Hi
I thought I’d take this chance to put a few words down on ‘paper’ and answer some questions that might be on your minds. Please feel free to email me if you want any further details or indeed to answer any other questions you may have.
Why did I start writing? The honest truth is that I started jotting down a short story purely to learn how to write using a keyboard and a word processor. That was in the early 90s. For my own amusement I continued with the story and it evolved into quite a big entity; more than a short story but less than a book. Only family were allowed to read it and after a few favourable ‘reviews’ I continued to expand the story.
Why has it taken 15 years to complete? Well, I wrote to what I first imagined was the end of the book. After contacting about 100 literary agents I still hadn’t managed to get any of them to read it, let alone considering it for publication, so it was archived; something I read on occasion for my own enjoyment. In January 1996 I was involved in a flying accident when two Tornado jet fighters collided during a training exercise. I ejected and was badly injured; breaking my neck, skull and ribs, as well as ripping my left arm from it’s socket to dangle uselessly by my side for two years. During my convalescence I continued with the book and it was completed. It’s worthy of note that the lead character in the book suffered a helicopter crash, smashing his head, breaking his left shoulder and ending up in a coma; spooky given that it was written before my accident.
10th January 1996
How did I finally publish? My wife Fran encouraged me to complete the first book and it was a chance meeting with my publisher that set the ball rolling. On a stall at the Lincoln Book Show I recognised the book of my good friend Laurence Brown, an historical novelist, and spoke to the stall owner who turned out to be Paul Mould, my publisher. He agreed to read, and subsequently enjoyed the book and so here we are.
Is my hero based on me? In some ways yes, in others no. Certainly a fair bit of my writing draws on the experiences of my flying career in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. There the similarity ends; Harry is a tall, good looking, resourceful, energetic and dynamic young man; need I say more!?
What comes after the trilogy?I am already working on an autobiography, riding on the back of my action adventure books. Though not famous, yet (?) I have lead an interesting life in many ways. My father was in the RAF so I moved around a lot until boarding school at the age of eleven. Although a cliche, I can honestly say they were the best years of my life and some of the stories I can tell will appeal to a wide audience. Then there was 20 years flying in the armed services and finally my accident and subsequent recovery and rehabilitation. Enough to fill a good book I think.
