BLOG: Dwayne Fields is Cimarron

It seems some people are born adventurers, souls who find it impossible not to explore. Without a doubt Dwayne Fields is one of them.

We got to know Dwayne five years ago, after watching a documentary he made and getting in touch to ask whether he would consider judging the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Which he did, twice, and he's been a friend of the Foundation ever since. 

Now, Dwayne and our friends at Soi Books have teamed up to create the soon-to-be hot property, graphic novel, Cimarron (The Wild One). The novel follows in the footsteps of Dwayne himself, from the rainforests of Jamaica to the urban chaos of London, and the frozen ends of Antarctica. It tells tales of freedom, identity and survival from Dwayne's childhood to today, running around barefoot saving animals to becoming the first black Briton to walk to the Magnetic North Pole.

Dwayne and writer Sophie McVeigh, share stories that read like fiction but are direct from real life. Illustrated by Shuning Ji, Cimarron is a journey of escape, resilience and rediscovery, for all ages. 

We once asked Dwayne what he thinks adventure is. His response? ''I instantly relive some of my own expeditions and experiences upon hearing the wonderful word ‘adventure’. It [...] causes my imagination to run wild, picturing what was, what is and what could be with endless possibilities and very few boundaries. I start to day dream about places I’d like to see and equally important, the places I’ve been to, people I’ve met" 

Now, he's putting these adventures, and the idea of possibility, down on paper. We caught up with him to ask more about Cimarron:

"Cimarron has taken on a life of his own. He’s a character based on my life experience, but it’s Cimarron who's bringing what I’ve learned about the world to readers.

There aren’t that many people who have been to places like the North Pole, Antarctica, the middle of the ocean, or the deepest, darkest jungle, and Cimarron will take people on those adventures. He’s a character who was connected to nature, but he was pulled away from it and led into a city where he almost lost himself. It was only when he reconnected with nature and our natural spaces that he found his strength again.

Cimarron’s world is a fantasy world while still being rooted in reality. There are highs and lows just like in the real world, but even at the darkest points in his story, there is always hope as he rises again and again. I hope people can take something from that.

Of course, I’d like readers to be entertained but I also hope there are people out there who will be inspired, or empowered and might actually find tomorrow a brighter prospect because they recognise what Cimarron is going through. It’s so cool that readers will be able to share in these adventures and I’m so excited to tell this story!"

The team are running a kickstarter to fund production of the book with exclusive early-bird rewards for readers to get their hands on. We know that Cimarron will open readers' eyes to places and people around the world, and the themes of freedom, resilience and survival will certainly make this an adventure. 

Find out more about the Cimarron Kickstarter Campaign which will open for pledges in 2026 and sign up to receive updates!

You can also find out more about Dwayne's work, as an adventurer, presenter, and expedition leader for his #WeTwo Foundation, on his website here or follow him on Instagram here.