Deirdre Chapman was born in Carnoustie, Scotland and was brought up there. She worked as a features writer for newspapers in Glasgow and London, becoming well known as a journalist. She was also highly regarded as a short story writer. She married fellow journalist Michael Grieve (1932-1995), whose parents were Valda Trevlyn Grieve and the poet Hugh MacDiarmid (pseudonym of Christopher Grieve). She brought up three sons; all the while, generously and patiently responding to the many approaches from writers and artists working with Hugh MacDiarmid's legacy to the nation and the world. In recent years she has completed two novels.
Here she is speaking about her second novel, 'Badlands', with some captivating asides along the way.