GENESIS: 1: GOD''S CHAIN

About

Nikolaus Baker is my nom de plume which is derived from my father's name Nikolaus Hlibyczuk. Our surname is Ukrainian which is interpreted as bread maker or baker. My father arrived in the UK in 1947 after World War II coming from Germany. Dad was only a very young man and had a few desperate choices to make to survive the war. There was no food in Germany and due to starvation he was forced to become a German soldier to live. A lucky man dad eventually ended up a prisoner of war then driving army trucks for the American Gi's & providing security on trains. Dad was known as Michael. He worked in many different places in the UK & finished his career as head cook at Ballochmyle Hospital. My father married Cissi Thom my mum. I love both my parents very much even though my childhood was very difficult with mum struggling with alcoholism. Dad & mum have since passed on and I sadly miss them both. I owe everything to my dad. In total respect and of him and his memory as a writer I want our name to live on in my writing. So Baker was a natural choice for my pen name. Mauchline is situated on the west coast of Scotland Ayrshire near Glasgow. A place steeped in history from the Covenanters & Freemasons to the poet Robert Burns who also lived in the village. I graduated with a BA degree in 1993 with the Open University. My first job was as a laboratory assistant at Auchinleck Academy in the 1970s gaining promotion as a lab technician moving on to work at Stewarton High School & Irvine Royal Academy where I met a good friend Stuart whose hobby was with microcomputers. I loved my BBC Model B Microcomputer! I then became a computer technician at the College of Building & Printing Glasgow in the 1980s where I met my wife Aileen. We have two sons & a daughter. My father-in-law was Provost George Calder Murray of Paisley Burgh in Scotland. George had the privilege of meeting organising and escorting HRM Queen Elisabeth and Prince Philip for the Paisley 500 celebrations on 9th Aug 1988. I was a Karate enthusiast in the 70s and 80s practicing in the Kisan in Ayr and Kilmarnock gaining 3rd Kyu with John Kerr in his own dojo (next to a dentist's - handy that!) I was diagnosed with cancer aged 43. It was a total shock & life-changing. I tried to run away from it and found that this is something I couldn't do. With nowhere to hide I faced my battle. I am eternally indebted to all those who saved my life. I thank my doctors at the local health centre in Bourtreehill Irvine for their help & the surgeon in Ayr Hospital & radiotherapy department consultants & staff stationed at the Beatson. I have worked in I.T. both in the private & public sectors. I retired in 2018 after working in the largest college in Glasgow as I.T. Systems Administrator & Computer Network Engineer. My writing passion is challenging & also very therapeutic. I did this sitting early mornings freezing in winters writing GOD'S CHAIN at the bus station before going to work or on lunchtimes at the Glasgow Cenotaph over many summers. I wanted to write a dark fantasy with a difference called GOD'S CHAIN. It is not a religious story. GOD'S CHAIN is a classic tale of light against darkness good against evil with a message. That by putting our religious and racial differences away we can through universal brotherhood courage determination hope friendship and love we can uplift ourselves spiritually against all adversity. Ultimately my aim is to entertain and tell an exciting story. I was lucky to retire early from the college in 2018. I continue to write GOD'S CHAIN and take lessons in acting. My dream is to get a movie deal for GOD'S CHAIN and play some role in it. As I said It's only a dream. :-)