About the Author


Harry Potter Had It So Easy!

BA Gillies didn’t start life in a huge cupboard under the stairs like Harry Potter.

He had it tougher, he began life in a kitchen drawer. Literally.

With the only cot his family could afford claimed by his older sister, newborn Brian spent his first few weeks tucked inside a repurposed cutlery drawer. Occasionally, someone remembered to open it and feed him, though he prefers not to talk about the mess.

Growing up with four siblings taught him to fight for space. Perhaps that’s why he now writes about bigger battlefields. His stories are fast-paced, strategy-driven Military Sci-Fi and Space Opera, where elite soldiers, cunning commanders, and alien warlords clash across the galaxy.

Since escaping the cutlery drawer, BA Gillies has lived in four countries and travelled to over 80. A highlight was hitchhiking solo for months across America in his kilt aged 22. This earned him strange looks, good friends and great stories.

A lifelong student of history, he’s fascinated by how empires rise and fall. Whether it’s ancient Rome, Napoleon, or a star-spanning federation, one thing holds true. Good strategy wins.

Fans of David Weber’s tactical genius, Rick Partlow’s explosive action, or John Scalzi’s sharp wit will feel right at home in his universe.

He looks forward to seeing you there.

His books and stories have won multiple sci-fi awards.

The London Book Festival 2025 Winner
The Los Angeles Book Awards 2025 First Runner Up
The New England Book Festival 2024 Winner
Literary Titan Gold Award
Pinnacle Books Gold Award
Literary Global Gold Award
Literary Titan Silver Award
Firebird Book Award