About Me

Biography

Born and raised in the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland, and educated at Edinburgh University, I studied English Literature and Drama. I trained in theatre and worked as a professional actress in the UK for many years, playing a variety of roles all over the country and in London's West End.

 I moved from London to the US in 1994. By that time, I had turned to directing and writing plays, teaching drama and creative writing, and working on screenplays. I hold a drama teaching degree and have been teaching drama for about 17 years, both in schools and one-on-one with private students. At the same time, I have exercised my writing talents in a variety of ways. My work now falls into the fields of literature and drama.

 I have been passionate about reading, writing and drama since I was a child. I was fortunate to have as mentors two extraordinary teachers, who stimulated those interests. As a result, my understanding of these subjects is an integral part of me. I have a good rapport with people and enjoy finding ways to bring out the best in them, either through their writing or in the way they communicate in person.

My experience in the theatre has given me an intrinsic understanding of the "sound" of good writing, and helps me to teach students to express themselves confidently both orally and through writing. When I tell stories to an audience it continues an age-old tradition, which is actually the most basic form of theatre.

 My experience with writing includes developing screenplays, and years of reading and analysing books and scripts for the film industry, working for companies such as The William Morris Agency in Los Angeles. I have reviewed books for publications such as The San Francisco Chronicle, The Los Angeles Daily News, and Parabola. I have written short stories, poetry, and plays and I am currently working on a book. I have written website and marketing content.

Through constant reading, I have absorbed an instinctive feeling for the written word, which helps when I am coaching writers, or editing, or creating new writing. I have found that teaching is learning. Tutoring students allows me to pass on what I know and to learn while they do, so I am constantly widening my range.

In a new twist, I now also record audio books, which gives me yet another chance to use my talents and combine my principal interests.

The wide scope of my work means that I am always working on new projects and constantly expanding my horizon.