It all began with the following text from a series I launched called What Is Serton...? Although the series was set in 2002, this opening scene to the series was set some 125 years in the past. The scene not only introduced us to Alexander but also went on to introduce us to Leonard, but these two characters, however pivital their role in the origins of the series, were never mentioned again.

A thick mist hung low over the deep gorge. The air felt cold and damp as particles of water clung together in fear of the situation. A sense of dread filled the lone, rickety bridge, which was suspended over the wide expanse of the gorge. Where birds and forest animals would normally sound, there was nothing but silence.

Eventually, like all silences are, it was broken by the sound of footfalls on the wooden platforms of the bridge. A man wearing brown, leather shoes marched forward, his long coat splayed out behind him. A slight breeze caught the man’s short, greying hair and flicked it up. The man, one Alexander Duprie, was meeting someone.

THE MINI SERIES

Having planned out every episode of the first series of What Is Serton...? I stumbled upon a writer's most dreaded fear - Writer's Block! My brain turned to mush and I couldn't cope. I tried resurrecting the series as part of a new serial which involved interacting with people under the guise of a new person, however that annoyed more people than I had initially thought it would and because it was also an incredibly stupid idea I retreated into the mists of the internet.

While I was in this wave of resurrection under my new guise though, I did do one positive thing. I decided to put What Is Serton...? on hold yet still give readers something to read. I created the mini-series!

The Hand Of Fates was a one off mini series created because I happened to be bored in work one day and challenged myself to write a rather descriptive piece (which turned out to be the opening scene of episode 1). From there the mini-series was born until disaster struck. I had been writing the first 4 episodes quite happily until once again writer's block. The girl in my work who was reading it left and I had no need to finish it.

INSPIRATION STRIKES

After almost a year I decided to give another person in work something to read, which happened to be episode 1 of The Hand Of Fates. The girl was a quick reader and then suddenly there were three, four and then five people all in this small section of my work reading it and getting very close to episode 4. I was inspired and wrote what I believe is the best episode of the first story - Episode 5. I concluded the storyline has I had originally planned in episode 6.

My creative juices were flowing and I asked myself did I want to write another story or should I write another mini-series with these characters. These characters jumped out at me and I planned to write another batch of 6 episodes. However the new story wriggled and changed even as I was nearing the end and as I began to write episode 5 I concluded that that was going to be the end, so I wrapped it up even as I planned a whole season of stories.

PENUMBRA TO UMBRA

I planned out roughly what I wanted to happen in story 3 and decided to that in order to make a whole season I would write a fourth story and finish it all out on a cliff-hanger. So I started writing story 3 but needed a name to act as an umbrella for all the stories. After several possible combinations (Shades Of Grey, Crusade, War Of Fates) I eventually stumbled upon Penumbra, it seemed to fit. I looked up pictures and suddenly I realised that it was too light, there was not enough shadow. So I went to the next stage, Umbra, and a name was born!

Although it might not sound as cool as Penumbra, Umbra certainly fits as we can see from it's dictionary definition -

Umbra - A dark area, especially the blackest part of a shadow from which all light is cut off.

Perfect!

And so Umbra was born and the series was continued even through bouts of tonsillitis and university work. The first series was completed on 26th November 2003 and premiered on the web 1st January 2004 to be published weekly. Currently I am enjoying a small break while I plan how the ramifications of the cliff-hanger pan out. But rest assured I'll be travelling back to 1877 very soon... Now where did I leave my time machine!

THANKS

It wouldn't be fair to have my story on view without thanking some of the people who made it possible.

Susan "Forrester" McLaughlin who was the first person to read it. Derek McLaughlin, Ghislaine Muir and Stewart Duncan who all gave me inspiration at various times. Marlene Murray, AnnMarie Simpson, Stephen McClusky, Sara Farnham who all gave me feedback when I needed it.

And special thanks to my two biggest fans - Sandra and Sarah, your comments and ideas were always an ispiration.

Ok, now back to me...