Aaron McCarthy

Cork, Ireland, February 04, 2013 --(PR.com)-- In 1996 an English-born Scottish woman published her first book. That woman was, of course, Joanne Kathleen Rowling and that book was, of course, the first in the spellbinding "Harry Potter" series. Smashing records across the world, spawning the most successful film franchise ever and captivating readers for a full decade. Quidditch, muggle and "Expilliarmus" - all these terms are commonplace today, originating from that magical series of seven books. One of the attractions of the series was that readers could grow up with the likes of Harry, Ron and Hermione - they could escape to a fully believable secondary world. That's the perennial appeal of "Harry Potter" - the fact that you could escape into this world and live seven years there. The characters grew and developed alongside you and, most importantly, it seemed real.

However with the release of the final "Harry Potter" book in July 2007, came the final year in that enchanting world. Many readers felt that "Deathly Hallows" was a brilliant ending to a brilliant series of books but by the time the train left the station at the end, they were left with a hollow feeling. "All was well" in the Potterverse but what would come next?

What characters could readers grow up with now? Indeed this is a question that Aaron McCarthy, a then-12 year old boy, found himself asking. Unable to find the answer in his local library, Aaron did what he had to do - he put pen to paper.

Inspired by a short story he wrote in fifth class (when he was eleven), Aaron began to write a book containing beak-nosed teachers, terrifying schools and robot lions. This book - "The School Heroes" - ended up forming the basis of the next six years of his life when he further crafted the world of Megalopolis.

Now eighteen Aaron has started to rewrite that book he wrote when he was twelve - now with the experience needed to create a fully realised secondary world.

"I think I'll write six books in the series," Aaron says. "With the characters growing up every year. The plot is essentially evil teachers meet students with super hero inventions but underneath this there's a darker, more complex reality that is deliciously given out in bits. For example in this book Andrew, the main character - who looks a bit like me -, learns that his parents have been lying to him his whole life."

Aaron promises exciting, diverse characters such as an ex-model-come-teacher, a mysterious old man with seven scars, a class genius who keeps himself to himself and...of course...love interests.

The first draft of the first book (written when Aaron was twelve) is now available on Amazon and serves as an interesting insight into the world of Megalopolis.

"It's a sneak peek," Aaron says. "I wrote it when I was twelve. I can write a lot better now but this offers a look at the plot. It's not as immersive but it helps to paint the picture. Also anyone who buys this eBook will be able to buy the proper book for free once it's released."

The first book in the series is out later this year and you may keep up-to-date with the latest news at aaronmccarthy.blogspot.com.

Aaron has also written a modern "book-form" adaptation of "Macbeth" ("Macbeth: Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair") which is available on Amazon today.