Kerry Buchanan is a disabled writer living in the heart of County Down. She began adult life as a vet, sticking her arm into places where the sun don't shine and cuddling puppies, but gradually changed careers to accommodate her decreasing mobility. She now cares full-time for her father, who is 93 and suffers from dementia, and loses herself for hours at a time in writing fiction.

Surrounded by animals – two legged (family and chickens), four-legged (cats, dogs, lizard and horses) and legless (snake, tropical fish and occasionally family, when the home-made wine or blackberry brandy is broached) – she says there is inspiration outside every window, so how could she not be motivated to write?

Kerry also runs Ulster Dedicated Writers, a group of local writers who meet four times a week via Zoom to write in company, as well as running writing classes and facilitating regular open sessions for WANI. She's been with WANI from the very first events, and feels a strong loyalty and love for this group of disparate women, all striving to help and support one another through difficult times.