'Multi-genre' book launched at Wheatsheaf in Lower Woodford

The book is called My Own Little Place, with the subtitle "Adventures in the Quest to find one's place in life", and its author is Mr Stephen Payne.

Born in rural Devon, Mr Payne, 69, now lives in Fareham, but chose to launch the book at the Wheatsheaf in Lower Woodford. 

This location was chosen because the book's publishers, Riverside Publishing Solution, is based in Lower Woodford, and because Wiltshire and Salisbury feature in the book. 

Mr Payne describes the book as "multi-genre", including adventure, environmental, fiction, historical fiction, mystical, romance, and thriller.

He also said that he strongly advises people to read the short two-page Author's Note and Preface first before starting on the chapters.

My Own Little Place launch at the Wheatsheaf in Lower Woodford (Image: Newsquest)

Stephen Payne was born in rural Devon in the 1950’s.

He attended university in Liverpool before enjoying a career teaching science, maths and geography. He also had a career in financial services.

Stephen also turned his hand to acting.

My Own Little Place by Stephen Payne (Image: Newsquest)

With a passion for writing (he wrote scripts and directed school performances while a teacher), Stephen also enjoyed featuring as the cricket bowler in Finding Neverland in 2004 and as a detective in Jonathan Creek Christmas special, Satan’s Chimney.

The novel is Mr Payne's first foray into writing. It is the first of a planned trilogy of the "Quest" and was inspired by a chance meeting on Christmas Day in 2019. 

Mr Payne told the Journal he is already 17,000 words into the second novel. 

My Own Little Place costs £10.50 can be found on Chalk Stream Books here, as well as in Waterstones on Salisbury High Street.