Swale Crossing
I am a writer who likes to write stories and poems, and who enjoys reading books ranging from children's stories through comedy, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Vampire stories, Horror, Crime fiction, Travelogues, Journals, Historical novels, Biographies, books on all interesting subjects and the occasional romance - or anything that appeals to me.
At one stage in my life I decided to become a University student after spending a working life bashing things with hammers, tightening things with spanners and screwdrivers, cutting metal with a variety of sharp tools and powered machines in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. A badly pulled tendon resulted in a Repetitive Strain Injury that prevented me carrying on with my trade as a Fitter and Turner - I didn't mind once I became embroiled in study and University life and eventually left Auckland University with a Master's degree in English Literature and a huge dollop of unemployment.
In the year 2000 I returned to the UK and made friends with local writers and artists in the Swale area (The Swale: a body of water that parts Sheppey from the mainland and a county borough). I write poems, read them to others in public, paint pictures and shove them on walls for others to look at and write books for others to buy and read.
I belong to the Sheppey and Sittingbourne Writer's Group as editor of their website and newsletter. The writer's group associated with the Swale Arts Forum, a body of artists and performers helping to co-ordinate events in the Swale area.
I am a cat owner - considered soppy by most - I have to agree.
I also take photographs.
Projects:
A local 365 project for 2011 on Sheppey - one of thirty six photographers taking a picture between us for everyday of the year.
A photographic journal of my exploration of the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the 365 project.
Pictures of Kent to show how pretty and diverse it is.
Books:
To follow up Jake's Progress with a novel set in and around Sheerness and Sittingbourne. Jake's Progress was the story of a serial killer as seen from a paranoid alcoholic's perspective and introducing Roy Smollet, a pragmatic and excellent detective.