Author Biog
I was born back in 1965 in the city of Salisbury, England. From an early age I loved to read and really enjoyed creative writing at primary school - Aged 10, I won a story writing competition for which the prize was to have the tale turned into a school play. [It was about a witch, but that's about all I can remember]. At secondary school [Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School] I took to the 'arty' side of learning - science was never my thing. I studied English at degree level at Matlock College in Derbyshire (now Derby University) and enjoyed 3 great years of student life before taking a gap year back in Salisbury to work and earn some money. First job was with some cowboy outfit selling carpet cleaning - they gave me a company car but went bust and all my commission cheques bounced. Then I went to work for an Insurance company before being offered the chance to go and work in London. I shared a house with 3 mates and it was a real buzz, but the career in journalism was now abandoned (I also turned down a chance to go and work for Walt Disney in Florida - I still have the letter today). After 2 years in the capital, I wanted to get back out of the city and even though I took a pay cut, took a job with a big American bank nearer to home. Highlights of my time there:1) getting the opportunity to move (temporarily) to Dublin in 1994 - what a city, what great people and then 2) meeting my wife Claire. I am now happily married (10 years in October 2011) with a wonderful daughter, Jodie. They give me all the support and encouragement I need to keep on writing, getting that buzz with every book published. As for the future, you have to keep on hoping to one day live the dream......
Interview - conducted by DOJ
Let's start with an obvious one, who are your favourite writers and why? I would have to start with Charles Dickens as I think his writing is timeless. Dickens' novels capture so much through the plot and characterisation, with the latter often moving towards caricature when enhancing bizarre traits. I have learned a lot from this style in making supporting characters stand out. Above all Dickens uses language superbly to the extent that the story telling has almost a poetic feel. I do enjoy a number of modern writers such as Ben Elton, Mark Billingham and Simon Kernick. Ben Elton writes with a passion about a wide range of topics, expertly crafting the plot around each subject. Mark Billingham writes so expertly in bringing realism to the Thorne books that you have to remind yourself it is fiction. Simon Kernick's books are the ultimate 'page turners', you get so engrossed in the fast moving plot that you just want to read that next chapter, and then the next.
So what is your all time favourite book? 'Nicholas Nickleby' by Charles Dickens. It is one man's story as he strives for survival in bad times, with a wonderful mix of pathos, social injustice and ultimate victory.
And the best book you have read in recent times? 'One Day' by David Nicholls - it is just such an original book. I went to college at the same time as the main characters in the 80's so can really relate to the timeline of events told as a snapshot of one day every year. Will be interesting to see what the film will be like.
You once had aspirations to be a Journalist, what happened? Yes and I did work as a local journalist as part of my degree studies; on the Matlock Mercury (see dodgy looking 80's photo) under the infamous editor, Don Hale. I really enjoyed my time and was all set to take a post-grad in journalism but during a gap year I ended up working in finance and the lure of the City of London came into play; I moved to London with a few mates and we shared a house in Morden, just like The Young Ones.
Any regrets? No, fate is what it is; besides someone once told me I was not horrible enough to be a journalist.
What motivated you to write your first book? I wanted to prove I could do it (the old adage that everyone has a book in them) and also just to be doing something different to my other hobbies (sports) and day job. So I wrote 'You Are Here', which was a good way to reflect on the many lad's holidays I went on before getting married. There was a lot of anecdotes and material I could use.I really did not think about getting it published, but the reaction from friends was so good. It is still my best selling book.
'You Are Here' is your most famous book, there was talk of a Movie? Yes, that was a while ago now when a famous British film company contacted me about screenplay rights. Not sure if anything will happen now but it was initially very exciting; in my mind I had even begun casting, with Emma Pierson as Elsie of course..
What's your approach to writing? It has changed a lot since 'You Are Here' when I used to hand write everything from ideas to the actual script, and then type and re-type. Now I just type straight away, trying to act out each scene in my mind. One thing has remained constant, lots of research.
What is your view on the current writing scene? Generally it is exciting, with the Internet giving more and more diverse writers the opportunity to find an audience. Crime novels seem to be the top trend, and there are so many good crime writers out there.
So what is your all time favourite book? 'Nicholas Nickleby' by Charles Dickens. It is one man's story as he strives for survival in bad times, with a wonderful mix of pathos, social injustice and ultimate victory.
And the best book you have read in recent times? 'One Day' by David Nicholls - it is just such an original book. I went to college at the same time as the main characters in the 80's so can really relate to the timeline of events told as a snapshot of one day every year. Will be interesting to see what the film will be like.
You once had aspirations to be a Journalist, what happened? Yes and I did work as a local journalist as part of my degree studies; on the Matlock Mercury (see dodgy looking 80's photo) under the infamous editor, Don Hale. I really enjoyed my time and was all set to take a post-grad in journalism but during a gap year I ended up working in finance and the lure of the City of London came into play; I moved to London with a few mates and we shared a house in Morden, just like The Young Ones.
Any regrets? No, fate is what it is; besides someone once told me I was not horrible enough to be a journalist.
What motivated you to write your first book? I wanted to prove I could do it (the old adage that everyone has a book in them) and also just to be doing something different to my other hobbies (sports) and day job. So I wrote 'You Are Here', which was a good way to reflect on the many lad's holidays I went on before getting married. There was a lot of anecdotes and material I could use.I really did not think about getting it published, but the reaction from friends was so good. It is still my best selling book.
'You Are Here' is your most famous book, there was talk of a Movie? Yes, that was a while ago now when a famous British film company contacted me about screenplay rights. Not sure if anything will happen now but it was initially very exciting; in my mind I had even begun casting, with Emma Pierson as Elsie of course..
What's your approach to writing? It has changed a lot since 'You Are Here' when I used to hand write everything from ideas to the actual script, and then type and re-type. Now I just type straight away, trying to act out each scene in my mind. One thing has remained constant, lots of research.
What is your view on the current writing scene? Generally it is exciting, with the Internet giving more and more diverse writers the opportunity to find an audience. Crime novels seem to be the top trend, and there are so many good crime writers out there.
Favourite Things - conducted by DOJ
Favourite:
Film: The Apartment
TV programme: Life On Mars, Auf Wiedershen Pet.
Band / Singer: The Jam, The Alarm, Marc Bolan, Johnny Cash, Ian Mcnabb.
Album; Feel Free by Mike Peters.
Actor: James Cagney, Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino.
Actress: Emma Pierson, Natalie Wood, Emily Blunt.
Sport: Rugby, Football.
Team: Bath (Rugby), Tottenham Hotspur (Football).
Sport's Star: Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson.
Sporting Moment: 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.
Drink: Bishops Finger, Peroni (Beer); Rioja, Chablis (wine).
Meal: Chicken Dopiaza.
Country Visited: Italy.
Place: Salisbury Cathedral Close.
Quote: "Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups" & "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."
Film: The Apartment
TV programme: Life On Mars, Auf Wiedershen Pet.
Band / Singer: The Jam, The Alarm, Marc Bolan, Johnny Cash, Ian Mcnabb.
Album; Feel Free by Mike Peters.
Actor: James Cagney, Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino.
Actress: Emma Pierson, Natalie Wood, Emily Blunt.
Sport: Rugby, Football.
Team: Bath (Rugby), Tottenham Hotspur (Football).
Sport's Star: Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson.
Sporting Moment: 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.
Drink: Bishops Finger, Peroni (Beer); Rioja, Chablis (wine).
Meal: Chicken Dopiaza.
Country Visited: Italy.
Place: Salisbury Cathedral Close.
Quote: "Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups" & "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."