Hello all,
I promised you some time ago that in a future post I would tell you a bit more about myself and my inspirations. Well, here it is, as promised!
About the Author
I am a stay-at-home househusband living in Carmarthenshire, south Wales, although I’m originally from Hertfordshire, England. When I finally manage to get my baby daughter to sleep, I spend my time writing. I first dabbled in writing in 2010, when I began writing short stories. I still have those stories now, and the military theme of those writings is one that has recurred through my work ever since. After writing a number of short stories, by early 2013 I felt ready to try my hand at writing a novel. I look back at those first few scenes and they are unrecognisable now, mostly because of the number of times I started over from scratch. Yet, at the end of 2018, that perseverance culminated in the publication of my first novel, Vengeance of Hope, the first in a series. The second instalment, King of the Republic, is due for release in 2019. Writing is something where you learn as you go, and the learning never stops. One of the first things I learnt was how to take constructive criticism. Listening to people’s opinions when you are developing a piece of work is crucial. I also learned the value of reading as much as you can while you write. Of course, I already read a lot before, and working in a library at the time certainly helped with that, but once you have begun to write a novel and experienced the creation process, that part of you is still with you when you read. You can’t help but draw techniques from the writing of more experienced authors. I have mentioned that my work has a very military theme, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise then that I am a big fan of the likes of Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, Alex Rutherford and Joe Abercrombie. All of these great writers are experts at creating the drama and chaos of battle. Yet they all manage to balance that out by creating unforgettable, compelling characters who you can’t help but care for. I am so excited to be able to share Vengeance of Hope with you all, and to bring to life the violent, dangerous world of intrigue and corruption that Silrith Alfwyn and her comrades are unlucky enough to inhabit.
Make sure you check out my next newsletter, which will be sent out at the end of May, where I will treat you to another short story, this time bringing to life the world of the Visigoths.
See you then!