Ray Brown

The youngest of six, born in a West Riding village the night a solitary German plane dropped three bombs on a nearby field. My eldest brother insisted we celebrate the event and chose my name, Raymond, as an aproximation to 'air raid.' Local grammer school, then London to become an aeronautical engineer. Resigned, studied psychology at Hull and London (motive: to change the world!). After working as a research psychologist in industry I became a research fellow at Leeds University, several publication, including two books, and I became addicted to writing. Resigned and began to keep myself as a writer. Edited literature page of Yorkshire Artscene, published many reviews, profiles, community books, pub guides,and so on. Wrote short stories, novels, plays. Became a highly-rated creative writing tutor, worked in hospitals, a youth custudy centre, British Rail Workshops and local colleges. Had stories published, two won prizes. Began to appear regularly as a feature maker on BBC Radio 4. Began to write, produce, direct, and tour my own plays, also direct other people's work. Three plays on BBC R4. Two novels published and the biography of a friend and neighbour. In the pipeline a third novel and a children's novella. Recently had poems published in national media. Four maxims: write fiction to tell the truth (Vonnegut); shine a light on the particular to illuminate the general; every character is the centre of their own drama; laughter and tears!