ABOUT ME
Born in the famed battle town of Hastings, England, I have always had a passion for writing in one form or another. Having gained a 2:1 degree in Radio, Film and Television studies, I went on to gain a Masters degree in Creative Writing, from Canterbury Christ Church University. For my final assessment on the MA course I wrote the opening chapters to 'The Forensic Genealogist', which would (after much editing and redrafting!) later become 'Hiding the Past,' the first book in the Forensic Genealogist series.
I started my writing career with non-fiction, my first book ‘Hastings at War’ being published in May 2005. This was followed by three further local history books pertaining to the area around my home town of Hastings. Whilst writing these books I trained as a teacher and worked for several years in two lovely primary schools.
My first foray into fiction writing culminated in the publication in September 2013 of Hiding the Past (The Forensic Genealogist #1). The series, featuring the same main character, Morton Farrier continues with The Lost Ancestor, The Orange Lilies, The America Ground, The Spyglass File, The Missing Man, The Suffragette's Secret, The Wicked Trade, The Sterling Affair and The Foundlings.
I am a member of the Society of Authors, the Guild of One Name Studies, the Society of Genealogists, as well as being a member of the Sussex Family History Group, the Kent Family History Society, the Norfolk Family History Society and the Hastings and Rother Family History Society. As you can see, my own family history keeps me very busy and provides lots of research material for my books!
I live in a small Kent village and in any spare moments (whatever that is!), I enjoy spending time with my family and son. When not writing, I can be found researching my family tree, running, pottering in the garden, walking, taking photographs, and, of course reading. I am currently working on the next installment in the Forensic Genealogist series.
My favourite...
Books: Too many to list! But obviously I love the work of other genealogical fiction authors, including Steve Robinson, Wendy Percival, MJ Lee and Stephen Molyneux. I like Kate Morton's books as they jump around in time and different periods in history. I also enjoy traditional 'whodunnit' stories. My recent favourite author in this genre is L.B. Hathaway and her series of books featuring Posie Parker in the 1920s London. Although I'm very behind on the Roy Grace detective series by Peter James, I have really enjoyed the books that I have read! Two of my favourite literary authors are Alan Hollinghurst and Sarah Waters; I'm always in awe at their writing talents.
Films: Again, too many to list! My favourite genres (as with television) are action / thriller. Examples include 1917, Taken, The Bourne films and The Imitation Game. I also like classic WW2 films, such as The Great Escape, The Guns of Navarone and A Bridge too Far.
Television: Like with film, my favourite genres are action / thriller, or a good historical drama, although I do love a good comedy! Homeland, The Americans, The Crown, Hunted, Line of Duty, Mindhunter and Modern Family are recent examples.
Think that sums it all up.