My first job on leaving school was with a small printing firm, where I learned my typesetting skills and within a couple of years I was running the artwork department. I moved on into secretarial work, and then educational work, qualifying to teach both children and adults.

I have studied proofreading and copyediting through the Publishing Training Centre, the Society for Editors and Proofreaders and the Centre for Excellence. I am constantly looking to improve my skills in both the technical and creative sides of language.

I have studied several English Language and Creative Writing courses, and have read voraciously for over forty years, spending twenty of those years trying to work out what makes good writing, what makes books sell, what captures readers’ attention and how to improve the written word so the message is clear.  I continue to work on my own writing projects, both technical/educational and fiction.

I taught English classes for around ten years, working to support students with both technical and creative writing projects, and have been involved in education for around twenty years, teaching all ages and covering topics from early years skills to GCSE English, Maths and Computing.

For several years I was responsible for collating, editing and designing a newsletter for a local organisation, and constantly work to develop my design and layout skills further.

I have a First Class Hons Degree in Computing and IT, covering topics from mathematical modelling through relational databases to the effects of IT on society. I also hold Certificates in Social Sciences, Humanities and Mathematics and Diplomas in IT and Computing.

I have written two teaching units available from PG Online – covering Introduction to Flash Animation and Sound Editing with Audacity – and edited a third. In addition, I have contributed stories to three short story collections that I collated and published on behalf of my writing group.

I am a partner member of the Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi) and keep myself up to date with publishing advice. I offer a discount to ALLi members, as I appreciate that they, too, are working to keep themselves informed on good publishing practice.