Living in the peace and quiet of Southern Brittany, James Sillwood is something of an enigma. Being the first to admit he might appear to be reclusive, he readily acknowledges the peaceful surroundings at his cottage inspire an atmosphere conducive to writing.

James has not always lived such a settled life. Growing up with a father in the Armed Forces, he moved around frequently as a child; living in Cyprus, Aden, and various locations in the UK. At the age of sixteen, he joined a merchant shipping company which traded along the River Amazon in Brazil.

Since those early years, travel has become a major feature throughout his life; living in Amsterdam and Portugal with frequent visits to the West Indies and a nomadic period setting up home.