Jim was born in Bushey, Middlesex, England and grew up in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. He passed selection for the 21st Special Air Service Regiment at age 17 and was later commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, The Queen’s Regiment as a Second Lieutenant. He spent several years in Northern Ireland during the late 70s and early 80s and since leaving the army in 1986, he has lived and worked in Malaysia, South Africa, Belgium, and Singapore. Jim now lives with Vivien, his Malaysian-born wife, two East Asian street dogs and four cats in Asia's World City, Hong Kong. It is the company-run city which inspired Go Down City and the Lynthax Corporation in the SCAT'S UNIVERSE series