Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. After studying English and Philosophy at the University of Strathclyde, she worked as a visiting officer for the DHSS, a time she looks upon as postgraduate education since it proved a rich source of character studies. She then trained as a secondary school teacher of English.  

 

Alex began writing professionally in 1993 and had immediate success with short stories, articles and commissions for BBC radio programmes. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing.  

 

She is the co-founder of the international Scottish crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, which had its inaugural year in 2012.

 

Alex’s Top Tips for Writers

• Always send an interesting letter with your manuscript. Not facetious or pushy but something with a bit of sparkle which will make you stand out.
• Be professional when asking experts for help. Enclose details about yourself, and what you are doing, together with an idea of what you want.
• Have patience with publishers but don’t be too shy to contact them politely after a couple of months if you haven’t heard anything. Remember the three P’s – politeness, patience and perseverance.