A short biography

I was born and grew up in the UK. After graduating from Manchester University with a Bachelor of Education degree, I taught in Wolverhampton for three years. However, I wanted to experience other cultures and interact with people from different backgrounds. During my career, I have taught English as a first, second and foreign language in England, Zambia, South Africa, Vietnam and Malta, where my wife and I now live. It is wonderful to explore new countries while living and working in a completely new environment.

My students include young children, teenagers and adults. I teach people from many professions including sales, the hotel industry, engineering, policing and medicine. My students have included university academics and senior business professionals. I am fascinated that people have so many varied reasons for wanting to learn and improve their English.

I am a published author of 34 books, over 300 educational radio programs and numerous newspaper and magazine articles.

I have studied Shotokan karate for about 50 years and still practice every day.

My published books

My published books include both fiction and non-fiction for both children and adults. I have also published a number of English language textbooks. My most recent novel Beasts of Prey (Human & Rousseau) was published to much critical acclaim and was short-listed for the Sunday Times fiction award.

English for the New Nation (Nasou Via Afrika)
Grade 8 Reader, Grade 9 Readers and a Grade 11 English Additional language textbook.

Beasts of Prey (Human & Rousseau)
A novel based on true events (short-listed for The Sunday Times Literary Award).

Understanding Africa (Lapa)
Non-fiction: a history of the African continent from pre-historic times to the present day.

The Incredible Adventures of Zak and Zoey (Prism)
Fiction. Five historically accurate novelettes for children in the 7-9 age range.

• The Great Wall of China
• Danger Amongst the Dinosaurs
• Tutankhamen’s Tomb
• The Chariot Race
• The Prison Ship

South Africa Weird and Wonderful (Tafelberg)
Non-fiction: an investigation into a variety of South African stories and events.

Ghost Stories (Struik)
Fiction: a collection of original ghost stories for children.

Tales of Mystery and Suspense (Struik)
Fiction: a collection of original stories of mystery and suspense for children.

Business Success in South Africa (Struik)
Non-fiction: based on interviews with 21 of South Africa’s most successful business-people

More Published Books 

• Project Management (Pearson)
  A textbook for Further Education and Training Colleges
  
  
• With Criminal Intent: The changing face of Crime in South Africa (Ampersand Press)
  Non-fiction: an investigation into crime in South Africa. (A prescribed work at the Department of Criminology at the University of South Africa.)
  
  
• College of Careers Study Guides (College of Careers)
  Study guides for three plays by William Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night.
  
  
• Kruger National Park (Cambridge University Press)
  Non-fiction: Part of the Cambridge ‘Early Learning’ series
  
  
• Thulamela (Cambridge University Press)
  Non-fiction: Part of the Cambridge ‘Early Learning’ series
  
  
• Africa Fact, Fiction or Fable (Lapa)
  Non-fiction: a meticulously researched collection of strange events, astonishing people and amazing cultures
  
  
• The Green Line (Lapa)
  Non-fiction: a guide to green living.
  
  
• Nature in the Balance (Struik)
  Non-fiction: A children’s guide to ecology
  
  
• The Serpent Under (Jacana)
  A novel: a murder story
  
  
• Danger Point (Nasou Via Afrika)
  Fiction: a children’s book - 11-14 age group - based on the sinking of HMS Birkenhead (1852)
  
  
• The Martian and the Kudu (Nasou Via Afrika)
  Children’s fiction (11-14 age group): a science-fiction story about Artificial Intelligence.
  
  
• African Sky Stories (The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa)
  Fiction: a collection of African myths and legends
  
  
• Unsolved Mysteries of southern Africa (Struik)
  Non-fiction: an investigation into a variety of South African stories and events.
  
  
• Beyond Belief (Struik)
  Non-fiction: An investigation into famous South African stories and legends.
  
  
• Famous South African Crimes (Struik-Timmins)
  Non-fiction: Descriptions of 26 of South Africa’s most famous crimes from 1901-1985.
  
  
• Trapped (Juta)
  Fiction: a children’s novel based on a famous gold mine disaster. A prescribed setwork.
  
  
• The Storm (Prism)
  Fiction: A children’s story (7-10 age group)
  
  
• The Mystery of Coetzee’s Farm (Prism)
  Fiction: A children’s story (7-10 age group)
  
  
• Fun & Games (Delos)
  A collection of puzzles and brain teasers for children
  
  
• Karate SA (Timmins)
  Non-fiction: the history and practice of Shotokan karate.