Forty odd years ago I rather foolishly decided I would go for an external degree in Modern Languages, not realizing just what I was letting myself in for during the next five years. In those days there was no such thing as the Open University, or correspondence courses. The only aids I had were old exam papers and the reading lists. Not knowing any better I studied all the 250 books on the list. When I went to sit the exams I found that the internal students had been told which six books to study, and which pages! However, the study seemed to make my brainpower explode - I began to play the piano and write music, and I somehow made time to write three full-length novels during the five study years. I got a good degree, left the RAF and started teaching, and the writing continued. A couple of times a year I would write to a publisher, and even sent in sample chapters, without success, and the years went by with the manuscripts in the cupboards.
I then started writing television plays and tried to break into that world, but found, eventually, that it is almost a closed shop. I went back to books and tried sporadically to get published, but eventually gave up trying.
When ebooks came on the scene I was delighted, and began to write again. Ten of the books were written last year, and I'm now on the fourth for this year. I just hope readers will love them. I try to 'do a Graham Greene': he insisted that a good novel should include 'a little bit of love, a little bit of sex and a little bit of mystery'.

My home town is Norwich, in the United Kingdom county of Norfolk. There are many lovely counties in the UK, but I think my own takes some beating. Most of my thrillers are set here, with a local man as a central character - Detective Chief Inspector Tony Dyce.

I've changed from thrillers with this one. Researching my family history I came across the story of one my ancestors, who, at the end of the 17th century, was left to pick up the pieces when his younger brother absconded with all the family funds and emigrated to America. With this as a starting point I let my imagination run riot and decided to write a high adventure fictional family saga, stretching from 1786 to the present day. 'A HANDFUL OF DUST' is the result, and the first sequel, 'A HANDFUL OF SALT' is also finished. Both books will be published on Smashwords this year.

At last, with Smashwords help, I am able to place my work where the great army of readers can access it. I have never wanted to go in for vanity publishing, although, of course, some of the biggest names started that way. I am delighted that so many readers are enjoying my books.

In a word: creation. To take my favored genre, thriller writing, it is so satisfying to find that a basic idea has developed into a cohesive whole, with involved plots,sub-plots and believable characters that did not exist when I sat down to begin writing..

Everything! I'd just love to have an army of fans who enjoyed my books and wanted more, more, more! Although there are thousands of authors in my position, hoping to be read, I know lightning can strike, (A radio shack I was once in was struck and damn near blown to pieces, so I know it can happen!). At least many new readers are downloading my books each month, which delights me. More fans - wonderful!

The fourth in the series of John Hunter crime thrillers - 'THE IAGO FACTOR'. He and Jane are just too good together, and someone is determined to tear them apart.

Dick Francis is the author I would most like to emulate. His stories gallop along at the same speed as his horses, with just enough, but not too much description, which spoils so many good books. His plots are great. His are books I just cannot put down. Others I enjoy reading are Clive Cussler, Patricial Cornwell, Kathy Reichs and Mark Billingham, but I'll read anything going. One can even learn something from a badly-written book!

The thought of a new day. I try to get forty-eight hours' worth out of every twenty-four, and mostly manage to do so. I sleep like the proverbial log and wake refreshed and ready for the fray. Around three mornings a week it will be fly-fishing for trout, and most evenings I go deer stalking. In between, there's writing, gardening, fly tying, the keyboard, d-i-y and dozens of other things. If nothing else, there's the day to enjoy. I get up singing, go to bed singing, and sing all day long, driving my wife up the wall I guess, though she never complains (except when 'The Archers' is on!).

Fly fishing, deer stalking, tying flies, cooking exotic food, gardening, playing the keyboard, making things. I love creating things out of wood and still have all the machines I had when I was producing hand-made furniture. There's no sale for it now, with Ikea everyone's choice, but I still use the machines now and then when the mood strikes me. I would like to find time to make wooden figures, like a couple I have which were made by my sister-in-law's grandfather. Now and again, I go back to an earlier hobby - photography, and often stalk with a camera instead of a rifle. It is incredible what you see if you stand absolutely still for two hours in full camouflage. Animals will almost walk or play over your shoes. I just love being out with nature all around me - and its healthy too - and burns calories!.

Yes, it was the black magic novel I'm just about to publish as an ebook, 'The Devil Deals Death'. I found the manuscript languishing in the garage recently, and read it. After so many years I'd forgotten the plot and the ending, and I enjoyed it, so thought, 'Why not?' It took me a few days to type up on the computer, and it's having a final check now.

When I have a basic idea for a plot I sit down and write, having only the vaguest of ideas what is going to happen at that point.
The plot and sub-plots just arrive naturally, and the characters come alive as I go along. It's a wonderful process. I did once write a complete plan for a novel, with the characters, plot, sub-plots and everything else written down in advance. When I'd finished the book I looked again at the layout and found hardly anything I'd planned was left. It taught me that I am not one of those writers!

I decide on a simple design which incorporates the basic theme of the book, without being too fussy, and then use Photoshop to produce it.

Murder mysteries by anyone and adventure stories by people like Clive Cussler (it used to be Dennis Wheatley).

A computer, a keyboard, a printer, and a mass of single sheets of paper on top of the printer with notes on things I've researched for the novel I'm currently writing.