Newspaper article
Canterbury Times June 27th 2013
“As a child I used to dream of becoming an author and loved to make up stories.”
What is your day job?
I work at a further education college teaching manufacturing engineering to young adults. I studied a similar course as an apprentice at Canterbury college, that was from 1977 – 1981 and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there as a student.
It was always my dream to one day return there as a lecturer and in 1998 a chance presented itself. At the time I was running my own business and employed a young apprentice who I wanted to enrol on a course. Whilst at the college open day I was offered a part time teaching post. It was for one day a week so fitted in with my business and it also gave me the opportunity to study for my teaching qualification.
I decided to go into teaching because I was a very shy person and I saw this as a way to become more confident with people. The idea of standing up and speaking in front of a class terrified me and there were times in the beginning when I thought I would never achieve my goal.
Why do you like it?
Working and interacting with young people is the most rewarding part of my job. Helping them to achieve their qualification and learn their trade makes the job even better.
It’s a great sense of achievement knowing that I have been part of their education and they will probably never forget me for that.
Tell us about your latest book.
It is called The Witness and is a psychological thriller. It all began about ten years ago when my sister Joanne and my Brother-in-Law Dean lived in Morayshire, Scotland. When visiting them we spent a day walking in Spey Bay, a place of natural beauty where the river Spey flows into the sea.
There I saw an artist painting a watercolour of the old iron bridge which spans the river and it was then my main character Josie MacDonald was born. The story flowed on from there.
What are your other books about?
My first book is called The Belgae Torc and is an action adventure featuring an archaeologist called Orlagh Gairne.
The story begins in the Iron Age where a golden torc, or neck ring, is made. The torc is a powerful symbol of wealth and status and is fit for a king.
The first part of the book tells the story of the torc and the effect it has on the people of the Belgae tribe. The story continues into modern day when the torc is discovered on an archaeological dig.
Orlagh is sent to secure the torc for the National Museum where she works in Dublin, but she is drawn into an adventure of death and intrigue.
The Belgae Torc is the first part in The Torc Trilogy and I’m hoping to have the second book in the series ready for release by Easter 2014.
So how long have you been writing?
For as long as I can remember.
As a child I used to make up stories and dream of one day becoming an author. The Belgae Torc took nine months to write and six months to edit and prepare for publication.
Once that was done the marketing process took up much of my time, but I managed to work on The Witness. The manuscript was virtually intact as I had been writing it on and off for the last ten years, so I began editing and in May 2013 it was ready for release.
Are there any similarities between your books?
I have written and action adventure and now a psychological thriller, both books are fast moving and the main characters are female.
I love history so try to weave some historical intrigue into my books, I don’t see my style changing anytime soon.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love painting and spent a few years learning how to use colour by enrolling on evening art classes.
I have exhibited my work with various local art societies and have even sold some over the years.
I spend all of my spare time writing these days but try to paint at least one portrait each year. This is generally a likeness of my favourite character. The cover of The Witness is taken from a painting I did of Josie MacDonald. I’m delighted that it worked out so well and plan to paint more of my book covers in future.
Ever seen a ghost?
When on holiday a few years ago on the Isle of Wight, Maria and I stayed in a lovely family owned mansion house. It was not at all a dismal haunted kind of place so I didn’t expect to experience anything spooky.
Just after 2am one morning I was suddenly woken by a rustling sound. I was convinced that someone had just rushed past my bed. It was dark in the room so I couldn’t see anything but the illuminated face of the clock on the bedside table. The air was perfumed with a sweet floral scent that was not at all unpleasant, so I turned on the light and went across the room to the huge windows that opened up onto the garden. I thought that the lovely smell must be coming from the plants growing just outside the window, so throwing them open I leaned out to discover that the smell was definitely not coming from the garden. Turning back into the room, the scent had almost faded, the air was warm and I was left with a calming feeling.
It was not at all a frightening experience but it was strange. I am certain it was not a vivid dream or my over active imagination. I have never experienced anything like this before or since.
Canterbury Times June 27th 2013
“As a child I used to dream of becoming an author and loved to make up stories.”
What is your day job?
I work at a further education college teaching manufacturing engineering to young adults. I studied a similar course as an apprentice at Canterbury college, that was from 1977 – 1981 and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there as a student.
It was always my dream to one day return there as a lecturer and in 1998 a chance presented itself. At the time I was running my own business and employed a young apprentice who I wanted to enrol on a course. Whilst at the college open day I was offered a part time teaching post. It was for one day a week so fitted in with my business and it also gave me the opportunity to study for my teaching qualification.
I decided to go into teaching because I was a very shy person and I saw this as a way to become more confident with people. The idea of standing up and speaking in front of a class terrified me and there were times in the beginning when I thought I would never achieve my goal.
Why do you like it?
Working and interacting with young people is the most rewarding part of my job. Helping them to achieve their qualification and learn their trade makes the job even better.
It’s a great sense of achievement knowing that I have been part of their education and they will probably never forget me for that.
Tell us about your latest book.
It is called The Witness and is a psychological thriller. It all began about ten years ago when my sister Joanne and my Brother-in-Law Dean lived in Morayshire, Scotland. When visiting them we spent a day walking in Spey Bay, a place of natural beauty where the river Spey flows into the sea.
There I saw an artist painting a watercolour of the old iron bridge which spans the river and it was then my main character Josie MacDonald was born. The story flowed on from there.
What are your other books about?
My first book is called The Belgae Torc and is an action adventure featuring an archaeologist called Orlagh Gairne.
The story begins in the Iron Age where a golden torc, or neck ring, is made. The torc is a powerful symbol of wealth and status and is fit for a king.
The first part of the book tells the story of the torc and the effect it has on the people of the Belgae tribe. The story continues into modern day when the torc is discovered on an archaeological dig.
Orlagh is sent to secure the torc for the National Museum where she works in Dublin, but she is drawn into an adventure of death and intrigue.
The Belgae Torc is the first part in The Torc Trilogy and I’m hoping to have the second book in the series ready for release by Easter 2014.
So how long have you been writing?
For as long as I can remember.
As a child I used to make up stories and dream of one day becoming an author. The Belgae Torc took nine months to write and six months to edit and prepare for publication.
Once that was done the marketing process took up much of my time, but I managed to work on The Witness. The manuscript was virtually intact as I had been writing it on and off for the last ten years, so I began editing and in May 2013 it was ready for release.
Are there any similarities between your books?
I have written and action adventure and now a psychological thriller, both books are fast moving and the main characters are female.
I love history so try to weave some historical intrigue into my books, I don’t see my style changing anytime soon.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love painting and spent a few years learning how to use colour by enrolling on evening art classes.
I have exhibited my work with various local art societies and have even sold some over the years.
I spend all of my spare time writing these days but try to paint at least one portrait each year. This is generally a likeness of my favourite character. The cover of The Witness is taken from a painting I did of Josie MacDonald. I’m delighted that it worked out so well and plan to paint more of my book covers in future.
Ever seen a ghost?
When on holiday a few years ago on the Isle of Wight, Maria and I stayed in a lovely family owned mansion house. It was not at all a dismal haunted kind of place so I didn’t expect to experience anything spooky.
Just after 2am one morning I was suddenly woken by a rustling sound. I was convinced that someone had just rushed past my bed. It was dark in the room so I couldn’t see anything but the illuminated face of the clock on the bedside table. The air was perfumed with a sweet floral scent that was not at all unpleasant, so I turned on the light and went across the room to the huge windows that opened up onto the garden. I thought that the lovely smell must be coming from the plants growing just outside the window, so throwing them open I leaned out to discover that the smell was definitely not coming from the garden. Turning back into the room, the scent had almost faded, the air was warm and I was left with a calming feeling.
It was not at all a frightening experience but it was strange. I am certain it was not a vivid dream or my over active imagination. I have never experienced anything like this before or since.