Welcome

The Story of the Duck

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but my inspiration didn’t come from a grand literary tradition. It came from a bit of teenage defiance and a misunderstanding in a Derby boarding house.

The Teacher
Around the age of thirteen, I caught the writing bug hard. I was filling notebooks with "silly little things"—stories that probably lacked plot or polish, but they were mine. My English Literature teacher, however, wasn't impressed. As a teenager, I was convinced she hated my work (and possibly me). Maybe she saw potential and was just pushing me; I’ll never truly know. But I do know that I became obsessed with proving her wrong. I wanted to prove that I could write. For that motivation, I am forever grateful. I haven't stopped since.

The Name
The "Deaf Duck" identity came later, during my university days in Derby. I was staying in a student B&B, sitting in the lounge with my ears completely bunged up from a heavy cold. My landlady was trying to get my attention, but I was in a world of my own. She finally waved a hand at me and asked in that classic local lilt:

“Are you a little deaf, Duck?”

It stuck. In the East Midlands, "Duck" is a term of endearment, but for me, it became a reminder to tune out the background noise and focus on the story in front of me.

The Pond
Today, I still write silly little things, half-complete ideas, and the beginnings of tales that refuse to stay quiet. I also write longer works—from sci-fi thrillers to urban fantasies set in the rain-slicked streets of Manchester.

This site is my "Pond"—a place to collate every ripple, from the first draft to the final page.

Enjoy the view.