Life Between the Lines
Exploring the intersection of classic elegance and modern storytelling. I invite you to delve into my journey as a writer and the narratives that define my creative spirit.
Living between the USA and UK as well as frequently traveling to many locations around the world, I meet all kinds of amazing people, each of them inspiring in their own way and very few of them realizing they might end up being a character in a book!
I love finding the undiscovered parts of the world or learning the local customs that would normally remain unnoticed, spending time with the locals and learning what the true lifestyle is in that part of their country. All of this helps me to add a level of authenticity to everything I write. My curiosity however, doesn't lead to closure and frequently only serves to inspire more characters, more plots and more adventurous stories.
With several projects underway and many outlines in place, my journey as a writer grows more rapidly than I can publish the work. With each new project I learn more as I go and constantly work on improving my craft. I want to do everything I can to take the reader on a journey and fuel their love for reading
My Story
My journey as a writer began in a quiet village in Scotland, where I first discovered the power of a well-told tale. I was at a family gathering for Christmas, where I shared the usual stories of my adventures as an intelligence operative. Over Christmas dinner and the drinks that followed my wife suggested to my mother-in-law (a seasoned writer) that she should talk to me about following her lead as a writer. My immediate response was that it wasn't for me. I stated that I was good at telling stories, not writing them. As the drinks flowed however, I relented and agreed to give it a go.
My first attempt would have been enough to deter the average person from even trying again, especially when my mother-in-laws response to my work was "That's not a book, it's a report!" I responded with the statement "Well that's what happened" her reply shocked me. She said "People don't want to know what happened, they want to know how it felt." It sounded crazy but the more I studied about writing, the more I figured out what she meant. The events are only part of the story, the true art lies in engaging the reader to the extreme depths of knowing everything I went through. The smells, the sounds, the feelings and the emotions.
I took it upon myself to enroll in writing studies, reading tutorials and understanding the recipe used by successful writers. I watched hours of video lessons and took writing Masterclass sessions with some of the biggest names in the industry.
I learned as much as I possibly could to start me on my journey of building a world inside a book! Balancing the traditions of classic literature with a modern perspective, I craft narratives that explore the depth of the human spirit. Every book is an invitation to step into a world of sophisticated prose and inviting imagery, shaped by years of creative exploration.
One of my advantages as a writer is the fact that. I'm also a world leading body language expert too. So I use my knowledge in this field to help make the characters actions so much more relatable and realistic. I'm so grateful to my background in this field and frequently utilize it in my writing to give clues to the reader what might be coming before the event itself happens. I can use it to build suspense or suspicion. Show confidence or doubt and even help the reader understand the dynamic of a situation without long winded explanations.
As an author of both fiction and non-fiction books I strive with each new project to make the readers experience as unforgettable as possible.
The Craft
My writing process is one of patient cultivation. I spend months researching settings and developing characters that feel like old friends. Every sentence is polished until it shines, ensuring that my readers experience a world that is as vivid and textured as the North American landscapes I often describe. When my readers explore Europe with me I want them to feel like they know it and have been there, even if they've never dreamed of visiting the some of the places I write about.
The experience is all about you, the reader. I love nothing more than when readers contact me to say they could feel what a character was going through or I describe a meal so well it made them hungry!
My job is to make you laugh, cry and cheer with joy. To take you on an emotional rollercoaster that leaves you filled with satisfaction by the end of the book and like you have a personal relationship with the characters. One that feels like you've known them all your life and have a connection beyond the pages of a book.
New Horizons
While I celebrate my published works, my mind is always wandering toward the next narrative. Currently, I am adding the finishing touches to a trilogy which will more than likely be an ongoing series due to its popularity and the many more potential stories ahead of the main characters of the book. I also have a first draft written for a new theme in a genre I've never attempted to venture into before. These upcoming titles delve deeper into themes of legacy and resilience, promising readers more of the literary depth they have come to expect from my desk.
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Partners
No author stands alone. My work is supported by a dedicated network of literary professionals who share my commitment to excellence. These are the partners who help bring my stories to the global stage. On top of the friends and colleagues in the literary world, my network of former colleagues in the intelligence community, the military and in government, I have a vast amount of contacts form my time working in intelligence. These amazing individuals I frequently call upon to gain information from their expertise. The help form these contacts have been invaluable to the detail in my books. From Drone pilots to scientists, bankers to submarine designers, mountaineers and special forces right across the spectrum to weapons experts and law enforcement. I could never thank them all enough for their contributions and each day I'm grateful for the extensive list of contacts I have. People who are more than just a number in my phone but friends who have been there for me over the years.
