Discipline: Writing

Skills: Writing fiction

Born in wartime Wales, I have lived most of my life in and around London's East End, settling finally with my husband in Essex, where we are able to combine the outdoor pleasures of Epping Forest with visiting the London art galleries and theatres. Friends and family (two children, their spouses and two gorgeous grandchildren) are very important to us, as are our elderly cats and our brilliant garden. Besides writing I love to paint and am currently lining the walls of our new house with my pictures. My other interests - travel, cooking, music and the rest - are to be found in the books I have written.

After graduating (Newcastle) and obtaining a teaching certificate (Leicester), I embarked on a career teaching children of primary age, both mainstream and, latterly, special needs. When my own children flew the nest I decided to keep a lifelong promise to myself and become a writer, beginning with short stories and articles. It wasn't long before I gave up teaching in order to devote myself to my craft.

Honno, the Welsh Women's publishing company, who included a short story of mine in their anthology Luminous and Forlorn, published my first novel, Lottie, in 1997. In the same year my second novel, Someone to Watch Over Me was published by Piatkus, followed by its sequel, Wrong Way Up the Slide. The third in the Potter family series, A Lazy Eye, was published in 2000.

Honno will publish my latest novel Skin Deep, a thriller set in modern times, in November 2004. I have just finished my sixth and am currently working on my seventh novel.