Writer
I first started writing stories when I was a child, about 8 or 9. I remember typing them on my parents’ typewriter at a red desk in the room I shared with my sister. I started a few novels but only completed 2 novellas by the time I finished school. I wrote quite a lot of poetry as well during my adolescent years, full of teenage angst and dark thoughts. It probably shouldn’t be let out.
I didn’t write anything for a long time then I started dabbling again, somewhat half-heartedly, until 2010 when I became more serious about it. Since then, I’ve written a few short stories, started a few longer projects and finally completed and published my first novel in 2017, with more than a little a help from my Dad. But more about that in another section…
Most of my professional career has been spent in Luxembourg, that small, wealthy Grand Duchy just south of Belgium. I was an “IT person” for a long time (analytical, introverted, a bit of a geek). Then I realised people matter most, so I became a people manager and eventually an IT director.
It was great but I felt a need for change so I retrained as a coach and co-founded a coaching, training and consulting company with my partner in 2019.
Mother
This is the role I am most proud of. I have 3 amazing, talented and wonderful children. Oh wait, don’t all mothers say that? Of course, but mine are surely different 😉. They are half Belgian, half Scottish and all young adults already so that makes me feel quite old at times.
We are a blended family now so I am also a step-mother of sorts to my partner’s son, another young adult.
I would never have thought of using that term to describe myself, even when I was well into my thirties. When I divorced in 2003, I served burned sausages, under-cooked rice and over-cooked pasta to my poor children for some weeks. But I did learn and I’m proud to say I’ve become a creative and reasonably competent home cook. And I love it all – appetisers, tapas, soups, starters, mains.
I just don’t do desserts.
and Cook
My background
I was born of Scottish parents in the late sixties just outside London. Despite only living in Scotland for about 4 years, I do consider myself to be Scottish – by blood and tradition, I like to say. 
I am also very much European having spent many childhood years and most of my adult life in Belgium.
Although I speak both English and French, I only write stories in English.