Randomize ME

Project Hope is a tale of bravery in the face of tyranny.

I used to work as a Library Assistant in some of Manchester’s most deprived areas. I saw a lot of the problems facing young people there, which certainly kick-started something in my brain. At some point, this experience must have blended with my love for ‘The Road‘ by Cormac McCarthy and George Orwell’s ‘1984‘, and out of the mix came Project Hope. I think I wanted to write a dystopian story inspired by genuine contemporary issues. Hopefully, I succeeded.

Dylan, the main character, is certainly closest to my heart. Perhaps this is because he possesses a lot of qualities I wish I had. He has a strong moral intelligence, and never seems to hesitate when it comes to doing the right thing. He’s also very humble and wise beyond his young age of nineteen. I imagine he’s the kind of fellow you’d want to have around in a crisis. He’d be thinking clearly while the rest of us would be running for the hills.

Yes, I’m an ESL teacher. I work a regular 9-5ish day teaching English to foreign students, and then force myself to write for at least two hours afterwards. I also try to devote a day to writing at the weekend. However, as most writers will know, when writing is your passion, you’ll get the job done regardless of any other commitments, even if it means banging your head against endless walls, and wishing you were anywhere else but sitting in front of your computer waiting for something to happen.

I’m debating writing a sequel to Project Hope, but I’m currently well into the first draft of my second novel. It’s worlds apart from Project Hope, in that it’s a comic story. It’s also written in the first person, which I’ve never attempted before. So far, it’s turning out to be a very refreshing and interesting experience.

If you like 1984, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies and The Road, you’ll probably like my book too!