About Sean McManus

Hello! My name is Sean McManus and I'm a writer based in the UK.

I write books about business and technology, and have written a novel about the music industry. I've also contributed as a freelance writer to a wide range of magazines, and have worked as a copywriter on behalf of some of the world's leading technology companies.

I'm passionate about music. Since going to my first concert (Jean Michel Jarre's Destination Docklands in 1988), I've been a regular concert-goer. I've been lucky to see most of my favourite acts several times and to see many unique shows. I saw the opening and closing nights of Prince's O2 residency in 2007, and a rare solo show by Noel Gallagher in 1998. I was there the only time David Gilmour has played Atom Heart Mother in my lifetime, and the night he popped up on top of the wall to guest on Comfortably Numb for Roger Waters' 2011 Wall Tour. I've seen Bowie, Pavarotti, Madonna, McCartney, Quo, Pink Floyd, The Who, Genesis, Radiohead, Pulp, REM, Blur, Kylie, The Cure, Depeche Mode, My Life Story, Inspiral Carpets, Tom Hingley, Jesus Jones, Black and many more.

My favourite albums include Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd), Waiting for Cousteau (Jean Michel Jarre), Everybody's Angel (Tanita Tikaram), Adventures in Modern Recording (Buggles), Never Loved Elvis (The Wonderstuff), Disintegration (The Cure) and Perverse (Jesus Jones). But I bet I think of something else the moment I publish this. It's so hard to choose.

My other interests include retrogames (which were just called games when I started playing them), travel, photography, and songwriting (I dabble with the guitar and piano).

Some of my favourite things

• TV: The Apprentice, Question Time, 24, Dr Who
• Films: Back to the Future, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shaun of the Dead, Shooting Fish, Dead Poets' Society
• Art: Dali (and modern art generally)
• Fiction writers: Douglas Adams, Ben Elton (although I read mostly nonfiction)
• Games: Ms Pac Man, Get Dexter, Portal, Phoenix Wright, Animal Crossing DS

Organisations I belong to or support

• Society of Authors
• Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society
• Friends of the Earth
• Amnesty International
• Liberty Human Rights
• No2ID

Virtual webcam

You can get a glimpse of me working on this virtual webcam. This virtual webcam automatically updates every 60 seconds.

More information

You can find out more about my books here, and can browse my archive of magazine articles here. You can chat with a virtual me here and contact me here.