“The inspiration for In the Eye of the Storm stemmed from the 2011 London riots, an event I’m sure many will recall. It all began in Tottenham when police shot and killed Mark Duggan on August 4th, 2011. What started as a protest by his family and the local community quickly escalated into widespread unrest, spreading across London and other parts of the UK. 

Living through it was surreal. It felt like history repeating itself, drawing eerie parallels to the Broadwater Farm Riots of 1985, when Cynthia Jarrett died of heart failure during a police raid on her home. Despite 25 years passing, it seemed little had changed. 

One night during the height of the chaos, I remember going out and witnessing scenes straight out of a dystopian film: people breaking into shops, barricading roads, buildings set ablaze. I worked in Enfield at the time and saw large groups of EDL supporters marching, adding to the tension. Life went on, but for a moment, it felt as if society might unravel entirely. I wasn’t scared, just curious. What if things got worse? What would the government do? Would there be martial law? Would we have to put bars on our windows? How would we, as citizens, respond? 

Fast forward to November 2011—I was starting my university dissertation. I had to write a 10,000-word paper on something related to creative media, so naturally, I chose storytelling and entered NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), where you aim to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. As I brainstormed ideas, the summer riots lingered in my mind. I recalled a BBC Question Time interview with Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right BNP at the time, and from there, In the Eye of the Storm was born. And yes, if you’re wondering did complete NaNoWriMo, even though I was left with a very rough draft of what would become my first novel. 

I wish I could say that draft went on to become a bestseller, winning numerous literary awards—but life, as it often does, had other plans. In 2009, at just 24, I was diagnosed with stage 3 renal failure. My health declined rapidly, and within a year, I was on dialysis, forcing me to put my final year of university on hold. Thankfully, my wonderful mum donated her kidney, and after a successful transplant in 2011, I completed my degree in 2012. But the whole experience took its toll. I never imagined it would take over a decade to finally edit and release my novel. Being a perfectionist didn’t help either. 

But here I am, at last, and I’m grateful every day for the second chance at life—and for finally achieving this dream. So, if you’ve made it this far, thank you for sticking with me. Whether you’re genuinely interested in my story or just incredibly patient, I hope you’ll give In the Eye of the Storm a try.” 

Thanks for reading,

Cleo xxx