Born in the 1960s, I grew up in a mediocre town and lived a mediocre life, desperate to be liked and yet often feeling an outsider. ​​

Moving to London to study speech therapy in the 1980s, I became immersed in gay culture which was thriving at the time, and I learnt about difference and tolerance, but also about pain and injustice.

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I stayed in London to pursue my career as a therapist, and then as a manager for disabled children's services. From there, I moved into community development and project management. I wrote professionally throughout my working life, and had a few articles published.

At the same time, I brought up two sons with my first husband and watched in wonderment as they matured into amazing young men.

 

I spent much of my adult life creating and hiding behind a mask, presenting to the world a confident person, while inside I was often really struggling.​ In my fifties, I finally came clean about who I am, warts and all. I have mental health issues. I can't say I embrace them as they are sometimes very painful, but I accept them. 

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My first book looks in depth at how I learned to manage myself better and also discusses LGBT+ culture and history. The second book explores women's history through the lens of a middle-aged woman searching for meaning in her life. They both highlight themes I feel are important and relevant to this day: accepting ourselves, accepting each other, and celebrating difference. 

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Now retired, I live on the beautiful south coast of England with my very patient husband. We live a quiet life with our cool as anything cat and our anxious as anything little dog.

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