Natalie Flynn

People often wonder when I first decided I wanted to write. I've always had a bit of an imagination and love to daydream but it was really cemented for me in High School, and I was 15. I was given an English assignment to do: re-write Macbeth in the modern day. I threw myself into it and really enjoyed it, although, being 15 and a little bit lazy, I didn't finish it. My English teacher politely gave me a C grade, but wrote in angry red pen, that if I had of finished it, she would have given me an A*.

That was it. I had found something I was good at and there was no stopping me. I poured all my efforts into writing at home. I started a novel (which shall remain on a floppy disk in my mum's office, but hey- I started it!), wrote poetry and kept a diary. I went out and got work experience at my local paper, did a Journalism course at LCP and spent all my summer holidays working at Sugar Magazine. In my last year at school I was the editor of my School Yearbook. This was mainly a good excuse to get out of science and maths (boring) and run around the school taking photos, but I am very proud of the yearbook, and it shall remain on my bookshelf for life.

I left school with 10 GCSE's a-c, and yes even the science and maths! But I got the travelling bug, followed by the lets go out and get drunk bug. I got a bit sidetracked from my dream and spent a few years being a bit of a good time girl, albeit with no regrets. At 20 I had my son, and him coming into my world with a big fat thump was the kick up the bum I needed to get on and persue my dream. I now had someone to do it for, someone to live for.

After a course in freelance journalism, I turned my hand back to creative writing. (Although, I will write anything, happily.) My first novel 'Dad's Secrets' is an emotional thriller and is currently going through it's final edit. My second novel, which is yet untitled, has been started. I am also writing short stories for the women's market.