About

Sitting in Roald Dahl’s writing chair

When I was young I dreamt of being a writer.

So I did the only sensible thing – I embarked on a series of soul-destroying jobs and told myself my scribbles would never amount to anything!

I explored every career option known to man, except the one I knew deep down I really wanted.

I have been a store manager, a software trainer, a personal trainer, and a copywriter.

I have sold ice creams, studied hypnotherapy, and flirted dangerously with becoming a songwriter, gardener, greetings card designer and yoga teacher.

Nothing took away the restless feeling inside of me.

Until, one day, at the age of 44, I finally admitted what I had been running from for years; ‘Oh bollocks, I want to be a children’s writer!’

So I did the only sensible thing:

I wrote out my dreams.

I moved to the sea. (I live on the south coast, Hampshire, UK).

And I started writing a children’s book.

This is the story of what happens next as I finish my manuscript and find a publisher…

(Oh, and it’s also the story of how, along the way, I got sidetracked by a commission to write a book about sugar.)

Why is this blog called You Can’t Hide the Spark?
Because if you have a spark inside you (a book, a painting, a song, a business idea), you can try to ignore, like I did. But it won’t go away. It will keep biting you on the arse until you release it… And trust me, that reeeeeally hurts. Sparks have f’ing sharp teeth!

“If a story is in you, it has got to come out” ~ William Faulkner