T.J. Derry

“Gripping and introspective...the visceral prose evokes a realistic portrayal of unrepentant exposure to nature’s harshness, infused with a palpable immediacy.” —Irish Film Critic

TJ's storytelling career began behind a camera long before it ever touched the page. At 15, he talked his way onto the set of David Cronenberg’s short film Camera [TIFF 2000], sparking a lifelong immersion in filmmaking. From gripping cables to working alongside Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dean Cundey (Jurassic Park, Back to the Future), TJ learned to see story through a visual lens—understanding pacing, tension, and emotion not just as ideas, but as experiences.

Over the years, he’s shot award-winning commercials, branded films, and still campaigns, with his work featured in American Cinematographer, AD Week, Strategy, Marketing, and Sound & Picture. His eye for cinematic detail naturally evolved into screenwriting, then into fiction—where he brings the same sense of timing, atmosphere, and character depth that defined his film career.

Carried Away is his debut novel, blending the immersive world-building of cinema with the intimacy of the written word.