I first started writing in 2006. I've written a few short stories and one full length novel with plenty of ideas for more short and full length stories. I've always liked the idea of writing. I wrote a few film scripts when I was about 18/19 but they really weren't that good. I wanted to make them into low budget films around the area where I live as I used to travel a lot with my job and see some wonderful and amazing parts of the country side where I could picture scenes happening. I even started to have a go at basic special effects such as cuts and things like that. In the end I decided I didn't want to do that. Fast forward a few years to 2006 and that's when i decided to give writing a go.

My first short story is based on things that I was experiencing at the time such as very antisocial neighbours who lived above me and someone I was working for. I didn't enjoy the job very much but like most things in life I used it in a positive way. Obviously the short story and what happened in real life are very different.

For quite a few years I have known about self publishing and have always liked the idea of doing it myself. A bit like a band releasing a demo I guess. I think I'd rather publish stories like this than sending countless manuscripts to countless publishers.

The freedom to go anywhere, within reason, in a story. I love getting an unexpected idea just pop into my head and the feeling I get when I think how the story could go.

I have three other short stories I need to read through, design covers for and then publish. Hopefully I can get them sorted soon.

I like so many different writers. Some I've only read one or two stories by, but the way they write makes me want to read more of their work. My absolute favourites though are Ray Bradbury, H. G. Wells, Terry Pratchett, Stephen King, Jules Verne, John Wyndham, Richard Matheson and William Golding.

I love watching films, especially horror, but I do like a wide range of films. I like watching football, listening to music, again I like a wide range of genres, going to see bands live and, of course, reading.

War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. I read this at school in English which was part of my literature course work. I think it's an amazing story and made me want to read more H. G. Wells. I like how this novel, and H. G. Wells' novels in general, was so ahead of it's time.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel that is such a brilliant tale of human nature and how boys trapped on an island become savages.
Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess is another of my favourites. The film is one of my favourite films and I read the novel after seeing the film. As much as I like the film I prefer the novel as it's more violent than the film and has a better ending.
I know this is cheating slightly but anything by Ray Bradbury. His style of writing is so easy and enjoyable to read. He could have written stories about changing a light bulb or making a cup of tea and they'd be best stories ever written about such mundane day to day things.
And finally, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. When I went through a phase of being out of work I read so many books that, as a writer, I felt I should read and this was one I really wanted to see if I'd like. And I did. A lot. It's a brilliant moral story that I found very difficult to put down.

The best thing about these, and so many novels and short stories I really like, is how well they stand the test of time. So many novels and stories I feel are still relevant to the current time.