Starting out as a writer
In 1973 I opened a book shop, thinking I could mind my children, run the shop and knock off the odd novel in between. Such are dreams made. In fact I became far too busy reading catalogues and being a mum to find time to write.
After ten years of this we moved out onto the remote Lakeland fells for a ‘rest!’ and became thoroughly involved in rural life, keeping sheep and hens, various orphaned cats and dogs, built drystone walls, planted a small wood and even learned how to make jam.
But the day came when I sold my first short story to D.C.Thompson, a red letter day indeed, which was also the name of the magazine, now defunct. Following this breakthrough I seemed to develop the knack, or my luck changed.
I’d certainly learned to study the market and target my efforts more effectively. I went on to sell over 40 stories to My Weekly, People’s Friend, and My Story magazine.
The day I received a call from Mills & Boon saying they wanted to publish my historical romance Madeiran Legacy was one of those special moments in my life. So exciting!
It´s now available on Amazon as an ebook.
I wrote five historical romances for Mills & Boon before using my life on the fells and my Lancashire children to write family sagas. I’ve now published over 35 novels including many bestselling sagas and historical romantic fiction.
Here I am signing books at a RWA conference in Reno, Nevada.