Caron McKinlay
Caron McKinlay
Caron grew up in a mining town on the east coast of Scotland where her dad would return from the pit and fill her life with his tall tales and encourage her to tell her own. Despite this, she never thought about making a career in writing – that was what posh people did, not someone from a working-class council estate.
After living in Italy for a while and the birth of her daughters, she became a teacher and taught in various secondary schools before becoming a headteacher in St Helens, Merseyside.
However, her father’s death came as a shock and was the cause of deep introspection but her emotions gave birth to a short story, Cash, which was published in the Scottish Book Trust’s anthology, Blether. A second chance at love also spurred an early retirement and a move to Edinburgh where she lives happily with her husband.
Her debut novel, The Storytellers, explores feminist themes as three women, trapped between life and death, revisit toxic past relationships, and unravel a haunting truth. It was published by Bloodhound Books in May 2022.
Caron spreads her love of reading on her book blog which features reviews and includes Desert Island Reads, where established authors discuss their ‘must-have’ books.
When not blogging, reading, and writing, Caron spends her time supporting her daughters, Francesca and Paola, who fill her with pride and joy. She doesn’t enjoy exercise – but loves running around after her grandsons, Lyle and Noah, to whom she is devoted.
Caron had three childhood dreams in life: to become a published author, to become a teacher, and for David Essex to fall in love with her. Two out of three ain’t bad and she’s delighted with that.