John Stapleton

I was born in London in the early 1960s, but grew up mainly in Brighton, England. I've been writing since I was a teenager, although I didn't publish my first book until I was 61. For years, my writing consisted mainly of short stories and poems.

I'm an unashamed people-watcher. I find myself creating stories about the people I see in cafés, on trains and in all sorts of public places. I give these strangers names and personalities, imagine their lives, and decide who might be the villain and who might become the victim.

This is how I came to write A Rainy Night in London and When Two Worlds Collide.

I'm fascinated by social history, particularly more recent history, and enjoy writing character-driven stories set against historical events that readers can relate to. This is where The Wimpy Crew and Two Brothers came from.

I believe that a story only truly comes to life when someone reads it. So, if you choose to give life to one of my books, thank you.