C.Toms-Arbel

Born with Talipes, a condition that altered the development of my feet in the womb, I frequently found myself navigating the corridors of hospitals throughout my childhood. I owe immense gratitude to the NHS; their unwavering support is the reason I can walk today. Amidst those challenging and solitary years, I found solace and joy in the pages of books, kindling a lifelong passion for reading.

From A Series of Unfortunate Events, to Artemis Foul, Tintin to His Dark Materials, I consumed any literature I could get my hands on. Immersing myself in the unfathomably beautiful world of fiction was the perfect vessel to escape the painful world I was living in.  Without the support of my amazing family and books, I am not sure if I would have weathered the storm. 

'Out of suffering have emerged the strongest strongest souls.' Kahlil Gibran. 

At nine years old, when I first showed an interest in storytelling, my parents gifted me a typewriter, and that's when my passion for writing truly flourished. I was captivated by crafting tales of vampires, ghosts, and ghouls, drawing inspiration from the chilling adventures in R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. The excitement and fear that horror writing evoked in me was something I deeply cherished.  

My passion for creative writing grew with me into my teenage years, leading me to choose A-Level English Language. Reading my English teacher's feedback, 'This is fantastically written, you have serious potential,' cemented my decision to follow this path. I am thankful for having parents who supported my passion and never doubted my aspiration to build a career in writing.

My journey in creative writing began at Portsmouth University, where I explored a diverse array of genres and writing styles. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to dabble in everything from poetry and fan fiction to fairy tales, romance, erotica, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and magical realism. After earning my degree, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship for a Creative Writing Masters programme. My thesis project was a 45,000-word novella in the young adult fantasy genre, featuring telekinetic orphaned twins. Despite the positive feedback, I realized that this genre wasn't the right fit for me, so I pivoted to a genre where I felt more at home: Crime Fiction.

Writing The Mannequins was a four-year journey where I invested my utmost effort and passion. It marks the culmination of over ten years of honing my craft until I found the genre that truly resonated with me. My aspiration is that readers will derive immense pleasure from this novel, even if it's just a fraction of the joy I experienced in creating it. Presently, I'm writing the sequel, aiming to complete it in significantly less time than the first.

I currently living in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, with my beautiful wife and son. I work as an Further Education teacher, specialising in English and Creative Writing.