Why I started writing?

I have always enjoyed writing and during my time at university whenever I got a bit tired of researching or writing essays, nothing seemed better than writing a script of article over the weekend.

Having studied African and Asian History and Politics, specialising in the Middle-East, to Masters level and having backpacked extensively in the area I decided to write an epic life-story in the past from the viewpoint of someone from the present day. Most graduates get to use their knowledge in their chosen profession but short of starting a war, the best way to carry on in my 'profession' seemed to be not just to visit the places but write about them as well.

Having taken almost 10 years to write and publish unfortunately some events in the modern time which I wrote and predicted as fiction have now come to pass but this seems to fit in with the rest of the story which centres around a character by the name of Ben Milburn and never has such a story need to be told than now!

'Let Me Help' is an epic life story about a young man from 21st Century London who is murdered by British Muslims whilst defending his fiancé, Sam. Forsaking the usual eternity in Heaven or more rightly, The Community as its residents call home, Ben decides to prove himself worthy to return home and put himself on a life-long trial.

Of course if it were that easy, more people would do it but how many people do you know who've come back from the dead? Exactly! In order to pass his trial he must live a good life with out an early or accidental death. In order to assist him, he is allowed the help of his rather hapless Guardian Angel, Harry. Whilst Ben has all the knowledge of a modern era person, how much use will that be when it comes to living on the streets in centuries past?

Though it is impossible to describe everything that happens in the book, and even more impossible to tell of the events without spoiling the enjoyment of the story it is fair to say that a lifetime of adventures takes him from a Tuarreg slave in Egypt throughout the Middle-East and Central Asia where he not only makes friends but enemies that will pursue him throughout his life.

- The pyramids seems a lot less exciting when you camp amongst them as a slave of the murderous Tuarregs.

Just when Ben has found happiness in the Steppe, in order to comply with his trial rules he is forced to flee through dangerous central Asia only to find a quiet place to die in the barn of a small farm in the village of Beheshtebad in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains.

Here he finally comes to terms with living in the past and comes into his own when he meets the second girl of his dreams. However his past catches up with him when his nomadic enemies lay siege not just to his farm but his village and with terrible consequences.

Ultimately Ben enters into service of the Shah's Imperial army where his time living on the Steppe help come to the notice of his superiors and through a series of campaigns begins to exact justice on his enemies and rise through the ranks of the army before playing a pivotal role in the battle with The Ottomans.

As his trial nears completion and as an elderly man, there is just one last thing for him to achieve but with the very real possibilities of never getting home to see Sam again

Home in Mongolia

All the while that Ben is trapped in the past, plans are put into action to helps his fiancé Sam but even if successful, all will come to nothing unless Ben passes his trial.

With the exception of Ben Milburn, everything in the story takes place in a world that actually happened so let yourself enter a world of nomads, warriors, priests, slaves and an eccentric guardian angel. The story has it all, action, suspense, comedy and romance. So transport yourself into an epic adventure but intimate journey. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it and maybe you'll pick up a few things along the way. If you like it or maybe if you didn't please drop me a line at stephenl@ndirect.co.uk

Following 'Let me Help' I am currently working on a more contemporary black-comedy set wholly in modern day London which should be published by early 2008. I am also working on my travelogue which though centuries later, some thing just don't change!