Wallace Briggs (1943 – present). Happily married to Pat who I first met at the age of eleven walking a common route home from different schools. Married aged 21 we celebrated our Diamond Anniversary in September 202424

Early years were experienced in and around Durham never living more than 5ml distance from the Cathedral City. Pat and I spent many happy years in the North East of England before employment almost took us off to emigrate to South Africa. But plans were changed in the final weeks and the company moved the family to East Sussex.

After more than twenty years in Sussex, and Hampshire, employment was again responsible for the move to beautiful rural Lancashire, where we still reside. I am now retired from a long career in sales and marketing of technical products in the UK and international markets.

Tell us about your writing process.
I pick up a pen (or open a file on the laptop) and go where my mind takes me. Sometimes it goes nowhere and other times my fingers cannot keep pace with the flow of the story. I rarely know what direction the plot will take.

What advice would you give other writers?
I don't feel qualified to advise other writers – other than to develop a thick skin and never stop trying. There are mountains to scale before you can reach the promised land. You may never reach it but there's some fantastic scenery to take in on the way.