Martin Bird
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I grew up in the northwest of England but now live in Redwood Valley, Richmond. My first footfall in New Zealand was in 1998 when I arrived to work with a new branch of an international engineering consultancy. Earlier, I travelled broadly for work in Africa and South East Asia. In common with many in my profession, NZ residency included one foot on the air bridge to commitments worldwide.
Writing started for me as a diverting challenge to participate in NaNoWriMo and found a consistent place in my life when I set work to one side. Recently, the Tasman region changed from being a delightful holiday destination into my primary residence, and I feel spoiled. The chance to step away from work early has given me time to indulge in outdoor pursuits as a compliment to researching and scribbling. My first novel, part one of the Four Masters Series, began to come to life while trying to find clues to family history in Ireland. Genealogy there is complicated, and I couldn’t find the real story. So, in the great Celtic tradition, one had to be made up! When characters nag in my head, I can’t ignore them. Their lives, some real, others fictitious, played out in the early medieval period. The end of the 10th century is a fascinating time of colliding cultures, war a-plenty, religious upheavals and more than a smattering of everyone’s favourite villains, the Vikings. Losing yourself in the era is easy. So, one novel has become three, and after a few sorry lessons, I’ve self-published them. The books have been read and enjoyed by a narrow readership, yielding comments and criticism sufficient to keep me learning and writing. |
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