Linda Watson was born and brought up in a small village in South Yorkshire, England, where she lived for fifty-four years. She pursued a career as a primary school teacher.
In 2002 she bought a small run down farm, Low Arvie, in a beautiful setting in south west Scotland with her partner Richard. Together they began a new life putting the farm to rights and eventually buying a herd of twenty-four pedigree Black Galloway cows who are 'The Ladies of Low Arvie'. This adventure provided them with many problems to overcome but was so exciting that Linda began to write the story that they were living.
They started a beef rearing enterprise which has proved to be successful in spite of the struggles they have faced and the story so far is told in Linda's two books: 'The Ladies of Low Arvie' published in 2005 and the recently published sequel 'Life with the Ladies of Low Arvie'. |
Influences/Inspirations:
She has been inspired by the kindness of the farming community in Scotland who have never failed to help when needed and also by the books of James Herriott and his stories of farming in the Yorkshire Dales. Many years ago before there was any question of Low Arvie she read and loved the books of Betty MacDonald who wrote about her life on an island in Puget Sound near Seattle, and those of Lilian Beckwith who went to live on a Scottish island.
Favorite Writers and Artists:
Her favourite writers are Jane Austen, James Herriott, Lilian Beckwith and Betty MacDonald. Also the detective stories of Ruth Rendell, Reginald Hill, R.D. Wingfield and Peter Robinson.
Current Projects:
Linda is currently attempting to write a novel that is totally different to the 'Low Arvie' books.
Interests:
Her cows and calves.
Cryptic crosswords, especially The Times
Latin
Spanish
Reading
Family:
The best daughter in the world
University Affiliations:
Linda has recently completed a BSc (Hons) degree with the Open University in Britain.
Contact Information:
www.low-arvie.co.uk
Charities/Causes:
Salvation Army
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Countryside and farming charities
Air Ambulance