As a child, I loved books and read voraciously. By ten, I began writing stories beyond the narratives of my summer vacation, imaginary tales just for myself and fell into the trap of writing and re-writing each sentence and paragraph until it was “perfect”, never completing more than the first paragraph, or first chapter. After my first year of university I was invited to join the English Honours program, but, being practical, could see no useful purpose to an English degree and continued on my chosen path of science and then medicine.

The demands of career and family changed both my writing, which dwindled to very occasional moments, and my reading. No longer was I pursuing literature. I didn’t want to read of people mired in dreadful circumstances who eventually triumphed, or failed. I saw that on a daily basis. My preferred reading became almost exclusively genre fiction, satisfying and escapist, and entirely removed from my daily experiences.

In 2011, a friend nagged me to participate in NaNoWriMo with her. Fifty thousand words in thirty days while fully employed is challenging. Getting the story arc onto the page is important and finally my editor within was silenced by the tyranny of the daily word count. Editing happened later. My first completed novel (2015) is of a weaponized corona virus and a global pandemic, told from the perspective of the isolated and quarantined. I got much of it right, though missed the hoarding of toilet paper, my characters concentrating on foods and medications. It’s a novel that will never see the light of day, given our recent experiences, but it’s a great drawer book and taught me a lot about the perseverance needed to write.

That same friend dragged me to a crime fiction writing course and set me on my current writing path, mostly writing crime novels although it is an imperfect fit for me. Our writing group was formed (in 2015) with individuals who’d completed that same course and this has truly revolutionized my writing. Though difficult to read my work to others and listen to their comments, not all feedback being complimentary but certainly valid, the DeadLies are writers and friends who journey with me on this road to improvement. In 2023, we finally produced our blog on crime fiction writing, and various other topics related to writing. A new blog is posted every two weeks on deadliescrimeblog.com so check it out.

I am as eclectic as a writer as a reader and do not stick entirely to crime writing (hence the imperfect fit). I’ve written an urban fantasy, a non-genre fiction novel, and an anthology of short stories. The short works are part character study and part crime.

I still lack the courage to seek representation, but hope that will change over time, as both skill and confidence evolve. I’d love to write for more than my writing group and trusted friends.