About The Itinerant Ecologist
My Journey to Writing
My Journey to Writing
My Journey to Writing
After a wonderful and fulfilling career working in many African and Asian nations, I decided to write a few bits and pieces about our travels and adventures for our young grandchildren to discover as they grow up. This little exercise blossomed into my first book, 'From Nigeria to Cracking Walnuts', which marked the beginning of my literary journey through the 'Itinerant Ecologist' series.
Off to new Countries
My Journey to Writing
My Journey to Writing
A return to the UK from Nigeria sees us prepared to take any work available. In doing so we discover the little town of Northampton and add a son to our family. Then a call from out of the blue has me working a summer in Chad where a chance meeting in the desert sees us moving to Senegal for the next four years. But more to the point, wha
A return to the UK from Nigeria sees us prepared to take any work available. In doing so we discover the little town of Northampton and add a son to our family. Then a call from out of the blue has me working a summer in Chad where a chance meeting in the desert sees us moving to Senegal for the next four years. But more to the point, what happens when a three-year-old encounters a 'Crocodile'? There can only be one outcome!
About The Itinerant Ecologist
Sapphires, Monkey-Bread and a Coup d'Etat
Leaving Senegal was heartbreaking but the move provided adventures for the next decade. These included a coup d'état, a couple of sapphires and an enormous amount of monkey bread! As the children grew, we started to plan for other adventures. But the one we REALLY hankered over (work in Asia) never seemed to arrive.
(Cover designed and painted by Zachary Rowe)
Cows, Chars and Beautiful People
After hankering for even a single mission to Asia, I finally managed to find work in Asia. In Bangladesh to be precise. The book sees me leave for a ten-day mission ... and stay for a decade and while doing so meet some of the hardest-working and kindest people. The perfect way to round out an incredible career.
Fiction to go ...
What do you do when the Itinerant Days are over?
Apart my love of ecology and travel, I am also a real Francophile and adore living in the beautiful Bugey region of France. But as we gently age, so the siren call of the little town of Aix-les-Bains and la Savoie has drawn us in.
View from le Revard looking towards the Massif of Mont Blanc
Tales from La Savoie: A Bend in Time by PAS de Vrai
I love hearing the myths and legends of rural France and, not surprisingly perhaps, the ancient Duchy of Savoie has myths aplenty. I have published the first six from my collection in my first work of fiction: 'A Bend in Time' in the Tales from la Savoie series published under the nom de plume of PAS de Vrai.
Upcoming books from PAS de Vrai
The Touba Three
At the Bottom of the Lake
At the Bottom of the Lake
As promised at the end of A Bend in Time, the adventures of our three heroes from the Peanut Basin in Senegal is being extended to a full length novel. More news as the date of publication approaches
At the Bottom of the Lake
At the Bottom of the Lake
At the Bottom of the Lake
The next series of short stories from the Tales from la Savoie is being developed. Among the stories to look out for is the legend of the 'Dent du Chat' (Cat's Tooth Mountain), the historic liaison between a French Princess and the future Duke of Savoie, and the true story of the German warplane that sits at the bottom of the Lac de Bourget
Blog Spot
At the Bottom of the Lake
Blog Spot
Please do not forget to check out my blogs that try to capture ecological moments in my part of France! I'm particularly fond of our native orchids, birds and wild mushrooms (please do not call them toadstools!)