I always hoped that when I finally grew up I’d know what I wanted to be. I hoped that long before checking my chin for whiskers became more than an idle past time, I’d have given myself over, body and soul, to a single burning passion, something so all-consuming I wouldn’t notice if my jawline bristled like warthog’s.

I’ve now accepted that I’m always going to be a Liquorice Allsorts sort of candy. My interests and endeavours have many colours, shapes and flavours and I’m a sucker for them all. 

Dilettantism, one might sniff, and with good reason. My own Dashboard dictionary says a dilettante is ‘a person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge’.  Well, despite my addiction to too many Things-to-do-before-I-die, I seem to have acquired knowledge and developed commitment. And, dammit, that hair on my chinny chin chin.

I reckon I’ve earned it along with my laugh lines. I’ve lived through epoch-making times, had thrilling adventures on epic trips, had two novels published featuring a feisty hunter-gatherer girl called Koba, as well as several short stories. I’ve raised children, kept a husband and earned a living writing articles and advertising campaigns during the course of an interestingly interrupted professional writing life in various parts of the world. 

Currently, I work part-time at a university in the UK teaching Creative and Professional writing.  It’s fun, except for the admin. The remainder of my time is spent dreaming about books I have yet to write, places I have yet to visit, people I have yet to dance with. And lately, about the future of the book, a subject with intriguing possibilities, at the moment.

I like talking to readers and wannabe writers so I do readings and/or author talks at libraries or literary events and occasionally run writing workshops for arts organisations. You’ll find a list of my engagements on the events page and reviews of my novels here.  

I’m trying to Tweet and blog more regularly so feel free to post comments to tell me how I’m doing as I brave the new (to me) world of social media.

Right now, the topic I’m researching combines several of my passions: story-telling, the San 
(a collective name for groups of aboriginal people in southern Africa,) electronic publishing and the future form of the book. Read all about  ‘From Kalahari campfire to cyber tale’, here.

Now, if I could just work out how to tango in desert sand wearing my favourite 8cm stilettos, my life would be sorted. Allsorted.