About Me
Background
Raised in Cornwall, I've been surrounded by its rich culture and fascinating folklore. So it's no wonder with this upbringing that I've become a writer.
Over the years, I've been a teaching assistant and a library manager in a secondary school; a sales assistant and duty manager in retail; a front of house assistant and assistant house manager in theatre; a steward for the BBC's 'Flog It!'; a call centre operator; and a town councillor.
Yeah, I know, not quite as catchy as the list in That's Life! But, like Frank Sinatra, 'I have been up and down, over and out, and I know one thing; each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race'. I've had to overcome many challenges and trying to learn to live with mental health issues. More on this can be read further down this page.
Education
MA Creative Writing with Distinction (Plymouth University, 2020).
BA (Hons) Creative Writing (Bath Spa University, 2013).
I regularly undertake various short courses to develop my craft as a writer. This has included an Arvon residential on television screenwriting (with Philip Shelley, Tolula Dada, and Mandy Redvers-Rowe) and a National Centre for Writing masterclass on crime writing with Elly Griffiths.
Awards & Achievements
Longlist for CWA Debut Dagger Award (2024).
Screen Cornwall's New Writers Network (2024).
Shortlist for SLAM Soaps, SLAM King's Cross (2020).
Shortlist for ScriptSpace, Space Theatre (2020).
Best Non-Fiction, University of Plymouth Press (2020).
Other things...
When I was working in education, I led various extra-curricular projects that enhanced students' experiences. These included:
I led an annual week-long murder mystery activity in which students learned how to use forensic science and other investigatory methods to solve a crime, culminating in a court case at the end of the week. I developed the storylines, wrote dialogue and character notes for suspects/witnesses, and taught the techniques that the students used in their investigation. The last time I led the activity, I wasn't only the lead tutor but acted as the criminal mastermind behind it all. All the hard work in putting it all together was always worth it for the enthusiasm I saw in the students. I would love to write and produce other (smaller scale) murder mystery activities, so please get in touch if this is something you'd be interested in.
I was the lead tutor and co-editor for 'School's Report', a section of a local monthly publication that was delivered to homes in Saltash, Cornwall. Under the guidance of the magazine's editor and myself, a group of students pitched, researched, and wrote articles that featured in the magazine. They also provided photography to accompany the articles.
I created and led a weekly creative writing club, teaching a variety of different genres and forms. This also included the running of the school's engagement with national writing competitions and arranging author visits.
When I was a town councillor, I became involved with event planning. This included working on a committee to plan an annual large-scale event (the Saltash May Fair), helping with the Saltash Christmas Festival, and a short time with the Saltash Regatta. These experiences prompted me to undertake a short course on Event Planning at Truro and Penwith College, during which I worked with a team to produce a charity race night in Truro (in which I also acted as the emcee).
During my undergraduate studies, I had involvement in the production of several short films, culminating in writing and directing my own short (Remember This). This can be found here. In addition to short films, I was elected to be the head producer for the student union's television station. I recruited and led a team of students to provide videography of student events (including comedy shows) and information films for the SU.
Between 2017 and 2020, I attempted to start my own videography and film production company (Rallidae Productions). Sadly, due to a variety of issues including my mental health and the pandemic, I had to bring this to an end (or, at least, pause it indefinitely). During the time it was running, I provided videography and photography for local events (including the recruitment and management of a small team). I also started a project that would have created a writers room to write and produce a web-series.
In August 2011, I suffered a major mental health crisis and attempted to take my own life. Since then, I've been on that cliché 'journey' to discover more about why and how my brain is different to 'normal' people.
Throughout those thirteen years, there were a few different diagnoses until the psychiatrists finally came to the decision that I have Borderline Personality Disorder (which has another awful name, Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Those thirteen years also featured more instances of self-destructive actions and a couple of other mental health crises. It wasn't until 2023 that I finally found a cocktail of medication (prescribed!) that has been successful in helping me to manage the condition.
I'm determined to use this experience and my condition to inform my work as a writer. This has included, on occasion, performing autobiographical monologues during charity performances with SLAM King's Cross. I'm also determined to accurately portray mental health issues and want to show that we don't have to be the victim or villain; we can be the hero. These conditions aren't always diseases and disabilities, sometimes they can be a superpower.