Hay-fever ...

that conflicting sensation of fear and excitement!

I never planned to write books - actually the first job I wanted was to be a vet. I had read all of the James Herriot books, watched the stories on tv - and decided that was for me. Then I discovered that my capacity to do well at exams ran rather counter to that career path …for a while I was going to follow in the footsteps of Jacques Cousteau … and then, well it seemed VERY reasonable to work with Jane Goodall in Tanzania.

In the end I found my niche - hedgehogs!

There is a lot to be said for studying hedgehogs in the UK. Yes, there is the rain - but it does not always rain. And the night work … but you get used to that. The advantages come in the form of an absence of a ‘fight or flight’ response. Most study animals will remain distant, or, if you get too close, run or bite. The hedgehog, when it feels threatened simply stops, frowns and then rolls into a ball.

I have only been bitten once and that was my fault for being stupid and putting that tempting morsel of flesh, between my thumb and forefinger, in front of its nose.

In 1993 my mentor, Dr Pat Morris, introduced me to the then editor of the BBC Wildlife Magazine - Roz Kidman Cox - in fact he dragged her from her Bristol office and brought her to spend a night wandering around Devon following radio-tagged hedgehogs!

Roz asked me to write a feature (for my favourite magazine!) … and that was the start … though I still had no books in mind.

Landing in Oxford, however, does thrust you into a bookish world - and I was finding an increasing number of my new friends were writing books. But it took 10 years until I was lured … and now my 8th book is out (9th with publishers, 10th … nearly with publishers).

This is no way to make a living (I supplement my books with hedgehog campaigning, photography and public speaking - oh - and through the generosity of those able to afford a little on Substack!) - but I love it, even when it is so painful!

Now - to the excitement/fear nexus …

I am heading to the Hay Literary Festival - this will be my 4th visit and it is always a thrill to be invited. But it is also scary! And this year, far more than most.

On 28th May I am sharing a stage with the enormous character that is Derek Gow! I am very fond of Derek - and have spent many wonderful nights on his land surrounded by beavers, lynx, wild boar, buffalo, wild cats, water voles (ok - some of those were safely behind fences!) While Derek is mostly known for his work breeding and re-introducing species, he is also a fabulously talented writer - and I am about half way through the book he will be talked on - ‘Hunt for the Shadow Wolf.’

That is not the really scary bit though. That comes on 1st June when I am invited back to the Hay Festival to share a stage with two of the most amazing writers - Robin Wall Kimmerer and Olivia Laing - as we are interviewed by Adam Rutherford for a recording of BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week.

And I have to re-read my book! Have finished one book and nearly finished another since I last read it … so need to remind myself of the detail of Cull of the Wild! If any of you would like to share your thoughts on my book - or any of the others mentioned, please do … really good to get new perspectives!