WEB designer, musician and now an increasingly successful author – Mark Hayhurst certainly has plenty of strings to his bow.

The 32-year-old from Halifax will launch his second novel, Psychotic Escaping Justice, at The Cotton Factory in Huddersfield tomorrow.

Mark will follow the launch with a book signing on July 11 at Waterstones on New Street in Huddersfield.

Though he was born in Wakefield and lives in Halifax, Mark’s work as a web designer takes him all over the Huddersfield area and he has drawn inspiration from it.

His book is set in the fictional town of Holme Bridge and details the exploits of a serial killer who stalks the community with a string of violent murders.

While detective Scott Dempsey tries to solve the horrific crimes, an amnesiac across town struggles to get to grips with who he is – does he hold the secret to the killer’s identity? Can Dempsey solve the case before the serial killer wreaks his final carnage?

Mark says: “If people from Holme Bridge thought this was about them, I’d be lynched! In my mind the place was a cross between Holmfirth and Hebden Bridge.

“The first book was set in the same place but that was an out and out comedy. The characters were mainly just a vehicle for the storyline. This is still funny in parts but it has a serious side and is much darker.

“My editor described it as a cross between Peep Show and Silence of the Lambs.”

Mark is inspired greatly by quirky or dark TV comedy shows such as Peep Show and The League of Gentlemen.

In fact, his ambition is to write and direct his own films and series on TV.

His first book – 2007’s Friday At The Nobody Inn – was destined to be a screenplay.

But Mark was having trouble getting companies to take it on board.

He said: “Nobody wanted to look at a screenplay because I didn’t have representation, so I turned it into a novel and got a deal that way.

“I got the deal on my first try. That’s unusual. But while most writers have about eight books done by the time they get published, I didn’t have chance to build that up.”

Mark’s ambitions to write for the screen could be coming true – his first and second books have attracted the attention of Tech Productions and Company Pictures, which has been responsible for hit TV shows Skins and Shameless.

Mark said: “It’s early days yet but they have expressed an interest which is great.”

Mark’s success in the writing world has meant his band P.L.U.K has become dormant.

The group – originally called Planet Lounge – formed 18 years ago when vocalist and guitarist Mark and his bandmates were in their teens.

The signed a short-lived record deal in 1999 and toured with bands including Shed Seven, Kaiser Chiefs and Corinne Bailey Rae.

But the band members have found themselves with busy lives and now only gig once a year and record in the studio every couple of years.

Mark said: “We’ve not split up as such, but we are pretty dormant at the moment.”

While his web design job ‘pays the bills’, Mark’s passion lies with writing.

He said: “Ever since being a kid I have always written. When I picked up a guitar, I wrote songs. Then, when my band went quiet, I started with the books.”

Not content with all this, as well as his job, Mark intends to try his hand at film-making early next year.

He is currently waiting to hear whether he will get funding from Screen Yorkshire for the project.

Mark says his dream job would be to work full-time on screenplays and he would love to progress and be involved in the process of production and directing too.

He said: “I’d love to write, produce and direct – the whole thing. But that might have to wait a bit yet!”

l Psychotic Escaping Justice costs £7.99 from Paperbooks Publishing.