I was born in London quite some time ago. My family emigrated to New Zealand when I was 12. A small but rather beautiful country, New Zealand is tucked away in the south Pacific. Christchurch, my c...view moreI was born in London quite some time ago. My family emigrated to New Zealand when I was 12. A small but rather beautiful country, New Zealand is tucked away in the south Pacific. Christchurch, my city, suffered two devastating earthquakes in 2010-2011. The centre of the city was almost completely wiped out so we currently live in a donut. Life is still good however in this laid-back place where people treat very seriously their leisure time and their coffee.I first thought of a novel about roundheads far too many years ago. In the meantime I met quite a lot of success as a playwright and prose took a back seat. I have a fascination with social history and the moods of the ages. In my musical Till The Boys Come Home I used songs from WWII to provide the emotion for the various war years. Each song was used in its year of release. More recently I wrote another musical Pounamu Cut that contrasts European and Maori values over a road that is about to cut through a major greenstone (nephrite jade, called pounamu in Maori and a spiritual treasure) deposit. Set in 1870 it again uses songs accurate to the time.I live with my wife Marie-Gabrielle and our chocolate Labrador, Poppy. Currently I am teaching at a high school – English and Drama, of course!view less