About M J Steel Collins
I've had a life long interest in the offbeat, or Fortean side of life, particularly with ghosts and hauntings. At the same time I've always enjoyed writing in one shape or form, though realised that fiction wasn't really for me in my late teens, so went to college after school and spent 2 years training in journalism, during which time I tried music journalism, and generally had a lot of fun working with local bands in Glasgow.
I followed that up with a four year honours degree in Sociology and Anthropology at Glasgow University, which I enjoyed even more, in particular learning about indigenous religions, the shaping of knowledge and belief and my dissertation in ghost belief and ghost stories in Scotland. Following that I started my blog, Ghostly Aspects, which in a way, continued what I'd started at University.
Doing my blog led onto other writing projects, particularly working on Spooky Isles, for which I provide articles on spooky Scotland. I also write on Scottish Folklore for the Modern Scotsman, have reviewed books for the Fortean Times and am a contributor to What Culture. I am also working on my first book.
Writing wise, I'd say my main influences are Peter Underwood and Geoff Holder. I'm also hugely influenced by Neil Gaiman, though more in the way in how he approaches his work - he has great advice for writers in general. And he also has a superb knowledge of folklore. Others I enjoy reading are M R James, Edith Wharton, Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Sheridan Le Fanu, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, E F Benson, Iain Banks, E Nesbit (best known for The Railway Children, thoroughly terrifying as a supernatural writer), A M Burrage and Shirley Jackson.
Outwith my supernatural obsessions, I can be mostly found enjoying Doctor Who (Matt Smith and Peter Davison pretty much rule), prising my toddler daughter off furniture she has precariously balanced on, being a history nerd and enjoying the awesome cooking and writing of my partner, Michael S Collins.
I followed that up with a four year honours degree in Sociology and Anthropology at Glasgow University, which I enjoyed even more, in particular learning about indigenous religions, the shaping of knowledge and belief and my dissertation in ghost belief and ghost stories in Scotland. Following that I started my blog, Ghostly Aspects, which in a way, continued what I'd started at University.
Doing my blog led onto other writing projects, particularly working on Spooky Isles, for which I provide articles on spooky Scotland. I also write on Scottish Folklore for the Modern Scotsman, have reviewed books for the Fortean Times and am a contributor to What Culture. I am also working on my first book.
Writing wise, I'd say my main influences are Peter Underwood and Geoff Holder. I'm also hugely influenced by Neil Gaiman, though more in the way in how he approaches his work - he has great advice for writers in general. And he also has a superb knowledge of folklore. Others I enjoy reading are M R James, Edith Wharton, Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Sheridan Le Fanu, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, E F Benson, Iain Banks, E Nesbit (best known for The Railway Children, thoroughly terrifying as a supernatural writer), A M Burrage and Shirley Jackson.
Outwith my supernatural obsessions, I can be mostly found enjoying Doctor Who (Matt Smith and Peter Davison pretty much rule), prising my toddler daughter off furniture she has precariously balanced on, being a history nerd and enjoying the awesome cooking and writing of my partner, Michael S Collins.