I love so many things: writing and history and recipes and almost everything to do with books. I'm full of bonhomie and love for the universe except... I hate explaining who I am and why I'm in a place. I'd rather tell stories about people and who they are, or analyse culture and history and make sense of why we are here and what we think we're doing. One of the reasons I'm here is because it's been suggested to me by so very many people.

I'm a writer and a historian and a bunch of other things. I also have remarkably bad luck in income generation. Whenever I finish a PhD, the bottom falls out of the job market. I have two PhDs and their end-dates coincide precisely with a lack of jobs. I've had regular jobs and have a vast array of experience in some rather interesting areas, but I really am a writer and ethnohistorian and teacher. I'm unhappy when I don't have a novel in progress and am researching and have people to teach and learn from. You'll see all those things reflected in the perks, as I've tried to reflect the desires of my advisers in the perks.

Part of the reason I'm here, then, is because so many people suggested it, and because I've had one of those years from hell and the best way to emerge from years from hell is to buckle down and do good work at whatever makes one's life joyous. Subversive novels and cutting edge research are those things for me. Passing on knowledge and helping people understand, I never forget those. Also chocolate.

There's more to it than this, of course. It's not all about me. I used to blog on food history, and write fortnightly articles for BiblioBuffet, and talk about tools for writing and about history on my regular blog. Times have changed. The internet has changed. I write elsewhere and I teach. Not everyone can be in my classes and not everyone can find what I'm writing and, every other day, people ask me questions. Every now and then I have Open Question Time on my blog (like duck season, but for questions) but fans still miss my articles and ideas and so, finally, I have given in and am bringing that side of my life to the public again.

This isn't one-sided, therefore. There will be opportunities to suggest topics you want to hear about such as historical food you came across in a book and can't quite envisage. There will be opportunities to consult with me as a writer, as a historian, as an educator.

One of the complaints about my work is that much of it has drowned in archives, so once a month I will find something very obscure (but fascinating) and restore it to life, just for you. Just to add to the joy, once a month there will be a brand-new essay, also just for you.

The money from your support will go towards my living expenses, developmental stuff and talking with my fans stuff (conventions!), and research materials (which include some strange things, especially if I'm engaged in food history research). The idea is to have a more stable income base so that I can do brilliant work in my lonesome garret. (The fact that it is neither lonesome nor a garret is immaterial.)

For me, this Patreon is a wonderful opportunity to match needs. I hope you agree – and become my patron!