QUINTON, Ann 1934-
(Margaret Dewar)

PERSONAL:

Born October 27, 1934, in Ipswich, England; daughter of Charles Francis (an engineer) and Mary (a homemaker; maiden name, Dewar) Cole; married Geoffrey Naylor Quinton (a research chemist), November 3, 1961; children: Stuart Naylor, Neill Naylor, Kathryn Naylor. Ethnicity: "British." Education: Attended Royal College of Music. Religion: Church of England. Hobbies and other interests: Music, art, gardening, swimming, travel, wildlife.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Chelford, 31 Rectory Lane, Kirton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0PY, England.

CAREER:

East Suffolk County Library, library assistant, 1952-57; Fisons Research Station, research library assistant, 1957-62; freelance pianist for primary schools, dancing schools, and play groups, 1975-89; writer, 1989—. Freelance artist, with work exhibited throughout the east of England.

MEMBER:

Crime Writers Association, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, British Trust for Ornithology, Suffolk Wildlife Association, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Felixstowe Art Group, Garden Bird Watch.

WRITINGS:

CRIME NOVELS

To Mourn a Mischief, Piatkus Books (London, England), 1989.

Death of a Dear Friend, Piatkus Books (London, England), 1990.

A Fatal End, Pitakus Books (London, England), 1992.

A Little Grave, Severn House Publishers (New York, NY), 1994.

The Sleeping and the Dead, Severn House Publishers (New York, NY), 1994.

Some Foul Play, Severn House Publishers (New York, NY), 1996.

This Mortal Coil, Severn House Publishers (New York, NY), 1998.

Put Out the Light, Severn House Publishers (New York, NY), 2000.

Bought with Blood, Severn House Publishers (New York, NY), 2002.

OTHER

Philippa (historical novel), Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

The Rosslyn Heir (historical novel), Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

The Loyalty Game (historical novel), Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

Storm Islands (romantic suspense novel), Piatkus Books (London, England), 1985.

The Ragusa Theme (romantic suspense novel), Piatkus Books (London, England), 1986.

Author of historical novels published under the pseudonym Margaret Dewar in the 1980s.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Research for another crime novel.

SIDELIGHTS:

Ann Quinton told CA: "I have been a compulsive reader all my life, devouring the works of Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) at the tender age of nine, which surely influenced my present writing genre of crime and detection fiction. My early career was spent in the library service (both public and research), and while working with books I always wanted to be on the other side of the fence; that is, to write them myself rather than deal with other people's work.

"While starting out on my writing career I was working as a freelance pianist and accompanist. All my life I have also been a painter, and I am now a recognized artist in East Anglia, painting mostly landscapes in pastels. I juggle this occupation with my writing.

"My writing is initially done in longhand before being transposed into a word processor/computer, and much of it is done in my gypsy caravan, which my husband and I restored and keep in my shed down the garden.

"I start off with a basic plot for my crime novels, but I am never sure exactly how it is going to develop. All sorts of things happen along the way! I am deeply influenced by my love of the English countryside and nature, and I particularly enjoy developing the relationships and interplay between my characters, for which the crime genre is an excellent vehicle.

"I suppose the two writers who have most influenced me are Dorothy Dunnett and Mary Stewart."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, December 15, 1996, Ilene Cooper, review of Some Foul Play, p. 713; October 1, 1998, John Rowen, review of This Mortal Coil, p. 311; May 1, 2000, Ilene Cooper, review of Put Out the Light, p. 1624; March 1, 2002, John Rowen, review of Bought with Blood, p. 1097.

Publishers Weekly, October 28, 1996, review of Some Foul Play, p. 60.