Bess Ross, one of nine children, was born in Hilton of Cadboll on the coast of the Moray Firth. Forced by economic circumstances to leave school and earn money as a domestic worker, she returned to Ross-shire and got married. As her own children were educated she decided to return to school and work for the exams she had missed. It was during this time that the first Neil M. Gunn writers competition was held. Ross entered and won. Her first collection of short stories, "A Bit of Crack and Car Culture," was followed by a novel, "Those Other Times." She recently published a second novel, "Strath." She lives near Tain.
