Andrew Houlston - Author and founder of The Optoglean Tales Ltd
What first inspired me to write
My first book was born from a restless pull toward both memory and imagination. I grew up surrounded by stories of ancestry and legacy, of lives lived before mine that still seemed to echo. At the same time, I felt an unshakable yearning to explore worlds beyond the horizon, places no map could show, only the mind could draw. Out of that mixture came The Pagalan Chronicles: part reflection of the past, part invention of a mythos all my own. Writing became my way of weaving history with possibility, anchoring memory in one hand while reaching for the unknown with the other.
But another current flowed into that inspiration: the books I devoured as a reader. The sweeping landscapes of classic fantasy, the daring leaps of science fiction, and the imaginations of great authors who built entire universes on the page left a lasting mark on me. Their stories showed me what could be done when courage, wonder, and imagination meet. They taught me that worlds are not only discovered but created, and that in those creations, readers can find both escape and recognition.
So my own journey into writing began at the meeting point of memory and myth, of heritage and invention, of the spark kindled by the writers I admired and the stories I longed to tell. The Pagalan Chronicles grew from that crossroad, carrying forward both the echoes of the past and the endless possibilities of worlds yet unimagined.
Andrew Houlston - Author and founder of The Optoglean Tales Ltd
Andrew grew up in a Devon village. At nineteen, he joined the Royal Air Force as an airfield technician and started exploring the world beyond his small community. After nine years serving his country, Andrew pursued a career and further qualifications in technology, working on defence and commercial projects around the world.
Andrew married a woman from his home county, and together they had three children. Their children, now adults with their own families, have influenced his writing and motivated him to create a legacy for them.
As Andrew grew older, he decided to spend time reading science fiction and fantasy novels as a break from focusing on future technologies. This activity led him to imagine worlds based on creativity and life experiences, featuring varied characters dealing with relevant issues. He wanted to author stories about these worlds but lacked the time. After retiring from the high-tech industry, Andrew aimed to share these imagined worlds through storytelling.
As Andrew’s writing developed, it helped him focus on the world rather than his own problems. He realized that despite life's hardships, there is always hope. We live in uncertain times, but through all the challenges and darkness, a glimmer of light remains. Standing together through adversity can turn that glimmer into a beacon, even in the bleakest moments. This idea has been subtly present in Andrew’s stories.