I took the course in Glasgow in 2002

Before I studied the course with you, I had been overseas working for MTV, directing live concert shoots and producing music documentaries. On my return I moved to London and worked again in the media. However in London, I didn't enjoy the work so much, the energetic vibe from Asia was missing. London was bogged down with in-fighting, too many people battling for too few contracts. Ability and experience didn't matter. It was all about who you went to school with and who you know- not what you know. I was very disheartened and after taking a break to have children was very reluctant to put myself back into that career situation. I moved to Glasgow then Edinburgh soon afterwards and took a longer career break.

I started the Artists Way course to meet other like-minded people and to try to get some of the passion back for creative work and I had reached a place where I really didn't believe in myself.

I do feel creatively stilted from time to time... doesn't everyone, even those in the throws of exciting projects. Sometimes I work through exercies from the Artists Way again, sometimes I discuss it with other supportive creative friends and more often than not I make a gargantuan effort to get out of my house/work/head space and go walking or visiting other artists' work.

I had never come across the book before I met you Mary. And more to the point I had never even considered the idea that in each one of us is an artist. That we can all achieve our goals by creating a solid path and sticking to it. I am still not sure I have achieved it but I do feel that at last I am on my way.

After the course, I continued to write: I wrote morning pages; I have written novellas and short stories; I have done a creative writing course with the Open University.  I always found the hardest part for me was Artists Dates - with a young family, finding time to do anything for yourself can be very challenging and if I take time out every day to write, I feel very guilty taking time out for other things. That said, I feel that those dates are the most helpful thing for me and my work,  I often find that my dates are only 30 minutes long but for me they are still worth doing.

Through all my writing, I found that my love for food and cooking often came through so I started a food blog and that is my main focus right now. I really hope it leads to other food writing opportunities.
I currently juggle being a full time mum with running a small cafe, food writing and working with children.
Whenever I feel I am running out of ideas and slowing down, I turn back to the Artists Way and its follow up Walking In The World. I try to find a friend to work through the books with and try to re-apply the principles to my life once again.

Marie McQuade is food writer, cafe owner and cook based in Scotland. In a past life, she has worked as a music journalist, tv producer and researcher. These days, she spends her time playing with her children, cooking in the Green Apple Cafe and when there is time, writing. A city girl lost in the country she is embracing all that rural living has to offer, while making a quick dash into the city anytime possible to hit the cheese stores, delis and artisanal bread shops! 'I love to cook. My passion is food. I like to experiment with new ideas and flavours but what I love most is to authentically recreate food I have eaten on my travels. I want to read and learn about the history of a dish, to track its development through families, through regions and through countries. That said I love to deviate from this, to create meals I can make from the storecupboard, to make food my children will enjoy and to try recipes I find reading websites and blogs from around the world.

Marie blogs at You'll Have Had Your Tea and you can follow her on facebook