Dear Readers

What a lovely idea to be able to tell our readers a little bit about ourselves.

I was born in Rotherhithe, London, where all my books are set, although it is many years since I lived there. Somehow nostalgia plays a large part in all of our lives.

The question I get asked the most when I give my talks is 'what made you want to write?' I have always loved reading and enjoyed writing compositions, as they were called in my day. I left school at fourteen and, having been evacuated many times, missed a lot of schooling. Spelling was my worst subject and if you ever want to be a writer you need to be able to spell. So I became a hairdresser.

It was when my husband, Les, and I were living in Spain, and I had plenty of time, that I decided to have a go at writing a novel digging into my wartime memories. So I started my first novel on a portable typewriter. When we returned home in 1989 I sent my manuscript to Headline and in 1990, after two re-writes, Carrie of Culver Road was born.

My thirteenth novel, Hopes and Dreams, is about a G.I. bride. Throughout the war as a child I secretly wished to be old enough to marry a Yank as, being an avid film fan, I wanted to go to America. Fortunately, it wasn’t to be and I married my dear Les.

Thanks to the people who buy my novels, I’ve been able to fulfil my early ambition, and have visited the States many times. That’s one of the joys of writing.

With all my best wishes,