Sheila Quigley

Career

Sheila Quigley became a national news story when Random House acquired her first novel, Run For Home, with major coverage throughout the press and television. A documentary about Sheila and the making of Run for Home was broadcast on BBC1.

Sheila lived on the Homelands Estate in Houghton-le-Spring near Sunderland, opposite a field which became the fictional location of the council housing estate in her Seahills books.

Homicide in Houghton

As part of the Houghton Feast celebrations each October, Sheila and local historian Paul Lanagan lead an investigation which visits the fictional murder scenes from Sheila's novels. The tours typically depart from Houghton library, trail across the town and return to the library where attendees are treated to a sneak preview of Sheila's next novel.

Personal life

Quigley began work at the age of 15 in Hepworths, a tailoring factory where she was employed as a presser.

She married when she was 18 but was later divorced. She has three daughters and a son from the relationship.