"My background is in science. I have a PhD in quantum chemistry and my first two jobs involved research, in particular molecular modelling and drug design.

After having three sons I had a change of direction and started working part-time at The University of Nottingham, initially developing computer-aided learning materials to train pharmacy undergraduates, then I was the administrator for a postgraduate drug design course on the internet. Finally I became the web administrator for The Pharmacy School and also various research groups.

I took early retirement in September 2019 and threw myself into U3A activities, such as improving my French and joining a choir.

Then the Corona Virus hit the UK and we went into lockdown. With more time on my hands, I embarked on a long-held ambition to write a children's book, which turned into two!

I am very proud of my three sons and it was a conscious decision of mine to work part-time, so that I had time to bring them up properly. Reading was a very important part of that and I also thought it was extremely valuable to teach them to empathise with other people. Hence the subject matter for my book was always going to take on this theme!"