AFTER years of working behind the scenes on multi-million dollar film and television productions, Scott Baker was inspired to write a story of his own.

The Braddon author, who was the onset screen colourist for all three of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” films and also worked on hit television show “Dawson’s Creek”, has released his debut fiction novel, “The Rule of Knowledge”, which he describes as an “action-packed” thriller.

Scott says putting pen to paper with no budget limitations was a “refreshing” change.

“I didn’t have to worry about a big budget or actors or logistics – it was just up to my imagination,” he says.

“I spent a year making ‘The Hobbit’ and while it was one of the best experiences of my life, you’re a small cog in a big machine and that does inspire you to do your own stuff.”

Described by reviewers as “Da Vinci Code meets Spartacus meets the Time Traveller’s Wife,” the story centres around high school teacher Shaun Strickland, who discovers a diary amongst a bundle of ancient documents, telling a story that will change history. Through the bending of time, Shaun learns of a mission to interview great historical figures.

Scott says “questioning the foundations of faith” is a concept he’s wanted to explore for a while.

“It came from high school, where there was a girl who was a Jehovah’s witness, and a guy who was Catholic, and they were having this debate about what their belief is about what happens when you die,” he says.

“They each had a bible with them, and the passage the girl quoted was where Jesus was hanging on a cross and he says to one of the guys hanging there with him, ‘In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’ In the guy’s version it says ‘In truth I will tell you today you will be with me in paradise.’

“The placement of a comma totally changed the whole implication of the passage and these two religions had really different ideas based on this one line. I thought it would be really cool to go back and ask Jesus what he really meant.”

Scott won’t reveal his own religious beliefs – “I don’t want to alter people’s perceptions before they read the book, and I don’t think it’s necessarily that relevant anyway,” he says.

Scott used film-making skills to put together his own trailer for “The Rule of Knowledge” in Canberra, turning the beach volleyball courts at the Civic Pool into a gladiator’s ring at the Colosseum.

“I’d never seen anyone shoot something ‘epic’ or like it could be a film. I wanted to do something a bit different to the typical trailer,” he says.

“Ideally in the future I’d love to keep making films and also writing, because there’s great things about both.”

For more information visit ruleofknowledge.com/