Philoxenia: The gift of Greek hospitality
In my new novel, Aphrodite’s Tears, the heroine Oriel is hired to work on an archaeological site on the island of Helios. As she approaches
Category: Inspiration for my writing
The legacy of Pandora’s box
No doubt you’ve heard the term ‘opening a Pandora’s box’ before. It’s used to express that an action that may seem small or inconsequential may
A visual who’s who of Greek mythology
My new novel, Aphrodite’s Tears, is set in the Greek islands, and as the title suggests, I touch on Greek mythology throughout the book. Do
The adult imagination shaped by children’s stories
Recently, I read with interest a personal essay entitled ‘You can never go back: on loving children’s books as an adult’ published on the LitHub
Guaranteed sunshine in every novel…
I have returned from France to my home in Ireland, and the views of rich-green lawns and spun-gold leaves and skeletal branches reaching up to
Inspired by Aphrodite’s Tears: creating my own olive oil
Often, my fiction is inspired by experiences in my own life, but occasionally the reverse can be true: my fiction can inspire me to try
Ilias Lalaounis: the jeweller who embraced – and changed – history
In an unassuming building, just a short walk from the Acropolis of Athens, there lies a veritable treasure trove – a collection of items so
A writer’s retreat: at home in France
Autumn has come, and the lawns surrounding my house in Ireland are carpeted with leaves in glorious colours. The view from my writing desk over
Seville’s Plaza de España, the most beautiful in Spain?
Did you know that the plaza – a large, open urban public space, especially a square – originated in Spain? The Spanish built them to
Blood-red and sea-blue: the colours of Andalucian Nights
Readers of my novels will know that I am a very visual writer, especially when it comes to describing colours. Not for me grey, dreary
A brief history of the hand fan in Europe
As part of my FANtastic Fiesta, running until 14 August, I’m giving away three lovely wooden Spanish hand fans, as featured on the covers of
Taking inspiration from the Andalucían almadraba
My latest novel, Legacy, is set in Cadiz, a city in Andalucía that is almost entirely surrounded by sea. This is the view from my
A visual tour of my novels’ landscapes
Earlier this week, I was hunting in my files for a photograph when it struck me just how many images I was browsing through. Since
An inspiration for my Andalucían Nights series: Gaudí’s architecture
In my latest novel, Legacy, the love story begins when the hero and heroine cross paths in Barcelona. I very much enjoyed setting the scene
Stepping back into the Roman Empire in Andalucía
There is so much that drew me to the Spanish region of Andalucía when it came time to choose a setting for my romantic trilogy.
Flamingos: striding into the imaginary
Here’s a little quiz question for you: Which bird features in my novel Burning Embers, set in Kenya, and my novel Indiscretion, set in Spain?
The Moorish legacy in Andalucía
Each of the Spanish regions has its own unique culture and history; but for me, the most beautiful and fascinating of them all is Andalucía.
10 unforgettable vistas in Cádiz
The city of Cádiz features in each of the novels in my Andalucían Nights trilogy. It’s such a vibrant, luminous city, it was an easy decision
‘Every old object tells a tale’: For the love of antiques
Sometimes, when I am interviewed by a blogger or a journalist, I am asked what hobbies I have beyond reading and writing, and the answer
Three is a magic number: the Andalucían Nights trilogy
When you think of Spain, what springs to mind? Whatever mental image you conjure, it is bound to include at least one of this trio:
People-watching with an open mind
‘La rue est un véritable musée pour tous.’ So wrote writer and artist Hergé, who is most famous for his comic book series The Adventures
Romeo and Juliet: an inspiration for my novel Legacy
What author, when writing romance, is not in some way inspired by Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet? It is one of the most romantic works
Favourite writing spot: The Old Cataract Hotel on the Nile, Egypt
I am a writer with a passion for travel, and the places I have visited and lived in are rich sources of inspiration for me
An infinity of passion: Madame Bovary
This month marks 160 years since the publication in book format of a masterpiece of literature: Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary. In my early twenties, I read
The romance – and sensuality – of sailing
My home in the South of France – a French mas (Provençal farmhouse) in Ste Maxime – affords beautiful views over the Mediterranean. I often
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
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
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