Crime author Peter May had planned to never write another book until he watched in horror as world leaders reneged on promises to tackle climate change.
The bestselling author, who has sold more than 12million books, became so angry over the failure of Cop26 that he started writing a futuristic thriller set in a Scotland ravaged by environmental disaster.
Peter, 71, who has written the acclaimed Lewis Trilogy, The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man and The Chessmen, said: "The more I learned, the more alarmed I became. I realised it was something I needed to write about.
"But I'm a crime thriller writer. I didn't want to preach to my readers or bombard them with endless figures and scary predictions, so I decided to pick up my pen again and write a classic thriller in my home country but set 30 years from now in a world transformed by a changing climate.
"I never intended to write this book. As far as I was concerned, I had finished with writing. I had turned down several contracts from my publisher.
"I had hit the 70 mark, wanted to do my music, read for pleasure instead of research and spend time at our apartment on the Cote d'Azurt then Cop26 happened.
"I watched and read everything about the climate conference in Glasgow with a growing sense of horror and concern.
"My disbelief turned to anger as governments from around the world caved to commercial interests and failed to set the required targets to avoid the unthinkable. Our current crop of politicians sold out the future of our children and grandchildren for profit today.
"I watched with great sadness while the conference chairman Alok Sharma fought to hold back the tears as he apologised for the abject failure of the world to act." Only three months earlier the IPCC (the UN's Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change) had published their scariest prediction yet - that on current carbon emissions we were set to reach a 1.5C increase in global temperatures within the next 20 years, leading to catastrophic environmental disaster."
Horrified, Peter hopes the book A Winter Grave will act as a wake-up call for readers around the world.
Set in 2051, half of Glasgow is submerged in water as other countries around the world have been wiped out.
It follows veteran detective Cameron Brodie as he probes the death of an investigative reporter whose body is found entombed in ice on a mountain-top near the Highland village of Kinlochleven.
Torn by a broken marriage and faced with a devastating medical prognosis,
Brodie must lay to rest ghosts of his past as well as a killer determined to bury forever the chilling secret that the investigation threatened to expose.
Peter, married to fellow writer Janice Hally, said: "It was strange writing in the future as I had to imagine what the world would be like - not just after it had been ravaged by climate change. but also the advances in technology. I wanted it to be as realistic as possible. "Brodie flies to the Highlands in an eVTOL - an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle. It's essentially a passenger carrying drone controlled from the ground. The first prototypes of these have already been produced.
"I even used a flight simulator to programme the journey my detective takes from Helensburgh to Mull and through Glencoe to Loch Leven, which I watched through a VR headset.
"There are also some James Bond-esque gadgets in the book, including facial recognition glasses, which may seem farfetched in 2022 but will be probably even more advanced in the 2050s."
Peter, about to embark on a book tour with stops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Inverness, St Andrews and Dundee, said: "Although a lot has changed in Brodie's 2051 with coastal countries submerged, the Clyde's banks burst and a worldwide immigrant crisis as nations disappear beneath the ocean, newspapers are still around. Even though digital is ruling the world, a handful of papers including the Daily Record and Sunday Mail are still bringing the nation the news."
Despite the gloomy future outlined in May's latest novel , the writer believes there is still hope.
He said: "I don't claim my prediction for 2051 will come to pass, only that it might.
"Many scientists believe we have already passed the tipping point beyond which there will be no turning back for our planet or our species. I take the view that if we take drastic action now, it might not yet be too late. There is always hope because without hope we have nothing."
A previous book, Lockdown, written by Peter 15 years before Covid, predicted a global pandemic. Now he hopes his new book will make his thriller fans sit up and take notice of climate change. and think about environmental disaster. s as crimes.
The dad of one, who has lived in the Lot region of France for the past 20 years, said A Winter Grave, published on January 19, is dedicated to his best friend, who passed away in February last year.
Peter and Stephen Penn formed the rock band Harlem Shuffle as teenagers and toured all over Scotland. In 1965, aged 17, they ran off to London to seek their fame and fortune. Their 10-day unsuccessful bid for the big time inspired May's 2015 bestseller Runaways.
Peter, whose books have been published in more than 30 languages, said: "Stephen and I grew up together on Glasgow's southside. We were best pals and had so many adventures together, including our trip to London.
"He had a brain tumour which had been operated on and it was looking good for a while but then it came back and he went very quickly. It's a real tragedy.
"We spent hours recording in my wee studio here in France. Stephen was a big supporter of all things environmental and I know he would have loved and been proud of this book. Sadly he never got to read it but it is dedicated to him.
"I have recorded an anthem for climate change. called Don't Burn The World to coincide with the book's launch. It's a collaboration with various artists and a children's choir from Stornoway singing the chorus.
"I would have loved to have Stephen play on the track but when it is played I will think of him and smile."
PETER MAY EVENTS – A WINTER GRAVE – JANUARY 2023
Monday January 23 – Glasgow
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/peter-may-a-winter-grave
Tuesday January 24 – Inverness
https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-peter-may/inverness-102384
Wednesday January 25 – Perth
https://www.culturepk.org.uk/whats-on/a-winter-grave-an-evening-with-peter-may/
Thursday January 26 - Dundee
Waterstones Dundee – formal signing at 12 midday
Thursday January 26 - St Andrews
Toppings, St Andrews at 7.30pm
https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/st-andrews/peter-may-2023/
Friday January 27 - Edinburgh
– Toppings, Edinburgh at 7pm
https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinburgh/peter-may-2023/
DON’T BURN THE WORLD will be available to stream and download on from January 14 ( https://thepetermayband.hearnow.com/), and is available now as a video on YouTube.
