​I'm a writer of fiction and a very occasional poet. I've always written, but in the last few years I've worked at honing my craft and finishing what I start, which has proved more challenging than I thought it would. A lot more challenging. Who knew writing was such hard work? But it's a labour of love and I can't imagine not doing it. To keep me going,  I've been fortunate enough to win the odd prize and have a few short stories and poems published along the way but my passion is writing novels.  My first one, Ursula's Secret, was published in November 2015 by Black & White Publishing after winning the Sunday Mail Fiction Prize, and was in the Kindle top 100 for three months at the beginning of last year.

I'm mostly based in Edinburgh, which was the first city to achieve UNESCO CIty of Literature status so it's a great place for a writer to be. Edinburgh's City of Literature Trust twice gave me the opportunity to read as part of their Story Shop programme at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, an experience that was an important part of my development as a writer. As well as the International Book Festival, Edinburgh also hosts smaller local ones, like the Portobello Book Festival, and numerous writing events from workshops and literary salons to book launches and author readings in one of the city's many bookshops. It's a wonder there's any time left to write.

When I need to escape, I head back to Ullapool for space and serenity, more bookshops and for its own gem of a book festival in May every year, or to Spain if I'm craving sunshine. I've travelled widely over the years justifying it as a search for inspiration but I've discovered characters are what really make a story for me, and human nature is pretty much the same wherever you go, so I'm looking for a new excuse to get out the passport.  "Research" sounds promising...