M J BuckmanBorn in the 1960s, MJ grew up in a mediocre town and lived a mediocre life, desperate to be liked and yet often feeling an outsider. Moving to London to study speech therapy in the 1980s, she became immersed in gay culture which was thriving at the tme, and learnt about difference and tolerance, but also about pain and injustice.MJ stayed in London to pursue a career as a therapist, and then as a manager for disabled children's services. From there, she moved into community development and project management. She wrote professionally throughout her working life, and had a few articles published. At the same time, she brought up two sons with her first husband.MJ spent much of her adult life creating and hiding behind a mask, presenting to the world a confident person, while inside she was often struggling. In her fifties, she finally came clean about who she is, warts and all, accepting that she has mental health issues. Her books delve into the lives of people who are or have historically been exploited, and explore themes she feels are important and relevant to this day: accepting ourselves, accepting each other, and celebrating difference. Now retired, she lives on the beautiful south coast of England with her very patient husband, and enjoys a quiet life with their cool as anything cat and their anxious as anything little dog. Read More Read Less