Following the launch of his debut novel, Tide of Shadows, an exciting contemporary thriller in which courage and loyalty confront treachery and corruption, Esther Lafferty asks PT Leonard about his inspiration, his writing process and what his writing future holds now.
What inspired you to write this novel, and how did the idea first take shape?
I’ve thought about writing a book for at least ten years—probably longer—but it never felt like the right time or place. I had played around with ideas but never fully committed to sitting down and writing. Then, at the end of last year [“yes, 2024 – I checked!”, Ed.], everything seemed to fall into place. I had the inspiration, the inclination, and the time, so I started writing.
I’ve always loved the legend of San Dimitri, especially the folklore surrounding the ‘hidden sunken chapel in the cliffs.’ When I finally decided to write, I knew I wanted to weave that legend into my story—probably as a prologue. From there, it became a matter of developing the characters and shaping the story to modern-day parallels.
What real-life experiences have influenced the characters and themes you included in the book?
Many of the characters are inspired by real people I’ve known. Gus’s background is partly my own, and his parents’ story is drawn from my family. Even the Navy SEAL and his wife are based on a real couple who once lived on Gozo. The island is full of characters. I didn’t need to make up too many – just embellish them… a little… if at all.
The book’s themes naturally reflect real-world issues—corruption, migration, politics, and power struggles. As Gus says, ‘We all read the papers.’ While my book is fiction, I leave it to readers to decide how plausible these connections are.
But my book is a work of fiction – names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
What was the biggest surprise or challenge you faced while writing this novel?
The biggest surprise was that the actual writing wasn’t that challenging once I had the rough outline in my mind (and scribbled on a piece of paper). I would caveat that by saying that in terms of writing the book, the middle was the hardest. Experienced and well-known authors call it the ‘marathon of the middle’. I broke the book down into four sections. The first and last one were straightforward. A lot was going on and a lot to write about. But the middle – that’s where you need to keep the reader engaged. It needs to add to the story, build it, develop the characters and be relevant. As I mentioned earlier, I read a lot. I recently read a series of books by a very well-known author: historical fiction. In the last two books in the series, I felt that the middle was just ‘padded out’. I was reading it but almost just wanted to get to the end part and see how the story finished. That middle part didn’t add anything.
I was very aware of that going into the writing process, and that was definitely challenging. I hope the ‘middle’ isn’t a challenging marathon for my readers!
Another surprise? How much I fell in love with certain characters along the way. Some took on a life of their own, which made writing their arcs incredibly rewarding. I didn’t expect to cry a little as I wrote certain chapters.
Also, the eBook came out first, and while people were reading it and giving great feedback, I didn’t feel like I had written a book until I held the paperback in my hands. That was the moment it felt real.
How do you hope readers will connect with the story, and what do you want them to take away from it?
I want readers to feel immersed in Gozo—not just its beauty but also its culture, history, and modern challenges. I hope they connect with the characters and the blend of legend with contemporary themes. Ultimately, I want them to feel that this story is rooted in something real, even if it’s fiction.
Sylvie says something in the book that resonates with this answer:
“This is Gozo. This is Malta. Its beauty, nature, the excitement and the sounds of children and families. This is the real Gozo. Its people, its communities. Friendly, welcoming, full of life. It belongs to us, to its visitors, and to everyone who loves it. This place doesn’t belong to the evil and greedy people who would destroy it for their own gain. It belongs to the people around you. To all of us.”
What’s next for you as an author? Are you already working on your next book?
I don’t want to give too much away, but yes! And it will start with another Maltese myth/legend that links to the main plotline.
The only other thing I would add is a message to readers who worry about Arty the war dog. I have a tee shirt in my wardrobe with the following: ‘I don’t care who dies in a movie – as long as the dog lives.’
Tide of Shadows is available as an e-book and the paperback which launches later this month is available to pre-order.
