Maybe you'd like to know a little about how I work and what 'makes me tick'...

The seclusion of my quirky old home iin the Lakes provides the perfect space to meditate,'talk' with my characters and eventually write. The fells, sometimes joyful and sunlit, but often brooding and remote, possess an ancient life of their own and are a constant source of inspiration.

It's not difficult to connect with strange events, past lives and the existence of the unexplained. Here no hard edge exists between Past and Present, but more a mistiness, a blurring and overlapping of the lines. I can feel the presence and effect of peoples long gone, particularly that of the Romans and the medieval families who left their mark on this land. Often I feel too that they have a story to tell and cannot rest until it is told.

Similarly, there is no clear-cut definition between Reality and Fantasy. For example the idea of water and woodland spirits may seem laughable when walking in a busy town centre, but disturbingly possible in my remote, wild and atmospheric garden! A walk on the dark side is a distinct possibility when living amongst the spectacular and often spooky scenery of Lakeland.

I also use my dreams as a resource. Even as a child I experienced nightmares or vivid dreams - so vivid in fact that the 'feeling' of them, the emotional content, would linger for days at a time. These used to scare me and hang like a dark cloud over my life; now I look upon them in a different way - as a window on my subconscious life, rich in ideas and imagery that I can tap for my books.

Strange events also play a prominent part in my writing life. For example DARK STAR was inspired by the finding of a large, heavy and sinister 'skull-stone' at my back door!