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; is 105; has been writing for nine decades; has published 123 books; and is still writing? I’ve been fascinated to read about Ida in the Daily Mail, the Mirror and the Times.

Some facts about Ida:

• She has ten different pen names.
• She writes a novel in about six weeks.
• She’s written 70 books for Mills & Boon.
• She now dictates her books to her daughter, also a writer.
• She was married to Colonel Hugh Pollock, Winston Churchill’s editor and once husband to Enid Blyton.

Ida has two Regency romances coming out soon, and her last published book is A Distant Drum:

Here you can watch a video interview with Ida in which she discusses her 123-novel career.

She has also penned a memoir, which is on my ‘to read’ list:

What an inspirational lady! She’s an example for all of us romance writers indeed, and I don’t doubt that the challenge and passion associated with penning romance has played a part in keeping Ida alive and writing. I wish her good health and creativity for more books yet to come.