Writing
I enjoy the process of writing, playing with words, creating pictures, touching emotions, engaging the mind and capturing the imagination.
Not a lot of this was relevant to my first three titles, all cookery books, but I am stimulated by the challenge of “functional” and non-fiction writing and so I have a foot in both camps- the world of fiction and that of non-fiction.
SCOTTISH HOME BAKING - Lindsay Publications
Was my first book - a title commissioned for a niche market. It has been reprinted many times over the years.
My other non-fiction works includes a life of Robert Burns for children to read for themselves and a Guide to Edinburgh for the young tourist.
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Is the book I really wanted to write and remains the book of which I am most proud. With this book I feel I have given something to the children of today and tomorrow.
My love of folktales and fairytales saw the publication of six Scottish Folktale titles for Glowworm Publishers and more recently contributions to the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s publication "Tales on the Tongue".
The Fidget Family is a family of fingerprints and four titles were published by Bloomsbury. I am still asked to run creative writing workshops using these crazy characters.
When I was asked to submit a story for "The Kingfisher Book of Horse and Pony Stories" I immediately knew I had a story roughly based around my nearly 30 year old Shetland Pony Little Biggar.
He appears as Ben in the “Car Park Pony” 
In the past I have written columns and the odd article for magazines but new outlets for my writing skills are always arising. I have contributed material for the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s "Storytelling Workshops" (A Support Pack for Workshop Leaders) and also written a booklet, "Storytelling -A Guide For Parents And Carers". North Lanarkshire Council.
My current project is the development of Storyboxes (complete with stories and activities) piloted in schools early 2006.
PUBLICATIONS
5-7 years
THE FIDGETS-a fingerprint family Bloomsbury Children's Books 1998 Available from Glowworm Books
MRS FIDGET'S BUSY DAY, in which she catches a cat burglar. FUMB HAS FUN, Father's frazzled day looking after baby Fumb. FIDGETS ON THE FARM, the Fidgets hard at work with some surprising results. FIDGETS AT THE FAIR, Smidget & Gidget and a small dog get lost and found.
7- 11 years
Scottish Folktales
THE WITCH OF FIFE -from the poem by James Hogg, the Etterick Shepherd. 1998 Glowworm Books
PEERIFOOL
A traditional tale involving the wee folk – Orkney 1998 Glowworm Books
THOMAS THE RHYMER
The folk hero from the traditional 13th Century Border ballad. 1998 Glowworm Books
DWARFIE STANE
A story of Orkney's Norse Earls from the Orkneyinga Saga. 1998 Glowworm Books
TAMLANE
From the medieval Border ballad. 1999 Glowworm Books
THE FISHERMAN'S SON
Retold from the old Highland story, The Seamaid. 1999 Glowworm Books
SPOOK'S GUIDE TO EDINBURGH - A CHILDS GUIDE
Illustrated by Aileen Paterson. Comes with a map- useful for school projects. 1997 Glowworm Books
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND FOR CHILDREN
An overview of Scottish History with 300 illustrations by Sally J.Collins. 1999 revised 2004 Glowworm Books
ROBERT BURNS
The Story Of Scotland's National Poet- an insight into his life, his sense of humour and how his poems came into being. Small excerpts of poetry appear in the context of Burn's life. Fully illustrated in colour. Lindsay Publications 1995
THE KINGFISHER BOOK OF HORSE AND PONY STORIES
Kingfisher. 2005 One story: The Car Park Pony.
Adult
SCOTTISH HOME BAKING. Lindsay Publications 1993
SCOTTISH HOME COOKING Lindsay Publications 1995
THE SCOTTISH COOK Birlinn. 1995
TALES ON THE TONGUE
Storytelling Voices in Scotland. The Scottish Storytelling Centre. 2004 Four stories: Cat Woman, How Bear Lost His Tail, Fox and Crab, Why The Elephant Has A Long Trunk.
STORYTELLING
“SHARING STORIES with your child - A guide for Parents and Carers”- Published for North Lanarkshire Council 2006
