The beauty of writing as both a passion and a career is that you only get better with time, and you need never stop, so long as you have ideas and the will to write. Did you know that the oldest romance novelist in the world lives in Cornwall, England;
As I see it, there are three types of writer: Type 1: The writer who doesn’t write but dreams of writing. Type 2: The writer who writes but doesn’t share their writing. Type 3: The writer who writes and does share their writing. Over the years, I have evolved from
From the blurb: Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man – perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to
This week I’m returning to my French home. I can’t wait for long, lazy, summer days and lying with a book beside the pool.
I love elephants – who could fail to be impressed by their stature and presence and magnitude and loyalty and intelligence? They are the largest land-bound mammals, and surely among the most awe-inspiring of creatures. One of my favourite scenes to write in Burning Embers was that in which Coral
Having seen the cast list, I confess I myself had great expectations for this film! Jeremy Irvine as Pip Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham Holliday Grainger as Estella Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch Robbie Coltrane as Mr Jaggers And, of course, direction by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral,
From the blurb: CC is trapped by a job she no longer loves in an unfriendly city. So when her new boyfriend decides it’s time to sell up and move to the South of France, she decides in seconds to change her life. After all, who wouldn’t pick an azure
I confess I love romance novels in which there is a tortured hero, because I think any love story needs conflict, some struggle that must be overcome, and inner conflict is, for me, the most compelling. I love human characters, real characters, who are imperfect and wrestle with themselves, because
Today marks a year since the publication of my debut novel, Burning Embers. What a wonderful year it has been! I’ve loved getting to know so many new people, both readers and other, supportive writers, and it’s truly been a time in which dreams have come true for me. To
Recently, I was watching a fascinating BBC documentary about the British love affair with tea (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rx1wx). Not only did it lead me to put the kettle on and reach for the teapot, but it also made me think about tea versus coffee, and how we choose either drink based
From the blurb: Christy Haviland served eight months in prison, giving birth behind bars to the child of the man who put her there and might yet destroy her. Now she’s free again, but what does that mean? As smart as she is, a learning disability has kept her from
French is known as the language of love, and the French are popularly characterised as romantic, passionate people. And when it comes to cuisine, of course the French are internationally acclaimed for their gastronomy – the rich flavours, the fresh ingredients, the commitment to excellence, the Mediterranean influence creeping in
When I was a teenager, my Saturday afternoon trip to the cinema was the highlight of my week. I would go with my father and my sister, and we’d watch the latest Hollywood spectacular. I loved being swept away in the great romances playing out on screen. Those first films
From the blurb: After discovering a letter written by her mother shortly before her death, Anna Crawford, a London-based nurse, decides to travel to the Italian island of Capri in search of her father. What she doesn’t expect to find is that she’s heir to a vast family fortune. She’s
Lipstick, powder, compact, hairbrush, breath freshener, eau de toilette… the contents of a woman’s handbag are myriad and many. Now, according to a recent study reported in the media, if the woman in question wishes to be attractive to a potential mate, her handbag arsenal needs an essential addition: a
Hannah says: You needn’t pay the earth for your funky summer tote… Did you know that the first tote bag was designed in 1944 by LL Bean? They quickly caught on, as ladies realised they made light and easy work of carrying paraphernalia, and by the 1990s, when designer Kate
In my novel Masquerade, book two of the Andalusian Nights trilogy, the heroine Luz is maddeningly attracted to her new employer, Andrès. I say ‘maddeningly’, because while Andrès is in so many ways a good match for her – charismatic, intelligent, charming, successful in his work – he is also
Hannah says: With this simple top in your wardrobe, you can be effortlessly chic and classy. ‘Simplicity is the key note of all true elegance.’This was the ethos of one of my all-time favourite designers, Coco Chanel, and it’s one I wholeheartedly embrace. Did you know that we have Chanel
In my lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to travel to all manner of places around the globe. I have liked many, and loved a few. One of those few is Andalusia, Spain. That sultry, sunny Spanish region so fired up my imagination that I set not one or even
Earlier this week I blogged about how high heels can infuse a woman with a sense of style and confidence. While researching the book, I was led on a meandering and enthralling course, which culminated in a wonderful new discovery: the Fashion Fairy Tale Memoir series. Is there any better
Recently, I have been packing up my British home to move to my renovated mas in the south of France, where I summer each year. I have a confession to make: of the many cases stacked ready for transportation, more than oneis devoted to shoes. High heels: beautiful, artistic, show-stopping
My latest fiction series is set in Andalucía, Spain. It is a region I know well, having travelled there several times. Whenever I visit, I try to practise my Spanish (I am far more fluent speaking in French and English), which requires that I listen carefully to the language and
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