I have no academic qualifications. In fact my headmistress suggested I leave school a year early so that the rest of the class could concentrate on their work. I drifted in and out of 50+ jobs, usually leaving when boredom set in. Then I rediscovered writing. My dream, when a schoolgirl, had been to become a writer. Rather later I made that dream a goal. Now I write almost every day, concentrating on children’s fiction and women’s magazine stories. I have recently completed my first novel for adults.
My stories have appeared in Take a Break, Take a Break’s Fiction Feast, Take a Break’s Seasonal Specials, My Weekly, People’s Friend, Woman, Chat, Bella, Best, Woman’s Day (Australia), That’s Life! (Australia), QWF, Cadenza, Writers’ Forum, The New Writer.
Stories for children and teenagers in Catch, Mandy, Bunty, Judy, Girl, Mandy Annual, Girl Talk.
‘Dog’s Dinner’, one of my short stories, was included in a collection for children called ‘Don’t Make Me Laugh’, published by Heinemann. I was especially pleased about this as the other writers included Penelope Lively, Anne Fine, Michael Rosen and Roger McGough.
My sports novel for young teens, ‘Racing Start’ was published by Blackie.
I ghosted ‘Sapphire and Sweetboy’ for Patricia Fraser. (This one was definitely for adults.)
My work for children is handled by my agents, Pollingers Ltd.
I work, as a tutor, for Writers’ News Home Study Division specialising in their ‘Writing the Short Story’ and ‘Writing for Children’ courses.
I have tutored creative writing classes for Birmingham University School of Continuing Studies, Worcester Technical College, Writers’ Holiday at Caerleon and NAWG’s Festival of Writing.
Occasionally I enter writing competitions and came 2nd, and was twice short-listed in the Real Writers short story competition, also shortlisted for the Ian St James’ award, the Lichfield & District short story competition 2001 and CWN Brian Moore 2000. I was 2nd in the NAWG 2000 short story awards and runner-up in Focus on Fiction 2001.
I’m available for talks and workshops, my favourite subject being, ‘Writing For the Women’s Magazine Market’.
Lynnehackles@lineone.net