GREGORY MARK HAYNES
Author | Storyteller | Speaker
Journalists & Media
If you're writing about Gregory Mark Haynes, his books, speaking work or life across three continents, the resources below are available for editorial and interview enquiries. Information includes author biography, photographs, book information, interview opportunities and potential story angles.
Greg is available for selected interviews, podcasts, radio discussions, articles and other media opportunities.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
A concise biography is available for journalists and other media professionals who need background information for an article, interview or programme.
BOOK INFORMATION
Information about Greg's books, including Memories Are Made of This, is available through the Books section of the website. Gregory's books draw on personal experience, curiosity, history, creativity and the events that make life memorable.
PHOTOGRAPHS
A selection of author photographs is available for editorial and promotional use.
INTERVIEWS & STORY IDEAS
Greg is available to discuss his writing, experiences and the subjects that have shaped his work.
Author Biography
Short biography
Who is Greg?
Greg Haynes is an author and storyteller whose life across Australia, South Africa and Britain has provided a rather large collection of stories. His curiosity and love of exploration allow him to share the people, places and experiences that shape us, from childhood memories and travel to music, the natural world and the unexpected moments that become stories. Greg is also a speaker, sharing real stories about real people and real life. (72 words)
GREGORY MARK HAYNES
Author | Storyteller | Speaker
#GregoryMarkHaynesAuthor
Extended biography
Who is Greg, what shaped his writing, what has he done, and what makes his stories relevant to readers, media and event organisers?
Greg Haynes is an author, storyteller and speaker whose life across Australia, South Africa and Britain has provided a rather large collection of stories.
Born in Australia, Greg spent his early years there before moving to South Africa as a child. He later made Britain his home, giving him the unusual perspective of having grown up and lived across three continents. Along the way, he has collected experiences from very different places and stages of life, but his interest has always been less about simply seeing somewhere new and more about the people, circumstances and unexpected moments encountered along the way.
That curiosity sits at the heart of Greg's writing. His stories range from childhood memories and travel to music, adventure, the natural world, friendship and the occasionally strange situations that life has a habit of producing. Some are funny, some are surprising, and some are simply reminders that the most memorable stories are not always the ones you set out intending to create.
His first book, Memories Are Made of This, brings together 51 true stories drawn from his life in Australia, South Africa and Britain, as well as experiences further afield. The stories include childhood adventures, travel, wildlife, music, unusual encounters and moments that, with the benefit of hindsight, turned out to be rather more memorable than they seemed at the time.
Beyond writing, Greg has worked across technology, geography, environmental sustainability, project management and business leadership. His professional life has given him another perspective on people, organisations, change and the way we respond when circumstances do not quite go according to plan.
Greg is also a speaker. His talks use personal stories as a starting point for exploring broader ideas around curiosity, resilience, reinvention, creativity, connection, personal growth and finding purpose at different stages of life. He aims to make his talks engaging, accessible and grounded in real experience rather than theory alone.
At the centre of Greg's work is a simple belief: stories matter because they help us understand the people we meet, the places we inhabit and the experiences that shape us.
Real stories. Real people. Real life. (353 words)
Medium Biography
Who is Greg, and what does he write and speak about?
Greg Haynes is an author, storyteller and speaker whose life across Australia, South Africa and Britain has provided a rather large collection of stories. From growing up in Australia and South Africa to building a life in Britain, Greg has always been curious about the people, places and experiences around him.
His writing draws on childhood memories, travel, adventure, music, the natural world and the unexpected moments that stay with us long after they have happened. His first book, Memories Are Made of This, brings together 51 true stories from his life, ranging from amusing childhood experiences and encounters with wildlife to travel, friendship, music and some rather less predictable adventures.
Greg's approach to storytelling is simple: real stories, real people and real life. He is interested in the small details that make experiences memorable and the curious turns of events that can turn an ordinary moment into a story worth telling.
As a speaker, Greg shares these stories with audiences in an informal and engaging way, exploring themes including curiosity, resilience, change, creativity, connection and finding purpose at different stages of life. (183 words)
Author Photographs
Both PNG and JPG formats are available on request.
Professional headshot
Wider author photograph
Book photograph
Portrait
Speaking photograph
Book and author photograph
Book Information
Gregory's books draw on personal experience, curiosity, history, creativity and the events that make life memorable. Brief information about my books.
Book Details
Title: Memories Are Made of This
Edition: 2nd
Subtitle: 51 Short Stories That Will Make You Laugh, Cry, and See Life Differently
Author: Gregory Mark Haynes
Format: Paperback (195 pages) and eBook (246 pages)
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1066830304
Genre: Memoir / Life Stories
Stories: 51 true stories
Language: English
Publisher/Imprint: Grenyah Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-1-0668303-0-5 (paperback)
ISBN-10: 1066830304 (paperback)
eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-0668303-1-2
eBook ASIN: B0HC8KKRSM
Memories Are Made of This: 51 Short Stories That Will Make You Laugh, Cry, and See Life Differently
Three Continents. Three Cultures. One Man.
51 Deeply Personal, Provocative, and Intriguing Stories.
Gregory Mark Haynes invites you on a truthful, humble, and engaging journey through 51 selected experiences from his life, each offering a fresh perspective and a sense of wonder. Whether it’s surviving a severe tropical storm aboard an ocean liner as a boy, hiking the dramatic Fish River Canyon in Namibia, or embarking on a self-made tour of Paris, each chapter is a no-frills, upbeat, and authentic account.
These true-to-life stories span a wide range of unforgettable moments and adventures, such as parasailing, ostrich riding, sailing, hiking, skydiving, wildlife encounters in South Africa, and so much more, all on a modest budget and driven by a fearless, fun-loving spirit.
Born in Australia and shaped by life in South Africa and the UK, Greg blends humour, resilience, curiosity, and a deep love of life into each experience. His tales offer insight into the choices, risks, and values that shaped his character, while reflecting on how our unique paths help define who we become.
If you're curious about how others live, what people do with their lives, and how life’s journey transforms them, then this book is for you.
Each chapter is enhanced by an online companion featuring maps, photographs, and detailed links. Look out for the dagger symbol (†) throughout the book as each one points you to further resources and media to deepen your experience. The Webpage Companion offers over 1,600 curated links, organised chapter by chapter, to provide historical, geographical, and cultural context to every story. In addition, the second edition also includes a second supplement of author photographs taken over the decades.
Greg's writing and speaking work draw on a number of recurring themes. These may provide useful starting points for interviews, articles, podcasts and event discussions.
Interview & Story Ideas
Life Across Three Continents
Growing up in Australia, spending 28 years in South Africa and later establishing a life in Britain.
The Stories Behind the Stories
How real experiences become the starting point for memoir and personal storytelling.
Reinvention & Change
Career changes, new environments and finding new directions at different stages of life.
Writing from Experience
Why ordinary experiences can sometimes produce the most interesting stories.
Curiosity & Adventure
Travel, unusual experiences and the willingness to see where an unexpected opportunity leads.
Sustainability & Technology
Greg's professional experience in sustainability, technology and environmental work, and how those interests intersect with his writing.
Music & Creativity
Music, recording, creativity and the role of artistic expression throughout his life.
Speaking & Storytelling
Using personal stories to explore wider themes including purpose, resilience, curiosity and change.
Grenyah Publishers is the publishing imprint established by Gregory Mark Haynes to publish and distribute his books and related works.