What Power He Had

After a vicious attack, Manny Alderban wakes terrified, no longer the person he once was. Now at the mercy of a bear hidden within, Manny finds he is not the only were-creature that lurks in New York City. While he tries to come to terms with all that has changed, he must tame the monster he believes he has become and fight to be the man he wants to be. There is more danger than he realizes, still hidden. His new friends he finds are playing a predatory game, one which he can’t refuse to play a part in.

The story.

What Power He Had is my debut novel. An urban fantasy about were-creatures in a paranormal, modern-day New York City. After an attack that almost killed him, Manny finds that his world is a darker place now that he has become a were-creature. The change thrusts him into a dangerous game that could cost him his life or his humanity. The beast within forces Manny to confront his own demons in situations where one wrong decision could have dire ramifications. He feels uncertain, and escape is no longer an option.

My process so far.

The story that I am trying to tell is one that I have been building for years, long before I believed it could be a novel. I created two characters back in 2020 during COVID with no plan to where I’d take them.

Ever since, I have been exploring their world while writing other projects I set for myself. Over the years, these characters allowed me to find their own unique voices. They helped me discover the stories to tell with them, and they found themselves a place in my heart. A lot of inspiration I have used comes from my love of character based and emotion driven plots. 

I enjoy exploring the vulnerabilities we face as humans. We all have weaknesses we shy away from, but leaning into what makes us imperfect gives us a different perspective. Sometimes the cracks we are most ashamed of add character, filling them with gold. That gold filled crack makes life beautiful.

Through my adolescence, I loved watching ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and it influences my writing even today. Those stories still fuel my lifelong obsession with the paranormal and tales of reluctant heroes; themes I have used throughout the story I’m telling.

I have also found inspiration from stories I have read, delving into my fascination with mythology and folklore. Epic tales written so long ago still resonate and reflect experiences we face today. That is why they’re so timeless. I am excited by how the Norse myths I uncovered while researching compliment the ideas I have held for so long.

By the middle of 2023, three years after I first created my characters, I made my start. I am here with pen to paper, my fingers to keys.

What Power He Had is a labour of love for me. I enjoy plotting the structure, developing characters and scenes. Each ingredient coming together brings my ideas to life. The more I am writing it, the more I love what is unfolding. Honestly, I am blown away that I am here. Grateful too that I never gave up or accepted that my dreams were impossible.

I am making my long held aspirations of writing a novel reality with every word. I can’t wait to show readers the twists and turns I have woven into this story, and I love that it’s one that is based on characters I am excited to share with the world.