My Darling Derry

Sally Festing grew up in Cambridge where her father worked at Addenbrooke's Hospital. She began writing while teaching part-time and caring for a young family - journalism, radio plays, academic studies, biographies of Gertrude Jekyll, Barbara Hepworth and other non-fiction books. More recently, she has produced four poetry collections: Swimming Lessons, Salaams (HappenStance), Font and Doors Opening (Oversteps). In Leicester, she was chair of the Poetry Society; in Manningtree she ran a Poetry Society Stanza. Today she hosts readings for Saltmarsh Poetry in a North Norfolk cottage where she lives with her husband, Michael and a half-feral tabby, Jazz. (www.sallyfesting.info)