J D Maguire is no stranger to new releases, having already published two previous titles with us over the last four years. Gràdh and Other Short Stories and Election: Return to Gràdh took place in the same surroudings, but with his third book: Walking Shadows, J D wanted to take his readers someplace new.

An introspection on the human condition, told through six unique perspectives, Walking Shadows delves deep within the human psyche and explores the battles each of us fight in our own lives.

We asked J D how it felt to branch away from Gràdh, where his passion for writing came from and what challenges he's faced for his third book.

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Your previous two books - Gràdh and Other Short Stories and Election: Return to Gràdh – were connecting stories. What made you want to branch away from that narrative and write something new?

I had written Gràdh - the short story - after being inspired by Carol Ann Duffy’s Model Village. I am always fascinated by the idea of a setting which promotes peacefulness, a calmness, on the surface but with turmoil lurking just below. I believed there was much more of this theme to be explored and I could do that with a second book. Not only that I felt that characters like Tait and Burns don’t want to run away from this battle for the soul of Scotland’s Garden of Eden, they want to stay and fight. They want to create a better life - for everyone.

The new book explores the ‘battlefield’ within us all. Surroundings play a part in the characters’ development but so too does circumstance. Moving away from the almost stifling idyll allowed me to write something about loss and choice. I am attempting to parachute the reader into the lives of people who are, for the most part, wrestling with dilemmas that they themselves have faced. Branching outwards also allowed the opportunity to introduce characters from varied backgrounds: all attempting to make sense of life.

Following on from that, what lessons did you learn in writing your first two books that helped when approaching this third title?

I continued to work in a disciplined fashion - regarding time and self-editing. I also was aware that on the rare occasions that if I hit a dead-end, a simple read through of the story so far would reignite my passion for what I was trying to do and get me quickly back on track.

Feedback from readers was also a great help. Some said that they enjoyed the challenge of the story itself - following changes in time and place etc. I included these same techniques this time around but kept them to a minimum as there was various stories running simultaneously: I wanted to entertain and challenge the reader but not confuse them unnecessarily.

It was the same with the characters. I wanted to give them room to breathe and develop. This was tied into the theme of the story. I wanted to show how each one reacted to their short time in the spotlight. Would they settle for what they had or would they seek some other sort of fulfilment?    

Walking Shadows follows six diverse yet intimately designed characters. What was the process of moulding their personalities? Did you always intend on having six perspectives to follow?

Despite having differing characteristics, I wanted them all to be linked in some way. They are all missing something: someone; a purpose; an emotion. I hoped to mould characters that ultimately people could identify with - no matter how exaggerated they may be. They all have to deal with problems arising from life interfering with life. One metaphor used was the painting. The characters like this piece of art. They find it aesthetically pleasing. They are stimulated by it. Yet, ultimately, they do not understand it.

I considered telling the story in the first person for each character. At that stage, five perspectives was my target. However, while other supporting characters were important, I felt that both sides of one particular partnership should be told. At the same time, I decided the omniscient narrator would work best for this tale.

Reflecting on your time as teacher, what experiences do you think helped foster your passion for writing?

The obvious one is getting to read such a variety of titles and appreciate the many styles that they are written in. From First Year to Higher - A Stranger Came Ashore by Mollie Hunter to The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald - the sheer delight at seeing a discovery being made through fresh eyes. The students too, harnessing their imaginative skills to create something worthwhile from a blank canvas.

I also became aware that fiction is often truth - an instrument to explain, not necessarily real events, but true reactions and emotions.

This book discusses important and heavy themes which we all experience. Do you see Walking Shadows as a bringing-together of all your thoughts on living a fulfilling life, or is there still something left to tell?

I think there will always be challenges to our ideal. Like the story itself, just as we humans think we have this life business sussed, something else knocks us out of our stride. My inspiration for the title comes from Shakespeare. After the death of his wife, Macbeth does indeed ponder life and is dismissive of its importance. Hopefully, like some in the story, when people are being challenged others step into the spotlight to support them when they are most in need.   

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Walking Shadows is available now in paperback.