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I’m Ryan Mayo—former Royal Artillery Gunner (’90–’96, passed P Company), author of The Lost Hero, and co-host of the Two Paths podcast. I write with grit and heart about service, family, and what resilience really looks like—on the battlefield and at home. I’m passionate about giving veterans a voice and keeping remembrance alive for the next generation. Off-mic and off-page, I mentor frontline teams on the railway and spend time with my ever-growing family.

  • Meet the Clarkes – William & Michael: The Heart of The Lost Hero

    For today’s blog, I want to introduce you properly to the two men at the centre of The Lost Hero – William Clarke and his son Michael.

    They’re fictional, but they carry pieces of a lot of real people: veterans I’ve known, families I’ve met, and bits of my own experiences along the way. If you’ve been thinking about picking up the book (or you’ve started it and want a bit more background), this one’s for you.

    William Clarke – The Soldier Father

    William is the original “lost hero” of the story.

    He’s a Paratrooper, part of that generation of soldiers who came home, got on with life, and rarely talked in detail about what they’d seen or done. Not because they didn’t feel it – but because that’s just what you did. You cracked on.

    A few things define William:

    Duty first, self second – He’s the sort of man who puts his mates, his family and the job in front of his own comfort or safety. Quiet, steady strength – He’s not a Hollywood action hero. No speeches, no drama. He’s a bloke who does what needs doing and carries the weight afterwards in silence. Haunted, but not broken – His memories of war never leave him. They sit in the background of his life: in the way he looks at the world, the way he parents, the way he tries (and sometimes fails) to open up to those he loves.

    William’s story in The Lost Hero comes to us through his own words – his memoirs and recollections – and through how others remember him. We see him as:

    A young soldier in the chaos of conflict A husband and father trying to balance the Army with family life A man carrying guilt, grief and pride all mixed together

    He represents a whole generation of veterans whose stories were never fully told.

    Michael Clarke – The Son Left With the Echoes

    If William is the echo of the past, Michael is the voice of the present.

    Michael is William’s son – a man trying to understand his father, long after the parade ground has fallen silent and the medals have been put in a box.

    Where William is closed-off and old-school, Michael is:

    Curious and searching – He wants answers. About his dad, his family history, and what war really did to the man he grew up with. Caught between pride and pain – He’s proud of his father’s service, but he’s also honest about the emotional distance it created at home. Love mixed with frustration, respect mixed with unanswered questions. Dealing with modern pressures – Work, family, the constant noise of the modern world – and on top of that, the weight of a legacy he doesn’t fully understand.

    But Michael isn’t just looking at his father’s past from a comfortable distance.

    He understands far more about pressure, responsibility and fear than he lets on.

    He has walked his own hard path, shouldered his own burdens, and made choices that have left their own marks. That shared, unspoken understanding between him and William is part of what makes their relationship so complicated.

    Despite all the silence, Michael is still proud to have followed in his father’s footsteps – not necessarily in the exact same way, but in spirit: living up to the example of courage, loyalty and duty that William set, even when it came at a cost.

    When Michael starts reading William’s story, it isn’t just about military history. It’s about:

    A son rebuilding his picture of who his father truly was Discovering the reasons behind the silences, the moods, the unspoken things Deciding what kind of man he wants to be, carrying that legacy forward

    Through Michael, we see how the impact of war doesn’t end when the guns fall silent – it carries on through generations.

    Why Their Story Matters

    At its core, The Lost Hero is about more than battles and campaigns. It’s about:

    Fathers and sons What service asks of a family, not just a soldier The damage, courage and love that sit quietly behind the word “veteran”

    William represents the men who went, did the job, and rarely spoke about it.

    Michael represents the children of that generation – trying to make sense of what was never said, and feeling the weight of that legacy in their own lives.

    Two men, bound by blood and by experiences they struggle to talk about.

    If you decide to read The Lost Hero, my hope is that you don’t just see uniforms and operations – you see people. Flawed, brave, stubborn, loving, and human.

    Thanks for reading, and for walking alongside William and Michael on this journey.

    If you’ve already met them in the book, I’d love to know in the comments:

    Which of the two do you relate to more – William or Michael, and why?

    — Ryan

  • Early Starts, Strong Coffee and Bigger Stories

    Early Starts, Strong Coffee and Bigger Stories

    The alarm went off at 05:30 this morning and, I’ll be honest, my brain filed an official complaint.

    I am not a morning person. At all.

    If there was a medal for “Most Confused Human Before 07:00”, I’d be on the honours list. 😅

    So today’s survival plan is simple:

    Step 1: Coffee

    Step 2: More coffee

    Step 3: Remember what day it is

    But somewhere between early shifts, real life, and a slightly fried brain, the stories are still ticking away in the background.

    For those who are new here – welcome 👋

    I’m Ryan, a veteran and the author of The Lost Hero, a story about the Clarke family, service, sacrifice and the echoes war leaves behind. It’s been an incredible journey getting this book out into the world and sharing it with readers, especially fellow veterans and their families.

    Right now, I’m also deep into writing the next book in the series:

    📖 Faultline – Ghost in the Woods

    This one follows Sarah Clarke in a modern, darker, behind-enemy-lines thriller – tangled loyalties, shadowy enemies and the ghosts we carry with us from past operations.

    Between work, writing, and the occasional 05:30 existential crisis, your support really does mean the world.

    If you enjoy my blogs and posts, it would be a massive help if you could:

    Share this blog with a friend who loves military fiction or real veteran stories Invite people to follow my Facebook page if you think they’d enjoy the journey Leave a comment and let me know where you’re reading from (and what time your alarm went off this morning!)

    Right – time for another coffee before my brain stages a mutiny.

    Thanks for being here, for reading, and for walking this path with me.

    Ryan ☕✍️

  • Why I Wrote The Lost Hero – A Story of Service, Family and Memory

    Why I Wrote The Lost Hero – A Story of Service, Family and Memory

    There’s a big difference between wanting to write a book and needing to write one.

    The Lost Hero sits firmly in the second camp.

    I didn’t wake up one morning and decide, out of nowhere, “I’m going to be an author.” The story grew out of years of lived experience – service, friendships, loss, and watching the slow, painful impact of age and illness on people I care about.

    A Veteran Writing About Veterans

    I served in the British Army, and like a lot of veterans, I came away with more than just memories. You carry things with you – smells, sounds, faces, split-second decisions that never really leave.

    Over the years I’ve spent time with other veterans, some my age, some much older. I’ve sat in cafés, at breakfast clubs and in care homes listening to men in their 80s and 90s talk about things they’ve never told their families in full. A joke here, a dark memory there, a pause that says more than any sentence could.

    Those conversations were a big part of the reason this book exists. I didn’t want those echoes to disappear completely.

    Living With Dementia in the Family

    Another driving force behind The Lost Hero was dementia.

    If you’ve been through it with a loved one, you’ll know: it’s a cruel disease. You lose someone twice – once in their mind, and then again when their body finally lets go. You cling to flashes of the person they were, even as they slip away in front of you.

    William Clarke, the elderly veteran in the story, is shaped by that reality. He’s a man whose past is still vivid, but whose present is fragile. Some days he’s back in uniform in his own head. Some days he barely knows who’s in the room.

    Writing William was painful at times, but it felt important. I wanted to show the long shadow of war and illness – not just on the person going through it, but on the family desperately trying to hold everything together around them.

    Honouring the Invisible Heroes

    When we talk about “heroes”, we usually picture the ones in uniform. But the more time I’ve spent with veterans and their families, the more I’ve realised how many other kinds of bravery exist quietly in the background.

    That’s why The Lost Hero isn’t just about soldiers.

    It’s about:

    Partners pacing the floor, waiting for news. Sons and daughters trying to understand a parent who came back… but never quite came home. Carers in care homes who treat our older generation with dignity when so much else has been stripped away.

    Characters like Margaret, Sarah, Elaine and Piotr were my way of honouring those people. They don’t carry rifles, but they carry everything else.

    Turning Experience into Story

    The Clarke family are fictional, but the emotions behind them are very real.

    William carries the weight of past service.

    Michael represents the modern veteran, juggling loyalty, guilt and responsibility.

    Margaret and Sarah hold the home front together.

    Elaine stands in the middle, pulled in every direction.

    And around them are the blokes on the ground and the staff in the care corridor, all playing their part.

    I wanted readers – whether they’ve served or not – to feel like they were stepping into a real family, with all the mess, love, humour and pain that comes with it.

    What I Hope Readers Take Away

    If you pick up The Lost Hero, my hope is that you come away with three things:

    Respect – for those who’ve served, and for those still dealing with the aftermath. Recognition – if you’re a veteran, a family member or a carer, I hope you see something of yourself on the page. Remembrance – not just of battles and medals, but of the quiet everyday courage it takes to keep going.

    This book is my tribute – to my own experiences, to the veterans I’ve met, and to the families who stand beside them.

    If this resonates with you, I’d be truly grateful if you’d:

    Share this post, Tell a friend about the book, or Leave a review if you’ve already read it.

    Those small actions make a huge difference to an indie author trying to get a story like this out into the world.

    Screenshot
  • Excerpt from The Lost Hero

    Excerpt from The Lost Hero

    Chapter Eight – The rude awakening…

    In the trenches of Plaman Mapu

     

     

    It wakes you like a punch to the gut. One moment you are asleep and the world is the steady drum of rain on tin; the next, the sky explodes and the compound becomes a thing of splinters and noise. Mortar rounds. The air tasted of wet dirt and metal the instant they started, like the jungle had been sliced open.

     

    The first one hits short, right outside the hut. It throws up a wall of mud and water that slams into the rafters and makes the whole place shudder. I was up before I had properly understood, hands moving like they had been wired already. Boots on. Webbing clipped. Helmet on. The old reflexes that the sergeant had hammered into us in the rain did their job before my brain caught up.

     

    “Contact! Contact front!” someone bellowed. The voice, half shout, half animal, came from outside, a hundred men’s worth of fear in each syllable.

     

    I shoved my feet into soggy boots, grabbed my SLR where it leaned against the bunk. The metal was cold and slick; rainwater dripped from the barrel. My hands knew what to do: load, check, prepare. Training came back in a blink, as sharp as any whistle.

     

    Check the magazine, fingers fumbling only for a second, insert. Pull bolt to the rear. Let it slam forward. Safety catch, to SAFE. Click. Then, instinctively, when you are running out into the noise, you do not want the safety on; but you do not want the rifle going off until you know where you are pointing. A whispered rule from basic: do not be the one who shoots when you should not. Flip the safety to FIRE only when you are settled and have a target.

     

    My hands moved through the drill, magazine seated, cheek to the comb, front sight lined up in the rain. The weapon must point naturally at the target; your position and grip must support the weight. You can’t fight a rifle; you must marry it. The sight picture must be correct: front sight crisp, rear aperture framing it, target just in front of the post. Breathe. Hold. Squeeze. Follow through. I could hear it in my head like a sermon. I did not have time for sermons, but the motions were bone deep.

     

    Outside the hut the world was a hell of sparks and shadow. Tracers stitched the air in pale threads. There were flashes in the tree line, muzzle flashes, the staccato signatures of weapons secondary to one another. Somebody screamed. Somebody shouted back. Mud spattered my face. My heart was a drumbeat in my throat.

    To find out what happens you’ll need to read the full story available now on Amazon.

    https://amzn.eu/d/fonFjSt

  • Getting Ready for My First Live Book Signing – Behind the Scenes

    Next Saturday, I’ll be doing something I’ve dreamed about for a long time: sitting behind a table at a live event, chatting to people and signing copies of my debut novel, The Lost Hero.

    I’ll be at the Care for Veterans Christmas Fayre at Gifford House, Boundary Road, Worthing, West Sussex, on Saturday 29th November 2025, from 12:00–16:00. 

    On the day, it’ll just look like an author at a stall with a nice banner and a stack of books. But there’s a lot of graft that goes into getting there – especially when you’re self-published.

    Saying “Yes” to a Live Event

    This all started with a conversation at Care for Veterans. I’ve been lucky enough to spend time there, talking with staff and residents, including veterans from previous generations. When the opportunity came up to have a stall at their Christmas Fayre, it felt like the perfect fit.

    As a veteran myself, The Lost Hero is my tribute to those who served, those still serving, and the families who carry the weight of it all. Being able to share the book at a veterans’ charity event just made sense.

    But saying “yes” is the easy part. After that, the real work begins.

    Booking the Stall & Talking to the Venue

    First job: book the stall.

    That meant liaising with the team at Care for Veterans, confirming:

    Date and times Space available What I can and can’t bring Whether there’s power, access, parking etc.

    It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. Emails, calls, double-checking details. When you’re self-published, there’s no events team doing this for you – it’s all on your shoulders.

    Paying Upfront: Stock, Banner & Setup

    One thing people don’t always see is the personal cost behind these events.

    I’ve ordered a roller banner out of my own pocket so that my stand looks professional and people can actually spot The Lost Hero from across the hall. I’m ordering physical copies of the book myself to bring along and sign. There’s no big publisher shipping boxes of books to the venue. Every copy I sell at the fayre is one I’ve invested in upfront. Then there’s the small stuff that adds up: table coverings, pens that won’t run out mid-signature, card reader, change float, bags for people to take their books home.

    None of this is a complaint – it’s just the reality of being an indie author. You believe in your book so much that you’re willing to back it with your own time, energy and money.

    Promotion: Letting People Know I’ll Be There

    The next layer is getting the word out.

    I’m now promoting my stall alongside all the other brilliant stalls that will be at the fayre. That means:

    Posting on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and my Ryan Mayo Daily blog Letting friends, family, and the veteran community know Encouraging people to come down, even if it’s just to say hello and have a chat

    Again, there’s no marketing department behind me – just me, my phone, and the hope that the right people see the posts and think, “I fancy popping down to that.”

    Why It’s All Worth It

    So why do it?

    Because this is more than selling books.

    It’s about:

    Meeting readers face-to-face instead of just watching numbers on a screen Talking to veterans and families and hearing their stories Raising money for a cause that means a lot to me

    For this event, £2 from every copy of The Lost Hero sold at the fayre will be donated to Care for Veterans. So when you buy a book, you’re not just supporting me as an author – you’re supporting a charity that cares for those who’ve served.

    That makes the long emails, the upfront costs, and the logistics feel worthwhile.

    Where I’ll Be & When – Come Say Hello

    If you’re in or around Worthing, I’d love to see you there.

    📍 Event: Care for Veterans Christmas Fayre

    🏠 Location: Care for Veterans, Gifford House, Boundary Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 4LJ 

    📆 Date: Saturday 29th November 2025

    ⏰ Time: 12:00–16:00

    I’ll be there with:

    Signed copies of The Lost Hero A brand-new roller banner (so you can’t miss me!) Time for a chat about the book, service life, veterans, and future projects

    If you do come along, please stop by and say hello – even if you don’t buy a book. A friendly face and a conversation are just as valuable.

    And if you’re too far away to attend, you can still help by:

    Sharing this post Leaving a review if you’ve read The Lost Hero Telling a friend who might enjoy the book

    Thank you for supporting an indie author, a veteran, and a charity that does fantastic work.

    book signing, author event, live event, self publishing, indie author, The Lost Hero, Ryan Mayo, veterans, Care for Veterans, Christmas Fayre, Worthing, West Sussex, charity event, military fiction, remembrance

  • Self-Publishing vs Traditional: The Real Pros & Cons

    Self-Publishing vs Traditional: The Real Pros & Cons

    I’ve been living the self-publishing life with The Lost Hero. It’s equal parts graft and grin: formatting pages at midnight… then feeling a jolt of pride when it finally looks and reads like a real book. Here’s my honest take for anyone weighing it up.

    Why Self-Publishing Can Be Brilliant

    Creative control. You call it—cover, title, blurb, final cut. No committee. Speed. Once it’s ready, you can publish in days rather than waiting a year+ on a schedule. Direct connection. You talk to readers yourself at events and online—feedback is immediate and personal. Flexible pricing & updates. You can tweak price, categories, keywords, even fix typos after launch. Self-respect & satisfaction. Doing the hard bits yourself is exhausting—and genuinely rewarding.

    Why Self-Publishing Is Hard Work

    Production quality is on you. Getting the manuscript to look like a book (not a messy printout) takes time and care: Proper chapter breaks (no chapters starting halfway down the page) Consistent styles (headings, body text, indents, spacing) Clean front/back matter (title page, copyright, contents, acknowledgements, author note) Widows/orphans control and tidy page flow eBook vs paperback differences (page breaks, images, tables, margins) Marketing is on you. You book events, pitch local media, build social posts, collect reviews, and keep turning up—even when it’s quiet. Budget & time. Editing, proofreading, cover design, ISBNs (if you buy your own), author copies, travel to signings. And the hours—lots of them.

    Why Traditional Publishing Is Attractive

    A professional team. Structural editor, copyeditor, proofreader, typesetter, cover designer—the whole shop. Distribution & PR. Relationships with bookshops, libraries, reviewers, festivals, and book clubs—your book gets seen. Validation. If they take your manuscript, they believe it can sell. That’s a vote of confidence. Less DIY. They handle printing, metadata, catalogues, and most logistics.

    But there are trade-offs: timelines are slower; you’ll still be expected to promote; you’ll have less control; and royalties per copy are often lower.

    The Middle Ground (Worth Knowing)

    Hybrid / assisted publishing and going indie with a hired team can work—just scrutinise contracts and costs. If you pay a company, make sure you understand exactly what rights, print files, and timelines you retain.

    What I’ve Learned Doing It Myself

    Formatting is a craft. Styles > manual spacing. Page breaks > a sea of returns. Test in the platform previewer (for both eBook and paperback) until it looks like a bookstore copy. Keep readers first. Clean fonts, sensible margins, consistent chapter starts, and a contents page that works. Plan the launch. Reviews (Goodreads/Amazon), a simple press kit, two or three signing events, and regular posts beat one big blast. It’s okay to feel stretched. You’re author, editor, designer, and publicist. One step a day still moves the book.

    So… Which Path Should You Choose?

    If you crave control, speed, and hands-on learning, self-publishing can be a brilliant route. If you want scale, distribution, and a professional safety net, aim traditional and keep submitting. If you’re like me, you may do a bit of both over time—self-publish one book, pitch the next. There’s no single “right” route, only the one that gets your story to readers with quality and integrity.

    My bottom line: self-publishing is harder than it looks—and that’s exactly why the satisfaction lands so deeply when a reader messages to say the book meant something.

    —

    Read the book: The Lost Hero is out now on Kindle (link in my bio/profile).

    Next post: “Behind the Scenes—Research Sources, Kit Lists, and Why the Compass Matters.”

    Quick Checklist for Self-Publishers

    Structural edit → copy-edit → proofread (fresh eyes each pass) Consistent Word/Docs styles (H1/H2/body); no manual formatting Insert page breaks at chapter ends; ensure chapters begin at the top Tidy front/back matter; generate a working Table of Contents Check eBook & paperback separately in the previewer Set categories/keywords that match the book readers are searching for Line up ARC reviewers and two small events or signings Prepare a press kit (bio, book blurb, cover, author photo, contact)

    Self-Publishing, Traditional Publishing, Book Marketing, Indie Author, Formatting, Kindle, Writing Journey, The Lost Hero

  • What’s Next After The Lost Hero?

    Over the last few months, The Lost Hero has taken on a life of its own. From chats with veterans over breakfast to messages from readers who’ve connected with Michael and William’s story, I’m incredibly grateful for the support so far.

    But this is just the beginning.

    I’m now working on a couple of new projects that I’m really excited to share with you:

    1. Unsung Hero – A New Military Thriller

    Unsung Hero is a standalone story set in the near future, following Sarah Clarke, a British Army combat medic and granddaughter of the Clarke family you met in The Lost Hero.

    Deployed with a NATO force to a remote region torn apart by a brutal uprising, Sarah’s patrol is ambushed and she finds herself stranded, alone and behind enemy lines. With limited supplies and danger in every direction, she must use her training, courage and sheer will to survive – while still trying to live up to her oath to save lives.

    This story will carry the same themes of duty, sacrifice and resilience, but from a modern, frontline perspective – and through the eyes of a woman fighting to be heard and to stay alive.

    2. The Sky Lantern Saga – Children’s Adventure Series

    Alongside the heavier stuff, I’m also working on something magical and family-friendly: The Sky Lantern Saga – a series of children’s books based on Pops and his grandchildren going on incredible adventures in a flying sky lantern airship.

    Together they’ll visit different countries, meet mythical creatures, and learn important lessons about kindness, courage and looking after each other. The heart of the story is a special heart compass – one point to North, the other pointing always to kindness.

    Each country will become its own short, illustrated adventure, perfect for bedtime stories and for children (and grandparents!) to enjoy together.

    These projects are still in development, but I’ll be sharing updates, sneak peeks and progress here on the blog, as well as on my social media.

    Thank you again for walking this path with me – as a veteran, a writer, and now an author building new worlds and new stories.

    Watch this space.

  • Time is precious

    Time is precious

    Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about time.

    I had 6 weeks off work recently and used that space to sit down (with a bit of help from fellow Veterans) and finally write The Lost Hero. Six weeks turned a long-held idea into a real book.

    Now I’m back at work, juggling shifts, family life, and organising book events with Care for Veterans and Blind Veterans – and it’s hit me how precious time really is.

    We all live fast-paced lives: full-time jobs, kids, grandkids, friends, responsibilities, hobbies. It’s easy to say, “I’ll do it when things quiet down.” Truth is, they rarely do.

    So I’m reminding myself – and you – to:

    Make time for family and friends Make time for fun and laughter Make time for your dreams and projects And don’t forget a bit of time just for you

    Time is the one thing we never get back.

    What we choose to do with it is everything.

    💬 What’s one thing you’re going to make time for this week?

  • Realism, But Readable: Kit, Cadence & (Slightly) Cleaner Language

    I wrote The Lost Hero so veterans would nod—and civilians wouldn’t need a translator. That meant two promises: keep the soldiering real and tune the language so anyone can follow the heart of the scene.

    What I Kept Gritty (the soldier bit)

    Kit behaves like kit. Webbing snags, bergens drag, boots bite, SLRs feel like they weigh the same as small planets. Radio cadence. Orders are short, clear, and barked like they mean it. Admin matters. Dry socks, folded jumpers, squared-away berets—competence is character. Humour as armour. Banter cuts the fear down to size (used like a tourniquet, not a laugh track).

    What I Tidied (the reader bit)

    Profanity dialled down. British soldiers can swear to Olympic standard. I trimmed the F-bomb forest so the story breathes—and so families can read without blushing. Acronyms translated. First use gets a plain-English gloss; after that, we crack on. Slang in moderation. Enough to taste authentic, not enough to require a field linguist. Gore implied, not dwelt on. Consequence over spectacle.

    Why I Did It

    Pace: Cleaner lines move faster under fire. Reach: I want veterans, families, and general readers at the same table. Respect: Real people live behind these pages. Truth first; shock last.

    Soldier-to-Civilian Pocket Guide (with a grin)

    Basha → Makeshift shelter Bergen → The rucksack that thinks it’s your commanding officer Brew → Tea (also morale) Admin → Personal organisation (how you show you care) Stag on → Guard duty Tab → Loaded march (bring feet) NAAFI → Canteen/tea-and-snacks salvation Scran → Food Gash → Rubbish/unusable kit Oppos → Mates/battle buddies Ally → Looks cool and works Biff → Temporarily unfit/held back

    How the Dialogue Works (Spice Levels)

    Think of it like tea strength:

    “Brew weak” for bedside tenderness—plain speech, soft edges. “NAAFI strong” for contact scenes—short, clipped, a little salt. “Sergeant’s flask” exists, but I’ve kept the lid on. If your inner NCO thinks there should be more swearing… feel free to mentally supply it.

    A Tiny Before/After (tone, not content)

    Barracks-real: “Get your *&%$ kit squared away and move!” Book-real: “Square your kit. Move.” Same urgency, less static on the net.

    Bottom Line

    The soldiering stays true; the language stays welcoming. Rated 12A on swearing, 18 on heart.

    —

    Read the book: The Lost Hero is out now on Kindle (link in my bio/profile).

    Next post: “Behind the Scenes — Research Sources, Kit Lists, and Why the Compass Matters.”

  • Visit to Care for Veterans

    Yesterday I visited Care for Veterans in Worthing with my brother Kerry Mayo, who serves as an ambassador for the charity. Watching him in that role made me proud—his commitment honours our family’s service, from my own years in uniform to my son who’s serving today.

    We spent time with Ron, a World War II veteran now in his 102nd year. I read him a few paragraphs from The Lost Hero—quiet, steady minutes that felt like a handshake across generations. Before I left, I was invited back to give a talk about the book, why I wrote it, and the people who shaped it. Huge thanks to Clare Silva (High Value Events & Corporate Manager) and Nick Francis (Veteran Network Liaison Officer) for the warm welcome and the invitation.

    Event note: I’ll be at the Care for Veterans Christmas Fayre on Saturday, 29 November 2025, with a stall—happy to chat and sign copies of The Lost Hero if you’re looking for a meaningful gift and a way to support the charity.