Fictional women have been the central characters in all six of my books. First, in the Herzberg Trilogy, which spans the period from 1765 to 1918, there are three generations of musically gifted and ambitious women, crucial to what happens against the backdrop of peace and war. Then there is Karin Eilers – a young…
I still work part-time as a Director (Communication), editing a FCO-related magazine Inside Out and sit on three boards. But writing books is my greatest pleasure. The themes come easily and the words without difficulty. I write when I can – no set daily routine. And wherever I go, I carry with me a small…
I published my first novel – The Music Book – in 2014, the year I ran the London Marathon and two years after ending a full-time diplomatic career. I never intended to write more than one. I simply wanted to prove to myself that after years of Foreign Office drafting I was capable of writing…
I have recently finished my latest novel – the sixth in six years. It’s now in the hands of my highly-professional copy editor. I hope it will be published in the latter part of April/beginning of May, to be followed shortly afterwards by my first story for children between the ages of five and seven….
I was delighted to be interviewed recently by Amanda Loose for a piece in North Norfolk Living. The area is not only home, but also features heavily in my books, so has an extra special place in my heart. Amanda was very interested in my background in The Foreign Office, and the inspiration that led…
To write five novels in five years has been – for me – a remarkable journey of discovery. I’ve found a new and deeply rewarding profession that complements my other ongoing activities (diplomacy, the environment and the preservation of buildings in King’s Lynn of historical and architectural merit) and provides a new and refreshing means…
People often ask me about my writing method. Of course, each writer has his or her own but here is mine (please remember I’m relatively new at the game). First, I set myself a completion deadline and stick to it. This approach probably reflects my diplomatic career in which every task – writing a brief,…
As a former diplomat and a strong advocate of taking the long view, I’ve witnessed the good and bad in human nature amongst many I’ve met in my career. I reflect this in my writing, not least in my third novel – A Motif of Seasons. I’ve also drawn on forty years of being part…