Hello!

I am a 40 plus year old Mother of 2, 1 girl, 1 boy, both now adults in their own right, wife to a 50 plus year old Paper-maker and finally, owner of a Mail Order Craft Suppliers.

I live in the beautiful English Lake District and will never tire of walking the mist shrouded lake shores and snow capped mountains. As you can probably tell, Winter is most definitely my season of choice. I love walking in to my cosy house, leaving the cold outside, sinking into a comfy chair with a big mug of spiced tea or chocolate and warming my frozen toes in front of the open fire. Summer I don't love so much, there are just far too many tourists for my liking!

So what else do I do besides mothering and work? Read, I read with a voracious appetite, I wish the rest of my family shared my passion for books. I have read Lord of the Rings every year since I was a child, I intend to continue that tradition. It may no longer be my favourite book but it had a profound effect on me as I was growing up, I wrote stories and poems, composed songs and pieces of music and it's magic will always hold a special place in my heart. I am still an avid collector of Tolkienalia. Other favourite authors are; Robert Holdstock, Philippa Gregory, Raymond E. Feist, J.K. Rowling, Joanne Harris, Phillip Pullman, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Barbara Erskine, Bernard Cornwell, Alison Weir, Garth Nix...I could go on forever!!

I am passionate about our English Folklore, Myths, Legends, Traditions and Customs and try to keep as many customs alive as I can. I collect folklore and local folk history books. I am interested in Wiccan practices but that has stemmed from my love of our Island history and pre christian roots, when the dance of creation was honoured and we joined our energies with the earth to preserve harmony and balance. In these troubled times, the older beliefs seem even more relevant somehow.

I am new to the world of fan-fiction and feel I am floundering somewhat amongst all you highly talented and knowledgeable individuals. I am completely smitten with Harry Potter Fan-Fiction; particularly Lucius/Hermione and Snape/Hermione stories. I love both reformed and big bad death eater Snape and Lucius and am eaten with jealousy over my daughter who has been kissed by Alan Rickman...TWICE, she was only 12 at the time but still...!!

My first Fan-Fiction creation, 'A Broken Man' is coming on slowly. It is the first anything I have written, other than my own advertising blurbs, since I was a teenager. I am pretty rusty with the craft of creative writing and I'm sure I will be making heaps of mistakes, correct me please. I aim to improve. There are a few more stories on my laptop at various stages of completion, and a few one shots uploaded here now too. It seems, once turned on, the writing tap doesn't want to stop. I also have to manage my time a little better, so there is enough spare for me to eat and sleep at some point. I must learn to finish a piece of writing too!

I have noticed that a lot of HP Fan-Fictions contain some very un-English elements, particluarly in language please do not use the word 'gotten' it does not exist in the English Language, nor have I ever heard anyone use the word 'ass', 'arse', yes but not 'ass'. Likewise 'mom' is not used in the UK but 'Mum' or 'Mother'. It irritates me, although I admire the many authors who write stories based in a culture other than their own. I would never attempt to write a story based in an American School as I don't know enough/anything about them, I certainly would not wish to belittle anyone, however, we do not graduate from Secondary School nor do we appoint Valedictorians or Salutatorians but Head Boy and Girl only, even Deputy Head Boy and Girl sometimes.

Food is another glaring difference, I have never eaten panckes for breakfast, they are traditionally only eaten on Shrove Tuesday before Lent begins, nor have I ever seen Sausage strips, Lorne/Square sausage is eaten in Scotland and Northern England but you would be hard pushed to find it nationwide except in one or two specialist stores. Typical breakfast fare would be Cereal, toast and preserves or a traditional full english.

Please someone put me out of my misery and explain to me what on earth Hamburger Helper is, I've seen it mentioned in a few fics and have not a clue!! Gravy and biscuits, what is that about...?

Anyway if you made it all the way through my ramblings, Congratulations!!

Random thoughts and bits of fiction that don't make it onto here can be found in my