Today I have an author who writes crime novels that will make you have to keep turning the page to see what happens next. Introducing Val Penny.

I took early retirement when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. While I was being treated I had little energy to take part in my usual interests, swimming, yoga and travel. However, I did have energy to read and began my book review blog Val Penny’s Book Reviews . I then took the further step of beginning to write my first novel, ‘Hunter’s Chase’. It took me a long time to write, largely because I was so ill, but I had a great sense of achievement when I completed the work and had it published by Crooked Cat Books.

Since then, I have been keen to repay some of the kindness and support my husband and I received from Macmillan Cancer during my recovery. I have arranged annual charity dinner dances in our village with two of my friends and we have raised money for the charity. The photo I have included is of one of these events. on that occasion our guest of honour who handed out the raffle prizes was Miss Teen Scotland.