By day, I’m a business innovator and Chartered IT Professional.
By night and at weekends, I’m a storyteller.
They fit together perfectly, because there’s a common theme.
I’m fascinated by intelligence practices – how they work and their strengths and dangers, and how they can be used to solve common problems in industry.

But that wasn’t how I started.

Adrian at the Bournemouth 2019 Triathlon - for once, not writing stories

Finding my own way

Our families have so many expectations of us. Then there’s more demands from school, and the myriad of contradictory pressures from friends and contacts. They seem to think that what’s good for them, should also be right for you.

It wasn’t right for me. At school, I fought it, but the establishment makes it hard for people who don’t conform. They tell you you’re wrong. That hurts.

In my twenties I found a balance that helped me live with it. Gardening and music helped, amongst other things. And the family was impressed that I worked for a large computer manufacturer.

I kept at it for six years, then changed direction, and change again, and again.

I’m still discovering myself. As an example, in the last 20 years I’ve gone from one job to another every year or two. Sometimes I’ve dreamed of staying and making a career home. Now, I realise it would never have worked. I need the flow of new and different challenges, and a steady job won’t do that. Focus on what you’re good at.

The only things that have been consistent throughout all this time, is a love for writing fiction and listening to music. I started writing fiction when I was twelve. There’s been times when I paused for practical reasons, such as when my creativity focussed on landscape photography, and again when I co-founded a start-up company. But I always knew I’d write again.  

Learning persistence

I love running and cycling. Sometimes I do triathlons and canoeing. I’ve done long events that take six to twelve hours.

I’m not fast. The purpose is to challenge myself, and build the mental stamina to keep going, whatever the odds. A side effect is that it keeps me healthy and happy.

The three pillars

Three things underpin all my endeavours. It was a pattern, that I later consciously reinforced it.

People, and their rich diversity:

At work, I strive to help people on their own professional journeys, learn from their individuality, and try to enrich their lives in some ways.

In fiction-writing, I explore the lives of every major character, whoever they are, and show how people change as a result of events.

Hope, built on solid foundations:

At work, I look for the most ambitious challenges where hope is fading or is built on fantasies, because I can help people find what’s achievable, and then help deliver it.

In fiction-writing, I face my main characters with supposedly insurmountable barriers, and then watch to see how their setbacks change them.

Professionalism:

At work, I strive follow the code of conduct of a BCS Chartered IT Professional. It’s an inspiration. I learn and improve, and help others. Then even when facing impossible situations, I can hold my head high.

In fiction-writing, I work to deliver on the promises made to readers, to explain openly, and to never knowingly be untruthful.

More about me

(Page written 14-Nov-2020, lightly edited 19-April-2025.)