Fiona was the winner of the Federation of Writers (Scotland) short story competition, 2023. She is a Scottish writer who spent fifteen years teaching in international schools, predominantly in Eastern Europe. After becoming ill she had to return home. Not one to remain idle, she turned to the Open University where she studied creative writing, completing both courses with distinction, and discovering a new passion. She has since written five books, four under the pen name of F J Curlew, but she has now reverted to using her given name. She finds it difficult to be content without a work in progress. That escape into a world of her own making is something very special! Before the Swallows Come Back was sparked by a meeting she had with a Tinker family many years ago, in rural Perthshire. They invited her to sit by their fire, outside their bender, and listen to stories. It was fascinating, inspirational and never left her. The conservation of natural habitats and their wildlife is hugely important to her (yes, she a bit of an eco-warrior!) and the Tinkers and their way of life seemed to lend themselves to carrying this theme.