Francesca Burgess (aka Francesca Capaldi)

 Francesca Burgess has enjoyed writing since she was a child, influenced by a Welsh mother who was good at improvised story telling. Francesca, a history graduate, former teacher and erstwhile parish magazine editor, became a student of Elaine Everest's in 2006 when she decided she'd like to take her writing a step further. She joined Elaine and Catherine in the running of The Write Place in early 2010.

Whilst Francesca can (and does) turn her hand to most types of writing, she has a particular love for fiction. Being able to transform the characters and plots tumbling around in her head into words on a page, she believes, is one of the most thrilling acitvities to be engaged in.

She has had several stories published in The Weekly News as well as in That's Life! (Australia) and Allas (Sweden). She's been placed or shortlisted in a number of local and national competitions including Twyford Writers, Winchester Writers' Conference and those in Writers' News and Writing Magazine.  In 2009 she won The Write Place's 'Student most likely to succeed' award. She's also had pieces published in The Guardian, That's Life! and Real People. Recently, her story The Encounter, achieved a place in the charity anthology 100 Stories for Haiti.

Along with the short stories and non-ficiton, she's currently coming to the end of her second teen novel, written under her maiden name, Francesca Capaldi.

Her perfect writing day would be one undisturbed by gas company reps, cold callers, (mostly grown up) children asking for lifts/advice/the location of clothes and husbands phoning to chat! 

She believes that although writing is not an easy option, the satisfaction when something comes together is worth all the hard work.

Links

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/21/snapshot-playlist-recipes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/19/family-life

http://www.100storiesforhaiti.org/about/