I've been writing for over twenty-five years, drawing on my international travels, working within the NZ tourism industry, and in various psychiatric hospitals within New Zealand. Kenya, East Africa, is where I began my family, adding more color to my palette. Although I write mainly from personal experience, I borrow anecdotal information from others' life stories, which is how my characters take on lives of their own. Playing with these diverse personalities often has my characters lead me to places I couldn't begin to imagine. That's when I relax and let them develop as they will. I'm passionate about my writing, usually having three books on the go at any time. New Zealand Creative Arts Awards 2012 2016 1st prize Literary Fiction award.