My name is Dean Jones, I am a 43-year-old father of 6, from Barrow-in-Furness (now living in Cheshire) who found that writing stories and poetry brought him the opportunity to escape the real world - for just a moment.

I first discovered an interest in writing when I was 12. I was away on a school trip and we had a day sat beside a river running through Eskdale, Cumbria. My teacher had tasked us to come up with a poem that captured the river and the scenery it meandered through. I duly obliged and set about capturing everything I saw. The result was something I was proud of, but more importantly my teacher loved it and told anyone who would listen all about the poem I had written. It was placed in center stage on the notice board and she even took it with her when she left (though I would have liked it back). This support and praise sparked a flame which still burns today over 30 years later.

In my later teens, I began using poetry as a release from my own personal circumstances and found writing my darkest thoughts let me move past many of the situations I was experiencing as many young men do.

Since those early school years, writing has become part of my relaxation and pastime routine. I just love it when I had an idea for a story or poem and then my creative juices would flow as I tried to conjure up a tale that was both exciting and imaginative or a poem that invoked imagery and emotion.

I began writing my first novel, Father of Storms, when I found myself working away from home. I discovered that making up short stories (which quickly became the start of larger stories) helped me cope with being away from my young family and gave me something else to do other than frequent the local bars with colleagues.

Some seven years later I completed that book and quickly began thinking of others.

Writing brings me joy and the stories I write, I hope, provide joy to others.