Derek was born in Hampshire in England but spent his teenage years in Auckland, New Zealand, where he still has strong family ties. On his return to England, after eight years abroad, he read history at Reading University. As long as he can remember, Derek has loved books and he always wanted to write. By the age of 17, he was writing stories, songs, poetry - in fact virtually anything. Inevitably, after university, work and family life took precedence and for many years he taught history in a secondary school. Though he enjoyed teaching immensely, he also found a creative outlet in theatrical activities: stage-managing musicals and outdoor Shakespeare, including a performance of Henry VIII for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 at Windsor Castle. In 2010 Derek took early retirement from his teaching career to concentrate on writing. He aims to write action-packed fiction, rooted in accurate history. Though he is interested in everything historical, his particular favourite is the late medieval period. His 4-book series, entitled Rebels and Brothers, is set during the Wars of the Roses and he has now embarked on another Wars of the Roses series: The Craft of Kings. Apart from his writing, he enjoys travelling - often to carry out research for his books - and also spends his time gardening, walking and taking part in archaeological digs.