Born on a small farm in the rural West of Ireland shortly after World War 2, Tom emigrated to urban England at age 18. By age 23 he had become a Primary school teacher. He married and has three grown-up sons. He left teaching in dramatic circumstances 31 years later. He later worked part-time in adult education, using his teaching and computer expertise to help students from all over the world learn English. He retired in 2010. At last he has the leisure time to write a little. This is his second book to be published.