How long did you work for East Dunbartonshire libraries?
I worked in Kirkintilloch from 1989 - 95. The job was good fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

How did you get into librarianship?
I enjoyed reading a lot when I was young. I left school and worked in a bookshop and then got a job working in a library. I worked in libraries for 33 years.

How did your career as an author start?
When I qualified as a librarian, I was working in a library in Dumbarton and I wrote a couple of articles on history that appeared in the local paper.
I had a degree in history through the Open University and my boss suggested I write an article on Scottish engineer Henry Bell for the anniversary of his death.
Once I started looking into his life, the article turned into a book.
Henry Bell was famous for introducing the first commercial steam ship service in Europe and he built a famous paddle-steamer called the Comet.
It was around that time that I also started working on the Para Handy series of books.

What did your work with that involve?
All the Para Handy books, by author Neil Munro, were set in a particular period and place.
There were references to politics, people and news of the time and I thought it would be a good idea to do a book focusing on the period titled 'The World Of Para Handy' with my friend Ronnie Armstrong. My writing work spiralled from there.

How many books have you written?
Ronnie and I have written 14 books and anthologies together and I have co-written nine books with other people.
I have written books on a variety of historical subjects and people.

What has been your favourite topic?
I have enjoyed them all. However, biographies are fun and interesting to research, as you are finding out things about someone.
The topic you are currently working on is always the most interesting.

You recently appealed in the Herald for people to contact
you with their memories of the Home Guard for a book you are working on – how is research going?
It is going well. Through the article four people got in touch with stories, photographs and documents.
It is very interesting stuff. I hope to be finished it by April.

Do you have any other interests?
I enjoy travel and photography, I am an elder at St Columba's Parish Church, secretary and member of the Society of Authors in Scotland and I am the secretary of the Neil Munro Society.

How did you get involved with the Neil Munro Society?
His books had gone out of print and I suggested to a publisher they should reprint them and then set up the society to promote his life and works.
There are about 180 members from around the world and we organise conferences and trips. It's good fun.

What is one of the most interesting facts you have found out whilst researching a book?
During WWII, the Bank of England moved 80 tonnes of gold bullion from London to the basement of a bank where Borders bookshop now stands in Buchanan Street, Glasgow, for safe-keeping in case there was an invasion.They needed 23 lorries to transport it all!

Getting to know you

First car: Black Morris Minor
First record: Bach's Brandenburg concertos
Favourite TV programme: Anything historical or archaeological
Dream holiday destination: Venice
Book currently reading: God's Architect, a book about Pugin – a Victorian architect
Person most like to meet: Any historical figures I have written a book about, such as Henry Bell. I would like to find out if everything I have written about them is correct!