I began work as a journalist on newspapers and magazines, and have now been freelance for more than 20 years. I contribute to all areas of the media on my specialist subjects of health, family life, education and human interest.

Print clients include newspapers (examples The Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, New Statesman); consumer magazines (examples Prima Baby, Right Start, The Net, Health Plus, Yours, Weight Watchers magazine); professional journals (examples Practising Midwife, Community Practitioner, Journal of Family Health Care, Sure Start magazine).

Web clients include UKParents, BabyCentre, Icircle, BBC, Dipex, iChild.

Contract publishing includes editor Natural Choice, for Holland & Barrett; editor Leisure Time, for Village Hotels; editor Health Today, for Natures Store wholesalers; Huggies Mother & Baby Club (print and web) for Kimberley Clark.

Reports include: ante-natal education in Bosnia-Herzegovina, for UNICEF; mental health and music for NHS Health Scotland.

Public sector includes: Baby Express/Toddler, newsletter for parents, piloted in Newcastle, supported by the Home Office; campaign and education materials for Health Education Board for Scotland; editing The Exchange, bulletin for Regeneration Exchange; Department of Health’s professional materials on infant feeding; Northumbria Health Care’s ‘Waist Week’ weight management materials.

Ghostwriting includes: book on healthy eating for TV doctor.

Editing/rewriting includes: Don't Make Me Laugh - self-help with continence problems (Northumbria Health Care Trust).

Video, scripting/directing includes: Breastfeeding - something to be proud of (for Tyne&Wear Health Action Zone). Expecting more than one - video for parents of multiples (for Tamba, Twins and Multiple Births Association); scripts for audio and advertisements for Audio Productions, Cheshire.

Many appearances TV and radio; research and presenting radio.

I am a qualified teacher of adults, and regularly run writing courses and media training workshops, with my training business, Lemonlime.

On editorial and directors' boards of Mslexia, the magazine for women who write.

I have written many books, mainly on health and childcare. You can see a full list here. They've all been done to commission, though some have been ideas that originated with me.

My first ever book was The Illustrated Dictionary of Pregnancy and Birth (Unwin Hyman 1986, 1987).

More recently, I've done: