I am a recent member of the Cambridge Writers' Group, having joined, then left, and joined again in 2018.
I have had a first career in agricultural plant science research, in Cambridge, Bath and Chelmsford, as a Technician and Research Assistant.
In 2004, when my mum died, I decided it was time for a change. I had always wanted to write a book. Now I have written five!
From late 2004 to the present I have taken part time and temporary jobs at Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge Assessment, Cambridge Botanic Garden, and now Age UK, and have written when not working.
Financially, it hasn't been great, but I have had lots of fun and it is very worthwhile when you finish a project.
I write a regular gardening page for County Life Magazines in Beds, Herts and Cambs editions, and a column in Smallholder magazine.
I have a story, Sunglasses, in the 2018 Cambridge Writers Group competition anthology and have been published in Dream Catcher, Writers" Forum, Cambridge News, Take a Break, Ireland's Own, and others. At the time of writing I am 55 and seemingly terminally single ( although looking !). I am quiet, thoughtful, caring and kind.
I look forward to writing more stories, and of course, going to more talks at the Cambridge Writers Group in future.
Selected Works
Shelford/ Dove's Touch (2018)
These two poetry books contain Pam Ayres - like story poems. They are suitable for the whole family to enjoy and cover a wide range of subjects. You can buy them separately on www.lulu.com, or as a two-book collection on www.amazon.co.uk . The two book deal is a good one!
Simon L'etoile:Black Widow & Me (2018)
Simon L’etoile: Black Widow & Me is the story of a fictional rock band from the 1980s. It is told as a memoir, through the eyes of the lead singer, Simon L’etoile. Following the band and its members through touring and recording, to great success when they play festivals and have chart hits – but then hit the rocks with a bang!
Simon meets his partner Claire at a gig in the Cambridge Corn Exchange. The story charts their relationship and how they help each other through good times and bad. Their meeting was for-seen in the stars. Claire goes on tour and fits in well with most of the band, but Colin, the drummer is not happy. He goes through trauma on meeting his birth parent. The guitarist kops a strop at being replaced on his best song by an American drug-dealing upstart, and when Simon suffers exhaustion it may be the end of the band? Until, in the 2000s a rap artist has a hit with a Black Widow song and this propels the band back into the spotlight. They do some reunion shows before retiring satisfied that they have made their mark on the rock scene.
This is a heart-warming story of ‘sex, drugs and rock n roll’… a young man of the 80s dream fulfilled. It is about an old music industry where LPs sold made a group or artist and where freedom of doing existed. We shall never see the same again…Go, Black Widow!
Local (2017)
LOCAL is a poetry book collection made up of the best poems from my poetry pamphlets from 2001 to 2016. The poems are, on the whole, not rhying, although some do tell a story. There is a mix of subjects and styles, and most of these verses have been published in the Cambridge News 'Poetry Corner' when it existed. There are over one hundred poems here to read, think about, and enjoy.
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