Meet My Characters

Fictional characters; we just love to fall in love with and obsess over them. It's like we actually know them: we celebrate their joy, become invested in their relationships and feel their losses as if they were our own. Each one carries a unique backstory, and even if that history is not revealed on the page, we feel like we are part of their story.

But have you wondered what stories lie behind characters themselves? How they came to be, what inspired them, and why they feel so alive on the page?

As an author of books within both the fantasy and the paranormal romance genres, I can only speak for my characters. They are the ones who guide me through the story, make the choices that shape the plot, and speak the truths that I could never have planned on my own.

How my characters came to be

No two characters came into being the same way. Some wove themselves into the story that had already taken shape, appearing like old friends, just waiting patiently for the perfect time to step into the world that I had created.

Others revealed themselves before the story even existed. Their personalities, histories, and quirks were established first; and from those foundations, their stories began to flow naturally. It was as if by creating them that I unlocked the door to their world that had been waiting patiently inside my imagination.

Book characters are just one of the reasons I write; they shape the plot, reveal deep secrets, and invite readers into their world in a way that feels natural and immersive.

Whichever way these characters' lives began, once I started listening, their voices were impossible to ignore. Each had their own distinct tone, whether gentle or demanding, but always ready to be heard.

In this series of blog posts, I am going to introduce my fantasy and romance characters; talk about how they came to be; explore their character backstories; and delve into who they are and the roles they play within the story – all without spoilers, of course.

The first in the series will be twin brothers Thomas and Graeme Blake from my debut novel, The Shadow Within. This is book one of an as yet uncompleted dark historical fantasy series called The Horsemen Chronicles. The first two books, The Shadow Within and Death's Shadow, cover the origin story of the Grim Reaper.

As each book in the series releases, here is the place to learn more of their story.

Here, readers can step behind the pages and get to know the brothers beyond what appears in the story itself.

Thomas Blake

Thomas is the older brother of the two, born only minutes before Graeme, yet he naturally steps into the role of the protective older brother. He's instinctive, loyal and fiercely devoted to his little brother.

For readers familiar with Supernatural, the bond between Thomas and Graeme Blake may feel reminiscent of Dean and Sam Winchester. Thomas mirrors that older brother energy: the one who shields, sacrifices, and shoulders the burden, just as Dean did.

Thomas is more than just a brother; he's a husband, a father, and a soldier. His experiences at war have shaped him profoundly, leaving him with what the story refers to as war madness, a fantasy world lens through which PTSD is explored with care.

When Thomas returns home, his greatest joy is being reunited with his family. He longs to be the father his son Isaac deserves and the husband Emma has waited for – not a stranger still fighting battles in a distant land, but a man learning how to come home in every sense of the word. His struggle is in the lingering effects of war, guilt and his own actions. He is learning how to live as a man again, to separate himself from the soldier.

What drives Thomas?

At the core of Thomas's character is an unshakable belief in what makes a good person. Once, he dreamed of heroism in its simplest terms – clear lines between right and wrong, good and evil. But experience, loss, and war have reshaped that belief. Now, Thomas understands that it's not intentions that define a person, but actions, and we learn some of his actions while away, and his fear of his family learning the truth.

Thomas is a man shaped by duty and obedience, trained to follow orders even when they conflict with his deepest desires. As a soldier, he has always believed that honour comes from his duty; but that belief places him at odds with the life he truly wants. Beneath the armour and discipline is a man who longs for a quiet, mundane existence. To be a husband present for his wife, a father raising his son, and a father working the land rather than the battlefield.

Upon his return, an immediate conscription tears him away from his family once more, forcing him back into service before he has the chance to heal or settle into peace. This repeated separation reveals a man bound by duty, yet driven by love; loyal to his oaths, yet aching for freedom.

Thomas and his brother

Thomas's relationship with his brother lies at the heart of the story, shaping both the emotional landscape and the choices that drive the plot forward. The bond between the twins runs deeper than shared blood; it is a supernatural connection, allowing them to sense one another across distance, emotion, and danger. Thomas feels Graeme's shifts in mood, the subtle changes in his emotional state, and the moments when something inside his brother isn't quite right.

While Thomas may not fully understand what troubles his brother, he knows that there is a shadow within Graeme, something darker that lurks beneath the surface – quiet, restrained, but undeniably present. Thomas senses it and shows an unwavering resolve to stand between his brother and face whatever danger that darkness may bring.

Graeme Blake

As the younger of the twins, Graeme's birth was more complicated. The delivery of both brothers was marked by tragedy: their mother died in childbirth. Where Thomas's birth is what killed her, Graeme was cut from her body. This cast a long shadow over the Blake family, creating a strained relationship between the twins and their father, who believed his sons were responsible for the death of the love of his life.

While their father's cruelty ignited anger and defiance in Thomas, Graeme responded differently. Rather than turning away, he continued to seek his father's approval, quietly believing that respect might still be earned. Where Thomas raged against the mistreatment, often protecting the younger twin, Graeme endured it, carrying the weight of blame and rejection with a fragile hope that obedience might one day soften his father's heart.

Often perceived as moody or withdrawn, Graeme finds peace in the simplicity of his work as a farmer. The land offers him a sense of grounding and purpose that contrasts sharply with the violence of this fantasy world. Graeme is most content when life is slow, and he accepts his routine.

Graeme and Thomas both live in a world that is harsh and unforgiving, a place where survival is never guaranteed, and hardship shapes every choice they make. After four long years apart, their reunion is meant to be a moment of joy, but that is interrupted by the appearance of a murderer, which once again pulls Thomas away, setting the story into motion. The bond between the brothers is tested by duty, danger, and the shadows closing in around them.

What drives Graeme?

At the core of Graeme's character is a quiet but powerful desire to be someone others can rely on. He wants to be the husband his wife, Amelia, can turn to and the brother Thomas can lean on.

Graeme is set apart from his brother in ways that are both subtle and profound. As the younger twin, Graeme understands that Thomas will always protect him, yet he carries an equally strong instinct to shield his brother in return. With the earlier comparison to Sam and Dean Winchester, Graeme often occupies the role of the quieter, more introspective counterpart.

His marriage has been irrevocably shaped by grief altering the person he once was, and leaving him to carry a sorrow that sits quietly beneath the surface. Instead of being the steady rock he longs to be for his wife, Graeme turns inward, holding his pain close and allowing it to mould him in silence.

Graeme is deeply aware of a growing darkness within himself. He worries that this darkness may one day be too overwhelming, risking the people he loves. This has him questioning whether he is truly capable of being a safe presence for those he loves.

Graeme and his brother

Graeme recognises that Thomas is suffering, and the knowledge that he cannot fix or ease that pain weighs heavily on him. His helplessness becomes a source of deep frustration. Watching Thomas carry his burdens in silence drives Graeme's own unrest. He wants to be the shield this time, to take some of the weight from his brother's shoulders, yet he is painfully aware of his limits.

What is The Shadow Within about?

At its core, The Shadow Within is a story about family, sacrifice, and the darkness that exists within humanity.

This story explores themes of:

• brotherhood and loyalty

• the cost of duty and war

• grief and trauma

• moral ambiguity

• the fine line between light and darkness

Ultimately, it asks a single question: Can we protect the people we love without becoming the very thing we fear?

This is not just a fantasy. It is a character-driven story about what it means to endure, to love, and to face the shadows we carry within us all. 

In many ways, this story mirrors the emotional arc of the Star Wars prequels: a medieval world, beloved characters, and a slow descent into darkness shaped by loss, fear, impossible choices and a shadow within.