Peterborough Police Officer who wrote fantasy novel after suffering stroke donates proceeds

James Horton (36) was working for the Metropolitan Police in 2011 when, driving home from a shift, he found himself unable to adjust the music in his car as his left arm wouldn’t work.

After spending a night in Bedford Hospital, he was released after being told he had just experienced a ‘funny turn.’

The next day though he woke up to find his face had dropped on one side and he was rushed to Luton Hospital, where he collapsed, and they were able to confirm that James had suffered a stroke, caused by a clot and high blood pressure.

He was initially unable to move for the first six weeks afterwards but then started to regain movement. Now though, he has made a strong recovery but still experiences occasional tingling in his left-side, slurred speech when he is exhausted and some short-term memory loss.

He spent eight months off work though and, in that time, turned to fantasy novels as a form of escapism.

James, who grew up in Lincolnshire and now lives in Peterborough, after transferring to Lincolnshire Police two years ago, said: “I struggled for months with no sleep and anxiety about having a second stroke. Fantasy novels provided a real form of escapism during that time.

“I came up with ideas for writing my own at the time but gave up after some self doubt. Although, about three years ago, I revisited the idea and really got into it. It was great for my mind to switch off each evening and escape into this fantasy medieval land.”

The first book in James’s ‘Crimes and Crests’ saga, ‘Blue Sword’ is set in 1411 and follows the story of a peasant called Jep, who witnesses a brutal crime in ‘Stanford’ and is then aided by a blue sword, a prestigious warrior sworn to uphold the law, he then sets out to become a member himself.

The novel is available now on Amazon and James has already received a wave of positive feedback.

He added: “It’s a tough genre to crack but the response has been fantastic, particularly from people who have suffered strokes saying it has inspired them. Just recently, a lady emailed me and said she was struggling but hearing my story really pushed her on.

“That was so great for me to hear because when I first had my stroke I would look for other people’s stories a lot. I trawled the Stroke Association website day and night looking for reassurance. The mental awareness after having a stroke never goes away, there’s never a day that goes by where I don’t panic slightly when I get pins and needles, you’re always on the brink fearing you are going to have another one.

“It’s a great website though, it answered all my questions in such a simple and friendly way and they’re always my go to. The Stroke Association was also a great help to my nan in the past after my grandad passed away from a stroke. We’re all rich in our own way and I feel that, after the way the Stroke Association has helped my family, donating the future proceeds of the book was the right thing to do.

“I also need to thank my family for all their support, my partner Laura and children Jack, Ivy and Joseph have been great. As too have the Police, they were really supportive in helping me return to full duties and helping me to explore the range of career paths inside the organisation.”

James’s book can be found by clicking here and more information on the Stroke Association can be found at www.stroke.org.uk.