Author TSJ Smith's second novel inspired 'in the hills of Donegal'

Donegal-based author TSJ Smith is about to release his highly anticipated second novel. 

The married father of three, 39, who lives at He lives in Ardeskin, Donegal Town, has followed up his successful debut novel, the Soviet Comeback, with Where Giants Walk - a fantasy which follows the incredible journey of a boy called Barry Birchwood.

Barry is 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. Can he find his courage in this strange and dangerous world? In order to survive, he must overcome much more than just his own demons.

Smith said: “So much of the land that Barry’s journey takes across is inspired by the magic that seeps out of the very ground in Donegal and the mysticism that’s alive in the hills, crags, rocks and beaches of this county I’m proud to call home. My road to Donegal was something of an adventure but I don’t think I can quite compare it to what Barry has to endure!

“Much of this book was written in the wee hours of the night after being kept awake by my then first small children (now I have three!) and once she was back to sleep it was the only time there was a period of quiet and no distractions – albeit the days did feel rather long after starting at 4am …”

“Stories full of magic and wonder such as this, that aren’t weighed down by lots of violence and things like that, that can be enjoyed by adults as much if not more than teenagers feel rare, and too often we lose that escape that our imagination can give us. Where Giants Walk was so much fun to write and really gave my imagination a work out.”

‘Where Giants Walk’ is being released by Pegasus Publishers, on Thursday, August 29.

Smith was born and raised in Birmingham and studied history and journalism at the University of Wales, Bangor. He spent several years moving around the UK and Australia before landing in Thame, Oxfordshire where this book was written. 

The idea for Where Giants Walk first came to him while searching for inspiration in the Cotswolds and in the hills of Donegal - both places alive with history, magic and mysticism. He is also the author of the acclaimed spy thriller, The Soviet Comeback.