Tell us about the location you chose for your SUNLOUNGER short story… I chose the beautiful Russian city of St Petersburg. partly because I’ve had some experience of travelling in the former USSR and loved the people but also because there is a festival that takes place for a couple of weeks when the sun never quite sets. I wanted to set a story during the ‘White Nights’ because it’s such a romantic, fleeting time.
Have your books featured any exotic destinations? Yes! My first book, FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK is set in New York’s Upper West Side and features Rosie, an English woman who has made the Big Apple her home, and runs a florists’ store. In my second book, WELCOME TO MY WORLD, travel agent Harri dreams of visiting Venice but is waiting for her boyfriend to take her (she also visits Kefalonia – her first trip abroad despite knowing everything there is to know about international destinations!). My last book, WHEN I FALL IN LOVE, features Paris and the question of whether Elsie can put her past to rest and finally visit there. And my fifth novel TAKE A LOOK AT ME NOW features Nell’s trip of a lifetime to gorgeous San Francisco!
If you could live anywhere in the world… I love the UK and there are several special places I would love to live, such as St Ives in Cornwall and the Kingsbridge area in Devon. I’d also love to live in Wales – my sister lives near Crickhowell and it’s stunningly beautiful. My dream is to live by the sea somewhere – as you can see, I’m not fussy!
Destination you’ve returned to the most times? South Devon because it’s been a very special place for my husband Bob and me. We had our honeymoon there last year and there’s a tiny village we go back to time and again. It’s beautiful, peaceful and the people are fantastically friendly.
Ticket, passport, money and… A book! Not a Kindle, but a real book – or preferably several – to read while I’m travelling and when I get there. Working with manuscripts on computers for most of the year, I can’t relax if I’m reading words on a screen. My books are invariably shoved into my bag, with my place marked by train tickets or napkins from coffee shops – but there’s something gorgeously old-fashioned and timeless about that. Also, a real book doesn’t need a charger!
Favourite cuisine from around the world? I adore Mexican and Creole food – but I’m always up for trying new cuisines.
Favourite holiday cocktail? I’m rather partial to a mojito!
What was your best or worst holiday romance? I’ve only ever had one and he turned out to be a complete idiot – enough said!
