1995: Has a daughter, Ella, with Carol Ann Duffy – His daughter Ella was born; her mother is the poet Carol Ann Duffy.
1999: Becomes a freelance copywriter – He stepped back from novel writing and spent about ten years writing copy for financial institutions, energy and pharmaceutical companies and educational establishments.
2002 – 2003: Becomes Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Leicester – Leicester, England, He held a Royal Literary Fund fellowship at the University of Leicester.
2004: Gains a Cordon Bleu Diplôme de Pâtisserie – He was awarded a Cordon Bleu Diplôme de Pâtisserie.