About Me

I write fiction for adults and poetry for kids or the other way round. Some of it rhymes, some is very short. I’ve had some pieces published - in the UK and Australia, and a short story in Colorado. I’ve online credits in Ireland, US and the UK. I have a draft of a Middle Grade novel out in the world searching for a home.

I read fiction mostly. I like Nevil Shute and William Boyd, JM Coetzee and Kevin Barry. Niall Williams, Elizabeth Strout, Maurice Shadbolt and Eleanor Catton. Katherine Rundell, Roald Dahl and Tolkien.

I cook a lot. I like to ferment kefir and kombucha, make marmalade, falafels and Thai fish soup. I like fresh ginger and coriander.

I garden. We’ve beds with leeks and potatoes, rhubarb and horseradish, rocket and spinach. There’s asparagus soon and raspberries, herbs and apples, all watched over by two recalcitrant magnolias.

I sing in two choirs. There’s nothing like singing in harmony. Nothing at all.

I’m a dad of two great kids who are young adults now both much smarter and cooler than I ever was.

I’m a husband. I have an over-achieving wife who lets me write away till my heart’s broken.

I’m a Kiwi living in Ireland. New Zealand and Ireland are far apart but strangely complementary. I’m very fond of both, but not sure I truly belong in either. I am settled in Ireland now more than 20 years and will probably stay.

I spent a happy decade working in educational publishing in NZ, Africa, UK and Ireland in different outposts of Reed Elsevier. I ran my own publishing business for nearly ten years with some Irish friends and colleagues, then worked for two large local publishers in Dublin. I have chaired and sat on various boards and committees including the ICLA, the NZIA and IWU and two school boards.

I walk and swim, watch movies, play golf, walk the dogs, travel to cricket and rugby matches, wear shorts and flipflops, sing and write but not at the same time.