Dabbled in writing for many years, with one book published years ago (a joint thriller with two friends - modest sales hardcover and paperback). Recently started writing again, on my own and with my wife, Loraine. The major influences on my writing are a host of spy and thriller writers (starting way back with Ian Fleming's James Bond series, and going through Le Carre), as well as a handful of detective writers (Ian Rankin is magnificent). However, non-fiction authors and works have also been very influential (the latest being the British writer Niall Ferguson - his Civilization: The West against The Rest is the latest bedtime reading for me).