Pain and Payback Series
I think we all like a hero, maybe because we can look for traits in ourselves within the protagonists. Someone who does a good thing, despite the how difficult life is, without seeking credit or reward, other than putting a smile on someone’s face. As Mikey Stott would say, ‘It is nice to be nice’.
If only life was that simple. Being nice is one thing but being heroic can often mean standing up for those unable to stand up for themselves, righting a wrong. Nice will get you nowhere when presented with cruelty and heartlessness, that is the time when one must fight fire with fire.
We’ve all learned to do that at some point in our lives, a school yard bully, manipulative work colleague, a criminal intent on taking what doesn’t belong to them, or even a family member – perhaps the worse of the lot.
Mikey Rob and Jake are not your quintessential heroes, far from it; Mikey cries at the drop of a hat, Rob was born with a silver spoon up his backside and Jake is hell bent on hospitalising half of his clients.
Their upbringings were troubled at times, but instead of allowing their pasts to consume them in negativity they are determined to make a life for themselves full of excitement and fulfilment.
Each episode I have written is a testament to their determination to do the right thing, even if that means breaking a few bones along the way. Fair’s fair, as Jake might say.
Mistakes are often made, it’s not what we do when everything is going well, it’s what we do when it goes south, no one is perfect, and what is life if we don’t have a laugh along the way.
The story of
Rory O'Rourke
One of five siblings, Rory O’Rourke was raised in the Northeast of England. After studying Civil Engineering, he built and expanded his own engineering business across Europe and the USA, before selling the group in 2018.
Rory began writing fiction immediately after and completed his debut novel, Memories Can’t Wait, in 2024. Although his career has been in engineering, he has always had a yearning to write fiction.
Exclusively Yours
A Signed Copy — Just For You
Get your hands on a personally signed copy of either of the Pain And Payback books — Memories Can’t Wait or One Way Or Another.
With every copy sold, £1 is donated to the Down Syndrome Society.
