I was born and raised in Dortmund Mengede, a town in northwest Germany, where my early years were shaped by post-war resilience and a deep appreciation for community and storytelling. In 1966, I moved to the UK, where I married and raised three children while working in education for over thirty years. It was a rich and rewarding career, but my passion for children's emotional well-being eventually led me to retrain in the field of therapy.

In 1998, together with my partner Jeff, I co-founded the Academy of Play & Child Psychotherapy (APAC). We became founding members of Play Therapy UK, and in 2002, I was honoured to be elected President of Play Therapy International (PTI). Our mission has always been to support the twenty percent of children globally who face emotional, behavioural, social, or mental health challenges. By 2013, our work culminated in the official recognition of play therapy as a profession—an achievement that validated decades of dedication and advocacy for child-centred, creative healing.

My transition into writing was a natural extension of this lifelong focus on emotional truth and human resilience. My novels are inspired by the human stories behind history—especially those overlooked or silenced. I often draw on my German heritage and the tensions between personal loyalty, national identity, and moral courage during times of conflict.

​

Books like 15 Words and The Watcher delve into the complexities of wartime relationships, secrets, and survival. Through them, I aim not only to entertain but to spark reflection on how the past shapes us, and how compassion and understanding can triumph in even the darkest of times. Writing allows me to give voice to those who may never have been heard and to continue advocating for empathy—one story at a time.

​

Once I have broken even on the publishing and printing costs of my books, I will be donating the remaining profits to Play Therapy UK and Play Therapy International. This is my way of giving back to the organisation that has been such a core part of my life’s work. Every purchase helps support children worldwide in accessing therapeutic care through play and the creative arts.

​

Find out more about Play Therapy International at http://www.playtherapy.org