James Stevenson, at the age of 19, piloted the De Havilland Vampire, one of the earliest single-seat jet fighters. After leaving the RAF he studied agriculture and directed businesses in Portugal and the UK. DARTMOUTH CONSPIRACY, his first novel attracted Large Print and audio publishers and is a popular choice in libraries at home and overseas. In 2009 his witty poem "To the Poet's Muse" won first prize in the Waterstone's national competition launched to mark Robert Burns's 250th anniversary.