The Cholesterol Analogy

The other day I had my cholesterol checked. The doctor explained that there are two types of cholesterol – good and bad. It turns out that my bad cholesterol is somewhat high but my good cholesterol is sooooo good that it kind of cancels out the bad. Now, being very unscientific I don’t know how … Continue reading →

Characters and Cars

Usually when I write books I feel intensely involved with them for the period of writing right up to the final proof, and then I move onto the next thing with a slight twinge of disloyalty to the poor characters that I’ve abandoned. My first series was called Cafe Club and was about six thirteen year … Continue reading →

Sadness

We authors are always talking about writers’ block. I didn’t used to believe in it any more than I believed in getting-my-head-around-the-terms-of-that-contract block or phoning-that-car-insurance-company-block. (If you are fourteen or under, read ‘assignment’ for ‘terms of that contract’ and ‘girl who doesn’t seem to like me’ for ‘car insurance company.’) But last month, the man … Continue reading →

Ann Bryant Competition Winners

Here I am poised and ready to announce the four winners of the competition in which you had to say what is in the background of my girlsheartbooks photo. Most of you got it right, though I particularly liked the entry that said ‘Two Cute Dogs’ ! Anyway it’s a piano! Well done to… drum … Continue reading →

Connections and Clubs

The other day I met up with an old school friend, Ruth. We were great friends at Primary School and have only seen each other twice since, each time with loads of other people around so no chance to talk. We stayed in this restaurant for so long that they were packing up from lunch and getting … Continue reading →

BUGS!

I was listening to the radio on the way back from France yesterday and they mentioned that there is an outbreak of what they’re calling super-fleas. Well I’m calling them super-BUGS! OK, look away now if you’re of a squeamish disposition. This is my ankle. Yes, I know, it’s revolting, but I’ve tried everything in … Continue reading →

Someone Else’s Story

A woman called Sammie Luck emailed me a couple of months ago. I nearly didn’t reply to the email. I couldn’t really work out what she wanted. Something about writing a book for a brand she was developing, or maybe ghost writing it, or maybe mentoring her so she could write it. Oh, and also … Continue reading →

SUBTERFUGE!

I suppose the nearest thing I’ve ever written to what is known as a who dunnit, was a book called SHE’S NO ANGEL from the series FAMILIES IN A STEP-CHAIN. Someone unwound and damaged the strings of Lissie’s precious cello, but who could it have been, since the cello was locked in the music room … Continue reading →

Writing Heaven

We’ve often talked about where we write and what our offices and sheds are like! Some authors don’t have an office or a shed or anywhere in particular because they prefer to write in many different places, like in bed! I mainly work from my office but I also have a special place for certain summer days. … Continue reading →

The Crazy Drake

I’ve always had a small obsession with birds. As a little child I used to fancy myself as St Francis, and would stand in the middle of the garden willing the birds to come to me. As a GCSE (well O level, if truth be known) student I taught myself to draw an accurate map … Continue reading →