Cleveleys based Michael Davies Publishes his Debut Novel

Michael Davies is a versatile writer whose work spans stage, screen, radio, online platforms, and print. In October 2024, he released Thin Ice, the latest instalment in the Bill Kemp series, following Outback, which was published by HarperCollins in May 2023. The series features the protagonist Bill Kemp—described by Jeffrey Deaver as “part James Bond, part Philip Marlowe, and all hero”. Kemp originally appeared in Desmond Bagley’s posthumously published thriller Domino Island, which Michael was commissioned to complete in 2019. Outback serves as a spiritual sequel, honouring Bagley’s legacy in the centenary year of his birth.

Desmond Bagley himself had strong ties to Blackpool, where he was raised. His parents ran a theatrical boarding house on Lord Street near Blackpool North station. Though he was born in Kendal and his family briefly operated a fish-and-chip shop in Bolton, he spent his formative years by the seaside, remaining in Blackpool throughout his teenage years and early adulthood. Beyond his novels, Michael Davies has made significant contributions to theatre. He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Tess, an adaptation of Tess of the d’Urbervilles, co-written with composer Michael Blore. The show was met with standing ovations during workshop performances at The Other Place at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

His debut original stage play, Rasputin’s Mother, won a national playwriting competition and was professionally staged in Yorkshire and Birmingham. His monologue South Sea Bubble was shortlisted for the Lyric Hammersmith/Warwick Arts Centre Playwriting Competition. Other notable works include Reality, which received a staged reading at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton, starring Robert Daws and Michael Fenton Stevens. His Shakespearean farce MacHamLear toured the UK and Ireland in the summer of 2023. After a successful career as a newspaper editor, Michael pursued an MA in TV Scriptwriting at De Montfort University, expanding his portfolio to include television, radio, and film. One of his radio plays, featuring Sir Derek Jacobi, is currently in the BBC’s commissioning process with a Radio 4 staff producer. His broader body of work includes feature films, corporate and online scripts, and short stories.

In addition to his creative writing, Michael has worked as a professional theatre critic for 30 years, contributing to national newspapers and serving as a regular reviewer for The Stage and various regional publications. His reviews can be found on WhatsOnStage.com and his own website, www.stagereviews.co.uk.