About me
Enjoying some freedom in the lockdown in May 2020.
I have published five novels, a collection of short stories and novellas, and assorted other texts. My debut, coming-of-age novel The Truth about Tomorrow won WriteIntoPrint's Captivating Opening Contest in 2017. I have published two love stories, Yours Remotely and Two Hearts in a Grave, the latter of which won Firebird Book Awards in Music and Musical Fiction categories. I have also published mystery novel A World Other Than Her Own and contemporary romance Sympathetic Strings, which won a Firebird Book Award in the Romance category. I have varied tastes as a reader – some of my favourites include Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, Susan Cooper and J.R.R. Tolkien – and that variety also comes across in my writing. While my stories touch upon several genres, I consider my main genre to be musical fiction as almost all my stories have a connection with music.
People often ask for sequels to my books. I write my stories because certain characters have taken up residence inside my head, and the only way I can get them to leave is by writing their story. Nobody has, so far, decided to stay on a permanent basis. However, I am currently working on a series of books with a musical connection, so stay tuned. (Pun intended!)
This is where I like to write.
Apart from writing, I spend most of my spare time with my dogs. I've been doing agility since 1993 – with different dogs, of course, because these dear creatures have such short lives – and am lucky enough to live in the Irish countryside with a garden large enough to fit a full-size agility arena where I can train my own dogs and accommodate our local club's agility classes.
Our youngest family member, Hector.
With my dogs Toby, Dexter and Benny.
Doing agility with Toby. Photo credit: Paul McNama
I love music, particularly rock music, as you will discover if you read my stories. Music is my main inspiration, and I would not be able to write a single word without it. I travel all over the UK and Ireland to see bands most people have never heard of. My favourites include – in no particular order – Muse, Young Guns, Fearless Vampire Killers and Sick Joy.
I love tea, big old houses – although I can only afford a SMALL old house that's always threatening to fall apart but is a real labour of love - and tattooed men. I was born and bred in Finland but moved to Ireland in 2002, where I am happily unmarried to my partner of many years. (Yes, he has tattoos.)
If you want to find out more about what makes me tick, I recommend reading my blog, hitting me up with a question or following me in social media using the links at the bottom of this page.