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Claire's passion for writing started during a dreary English class when she was 11. Her teacher bestowed upon her some advice, along with a high speed chalk missile. 'Why don't you write about the make believe world you live in, and then we call all share in your daydreaming?' Claire has followed those words ever since, and now enjoys writing about anything that pops into her head, whether that's murderous gargoyles that come to life, ocean mist settling over a calm sea, or the smell of bacon frying.

Claire is a contributor for Award winning magazine Re:play, being a sports enthusiast. Her passion, however, is fiction writing, and she aspires to authors such as James Herbert, J R R Tolkien, Stephen King and Rose Tremain. Claire's aim as a writer is to achieve what they do; make you think, make your spine tingle, and take you to another dimension.

To read Claire's story Well Being, click here.
To read Claire's story First Snow Steps of the Day, click here.
To read Claire's story The Toddler Group, click here.

To read Jean's story Directions, click here.
To read Jean's story Lost, click here.
To read Jean's story The Fiftieth Edict, click here.

CAROL VARDY

Over the years, for my own pleasure, I’ve written stories, usually about my family. My husband has had his ear bent on numerous occasions. Wednesday night is a ‘must go to the class.’ I consider the group and Paul, our tutor, as friends. Paul is very understanding and guides us in the right direction. I enjoy writing stories with an unexpected ending. Having grandchildren has encouraged me to attempt writing children’s stories. My nine-year-old grand daughter, Clare, also enjoys putting pen to paper and we regularly hold conversations via the phone. She encourages me as I encourage her.

To read Carol's story Wrong Song , click here.
To read Carol's story Route 66, click here.
To read Carol's story Forever Young, click here.
To read Carol's poem I Wonder, click here.
To read Carol's poem The Shed, click here.

LEONIE MARTIN

Photo © Candis Magazine

Leonie Martin is a published author and non-fiction writer. Her first book, Multiple Sclerosis – the Essential Guide, is due out in April 2010 to coincide with National MS Awareness Week in the UK. In addition to media advocacy roles for the MS Society and MS Trust, Leonie is Newsletter Editor for her local MS branch in Derbyshire. She is also co-author of an academic paper published in the Journal of Psychology and Health. Her articles, short stories and poetry have been published in local and national media. She is a regular contributor to Reflections magazine here in Chesterfield and also a frequent guest on BBC Radio Sheffield where she has spoken about overcoming her difficult childhood, living with MS, and other issues that inform her writing. She is currently working on a publication of significant local interest in North East Derbyshire: 150 Years of St Mary’s Catholic High School, Chesterfield is a commemorative book to mark this historic celebration and is due for publication in 2014. Leonie was employed at St Mary’s for ten years as school bursar before adapting her life to work around the limits of her MS.

Leonie grew up in Sheffield and currently lives in Derbyshire with her husband, their two teenage children…and two teenage cats.

Leonie can be contacted through her website: www.leoniemartin.co.uk

To read Leonie's story Born Winners, click here.
To read Leonie's story Accidental Addict, click here.

GAIL BOLLANDS

I know, an unfortunate name. You can guess what variations I’ve been called - it’s my husband’s fault for asking me out in a cookery lesson in 1977. Thirty years on, I’m still stuck with him. We have two teenage sons, who I still cannot understand despite their braces being removed.

After leaving secondary school I completed a secretarial course at Chesterfield Technical College and went on to work as a clerk/cashier in a local building society. I currently work part time as a clinical typist at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

It’s only during the last few years that I discovered my love of story writing. I tend to swing from one extreme to the other with my genres; either comedy or tragedy. My inspiration generally comes from the things I see and hear in everyday life. When I joined Paul’s classes two or three years ago, I hadn’t a clue how to put the stories in my head onto paper technically, or in the format expected of a writer. Since joining, I have learned so much and met some really lovely fascinating people. Each week my peers continue to astonish and mesmerise me by what their imaginations can produce.

To read Gail's story Absolution, click here.
To read Gail's story Out of Date, click here.

ROSIE GILLIGAN

It’s come as something of a surprise to find myself in a writers’ group, although I’ve always wanted to write. I taught business studies for 25 years and left to study fine art. During the completion of my MA in Printmaking, I discovered that what I had enjoyed most of all was writing the final dissertation. Greatly encouraged by how this had been received by the examiners, I resolved to start writing seriously.

I enjoy reading psychological thrillers, where the writer creates a sense of unease, as best seen in the work of Patricia Highsmith. In my own work, I try to create this tension through the use of characters who are “on the edge”, within a strong plot. With the support of our group, I’m currently writing short stories and am trying to broaden my range.

I’m still making prints and artists’ books, but now they have to compete for my attention with my writing. As I have quite a busy life, this doesn’t leave me much time for other pursuits, as my story: “Wilful Neglect” reveals ….

To read Rosie's story, The Roman Baths , click here.

To visit Rosie's website, click here.

GRAHAM GODFREY

Graham has recently retired from a very busy life as an international businessman, which took him all over the world. His writing then was only for international business magazines, presentations, lectures, contracts and the occasional dabble into poetry.

The turning point in his writing was joining a creative writing class where; encouraged by a great tutor and other writers, he has honed his wordsmith skills.

He had a poem published in a national newspaper for the 2004 Olympics. Also two short stories and two poems in a published anthology of the group's work.

He now hopes to write a great deal more and explore the potential of being a published writer.

To read Graham's story Vintner, click here.
To read Graham's poem April May Awakening, click here.

PHILIP FOSTER

English always was my favourite subject as school.

I remember losing myself in books. I also recall one of the teachers giving me encouragement after she had read some of my work. Looking back, this certainly helped. I must have been about eleven or twelve at the time – although I cannot recall a thing about the stories themselves...

However, apart from my primitive attempts all those years ago, it was only after I had completed an M.A. in Religious Education in 2002 that I decided to take part in creative writing classes. I thought: I have studied long enough. I’ve written a 20,000 word dissertation; now I’m going to write for fun!

How right I was; how wrong I was.

For me, writing is fun: I think of it as creating a recipe with words. (This will not come as a surprise to my friends and acquaintances, for they know how much I like to bake!) When you start to take it seriously – and I take it incredibly seriously – it can also be painful.

I’m not here referring to the stories that are “close to home”; they are not really my forte. I am thinking about the process of learning from one’s mistakes. You submit your beloved “baby” to the scrutiny of your class and tutor, hoping to receive some positive feedback. But if your ambitions grow – as mine have done – and you really wish to improve and write professionally – then be prepared to accept a fair amount of constructive criticism.

My preferred genre is and always has been science fiction. I love the process of reading about and creating amazing possibilities and different universes.

But not too way out.

I suppose that’s why my favourite authors are Ray Bradbury, John Christopher, Edmund Cooper and John Wyndham. Their worlds are subtly different – with a twist.

Ideal, in fact, for exploring what some people refer to as “The human condition” – if that phrase doesn’t sound too pretentious.

By all means let’s have the gadgetry, but please keep it in the background! I love it when science fiction writers do this. I think it then becomes easier for people like me to point to and recommend their work; to respond to those who might argue that such-and-such a scenario could not happen with the riposte: ‘Maybe or maybe not – but perhaps you’re missing the point. What if it could? How might you, I, or anyone else react under similar circumstances?’

I may not always succeed but my aim is to get the reader to ask these very questions. If I could produce a story that was half as good as Bradbury, Christopher, Cooper or Wyndham I would be well-satisfied.

To read Phil's story Running Scared, please click here.

MARY BELFIELD

Gaynor began writing fiction after giving up full-time employment. She completed a novel in two years called ‘The Herodian Stones’ which she published herself because she didn’t think anyone else would be interested. It’s a ‘swords and sandals’ thriller set in the Roman Empire at the time of Christ, and the response has encouraged her to attempt a sequel. She had never written any short stories before joining the group. ‘The Fallen Angels’ was her contribution to the group’s latest anthology. She has had a varied career and is presently a part-time teacher of Law.