Biography

Lindsay Powell was born and raised in Cardiff, Wales. Having studied languages (including Welsh), economics and classical civilization at high school, he went on to graduate from the Management Centre of the University of Aston in Birmingham in 1983. As a result of his studies, he joined a large US multinational company and has assumed various positions in sales and marketing “with increasing scope and geographic responsibility”. He is a Chartered Marketer, which, apparently, means he really knows his stuff.

While living in the UK, Lindsay joined the Ermine Street Guard, a registered charity that researches and reconstructs the armour and equipment of the Roman army of the first century of the Common Era. As a full member, Lindsay experienced first hand what wearing the equipment felt like, which included getting a few sores on his feet – and learned about his shortcomings in leatherwork after making a pair of caligae. (The second attempt was more successful). "Firing the catapulta," he says, "was a great stress reliever."

The Guard also published in its respected journal a series of articles Lindsay had specially written for it. These papers came out of his extensive ongoing research. Lindsay has read most of the ancient authors and the many modern interpreters of the Roman past whose books occupy the bookshelves of his home library. “There is no end to the writing of books”, it is said, but Lindsay comments, "there is always space for a new title if it’s novel!"

In 1997, he relocated from Britain to Austin, Texas. It was then he learned that he was the foreigner in another land, not, as Britons often assume when away from the mother country, the other way around. Despite this, he was made an Honorary Texan the following year. It’s all been working rather well since.

Through his work and vacations, Lindsay has travelled extensively in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Japan (28 countries and counting, he says, checking his frequent flyer miles statements). Seeing the world and meeting with people as a traveller has opened Lindsay’s eyes to the wealth, diversity and value of cultures, ancient and modern. It also reminds him of the saying that “the further away from Wales you go, the more Welsh you become” – or put another way, “never forget you’re Welsh”!

As a professional marketer, Lindsay has learned how to carry out desk and field research using diverse source material, as well as honing his writing skills. Over the years he has written copy for brochures, technical papers, presentations and webinars for his company. He has contributed editorial for leading publications covering subjects ranging from traffic management devices to opto-electronic components. He has been told many times “you should write a book”. So he decided to do something about it. His first book is in production at Pen and Sword Books and he is working on his second volume now.

Lindsay is a member of The Classical Association of Great Britain, the Society of Authors and the Writers' League of Texas. He has been a preliminary judge in the Excellence in Writing Scholarship Competition, sponsored by 3M, AMD and The Austin American-Statesman.