While backpacking in far-off countries, I quickly learned that the easiest way to have people both remember and pronounce my name is to introduce myself simply as J. My travels take me to countries as different from my own as they can be, and they’ve been a rich source for my writing. Among my favourite destinations are the Near East, Central Asia and the Orient. My journey along the Silk Road was one of the best decisions I ever made, providing me with memories that will last a lifetime. When at home, I hold an MA degree in Archaeology and have written over a hundred reports regarding my excavations. They vary from medieval cloisters and prehistoric villages to Roman military camps and roads. I like to think of my job as a mixture of storytelling and science.