After completing my BA, PGCE and MA at Liverpool and York Universities, I became a professional writer for a couple of decades until my son came along and priorities changed! For several years I became a full-time mum and I have educated my son at home since he was five. I am very familiar with the joys and challenges of home-education and the frustrations of school-orientated teaching materials!
I am currently employed as a creative writing tutor at the National Extension College and am an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing and Humanities at the Open University. I have several years experience as a private tutor and have taught most age ranges, preparing students for GCSE and A level English. I am also an examiner for A level English Literature (I was recently commended as a ‘Grade A’ examiner).
I still continue to write and dream of the day when I might be able to earn Jackie Collins money by writing Philip Pullman words. I also dream about becoming children’s book illustrator. Some days I just dream about getting the washing up done before I go to bed! I love painting, music and anything that makes me laugh.

When we moved to a former woollen mill in deepest Carmarthenshire, and started to renovate it, I was in the process of completing my MPhil in English Literature (my subject was Charles Dickens and Christmas).  Fortunately most of the renovations were completed by the time my daughter, Ruby, was born. I home-educated her for many years until she elected to go to school, where she is very happy.
For the last 15 years our home has also been a language school, where we host overseas students who come to study and practise their English (some of them also pick up a bit of Welsh!).  I also work for a number of exam boards: I am Chief Examiner for Junior English Tests for EDI and I also moderate Entry Level English for WJEC.I also have experience of examining in English GCSE for WJEC.  I am a writer and examiner of Junior and Senior English Tests for other exam boards.
My teaching work includes private tuition of GCSE and A Level English, together with a stint as tutor of English at the University of Wales. I have also taught A level English at Pontypool College and tutored GCSE and A level English at the NEC. I also tutor English privately to local children (my students say nice things about me, which is lovely!).
I am very lucky to be able to work from home, sitting at my kitchen table looking out at the hillside (which is usually rain-drenched!). Catherine and I get together as often as we can, which isn’t often enough, and reminisce about the good old days at Liverpool University.