The Inspiration Station…

Where do ideas come from? That’s probably one of the things my readers ask the most, especially if they love writing themselves. And the answer is that ideas are everywhere, in things you see, hear, imagine… and of course, in things you remember, too. They are resources you will always have available. You never need … Continue reading →

The Ghost of Christmas Past…

I love Christmas. I love the fairy lights, the carols, the smell of pine; I love the cheesy films, the prezzies, mince pies and chocolate yule log. (There had to be chocolate, right?) Most of all,  I love the ghost of Christmas Past. Not the one from the Dickens book/film, even though it’s a great … Continue reading →

Paris In the Rain…

Research is very important, y’know. If you are writing a book about CHOCOLATE, for instance, you have to know what you are talking about, and that means sampling plenty of the wonder-stuff while you write. Well, that’s my excuse, anyway. And of course it’s just coincidence that as well as the Chocolate Box Girls series … Continue reading →

Storybook Style…

I was at the fab Bath Children’s Lit Festival recently with the very cool Jo Nadin, Karen McCombie and Samantha Macintosh, answering questions about girly books, when we were asked who our fiction-gal heroes were. I answered with two. The first is Alice, from Alice In Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis … Continue reading →

Around The World in 18 Days…

OK, my book tour for Marshmallow Skye isn’t actually ‘all around the world,’ but right now it feels like it! It’s not QUITE 18 days long either – let’s settle on 16 – but it feels pretty epic to me! I’ve been from the south coast to Wales, the South West to the North East… … Continue reading →

New Book Blues…

Scary, scary, scary. Less than a week until Marshmallow Skye comes out. It’s my 15th book and I still get nervous… what if people don’t like it? What if nobody buys it? What if they can’t see the daydream, the story, the way I could? Marshmallow Skye is different from my other stories… it’s a … Continue reading →

Hideaways…

Writing a book isn’t easy. I am not the kind of author who can sit and write on a crowded train or in a busy cafe… I get way too distracted. I need quiet time, time to daydream. My favourite place to daydream has to be the tepee in my garden… a little bit weird … Continue reading →

Happy Holidays!

Holidays… what makes YOUR perfect break? I am just back from a week’s break with my family in sizzling Crete, and I loved it. There was lots of loafing about on the beach, swimming in a warm sea and eating weird and wonderful food like mini cheese pies with honey… trust me, it was gorgeous! … Continue reading →

Off The Rails…

Home is where the heart is, right? It is also where the chocolate is, where the family is, and the strange hairy dog and the psychotic cats and the mad rabbit too. Right now it is sunny and the countryside is looking gorgeous – so gorgeous that a TV company are filming adverts in the … Continue reading →