Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born in 1965 on the Isle of Man, a descendant of Celts and Vikings. I was brought up on fairy tales, told by people who actually still believed in fairies. I was surrounded by hills and glens and by that most mystical of natural phenomena: the sea. It’s small wonder that I grew up having learned to see around a corner or two, born into this land of magic and mystery.My imagination has always run wild and free, earning me disapproval at school and from those who thought I should apply myself to a career. I actually heeded this advice for a while, entering the finance sector and moving through a series of office administrative positions. My left brain thought this situation quite suitable, my wallet was certainly happy with the arrangement, but those years were bleak and unhappy ones. My interest in mysticism and the transformative power of storytelling continued, but in a subdued and submissive way. Nevertheless, because these things were my forte, I shone at them.Then, one day, somebody asked me to write a book. Not just any old book, but a book on the ancient Celts, their beliefs and their worldview. Thus I sat down, struggled to learn the disciplines of writing, and eventually finished ‘The Book of Ogham’, which was published by Runa-Raven Press.There was no putting this genie back in its bottle. Within a short time, my career had been abandoned and I was working in a straightforward little job which would pay the bills but which came with no strings attached. I focused upon my writing and felt complete for the first time ever. Poorer, but complete.I have a mischievous jester within me too, and this became apparent in my next book, a vulgar comedy fantasy novel titled ‘Rampant Damsels’. This time the book was self-published as I wanted to keep close personal control of my creations. I have learned now to express both my serious and humorous sides both at the same time, and generally write two books at once, one a non-fiction title with mystical / magical leanings, the other a fantasy escapade with an anarchic humour reminiscent of the Goons.My next book was ‘Apophis’, an account of the integration of the psyche and develoment of its powers based upon the ancient symbolism of the seven-headed dragon. I now focus almost exclusively on the traditions of the British Isles, however, (and am well placed to do so from my home at the centre of the Irish Sea). So the initiatory curiculum of ‘Apophis’ has since been rewritten for a new readership, from a Norse / runic perspective. The new book, titled ‘Aegishjalmur: The Book of Dragon Runes’, was published in January 2011 and provides instruction on self-integration and empowerment through the pattern of the myth of Sigurd, who slew the dragon Fafnir to win the hand of the Valkyrie Brynhild. This equates to the base instincts being brought under control by the conscious will, which then allows access to the creative mind. In other words, all three parts of the brain begin working together. (Aegishjalmur means ‘The Helm of Awe’, the name of the mesmerising, overpowering stare of the dragon in Norse mythology),‘Rampant Damsels’ has also seen a sequel, titled ‘Damsels in Arms’, whose humour was even wilder, more anarchic and more vulgar than the first volume.Read more about this authorRead less about this author