How did your interest in writing start?

It was something I wanted to do, even when I was young. I used to write a lot, especially songs.

I joined a high profile writers' group in the East End of Glasgow and that's when I began to take it seriously.

I had my first poem and story published in a book by Scottish author Jim Kelman.

Then what did you do?

I wrote a comedy play called 'The Flitting' about a Glasgow family living in a tenement who move to a new house out in the sticks. A drama group in Pollok performed it.

After that, my first professional play was 'Come on Get Aff' about a Glasgow train conductress, which got great reviews.

It was performed at the Arches in Glasgow and then toured all over Scotland.

What other work have you done?

I wrote a play called 'Four Walls' about a battered wife. It was a hard piece of work to write and was very harrowing.

It was picked up by the BBC and shown on BBC2, with Elaine C Smith playing the lead role.

I did a lot of research and talked to people like Women's Aid and let them see the finished piece before I took it any further.

I also worked with a theatre company called Annex in Glasgow, who I was producing with. When we were touring, I would also lead writers' workshops.

What was the company you set-up?

It was called Ailsa Productions and was launched in 1997.
One of the big documentaries we produced was 'Shadow Boxing' about Lourdes McDermott, who was the first female to step into a boxing ring in Scotland. It won best documentary at a big awards ceremony held at Glasgow Film Theatre.

What happened to Ailsa Productions?

I closed it down in 2000 when my husband Liam was very ill with skin cancer and I wanted to be at home with him. After Liam died, I stopped writing for a while.

I then went to work for Pineview Housing Association in Drumchapel as the secretary to the director. However, I'll soon be leaving my job to concentrate on writing again.

Where do you get your ideas from?

If I hear something or see something it will spark an idea. Quite often, I just get a line in my head and I start writing. I've always been creative with my thoughts. I'm just an ordinary person writing about ordinary things.

What do you enjoy about writing?

It is a tremendous thing to be involved in. It's a great feeling to sit down in front of a computer and let your mind go. I love the process of writing, from the beginning when you can't come up with anything, to seeing it progress and getting excited about it.

Have your children followed in your footsteps?

They are all creative. Liam is the director of the Culture Show for BBC Scotland, Colin is a musician and songwriter and Gillian works for STV.

What is your new play about?

It's called 'Emails from a Reluctant Lover' and is about how new technology has changed the whole face of things for women who are on their own.

I'm hoping that Libby McArthur, who plays Gina in River City, will direct it.

I'd like to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but I'll have to wait and see what happens.

What's next for you?
I want to pursue writing for children's television.
I joined a children's writing group about three years ago so I have a lot of ideas.

Getting to know you

First car: A grey Wolseley
First record: Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley
Book currently reading: Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
Favourite TV programme: Documentaries
Favourite holiday destination: Isle of Arran
Famous person most like to meet: Paul O'Grady