Lorna Windham

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My Background

Hi! I was born in South Shields, County Durham (now Tyne and Wear). I spent my childhood and teenage years in Jarrow, County Durham.

I married and became an English and Drama teacher. After I had my children I returned to teaching as a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) and finally as Head of English. I have taught in comprehensive schools in Essex, Hertfordshire, Northumberland, Sunderland and Tyne and Wear.

What Inspires Me

I was very fortunate in having parents who shared their love of literature with me. My Dad used to read and recite poetry to us (I have a brother and sister) when we were very young children. He bought me a copy of Tennyson’s poetry when I was at infant school. My Mam used to read us classics like ‘Black Beauty’ on rainy afternoons.

I read everything and anything I can get my hands on. I always ignored the idea that certain books were for boys. In fact this spurred me on to read classic adventure stories like: ‘Treasure Island’; ‘Kidnapped’; ‘Biggles’ and ‘King Solomon’s Mines’.

My Aspirations

I would like my books to be read and loved by generations of children all over the world.

Lorna

News and Events

July 2008	Performed several short stories at the ‘Cumberland Arms’ in Byker.
July 2008	Byker Books accepted my short story ‘Something I said…’ and will place it on their website. They’ve also said that they will accept any short stories I care to write!
July 2008	Byker Books accepted my very short story ‘The First Bite’ and placed it on their website.
June 2008	Read chapter 2 of ‘Tobys Secret’ on local radio NE1fm's programme ''Words' on NE1fm wavelength 102.5fm.
June 2008	Performed an extract from ‘Toby’s Secret’ at the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle.
June 2008	Performed several short stories for adults at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley.
April 2008	I’ve been invited to participate in an authors’ discussion at The Jesmond Community Festival chaired by the Director of New Writing North.
March 2008	My latest novel, a modern fairytale, ‘Once Upon a Christmas Night…’ completed. The first chapter is on the website.
February 2008	'Toby’s Secret’ became an ebook on the website of Churchill Community College, Wallsend.
February 2008	An extract from my latest novel ‘Once Upon a Christmas Night...’ is being published in ‘Northern Lines' and will be read out at the Literary and Philosophical Society.
February 2008	‘Toby’s Secret’ was placed on the long list of twenty-two in The Times / Chicken House Children’s Fiction competition. The comments made were that ‘the story grips the attention of the reader through fast-paced, compelling, contemporary language, and the deep description of its characters’. The story is also ‘a page turner, appealing to both girls and boys, but with a tendency to grip boys especially’. The URL of the press release is: http://www.free-press-release-center.info/pr00000000000000011071.html
November 2007	Seven Stories Writers and Artists Group are launching an exhibition of their work at Seven Stories. An extract from 'Toby’s Secret' will be there. The exhibition will be open to the public from November 7th.
November 2007	An extract from ‘S.O.S.' was published in an anthology called ‘Northern Lines’.
October 2007	Joined the writers group at ‘Borders’ Silverlink.
October 2007	Took part in session which was part of the Durham Literary Festival at the Gala Theatre in Durham.
September 2007	Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne.
August 2007	My website 'go live'.
August 2007	Reading one of my stories to children at The Sanctuary in Northumberland.
July 2007	Joined Seven Stories Writers and Artists Group (SSWAG).
July 2007	My website commissioned.
June 2007	‘Toby’s Secret’ is sent to publishers.

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