I started writing in school. It was mandatory. I started with the alphabet, progressed to complete words, full sentences, short paragraphs, long paragraphs and then took to writing long answers, essays and reports. I was also a compulsive reader, starting with picture books, comic books, chapter books, YA books, novels, classics, detective stories, romance books, banned books and so on, which, of course, helped a lot.

It all came easy, I enjoyed it, but I didn't really think of writing in a personal way until I read 'The Diary of Anne Frank'. Another book that was a major influence was 'The Summing Up' by Somerset Maugham.

Later I took up writing as a career and it's been very interesting, a good training in clear thinking and a great way of continually learning something new.

I read out aloud everything I write. If it sounds right, it's soundly written.

I also have music on when I write. It is very important to have exactly the right music and, fortunately, I have a very large and growing collection.

You can see some of my work in my writing portfolio.