ABOUT STUART GEBBIE

I have always had a strong connection to the military with family members and family friends who have been involved in WW2, The Troubles and the First Gulf War. This exposure from a young age inspired my interest in military history and military thriller novels. Being an avid reader I devoured as much as I could with my main interest being in the world of special operations. In my works of fiction I aim to explore the darker side of warfare with a focus on as much authenticity as I am able to achieve without first hand experiences to draw upon while also delving into the morally grey exploring whether doing the wrong thing for the right reasons is justifiable in the world we live in today.

Some of my favourite authors from similar genres are Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, Lee Child, M P Woodward and Jack Carr. Another equally impactful work of fiction on my life was The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien which was heavily influenced by his own experience of the First World War and while the work is over fifty years old I find it still resonates today as there are plenty of parallels between the society we live in now and the world he created.

Outside of reading I am a big fan of movies and TV shows having grown up watching some of the greatest classic movies of all time such as The Italian Job, Zulu, The Magnificent Seven and countless other movies. As for TV shows some of my personal favourites are 24, Band of Brothers, Strike Back and Outlander.

I always love visiting places with historical connections or a good museum. I have been lucky enough to visit some of the most significant battlefields from the First and Second World Wars in Normandy, the Somme, Arras and Dunkirk. I also enjoy visiting places closer to home in Scotland such as the various castles including Edinburgh and Stirling with the battlefield at Culloden being a particular highlight with how important it was to British history.

I enjoy spending time outdoors as well either hiking or running although if I had to pick one place I love the most it is being at Murrayfield watching the Scotland Rugby Team. I go to as many of the games as I can in part due to my love of the sport but also the different cultural aspects that you get to experience depending on the opposition, with the All Blacks and the Haka being the standout for any rugby fan.