I first got interested in writing when living in Singapore, and my experiences of the Far East enabled me to write my first book. I was not at all happy with the results even though I had paid a great deal of money to have it published, so I put that down to my over enthusiastic urge (a warning to every new writer!) to get it in print without first having the book properly edited by a professional.
Expensive lesson learned.
I have written a new adventure Novel called 'MacDonald Island' using some of the ideas from that first book. But this time around I worked slowly and with concentration, and had it edited properly!
I was mostly influenced to write by reading the works of many good authors over the years, from Hemingway to Dick Francis, one of my real favourite writers when it comes to adventure thrillers. You can read more about my ideas and work (including valuable information for new writers gleaned from successful authors) on my website. (Address given in my AD profile)    

Former professional musician and educator. Played with most of the top British Big Bands in the 60's,70's and 80's, also worked theatre orchestras and show bands in TV and Radio backing American and British artists.
Music Arranger and Composer for stage, screen, Circus, recording studios. Music Educator for thirty years plus in elementary schools teaching young children to play music.

Have spent a great deal of time gathering essential information together for new writers with links to other websites for further information. In the last year I have written a short novella on my travels in the Orient as a young man entitled 'Have Trombone,will travel' ISBN 978-1-4092-3709-9 This is now available online at most internet bookshops including Amazon.

James Stirling
Published author

Leslie J. Weddell
travel stories and light fiction