I write horror and historical fiction. One of my novels has no words in it that are newer than 1400. Anything that didn’t already exist in 1400 was edited out. Yes, I really did that.
I am descended from Vikings. No, seriously, I had my DNA tested. Before you think I’m a weirdo, it was done by the National Geographic Genographic Project.
I play oboe. I also play guitar and medieval recorder and a few other things. I was born with that same ear thing Mozart had, so I can pick up any instrument and pretty much just play. I had no idea this was unusual until I was in my teens, I thought everyone could do it. The only thing I have never been able to play is the harmonica. This drives me a little nuts.
I was on the varsity fencing team while at university and we won the bronze medal that year. I continued fencing when I moved to England, it’s how I met my hubby (fencing behind the insect gallery at the Natural History Museum).
While doing my Masters degree, I studied Old Norse. Strangely, this was before I found out about my Viking heritage.
I sometimes tweet in Middle (Chaucerian) English. Because Shakespearian English is just too damned easy!
I have a really bad stationery habit. When I get stressed, I buy notebooks. Many many notebooks. And I write with a fountain pen, all the time.
I work in finance. I’m a business analyst working in Capital Markets. If you understand that and want to get in touch, I’m on LinkedIn.
I include people I know in my stories. Friends, family, colleagues. There’s a woman I work with, has a fantastic name, I put her in my short story about Jack the Ripper. No, she didn’t die.
I like bees. I’ve seeded my entire lawn with white clover and even have a tattoo of a bee on my person.
