Have you ever longed to be a writer - to write a novel or your own story, or articles for magazines?

I did too, for many, many years.
And I did try. At the age of ten I began a book about our farm holidays; later I organised a story club at school - and wrote much of a children's adventure that never located a mystery! In my twenties and thirties I wrote short allegories as a means of exploring friendship; in my forties turned to memoir-type articles about aspects of my spiritual journey. I sometimes wrote poems, and I'd have liked to write a novel but could never think of a plot! People would ask if I had ever thought of becoming a writer. Yes, I had ... I just didn't know what to write.

When the mood was upon me words and ideas poured out ... but if I organised myself and set aside time to write, my creativity immediately dried up and turned to frustration and discouragement. I continued to long to be a writer and at least maintained a personal journal and a healthy correspondence.

In 1999 two significant things happened: I was given a computer and I was invited to a Cousins' Reunion. Inspiration took hold of me to write that long-dreamed-of farm holiday memoir. At last I had a project with a deadline. I finished in good time. I photostatted copies for my siblings and cousins (with plenty photographs) ... and the feedback was delightful. At last I'd broken through a barrier. From then on ALL I wanted to do was write. One day my heart cried out to God with those very words and, remarkably, the very next day, someone suggested I write a memoir for a couple whose commissioned biographer had let them down. I listened, open mouthed ... and courageously offered myself.

And that was how I came to spend the next four and a half years researching and writing a 350-page biography, Beyond Fear, which was published in 2003 and sold successfully.

During those four years a writing lifestyle had become established in me. I had also begun to run memoir-writing workshops ... which led to monthly writers' retreats - to which fiction and non-fiction writers came and also poets - and the Kenilworth Writer's Circle was born.

I have subsequently become a professional copy editor, run short courses on 'The Hero's Journey' and 'The Enneagram for Writers', and mentored people one-on-one. In 2008 I began to lecture extra-mural Journalism at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. I thoroughly enjoy teaching the art of narrative writing and facilitating a person's search for their personal writing genre.

I live with my husband in a large community home in Kenilworth, and have four children, all married, and six grandchildren in Port Elizabeth and Durban. To my grandchildren my secretary, soft-toy Jeremy Fisher, writes newsy letters about my doings and his.