About the Author

I currently live in Greenwich, London (UK) with my wife and three children, and I fit my writing around a full-time job in the council.

My first book is ‘Out of the Smoke’, a young adult historical adventure inspired by the work of Victorian philanthropist and child welfare campaigner Lord Shaftesbury.

Click here to learn more about ‘Out of the Smoke’, read an extract, and order a copy from your preferred retailer.

About the Writing

Like many writers, I’ve been writing books for as long as I can remember, jotting down ideas for stories and characters and running up several chapters before abandoning each project and moving on to the next.

My love for historical fiction was born when a friend suggested I look into the life of Lord Shaftesbury. I was inspired by his selfless devotion to people far below his social standing, to the point where he would visit the most dangerous slums in the poorest areas of London, as well as the hellish environments of the work-houses and the mines, where children as young as three years old suffered in perpetual slavery.

I plan to write and release more historical fiction; my latest project is set in the turbulent years of the reign of Henry VIII, when the king was at war with Rome and the Bible in English was a dangerous object to possess …

My favourite books

The question I get asked the most is, “What’s your favourite book?” The answer, of course, is: I don’t have one! By which I mean I don’t have only one favourite book. I have lots! Some I read when I was young, and some I have read more recently. Here are some of them:

Title: Revolver

Author: Marcus Sedgwick

Plot: 1910. A cabin north of the Arctic Circle. Fifteen-year-old Sig Andersson is alone. Alone, except for the corpse of his father, who died earlier that day after falling through a weak spot on the ice-covered lake. His sister, Anna, and step-mother, Nadya, have gone to the local town for help.

Then comes a knock at the door. It’s a man, the flash of a revolver’s butt at his hip, and a mean glare in his eyes. Sig has never seen him before but Wolff claims to have unfinished business with his father.

As Sig gradually learns the awful truth about Wolff’s connection to his father, his thoughts are drawn to a certain box hidden on a shelf in the storeroom, in which lies his father’s prized possession – a revolver.

As the stakes rise and Wolff begins to close in, Sig’s choice is pulled into sharp focus. Should he use the gun?

Why I love this book: As soon as I started reading this book I was transported into the Alaskan wilderness at the turn of the 20th century. Marcus Sedgwick was an expert writer, and here he uses everything he has to conjure up the frozen surroundings of the cabin, which reflects the cold terror that Sig feels as he is threatened and interrogated by Wolf. Of course there is a twist at the end (of course!) and although it’s short it’s a powerful read. I come back to it once every couple of years.