A few years ago, I read a book called River Dreams written by Dale Graff, the former director of Project STARGATE. STARGATE was a top secret program of the United States Government and Mr. Graff had been entrusted with training and using remote viewers to gather intelligence information. His viewers also searched for high-profile objects and people. Notable successes included tracking down a missing Soviet plane and assisting the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA.)

I was instantly hooked. ESP is, of course, hardly a fresh topic. Many non-fiction writers have given it their full attention. Second sight, the shining, telepathy, call it what you will, is also a staple of paranormal mysteries and horror stories.

But STARGATE was something else. Here was a project, which had received federal funding; a project that had passed the scrutiny of hard nosed military types. I liked the fact that this was an endeavour that had adhered to rigorous protocols. This was never a forum for tracking down the abominable snowman or channelling the spirit of Elvis Presley.

After reading River Dreams I continued doing research on remote viewing and my fascination grew. I was chilled to read that a group of remote viewers had foreseen 9/11 four years before it happened. They had posted scribbles on the Internet of planes flying into tall buildings and had written an open letter to the FBI warning that something like this was about to happen in the future.

And so - inspired - I decided that my hero in Season of the Witch would have at his disposal the gift of remote viewing. And what a fantastic gift to have. What could be more empowering than having the ability to surf the thought processes of others? Characters with second sight are usually portrayed in novels and films as miserable, tormented beings. I wanted to break away from the stereotype. Despite a few skeletons rattling in his closet, my hero is no tortured psychic forever at the mercy of his dark gift. He relishes the amazing talent that had been hardwired into his brain.

Of course, it would be hardly fair to give my hero such a powerful tool for his fighting arsenal, while my villain has to plod along doggedly with only the normal five senses at her disposal. A suspense novel requires deadly conflict. I therefore decided that my killer would be a remote viewer herself…and that she would have some other tricks up her sleeve as well...