AN NHS doctor who turned to writing Sci-Fi to cope with ‘terrifying’ stress levels during the Covid pandemic is launching his third novel. 

Dr Josh Jones (or JD Jones to his fans), an anaesthetist at Wythenshawe Hospital, started his career as a junior doctor in 2019, just months before Covid turned the NHS upside down.

The Knutsford resident was catapulted into dealing with crises way beyond his experience, which at the time he found ‘utterly overwhelming’.

A stress counsellor at work said he should try something creative to deal with anxiety, and as he wrote Sci-Fi a lot as a youngster, thought he’d give that another go.

The dad-of-one threw himself into writing every day and began to rediscover some of the joys he’d experienced as a child.

Josh quickly published two books, part of his Chaos Legacies series, set in a dystopian universe, like ours but 50 years in the future.

Dr Josh signing copies of his Chaos Legacies series novel, The Fallen EmpireDr Josh signing copies of his Chaos Legacies series novel, The Fallen Empire (Image: Josh Jones)

‘Chaos’ is a real force within this universe which only select people can control, due to a mutation in their DNA.

He’s now set to launch his third book, Beggar Home Lane, at Dexter and Jones craft ale and gin bar on King Street on Monday, July 29. Everyone is welcome and there’s no need to book.

Josh said: “Beggar Home Lane is a departure from the Chaos universe, featuring a boy, Chris, who finds a window opening out on to the past.

“It gets very dark, very quickly.

“Writing as an adult started for me when, like lots of health professionals, working life was a real struggle.

“Even the consultants were terrified, which is saying something.

“It’s such a relaxing thing to do, escaping into a little world you’ve made in your head.

“In your imagination, you can have a little bit of a say over your own destiny.

“As a kid, I’d be running all over the playground coming up with all kinds of imaginary worlds.

“Some writers plan ever scene meticulously before they get going, while others, like Stephen King, fly by the seat of their pants.

“I’m a bit of a hybrid. I like to have a vague idea of what’s going to happen in each part of the book, but I like to let the characters do what they want.

“Sometimes readers tell me they didn’t expect such-and-such a thing to happen, and I say, ‘well, neither did I, really’.

“I always said I’d like to write full-time if that ever became an option, but since starting anaesthetics, which I love, I’m not so sure I would.

“My dream would be to do about 50 per cent of both.”

Asked whether he believes the actual future will conform some of his darker literary imaginings, he said: “Despite spending a lot of time imagining dystopia futures, I’m cautiously optimistic for humanity.

“The news can be quite negative, but I know people who do a lot to bring a little bit of hope into the world.

“There’s a lot of good goes on which I think doesn’t get spoken about enough.

“Like any satisfying story, I like to think the good guys will win out in the end.”