Explore My
Non-Fiction Work
This is where you can explore my thoughts on writing, my published non-fiction work, along with updates on current and forthcoming projects. You’ll find information on the books plus links to read, watch, or listen across different platforms.
To see the books in-store just click on the associated image or on the title link in each book's descriptive text.
Form And Freedom
As I have stated elsewhere on this website, I refuse to be bound by genre, and I also refuse the quieter pressure to be bound by form. Some questions want fiction because fiction lets you test motives, consequences, and moral weather from the inside. But other questions demand non-fiction, where you can describe the world plainly, follow evidence, and treat facts with the respect they deserve. And sometimes neither a novel nor an essay will do, because what you are really trying to capture is a mood, a fracture, a moment of grief or wonder, and poetry is the most direct tool for that. It is not an ornament for me, it is a way of thinking, a way of compressing experience until only the essential remains.
That means I write whatever comes next as my interest develops, and I let the material tell me what it needs. A lived experience, a piece of history, a social argument, or an obsession with a place might become non-fiction, because it asks for clarity, structure, and intellectual honesty. A memory that will not settle might become a poem, because it asks for rhythm, restraint, and the courage to leave space around what cannot be fully explained. Fiction remains central, but it is part of a wider practice, one where the point is expression and precision rather than conformity.
I believe, strongly, that everyone has something worth saying. Not everyone will say it in a book, but everyone has a form that fits them, and the freedom to find that form matters.
My Published Non-fiction and Poetry
Ragged A**** Ruffian
Ragged A**** Ruffian: Cup finals, business gambles, love, loss, and plenty of laughter-this is the extraordinary life of Les Gilson.
From the high-octane world of professional football in the 1950s and 60s to the equally unpredictable world of business, Gilson's memoir takes you on a journey filled with thrilling victories and humbling defeats. As a former footballer who lived through the golden era of the sport, Les shares behind-the-scenes stories of big matches and bigger personalities. But when the final whistle blew on his playing career, his story was far from over.
In business, Les faced his own rollercoaster of promotions, relegations, and everything in between. His resilience, wit, and charm carried him through both triumphs and heartbreaks, giving readers an honest and compelling account of life on and off the pitch. Packed with nostalgia, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, this memoir is a celebration of determination, passion, and the beautiful game.
This is the unforgettable story of a man who played with heart-whether chasing trophies or building a legacy.
Out Of the Walled Garden
READ A SAMPLE FROM THE COLLECTION
Out of the Walled Garden: A Journey Through Memory and Verse is a powerful and deeply personal collection of poetry, spanning a decade of published works from 2001 to 2011. This new edition, far more comprehensive than the earlier version, brings together all of Clive Gilson's previously published poems, many of which have appeared in esteemed magazines and anthologies.
After the devastating loss of his wife, Karen, in 2010, Gilson stepped away from poetry, losing the drive to continue. But now, in revisiting these works, he's found a new sense of purpose-along with a renewed passion for the craft. In this collection, Gilson not only shares his poems but also includes reflective notes on the inspiration and emotions behind each piece, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the mind of the poet.
This journey through his work is a meditation on memory, grief, and healing. Gilson's words paint a vivid picture of the human experience-how we drift from the people we once were, how life's trail can become tangled in the weeds of forgetfulness, and how poetry can help us clear those paths. With each poem, readers are invited to retrace those steps and reconnect with the moments that shape us.
At its core, Out of the Walled Garden is a celebration of resilience and the bittersweet nature of memory. It's a reminder that while some thoughts and memories may sting, the act of revisiting them can dull the pain and even bring a sense of joy. Gilson's journey through loss and nostalgia becomes a gift for readers-an exploration of life, love, and the quiet power of poetry to heal.
This is more than a collection of poems; it's a deeply human story told through verse-raw, poignant, and surprisingly fun. For anyone who has ever reflected on the past, grieved a loss, or simply wanted to understand the poet's heart, this collection offers a unique and moving experience.