Have spent nearly thirty years in public and academic libraries - and a little less than that in freelance writing of articles, book and record reviews, then books - it's been a busy time but a lot of fun. Read Librarianship at Ealing Technical College (London W5, UK), where I edited the library students' journal, 'Stamp Out'.

Have written or compiled around twenty books, mostly historical or royal biographies [see list]; former record and book reviewer for regional press. Have contributed to various national and local journals, mainly in UK, including 'Royalty Digest', 'Illustrated London News', 'Antique Dealer & Collectors Guide', 'Record Collector', 'This England', 'European Royal History Journal' (US); written insert notes for CDs by rock groups The Move and London; also contributor to 'New Dictionary of National Biography', 'Guinness Rockopaedia', 'Grolier Children's Book of Knowledge'; editor of 'County Magazines Index' 1978-80; 'Keep On Rockin' (70s rock music fanzine) 1991-96. Some of these articles have been uploaded in My Articles

I am currently writing a biography of Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria. Revised paperback editions of several of my earlier titles, including 'Queen Victoria's Children', 'Crowns in a Changing World' and 'Princess Victoria Melita', have or are about to be published. In addition my novel 'The man on the moor', a historical thriller set in 1913, is due for publication early in 2004.

dooyoo
Opinions and consumer reviews website which pays users to submit their own opinions. Have written over 300, including record, book and website reviews, also on pets, health issues, etc. under member name JOHNDMR

Phoenix Book Reviews
Interview with Nikki Sly, February 2002, on excellent site featuring reviews of contemporary fiction and non-fiction. The same site features 'guest reviews' by myself on certain fiction and non-fiction titles

FreakWrite
Creative writing site, featuring more of my poems, plus unpublished poems and short stories by other writers