Shirley Dickson was born and grew up in the seaside town of South Shields. She left school at 15 and can’t remember a time when she didn’t write. She entered her first short story competition in ‘School Friend’ when she was 11. After Shirley retired from auxiliary nursing, she was able to devote her time to writing. After living in various locations, she settled under the big skies of Northumberland and has lived with her husband in the same house for over 40 years. Shirley has three daughters and four grandchildren and likes nothing better than family gatherings.
Joan has 30 years of experience as an actress, enjoying all aspects of work including audiobooks, commercials, radio drama, TV, theatre and film. Recent theatre work includes a world tour of Mamma Mia! playing the man-eating Tanya; Lady Fancyfull, the ditzy schemer in The Provok'd Wife at Greenwich Theatre; and Ingrid in The Tide at the Soho Theatre. Favourite roles for BBC Radio Drama include Dorothy Parker in Regret is No Part of My Plan for Radio 4, Madame Beck in Villette for Radio 4 and the Voice of God in The Piper Alpha Disaster for Radio 3.