I grew up in America in a small town in Pennsylvania. I was surrounded by hills and forests and shopping malls. Like all good American boys, I played baseball, pledged allegiance to the flag and wanted to be Batman when I grew up.

I still do.

Unfortunately, I grew up. I went to high school and later to university in Ireland where I read plenty of grown-up books. I met Mags, my wife-to-be in Ireland too so it was time to do more grown-up things like find a job so I hedged my bets and became a teacher instead. I began to write too, sometimes for myself, sometimes for others.

Mags and I moved to London which was brilliant. London had friends, theatres and best of all, Arsenal up the road. Our three children – Hannah, Conor and Ben – were born in London. It was a very happy time but soon we outgrew our fla. We moved to Bristol which meant we could get a dog and that made Hannah, Conor and Ben very happy indeed.

I remained a teacher and wrote on the side. Eventually, I got tired of writing just for myself and got on to the Writing for Young People MA at Bath Spa University. I began Fire Boy there and now I try, if I can, to write all the time. 

It might not be Batman, but it will do.