My Story

Up until 1991, when I was 16 years of age, I had read some of the literary classics and quite a few horror & ghost stories. I had also immersed myself in crime novels, especially Agatha Christie and P.D. James. However, if I'm being honest, I was a telly addict. I would often spend long hours glued to the TV watching whatever I was in thrall to at the time.

While slumped in front of the box one bright spring morning in holiday time in 1991, my mother came into the room and said the penetrating words,

"Do you not think you should educate yourself by reading a little, rather than always watching the television mindlessly".

These words were like a bolt from the blue, and a loud wake-up call. It transformed my path from that moment on. 
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From that age, I read current affairs, and the Arts & Culture section of the weekend papers. This then progressed to fiction and non-fiction books.

At university and up to the present day, I have been an avid reader of commentaries on Buddhism, and mindfulness/meditation books, while still engaging in the Arts & Culture and human interest stories from the weekend papers. Fictional books, biographies and memoirs have also not left my purview. 
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​I enjoyed writing dissertations and reports when studying architecture, but I particularly got into writing at the University of Warwick, where I worked for 5 years as their in-house architect.

Many long emails and reports were crafted in that environment. I also brought to completion an Estates Strategy booklet, which I all thoroughly enjoyed. This gave me a taster for the writing to come.

My first book initially emerged from the praise of two senior order members at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre in March 2014. They commented on a eulogy I had given, about a good friend who was departing for an ordination retreat in Spain. They asked if I wrote in my spare time, and have I ever considered writing a book.

What they did was sow the seeds of belief that I could embark on the enormous challenge of completing my own book.
 
In the latter part of 2014, the thought came to me that what had happened to me in that year, and which still continued to occur into 2015 were momentous and unusual events.

I felt it could lead to a fascinating and illuminating read for anyone interested in knowing more about the relationship between my paranoia, and to a lesser extent my mania and architectural world, and my parallel and long-established spiritual/Buddhist path.
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Before properly commencing on my first book, I enrolled on the Writers Bureau course. I did one assignment, and read a little of the literature they sent me, but I was keen to get started on the first draft of my book so I withdrew myself from their tuition and homework.

I then proceeded to dive into the creation of, what felt like to me, a riveting narrative. The writing flowed effortlessly.

After a span of 18 months, starting from the beginning of December 2014, where I commenced and then completed my first draft; subsequently went through fourteen edits; and employed a book publishing company; it was self-published in May 2016. It was entitled,

'Annus Dramaticus in 2014CE: A Spiritual Journey Beyond a Condition'

The book was written as an autobiographical fiction (autofiction), as I had added a few things which were definitely untrue, while the rest of my story actually happened at least from my subjective standpoint. 

​I received some very complimentary feedback from certain readers, with one of the commonest being that it was an insightful and compelling story.

I took to heart one woman's comment who said it would have been better as a memoir, as it would then be a more impactful, raw and honest account. She thought it was an incredible and eye-opening narrative, and she would have liked to know what was the truth of my story.

By penning a memoir, it would not be blurring the lines between fiction and fact, which autofiction is more prone to do.
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​After self-publishing that first book and after a little gap of time working out what I wanted to pursue next; I started on my journey as a painter artist. I later helped out in a few roles and responsibilities at an Art Gallery in Leamington Spa.

For almost two and a half years starting from when the first lockdown occurred in March 2020, I engaged in lively discussions with a professional writer.

We had long phone calls every other week about life primarily, but also her imparting writing tips and techniques, and what to expect from the publishing world. At times this became a good support for consolidating my knowledge of that industry.
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​In August 2021, I decided I would revisit my autofiction manuscript. I decided to adapt it into a memoir.

I spent five months further editing the manuscript, deleting specific chapters that added very little, and refining certain sentences to make the writing punchier. I also added appropriate chapter headings to hook the reader in.

This was all due to the knowledge I had gained from my professional writer friend. Once this was complete, I applied to traditional publishing houses and literary agents.

My second book is entitled,

'Looking Out for Me: A Spiritual Journey from Paranoia to Acceptance' 
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​After receiving a couple of rejections and many no replies from agents and publishers, I read an article about a mental health and wellbeing publisher, called Trigger publishers. I chose to submit my manuscript to them.

They couldn't offer me the possibility to publish with them, as they rarely published memoirs, but they suggested I should try their bespoke self-publishing division called Cherish Editions. 

It had taken over 10 months from when I had completed my manuscript and was starting to seek a publisher to when I eventually secured a contract with Cherish Editions.
 
They are a hybrid publishing solution, but not a vanity press. This means that I have the freedom and flexibility of self-publishing with the guidance and experience of a publishing house. The best of both worlds in my opinion!