Where were you born, and what was your childhood like?
I was born in Nottingham, England. I remember both my parents working all hours of the day and night to provide me and my brother with a comfortable home. This instilled in me a strong work ethic that has stayed with me throughout my life. My grandmother lived with us and when she died in our home when I was fourteen, I didn't handle my grief very well.
What were some of your aims and aspirations as a kid and how did those change as you grew up?
To be honest I didn't have any! I just wanted to earn money and party.
Can you share with us the journey that led you to become an advocate for PCIA awareness and scalp cooling techniques? What inspired you to focus on this particular medical condition?
Being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer when I was 47 years was a terrible shock. After my treatment finished, I couldn't wait for my hair to grow back. Six months later, and to my horror, I was informed that in fact it was never going to regrow! My mental health plunged into a black abyss at the thought I would look like a cancer patient forever more. After some research I discovered the pharma giants Sanofi, who make the drug, were fully aware of this problem but had taken the decision to keep it under wraps.
I co-founded the only support group in the world dedicated to this collateral damage called pCIA (Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia) and I'm the current owner of the information website which runs alongside of the support group. More recently scalp cooling has proven to have great results in helping to protect the hair follicles against permanent hair loss.
As an author, you have written about various topics, from nonfiction to travelogues and articles related to legal matters. How do you manage to switch between genres and topics while maintaining your unique voice and style?
I've really no idea! I'm just me. My voice. There have been times when I've had to write in a different style such as when I write articles for websites and when I was writing my weekly column for the Bella UK magazine. When I’m asked to write something for a website/magazine I study their style and just adapt my writing to suit. But my books are very much me, I guess.
The world's first scalp cooling summit in May 2022 must have been a significant event. Could you tell us about your experience presenting the keynote discussion and the impact it had on raising awareness for PCIA?
It was indeed significant, and I was honoured to be asked to take part in this groundbreaking event. I seem to have become the unofficial voice and face of pCIA and often get invited to take part in interviews or to be a guest blogger but to be asked to host a keynote speech about pCIA in the world's first scalp cooling summit was an incredible experience. The summit was only for the medical world. It’s success hopefully means that many oncologists around the world now have a better understanding of how permanent hair loss affects patients.
Your involvement in writing articles related to the Sanofi/Taxotere MD litigation indicates that you're well-informed about complex legal matters. How do you approach research and fact-checking to ensure accuracy when writing about such sensitive subjects?
After researching, writing two books on the topic and raising awareness for eighteen years I know the subject very well! Fact checking is mostly done through medical research studies and court documents. If I’m unsure about any legal jargon, there are lawyers I can ask. If I want to remain a credible source, I must make sure whatever I write is 100% correct.
Writing travelogues requires a different set of skills compared to writing about medical conditions or legal matters. How do you infuse your personal experiences and emotions into your travel writing while keeping it engaging for your readers?
I never go anywhere without a notebook. I jot down how something makes me feel and try to include things a tourist might find interesting and what you wouldn’t expect to be included in the usual guides.
What is ultimately more important to you, what people think about you or what you think about yourself?
What I think about myself. I try to be the best person I can be.
How do you spend “quality time” with yourself?
Being with my family, swimming and being outside amongst nature.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to use their words to make a difference in the world or raise awareness about meaningful causes?
Be prepared to knock those brick walls down and develop a very thick skin.
How do you hope your writing contributes to the greater good and influences positive change?
My first memoir Naked in the Wind – Chemo, Hair loss and Deceit played a big part in bringing about one of the largest multi-district litigations currently ongoing in the USA.
With your diverse writing portfolio, how do you prioritize your projects and decide which topics to focus on? What motivates you to take on new writing challenges?
It’s difficult for me to prioritize. I mostly use my whiteboard and put everything down in order of due dates.
Being a writer often involves dealing with deadlines and overcoming creative blocks. How do you manage your writing schedule and stay motivated during challenging times?
I work better under pressure; deadlines are great for me. Luckily, I don’t suffer from writer’s block.
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
I have finished the first draft of a romantic thriller which will be part of a series. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting my own podcast up and running, that is taking preference over the novel.
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?
I have found AllAuthor to be very user-friendly, made many contacts and I love the mock-ups!
