Marcia’s favourite writers are Michael Palin, Roald Dahl, Tom Sharpe, Antonia Fraser, William Dalrymple, Paul Strathern and Stephen Fry.
Her favourite books include The Last Mogul Emperor, Himalaya, Marie Antoinette, The Witches, Wilt, the Wilt Alternative, The Artist and The Philosopher and The Warrior
A Fan of travel, history and comedy, Marcia started writing aged 11.
An early inspiration was at school: “My English teacher Miss Sheperdson told me that she loved reading me and, that although my punctuation was poor, added that so was Charles Dickens”
Marcia has enjoyed a busy life since leaving the classroom: “I’ve done many things: bar work, project management, ran a travel agency, taught English as a Foreign Language overseas in the Far East, and to Somali Refugee women in the UK. The last nine years before I retired I worked as a PA in a Bank.”
The keen writer also has favourite places to be creative: “In my living room with the sun shining through my patio doors. But to get away from all life’s interruptions I took myself away to the Lake District where I rented an apartment at the Embleton Spa hotel overlooking the fells.
“I used to write at night. But when I am alone I can write most of the day and night and formulate ideas when I am swimming and walking in green open spaces or watching the sea. I plan things in my head before I sleep.”
Marcia added: “Getting published was a great achievement, but I found true happiness with my lovely husband Jim. It took me almost 50 years to find him after travelling, trekking and taking contracted work to fund my wanderlust.
“I was never freer than when I had just my backpack a pen and a plan. I travelled to see places that were different from home and immerse myself in other cultures. I got my Cambridge TEFLA certificate and volunteered to help people with their English I stayed in the rain forests of the Far East and journeyed through Borneo and Indonesia learned to fish for my supper.
“I lived on dry rations, bananas, the odd chicken and weeds from the river and ferns. I got incredibly bitten. My most exciting stay was with the primitive people of Irian Jaya. To say I lived on the edge is an understatement.
“I still travel but do better risk assessments. But, now feel it’s time to share my fiction first with everyone and then now when I have a bit more time my factual travel stories will get done too.”
To contact Marcia, email her directly here: