Two Graves (A Kesle City Homicide Novel) (40 page)

THE SHORT VERSION

Derek Graystone was born in Rivers, Manitoba, Canada. After a brief stay there and in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, Derek has spent the majority of his life in London, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelors Degree in English Literature in 1984.

Derek has had a varied career including jewellery store manager, warehouse manager for an ice cream distributor, manager of a gas station, and the finance and systems manager for a children's charity. In 2002, Derek quit his day job and started his own office automation and Internet presence company and a relaxation massage business with his wife. Derek is also a Reiki Master as well as having a successful online Wiccan business.

Derek's first book, The Schliemann Legacy, is a spy thriller involving Nazis, terrorists and the hunt for the treasures of Troy.

Derek followed up with Two Graves, a crime novel about a serial killer who is killing look-alikes of the people who bullied and terrorized him in his youth. Derek is planning to release the next in the Kesle PD series called Too Many Graves which will appear in the summer of 2012.

Currently, Derek is working on two non-fiction books OMG, I Think I'm a Witch and A Year of Wicca about the Wiccan religion due for release in September 2011 as well as the first novel in the Witches of Aquarius series; Windcrusher will be released in December 2011.

Derek lives with his wife Yvette in their home in London Ontario when they aren't visiting their island getaway in Exuma, Bahamas. Derek is also the father of four girls and one boy and has three granddaughters.

THE EXTENDED VERSION

After reading many articles and looking at other author's bios, I still don't know what should be in here. So feel free to just ignore any bits you don't want to know about. Meanwhile, I will just add to it as life happens or whenever I think of a better story.

One of the regular questions I have seen answered is a combination of when did you decide you wanted to be a writer and what qualified you to be a writer? For me, those two events happened at the same time. After mastering the entire ABC song and being able to line up all those blocks, I knew I wanted to rearrange the letters into a more useful form. And since I knew all the letters, I realized I was infinitely more qualified to do it than the kid next to me who still couldn't grasp the intricacies of turning the M block into a W. From there it turned into a craft when my overdeveloped imagination took over. I am pretty sure that is what my mother called my explanations of how I got so dirty or who broke her favorite vase.

English quickly became one of my favorite subjects in school. All the other subjects like math and science had correct answers and dealt in absolutes. But English, ah, English had such flexibility and scope. As long as you could keep the bull (uh literary criticism and insight) flowing, you got good marks. I even got a good mark on a disturbingly sexist piece I wrote arguing the merits of female beauty according to Hugh Hefner and Bob Guccione. Sorry about that Mrs. Ferguson.

My love of the written word continued when I attended the University of Western Ontario. I chose to pursue an eclectic education. I felt it was in the tradition of the Renaissance Man that I saw myself as rather than the scattered, undisciplined student lacking direction that my guidance counselor proclaimed me. Following that broad education with a major in English Literature, I found myself uniquely unemployable in any worthwhile position that required even the most rudimentary knowledge. I went into sales. Saved yet again by my overdeveloped imagination.

During that illustrious time, I was working hard on my first novel. I still think it is a great story and has the honor of occupying one of the earlier spots in those large boxes of questionable manuscripts and thick files of rejection slips. However, it was an incredible feeling of accomplishment when I finally finished the novel quickly dashed by the reality of that file of rejection slips.

Time passed and my love of computers and ability with numbers allowed me the incredible experience of working for a wonderful charity that raised money for the local Children's Hospital here in London. During much of that time, I was continuing to practice my overdeveloped imagination - the outlet focused more on flyers, newsletters, fundraising letters and, of course, accounting. Writing had become something lost in the hustle and bustle of life.

Let that be a warning to anyone under the age of 103. If you are pursing a career as a writer, an actor, an artist or as the guy that tests the consistency of oatmeal for General Mills, never lose sight of your dreams or let them get lost. Dreams and our true loves are what make life worth living.

That is what my wife, Yvette, reminded me. Well, at the time, she wasn't my wife yet. Anyway, Yvette asked me one simple question that totally changed my life, "What do you love to do?" Without a moment's thought, my answer was, "Write."

Then she asked me "When was the last time you wrote?" and that was when I realized I needed to change my life if I was ever going to be truly happy.

OK, so it was two questions but, as my father always told me, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

It took some time because life still intrudes but I am now directing my overdeveloped imagination where it belongs and am writing every day. And what does that mean for you, the reader?

The first novel in my new
Witches of Aquarius
series will be available in 2012. The working title is,
WindCrusher
. For those that want to see more of Mann and Dani, the sequel,
Too Many Graves
, will also be out in 2012.

As for my current home life. I am married to Yvette and, when we aren't visiting our island paradise, we make our home in London, Ontario Canada. We have five children in what is currently referred to as a blended family. That is what you say if you are politically correct and your family tree looks more like a bramble bush. When our youngest came out an uncle, we decided it was time to quit. The number of grandchildren currently rests at three.

So, Yvette and I enjoy a 'quiet' life running several businesses together, going out dancing whenever a good band is at the Wortley and enjoying our children - and I'm writing every day.

Life doesn't get much better than sitting in front of the laptop (preferably on our deck by the pool), creating people and worlds nobody has seen before.

Connect with me online:

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/dagraystone

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/dagraystone

Website:
http://www.dagraystone.com