Ann Lingard

Ann Lingard's background as a novelist is unusual: formerly an academic and research scientist (zoology/parasitology) she decided to dramatically switch careers to become a writer and broadcaster. As well as having five published novels (two with Headline Review), she has written numerous non-fiction articles and essays (eg Aesthetica, Writers' Handbook, Wellcome History, Devon Life, Biological Science Reviews) and regular features about the countryside (Oxford Times' Limited Edition magazine, Cumbria Life, Cumbria magazine.)

Ann researched and presented her own regular countryside programme Walking the Dog for BBC Radio Oxford. She has also written plays for radio, and devised the five-part series for Radio Four in 2003, Nature's Magic. Ann Lingard (as Dr Ann Lackie) is founder of SciTalk (www.scitalk.org.uk), the popular and free resource that helps fiction writers to meet and talk to scientists, and has run many events related to the project - talks, workshops, short story competitions - throughout the UK for PEN, Society of Authors, Romantic Novelists' Association, Edinburgh International Book Festival and more.