About Chris Morgan

The pleasure to be found in writing eluded me for many years, especially at school. An old enough head wouldn’t fit on the young shoulders. So, while an early entry into the real world, I am a late entry into another world; that of writing novels. My day job for decades was in technical assistance for developing countries, mainly management development, within the British Government’s overseas aid programme. Happy and fascinating times and great friendships, in Kenya, Botswana, Malawi and Ghana. Then in my last position I was adviser to the prime minister of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). No, I didn’t get involved at all in politics; only social and economic development. As part of that job I wrote around 1200 speeches over 17 years. And I was also ghost-writer of the two volumes (one still to be published) of the prime minister’s autobiography. I won the Macmillan (Eswatini) national short story competition when it was held in 2013.

Writing all those speeches – and making sure every single one was original – was challenging but also enjoyable. Not least to have the opportunity to express my views to others instead of having to talk to myself all the time. But, seriously, it was rewarding – through the voice of the prime minister – to be able to motivate and guide the people of Eswatini on crucially important issues such as gender-based violence, access to education, the fight against HIV and AIDS, corruption, extensive poverty, economic growth and job creation.

I’m now retired and trying to make up for the lost time when I could have been writing. I came to fiction rather late in the day but perhaps inevitably, because entertaining – helping people to enjoy themselves in a decent way – seems to run in the family. My book of short stories Nine that Shine to Light your Night came from incidents that I just enjoyed elaborating into brief tales. I have also written four novels, all of which may be allowed on Amazon once I’ve learned how to spell correctly (phew, I think I just did it!). The first of the novels, A Deadly Favour in Watonia has, in fact, already entered the vast Amazon data bank and is taking on the algorithms (what’s that?). The wise-cracking former cop, William Armstrong, is the central character in the missing person mystery Into Thin Air. I really hope that you enjoy what you read. If you do, please mention it to your friends. It’s nice to get noticed. And daft to admit it?

After many decades of enjoyable sport – jack of all trades and master of none – during which I played squash for Warwickshire and Wales and won three national open squash championships in Africa, I have settled for the more gentle pursuit – that’s a joke – of mountain biking with my mates. It enables you to enjoy the beautiful hills – especially the downhill bits – of Eswatini which is now my home. I’m the proud father of seven children, five with my late wife, Margaret, and two with my second wife, Precious.

As an aspiring – preferably not imminently expiring – writer, why have I just used nearly 600 words when ten would have done? No answer to that one, but I’m still searching.

Best wishes,

Chris Morgan