Now you can see why all my characters have to visit the Lake District at some time or another. Why should they be deprived of such beautiful scenery?

 

I have enjoyed all these wonderful vistas (that's me on the Kentmere Fells and in the Kentmere Valley) since I moved up from London to Kendal in 1975. It is a joy and a privilege to live amongst such lovely surroundings - and inspirational, too.

 

Writing always reminds me of  my grammar school days when essays were doled out as a punishment for misbehaviour. They never did work. Punishment essays were the highlight of my week.

 

Having acquired a professional PR Diploma, I was employed in London as  a public relations executive, mainly writing press material for trade magazines. It was in this role that I learnt the importance of writing 'tight' copy - accuracy, no wasted words, straightforward language.

 

On arrival in Cumbria, and after a stint running the Kendal tourist information office, I set up a  freelance publicity  service, producing leaflets, press advertisements, newsletters and the like for a range of local businesses.

 

It was here, too, that I tried my hand at various new pastimes  including occasional horse riding (horse  always decided where I would go and at what speed ...with some hair-raising results.), gliding (crouched in the cockpit, couldn't stand heights), amateur dramatics (hated learning lines) and, not least, taking charge of a weight watchers' class, hints of which are woven into my novel 'Secret Lives' (office drama with a comedic edge). Of all my misguided efforts, the most memorable  was the time I signed up for a degree module in 'Exercise to Music', unintentionally ending up as a qualified aerobics teacher. About to retire, all I'd wanted was an interesting exercise class. (must read the small print next time)

 

After thirteen years of self-employment, I decided  to further my education and  completed an Honours Degree at Lancaster University in Psychology and Behaviour in Organisations - challenging but fascinating.

 

Retiring in 2008 (all my pictures 2112/2114) I found myself with lots of time to think. Now only concerned with preserving life and limb, my hobbies are mainly  walking, swimming, the occasional attempt at photography and, of course, writing.

 

It was in September, 2011, when I joined a local writing group, that I first attempted fiction. The group project was to 'write a novel.'

Scary, I thought. Having never written anything fictional since schooldays, the novel I produced was described as 'overwritten.' I realised at once that the discipline of writing commercial material applied equally to fiction.  Since then, I have joined local writing groups and classes;  picked up vital information from books and the internet;  and received much useful criticism from long-suffering family and friends.   Larger than life characters, plots which surprise, strange twists and turns:  these are all elements I like to include in my books.  I  hope that one day you, my grandchildren and many others may be inquisitive enough to read my stories.