TIME at a North Wales school, has become the foundation of a new fantasy novel full of intrigue and witchcraft.
After more than four decades in the making, author P.J. McCoy is finally bringing his story to life with the publication of Torn Page, a thrilling new Young Adult book rooted in Welsh history and folklore, set in picturesque North Wales.
Due for publication this month, Torn Page began life as an idea in 1984, inspired by a childhood ghost story connected to Glan Alyn Boarding School, at Colomendy, Loggerheads, just outside Mold.
Born in Toxteth, Liverpool, P.J. attended Glan Alyn Boarding School from September 1982 until June 1986.
He said: "I initially persuaded my mum to let me go after my best friend went there and raved about it!
"My time at Glan Alyn was unforgettable and directly inspired my debut novel, Torn Page. The seeds of the story were planted right there in May 1984 as a 14-year-old boarder, inspired by a local ghost story about 'Peg Leg', the overgrown abandoned stone cottage opposite our dormitories, and exploring the surrounding area like Maeshafn and the Leete alongside the River Alyn, particularly Cascade Wood.
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"Loggerheads Country Park is a fabulous place to inspire creative minds. Spending time around there during my school days at Glan Alyn gave my imagination complete freedom to grow, and it played a huge role in sparking the world behind Torn Page."
More than 40 years later, that early spark has developed into a supernatural adventure combining Welsh legends, historical figures, magic and mystery with the camaraderie of a group of teenagers: Five Scouts. A frozen moment in time. A royal threat seven centuries in the making.
Set during a 1980s Duke of Edinburgh expedition at Colomendy, Torn Page follows five Scouts who soon discover their expedition is anything but ordinary. On a snowy night at Colomendy Camp, an abandoned school suddenly comes alive with impossible magic. When Jac and her friends investigate, they encounter the ghost of Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, and uncover a terrifying secret involving an ancient spell and a portal into a frozen past.
But the Scouts are not the only ones searching for the power hidden within the legend. Dark forces are determined to rewrite history, whatever the cost. Armed with little more than a cryptic map and enchanted relics, the Scouts must rely on one another to survive. They came for a badge. Now, they’re fighting for their souls.
Torn Page brings together historical intrigue, including King Edward I, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Welsh witchcraft, with star alignments, supernatural mystery and a fast-moving adventure designed primarily for readers aged 12 to 18 years, while also offering strong crossover appeal for adult readers who enjoy historical fantasy, folklore and stories steeped in place.
Talking about the upcoming publication P.J. added: “It’s incredible to think that something which began as an idea so many years ago has finally become a book. The story has grown and changed over the decades, but the fascination with Welsh history, folklore and the places that inspired it has never gone away.”
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