Derek J Telling

Welcome to this page. Thank you for taking the time to look at it.

I was born in Bristol, England and came 'alive' in the 1960's to attempt a life as a poet, writer and musician (blowing the Jug in a Jug Band!).

I co-edited two poetry magazines, had several pieces of work published in well known anthologies of the time, and a small volume of my own stuff. I was one of the prime instigators of the Hydrogen Jukebox Show. A group of writers, musicians and actors that performed poetry, music and mini plays in schools, colleges and pubs across the south west of England and beyond.

After several years I realised, that even in those gorgeous, challenging and heady days of blossoming talent, the funds to sustain a living were not going to fall into my lap. I turned to a full working life at the University of Bristol. Living in Somerset and Andalucia, I have now retired to pursue a pathway of writing stories and songs, some of which have lain dormant for many years. I am still attempting to be a musician, this time with a guitar!

Many weeks over the last 20 years, have been spent with my wife, riding a Suzuki Hyabusa motorbike around Spain, particularly Andalucia. Part of all the books are set here. I am inspired by the grandeur and mystery of the Sierra Nevada, by the warmth and humour of its people, by the folk law and by flamenco. I wish I could dance!

My grandmother taught me when I was very young, sitting around her winter fire to read the stories in the hot and flaring embers. There were always dragons.

BRIGHTEST LIGHT, DEEPEST DARK is a series of fantasy/science fiction stories for 11 to ninety year olds, full of adventure, magic, and battles against dark menacing forces. Witches and wizards, warriors, shapeshifters, strange creatures and animals that can talk are all found in a hidden Galaxy and on Earth.

There are five books in the series they are:

Book 1:A Journey with Dragons and Dreams

Book 2: Horizon: The Lost Planets

Book 3: The Gatekeeper and the Coldfire Mirror

Book 4: The Book of Impossible Deeds

Book 5: Ursula Queen of the Wastelands