My paradise is a quiet spot under a tree, with a good book, paper and pen.

Writing has always been a part of my life, mainly educational, also articles, fiction, poetry, and songs. For me all writing sows a seed of learning, and all learning leads to change. My mission is to share tales that create the possibility of a better world.

My writing explores some of the fundamentals of life: learning, humanity, social activism, spirituality, creativity, power and healing. As a liveaboard sailor, I also write about sailing, travel and nautical themes.

Education, training and occupations

I am qualified as a youth and community worker, social worker and teacher (Lifelong Learning Sector and ESOL). I’m not sure you can be qualified in writing, but I learnt a lot from taking an Arvon poetry course at their Totleigh Barton centre in the 1970s while studying for an A level in English Literature; and a Diploma in Creative writing (level 6) with the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 2006. I completed an MSC in Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion in 2022.

I am the founding director of Reshapers Community Interest Company, a social enterprise supporting social action through creative learning and transformation. Our main projects are We Learn We Change, our learning centre, and Survivors Voices, a survivor-led research and peer support organisation for survivors of abuse and trauma. I run writing groups for survivors and we are shortly launching our first publications through Survivors Voices Press.

See My Writing page for details of publications and writing genres and projects.