James Alexander Coghlan was born in Irvine Central in 1972. He was raised in nearby Kilmarnock. Initially educated at Kilmarnock Academy, the same school Alexander Fleming, the inventor of Penicillin, attended years ago, James later studied at the Universities of Kingston and Glasgow for his B.A. (Hons.) and M.Litt. degrees. A poet, novelist and a short story writer, James has presented his research papers in Turkey, Poland and Scotland. James now lives in Alloway, Ayrshire. His interests include hillwalking and the protection of the environment.