Living history, remembering WWI

In the UK, we’re preparing to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.  For most of us, August 1914 is many lifetimes away. Yet, I’m fortunate to have a connection with one of those lifetimes. It’s part of the web of family and...

Making memories at the RNA conference 2014

Last weekend, I attended the conference of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) held on the beautiful, rural campus of Harper Adams University near Telford, England.  Learning about craft From sessions on taking control of plot and using setting more effectively,...

The power of 250 words

I have a family, with responsibilities for people ranging in age from 10 to 104. I have a day job with international travel and unpredictable demands. I have friends, a community and ‘to do’ lists perpetually syncing between multiple electronic devices. In short,...

I never meant to be an emigrant – writing about home

A recurring theme in my writing is a search for home and community. My heroes and heroines grapple with the push and pull between roots and wings, finding their happy ever after in small towns much like the one where I spent childhood summers. Places where...

Family, food and fiction

One of my most cherished possessions is my mother’s recipe book.  A worn binder holding loose leaf sheets, it’s not much to look at from the outside. But inside it holds a treasure trove of memories – not only of her but of family and friends spanning several...