You see, I’m not a professional writer—never have been, and probably never will be. I’m not out here trying to scale Shakespearean heights or bump elbows with the likes of John le Carré or Robert Ludlum. Those guys are leagues ahead. 

I’m just having fun and testing my limits along the way.

 

I’ve always been drawn to interesting stories. Spy books! Oh, they’ve had me hooked. The secret machinations behind world politics, those shadowy backstage dramas with curtains drawn and doors firmly closed? That’s my jam. And who doesn’t love a good conspiracy? I sure do!

 

But life, being the bossy thing it is, had other plans for me. Bills to pay, jobs to do, routines to stick to—you know the drill. Years rolled by, and finally, I caught my breath, wiped the sweat off my forehead, and found myself at an interesting juncture. Not quite retired, but taking a breather between “something achieved” and “something still to achieve.” That’s when I thought, Why not write a book?

 

Well, here we are now, five books later. But don’t go thinking I’m some literary hotshot—let me explain. Years of traveling, building businesses, and living in different countries have given me a front-row seat to real-life dramas and stories unfolding all around me. I’ve seen how the big, impersonal events you watch on TV can ripple into the lives of everyday people—how they shape us in ways we never expect.

 

That’s what inspired my first three books, The Playground Diaries trilogy. It’s a cocktail of conspiracies, real-life snippets, world events, and my personal spin on how it all connects. It starts slow in Cyprus—a Mediterranean island I adore and was lucky enough to call home for years—then whirls readers into a war-torn Ukraine I know and cherish, before wrapping up in London, a city I see as a beacon of good for the world.

 

While working on that trilogy, I decided to take a detour. It was spring, I was feeling inexplicably cheerful, and one thing led to another... I ended up writing two books with the strangest titles: Roger This, Roger That and Roger? Not Again! The Roger Gates series is, well, a bit different. To be honest, I wrote those books for myself.

 

Now, before you laugh, hear me out. Have you ever had a book you keep coming back to—not because it’s a literary masterpiece, but because there’s something about it that feels like home? Like reliving a favorite memory? That’s what the Roger Gates books are for me. I admit it: sometimes, I crack them open and read them again. I know it sounds funny—reading your own books for fun—but there’s a certain comfort in it.

 

Not everyone shares my enthusiasm, of course. These books tend to divide readers. Some gleefully slap them with two-star ratings (thanks for the honesty), while others send me messages saying, “Best book ever!” Obviously, they’re not. But I think those readers find something in the lines that resonates, something they want to live through again and again—just like me.

 

So, there you have it. I’m just a regular guy with a passion for stories and a slightly odd voice, hoping to say something worth listening to. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for sticking around. I hope my books bring you a little joy, a little curiosity, or at the very least, a chuckle. Happy reading!