My name is Tess Kimber and I have been writing novels since I was in primary school.
   My late father was born in County Mayo, Southern Ireland and it’s from him I inherit my love of storytelling. My mother was a professional actress and went to LAMDA with the famous actress Diana Dors.
   I was born on the Isle of Wight. My main home is still on the island although I share my time at our other house in West Sussex. My eldest son is a day pupil at a special school in the region and my two younger children attend a nearby mainstream school.
   Writing fits beautifully into my busy schedule as a proud mum of three young children as I can write at any time of the day or night. Before I wrote full-time I worked as a clerk for Nat West Bank, then in the office at British Bakeries Ltd before joining Geoffrey Willetts Opticians as a receptionist.
   My husband first encouraged me to send out my work and paid for me to attend evening classes in creative writing. I could not have had a better tutor - the late Tessa Krailing. She supported and encouraged me both emotionally and practically. I will be forever grateful to her and urge you all to read her work for children.
   Tessa invited me to join the Isle of Wight New Writer’s Group (now renamed Wight Writers) and the criticism I received from the members really sharpened my work.
   Over the years I have attended writers’ conferences at Winchester University, Southampton University, Earnley Concourse and Dunford Novelists. At these conferences I have met other writers who have not only inspired me but have also become great friends.
   My work has been agented by Teresa Chris and more recently by the lovely Betty Schwartz who was a commissioning editor for Hodder Headline before becoming an agent.

tess.nilandkimber@tiscali.co.uk