Andrew Toynbee

I have been writing in various genres since I was eleven years old, but have only published small articles in various specialist magazines. My first real attempt at a novel, working title 'Homeworld', was in 1999 following a week-long illness, something which gave me time to assemble many scribbled notes onto my first ever laptop which was largely powered by coal and steam.

However, in 2006, I was inspired to change tack and began work on a high fantasy novel which grew rapidly into what might one day become the 'Elemental Mages' series. However, it became too big and unwieldy and in 2009 I was faced with the choice of a complete rewrite or changing tack once again to write what eventually became my debut novel 'A Construct of Angels'.

I tried to pitch this completed work to every agency in the UK over a period of fourteen months but was unsuccessful. I was on the point of considering US agencies for my 'English' story when several bloggers I was following began discussing self-publishing as an option.

Within two months my debut novel was live on Amazon and had already begun to sell. I have now completed two sequels to this story, 'A Vengeance of Angels,' and 'A Fury of Angels,' as well as a follow-on short story 'Hero from Beyond,' which acts as both sequel and an introductory prequel for new readers.