Why I Wrote Shadow Empire (And Nearly Didn’t)

When people hear I’ve written a spy novel, the first question they usually ask is:“Where did you find the time?”

The short answer: I didn’t.Not at first.

Between my work in IT transformation, parenting, and a general habit of overthinking everything, writing a novel felt… indulgent. Something other people do. People with coffee shop habits, quirky glasses, or at least a stable writing schedule.

But the idea for Shadow Empire wouldn’t leave me alone.

It started with a question:What if the world’s most powerful criminal network didn’t exist on paper — but in whispers, backchannels, and hidden digital ledgers?

That question led to the bones of Shadow Empire — a thriller about influence without borders, syndicates without names, and the people brave (or foolish) enough to confront them.

From that came Jensen Calbright, a tech whizz with MI6 in his rear-view mirror. Joseph Botha, his old friend with a shipping empire and some scars he doesn’t talk about. Ming-Yue, Guiying, and of course — Ezra, the AI with more sarcasm than social grace.

They didn’t arrive all at once. They snuck up on me. Whispered plot twists while I was in meetings. Picked fights with each other while I was stuck in traffic. And somehow, a story began to take shape — a thriller with action, loyalty, betrayal, and yes, a touch of dry humour.

The Turning Point: My Son

I wasn’t going to finish it, truth be told. But then I read the first couple of chapters to my son, an avid action and thriller reader. He listened. Asked questions. Got excited. And then he did something dangerous: he said he loved it.

And I realised… I couldn’t not finish it.

Between the Lines

I wrote Shadow Empire with spy and crime thriller fans in mind — people who enjoy international stakes, layered characters, and the darker side of global power.If you like mafia intrigue, high-tech espionage, and private jets crashing through government firewalls (figuratively… mostly), this book is for you.

But I also wrote it for the version of me that once believed it was too late to start something like this. The me who thought the only stories worth telling were already being told.

They’re not.

What’s Next

I’m working on the sequel. It’s darker, deeper, and might just be bolder.There’ll be more Ezra. More mind games. More mystery.And, if I do it right, the kind of ending that leaves you both satisfied and suspicious of your phone.

If you’ve already picked up Shadow Empire, thank you. Truly.

If not — what are you waiting for? The world isn’t going to save itself.