About Tracy Fells

TEN THINGS ABOUT ME

1. "A writer." That's what I wanted to be aged 6 or 7, then during my pony mad phase "an international showjumper", finally returning to "writer" in my forties. 
   
2. My first full-length book was hand-written during my Zoology degree and resides, for the good of the reading public, at the back of my wardrobe. (Surprisingly, I did pass my degree.)
3. Family, plus a career in the pharmaceutical industry, working first in Regulatory Affairs then Clinical Research, took up headspace and I didn't write anything for almost twenty years.
4. When my son was born several weeks early he spent a week in the special care baby unit at Eastbourne Hospital. The nighttime experience of sitting amongst the incubator babies inspired 'Household Gods', a story that was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize, then included in my MA in Creative Writing dissertation  (Chichester University ) and is now part of my debut collection.
5. Taking a career break (I'm still on it!) meant I could focus on my son through his exam years. Suddenly my head filled with stories so I began writing fiction in 2010, and haven't stopped ... 
6. A highpoint of my writing career was travelling to Singapore for the 2017 Commenwealth Short Story Prize giving and meeting a truly inspiring bunch of people. I was the Regional Winner for Canada & Europe, with the title story in my debut collection The Naming of Moths.
7. To keep fit I run three times a week, take a dance class and walk whenever, and wherever, I can. 
8. I'm proud to be regularly invited to read for several international short story competitions, and enjoy leading workshops on writing fiction when asked.
9. I grew up in Devon, and am now currently writing a crime mystery novel set in my home city of Plymouth.
10. Like Trish, the narrator of 'Ten Good Reasons' (lead story in my debut collection), I love creating lists.