Preston's second novel, The Revelations, was published in February 2012, while his third, In Love and War, was featured on BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime.[citation needed] He is also the co-author of As Kingfishers Catch Fire, a memoir and anthology of literature about British birds.[8] Preston authored Winchelsea, a historical fiction novel based upon the activities of the Hawkhurst smuggling gang set in the 18th century on the Kent/Sussex coast, which was published in late 2022 by Canongate Books.[9][10]
Preston reviews books for a number of national newspapers and magazines and was a regular panelist on BBC2's The Review Show.[2] He is an English lecturer at the University of Kent.[1]
Personal life
Preston plays cricket for the Authors Cricket Club and contributed a chapter to the team's book The Authors XI: A Season of English Cricket from Hackney to Hambledon.[11] He became notable as player-umpire for asking of fellow novelist Richard Beard, "Do you think you were out?" in response to a bellowed LBW appeal. For this, Preston received the "Decision of the Season" award at their annual dinner.[12]