John Simmons

A distinguished career as a brand consultant has turned into a parallel life as a novelist in recent years.

John was a director of Interbrand where he created the brand discipline of tone of voice, working internationally with some of the world’s most famous companies. He became a freelance writer while establishing two organisations for writers – 26 and Dark Angels. For Dark Angels, named after John’s book on writing creatively for business, he continues to run writing workshops that have become legendary. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Falmouth for ‘outstanding contribution to the creative sector’.

John’s first novel Leaves was originally published by Urbane in 2015, having been in his head since university days. This quickly led to Spanish Crossings, with the Spanish Civil War and a family story as background. His third novel The Good Messenger is set on Armistice Day 1918 and on either side of the first world war. He is currently finishing a novel Painting Paris set in the artist community in Montmartre in the early years of the 20th century.

Above all John believes in the power of storytelling.