About the Book:

Set against the background of the 9/11 New York attacks in 2001, ‘The Othila Paradigm’ is an action adventure novel about the down-at-heel Tom Blaire, a middle aged ex RAF pilot who is selected by the mysterious Asif to become the curator of an Iranian cave museums.

In Iran, he and a fellow passenger, Mae Weber, are kidnapped to Turkmenistan and framed as spies by Asif. Blaire is offered freedom if he agrees to train Asif’s terrorist aircrew. He refuses, but is rescued by Djaffar Maachi, a western educated Afghan tribal leader.

In Afghanistan Tom meets the force behind the rescuers: a secret group of religious leaders and military hierarchy, the Organisation, who have power but few teeth, operating more as a strategic think tank. They have identified that three paradigms of power in the world, Transnational Big Business, Organised Crime, and Fundamentalism, are being manipulated by a secret fourth paradigm, The Othila Paradigm, who seek world domination.

The reluctant hero Tom is joined by Mae, Djaffar and ‘Chip’ Lau, a female Singapore Chinese computer expert, to become a miss-matched team who combat ‘Othila’ on behalf of the ‘Organisation’ in a series of encounters right across the world, to places such as a secret base in the Seychelles to crossing through the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan.

The Book’s Future:

I would like to see my book read and enjoyed by people across the world. With your help, I can get my book professionally edited, make a cover that will appeal to the audience, and hopefully send the book across international waters. I would like to do a set of ‘Tom’ books, as my granddaughter fondly calls them, as I see many adventures in store for him and his team.

About Me:

I grew up just south of London, among the bomb sites slums left by World War II. I had dreamt of ’escape’: travel and adventure through the books that I read. Books about boys running off to sea with famous explorers, particularly, “He Sailed with Vasgo-de-Gama,” and, “He Sailed with Magellan”.

I served a five year apprenticeship as a Shipwright and a year as a draughtsman (draftsman). Then I was conscripted into the Royal Air Force (just 3 weeks after my wedding!) but I ended up staying for most of 25 years, as aircrew on long range four-jet aircraft. Home for a week - away for two. Home for four days - away for three! So there was no time for hobbies - no writing, no art!

I became a professional artist in 1983 after being honoured in conjunction with the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, and winning the Best New Business in Wiltshire competition. Since then my work has joined private collections all over the world. My corporate customers have included Shell Oil UK, Castleham Industries, Causeway Textiles, The Roman Baths – Bath UK, The Royal Air Force Museum –Hendon UK and many more.

Among other things, I’ve been a project manager in Industry, then a Systems manager promoted divisional systems manager. Next a manufacturing director. Finally a life in academia in Criminology, and later a writer of thrillers and poetry. I have to say, though, that the best job I’ve had so far is being a granddad and a great-granddad.

You can find my blog here: http://gatepostpicture.blogspot.co.uk/

You can find my art here: http://tjss.moonfruit.com/home/4579788394