A man who grew up in Cwmbran has written a book set across Gwent and the Brecon Beacons.
Darren Powis, 56, has written fiction for around 20 years and has just published his latest book, The Talgorse Horror.
He told Cwmbran Life he met some independent filmmakers at an event in Newport. After talking to them about his new story, they expressed interest in possibly turning it into a film.
The book features many spots around Gwent, including Pontypool Abergavenny, and Newport.
Science fiction and local railway history
Darren said he’s woven his lifelong love of science fiction and horror, knowledge of the Gwent area and an interest in local railway history into the story.
His novella is set in 1920 at a remote railway station in the Brecon Beacons. The story centres around a young porter caught up in a bizarre struggle for survival when a storm strands passengers at Talgorse station. But they are not the only visitors. Somewhere in the darkness lurks an alien horror, intent on hunting every last one of them.
He said: “As always in this business, there’s nothing definite yet [regarding the film], but the book has drawn enthusiastic interest.
“There’s a rich vein of mythology, mystery and tales of the unknown in Gwent. Our hills, valleys and towns are ripe for setting tales like this.
‘Storytelling back on the map’
“I want to put storytelling back on the map and hopefully spin a few yarns that enthrall and entertain.”
Influences on Darren’s writing include HG Wells, HP Lovecraft, Stephen King and Gwent’s own legendary scribe of supernatural tales, Arthur Machen. Fans of the Tom Baker era of Doctor Who will also find much to enjoy in the book.
Darren is working on his next project, a sci-fi novel centred around the ancient Twmbarlwm hillfort, as well as a collection of short stories about strange events in a fictional New Town, which may seem familiar.
The Talgorse Horror is available from Amazon in paperback and as an ebook, with an audiobook version also in production.