An author from Ayr has spoken of her ambition to see her Scottish spy thriller become a hit TV show like Killing Eve.
Erin Swann, 20, would love to see her book Slate Retribution hit the small screen.
The film student says her fictional story of elite assassins taking on a terrorist group – which is corrupting the country – is a clash between the hit series starring Jodie Comer and the gripping crime drama, Line of Duty.
Set in 2015 Edinburgh and Glasgow, the story follows Naomi Jade’s character as she sets out to find answers after discovering that her school friend, Jessica-Grace Winters, is being brainwashed into becoming an assassin. .
Erin, from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, wrote the book while studying at the University of the West of Scotland in Ayr.
Her book came out last year along with special “top secret” memorabilia that Erin sells to fans on the Etsy online platform.
The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.
Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customize your page with the sections that interest you.
The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now from iOS and android.
(Picture: DAILY RECORD)
The talented writer told Ayrshire Live: “It’s basically a Scottish spy mystery.
“The story is told from two points of view. One of the things I wanted to do was give complex female characters – I love seeing those kinds of characters in books, on TV and in movies.
“It’s kind of like Killing Eve meets Line of Duty.
“I wanted to be between Edinburgh and Glasgow because this stuff always happens in the US and England.
“It was quite terrifying at first to think about this thing that sat in my laptop for years and is now there.
“But it was exciting to finally have it released for people to read and the response has been tremendous.”
Erin now aims to produce a portfolio of work to present her vision to TV bosses.
Last week, she saw her ideas come to life after shooting a Slate Abomination short with Ayrshire director Kris Scott – who saw his hit series Detachment stream on Amazon, with a second on the way.
Dramatic scenes from a storyline that forms a prequel to the book were filmed at the Mercure Hotel and Wellington Statue Square in Ayr.
Erin said, “When I spoke to Kris, we decided to put together a portfolio to bring him forward for a TV series. I could see it was pure BBC One drama.
(Photo: Sonja Blietschau)
“The short has been reworked as a prequel to the book which was filmed in 2001.”
Erin lives with cerebral palsy which can sometimes require her to use crutches or a wheelchair for long walks.
Before becoming an author, she made a splash as a competitive swimmer, mingling with top pool performers including British Paralympian star Ellie Simmonds.
(Image: Submitted/Ayrshire Live)
Now Erin works as a swimming instructor in South Ayrshire – teaching children at local authority swimming pools, including Troon and the Citadel.
Slate Retribution was released under the guise of Emery Hale with Erin Swann also an author who writes erotic fiction, including titles such as “Passion at the Lake”.
Erin joked, “It was fun having an author name. I felt I had to change it so I became Emery Hale.
Don’t miss the latest Ayrshire titles –sign up for our free daily newsletter here
