About Me

My experience combines professional coaching, teaching and writing. I've worked as a teacher, coach and mentor for over thirty years and I'm a published author. 

I was born in the north near Durham. After qualifying as a teacher I moved south where I taught English to A-level. A good number of years later, I took a sideways step into coaching and writing. I was asked to write two books for parents and young people on education and that propelled me into writing for the media. 

For fifteen years I was a freelance writer contributing features to The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, numerous websites and magazines. Alongside, I was coaching professionals on their careers, including writers and beginner writers, both independently and with a national literary consultancy. Some of my former clients are now published authors or successful journalists.

• 15 years' experience as a Writing Coach and Mentor
• Qualified Coach, Diploma 2005
• Qualified Teacher of English (Durham University)
• Published Author
• Published writer for national broadsheets and websites

And I've had coaching too for my writing. I experienced what you could be feeling now - self-doubt, a lack of confidence and wanting some guidance. I appreciated the uplifting power of having a supportive coach. And I bring that personal experience to my coaching to benefit my clients.

I live in a small rural village in North Hertfordshire. I love getting my boots on and walking over the hills, which is a great place to mull over my own writing. I also enjoy a certain amount of city life, especially art exhibitions in London. Sometimes I pop into the British Library (wonderful) to their latest exhibitions (and not forgetting a cuppa and cake.)

And, of course, I read. Anything from the classics (I'm working my way through some unread Dickens) to my favourite writers, including Faulks, Boyd, McEwan, Anne Tyler, Jojo Moyes, Kate Atkinson, Maggie O'Farrell, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Pym and too many more to mention.