P.J. McCoy was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, in 1970 and spent his early childhood near Sefton Park. After a career with Merseyside Police, from which he retired in July 2024, P.J. McCoy is now embarking on an exciting new chapter as an author.
His debut novel, Torn Page, is a thrilling Young Adult fantasy adventure rooted in Welsh history and folklore, set against the picturesque backdrop of North Wales.
A Story 40 Years in the Making
Due for publication in November 2026, the book has been more than 40 years in the making, having first been inspired by a ghost story Paul heard in 1984 while attending Glan Alyn Boarding School in Colomendy, North Wales.
The idea stayed with him throughout his adult life and career in policing, before a reunion in 2014 reignited his determination to finally bring the story to life.
The Plot
Combining Welsh legends, historical figures, magic and mystery, Torn Page follows a group of five teenage Scouts whose Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the 1980s takes a terrifying and unexpected turn.
On a snowy night at Colomendy Camp, an abandoned school suddenly comes alive with impossible magic. When Jac and her friends investigate, they encounter the ghost of Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, and uncover a terrifying secret involving an ancient spell and a portal into a frozen past.
But the Scouts are not the only ones searching for the power hidden within the legend. Dark forces are determined to rewrite history, whatever the cost.
Armed with little more than a cryptic map and enchanted relics, the Scouts must rely on one another to survive.
From Policing to Publishing
Speaking about the upcoming publication, P.J. McCoy said:
I first came up with the idea for Torn Page in 1984. It's incredible to think that something which began as an idea so many years ago has finally become a book. The story has grown and changed over the decades, but the fascination with Welsh history, folklore and the places that inspired it has never gone away.
Following his retirement from Merseyside Police in July 2024, P.J. McCoy has been able to devote more time to his passion for writing, developing his new career as an author.
Blending historical intrigue involving King Edward I and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd with Welsh witchcraft, supernatural mystery and fast-paced adventure, Torn Page is aimed primarily at readers aged 12 - 18, but also has crossover appeal for adults who enjoy historical fantasy and folklore.
For P.J. McCoy, the publication represents the culmination of a remarkable journey, from growing up in Liverpool and discovering a love of storytelling to spending his working life in public service and finally fulfilling a long-held ambition to become a published author.
Torn Page will be published in November 2026 through Leete Publishing.
