Rebecca Clare Smith

Unpublished. Unimaginative. Unpleasant.

Well, at least one of those statements is true and a good way to start a bio.

I’m English and sadly I conform to quite a few of the related stereotypes. I like tea, queuing and complaining about the weather. To be more specific I’m from Yorkshire. Unfortunately this is where I let you down on the stereotype front. I don’t have whippets, I don’t like cricket and I don’t cycle down cobbled hills in shorts and a flat cap just to buy a loaf of bread. I do, however, have five cats and two West Highland Terriers (Westies) and an affinity for Kettle Crisps.

I decided I needed to stop pretending to myself about who I am.

I’m a writer.

So what if I’m not published? I’m a writer in my heart. I’ve been writing stories since before I could physically write them down (various family members thus suffered hours of writing out my monologues). It’s passion that creates the idea of a writer and determination that makes them real.

So I’m now a lollipop lady (crossing guard to Americans).

It’s a great job. I help kids cross the road safely at school times and remove my fluorescent cape to write in between. Maybe I’m not published yet, but I’ll try my hardest to achieve my dream instead of pretending to be someone I’m not. And I’ll drink a lot of tea along the way.

I hope if you’re reading this you want to support me through that.