About

2009
03.28

I have been writing now for just over ten years, a long but necessary apprenticeship.I worked until recently for 25 years in a womens’  prison, teaching and managing.

I live with my husband John and my son David in an ordinary but to me beautiful house, in a small County Durham village. My daughter Katie is close to finishing her MA at the Royal College of Art. She lives in London.

I love books, they saved my life when I was young, film too – but don’t go enough, I like my garden, art -I studied History of Art long ago at UEA- and now writing!

Apart from the obvious family and friends I especially care about women in prison, violence against women and children and men, prisoners of conscience, war victims..etc and I want to write novels which reflect some of these contemporary issues. This had led me to move into crime fiction and I recently completed my first crime novel set in Newcastle

I run workshops mostly with my friend and mentor author Wendy Robertson. I love teaching writing and hopefully inspiring others. My most recent venture is supporting Wendy in her new local radio programme due to go out for the first time  in May.

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One Response to “About”

  1. Mary Smith says:

    Avril – I’m inviting Wear Valley writers to my garden again – you’d be very welcom to join us Mary N.B. please don’t leave all these details on your blog

    Dear Writers,
    As we agreed at the meeting before last I’m inviting you all to a writing session in my garden on 28th July. We decided to start at 6.30 if possible, because that will give us more light and it will be warmer, but come later if you have to. Everyboody is welcome.
    How to find me. I live at 2 Hillside Cottages Low Etherley on the B 6282. Coming from Bishop Auckland the cottage is down a track on the left opposite number 63 Low Etherley. The track is labelled footpath to Witton Park Colliery and is on the old railway line going down to Phoenix Row. I’ll tie a scarf on the pole at the tom. Go down the track round the bend and I am the white cottage. There might not be enough be enough parking for every one so if you are late I suggest you park on the main road and walk down.

    From the A 68, at Toft Hill you turn onto the B6282 go past, on your left theDog and Gun and stay on the road on your left you pass some houses, fields,a bus stop and then you come to two houses set back from the road, the first with black and gold railings the second with a stone wall. between them there is a track, labelled with a green footpath signs go down here.

    My phone number 01388832727 in case you get lost.

    Looking forward to seeing you all Mary

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