For most of his working life, Peter’s creative endeavours have had to take second place to earning what was politely called a “proper living”. This winding road to becoming an author saw an early foray into the world of music. Able to play the piano a little, he began songwriting and was fortunate, while spending time in the United States, to work alongside several highly accomplished jazz musicians. Those experiences were invaluable, but the true musical highlight came later back in the UK, when a selection of Peter’s songs was performed in a show at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.From music, Peter moved into theatre comedy, writing plays that combined humour with strong characterisation. A breakthrough arrived in 2011 when internet publisher Lazy Bee Scripts began distributing his work. Since then, Peter’s shows have been performed more than 600 times in over 30 countries around the world.Another creative shift then followed, this time into poetry and cartoon illustration. These both found a welcome home in Derbyshire Life magazine, where Peter’s regular monthly feature, The Lighter Side of Life, is now in its fourth year.At the heart of all his writing is a love of character, in developing interesting, believable people who are placed in situations that entertain, while still reflecting real life scenarios. The Derbyshire Detective is Peter’s first novel. In this new title he has brought together an engaging cast of characters, with a strong storyline that has more than one mystery at its heart, all set amid the backdrop of the beautiful Peak District, and with the occasional smile along the way.
