‘Deep time’ is geological time, the millions of years over which the Earth and its creatures have evolved. Deep Time is also the name of my epic novel of prehistory, to be published by Hawthorn Press on 9 May.
The idea of this blog is to explore some of the background to the novel, whether that means book research about prehistory and ecology or my field experiences in the forests of Gabon and New Caledonia. I’ll also talk about fiction and films that engage with similar themes, and make connections with my other work as a live storyteller with a strong interest in folklore and mythology.
The blog is shared to Facebook in the hope of sparking discussion on these topics, so please do join in the conversation.
Today seems a ripe day to launch this blog, because today I signed off the final proof of Deep Timebefore it goes to press. The last step of a very long creative journey. Let me wind up this post with a hint of what the story is about …
Zoologist Dr Brendan Merlie has wasted his best years in futile pursuit of imaginary creatures. He’s now leading a survey of an ecological hotspot in a forgotten corner of Central Africa. Guided by the enigmatic Salome Boann, a woman strangely at ease in the rainforest, with her own reasons for being there, the team discover a ‘refugium’ of prehistoric plant-life. Among the forest people they hear rumours of animals also, unknown to science. Driven by civil war, and their own competing desires, Brendan and his companions enter a shifting world in which they must come to terms with the wildness within as well as the wildness around them. The deeper they travel, the more is revealed, beyond Brendan’s wildest dreams.
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