Born in Edinburgh, Scotland and educated at the University of Dundee, I write in a variety of genres, from academic history to folklore, historical fiction to fantasy. I won the Dundee International Book Prize with my novel 'Whales for the Wizard' in 2005 and was a winner in the People's Book Prize with 'The Darkest Walk' in 2011. In 2021 my 18th century military novel, 'Blood Oath' won the military fiction prize awarded by the Society for Army Historical Research. Happily married for 41 years, I have three grown children and live just outside Dundee in eastern Scotland.