Simon Hawkins

Biography

Simon was born in Devizes on 5 February 1956, to John and Peggy, a brother for sister Helen. John was a director of Wadworth Brewery for many years after a distinguished duty for the Fleet Air Arm during World War II. Simon was educated at Millfield School in Somerset before becoming a golf professional in 1974.

Simon left golf in 1977 and worked in insurance before obtaining a degree in property from the Southampton and Solent University. Armed with his newly earned BA (Hons) he embarked on a career in property development first with Linden and then on his own. Initially successful he was a victim of the interest rate mis-selling scandal when he lost his fortune.

At the same time Simon fell seriously ill with cancer and endured three tours of chemotherapy and two lengthy operations - defying death more than once, to the amazement of his physicians.

Still a keen golfer, Simon is gradually returning to a normal life despite the absence of a right kidney, duodenum, gall bladder and half his pancreas and when not working as his wife Penny's unofficial PA, is working on his new book Guts - a fictionalised version of his experiences over the past six years.

"I am no Charles Dickens - I just want people to have a little bit of fun and relaxation. So just settle back and enjoy and don't take Proteus too seriously. It was so strange, I woke up one day with the plot in my head and just started writing. It must have been the drugs as I was on some pretty heavy medication at the time!"

Simon was living in Gerrards Cross when he started writing Proteus but has now moved to Winchester where he lives with his wife Penny, who writes cookery books, and 'The Gabors' their two pampered Bengal cats.

Where to buy in print

Books

Proteus
Price: $9.99 USD. Words: 87,380. Language: British English. Published: March 4, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Traditional British, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Crime thriller
Proteus is a light-hearted financial thriller set in the affluent community of Gerrards Cross, Bucks. It’s about two men that set out to pilfer funds from high wealth individuals by setting up a highly successful Ponzi scheme. The result is ‘Marplesque’, with a plot that twists like a caged adder leaving a flotsam of murders and jetsam of pieces to put together and a bit of a surprise at the end.

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