About

I always knew I wanted to be a writer.

My first attempt at writing a novel (complete with illustrations) was The Dundirk and the Jabbersquirm, aged 8. I wrote it in my Mr Men notebook and got as far as Chapter 5.

I planned to write ‘proper’ novels when I grew up, but I studied Psychology and then did a masters in Public Administration instead. (I can’t remember what ‘public administration’ actually is, but I’m pretty sure you don’t need it to be a writer.)

I dreamt about being an author, of course. But I didn’t actually write anything. I was too full of self-doubt. I just scribbled ideas on bits of paper and shoved them in a box beneath my bed.

And there my scribbles remained as I worked my way through a series of jobs – software trainer, fitness coach, copywriter, Christmas tree decorator… 

Eventually it dawned on me that if I wanted to be a writer, I was going to have to actually, you know, write something. So I took a deep breath, moved to the coast, and got a job in a publishing company. It worked – the publisher commissioned me to write my first book Oh Sugar! (reprinted in 2020 as Say No to Sugar)!

Feeling brave, I wrote a children’s novel, which was shortlisted for The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. This made me sit up and think – perhaps I wasn’t a deluded nutball, after all? Maybe I could do this!

I started doodling characters and putting them on greetings cards and T-shirts. Before I knew it, I had an online shop.

Now I’m finishing my novel, selling Hairy Dog T-shirts, and writing a self-help book for writers. It may have taken me 50 years, but I am finally an author and illustrator :-)

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QUALIFICATIONS

Inside Out Transformation Coaching Course (Sheela Masand and Chana Studley)
Masters in Public Administration (Human Resources)
BSc (Hons) Experimental Psychology
Cognitive Hypnotherapy Diploma
Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner
Personal Training Diploma
Quantum Touch Level 1 & level 2
PureBioenergy® Level 1
Reiki First Degree
Shaking Medicine Teacher
Certified TRE Provider

Advanced TRE training

Working with the Face – TRE Masterclass (Richmond Heath)
Sound and Eye Movement – TRE Masterclass (Richmond Heath)
Diaphragm workshop (Cheda Mikic)
Deepen Your Practice workshop (Deborah Brown)
Interventions workshop (Cheda Mikic)
Psoas and Pelvis workshop (Cheda Mikic)
TRE for Children (Dr Melanie Salmon)

Nervous system training

The Resilience Toolkit (Lumos Transforms)
Neurogenic Freedom (Fernando Aguiar)