I did not read many full length books until my early twenties until I met my life partner who is an avid reader as he started reading "grown up books" at seven years of age.
This introduction to different genres and authors was wonderful! I discovered I had lost out on a fascinating source of material that engages, angers, excites and intrigues. My enthusiasm has not waned since. I enjoy true and fictional stories about people, places, animals, social history, high adventure and speculative fiction.
I have trekked to some remote places in the world, existing at a rudimentary level without any luxuries for weeks. One of the best experiences was sleeping under the stars, then patience rewarded me with a glimpse of those elusive creatures that are just active at dawn and dusk. My periods of relaxation were occupied reading the small pile of books I packed in my rucksack, now I carry digital versions.
I live in a quiet region of the U.K where daily life is shared with a menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens, bees and nature's creatures that need care due to injury. Such solitude offers an ideal environment for story development and writing without interruptions.
Writing has been a major part of my life for 10 years, I am fascinated by human and animal psychology, people have an unreliable nature which is responsible for conflict, suffering and many of our vices.
The craft of storytelling thrills me, with the characters operating under duress, wreaking havoc, acting in a disagreeable manner. By the end of the story, reasons for some of the emotional reactions become clear. I do not portray the main characters as good or bad.
People have burdens which cling to them like a grey shroud from which it's difficult to extricate themselves. I use that mantel to create variety in my engaging and realistic scenarios.
