The inspiration for my suspense novel, The Other Side of Silence, came after I was introduced to the concept of the Pythagorean Comma and the problem of perfect tuning. It was a complete surprise to me to learn that it is impossible to tune a modern musical instrument with one hundred percent accuracy. I couldn't believe that the entire planet was filled with instruments that are all slightly off-key and that we've all become so "earwashed" that we're simply accepting this situation without any further thought.

When I started doing research on this topic I discovered that there is something called the Pythagorean Comma, and that this odd-sounding phenomenon is the reason why no instrument is in perfect tune. I also discovered that ancient civilizations were already aware of the mathematical problem of the Pythagorean Comma and that many brilliant minds over the ages - Pythagoras and Johann Sebastian Bach amongst others - had grappled with this puzzle. No-one, however, has ever been able to come up with a perfect solution. The Pythagorean Comma therefore represents one of the oldest mysteries in the science of sound.

I thought a book about this very ancient riddle, if placed in a modern context, would make for a compelling story. And so I wrote The Other Side of Silence, a novel about four friends who set out on a quest: a quest to solve the mystery of perfect tuning. But what they don't realise is that this is a forbidden quest and that they are tampering with something ancient and very dangerous, which could well push the world to the edge of chaos...

Computers and Rock Gongs

In The Other Side of Silence I was interested in bringing together two disparate worlds. The one world is the high tech world - the world of the Internet, computers, hackers and 21st century physics. The other world is a more primitive world where mysticism and intuition still play a vital role. My hero is very much a man of the modern age: he is an American computer whizz, a mathematician and the creator of a cutting edge computer game. But as the book progresses he finds himself in great peril and is forced to look for an answer outside of 21st century technology. He finds this answer in Africa - an environment that is alien to him - but it is here where he discovers the power of Africa's legendary rock gongs. Rock gongs are bell-like stones that were used by neolithic man in ancient rituals and ceremonies. These stones were believed to have great healing power - a power so great, it could even prevent the advent of drought or war. I thought it would create an interesting juxtaposition to square off the power of the modern computer against the power of the prehistoric "computer": rock gongs, millions of years old, but imbued with an inexplicable, but usable force.

I wrote The Other Side of Silence as a tribute to the power of sound, and music in particular. Music has always been one of my passions. My mother is a teacher of voice and I grew up in a house where music was a constant joy. I have eclectic taste and a voracious appetite for all kinds of music. My life is richer because of music. To borrow a phrase by Thomas Carlyle: Music is well said to be the speech of angels.

The Other Side of Silence was a challenging book to write, but it ultimately provided me with an extremely rewarding writing experience. I certainly hope you will enjoy it and who knows? Maybe after reading The Other Side of Silence you will never listen to the world quite the same way again...