Wayne Exton
Wayne Exton is a 44-year-old writer and father of three, based in Staffordshire. He has worked in the voluntary sector for over two decades, supporting people through homelessness, youth work, mental health, and addiction recovery – experiences that quietly shape the emotional heart of his fiction.
He writes literary fiction and personal essays exploring fatherhood, class, emotional silence, and care. He shares regular reflections and stories on his Substack.
Q: If you could travel back in time, which of the great writers would you like to meet and why?
A: John Steinbeck. I’d love to sit across from him and ask how he managed to write with such empathy, especially for people on the margins. I imagine we’d end up talking about fathers, landscapes, and the beauty of quiet resilience – ideally over black coffee and bread still warm from the oven.
Q: Do you have a lucky writing talisman? If so, what is it?
A: No, I don’t have one. I do rub the nose of my white Sproodle named Bonnie for good luck!
Q: Who is your personal inspiration?
A: My wife Chiona is my inspiration.