I started writing as a child - mainly poems, but I do recall the opening of a highly dramatic novel which I wrote when I was about ten, and which started with the heroine giving birth to a horribly disfigured child in a thunderstorm.

My main career was in nursing, but I also wrote - and published - many short stories while bringing up my four children. I trained as a Relate counsellor when my youngest child started school but have recently stopped counselling so that I can concentrate on my writing. I give talks to reading groups and have recently started teaching creative writing. I shall be taking a creative writing course at Devizes College starting this September. For further details, contact the college on 01380 723989

Other interests include playing the cello, riding (I am the very lucky owner of a beautiful bay horse called Frankie), and keeping up with my six grandchildren (including seven-year-old triplets) who are an endless source of pleasure and entertainment (and occasionally make me stop and think, as when recently I was told: 'Granny, you are very old, and soon you're going to die.' Hmm.).

Above - William and Freddy on their first camping holiday (it rained so much that Daddy took the tent down and prepared to go home. Then, discovering that everyone else on the campsite was sitting it out, he felt a wimp, so he spent another hour putting the tent up again. The boys had a wonderful time. I suspect that their parents did not).

My husband John and I prefer our creature comforts.We're addicted to Corsica, and have holidayed there about fifteen times (actually, I think we've lost count). For anyone who hasn't visited this beautiful island, all I can say is, do. It's peaceful, beautiful and totally unspoilt, the food is wonderful and no-one speaks English, so it makes us practise our French.

Eldest son Toby with his wife Bethan, and George, (aged about two hours) brother to William and Freddy.

Daughter Daisy, with her triplets (Harriet and Phoebe, and Max, extreme left) plus William and Freddy. The children had just successfully Googled the word "poo"...Oh, the joys of the internet.