It’s not every writer’s cup of tea I know but one of the things I really enjoy about the writing life is being invited to read from my work. I rarely find it scary, in fact I think it’s a privilege. I think my lack of fear probably goes back to all my years of addressing row on row of prison officers at full staff meetings (now that can be scary or at least it was until I got used to it), or as I did once, a whole conference of Prison Governors.

So often, in this life, I end up reading in interesting and beautiful places, very different from those behind the prison walls – here are some of those places:

The Society Cafe Soho, on the faux lawn outside Foyles on the Southbank (that was a bit scary as it it was outside and it felt like reading to the world,) in a potting shed in Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith’s Barn Garden, in the RNLI building in Cullercoats with the tide coming in, libraries in Newcastle and Norwich, Chetham’s School of Music Manchester, Wharf Chambers Co-operative club in Leeds, Teikyo University of Japan Durham…

They were all very special in their own way. But I am happy to read anywhere. Who says writing is just a solitary, stay at home gig? It’s taken me to some great places and I hope there will be many more.

My top 3 tips for readings – 1. Practice, practice, practice. 2. Don’t go on too long. 3. Enjoy

You can listen HERE on You Tube to me reading in Leeds I have to admit while I love to do it, I don’t especially love to see or hear the recording – it’s weird, do I really look and sound like that?