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Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams self-published Tunnels under the title The Highfield Mole in 2005. Although they had sent excerpts  to various publishers, they did not concentrate on pursuing that road because they had decided to self-publish through their own company, Mathew and Son. Barry Cunningham (the publisher who signed JK Rowling) discovered the book and signed it for Chicken House. From there it went through some editing and re-emerged as Tunnels. According to Roderick Gordon, the newfound publicity has been a "whirl wind", something they never dared imagine when they initially published the book. The authors were unsure of the success with the book and were happy to simply break even. According to Mr. Gordon "I even went around leaving copies on buses and in taxis, and also carefully placing them on benches and in trees in the various parks that I visited with my children so someone would spot them and might take them home to look at. I reckon the squirrels were a little bemused when they chanced upon the tree copies!"

Roderick Gordon: Roderick Gordon met Brian Williams while attending University College. Mr. Gordon went on to work in corporate banking until 2001 when he was made redundant from his job. At this time he and Brian Williams began work on The Highfield Mole, later to be renamed Tunnels. Originally hailing from London, Mr. Gordon recently moved to Norfolk with his family. 

Roderick Gordon counts several authors among his ancestors, including William Buckland. According to Roderick Gordon, William Buckland was the "Dean of Westminster, who was responsible for naming the first dinosaur (the Megalosaurus), although the term "dinosaur" didn't come into existence for another twenty years. During Buckland's life he was renowned for his eccentricity, particularly his attempts to eat his way straight through the animal kingdom. Having sampled delicacies such as stewed bluebottles, and mice on buttered toast, he was said to have eaten the pickled heart of King Louis XIV which he purchased from Lord Harcourt, with the words: “'I have eaten many strange things, but have never eaten the heart of a king before”.

 

 

Other literary ancestors of Roderick Gordon include RD Blackman who wrote Lorna Doone; Philip Doddridge, author of The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul; and Sir Thomas Butts, patron of William Blake and Elizabeth Oake Gordon, author of The Mounds and Circles of Prehistoric London. Elizabeth Oake Gordon's works were a source of inspiration for Tunnels.

 

 

Brian Williams: Brian Williams grew up in Africa and moved to Liverpool with his family in the 70's. Mr. Williams attended the Slade School of Fine Art in the 80's where he was involved in a number of performances. One of his more memorable performances was prematurely ended by the arrival of the fire department. Mr. Williams is an independent filmaker and actor and his worked on projects by Alex Cox and Charlie Higson. For a wonderful recounting of some of his other adventures, feel free to visit the authors' website. The link can be found in the useful links section.

 

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