Karl E Loxton

Karl used to be a teacher, until he had to retire due to ongoing mental illness. His illness has impacted on his life hugely and led to multiple suicide attempts and a spell in prison. Inside Karl turned to writing as a way of getting through daily life and to start the process of accepting himself so he could forgive and look forward not back. A Short Sentence was his first book. It is the thought notes Karl wrote in prison as he searched for his reasons to hope, notes that Karl would later share with a friend. Karl’s friend on reading his notes found them so thought provoking that they encouraged Karl to try and publish them. With his friend's help (they even typed up his original hand written notes!!) A Short Sentence was published in October 2022.

In October 2023 following an ankle injury Karl self published a second book. Beyond The Gate (a journey in 100 quotes) is a series of photos Karl collected, each with an accompanying quote. Written and photographed over a 12 month period as Karl used photography and quotes as a way of finding himself as he continued to rebuild after prison.

On September 25th 2025 Karl released Mindful Reflections, the third and final book in his Reasons to Hope series. Mindful Reflections is a series of photos taken over six years, as Karl used photography as a way to find hope. The book launched on the 10th anniversary of Karl’s last day in a classroom, and the day 10 years on when he spoke at the Baton of Hope U.K. Tour 25 in Basingstoke. Baton of Hope U.K. is incredibly important to Karl and that is why every copy sold of Mindful Reflections will help the Baton of Hope cause.

When Karl isn’t writing he enjoys walking and taking photos (in particular swans) He is also a volunteer peer mentor for Ingeus and is passionate about mental health, suicide prevention and the importance of sharing lived experience to raise awareness.

Together Karl refers to A Short Sentence, Beyond The Gate and Mindful Reflections as his ‘Reasons to Hope’ because “while there’s air in your lungs and hope in your heart it’s never too late to ask for help”