Hi there. You are unlikely to be interested in this personal stuff, but it has to be done. It's the law. I'll keep it short.

I was born and brought up in Stamford, Lincolnshire, but now live near Oxford. I have a lovely wife, two lovely grown-up children and spouses, two lovely grandchildren, and four lovely step-grandchildren (such is the way of modern life).

I have been a journalist most of my adult life – from junior reporter to editor – until I got really brassed off with working for somebody else and became a freelance editor/writer.

A funny thing happened when I reached 30-ish. I got interested in gardening. Well – growing food to eat. And rediscovering the tastes supermarkets have forgotten. The bug got me and before I knew it I was into flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses. I so impressed myself designing my blank-canvas garden that I took a course, and launched myself as a garden designer (still do a fair bit).

But the writing bug was still itching; it always will. So here we are...

– FRANK RAWLINS