Sue Harris

I live in Kingswinford, West Midlands and have a Son, a Daughter and two Grandsons.

My desire to write was sudden and overwhelming. When my Mum, a hugely talented pianist, artist and poet, died a few years ago, I wrote a tribute to her in the form of a poem, the first serious poem I had ever written, to be read out at her funeral.

As my daughter lives just two minutes away, I decided to get her to check it over for me. My son-in-law greeted me at the door. “Oh, Claire’s upstairs, go on up.”

I found Claire seated at her dressing table, her head bent, reading from a piece of paper that had clearly been folded for many years. She looked up at me through teary eyes, handing me the paper. Incredibly, it was a poem Mum had written for her 18th birthday. With no need for words, I gave her the poem I had just drafted.

When she had finished reading, tears splashed down her face. She reached out her arms to me and we hugged, intense and emotional, united in our shared grief and incredulity.

Some may say it was coincidence, but I think not. From that day on, writing became an all-consuming passion. I truly believe that as Mum passed away, my own creativity was ignited. She left me something far more valuable than any possessions - her drive, her determination and above all her creativity.

I first began by writing stories purely for the entertainment of my two young grandsons. I also received commissions for poems to celebrate christenings, or to pay tribute to lost loved ones.

I couldn’t imagine life without my lap-top. Writing gives me so much pleasure, it is part of who I am, and I thank my Mum for that precious gift. She would be so proud!

I have now published two Novels, The Contest (debut novel), and it's sequel The Legacy.

I am currently writing The Truth, the final novel in the trilogy. I also enjoy writing short stories, and in 2017 won the Booksie.com Spring Flash Fiction Contest which put a crazy smile on my face for days.