I began writing stories as soon as I could put pen to paper. In our house, stories, poems and ditties made up on the hoof were the order of the day. I loved reading, too and remember Enid Blyton’s Naughty Amelia Jane read to me at bedtime when I was little. There was a story for any possible naughtiness I might do. My mum would pretend to be too busy to finish a chapter and leave the book on my bed. Desperate to know what happened, I would snatch it up and try to make out the words - this was how I learned to read!
My love of literature continued through adolescence – in the 1970s and 1980s the glittering banquet of teenage fiction we have today was not available. Rather, I cut my teeth on the classics: Daphne du Maurier, the Brontes, Jane Austen, William Golding, D.H. Lawrence, Dickens, Shakespeare, Milton etc. From them I would begin to learn my craft. I am still learning!
After completing a degree in Fine Art at Leeds Met (then Poly) and spending some years working as a painter and decorator, propmaker, care assistant and statue restorer, I published two novels, Meru - Castle of Dreams, 1996, and Russian Dolls - Insignia Press, 2000; several novellas and, more recently, three collections of short stories with Skrev Press. My short stories have also been published by MsLexia magazine, Route, Leaf Books, Cinnamon and other small press concerns.
Fiction is now my full time job! I write books for adults and children and lecture in Creative Writing for the Open University, which is a job I love! Last year I completed my Creative Writing MA at Manchester Metropolitan University and was delighted to be awarded the Michael Schmidt Prize for best portfolio.
My novel for adults, Amelia and the Virgin is on sale!
in highstreet stores, Like the the two fabulous independent stores in Hebden Bridge:
The Bookcase http://www.bookcase.co.uk
The Bookshoop http://hbbooks.co.uk
and online bookshops:
or order from:
Click on the Amelia And The Virgin link on the left of this page for news of more events and reviews.
I am going to be interviewed on L.A. Talk Radio on 3rd May ! I will have to stay up well past my bedtime till ten past midnight, for their drive-time show. But you can listen to it on
And Amelia gets her next outing at Ruskin College, Oxford, on May 15th, where I have been asked to talk to students of Creative Writing and English.
On 16th/17th June, I will be presenting a paper at the International Great Writing Conference, London - Time to be confirmed. book your tickets now: http://www.greatwriting.org.uk/
My children's novel, The Glass Stairs, by Cherry Books is available online or through www.skrev-press.com Have a look at my Yorkshire Life Blog to follow my life as a Novelist and Mum in West Yorkshire:
I am so excited about it all! Watch this space for news of readings!
