James Ballantyne, who also writes under the pseudonym I Retru Grade, was born in Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland in 1937 and in later years went to live in Carrick-on-Suir and Dublin. He is a graduate of University College Dublin. He left Ireland in 1964, moving first to London then to Lille, Hamburg and San Sebastián/Donostia where he taught English for a living and studied French, German and Spanish at local universities. He returned to London in 1968 and qualified as a librarian at University College London. He lives in London with his wife and son.
His first poetry collection, The Dracula Set, was published by The Company of Words, London, in 1993. Other poems have been published in various poetry magazines and anthologies. His play ‘Sarah’, an apprentice piece, was performed at the Peacock Theatre, Dublin in May 1974. In the 1980s a film script, ‘Ferntime’, came close to production.
Contact James – james.ballantyne3@btinternet.com
