About Me

  While I was first dabbling with the idea of writing, (not sure if I could, but aware that it was having a profound positive effect on my mental health), I was awarded the Tyne and Esk ; Writer Of The Year.  This was for TheRift, a piece that drew heavily on sights and sounds from my own childhood in Africa. Being an active member of several writing groups has become very important for the camaraderie and support they offer. Regardless of where you are in your own writing story being a member of a writing group would be my first piece of advice. It is now my privilege to return to Tyne & Esk as a Creative Writing Fellow. A chance to give back some of the most valuable lessons I have learned over all these years.
A huge amount of inspiration for my work comes from the environment in which I am fortunate to live, but people inspire me just as much especially if their dedication, enthusiasm, and emotion shines. Residencies and commissions are a great way to interpret an artistic or academic work for a wider audience. I have taken commission on a variety of subjects including orchestra, steam engines and oyster restoration. 
Reading is just as important to a writer as listening is to a musician. We are fortunate if we can belong to a library, so I support my own when I can and I work as a lead reader and creative writing facilitator for The Open Book. Reading helps me stretch and learn in terms of style and voice and gives me confidence to try new forms. Whilst exploring Cyprus, I wrote Nereid. It is described as a 'haunting piece' of flash fiction and won the Federation Of Writers Scotland 'vernal equinox' prize in 2020.
Collaboration and community projects are another vital ingredient in my writing life. I have been lucky to work with and support a writing mothers group for the Scottish Poetry Library and have collaborated with musicians, film, radio and artists perform my work regularly on stage. My publisher is also local and in 2019 myself and two other local poets got together with Black Agnes Press to launch our pamphlet, The Weather Looks Promising. My first solo pamphlet was brought out in 2022; Bird Brained, a bird count in poems.