My upcoming novel, Forgotten Skye, is the first in my Ruined Skye trilogy. Like the name suggests, all three books are set on the Isle of Skye – but it’s probably a little different to the island you know and love.
Skye is consistently romanticised in fiction – and why not? It’s visually stunning, geographically spectacular and incredibly beautiful. But I wanted to do something different. So my futuristic Isle of Skye? It’s been devasted by a radiation leak in a terrible time period known as the Changing. Humanity has split into two groups; Radions, mutated beings with powerful abilities; and Blands, normal humans who weren’t affected by the radiation.
Here are the real-life locations you can go and visit, all of which make an appearance in my books.
Portree
Visit Portree in peak tourist season, especially when a cruise ship is in, and it’ll feel like a world apart from life after the Changing. In my world, the streets are overgrown with weeds and trees. Rusty cars lie decaying. The houses and shops have all been looted, anything of value taken a long time ago.
Portree Forest
As far as I’m aware, this is the correct name for the lovely forest behind the Isle of Skye Candle Company. In Forgotten Skye, Vesper considers the forest to be hers. Her parents built a cabin, nestled close to the top of the treeline, and she is extremely territorial. As you would expect, given most people she comes across want to kill her.
Take a walk in the forest and you’ll be immersed in Vesper’s world. She loves the feel of seclusion and safety, being surrounded by trees. This is her safe place. Will it stay that way? You’ll have to read the book and find out.
The Fingal Centre
Portree’s sports centre and library make an appearance in the first book. It’s the setting where Vesper and Hunter, two bookworms, first meet. Naturally, it’s been completed trashed and most things of valuable taken away years ago. But rumour has it you can still find the odd book more or less in tact if you look hard enough…
The Lump
Home to the Apothecary’s Tower (which really needs to appear in the trilogy at some stage!), The Lump comes to life every August for the Skye Highland Games. It also makes an appearance in my stories (but I really can’t say too much more as it would spoil the story!)
Dunvegan
Currently, Dunvegan attracts a ton of visitors – exploring Dunvegan Castle, travelling through en route to Neist Point or simply exploring the village. But in the year 2227, my reimagined Dunvegan is home to Creyta, Radion Queen and devoted destroyer of Blands.
Dunvegan Castle
When I was much younger, my uncle and aunt took me around Dunvegan Castle. My favourite part (I was a macabre child) was the dungeon, essentially a hole in a rocky floor. Back in the day, the hole wasn’t covered over, allowing young me to feel the icy cold air. The dungeon was located next to the kitchens, where the smell of food would waft through to the prisoners. The dungeon features heavily in my story.
I’ve since been to the castle multiple times and it forms the inspiration for Queen Creyta’s home and where Hunter and Pep grow up.
The gardens are beautiful and, in my head, are the setting where [SPOILER] something extremely traumatic happens to Hunter as a child.
Currently, as there are no evil Radion queens and vicious Blandhunters in the area, you’re free to visit the castle and take a ride on the seal boats.
Sligachan
Writing this trilogy made me see Skye through new eyes. It really is quite something that the island’s main road takes you past such incredible scenery.
The Cuillins
The Cuillins make quite a major appearance in the third book. They’re the setting for an epic showdown and the trilogy’s finale. And what a setting they are.
Forgotten Skye comes out this summer with Evernight Teen. I can’t wait to transport you to a futuristic version of Skye that you’ve never seen before.
