How it all began Italy has always held a special place in my heart, but my first trip there was truly magical and ignited the spark for a lifelong passion for this enchanting country. It was the summer I turned sixteen, when my family and I went on a holiday to Sorrento, a postcard-pretty town …
My passion for gardening inspired me to write The Italian Garden but, as a one-time dress designer, my love for beautiful fabrics led me to give one of my characters a career in his family’s silk manufacturing business. I visited Bellagio to research the location for The Italian Garden and, on a blisteringly hot day, took a ferry across …
One of the exciting aspects of writing a novel is when it involves travel. I visited Bellagio on the shores of Lake Como in the summer of 2022 to research the location for The Italian Garden, and fell in love with the glorious scenery and the warmth of the Italian people. It’s impossible not to be …
‘A really lovely story that will stay with me for a long time.’ NetGalley reviewer One of my favourite childhood books was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The idea of a lost garden intrigued me and, many years later, I’ve loved writing The Italian Garden, my own secret garden story. The idea for the book …
Joining a book club is a great way to share your enjoyment of reading. Members often have very different ideas about what makes their perfect book but, even if the book of the month isn’t what you would usually read, you may be excited to discover a new author or genre. Remain open minded and …