Ian Ashley

The day job! Like most writers these days there is a need to eat and keep a roof over my head - so working as an International Learning Development Manager for a global fashion brand makes sure the alarm goes off at 05.15 every weekeday morning.

Good question! Part of my job involves travel - all of that involves flying so I'm lucky to be able to combine the two as long as I have a drop-down table. Outside of writing I have still held on to my love of amateur theatre ( which was how I started writing - doing 500 word reviews for my local newspaper).

Sadly travel means I don't get the chance to perform anymore so in that respect my glory days are behind me and the trophies are gathering dust on the shelf in the study. Do I miss it? Yes I do. I miss the cameraderie but still manage to keep up with many of my old friends with many 'Do you remember when....' evenings.

Music, reading and films are a huge part of my life - Music ranges from classical to contemporary although I still don't get lines like 'sex up me ho' and all that crotch grabbing. I suppose as a writer I like songs with a story, a good song IS a short story, start middle and end - conflict either resolved or hearts broken - and like all writing a chance to connect your experience to that of the writer/ performer.

Growing up the radio was on in the house all day - so total immersion in the big early listening hits of the Sixties. Having older sisters has also given me a sound knowledge of everything from 1961 onwards.Am I stuck in the Sixties? Probably. Do I care? No. From my mother I've inherited a big love of French 'chanson' starting with Piaf and leading me in later life down some amazing musical by-ways. And that's something that fascinates me about music as an expanding cultural medium - Where do those influences come from? Where do they lead to?

Reading veers more towards biographies as I enjoy seeing how other people tick and I suppose we all have a natural tendency to imagine other people's lives are more interesting than our own.

When it comes to films - the older I've got the more I appreciate the craft of a well-photographed shot and the talent that lurks behind the camera not just in front. Again my big love are those European films of the 50's and 60's and I could watch Monic Vitti all day. .

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