G.H. Guzik is my real name. I am a writer of (mostly) fiction. When not indulging in creating fiction, I write articles about social issues for my blog, where you can also find my tips on writing and freelancing, because I also work as a freelance copywriter and write quality content for websites, game studios and online magazines. I double as an editor if time allows.
I am the author of “The Ion Continents Saga” series, and articles on social, economical and environmental issues, one of which won an award (details here). Apart from the above I am the author of several science fiction short stories and a couple of steampunk novellas. Currently, I am working on setting my first full-length publication to print. |
Bio |
From my early days, I admired the power of storytelling and its ability to shape the world and change people. I wrote my first science-fiction short story at the age of ten and although it was irreversibly forgotten (the only hard copy lost and probably destroyed by now), it left a simmering urge to tell my own stories. Pursuing the writer’s path professionally took me more than a quarter of the century.
In high-school and through university I spent countless hours as an RPG game-master building worlds and stories for my friends. We started in a classic Warhammer setting and ended up in a world I created myself, which later became the Ion Continents. The characters of Iskandriel, Ekber Grunbar and Yrg Erideen were all created during those sessions. (Most of my readers see Ekber as my alter ego, but I actually played Yrg). In my early twenties, I traveled across Europe, visiting nearly two dozen countries. I lived and worked in Ireland and Finland, before settling down in Poland and starting a career in financial services. Having joined an insurance call-centre at entry level, I climbed the ranks to leave finance as a CEO. I kicked off many careers of the team members I had recruited, honing their skill through coaching and man management. I cherish the experience gained from all levels of employment and all the walks of life he tried. I believe various experience makes a better writer. So far I worked as a driver, a security guard, a bartender, an interpreter, an insurance agent, a sales executive and on all levels of a financial services call-centre. |
Influences |
Having read hundreds of books, watched thousands of films and played countless video games, I decided to start telling my own stories. Laboriously learning the ropes, I hope to follow in the footsteps of the greatest, singling out Sir Terry Pratchett, Mario Vargas Llossa and Andrzej Sapkowski as his most influential masters.
I will also always have a special place in my heart for J.K. Rowling, whom I admire for the work she put in as a writer (although she didn't have to) to better both her skills and her stories. Apart from the giants above I must list Michael Crichton, Stanislaw Lem, Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert, Stephen King and Neil Gaiman as the authors I look up to. I must mention one more name in this section, although it hardly counts as an influence, because I never dared compare my work to this sheer genius. When I read "Alice's adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the looking glass" I thought I will never be as good a writer as Lewis Caroll. Twenty years later I still feel humbled by his works. |
Interests |
I love literature. I read a lot and my preferences as a reader are somewhat different from my influences as a writer. I read a lot of crime stories (Agatha Christie, Marek Krajewski, Galbraith, Joe Alex, Henning Mankell) and I really enjoyed the first tomes of the Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin. Recently, I really liked Marc Elsberg's "Blackout" and "Zero".
Being an avid gamer, I am especially hooked on good video and table-top RPGs, but not averse to strategy games and FPS’s either. My favorite games are Massive Effect series, Dragon Age Origins, Dragon's Dogma, Assassin's Creed series, Tomb Raider Series, Uncharted series, Heavy Rain, L.A. Noire, Championship Manager and Europa Universalis, Finally, if time allows I like watching sports with a soft spot for athletics, football, soccer, NBA, and cycling. I never miss Champions League, Tour de Pologne. Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. I do my best to watch NFL as well. I am always happy to meet his readers, so join me on Facebook, Twitter or visit my blog to get to know me better. |