Readers of my books quickly realise two things about me:

* I am passionate about travel.Since I first spread my wings as a young woman, I have been fortunate enough to travel widely, and this travel has shaped me into the writer I am today.

* Settings are intrinsically important in my stories. I could not set a romance story in just any place, or write in such a way that the ‘where’ is irrelevant or uninteresting. Readers of my books often comment on the impact of my settings.

* I write descriptively and evocatively, to transport my readers to inspiring, beautiful locations. Reading is about escapism and learning about – experiencing, in a sense – other people and places and ways of life. In my romance novels, I endeavour to open the door to other worlds, and to show a little of their history, culture and spirit.

So far, my writing has journeyed to Kenya, in Burning Embers:

To Venice and Tuscany, in The Echoes of Love:

To Andalusia, Spain, for my Andalusian Nights trilogy (Indiscretion, Masquerade and the upcoming Legacy):

What a fabulous journey that has been, involving some amazing travel experiences for the research phases. But I’m wondered, where shall I go next? The following map illustrates where I have been with my romance novels (the red hearts) and where I am considering visiting next (the purple hearts): Italy, France, Egypt, Greece and Ireland.

[Map attribution: Crates]

How I would love to see this map covered with hearts someday! I wonder: do you, dear reader, have any suggestions for my future story worlds? What countries of the world most fascinate you? Which cities and landscapes do you find most beautiful and cultural? What is the perfect backdrop for a love story? Where would you love to travel to, from the comfort of your own armchair, and be swept away in epic, evocative romance? I would very much love to hear your thoughts.