I'm one of those people who has always wanted to write. My teenage diary reads: 'I'd love to write a book. I'd create a world of my own and have power over all my characters.'

I was born and educated in Scotland. I became a primary teacher, married, had two daughters and was so busy just keeping things going at home and at school, that there was little time to try my hand at writing.

I divorced, became a lecturer in Craigie College of Education and began to write poetry, enjoying making words work for me.

I became head of a primary school near Bristol and it was there that I began to write for children. After all, it’s hardly fair to ask children to write a poem when you’re not prepared to put your own words and ideas on the line. And, believe me, primary children are the sternest of critics!

When I remarried, I moved to Wales, left full-time teaching and started a new career as a freelance writer. I’m lucky to be able to combine my teaching experience and an interest in artwork with my love of writing. I have several books in publication, mostly those intended for use by primary school teachers. My first and most successful is ‘Language in Colour’, published by Belair/Folens.

My lovely husband died in 2003 and I have since moved to Cornwall. I am trying to build up new relationships with local schools, providing poetry workshops and in-service training, but it’s a slow business.

Most of my recent work has been published by Scholastic magazines, in ‘Child Education’, ‘Junior Education’ and ‘Literacy Time’. Trying to come up with new poems, lesson outlines and stories is an interesting and constant challenge. I accept all kinds of writing opportunities, especially those that involve writing for children. I also enjoy creating poetry aimed at an adult audience. My latest book of poems, ‘This year, next year’, (Marvin Katz Press, 2004) was written in celebration of my husband’s life.