I grew up in Northern Ireland with its breathtaking rural landscapes and coastal scenery. When we’re young, we take so much for granted. The beauty of Northern Ireland, and my part of County Antrim in particular, is unsurpassed – yet to me it all seemed quite normal at the time.
In contrast, my university years were spent in Belfast during the violence of the Troubles. I discovered what it was like to live in a divided community – and one in which the military presence was overwhelming. There really was a constant danger. You took care what streets you walked through, what bars you went to, what conversations you had with strangers, you watched what vehicles were approaching. I’m sure all of this must have influenced my writing – its themes and ideas but also the physical settings and their emotional impact.
After a successful career in advertising and marketing, I now write full-time. I am a Gold winner in the prestigious Foreword Indies Book of the Year awards. Spies by Moonlight is my sixth novel.