Ian Ayris

Ian was born in Dagenham, Essex, in August 1969. Having spent most of his childhood more interested in kicking a tennis ball about the school playground with his mates than actually learning anything, he managed to leave the public education system in 1985 with but two O' Levels and a handful of C.S.E.'s.

And a love of writing.

His academic achievements set him up nicely for the succession of low paid jobs he has maintained to this day. These jobs have included a three year stint as a delivery boy for an electrical company, five years putting nuts and bolts in boxes in a door factory, one day in a gin factory, and three months in a record shop. He has spent the last nineteen years, however, working with adults with learning difficulties, and in the meantime, has become a qualified counsellor.

Ian's love of writing resurfaced late in his thirties, in the guise of short stories. He has since had almost forty of these short stories published both in print and online.

In March 2012, Ian's debut novel - ABIDE WITH ME - was released, followed by a short story collection in aid of breast cancer - UNCLE MILDRED AND OTHER STORIES. In November 2012, Byker Books published Ian's debut novella - ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF JASON DEAN.

Ian lives with his wife, Katie, and his three children - Mollie (14), Charlie (10), and Summer (5), in Romford, Essex, and is currently working on his second novel - the sequel to ABIDE WITH ME - called LOOK AWAY.

He is a lifelong Dagenham and Redbridge supporter.