Regular readers will know that Lothian Life is Suse Coon’s baby – and I am privileged she’s allowing me to look after it! But what has Suse been up to since she relinquished her editorship and settled in the West…
What’s your connection to the Lothians?
I came to Heriot Watt University/Edinburgh College of Art where I met my future husband. Heriot Watt had at one time considered moving to campus in Livingston and had an arrangement with the New Town to offer accommodation to students. When we married in 1972 we got a flat in Craigshill. We then moved to Dedridge (one of the miners’ rows which the Corporation had taken over) and then Bathgate, where we lived for 28 years.
Have you a favourite place to visit locally?
Beecraigs Country Park
Are you a ‘gloomy-fog-over-the-castle’ or a ‘summer-on-Princes Street-gardens’ type?
Easy – the latter!
How would you introduce us to your career/life/passion?
Although I won the Kathleen Fidler Award for a children’s novel, I spent most of my life with words as a journalist/editor/publisher. I was particularly involved with CompassSport, the national Orienteering Magazine and Lothian Life, which I launched in 1995 as West Lothian Life. Having now passed these on to someone younger, I’m trying to get back to novel writing.
My other passion is taiji. I’ve studied for over 20 years and recently qualified as a qigong teacher. I now operate as West Coast Wuji www.westcoastwuji.co.uk providing occasional workshops.
What does a typical day look like for you now?
Most days begin with meditation and qigong and end with taiji. In between it can be gardening in summer (we have a one and a half acre garden which is being reclaimed from bog and rhododendron) or writing the novel or preparing qigong workshops.
What’s your greatest achievement so far – personally or professionally?
My children.
And when you’re not working?
I knit for the grandchildren, do cross stitch and help to organise the Tarbert Book Festival. Our holidays are usually spent orienteering and kayaking.
The Tarbert Book Fesitval is running this year from 28-30th October. For more information and to book, go to: http://www.tarbertbookfestival.org/ Â