About me
In a nutshell, I write stories – mainly science fiction and fantasy – and written content for businesses. Hit the buttons to find out more about those, or read on if you really want to get to know the person behind the words.
Still here? Okay, here’s the story.
I’ve always loved stories. From books to movies to games to music. Stories are how we learn about different experiences and points of view, and they can be entertaining as well as educational or informative. From a young age I lived in the worlds other people made, imagining what could be happening beyond the story told. Eventually, I started creating my own worlds, and putting them down in words for others to read and (hopefully) enjoy.
I was fortunate enough to have teachers in school that encouraged me to write more and be more creative. After taking some time out of education, I studied English and Creative Writing at MMU. Learning from practicing writers proved to be just what I needed. They challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, forcing me to think and push beyond what I considered good. In many ways, that guidance would be the foundations for what would come later.
After graduating, I didn’t feel ready to publish anything. In fact, it took me some time to even get back to writing. First, I had to get back to reading again. Reading what I wanted to, including some of my favourites and idols, made me realise what I was missing. Some of my inspirations, then and now, include:
- JRR Tolkien
- Terry Pratchett
- Margaret Atwood
- Philip Pullman
- Isaac Asimov
- Robert Jordan
- Anne Rice
- Mary Shelley
- Brandon Sanderson
That break helped, and soon I started to churn out stories left, right, and center – but they didn’t feel good enough to me. I was looking for something more in my writing. It took a fair few years to find something that I thought had that spark. That book went through many drafts and iterations before I felt comfortable enough to show it to close friends.
In the meantime, I found a day job as a Content Specialist in digital marketing roles. I was able to write every day while learning about digital platforms, analytics, and strategy. It was connected but different enough to keep me interested. Every day there was something new to learn, and I love that. In fact, it led to me eventually becoming self-employed (see above).
In my late 20s, the travel bug hit – and hit hard. While I’ve always fond of exploring and adventures (often as a source of inspiration), trips to Budapest and Prague in 2017 cemented that it was time to see more of the world.
In 2018, I left for a year-long trip to Australia. Backpacking was a shock to the system, but one I relished once I got to grips with this new way of life. Living out of a rucksack (but making sure to always have a laptop and notepad close by) and moving around a lot inspired some of the scenes and settings for my stories.
That single-year trip ultimately turned into three! I just didn’t want to come home and took the chance to hop over to Aotearoa New Zealand. I even managed a short trip to south east Asia, too. It was an eye opening experience
Over those years, I ticked some big things off the bucket list:
- Skydiving
- Canyon Swinging
- Canyoning
- Visiting Hobbiton
- Visiting a dark sky reserve
It was an adventure I didn’t want to end, but a certain pandemic brought me back to the UK in 2021.
Returning to the UK acted as a catalyst for me. I published my first books, Introductions: Volume One and Reality Check, in the second half of 2021. I admit, I hate the marketing aspect of being a writer, but slowly learning and trying to do better.
Life might be a bit more “normal” since that three-year adventure, but my love of writing and travel remain. I wander off whenever I get the chance, even if it’s somewhere in the UK. There’s always a laptop, or a pen and some paper, to write down what I see, feel, and imagine. There’s a lot more stories in me – I’ve just got to get them written down.
Keep an eye on my social media profiles (links below), my blog, or sign up to my newsletter to get the latest news on what’s happening with my books and stories.