Ian Lyons
Date of Birth: 1st January 1980
Website: www.aprilspond.com
'I grew up in a village in Yorkshire. I always had a wild imagination and a mind for exploring. My friends and I climbed the crags, jumped from the trees, and walked barefoot up the streams. I always enjoyed a challenge. I would race the bus to school by scrambling up the embankment, while it had to go the long way round, just to see if I could win. I remember exploring the sandy caves nearby at lunchtimes with one flash light between four of us, and making up stories about aliens, pirates and hidden treasure.
Occupation: HM Forces, Royal Signals (12yrs):
'When I left school I started an apprenticeship as a tool engineer. I knew quickly that I could never be happy working in a factory, even if the money was good. I still wanted to be different. Every day, as I worked, I would look outside the hangar door and use my imagination to escape the monotony of that life. At 18yrs old I found something different, and I joined the Army. It was the best decision I ever made. It constantly provided me with new and exciting challenges and opportunities.'
Other interests and achievements: Physical Training, Swimming, Parachuting, Mountaineering, Climbing, and Kayaking instructor. Boxing, Chess, Poker and of course Writing:
'Anything worth doing in life is difficult. I spent months learning to be a Physical Training Instructor, and years practising. Some days it seemed like I had been running with weight from beginning to end. Parachuting was the same, it took 8 years, 950 jumps and 24hrs in freefall before I became an instructor and won the Armed Forces Championships. Boxing was also difficult. Walking into the ring to fight another soldier in front of hundreds of your peers is incredibly nerve racking. You can't just climb out if the going gets tough.'
The Book:
'I set myself the challenge of writing a book, and came up with the idea for April's pond. People tell you 'write about what you know'. Even though it's pure fantasy there is a lot of me in there, and my life experience.'
The Future:
'I have recently suffered a serious injury to my hip whilst training with my parachute display team. I spent a month in hospital and I am still learning to walk again. It means I will have to take things 'easier' in future, but I am still setting myself challenges. At the moment I'm concentrating on what I can do. I'm studying social sciences, spending time with my family, and writing.'
