Heather Newby

I learned to read before I was four, and haven't stopped since. When I taught five to seven-year-olds and had three children of my own, I hadn't much space left for writing, but I managed short stories and poems from time to time. Later I was able to join a writers' group and found it ideal for making me work to improve technique, style, plotting etcetera. Tamlyn jumped out of a short story and demanded I do more. I've so enjoyed the experience, especially finding that plots and characters develop minds of their own and insist on doing their own thing as you go along. I can't imagine it, but if anybody should ask me for a piece of advice about writing it would be, "Don't say ‘I could write a book' - do it." It's great fun.