Who I am

My life has been shaped—often quietly, sometimes profoundly—by autism. For years I sensed it, long before I understood it. I’ve always been fortunate in my intelligence and even spent time as a member of Mensa, though I soon realised that some used it as a badge of superiority, something I’ve never had any patience for.

Order, discipline, process, and procedure have always been my natural environment, which made my years in the military feel almost effortless. Beyond the challenges autism brings, it has also given me a different way of seeing the world—one that ultimately led me to writing.

A major influence was my English teacher, Philip Turner, a remarkable man who also wrote under the name Stephen Chance. His own life was rich and varied, and it was his encouragement—those simple words, “You could write a book, Michael”—that set me on the path to becoming a writer.

I’ve always loved the outdoors, and living in Wales, surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the UK, gives me endless inspiration. The mountains, streams, beaches, and hidden places steeped in folklore offer both solace and story. It’s the perfect place to walk, to think, and to let new ideas take shape.

Some will recognise that the photograph of me was taken on Birkett Fell in Cumbria—another glorious place to wander. Bill Birkett has long been an inspiration to anyone who roams the Lakeland fells. Few have shaped the experience of walking in the Lake District as profoundly as he has. A gifted writer, photographer, walker, and climber, he remains one of the great champions of those hills.

A quote from Astrid:

‘They laugh at me because I’m different—I laugh at them because they’re all the same.’