3 cups
Imagination
4 cups
Love
2 tsp.
Clumsiness
1 cup
Stubborness
2 tsp.
Ambition
2½ cups
Energy
2 tbsp.
Humour
I have always, always loved words. Words I understood, and words I didn’t. When I was in my mid-teens, my Spanish amigo posted me a book of Pablo Neruda’s poetry and I’d sit in my room speaking these foreign words aloud to myself, loving their taste and sound as they rolled around my mouth - and understanding absolutely nada.
When most of my friends were painting their nails and outfit-perfecting, I could be found by the village stream writing poetry with my adorable, Beatrice Potter-esque rabbit, Bugsy, for company. And yes, the musty mobile library shuddering its way into my primary school playground was absolutely my highlight of the week.
My love for words and literature led me to Cambridge University, where I studied Modern and Medieval Languages. Golden Age Spanish and Medieval French are arguably of questionable use, but I thrived on my university diet of literature, huge bowls of steaming porridge and an insane amount of oranges.
So followed a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism in London, and then off I ventured into newsrooms – slightly nervous, but oh so excited. I began broadcasting stories regionally, then nationally and globally for ITV News.
I have represented the media industry in debates at the Houses of Parliament, have chaired many events and can be found on panels across the country, discussing writing, women’s leadership, and how to nurture creativity. I have also, rather joyfully, revealed lottery numbers live on air alongside a very merry Santa Claus. (Note to self: Do not lose the winning numbers in Santa’s sack of crushed up newspaper with about a minute to air.)
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Whether on or off journalism duty, there's a high chance you'll find me writing. I once interviewed Paddy Ashdown, who, when I asked him where he found the time to put pen to paper while leading such a hectic life, answered “I write in the corners of my life”.
In the corners, jagged edges and swirling lines that form the ever-changing shape of my freelance life, I scribble, doodle and type. Much of my writing is influenced by the wonderful people I’ve met. And I’m not just talking about the politicians and A-list celebrities, the Insta influencers and the reality stars. I’m talking about ordinary, everyday people – people who, after hearing their stories, you soon realise are not ordinary at all.
Travel writing is an area I specialise in. I visit places that make my soul sing, my fingers feel like they’re about to freeze and my adrenaline-levels surge. The more I travel, the more stories I report on and the more people I interview, the more my mind fizzes with thoughts and ideas. The fuller my corners become.
A few years ago, I spent months and months (and months) writing a book based on years of life, thousands of hours of research, and week upon week of note-taking and frantic from-the-heart writing. I poured so much energy and determination and love into multiple drafts of that book.
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And guess what?
My dad accidentally binned it.
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And guess what?
He bought me a rose bush to compensate.
In many ways, this website is nourished by the sight of my rosebush, standing outside my window in innocent red-lipped bloom.
At least my father can’t bin this.
If you’d like to get in touch with a query, or to discuss the joys of porridge and the perils of excessive binning habits, please get in contact. I'd love to hear from you.
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