When I began writing The Dying Place, it started with a single idea of wanting to explore the clash between generations which has occurred, I imagine, throughout history. That of an older generation and a younger generation and the differences in values, opportunities, outlook, and the effects of those things within that clash. I knew early on that that clash would lead to violence, with the issue of vigilantism being at the forefront. The beginning of the book deals with the death of a single teenager and what led to him being discovered with signs of a violent end. Through exploration of what could bring a group of people together to enact that violence, I had to research the ways in which group-led violence can occur, with a strong focus on group-think and the ideas behind vigilantism. What grew organically from this research is the concept of leadership and that many groups in this position have one member who often leads that violence. In choosing this path to explore, I researched what may lead a person into taking this role and what may be behind their thinking. In The Dying Place, it becomes clear early on that there is one man who is directing the groups actions and it was this person that I researched most intently. Starting with people who had experiences of being victims of crime - the exasperation and frustration this can cause - to the grief process and how a small minority can become violent following this. Later, and not to spoil the book too much, I had to research mass murder, with a particular interest in real cases such as Derrick Bird and Michael Ryan.

The research into the 'mind' of a killer is often a long process which makes up a small proportion of what eventually winds up in the novel. Whilst I want to know the psychological and physiological elements that are present in real-life cases, often I create a character who may share some aspects with those cases, but become a entirely separate being with their own history and not a pastiche of real people. That character's history and environmental setting then becomes the main drive behind their actions.

In The Dying Place, a whole range of these factors come into play, with a group of vigilantes starting from what they believe to be a just cause, to one man on a his own mission. Research into what would make these characters end up in the places they do is paramount and whilst taking up some time, is of utmost importance in my writing process.

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