My career has taken me on an unexpected journey, from dockyard worker and student to songwriter, musician and learning disability nurse. Yet throughout these different lives, writing has remained deep in my bones.
Greece has always felt like a second home. Whether on the mainland or among the islands, I find endless inspiration in its people, landscapes, culture and history. My connection to Edinburgh runs just as deep. Its streets, architecture and atmosphere, together with my family ties, ensure that it remains a city that runs through my veins. These two places, so different yet equally close to my heart, provide the settings and spirit for much of my fiction.
At the heart of my novels are ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, discovering the courage they need when it matters most. I write character-driven stories about love, loss, belonging and the enduring influence of the past, often exploring the lives of women carrying secrets or searching for answers that will change their understanding of themselves and those they love.
Set primarily in Edinburgh and the Greek islands, my novels weave together two timelines, connecting the present with events that have shaped lives across generations. A faded photograph, a hidden letter, an old diary or a family home can hold the key to a long-buried truth. As my characters uncover the secrets of those who came before them, they are often forced to confront their own fears, loyalties and unanswered questions. The past is never simply history; its echoes continue to shape the present, sometimes in ways that take decades to understand.
Meticulous historical research is central to my writing, providing more than an authentic backdrop. I am fascinated by history as a living force, particularly the impact of wartime Greece, the Greek Civil War and the upheavals that have shaped the lives of ordinary people. Beneath Greece's sunlit landscapes and the warmth of its traditions lies a more turbulent story of occupation, displacement, loss and survival. It is this contrast between beauty and hardship, refuge and conflict, that gives the setting such emotional depth.
My novels explore the secrets held by places, the lives of those who came before us, and the connections that bind families across generations. They ask whether we can ever truly know another person, how inherited histories shape our identities, and whether understanding the past can help us find a way forward. Above all, they are stories of resilience and hope, of people finding the strength to rebuild after loss and discovering that even the most painful truths can open the door to understanding and forgiveness.
The connection I share with my readers is both humbling and deeply rewarding. Knowing that a story has moved someone, stirred a memory or touched them on a personal level is one of the greatest privileges of being a writer. It reminds me that stories matter: they can bring us closer to other lives, help us see our own experiences differently, and remain with us long after the final page. I am grateful to every reader who has welcomed my novels into their lives and, in doing so, reaffirmed my belief in the enduring power of words.
