%20(2)_j.jpg)
%20(3)_j.jpg)
-Can you please tell us about you? Where do you live and how is your daily
life?
I currently live in Truro, Cornwall - and write both fiction and non-fiction. I recently
moved here from France, where I previously lived for over 15 years. I love living in
Cornwall and find the place and the people very inspiring!
When did you start writing? How often do you write? Please feel free to
mention your previously published works or awards or any other
achievements in writing. We want to learn all about your writing life!
I wrote stories from a very early age and always knew I wanted to be a writer, but
also knew I needed to experience life before I wrote about it. After two years in the
military, four as a student and flight attendant, one as a translator and five as a
diplomat, I started writing and publishing my work.
My non-fiction topics range from politics through Past Lives and all they way to
Olympic Fencing, and the fiction is short stories - and most recently two novels
titled Recognitions and Premonitions. Both novels are published by Roundfire
Books - Recognitions was out in 2016 and Premonitions in June 2019. My most
recent title is From Last to First: a parent's guide to Fencing success, which I co-
authored with GBR national Sabre coach, Jon Salfield, will be out from
Changemakers Books In March 2020.
I am now working on Precognitions, the third novel in this same trilogy, with themes
of past lives and the possibly pre-determined role of people we meet!
-How did you feel when you learned that you were long-listed for the London
Independent Story Prize? How does it feel to have your work recognized?
It feels great, of course. However, in the writing life there are many ups and downs,
and if you are passionate about your writing and not only doing it for recognition,
you’ll keep writing no matter what.
-Can you please give us a few tips about writing a 300-word flash-fiction
story?
The best tip I can give is: know what you want to say and find an unusual way of
saying it. I am still experimenting with this form myself - and each piece of flash-
fiction I write is very different to the others. Experiment and dare to try different
forms, until you find what works for you.
-What's the best thing and the hardest thing about writing a Flash-Fiction?
When writing longer fiction, or even non fiction, the canvas is larger and you can
paint a picture with more details. In flash fiction - which is actually a new form for
me - you need to be more focused, and able to tell your story in fewer words... this
is both the best and the hardest thing about writing it!
-What's the best thing about writing competitions?
I love entering competitions because it does give me an incentive to finish work by
a specific deadline, and to experiment with different genres of writing.
Communication with other writers and reading their work is always great, and if
some form of recognition comes, too, then that’s an absolute bonus.
-Lastly, do you recommend the writers to give it a go on flash fiction story
and LISP?
I do! This is one of my debut attempts at writing flash-fiction and I am so thrilled it is
getting some recognition. This motivates me to explore this genre further and I
definitely recommend giving it a go. You never know what you’re able to create,
until you try!
