About Iain
Born in Elderslie and raised in Port Glasgow, Iain now lives in Aberdeenshire in the north-east of Scotland, where he writes fantasy inspired by a lifelong love of storytelling, world-building, and adventure.
Books have always been a huge part of his life. From an early age, he was drawn into the rich and expansive worlds of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, later discovering the work of R.A. Salvatore. Over the years, he found inspiration in a wide range of writers, including George Orwell, J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen King, James Herbert, Gerald Seymour, and Arthur C. Clarke. Their work helped shape not only his love of reading, but also the storyteller he would eventually become.
Fantasy, however, was the genre that truly captured his imagination. Inspired by authors such as R.A. Salvatore, Gail Z. Martin, George R.R. Martin, and Joe Abercrombie, Iain began to imagine worlds and stories of his own. Encouraged by friends through years of playing Dungeons & Dragons, he started developing ideas, characters, and conflicts that would one day grow into something much bigger.
That “something bigger” became Azangrail — a world born from imagination, shaped over time, and filled with the kinds of schemes, struggles, and adventures that first made him fall in love with fantasy. What began as a creative spark gradually became a serious writing journey.
After a serious car crash in 2023, Iain turned to writing as part of his recovery process, using it as a way to help his focus and concentration while helping his memory to find the words he coulnd't articulate clearly. And over time between physiotherpay and hospital visits he could see the benefits writing was giving him, and he finally committed to the fantasy series he had always wanted to create.
With renewed focus and determination, the support from friends and family, and the guidance of a very good editor, he dedicated himself to bringing his ideas to life on the page.
In 2025, he completed his first novel, set in the world of Azangrail, with publication due in the Autumn, 2026. It marked the fulfilment of a long-held ambition and the beginning of a new chapter in his life as an author.
When he is not writing, Iain can usually be found dreaming up new plots, more morally ambiguous characters and fresh trouble for the world of Azangrail, drinking his way through pots of coffee, and enjoying time with his family and grandchildren.