James M. Carmichael

In the mid-1950's there was an outbreak of polio in and around the city of Glasgow. James contracted polio when he was two years old and spent a year in hospital. When he learned of the campaign run by Rotary to fight for the eradication of polio, he was keen to contribute and was fortunate enough to be offered the post of End Polio Now Coordinator for Rotary Great Britain and Ireland. That opportunity meant that he was able, if only in a small way, to contribute to the eradication of the disease. That gave rise to the idea of writing a book about polio - and its long-term effects, which culminated in the book Polio Voices.

James is a retired lecturer, and was lucky enough to take part in a variety of research projects during his career - which involved writing and producing academic works. When he retired, he wanted to continue writing - and took to writing crime fiction. His first work of fiction was "After the Flood" a book set in a near-future Britain damaged by floods caused by global warming. And since one area of interest and teaching was that time between the end of the First World War and the start of the Second. Setting a crime series in this period called upon his knowledge of the times and bringing that moment 'to life' in the Bright and Wallace books has been rewarding and enjoyable.

He lives in Scotland with his wife (who reviews all he writes with a keen eye for character and setting) and a ginger cat who is convinced he is the master of the house (and he is).

Since retiring James has enjoyed the freedom and creativity of writing fiction.