A lot of my friends have reached a stage where they feel they've been working for the 'man' for too long. It can't be helped. Going to Art College changes you. For 4 years you're skint, so when you leave you want to earn a bit of money. Then, 15 years later, you've earnt that bit of money but it feels like someone else has made a lot more from your efforts. And deep down you know that your talent, and those 4 years of eating beans and tatties (with different flavourings each night to save your palette from dying of boredom) has not been fully utilised. Inevitably, thoughts of controlling your own destiny begin to fill your waking hours.

So where is this inane ramble leading?

To 'hope'and to Mr Alan Campbell.

The first of my friends to make the break years ago and do what he'd always wanted to do. Write a book.

And today he's having his launch party down in London, having received a series of rave reviews already.

'Scar Night' - the first part of the Deepgate Codex trilogy has just been released and everyone wishes him well. Though from the various plaudits so far received, our wishes will be mere eddies in the wave of superlatives pushing his new career ahead.

Try reading some of these to see what I mean....

Forbidden Planet

Amazon

The Alien Online

TTA Press

Or better still get the gist from the horse's mouth at An Urban Fantasy

And with several other friends heading in the same direction it's good to see that a bit of belief, a lot of effort, and shed loads of beans and tatties can pay off.