Laurence Cowley was born in Cardiff in 1946. He will readily admit that he hadn’t read a book from cover to cover until his mid-sixties, and even now no more than a few crime novels, so there are no outside writing influences. ‘Secrets of the Tumbledown’ is his fourth novel.
He is currently working on two new novels as well as a series of children’s stories. Laurence says that everyone should attempt writing, it is very therapeutic, but as a story grips you…and often takes over your life…even though it becomes all-consuming, it is very enjoyable, very rewarding and very satisfying. He believes that his books are not about academic achievement, or clever words, but about the story.
He says that his stories and characters are drawn from a varied work and business career, having worked as a salesperson, a manager, and a director, in more than one company. Having created his own textile business and having owned an up-market ‘rosetted’ country house hotel for ten years, he has converted many properties, been involved in financing other businesses, and has owned 13 funeral businesses.
He says that he may be called an opportunist or even a risktaker by friends and acquaintances, but he’s alive and kicking to tell the tale.
One small achievement he is very pleased with, which he says he is still ‘milking’ is that for his 70th birthday, despite suffering from chronic leukaemia, he completed the London Marathon (in 6hrs 20mins) and has the gong to prove it!
