I was a late developer, getting to university in my late 30s.

A lifelong bookworm, I always wanted to write, but for a long time I was too scared of failure to try. When my son left home for university, I decided to have a go. I was lucky, being shortlisted for a national literary contest, and my writing career took off from there.

I started writing for children and young adults but have more or less moved to writing for adults. To date, I have written 4 Ganagster School books, a YA fantasy called Icarus and Velvet, 2 Mudlark Myateries (the second one is being released December 24) and Evolution, written under the nom de plume, Zelda Conway.

My first book for adults, The Red Tunic, is the result of fascinations with women's history, the First World War, and gender issues. It was my labour of love for several years and I'm proud and delighted to see it in print. Maybe one day I'll write a follow-up. Who knows.