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
Category: Inspiration for my writing
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
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
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
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: 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’:
Take a trip around the world with my books
Since I began my publishing adventure in April 2012, I have published five novels. What a journey that has been, for me and for my
Finding inspiration at the San Sebastián Castle, Cadiz
I love the city of Cadiz, Andalucía, that ‘lively and luminous’ city known as ‘the Bride of the Sea’, so much so that I set
Cadiz cathedral: ‘the ship of souls’
‘A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.’ So said one of my favourite
A soul bared: The flamenco guitarist
In my new book, Legacy, the male protagonist Ruy is of mixed heritage – he is part gentleman, part gypsy. His gypsy roots are very
Love is… discovery
Do you remember the comic strip series ‘Love is…’ by cartoonist Kim Casali? For a time, in the 1970s and 1980s, this ‘brand’ was everywhere
What’s in a name? On naming my ‘Moon Queen’ heroine
Choosing a name for the heroine of a novel is, for me, one of the most fun parts of the writing – but also one
Shaping the ‘meet cute’ in Legacy
No doubt you’re familiar with the movie screenwriting term ‘meet cute’. It originated in the 1940s, when romantic comedies incorporated attention-grabbing and amusing scenes for
All the world’s a stage: a Shakespearean echo in Legacy
Have you ever had a melody, or a line of poetry, or a quotation stuck in your mind? It happens to me quite often, especially
The legend at the heart of Andalucían Nights
Last year, I wrote about one of my favourite works of literature, One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of stories from ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Indian, Egyptian and
Memories of St James’ Day in Santiago de Compostela
As a young woman – after my university degree and before I met my husband and settled down in England – I travelled extensively through
Suited and booted: the allure of business style
Reader of my novels will know that I love style. This often comes across in how I dress my heroines, but of course how the
The ‘gypsy’ skirt, and what it represents
Back in 2005, the Global Language Monitor, an organisation that analyses trends in word usage and their impact on culture, sent out an alert entitled
Summertime, and the writing is easy…
In this season’s edition of The Author magazine I was fascinated by an article by Alexandra Harris, author of Weatherlands, a book that explores the
Audrey Hepburn and the little black (and white) dress
A girl never forgets the first time she sees Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I was in my late teens and absolutely enchanted by the story, the
The style-conscious heroine
From an early age, I have been interested in style – in fashion and accessories and looks. I’ve read Vogue. I’ve attended fashion shows. I’ve
The appeal of a devilish man
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’,
10 things I love about Andalusia
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
Powerful, stylish, fairytale: A woman in heels
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.
Borrowing from the language of passion: English words of Spanish origin
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
TED talk: reading around the world
I am a keen follower of http://www.ted.com/: the website devoted to ‘ideas worth spreading’. Recently, the following video, entitled ‘My year reading a book from