Currently I have several irons in the fire. I have completed a second novel a contemporary story titled 'The Patu'. I have also completed 'The Black Box' the first book in a series of three children's sci-fi novels aimed at readers aged between 8 and 12 and am well into 'The Green Light' the second one. I am working on a children's picture book app for 3 to 7 age group. This is a fun challenge. A new way to enhance the reading experience which looks exciting and should keep me on my toes as I venture into unknown territory.

Reading, dreaming, thinking and eating!

I have a routine which I mostly keep to. I write for 2 hours and take a break then review what I've done and continue writing or reworking for another couple of hours before taking another break. I then continue for another couple of hours or until I feel I've reached a suitable stopping point. I often spend the evening reading or watch a DVD or catch up with the rest of the household. When the first draft is finished I spend a lot of time reviewing, revising and rewriting. This is the hardest part knowing when to stop and put the creation away in a drawer for a few weeks. I then take a break from writing to refresh my mind. When I'm ready I read the book aloud to myself noting where the prose becomes sticky and check if all the details fit together as I intended. This is a slow process because I need to stop often and take a break because it is easy to lose concentration.

Top of my list must be Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. I have read this book many times since I first got it in 1969. It has everything you want in a good book and the language is outstanding.
#2 Snow Falling on Cedar by David Guterson
#3 Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by PeterHoeg
#4 Life of Pi by Yann Martel
#5 Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
All these books have wonderful prose writing, a gripping and absorbing plot and characters who draw you in. They also take you into a different world which becomes almost more real than the one you are living everyday.

Almost anything. Once I find a new author that I like I will read as many of his/her books as I can. If I don't like a book it will take something special before I'll read another one by that author. Life is too short to read badly written books.

I have always written in my spare time but began to seriously pursue a career in writing in 2008.

The process of creation and being able to forget where I am and any distractions around me. Time seems to fly by without my noticing.