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Tell me about yourself! How old are you, and where are you from?
My name is Simon Morrell, 54 years old and from the United Kingdom, more specificity North Wales, a beautiful coast to live.
Give us a summary of your book!
From Bullied to Black Belt is a true story and tells of the incredible adversity and violence I suffered as a child and young man.
I became agoraphobic and suffered massive panic attacks but fortunately met Julie, the girl I was to eventually marry. Julie encouraged me to develop confidence through Martial Arts and so I started on the Karate path. Initially, I just went to plod along and gain some self-esteem but it became apparent to some that I had a natural talent for it and so I set about putting all my efforts into gaining my Black Belt but it didn’t stop there.
The more I achieved the more I wanted, I became almost greedy for success and ended up as a 7th Dan full contact Black Belt, three-time Hall of Fame winner, public speaker, and owner of my own academy, Fight Fortress. I want readers to know that this isn’t a book about Martial Arts, it’s a love story, a book about overcoming, and a story about never giving in.
The book also tells of my battle to keep my wife and two young children safe from a local drug dealer who threatened to do unspeakable damage to them. My battle went on for three years before I persuaded the dealer that it might be in his best interest to leave the area.
It might sound clever sitting here in the cold light of day writing about it, but it must go down in my personal history as one of the scariest but ultimately triumphant periods of my life.
What inspired you to write this book?
My wife Julie ad the encouragement of best selling author and BAFTA winter Geoff Thompson who urged me to put pen to paper and share my experiences. What started out as a six page article F.E.A.R, False Evidence Appearing Real would go on to become a vehicle to bring our story forward and appear I. The BBC, the NY Post and other mainstream media.
If you could pick one song to describe this book, what would it be?
Bruce Springsteen’s Working On A Dream.
Have you written any fiction novels as well? If not, would you and what genre?
I am currently putting the finishing touches to I,Bully (fiction but based on a real person), which tells the other side of bullying and violent people. It tells of Dominic Yates, a damaged, alcoholic skin head with a hate for others.
What are two of your favorite books? Least favorite?
My favourite has to be Watch My Back by Geoff Thompson. That book has put so many people on their path in life. The first read is difficult but on the second read I really came to understand Geoff’s own fear.
The Kind Kindness of Strangers by Mike McIntyre is another true story about his quest to travel the width of America, penniless but relay on strangers for help.
Do you have any other hobbies or businesses that you would like to share?
Writing is slowly taking over from my Martial Arts training. Next July I will have been in MA for 40 years and to be honest my body is feeling the toll now. I’d like to hang up my gloves and swap for a life of writing and speaking.
Do you have any upcoming book specials/giveaways or events?
We promote from within and constantly seek ways to bring our books to the light, so we constantly have competitions and promotions on our site and social media.
We are also hoping to arrange book signings once COVID has had its day.
Where can readers buy your book?
You can find it here: https://amzn.to/2G3cw0x
Where can readers find you on social media?
Anything else you would like to share? *100 words max.
I always encourage people to follow their dreams but I’m also aware it takes a long time and hard work to do so. There is no quick fix so I share the words “Where there is courage, there is hope.” If we can just find that courage we can achieve whatever we want to achieve.
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