Paul Harrison

A Brief Outline

Early Life in Barnsley

I was born in the late 1950s in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. My father was a joiner and my mother worked in a jam factory. Cricket played a big part in my father’s life, while I grew up with little interest in sport, never owning a football until my teenage years. Family changes meant I had to quickly adapt to life with a stepmother and new siblings. These were challenging times, but they shaped the resilience I carried into adulthood.

“Children have to learn from sudden and dramatic changes sometimes.”

School Days and Challenges

At Penistone Grammar School I was wrongly placed in a low class, only later to be moved once teachers realised my ability. Unfortunately, the stigma stuck and I was bullied, enduring difficult years in the playground and classroom alike. Despite setbacks, I discovered a love of reading and language—my first French words being “Monsieur Lafayette et une fourchette.”

Starting Work

With little career guidance, I began as an apprentice motor mechanic straight after leaving school. My wages were modest, but I pursued further education at Barnsley College of Technology and Granville College in Sheffield, earning qualifications in psychology, law and management to achieve full membership of the Institute of the Motor Industry.

From Mechanic to Manager

My twenties saw me shift careers: first as a bakery manager during the miners’ strike, then running my own mobile mechanic business under the Thatcher enterprise scheme, and later as a contracts manager in a family cleaning business. I gained varied experiences—from cleaning show homes to preparing facilities for the CLA Game Fair and even Her Majesty’s loo!

Building and Business

Drawing on skills inherited from my father, I moved into building and conservatory work. Along the way I met influential figures such as Sir Colin Sampson, who encouraged me to refine my speech and broaden my horizons.

The Birth of a Writer

A clairvoyant friend once predicted I would write children’s stories. To my surprise, inspiration struck, and I found myself overflowing with ideas. Encouraged to study phrasing through Dickens, I began a lifelong journey of writing stories, plays and pantomimes.

“It was as if my head had exploded—inward. I could see stories flashing by.”

Publishing Adventures

My first major work was a book about Shakespeare’s early life, published in 2011. It earned praise worldwide—from the Shakespeare Society of India to university professors in New Zealand and America. Despite glowing reviews, marketing support was scarce, teaching me that great work often needs great publicity.

A New Chapter: Children’s Books

In 2024, I returned to my passion—children’s stories. Stephie’s Coloured Candle was reborn, first on Kindle and later as a paperback. With the help of friends, teachers and illustrators, the book is now enjoying a second edition, carrying forward a journey that began decades earlier with a simple prediction from a friend.

— The journey continues —