A little tour of the Cadiz covered market
One of my favourite television programmes at the moment is First Dates, a programme in which French maître d’ Fred Sirieix oversees couples dining together
Author: Hannah
When has an author written enough?
Emily Brontë – Wuthering Heights; Anna Sewell – Black Beauty; Margaret Mitchell – Gone with the Wind; Boris Pasternak – Doctor Zhivago; JD Salinger –
Romancing the moon
‘The moon lives in the lining of your skin.’ So wrote the poet Pablo Neruda in his ‘Ode to a Beautiful Nude’. This line resonated
How do I love thee? Literary inspirations for Valentine’s Day
There are so many different ways to express that you love someone; often, though, it can be hard to find the words to encapsulate all
On epigraphs
Before I start writing a book, I always know three things: * The story * The title * The epigraph These, for me, are the
When old and new collide: Banning the nymphs of Cadiz
Of all the mythical creatures – and there are many – the nymph has always been one of my favourites. What image does the word
How I research settings for my fiction
If you’ve read any one of my novels, you’ll know that I root my fiction in a strong sense of place. The settings for my
The fairy tale: a foundation for modern writing
I do not know that I would be a writer today were it not for fairy tales. I was fortunate to have parents who had
Swoon-worthy or too good to be true? Striking the balance with romance heroes
What’s the single most important element of a romance novel? Love. Not only must the love story that unfolds between the hero and heroine be
Writing with heart (not hunger)
‘What’s the formula for a bestselling book?’ So read an attention-grabbing headline in the Guardian last week. The article was prompted by a list of
Exploring the subconscious through dreams
In 1899, psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud published a book entitled The Interpretation of Dreams, in which he laid out his theory of how dream interpretation can allow
Win ‘Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction’s Most Beloved Heroines’
Welcome to my blog, and thank you for stopping by on this Best of 2016 Giveaway Hop. It took me some time to decide on
A print book resurgence?
Recently, the arts news has been full of a major comeback: that of the vinyl record. In 2016, vinyl sales in the UK reached 3.2
An inspirational composer: Manuel de Falla
After all the vibrancy and jubilant cacophony of December, January always feels a quiet month to me: the silence of a snow-covered field, the gentle
Tradition: the preservation of fire
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to travel to Spain several times, and each of these visits provided rich inspiration for my Andalucían
Mistress of the night: the moon
This holiday season, I have been fortune enough to do some stargazing. The night skies have been velvety blankets sprinkled with stars, and the moon…
The art of the gingerbread house
Knusper, knusper, knäuschen, wer knuspert an meinem Häuschen? Nibble, nibble, gnaw Who is nibbling at my little house? So says the witch in the children’s
Celebrating Boxing Day
I was in my twenties when I first came to England. I recall vividly my first Christmas; it was bitterly cold, which was a shock
Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop: Win a British Museum silk scarf
Thank you for visiting my blog on the Bookhounds’ Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop. I’m thrilled to be giving away this beautiful silk scarf by the
Two wheels move the soul
In my latest book, Legacy, the heroine Luna is a scientist, with a first-class honours degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton, followed by a PhD
Writing for oneself – without expectation
‘You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.’ So said Nobel Prize-winning writer Saul Bellow. I
The case of the missing romance novels in 2016
Amazon.com has recently released a list of the top twenty bestselling books published in 2016, based on both print and Kindle sales. Here it is:
Fairy tale week: Live-action Disney – making fantasy reality
The news has been abuzz in recent weeks about the movie Beauty and the Beast, which will release next spring. Why all the interest? Well,
Fairy tale week: Cinderella’s shoe – an enduring symbol
This week, I’ve decided to theme my posts on fairy tales, because they have played an integral part in shaping the writer I am today.
Growing healing remedies: the physic garden
Alternative herbal medicine features prominently in my latest book, Legacy. The hero, Ruy, is a conventional doctor who heads up a cancer-treatment clinic. He is
Travel as a means of challenging my heroines
Those of you who have read two or more (or even all) of my novels may have noticed a common theme in relation to the
‘Choose an author as you would a friend’
‘Choose an author as you would a friend.’ So wrote English poet Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon (circa 1633–1685), in his ‘Essay on Translated Verse’:
Legacy reviewed by The Lady
I’m delighted to share today a review of Legacy published by The Lady magazine: Legacy is filled to the brim with family scandal, frustrated love
Gratitude Giveaway: Win a $25/£20 Amazon gift card
I love taking part in this annual giveaway hop, hosted by BookHounds, because it’s an opportunity to give something back to the people who support
Win one of 10 print copies of The Echoes of Love
Are authors allowed to have favourite books of their own? If so, I think my second novel, The Echoes of Love, is a strong contender