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, during which time she rescued a number of street dogs who travelled with her. After becoming ill and having to return home 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 of Fiona Curnow.