1. How and why did you start writing?

It wasn’t even my idea to be a writer. It was my older sister’s plan. I was four years old at the time and she was nearly six. She always had the best ideas and she thought we could write a series of books about a girl and her dog having lots of adventures. Problem was neither of us could write at the time. The idea did go down deep with me though and when I did learn how to write I started making up my own stories. It took another twenty years though before any of them got published.

2. What advice were you given when you started writing?

Write about what you know. I was living in Dubai at the time which is why my books are about the Middle East. I would like to write a big fantasy one day though.

3. How do you come up with your ideas?

I don ’t know. I’m just grateful they come when I need them.

4. What did you do before you started writing?

I travelled around the world as a flight attendant and part time co-pilot on a private aeroplane. My husband is a professional pilot and we moved a lot for his jobs and I have lived in Canada, then Oman and then Dubai.

5. What’s your workspace like?

I like to sit in my comfy rocking chair in my study rather than at a desk. When I work at my desk writing becomes ‘work’ and I feel more under pressure and worst of all it no longer feels like a fun thing to do. The truth is writing isn’t always fun. It can feel like doing homework or a big assignment so any way I can fool my head into thinking it’s fun then I’m for it.

6. If I had my time over I would…

have been a pilot or maybe become an archaeologist or learned to play a Celtic Harp and been a harpist in a Celtic Women band but I’d still want to write children’s books as well because I love stories – writing them and reading them.