I teach Freelance Journalism and Path to Publication workshops at Bristol University and give advice on getting published at events such as Ilkley Literature Festival, Daphne du Maurier Literature Festival and Warwick Words.

Hear Maria talking about The Girls' Guide to Losing Your L-Plates in a recent interview on Ireland's TodayFM:

Play Part 1 | Play Part 2

My book 'The Girls’ Guide to Losing Your L Plates – how to pass your driving test' published by Simon and Schuster was inspired by my own struggle to get my licence. I didn’t pass my test till I turned 40 and consider it one of the major achievements of my life! Afterwards I decided to write the book I’d longed to read when I was learning. An alternative to the usual dry guides which would be packed full of useful information but also be lively and entertaining. The Girls’ Guide to Losing Your L Plates covers finding the right instructor (and tactfully extricating yourself from the wrong one), going out practising with family and friends without wrecking your relationship (or their car), coping with driving test nerves and tips on getting the best car insurance. For some extracts from the book, including Driving Instructors To Avoid, Driving Test Myths, Overcoming Driving Test Nerves and Some Facts about the Driving Test
click here.



I can be contacted on 07799527974 or Email me directly.



Learning To Drive

2 Pass
www.2pass.co.uk
This site offers up-to-date information, an email newsletter and a busy learner driver forum.

The Driving Instructor's Association
www.driving.org
The website of the Driving Instructors Association has a forum and chatroom. You can post questions about any driving-related issue and get advice from other students and instructors. It’s also a good place to ask for recommendations for good local instructors.

Book my driving lessons
www.bookmydrivinglessons.co.uk
a helpful site for finding a driving instructor in your area.

Diana Ballantyne, hypnotherapist
www.hypnosisdevon.co.uk
Diana offers hypnotherapy for driving test nerves.

Drive2pass
www.drive2pass.co.uk
If you're looking for a professional, patient and friendly driving instructor in the Lincoln area I'd recommend this school.


Driving

The Driving Standards Agency
www.dsa.gov.uk
This is the website of the Driving Standards Agency, where you can book your practical and theory tests. It also gives details of test routes and pass rates at your local centre.

The AA
www.theAA.com
The only national driving school that always uses fully qualified instructors.

Honest John
www.honestjohn.co.uk
Excellent site giving advice on new and used cars, covering all popular models since 1990.

What Car
www.whatcar.com
Useful site linked to What Car magazine – features and car reviews that are aimed at the ordinary motorist rather than petrolheads.

MSN Cars
www.cars.uk.msn.com
New car reviews and features on all aspects of motoring. I've contributed features on finding the perfect driving instructor, the driving theory test and driving test nerves.

Car Parts Direct
www.carparts-direct.co.uk
Online car parts and helpful advice on servicing and repairing your vehicle.



Women & Motoring

Other Useful Writing Sites

The Guild of Motoring Writers
www.guildofmotoringwriters.co.uk
Membership of this respected and long-established Guild is extremely useful for motoring writers.

Danuta Kean
www.danutakean.com
If you’re interested in getting published yourself then her features and blog will give you a valuable insight into the industry and a realistic idea of what you’re letting yourself in for!

The Society of Authors
www.societyofauthors.net
Open to published authors, those with a contract for publication and those who have had more than a dozen articles or short stories accepted. They have both London and regional meetings and can offer advice on contracts and other publishing matters.

Writewords
www.writewords.org.uk
An online writing community with articles, interviews, forums and published site experts (I’m one!) offering advice.

Freelance Writing Tips
www.freelancewritingtips.com
This site provides practical advice on making a living as a writer with useful articles and profiles of working journalists.

Journobiz
www.journobiz.com
An excellent journalism site with a lively and informative forum for freelancers.

The Crime Writers Association
www.thecwa.co.uk
Essential site if you’re a crime writer. Their Debut Dagger competition for new writers is an excellent route to publication.

Romantic Novelists’ Association
www.rna-uk.org
If you’re interested in writing romantic fiction, this organisation is fantastic – friendly, helpful and with a New Writers’ Scheme which gives feedback on manuscripts for yet-to-be-published novelists.

Mslexia
www.mslexia.co.uk
A site linked to Mslexia, a writing magazine for women – but full of features of interest to both genders.

Women Writers Network
www.womenwriters.org
WWN holds meetings in central London with invited speakers including agents, magazine editors and published writers.

Women in Journalism
www.womeninjournalism.co.uk
For informative talks and fabulous parties, WIJ is invaluable.

Luigi Bonomi Associates
www.bonomiassociates.co.uk
This is my literary agency, which was established in 2005 and now represents a wide variety of best-selling and prize-winning authors and journalists.

Bristol University
www.bristol.ac.uk
I teach freelance journalism and path to publication workshops here.

Literary Consultants

Aspiring writers can benefit from informed, detailed feedback on their work. This is often difficult to find – family and friends are often too tactful and agents and editors simply don’t have time. Approaching an editorial consultancy, which will provide a report on your work for a fee can be a worthwhile option. Here are three agencies I’ve heard good things about:

www.cornerstones.co.uk
www.hilaryjohnson.com
www.literaryconsultancy.co.uk


Journalist Websites