My husband has been telling me that the reason we are doing so well in lockdown is because of the submariners' patrol rules he follows. When he told me about it, I realized this is nothing new: these are the rules we have been following all our married life! We're celebrating 36 years in May, so … [Read more...]
Why Did I Leave The Happiest Country In The World?
In light of Thursday's election result here in the UK, I am wondering why I left Finland, the happiest country in the world? Last week, the new Brexit Party of Britain, the Conservatives, was re-elected into parliament with a massive majority. Led by one of the most controversial politicians, Boris … [Read more...]
How a film inspired The Nordic Heart Romance series
Have you ever wondered what inspires authors to write their stories? I find this a fascinating subject, especially as no one author, or story, is the same in this respect. My books are inspired by several things: memories, places I visit, other novels or just something I've overheard. I often also … [Read more...]
Faslane Naval Base Peace Protests and The Nordic Heart
It's interesting to see that the peace protests are going ahead outside the Faslane Naval Base again. According to Helensburgh Advertiser, the local Scottish newspaper, talks are being held in advance of a temporary protest camp near Coulport where the warheads for the Trident nuclear submarines are … [Read more...]
The Good Officer is out today!
It’s Publication Day! My new novel, the fourth book (but also a standalone read) in The Englishman series, THE GOOD OFFICER, is out today! Hurrah! These are early reviews I’ve had so far: Another winning combination of romance in a recent historical setting, with culture clashes between Finnish … [Read more...]
Why reinvent yourself for a sequel novel?
One of the most common questions I get from the readers of The Faithful Heart, my sequel to The English Heart, is how much of the story is true. Of course, this is a perfectly sensible and appropriate question, being that The English Heart is the story of how I came to be in England. Although … [Read more...]
New novel title reveal!
So the Brexit vote is over and done with, and whatever side you were on, I think you'll agree that the result was a shock for most of us who live and work in Britain. If you follow me on social media you'll know by now that I'm a firm believer in the European Union, and that I am more than … [Read more...]
Empty Nesting – Again
Daughter moved away from home on Sunday and although she'd already done that once when she left for university, this time the move felt more final. She works in TV, so she's never home, and often has been staying away for weeks filming here and there. A couple of years ago, she went travelling … [Read more...]
The Navy Wife in The Helensburgh Advertiser
I thought I'd share with you how I got an article on The Navy Wife into a local Scottish newspaper, The Helensburgh Advertiser. The novel is set in the Royal Navy base in Faslane and the married quarters down the road from Helensburgh in Rhu, as well as in Portsmouth. Thinking the papers might be … [Read more...]
