I had the idea for The Book and the Blade nearly 20 years ago and it hurts me to write that!
When I was 18 I started University in York and one of the drawcards for the city was the rumoured 365 pubs… one for every day of the year.
There’s a famous street called Micklegate that has somewhere in the region of 20 of these establishments all crammed into the one cobbled area and some genius came up with the idea for The Micklegate Run – you start near the ironically named Bar (old Norse for “gate”) and have a drink in every pub on your – increasingly meandering – way down towards the river.
Let’s be honest, even if you only drink water that’s a LOT of liquid!
Well, we were young and stupid and sucked in by three-for-one prices and this wonderful new invention called Red Bull that went remarkably well with vodka and so we tried it.
It didn’t end well.
In fact, I don’t remember it ending at all.
What I do remember is an idea.
Imagine getting so drunk you didn’t realise the people you were talking to were ghosts. The world is spinning. You just want to get home. But you live in one of the most haunted cities in the world and the ghosts know you can see them.
I always thought it was a good idea and now, thanks to Parliament House Press, it will be published in 2022!
22 years after I started uni!
They say good things come to those who wait.
Here’s hoping.