Mandy Baggot

Today on In The Sack I am joined by a wonderful friend of mine and a fantastic author...it's Katie Mettner!

Bio:

I was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1975 and lived there, in the same house, for 21 years! I moved to the Northwoods as a young adult where I now reside with my husband and three children. My love affair with Lake Superior began when I met my husband, Dwayne, and he drove me across the bridge one snowy November day with my nose pressed up against the glass. It was in that moment the scene was set for my breakout novel!

As a young adult I enjoyed ballroom dancing and spent many hours on the dance floor, but an injury forced me to sit it out for too many songs. Many would say that losing my left leg was a horrible tragedy, but in fact it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now, like Sugar, I can dance. My stories are a reflection of my love for family intricately woven with life experience. When the gales of November blow early you can find me at the computer with a cup of joe, listening to Michael Bublé and working on Sugar's next adventure....

You can find Katie here:-

Twitter: http://twitter.com/KatieMettner

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Mettner-Author/228147413916391?fref=ts

Website: http://www.katiemettnerbooks.com/

Sugar's Night is coming soon!!

Blurb:

John 1:5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it....

No one knows darkness like Tula “Sugar” Dubois, but as fall cloaks the Twin Ports her lodge is bright with a new love and new life. Sugar should be happier than ever, but when good intentions go bad Van unknowingly begins the dance that will lead Sugar back through the darkness of her past. Filled with doubt Sugar struggles to follow Van’s lead and let him teach her to trust her heart, and him. In the darkness Sugar questions her priorities, doubts her convictions and discovers the angels among us. Determined to start anew Sugar and Van, Jesse and Julie and Max and Lillie finally waltz through the darkness and into the light of Sugar’s Night.

SHOW US THE SACK!!

I got my sack awhile back and there isn’t one thing it lacks. It may not be pretty with flowers and hearts, but it’s designed to be rugged and no nonsense tough. I can stuff it, drag it and beat it about and still I can promise nothing falls out. With this sack there is never, no never, no doubt that when in a Rush it ‘twill always hold up.

Let’s play “Peeping in the sack”. What you find in a woman’s sack usually describes who they are as a person pretty well, so let’s see how my sack defines me. With plenty of pockets for organization you will find them stuffed to the gills with every over the counter remedy needed by man or child and the asthma inhaler to boot! Being a carpenter’s daughter I was taught early on never to get caught without a set of tools. Since becoming an amputee I found this to be even more important advice, so I always carry my mini Leatherman, flashlight and the pink credit card looking case is actually a full set of screwdrivers! Of course there is also my black wallet stuffed to the gills with every kind of account reminder card, kids pictures and reward card possible, oh and look this time I have money! WOOT! I always have my cards for Sugar handy as well as the key to the Sugarmobile. If you look close you will see my flash drive with all three Sugar books on it just to make sure if my house burns down with my computer in it, all is not lost!

Finally the last thing inside my sack is my leg bag. If you aren’t an amputee well you don’t need one of these, but for those of us who are we know the importance of never forgetting it. It contains wet wipes or towelettes for cleaning off your leg and inside of your liner, deodorant or powder to apply in case your liner is slipping off and then of course lotion to put the whole thing back on with. The little white sock is also a must to carry in case you are at a very important event and suddenly you start dancing like the hunchback. Well, you just pop the leg off, pull the little sock on, tuck the leg back on and away you go again dancing like it is 1985.

So now you’ve peeped in my sack. I have to say it was less embarrassing than I thought it would be. I guess I really don’t look that weird just because I carry tools and powder together in the same sack. As the boy scouts say, always prepared!

Thank you so much for coming on In The Sack, Katie! Next week's guest is Sue Moorcroft!

Today on In The Sack I'm welcoming author Patricia Sands! As well as being an amazing writer, Patricia is also a contributor to Loveahappyending Lifestyle http://www.loveahappyending.com/

Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada, when she isn’t somewhere else. An admitted travel fanatic, she can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere … particularly the south of France. With a focus on women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Encouraging women of all ages to stare down the fear factor and embrace change, she has heard from readers ages 20 to 83.

Her award-winning debut novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010.

Her second novel, The Promise of Provence is an Amazon Hot New Release as of April 2013.

Pop in to visit her at:

Blog: http://patriciasands.wordpress.com/

Website: http://patriciasandsauthor.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/patricia.sands.9

and

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorPatriciaSands

Twitter: http://twitter.com/patricia_sands

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4381348.Patricia_Sands

Patricia's latest novel The Promise of Provence can be found here:-

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/ZDZyU7

Amazon US http://amzn.to/YXmpy7

Amazon CA http://amzn.to/16zMZOa

Amazon FR http://amzn.to/10Et8vm

THE SACK!

It's a Roots Canada bag - very popular Canadian brand. I do like to support our own products. I purchased it after years of using big purses where everything got lost in the seemingly bottomless depths! It's great for travel with the small zipped pocket on the front that can hold my passport. 

THE CONTENTS!

As you can see, ever the writer, I have a notebook and pen for those fleeting thoughts we need to capture and always have my bookmarks and business cards for shameless self promotion! The little grouping in the upper left corner is for the grandkids - sunscreen, kleenex, hand sanitizer and sugarless gum! And without fail ... my iPhone!

I love all the promo cards!! Thank you for joining me, Patricia! Next week on In The Sack is author Katie Mettner!

Today on In The Sack I have the wonderful book reviewer Kate Verrier from Me, My Books and I!

Kate is a brilliant book reviewer and I've had the pleasure of meeting her in the flesh when she came to my Strings Attached book signing at Waterstones Southampton!

Bio

I live in Hampshire, UK with my husband and two children, we have a dog, a hamster and two leopard geckos - we all dote on our pet family :). I am a housewife and when I'm not taking care of my family/pets/house than I'm usually reading!

I began my blogging adventure to record my thoughts and feelings about the books that I read, blogging is an outlet for me and it means that I can share my opinion with those of similar tastes. I absolutely love reading, I love getting completely lost in a book and not wanting to (or being unable to) put it down. I only read fiction books because I love to escape into the unreal, I enjoy the feeling of being in a different world with all the places fiction books can take me.

You can find Kate here:-

Blog: http://memybooksandi.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MeMyBooksandI

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/memybooksandi

THE BAG!

I got my current handbag from Matalan for the bargain price of just £10! I normally go for black bags but my 7 year old daughter insisted that I get the cream colour and I'm glad she did because I really like it. I love the decorative heart and I also love its size - its big but not too big. It fits everything I need it to and a bit more, this is very handy when you have children as you always seem to end up carrying their belongings too

What's in the sack?

• My purse (the decorative black one), my son's wallet (the plain black and grey one) and my daughter's purse (the cute kitten one)

• A hairbrush

• A tube of handcream, anti-bac hand gel and pot of Nivea creme

• A Me to You notepad and pens

• Halls soothers

• An expandable reusable bag (the yellow butterfly thing in the photo)

• A Radley mirror

• Tissues in a handmade tissue pouch (pink and purple with stars)

Thank you for sharing your sack with us, Kate! Next week it's author Patricia Sands!

Happy Monday everyone! Now, I've had some great guests for you on my blog lately and I've been doing some mini-blogging on my Loveahappyending Bookshelf page...so this is the first blog post I've done in a while at the House of Baggot! Crazy!

Now, here at the real, non-virtual House of Baggot it's been all about electrical appliances! As you might know, my trusty Hotpoint washer/dryer broke down after 8 years of great service BOO! His replacement is a rather buff Turkish hunk called Beko! Here he is and he's been working me up into a lather for a good few weeks now!

This weekend it was the Hoover! It didn't break but we've had it for about 10 years and basically it was crap! When you have two cats and two long-haired children you need something with a bit of suck! We've been trialling my Nan's Dyson over the last few weeks but, bless her, she asked for it back and wouldn't accept an offer to buy it! WHAT?! So there was nothing for it but to go and melt the credit card and buy one! And here he is - Dyson!

He's gorgeous isn't he? You should see what he can do with his hose! He's getting into places I never knew existed!

So today I'm asking you - which ONE household appliance is your favourite, your most reliable, the keeper, the one you couldn't live without? Comment and let me know!

Mandy xx

This week I am lounging on the beach in Corfu but I have an AMAZING guest for you! Today on In The Sack it's YA author and good friend of mine, Stephanie Keyes!

About Stephanie

Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she's still doing the same thing, except now she gets to share those ideas with readers!

Website - http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/StephanieKeyes

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Keyes-Author/150860604966160 

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Keyes/e/B006GEJZ8C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Loveahappyending - http://loveahappyending.org/stephanie-keyes/

When she's not writing, Stephanie is also a graphic designer, international speaker, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she's best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.

Keyes is the author of the YA Paranormal Romance series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child (September 2012) and The Fallen Stars (April 2013), both released by Inkspell Publishing. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy, The Star Catcher.

Show me the sack!

I picked up this bag in Bar Harbor, Maine last summer when I was researching The Fallen Stars. I love it. It’s soft and has a ton of pockets for everything.

What's in the sack?

Side pocket one contains some bookmarks for The Star Child and The Fallen Stars in case I come across any wayward teens that are panicking over a lack of reading material. I also have a pack of Altoids in there so I don’t offend said teens with bad breath.

Side pocket two? Diapers. Not for me, but my toddler. It also contains wipes and an emergency pacifier in a Ziploc baggy, just in case.

The inside pocket? A miniature Stegosaurus. Doesn’t everyone have one?

The main compartment? Let’s itemize:

• Umbrella: I am in Pittsburgh with can sometimes be the Seattle of the East. There’s nothing worse than being the parent to pick up your child in a rainstorm without an umbrella.

• Checkbook: For paying writer’s groups dues.

• Flower Business Card Holder: For carrying Stephanie Keyes info in case.

• Plaid Eddie Bauer Coffee Cozy: For insulating all of my Starbuck’s coffee cups.

• Teal Post-It Notes: For jotting down brilliant ideas when they come along. I’m still waiting.

• Various Receipts: Documenting recent trips to Target and the Post Office.

• Silver Wallet: Bright enough so I can find it when I need it.

Thank you so much for showing us what's in your sack, Stephanie!

Today in the House of Baggot I have wonderful historical fiction author Jean Fullerton!

Jean's latest novel, Call Nurse Millie, comes out on 23 May and you can pre-order it below!

Call Nurse Millie on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Nurse-Millie-ebook/dp/B00BMUVRT0/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_Y7YX

Jean's website http://www.jeanfullerton.com/

Thanks, Mandy for inviting me to pop over to your blog and say hello to your readers.

You're very welcome Jean, it's lovely to have you here!

Tell me about your latest work/work in progress in no more than 30 words.

Call Nurse Millie starts on VE day 1945 and follows Millie Sullivan, a qualified nurse and midwife, as she tends to the needs of the East End community around her.

Tell me your writing dream.

To be a full-time writer and have, Call Nurse Millie, reviewed in a Sunday supplement and be on sale in the Big Four supermarkets.

Tell me more about you – where do you live? Tell me about your hobbies and what you do in your spare time when you’re not writing.

Until recently I lived in Stratford East London, by the Olympic Stadium, and just three miles from Stepney where I was born. However, in November last year we moved outside the Town Walls – or the M25 as most people know it - to Waltham Abbey just on the Essex Hertfordshire borders. For me it’s the best of both worlds: rural country side in the heart of Epping Forest but only 40 minutes on the tube to Oxford Circus.

By profession I’m a District Nurse and have worked as such in East London for the past 20 years. Currently I’m a Senior Lecturer in a London University so hobbies and spare time has be squeezed inbetween the day-job and writing 2000 words a day. However, I do socialise most weekends with friends and family. We also travel a great deal. So far it’s been in Europe and America but next year we’re hoping to venture further afield to the Far East and tour Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Tell me what you like to watch on television – are you a soap addict or a fan of period dramas for instance?

I’m really a great across-the-board drama fan everything from Game of Thrones to Endeavour. But the stories have to be original, gripping and well-acted. I’m also a bit of a fan of anything with a political setting. I love House of Cards and more recently the Politician’s Husband but also comedy set in the corridors of power such as the ground-breaking for it’s time, Yes Minister and again the recent bitingly-sharp The Thick of It.

Favourite band/singer – have you seen them in concert?

Can I confess, Mandy, I’m really not a great music fan? If asked to pick a favourite song I’d really be stumped. The last singer I saw in concert in an intimate Soho gig was Dave Stewart of Eurythmic’s fame and someone had to explain to me who he was. But if pushed I’d plump for Take That, for the obvious Gary Barlow reason but otherwise…

Favourite genre of fiction and/or favourite novel or author.

I like anything that’s well written and holds my interest for contemporary fiction I’d go for Carol Matthews, Jill Mansell and Julie Cohen, too. And for crime give me a Lee Child’s any day.

But my real love is historical, it has been since I was thirteen and read Katherine by Anya Seton, since then I’ve always been on the lookout for well-written and factually-accurate stories with multiple characters to transport me back in time. As to favourite books! Well, the list is endless but I suppose if I had to hone it down I’d say Katherine, The Winthrop Woman and Green Darkness by Anya Seton, You before Me by Jojo Moyes, all of Carole Matthews books, anything by Elizabeth Chadwick, the whole of the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell and many, many more.

Quiz

In my novel ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ Kate and Joel take part in a relationship contest a bit like ‘Mr & Mrs’. I thought it would be fun if you could answer their quick fire questions and readers of the page can make what they will from your answers! Choose one from the following pairs e.g. savoury or sweet based on your gut reaction to the words. Remember its quick fire!

Savoury or Sweet? Sweet preferably Haribos.

Action or relaxation? Action. Need to be doing all the time.

Up or down? Up. I’m a naturally optimistic person.

Tea or coffee? Tea. I hate coffee.

Nightclub or wine bar? Wine bar with a bunch of friends.

Ferrari or Porsche? Aston Martin DB7 preferably with Daniel Craig in the passenger seat

Truth or dare? Truth. Lies always catch you out.

Gym or bed? Bed. I like my sleep

Flower or tree? Trees. They are wilder

Hot or cold? Hot. I’m a great sun worshiper.

Bruce Forsyth or Dick Van Dyke? Dick Van Dyke so I can teach him to

do a cockney accent properly.

Thank you so much for joining me, Jean and I hope Call Nurse Millie is a great success!

Today on In The Sack I am welcoming the wonderful book reviewer, Carol Wright, aka Dizzy C! 

Dizzy C has a fantastic book review site and here are all her lovely links so you can connect with her and find out more:-

Dizzy C's Little Book Blog http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter http://twitter.com/DizzyCLBB

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/DizzyCs-Little-Book-Blog/209614725766997

So, show us your bag and tell us about it!

I have a love/hate relationship with my current handbag. I love, love, love the dogtooth herringbone design, but it is rather bulky to wear cross body. My shoulder hates my handbag and will often protest regardless of how heavy it is.

I tend to be monogamous where handbags are concerned. That way I avoid leaving important things in the wrong bag. The exception to the rule is when I have date night with Hubby and I only take a bit of cash, mobile and lippy with me. They can fit in a neat little cross body bag.

What's under the zip?

Purse - with every store loyalty card going

Prescription sunglasses

Mobile library - Kindle

Handy wipes - used to be a whole packet of baby wipes

Asthma Inhaler for children - always have one in my bag

My handy bag tidy

4 lipsticks - everytime I go out I add the latest shade

more loyalty cards and library card in a card wallet

Lipsalve

Pens

Hairband

Headache tablets

I would suggest a handy bag tidy, ladies. A real timesaver at the checkout.

I bought a cheapish makeup bag from Superdrug with a clear window but you can buy these completey see thru. It is great for keeping all the little things tidy and instead of rummaging around in a dark place, I can whip out the who bag and see what I want.

Thanks so much for sharing your handbag with us, Carol!

Next week is YA author Stephanie Keyes!

Welcome to my fantastic new feature In The Sack! Now, I know some people have been wondering what this is all about. Well, Lady B has a fetish...for handbags! In In The Sack I will be asking authors and book bloggers to expose their handbag and reveal what's under the zip!

Today I'm welcoming author Michelle Betham!

About Michelle

As an author of glamorous (and sometimes not-so-glamorous!) sexy, contemporary romance, I spend a lot of time living in a dream world, drinking tea, and imagining... well, you'll have to read my books to see just what it is I imagine!

I'm an ex-media technician-turned-author; a proud Geordie who loves the north east of England, wine (any kind - I'm not fussy, but don't ever bring a bottle of Lambrini near me... okay, maybe I am fussy...), a decent TV drama, rock music, and any movie with Keanu Reeves in it - unless it's the Matrix. My love for Keanu will only go so far...

I live in beautiful County Durham with my extremely patient and tolerant husband and my very noisy but incredibly cute West Highland terrier, Archie. I'm currently working on the second book in my sexy, football-related romance trilogy, but I would one day love to write a sit com - preferably with Peter Kay, and preferably about darts. Yep, I'm dreaming big...

Michelle's Links

Facebook Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/michellebetham.romanceauthor

Twitter - http://twitter.com/michellebetham

Blog - http://michellebethamwriter.blogspot.co.uk/

Amazon Page - http://ow.ly/kNoAE

So let's look at Michelle's handbag!

I've had this bag for heaven knows how many years, as you can probably tell! It was bought from Primark for about £3, and I was actually standing in the queue waiting to pay for something else when I saw it (well, if they will place sale items right next to the checkouts...) and couldn't resist! I love it because it's one of those bags where you can just throw everything in (yeah, I'm that organised!), it's comfortable to carry, and just big enough for me. Yes, it's getting a bit battered and old now, but this is the style of bag I like, and I'm looking for a very similar replacement as we speak... if I can bear to part with this tatty old thing, that is. This bag's been with me through a lot - holidays, meet-ups with new friends, Take That concerts...

So what's in it?

Dog poop bags - essential when you have Archie the Westie for a pet!

Purse - not that it's got much in it...

Mobile Phone

Handwash

Pen and notebook - also essential because, believe me, inspiration has sometimes hit me in the strangest of places...

Glass cleaning cloth

Lip Gloss

Lip Balm

Umbrella

Keys - on my battered old Take That keyring bought during The Ultimate Tour back in 2006... I cried when they got back together, and so did my husband - for a whole different reason...

I think that's everything... nothing very exciting, but it's all essential!

FABULOUS! Apart from the dog poop bags LOL! Thanks for joining me Michelle!

Next week I will be joined by Carol Wright from Dizzy C's Little Book Blog!

Today in the House of Baggot I have another great guest! Please make her welcome, it's author Estelle Wilkinson! 

Tell me about your latest work/work in progress in no more than 30 words

I’m desperately trying to finish the sequel to “Click”. (Estelle's book 'It Started with a Click' - more on that later!) Time’s limited so I’m way behind schedule! I want to make it the best I can so need to be patient.

Tell me your writing dream

I’d love to try my hand at some fiction. So far, I’ve just published my memoirs so I’ve not had to use too many creative juices. I’ve been told that I “have a very natural narrative voice” and my “personality shines through my writing” but I’ve also been told that “I can’t write that well” so I see it as a challenge. I want to prove my critic wrong!

Tell me more about you – where do you live? Tell me about your hobbies and what you do in your spare time when you’re not writing

I live in England but can’t really give too much away! Otherwise, it could ruin the story for my readers.

I am very happily married with two children; a boy of 5 (six in a few weeks!) and a boy of 2. They keep us very busy!

My husband works away during the week so our weekends are special. We always try and make sure we get some quality family time. Our only hobby right now is watching our eldest play football on a Saturday morning! Oh, that and reading. We’re very big on reading in our house. My children have had books around since they were born. It’s a big part of our lives.

Tell me what you like to watch on television – are you a soap addict or a fan of period dramas for instance?

I’m not really a big soap fan. And, I definitely don’t watch the talent shows like X-Factor and the like! I love QI and Miranda. Anything that will make me laugh!

Favourite band/singer – have you seen them in concert?

There are so many! At the moment I am mostly enjoying Mumford & Sons and Florence and the Machine. I haven’t seen either in concert. I haven’t been to a concert in about nearly ten years! Wow! I hadn’t realised it had been that long until I wrote this. The best concert I ever went to was a James concert in Manchester. I loved it!

Favourite genre of fiction and/or favourite novel or author

I don’t really have a favourite genre. I’m happy to read anything. One of my consistently enjoyable and favourite authors is Paul Torday. I’ve loved his books and would read them over and over! Khaled Hossein is another favourite and I can’t wait for And The Mountains Echoed to come out!

My favourite book of all time is We Need To Talk About Kevin. It was beautifully written and moved me so much that it has stayed with me ever since.

I have recently read The Help (as recommended by a friend) and The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (because I saw it on Amazon) and thoroughly enjoyed both!

Quiz

In my novel ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ Kate and Joel take part in a relationship contest a bit like ‘Mr & Mrs’. I thought it would be fun if you could answer their quick fire questions and readers of the page can make what they will from your answers! Choose one from the following pairs e.g. savoury or sweet based on your gut reaction to the words. Remember its quick fire!

Savoury or Sweet? Sweet

Action or relaxation? Relaxation

Up or down? Down

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Nightclub or wine bar? Wine bar

Ferrari or Porsche? Can I say neither for this one? I’d rather have a Skoda Yeti!

Truth or dare? Truth

Gym or bed? Bed

Flower or tree? Flower

Hot or cold? Hot

Bruce Forsyth or Dick Van Dyke? I have to say Brucie for this one! I love him! He’s still brilliant and I grew up watching him on the television week in, week out.

Blog: http://estellewilkinson.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EstelleW_Author

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EstelleWAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/EstelleW_Author

FREE!! Estelle's book It Started with a Click is FREE until Sunday! So grab your copy while you can!

Amazon US:http://ow.ly/kFmYC

Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/kFn1m

Thank you for joining me, Estelle!

I'm delighted to have Lin Treadgold on my blog today and her new novel Goodbye, Henrietta Street!

Lin's website- http://itslinhere.wordpress.com/

Twitter- @itslinhere https://twitter.com/itslinhere

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/lin.treadgold?fref=ts

Amazon- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-Henrietta-Street-Lin-Treadgold/dp/1908208147/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367403914&sr=1-1&keywords=Lin+Treadgold

Safkhet- http://safkhetpublishing.com/books/soul/9781908208149/Goodbye_Henrietta_Street.html

Tell me about your latest work/work in progress in no more than 30 words.

‘Goodbye, Henrietta Street’ is a poignant romance novel based in Yorkshire and the Cornish Isles of Scilly. I wrote this book as a holiday read.

Tell me your writing dream.

There are about five books in my head that I would love to write. One is a war story, as my father left me many letters from his time as a prisoner of war. The rest are romance novels and if I can achieve this before my 70th birthday I will have fulfilled a dream.

Tell me more about you – where do you live? Tell me about your hobbies and what you do in your spare time when you’re not writing.

I live in The Netherlands and I used to be a driving instructor in the UK. My husband transferred here at a time when the company was handing out redundancies and offices in the UK were closing at the start of the millenium. We had the chance to move elsewhere. It’s been good experience, but now I am ready embark on my new life as an author. Within the next three years we will return to live in the UK. This will allow me access to my writing buddies and conferences without having to catch an air flight each time.

I never set out to become a romance writer, it just happened that way. I spent my early days in romantic locations, having travelled the world by sea, and my experiences inspired me to write romance.

My hobbies are birdwatching and assisting in whatever I can with nature conservation. I volunteer at a local nature reserve with the nesting bird survey during the spring months. It is so rewarding to see the results when recorded as a life list. I supported the plight of the orangutans, in Borneo, and campaigned against the palm oil industry and destruction of the rain forest.

Tell me what you like to watch on television – are you a soap addict or a fan of period dramas for instance?

I’m not a soap addict, but during the lunch break I like to sit with a cup of tea and watch ‘Doctors’. This is my personal chill-out time. I am also a ‘Dr Who’ fan.

As with most viewers, I thought ‘Downton Abbey’ was fantastic and I do enjoy all period dramas. Of course, being into nature, I love the David Attenborough programmes and the recent Gordon Buchanan series ‘The Polar Bear Family and Me’. It was an amazing piece of filming.

 Favourite band/singer – have you seen them in concert?

Due to living in Holland and spending much of my time learning how to become an author, modern music seems to have passed me by, although my daughter is encouraging me to go into Amsterdam and listen to the big names once again.

It’s been a long time since I went to rock concerts, although I have seen Pink Floyd many years ago in their psychedelic era and Jim Hendrix. I have also seen the 60’s American group, The Grateful Dead at the Rainbow Theatre in London. I These days I am more into Carly Simon and all the golden oldies of the seventies to include Mark Knopfler Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac. Moving on to more classical themes, I also enjoy the recent Dr Who incidental music of Murray Gold. I think these days I prefer a good opera at the theatre and in 2012 I visited Austria and saw The Marriage of Figaro.

 Favourite genre of fiction and/or favourite novel or author.

Ah! Now that’s an interesting question. Throughout the years I have never really been a reader, only a writer. They say you cannot write a good novel unless you read as well. I think it was author, Annie Murray, who grabbed my attention and before then I read quite a lot of Danielle Steele novels. Annie encouraged me to keep going and provided feedback on my first attempts at novel writing. I now have a collection of her novels. I also have a fantastic collection of Charles Dickens; they are leather bound antique books from 1870’s. I am presently reading Martin Chuzzlewit. I enjoy collecting old and interesting titles.

These days I read whatever I can and it really does help to read the books of the Romantic Novelists’ Association authors. Each one has something new to offer to help the writer understand what it is that contributes to a good romance story. I love to read Talli Roland, Build a Man, Jean Fullerton, Hold on to Hope, and Katie Fforde, Love Letters. One of my favourite American authors is Audrey Niffenegger. Her Fearful Symmetry was an excellent read. I try to read many different genres to allow myself to become genre aware. I feel one day I might want to move on to something different - not be typecast like an actor, which may not be for me. If JK Rowling can make those changes, then perhaps it is something for me to consider too. Who knows what the future may bring?. I shall keep going for as long as I can. Author, Mary Wesley, from 1982 to 1991, wrote and delivered seven novels. She was in her seventies. There is plenty of hope for me yet.

Quiz

In my novel ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ Kate and Joel take part in a relationship contest a bit like ‘Mr & Mrs’. I thought it would be fun if you could answer their quick fire questions and readers of the page can make what they will from your answers! Choose one from the following pairs e.g. savoury or sweet based on your gut reaction to the words. Remember its quick fire!

Savoury or Sweet? Savoury

Action or relaxation? Action

Up or down? Up

Tea or coffee? Tea

Nightclub or wine bar? Wine Bar

Ferrari or Porsche? (Either will do – probably Porsche)

Truth or dare? Truth

Gym or bed? Gym

Flower or tree? Flower

Hot or cold? Hot

Bruce Forsyth or Dick Van Dyke? Brucie

Thank you so much for joining me today, Lin and I wish you lots of success with your book!

Mandy xx