Robyn Smythe

I was born in 1967 in Fife, Scotland and was educated firstly at Langlands Primary School before heading to Madras College Secondary School where I attended from 1979 to 1985.

In my younger days, I had visions of joining the Police but fate intervened and instead I have had two quite contrasting jobs - working behind the counter at the main post office selling everything from stamps to vehicle road taxes and being a lifeguard at the local swimming pool where I keep people safe whilst they swim, perform first aid, and the thing I love most - teaching people to swim.

I am married with two teenage girls and my hobbies include watching movies, walking and swimming. My passion for writing has always been there every since I wrote my first full length story back in secondary school for an English assignment but it was not until Covid struck and I was out with a colleague for a walk, that my passion was reignited thanks to a passing comment she made. 'The Animal Tea-Party' is my first project to be published and it sprung from the main novel I actually wrote during the first lockdown, which is currently being assessed by my publisher.

As I have stated before, swim teaching is my love, I would even go as far as saying that it is my passion. I have nine rules which my children must abide by during the lesson and even to this day, former pupils still recite them back to me. When most adults stand on the poolside and teach, they go down to the kids level of thinking, whereas, when I teach, I go up to it. Try to think like them and express my teaching points in ways they understand and I try to bring this to my writing too.

If you have chance to achieve your dreams - grab it with both hands, and as my rules six and nine state, try your best and never say you can't do something, keep trying until you get it.