Shieldhill man uses dad's death as motivation for first-ever book

A Shieldhill man has used the death of his father as a source of motivation to write his first-ever book.

Kevin McPhee realised a lifetime ambition when he released fictional thriller ‘The Speed Of Breakdown’ last month.

The Lidl store manager dedicated his spare time to writing when he was forced into self-isolation as a sufferer of rheumatoid arthritis at the outbreak of coronavirus.

‘The Speed Of Breakdown’ is set in Camelon and is loosely based on the life of his late dad, also named Kevin – a once promising footballer whose life was blighted by drugs.

The reaction to the book has taken Kevin Jr aback.

Community groups including Our Place Camelon and Tamfourhill have contacted him to ask if he would be willing to run writing sessions for those with drug dependency issues – an offer the 34-year-old is delighted to take up.

Kevin said: “I always wanted to write a book. I lost my dad at the end of last year and he was a bit of a character.

“A lot of it is made up but a couple of the stories are true. I started typing things out for personal pleasure and sent a couple of chapters to friends who thought it was good.

“I probably wouldn’t have written it if I hadn’t had that time during lockdown. It was every day and night.

“So many people are struggling with their mental health and I wanted to show there’s an avenue to go down. People want to know stories of potential redemption.”

‘The Speed Of Breakdown’ is available for purchase on Amazon.

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