I got the idea for Frankie while on holiday in Crete in 2002 and wrote the first few chapters but it was during my MA course
that the book really got off the ground. I took a 'writing for children' module with the award-winning author and poet Jackie Kay and found her suggestions and exercises were perfect for Frankie. However, it still took me another three years to finish it. I worked with a 'novel buddy ' called Sue Rylance for several months. We met once a fortnight, each bringing a chapter of our novels for the other to critique. Having a deadline is a great incentive to get writing!

Along the way I entered lots of competitions, won a few prizes for my short stories, plays and poetry and took
opportunities to read my work at various venues around the north east. I also continued to attend a regular writing class
and went on many other writing courses. I find this an invaluable part of the writing process and am always inspired by hearing other people's work, produced in a group situation.

You can read an excerpt from Frankie by clicking on the button.