Neil BeardmoreLeaving school early to work in a factory and buy an electric piano, Neil joined a band, and that paid off as today he still enjoys playing the Blues. He continued to get pleasure from writing as it initially grew from writing songs, poetry, then plas. Later on teacher training opened up the world of literature. He went on to win the Sussex Playwriting competition and the Richard Burton Poetry Prize. An MA in Creative Writing followed and as a poet published in magazines from Orbis, Cannon's Mouth, and Erbacce to The French Literary Review, he performs regularly. Pristine in Blue was staged as part of the Milton Keynes Fringe (2014). A stage version of A View of Glass Mountains was performed at Questors Theatre, London (2019), along with The Garden of Izzat Baig as part of a fund raiser for the Globe Theatre. (Fractured Time Productions 2020) His wife and best friend Ashra gives him much support, inspiration and laughter. She has opened the doors of India, her country of birth which continues to intrigue, fascinate and mesmerise him. His first novel, Lemon Seas (Pneuma Springs 2016) was set there and received much acclaim. He follows that now with further explorations of the country through the eyes of several characters in Painted Ghosts. He and Ashra enjoy painting together. Read More Read Less