About me
I’m Liz.
I’m a writer, reader, life coach for creatives, journalist, teacher, and communications specialist.
I come from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, where I spent my childhood dreaming of becoming a writer. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write.
My Writing Career
At eighteen, I moved to London, where I studied journalism at the London College of Communication, part of the University of the Arts. Since then, I’ve spent 20 years making a living from words.
I’ve written for various weird and wonderful publications, including Stylist, Writing Magazine, Mslexia, The Yorkshire Post, Athletics Weekly, Ultra Fit, Slimming, Great North Run Magazine, and many more. I specialise in health and fitness.
I have a master’s degree in creative writing, bachelor’s degrees in English literature and journalism, and diplomas in marketing, management and coaching. I’m also a qualified English teacher and have taught creative writing in schools and the community.
Becoming an Author
Like many writers, I have struggled with self-doubt and a lack of confidence. When it came to writing a book, this really held me back. It wasn’t until I reached my thirties that I decided I had to take my writing ambitions seriously.
As well as developing my writing craft, I’ve spent time improving my mindset – building confidence and overcoming doubts and fears. The global pandemic made me realise that life is short and if you want something badly enough, you have to make it happen.
My Books
I wrote my first book Cake, Anyone? Scenes from Everyday Life in Extraordinary Times in November 2020. I followed this a year later with Inside Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, a short nonfiction story. My next book is out in spring 2022.
My Life
I live in Barnsley with my husband and our various geriatric pets (two horses, two dogs and a rabbit), and an ever-growing library of books. There’s nothing I like more than curling up with a good book, a brew, and a slice of cake.
To balance the cake consumption, I run.
I’ve taken part in races from 3000m to marathons, winning Yorkshire medals for 5-mile, 10-mile and 10k distances. But I’m most proud of my fourth-place finish (with the Barnsley AC women’s team) at the British Masters Road Relay Championships. I’m also a qualified running coach and fitness instructor.
You’ve probably worked out that I’m a keen runner, but I’m also a sometime saxophone player, all-the-time horse rider and auntie to my amazing nine-year-old niece.
Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me. I look forward to chatting and learning more about you sometime soon.
Please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
Liz x