about the authors
Osbert Norman Walter, born January 23rd 1900 in Lewisham, London, was the son of actor Thomas Walter, Actor (who toured with one of seven theatre companies in the late 1800’s playing the title role of Charlie’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas). Osbert, the youngest of four children, grew up an idealist who shared the concept of the Woodcraft Folk with its founder Leslie Paul. He went on to become a writer, playwright, journalist, and Astrological Consultant Seginus of the News of the World (1937 — 39) He conceived the first of the trilogy Wizard’s Woe, in his early twenties but could find no publisher. The next two parts were not attempted until over thirty years later, but reflect the maturity, sophistication and humour gained over the intervening years.
Married with three children, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren, but now widowed, Marion has only recently had the necessary time to commit to working on a manuscript that comprised more than a million words. She enrolled with the Writers Bureau early in 2004, studied the new writing techniques and won a short story competition. This gave her the confidence to author this revised, and abridged version of a now complete trilogy,and hopes that Book One, Wizard’s Woe will begin to achieve the wider readership that her father’s inspiration deserved.
In recognition of help she has received, Marion says: 'There are a number of people whose help and encouragement I would like to acknowledge, but especially my sister Sheila, whose unfailing enthusiasm nerved me to take the apparently presumptuous step of rewriting someone else’s story. I would also like to thank my Wise Readers: grandson Edward, friends Alan, Peggy and Susan with the initial efforts, and pay tribute to all my family’s patience; also to Jenny Sanders for her recognition to go ahead and, above all I would acknowledge my indebtedness to editor Dave Haslett of ideas4writers whose help and unflagging attention to detail has taught me so much. Finally, and not least my thanks to Imogen Hallam, artist and illustrator, who created such a fantastic cover.