My parents have always loved books and encouraged me to read what I could. Gradually my reading improved. Studying was never easy but I persevered.

 

It was whilst I was at the University College of Ripon & York St. John that I first wrote what I would describe as my first meaningful poem following the diagnosis of a malignant melanoma just a few weeks after becoming a Christian. I graduated in 1989 and worked as an Occupational Therapist for almost 20 years. My writing during this time was intermittent often prompted by challenges and experiences. Encouraged by friends I self-printed two small poetry collections in the 1990s.

 

I met my husband in 2003. Mike has always supported my love of writing – we were both delighted when I won an international poetry competition and soon afterwards self-printed a further poetry collection. The dream of having an ISBN had been lingering in the back of mind for many years until it was achieved in March 2019. 

 

Since the publication of my poetry collection In the Palm of His Hand I have become a more prolific writer creating poems almost daily. In December 2019 I published No Ordinary King – this includes work commissioned by a friend needing poetry to be read in between songs from Graham Kendrick’s The Gift. My memoir His Guiding Hand combines narrative with over 120 poems. There are several small poetry collections being compiled which I anticipate gradually publishing 2020-2023. Watch out for these titles: On Eagles Wings, Dark Night of Gethsemane, Still Waters, and more….

 

I am an early riser. I enjoy sketching, painting, sewing, and other crafts, or being in the garden or greenhouse. I am involved in several church and writing/poetry groups and am a member of Scunthorpe U3A. I am pleased to be invited to speak at friendship, fellowship, and charity groups as well as Women’s Institutes and guilds – happy to travel within 65 miles (105 KM) of Scunthorpe.

 

Mike and I share our North Lincolnshire home with a loving Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross dog, Dottie (her name was chosen due to its meaning of ‘gift of God’). A walk with Dottie in the nearby woods is a lovely part of the day.