I have been writing seriously for about ten years, but must admit to having written a very strange novel at the age of nine. It was a boarding school story with more than a swift nod to Enid Blyton. It began badly, went downhill in the middle and as for the end, well, we won’t mention that. The story was so appalling that when I read chunks of it to my mother she used to stifle her laughter by pushing a tea towel into her mouth. I like to think my writing has improved since then. At least my readers laugh when they’re supposed to now.

I did flirt with writing during the 1980s, even having some articles published in magazines and I won a local ghost story competition, but it wasn’t until the late 90s that I joined Leicester Writers’ club and realised what pure joy being a writer can be

Since then I’ve been president of the club; taught creative writing to adults and written two novels, one of which, Unwrapping Angelo, was shortlisted in the 2008 Daily Mail First Novel Award. I’ve also amassed a large number of wonderful writing friends who have helped me along the way. There is nothing quite like a group of writers getting together to discuss their craft.

I have recently completed a novel, The Art of Surfacing, set in my favourite city, Salzburg in Austria. To write about Salzburg combines two of my passions.