A FORMER Chronicle reporter will release his second novel later this month.

Jamie Smith, a married father-of-three, who worked as a reporter for the Chronicle back in 2007, has followed up his successful debut novel, The Soviet Comeback, with Where Giants Walk; a fantasy which follows the journey of a boy called Barry Birchwood.

It is his first foray into the world of young adult/high fantasy, after his first novel sat firmly in the spy thriller category.

He said: “It feels a lifetime ago now that I worked at the Chronicle, but I owe everything to it, really.

“I had graduated from Bangor University the year before, had just been given the boot from a temporary job I had as an admin assistant at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and was drifting wondering what to do with my life, as many graduates do.

“I’d studied history with journalism and reached out to the paper to see if I could intern and make something useful out of my degree.

“They said I could volunteer with them for two weeks, but after getting a front page story in my second week, my two week internship turned into several months.

“I learned an enormous amount there, and it put in place some of the cornerstones of writing, which I still depend on today.”

READ MORE:

Campaign to rural North Wales areas' digital deficit could save lives

Woman and daughter rescued after struggling in Gwynedd waters

After living in Bangor, Llandegfan and Caernarfon during his time in North Wales, Jamie is still a frequent visitor to the area, and now lives in Donegal, Ireland.

Where Giants Walk follows the adventure of Barry, a teenager with no friends, no father and no interest in having an adventure, much as he enjoys reading about them.

When he stumbles on the entrance to another world where nothing is what it seems, Barry finds himself in an ancient empire that has fallen into darkness and chaos.

With a ruthless overlord claiming power and giants running rampant, the resistance movement looks to Barry for help.

In order to survive, he must overcome much more than just his own demons.

“I love reading fantasy,” Jamie added.

“Whether it’s Harry Potter or Game of Thrones and everything in between, so if you’re like me and enjoy the escapism that these other worldly adventures can offer, I think you might really enjoy Where Giants Walk.”

Where Giants Walk is aimed at anyone older than the age of 12 - available for pre-order now via WHSmith or the Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie publishers website, the book goes on general sale on August 29.