Born and educated on the south coast of England, Sheila Claydon has gradually moved northwards across the UK. Now living in northwest England on a stunning stretch of unspoiled coastline, she finds walking a constant source of inspiration as well as a counterweight to the sedentary life of a writer. Interspersed with her writing is a long and varied career in health, education and employment. She likes to think she is a better writer because of those experiences, and also admits to basing some of her characters on people she has worked with in the past. Her motto is a quote by the late Ray Bradbury: 'First, find out what your hero wants. Then just follow him.'¿ She starts with plots, chapter outlines, characterisation, each time she starts to write a new story. Then the hero takes over and she follows him instead...'