Wilmar Sugar Australia Locomotive Driver Mathew Hudson’s first novel, The Violet Prophecy, was more than 14 maintenance seasons in the making.

Mathew Hudson's debut novel The Violet Prophecy is available from a range of book retailers, including Mary Who? Bookshop in Townsville.“I wrote the original story, shelved it, got on with life and then scrapped it and started again about 10 years later, around the time my daughter was born,” Mathew said.

“The fresh storyline focused on a new main character – the girl with the violet eyes.”

Mathew, who publishes under the name MD Hudson, said one of the benefits of seasonal work was that he could drive trains for Victoria Mill for six months and then concentrate on other interests – like tapping out a debut novel – in the off-season.

“The guys at work have been really supportive – some even asked for my autograph,” Mathew said.

“I love sharing it with everyone, it’s been really great that the guys have been excited for me.”

Inspired by authors like Stephen King, Mathew said his book would appeal to lovers of the Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings and even Game of Thrones.

“It’s like Harry Potter without Harry Potter,” he said.

“There’s a little bit of everything - fantasy, adventure and, of course, a battle at the end.”

The Violet Prophecy is book one in the Flight of Ascension trilogy and centres around a young girl with violet eyes who has mistakenly been chosen to fight in the Selection – a battle to the death. From the desert to pirate-filled oceans, readers will navigate a dangerous world ruled by a narcissistic king.

Mathew is currently finalising the second instalment, ready to release in May next year.

“I actually got very carried away with it and realised I needed to finish the first book before I finished the second,” he said.

“The characters are twice as deep and twice as involved – I am looking forward to everyone getting to know them better.”

After waiting so long for his dream to be realised, Mathew said it was great to see that his hard work had paid off.

“It feels a bit surreal at the moment,” he said.

“You put a lot of hard work into something and hope it works out and it’s really exciting that it did.”

The Violet Prophecy is currently available on Amazon, Booktopia, Angus and Robertson and EBay, as well as the Mary Who? Bookshop in Townsville.