I’m a 53-year-old father of two daughters and will celebrate 25 years of marriage to their mum, Catherine Simpson, in May 2019. Her debut novel, Truestory, was published in September 2015 by Sandstone Press, and her magnificent memoir, When I had A Little Sister, was published by Fourth Estate in February 2019.

I’ve been a journalist for 30 years, having spent six years each at The Scotsman and The Sunday Times and the last 18 freelancing. I have a particular interest in crime, especially the victims of crime. Their cause needs to be championed in the face of the relentless drive to improve the lot and enshrine the rights of the perpetrators of crime.

Apart from enjoying time and holidays with my family, I like to play and watch football, I like to run, I love books,  and top-quality TV dramas (like The Sopranos and The Wire), as well as films and rock music.

I’ve rather neglected this blog because I like to see what I write in print, and be paid for it. That’s how I earn my living. But I’m thinking of using this blog to add a bit more detail and comment to the stories I get into print, and also to tell some of the stories I can’t get into print.