Lottery Winner Turns Teacher to Novelist: Pursuing Passion After £2 Million Jackpot

Mike Law, a teacher from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, won £2 million in the National Lottery in October 2021. Despite his newfound wealth, he continued teaching as an arts and photography teacher until this summer. Now, he's embarked on a new journey, leaving his teaching career behind to pursue his dream of becoming a novelist.

At 52 years old, Mike Law made the bold decision to transition into a different career more than a year ago, with the full support of his wife, Andrea, aged 45. However, he stayed in his teaching role to ensure he could see his GCSE students through their exams this year. He expressed his attachment to teaching, stating that it had become a part of him.

Mike's passion for history, sparked by a book about the medieval Anglo-Saxon burial site, Sutton Hoo, has endured since his school days. This interest, combined with his love for writing and fascination with Roman history, has led him to embark on writing a historical adventure novel set in Roman Britain, promising a "dark twist."

The novel is centered in and around Wroxeter in Shropshire, one of the largest cities in Roman Britain, with its remains now managed by English Heritage. Mike believes that the historical accuracy of his work is crucial, given his background as a teacher.

He shared his enthusiasm for bringing history to life in his writing, having visited sites like Wroxeter multiple times to immerse himself in the Roman era. 

Mike's ultimate goal is to find a literary agent and see his novel published, but he's also open to self-publishing if needed.

Mike's wife, Andrea, who works as a marketing and communications manager in education, emphasized that, despite their lottery win, their lives have remained mostly the same. They've used the winnings to ease the burden of a mortgage and have had a few treats, including a trip to Lapland. However, their main aim is to improve their quality of life, create lasting memories, and provide for their children. Mike's career change is the first step in this new chapter of their lives.