The Author

Shirley Thompson is a 'chameleon' writer, because although currently a biographer, she writes in a variety of genres, encompassing an eclectic range of fiction, magazine articles, song-writing, poetry and screenplays.

She was born in Shirley in 1949 and attended Malvern Hall Grammar School, Solihull. In 1973, she qualified as a primary school teacher, teaching for almost 25 years in Solihull and Birmingham schools. She also obtained a B.Ed. Honours degree, specialising in research techniques, English, and creative writing in particular.

Shirley has maintained a special interest in the performing arts, since her first solo at the age of five, and has been a member of several choirs,a folk group, and an amateur dramatics company. She plays the guitar and recorder, and enjoys performing regularly in concerts, as one of the Shirley Fellowship Singers. She has performed in and directed a variety of pantomimes, musicals and plays.

Since taking early retirement from teaching nine years ago, she has been published several times - an ambition held since the age of seven. Other interests include photography, foreign travel, computers, reading and gardening. The author gives talks to societies, at home and abroad, about writing in general, and biographies in particular.