this period of time, I had some issues with my overall well-being but nothing requiring instant attention, that changed with a bang around the time of the year 2020 was just beginning.
I had developed a severe kidney infection that required a stay in the hospital. After a few days of being stretched out on a bed in a ward, and being fed antibiotics, I needed an operation. Not long after having the first operation, it was decided I required a second. Unfortunately, after that second one, when I was at home asleep in bed, I became ill with Sepsis.
I normally live alone, but luckily for me that night my ex-wife was with me and she telephoned for an ambulance, which resulted in me being carried out of my bed by an ambulance driver. I still have no memory of that happening. I was hospitalised for quite some time with this illness which left me feeling severely lethargic, where sleep would overtake any intent to write, or do anything else.
The surgeons had not finished with me! When they deemed I was ‘strong enough to work on again’ I was operated on, this time to remove the cause of what was creating too much calcium in my body. That was the longest operation I had, over four-hours to find the gland inside my throat which, when found, was removed. However, although the calcium problem was solved I was left with the ringing of Tinnitus.
Before those operations I suffered from emphysema, diabetes and angina, with a low heart rate, requiring a pacemaker as well as having three stents around my heart. Still, the main problem affecting me every single day of my life, was spinal stenosis, which made my ability to walk problematic, so much so that nowadays—I don’t.
Now, I bet you’re thinking, well, surely with him being unable to go out, he should have been able to write that book he’s talking about. Yes, that’s what I did. I wrote—and wrote and—wrote. This third book, in what is called the Heirs and Descendants Series, kept my fingers going. It just would not find its own end. Eventually, when the story was finished with me, it was over 650,000 words.
I sent it off to my publisher who, not unreasonably, asked if I could divide the manuscript into two. My initial wish of one title was now impossible. I was left to face the horrible experience of writing not only one synopsis, but two!
I made the adjustments needed, bearing in mind the overall two-book story, hoping ‘What Comes Before’ is enticing enough for readers to want the second book and if they had not read the first two novels; then—maybe, to be sufficently interested to read the complete series.
Of course, only time will tell if I succeeded, but this publication, including the second ‘novel/instalment’ which is with the publishers, has taken a heavy toll on me. It was to be my last addition to the overstocked literary world.
I would cease writing at the age of seventy-three years, having only started to write when I was sixty-three. Ten long years of great pleasure, with a healthy eight fully published novels and two novellas. A fantastic trip around the country signing books for Waterstone’s Bookshop, with the, as then, strong possibility of my debut writing effort becoming a huge budget film. Sadly, for the movie audience, that film never came to fruition.
But, no, destiny was not happy. One day this week fate decided I should take a look at a short story I self-published many years ago, with the idea of developing it into a book. I did look and guess what, yes, I think I will let the story get a hold of me, very soon.
In the meantime, I give you book number three In The Heirs and Descendants Series
https://mybook.to/WhatComesBefore
WHAT COMES BEFORE
About the book
Daniel Kemp 