About me

Damon Lord performing poetry at 42 Worcester

My name's Damon Lord, I'm a poet, writer, linguist, and I'm also interested in history. When you type my name into Google, it likes to ask: “did you mean Demon Lord?” No, I didn't! I've decided to update my bio here, so here's a bit about me. If you want to read the old version of my bio, then click here.

Originally from south Wales, I have lived and thrived in Worcester. England, since I started coming here in 2002, before finally making it my home in 2008. I now live here with my wife and son.

I have numerous and varied interests.

Poetry: I have been writing poetry now and then for years, but hardly ever did. In 2012, I decided to take it seriously, and it's become something I've become known for locally in Worcestershire. My first independently published book, “Enigma in the Darkness”, followed in 2013, making the top 15 in the poetry bestsellers on Amazon. It will be followed in late 2014 by my next book of poetry. I am also working on a series of poems dedicated to a late academic I admire from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

In addition, I have been a finalist three years in a row for the Worcestershire Poet Laureate contest, 2012-4.

Speculative Fiction: I adore reading and writing horror, science fiction, fantasy, and all the various other nuances that come under the spec-fic umbrella, and have loved it since forever. There's nothing better than sitting down to watch a good sci-fi series, read a fun fantasy, or get embroiled in the terror of a creepy book. I enjoy all of these, and furthermore I love writing them too. I have written numerous dark short stories, I have a fantasy novel completed (but not yet published), and currently have a sci-fi novel on the back-burner, with plans to complete it next year, which has the potential to progress into a series.

I am a great admirer of the works of Arthur Machen, H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, and Mary Shelley, as well as modern masters, such as Adam Millard, Tim Lebbon, Stephen King, Lesley Smith, and George R. R. Martin. I am an active performer of both poetry and prose at 42Worcester, the region's premier monthly venue for genre fiction and poetry.

History: History has always been one of my greatest loves. I currently live in a house built on the site of the Battle of Worcester in 1651, particularly where Hamilton's forces fought against the Parliamentarians below Perry Wood, to the east of the city. No reported ghosts, for those who are curious. What's even more curious is that so many locals seem unaware of the historical significance of the land beneath their very feet.

Of great interest to me are the Anglo-Saxon period of English history, especially in the later stages with the rise of the Godwin family. This culminated of course in the events of 1066 and the fall of King Harold II. I am a member of Ða Engliscan Gesiðas (The English Companions), I have plans for a creative writing project for this period, which is in progress.

I am very keen on the period of the Owain Glyndŵr rebellion of 1400 – 1415, in which Owain was the last true native prince of Wales. I am driven to study what inspired him, and what ultimately destroyed him and his rebellion. It is a fascinating period of history, and I am currently actively working on a creative writing project set it this time.

The cultures of pre-Columbian North America are also highly attractive and complex. I absolutely love the novels of the prolific, educational and entertaining Zoe Saadia, who focuses on these (primary the Mexica valley), and she is a great inspiration for my historical writing, although I focus on different periods and geography. Sue Harrison's The Ivory Carver Trilogy lends great insight into ancient culture in what is now Alaska, and are also firm favourites.

Languages: I am truly a language enthusiast. I absolutely love exploring linguistics and languages. I speak numerous languages, to varying levels, from strongest to very weak:

English
Esperanto

German

French

Tagalog

Mandarin Chinese

Italian

toki pona

British Sign Language

Dutch

Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

Japanese

I have a smattering of Scandinavian languages,but not enough to have much of a conversation.

(I'll write a page about my relationship with each of these language later.)

As a linguistic challenge, I intend to keep a weekly diary of my blossoming relationship with the Dutch language, as I have now begun to formally study it, beginning October 2014.

I'd love to learn ALL the languages in the world. My personal goal is to be able to speak at least 86 languages before I die.

I want to improve:

Chinese (汉语) I lived in Beijing for 6 months. I used to be able to speak good Chinese, but I have forgotten a lot of it.

German (Deutsch) Ich verbessere zur Zeit mein Deutsch.

I want to learn:

Dutch (Nederlands) Ik leer sinds september 2014.

Welsh (Cymraeg) I suppose I should learn it, after all, as I'm from Wales.

Cornish (Kernowek) The language is seriously endangered and deserves great support, having been brought back from extinction, endured a virulent 20-year long orthographic civil war amongst its speakers, and now is finally being taken forward seriously. I have a great respect for this language.

Spanish (español) I learned some summer 2013 for a trip to Spain

Korean (한국어) I tried before, but didn't get far, only working on hangeul - it's a wonderful language with an amazing history and culture.

Hebrew (עִבְרִית) a beautiful, proud language and strong and tenacious culture, I've always wanted to learn it! עם ישראל חי

Icelandic (íslenska) (I have a GREAT interest in this language; I have ALWAYS wanted to learn it!)

Swedish (svenska) and Danish (dansk) I love Scandinavia, and want to visit Denmark too!

Anglo-Saxon/Old English (Englisc) It's a fascinating language, and much neglected for study, highly worthy of study, to understand the modern English language in greater depth.

Kazakh (Қазақ тілі) An interesting land and language, regretfully often overlooked by people in Europe. It would be interesting to learn all about it!

Russian (if life had turned out differently when I was 19, I would be speaking Russian already!)