Before graduating in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh in 1995, I worked as a master joiner/carpenter. Following graduation from university, I studied for a post-graduate diploma in Community Education and worked as a literacy tutor in Community Learning and Development. I have gained education awards and published an academic paper on the use of Scots language in family literacy work. I have produced teachers' notes for the Scottish Book Trust. My first work of fiction, Justified Sinner, was completed in 2016. Since then I have published three more novels in the JP Associate series.