You already know I'm a writer and I'll tell you more about that below but first, let's get personal.

I grew up in Hastings, East Sussex, before moving to London to pursue a career. I'm older than I'd like to be, but my odd sense of humour means, I rarely act my age. My adorable cat, Phoebe, allows me to share her home and you can see from the photo why I never get as much writing done as I should.

I love to cook, especially at Christmas; I absolutely adore Christmas. I drink too much wine and I eat too much chocolate but I also enjoy 'healthy food,' like avocados. I eat so many I'm surprised I haven't turned green!

When I'm not writing, I'm swimming; skiing; travelling; pottering in the garden; daydreaming; chatting with my friends; watching the heavens or reading - but not all at the same time. I'm also an avid DVD watcher. I do go to the cinema but I prefer to watch films at home with friends - and a glass of wine.

Some of my favourite films are: Star Wars (the originals); The General's Daughter; The Last of The Mohicans; One Fine Day; Serendipity (and most of John Cusack's films - bit of a crush on John Cusack actually). I also enjoy action films, thrillers, and any involving Christmas - so The Long Kiss Goodnight is a particular favourite.

Obviously, I love books, and I read anything from murder to romance, fact to fiction. A few of my favourites are The Scarlet Pimpernel; To Kill a Mockingbird; The General's Daughter; The Snow Falcon and All I want for Christmas, but there are hundreds more, including, most of Georgette Heyer's, some of Nora Roberts' and many travel books/journals.

My favourite poems are, 'The Haystack in the Floods' by William Morris; a wonderfully tragic tale and 'Invictus' by William Ernest Henley. For many years, I've had a couple of passages from Invictus pinned up beside my desk, the paper now yellowing from age and the lines beginning to fade, but I find it so inspiring.

So, when did I start writing? Well, I've always written, from my early days scribbling in my first diary to writing novels, the love of words has stayed with me. My career path took me in very different directions though, until I became ill and had to reconsider my future. Life's like that isn't it?

I moved back to Hastings but I decided I needed a break and found a writing holiday in Posara, Italy. A week later I was making new friends, eating wonderful food, drinking excellent local wines, laughing and writing in the picturesque surroundings of this converted Italian watermill. Since then I've been writing full time. I can thoroughly recommend going on a writing holiday!

I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a planner when writing. I sit at my desk and I type whatever pops into my head. I write because I love writing and because characters tell me their stories. To see what I'm currently working on, pop over to my work in progress page.

Well, that's enough about me but if you want to get in touch, you can, by clicking on my contact page and sending me an email.

I hope that, wherever you are in the world, life is treating you well. Thanks for stopping by.

Best wishes,