I am a novelist, with four in print, skylighting as a poet. I came to poetry late in life, but I feel it is probably what I love most.

I play the ukulele. I was good, but dystonia of the left bodý has kind of ruined it.

I practise tai chi, as a martial art, not a hippy tree-hugging dance.

I like food and drink, can cook a bit, and will give (almost) anything a go once.

I have lived in Asturias, Northern Spain twice, and consider it mzy home from home. Also Hungary, Malaysia and England.

I am in Presov to teach writing of various forms, learn about the culture, language, people, habits and peculiarities of this interesting wee country. I am also from a wee country, so it is a thing we share. I hope to make lots of friends here and enrich my life, and maybe other peoples too.

Message from the Right Thumb

I text this
to you, wherever you are
because otherwise I talk
into oblivion
the words break into their
constituent parts
disengage
shatter on your silence
dissolve into
jargon, become only
white noise
is there anybody
out there?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on couchsurfing to find the apostrophe.

To make friends and see and do stuff.

Interests

I am interested in all human life, except sport. Well, I like combat sports, but it is not a deal breaker for friendship.

• literature
• live music
• nature
• conversation
• laughter
• taichi
• all food
• drink

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently:

Mogwai
Fever Ray
Chvrches
Captain Beefheart
Steve Reich
Son House
Nick Cave
Tami Tamaki
Teenage Fanclub
Mississipi John Hurt
Howlin' Wolf
The Pixies
The Clash
Led Zeppelin
Dinosaur Jnr
Sonic Youth
Gorillaz
The Roches (the Hammond Song mainly)
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
Fever Ray
Girl Talk
Girl Ray
Gram Parsons
Loretta Lynn
Pelican

Lots of other stuff.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I cycled the Camino De Santiago. I would do it, or another long ride, again.

Published three novels, and a collection of erotic haiku.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Hungary, Malaysia, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain