The youngest of four children, I was born in North Kent forty-something years ago and that is where I lived, on a council housing estate, for the first twenty-five years of my life.

When I was nine or ten years old, I was fortunate enough to encounter that precious thing, a wonderful teacher, who planted the seed of possibility that writing was something I could do. I caught the writing bug.  It was a love that stayed with me throughout my childhood.

Unfortunately, where I grew up, work was in short supply and getting a job, any job, was the prime concern of most school leavers who wanted to make something of their life.  I gave up all ideas of writing in favour of getting a "proper job" and started work in a factory the day before I officially left school at 16.

I've never been afraid of hard work and, by God, I worked hard at getting better work.  It paid off.  Through the years I've worked as a typist, Assistant Company Secretary, IT Manager and Property Manager.  Now I work in the state education system, supporting children with Special Educational Needs.  It's the worst paid job I've ever had but probably the most rewarding.

It took many years before I started putting pen to paper again and still more before I made the decision to publish.  It is a decision I haven't regretted.  My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

These days, I live in the East of England countryside, where I enjoy a long and ever changing list of hobbies while avoiding all things domestic, usually with great success.