Bio and Recommendations
Hi! I’m L.J. Hayward and I’ll be
your author for this biography.
I’ve been telling tales (some of them of the tall variety) for most of my life. The first book I ever produced was about Easter, as I recall, and was written in crude pictographs. In my defence, I reckon I was about three. Stapler-binding was the format of choice (way, way before the advent of the e-book). First story with words (and pictures) was about a trip to the moon, in which I included the exhaustive research I did on the matter by saying it took three days to get there. Sadly, the trip was cut short when a puddle of blood (!! – quite gory for its day and age) was discovered on the moon, so the characters had to leave before the murderous aliens found them. Nail bitting stuff!
Beyond that, I don’t recall exactly when I began to think seriously about writing. I always enjoyed a creative writing exercise in high school, but hated scientific writing in university. Not enough room for drama or humour or unicorns. But even before I began writing stories down, I was writing them in my head. Serious writing started around the mid-twenties. Good writing started a couple of years later. Even better writing is still in progress.
As a pathology scientist, blood and medicine is a big part of my life and, naturally, have an influence on my writing. My first book, Blood Work, had its origins in how blood behaves in transfusions (vampires drinking blood is basically a transfusion, right? Right.), and an upcoming fantasy trilogy is based on the idea of medicine as magic.
I’ve been telling tales (some of them of the tall variety) for most of my life. The first book I ever produced was about Easter, as I recall, and was written in crude pictographs. In my defence, I reckon I was about three. Stapler-binding was the format of choice (way, way before the advent of the e-book). First story with words (and pictures) was about a trip to the moon, in which I included the exhaustive research I did on the matter by saying it took three days to get there. Sadly, the trip was cut short when a puddle of blood (!! – quite gory for its day and age) was discovered on the moon, so the characters had to leave before the murderous aliens found them. Nail bitting stuff!
Beyond that, I don’t recall exactly when I began to think seriously about writing. I always enjoyed a creative writing exercise in high school, but hated scientific writing in university. Not enough room for drama or humour or unicorns. But even before I began writing stories down, I was writing them in my head. Serious writing started around the mid-twenties. Good writing started a couple of years later. Even better writing is still in progress.
As a pathology scientist, blood and medicine is a big part of my life and, naturally, have an influence on my writing. My first book, Blood Work, had its origins in how blood behaves in transfusions (vampires drinking blood is basically a transfusion, right? Right.), and an upcoming fantasy trilogy is based on the idea of medicine as magic.
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It isn’t just writing, either. I’ve
always been a rabid reader. Yes, rabid. Try to take my book off me, I dare you.
I can’t recall an age where I haven’t wanted to read. An inherited trait, passed down from my father, he even introduced me to fantasy greats like Terry Pratchett and Terry Brooks. Primed, I went off in search of just about every fantasy book I could get my hands on. Just to be contrary, however, I didn’t discover Lord of the Rings as a youngster. Further contrarily, I didn’t particularly find it enjoyable when I did read it, many, many years later. Since knowing what a person reads is like knowing them, here’s a little list of my favourite books, in no particular order… Storm Front - Jim Butcher. Why? It introduced me to Butcher and the idea urban fantasy didn't have to be all tough, sarcastic chicks kicking butt and taking names. It could also be tough, sarcastic guys kicking butt and chewing gum. The Wasp Factory - Iain M Banks. Why? Because! Seriously, that's really all that needs to be said. A freaky, cool, terrifying, funny (don't admit that in polite company) romp through the psyche of an under-aged serial killer. Seriously. Because, dude. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint Expurey. Why? Because! Seriously, that's really all that needs to be said. The perfect cure for The Wasp Factory. Heartbreaking, pure, beautiful. Mind Fuck - Manna Francis. Why? A seriously different take on a dystopian future and perfect example of subverting a reader's expectations by not giving them what they expect but making them love it all the same. (I'm also recommending this one next door) Pawn Of Prophesy - David Eddings. Why? Yeah, it's dated now and rather YA in content and execution, but for a first time ever fantasy, it's perfect. It introduced me to the genre and it's safe to say without Eddings, I wouldn't be writing this now, and you wouldn't be reading it. 
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And because I like telling people what's good (or at least what I like and why), here's some recommendations, in no particular order . . .
The Brackenford Cycle - Nick Moseley These books are a great example of British, humorous urban fantasy. Funny, witty, dorky Pommy characters, they've got it all. The first book, Location Location Damnation, introduces Trev, an estate agent and freshly-minted possessor of the Sight, a gift/curse that will forever change his life. Felix Castor series - Mike Carey Another British urban fantasy, bit less funny than Moseley's, but an amazing series with some fresh ideas. Felix is an exorcist and his world is populated with ghosts, spirits and demons. Likened to The Dresden Files, but unique enough to be enjoyable in its own right. The Milkweed Triptych - Ian Tregillis Had no real idea what this was going into it, but wow. An alternate history set in WWII where the Nazis have superhumans and the Brits have magic. The ideas and writing caught me instantly. Tregillis is now one of my 'immediate buy' authors. The Administration - Manna Francis A futuristic dystopian series set in (starting to see a pattern here) Europe, where a cataclysmic war has forced radical social revolution. The Administration, a totalitarian government, has absolute power of Europe and torture is a legal investigative process. These books are M/M but it's the world and characters that set it apart. The Mistborn series - Brandon Sanderson One of the few fantasy authors I really, really enjoy these days, Sanderson always has a unique take on magic and the uses of power, shown perfectly in this series. For me, these books have it all--amazing world building, great characters, intriguing plots. Epic in the true sense of the world. Tigerman - Nick Harkaway Really, anything by this man. I put Tigerman there because it's the latest, but everything of his I've read has been brilliant--if you like funny, intelligent, quirky, deep, amazingly written. If I don't leave it there, I'll just gush. Honestly. John Dies at the End - David Wong Surreal, mad, hysterical, deep at times, insane a lot. The title says it all, really. A weirdly wonderful story about two guys, a flying dog, interdimensional gods and Soy Sauce (yes!). They made a movie, which I didn't mind, but the book is the best way to experience the crazy thrill-ride that is this story. |
