LUSCIOUS CORNWALL

This is the view I'll be waking up to for the next few days....

The magnificence which is Trevone Bay in north Cornwall.

I shall be taking a book (HIS ILLEGAL SELF by Peter Carey) and some proofs to correct - as well as my latest wip (the one about the bad-girl singer and the arrogant Duke).

I shall also be taking a hot-water bottle.

Snow is forecast.

BRAND NEW COVER!

My latest book is out in the UK.

It's called SHAMEFUL SECRET, SHOTGUN WEDDING and it's available in all good bookstores now.

(Er, actually that's not quite true - since Waterstone's doesn't stock it. You're missing a chance there Waterstone's, I must say....)

It's about a gorgeous international playboy called Giancarlo Vellutini and Cassie, a naive girl from Cornwall who takes a Christmas vacation job in a glittering London department store. Sparks really fly when this most unlikely of couples meet.

Thanks to the lovely Rick Stroud for inspiring the heroine's name - Rick and I were at the Cheltenham Literary Festival last year. And thanks also to Elizabeth Douglas, who has already read the book, which prompted her to write me a letter about growing up in Cornwall in the 1040's. My job has all kinds of wonderful perks - and letters like Elizabeth's are at the top of the list.

Apologies to the prize winners of my recent competition. Caroline, Michela and Rachel - if you've been wondering where your books are - I'll post them out next week.

Do you like the snazzy new cover?

BACK FROM CORNWALL

Cornwall is really one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I think of it in shades of blue and grey.

In one morning, the sea turned from pewter to sapphire with a zillion variations in betweeen.

But blue is best.....

See what I mean?

Here I am at Harlyn Bay - plotting out my new Chapter I.

Inspiration comes easy here. One gulp of that bracing, salty air and I'm away! Let's hope it stays with me.....

I have a book out next month called SHAMEFUL SECRET, SHOTGUN WEDDING - some of which is set in this part of Cornwall. Perhaps I should make it a trilogy...

Is there somewhere which always fills you with inspiration - and is it by the sea?

WHERE AM I?

Surrounded by a sea of flowers....
And surrounded by sea....
Yes, I'm in glorious Cornwall, where I've been running along the cliff-top, eating scones with cream and jam (the second activity making the first activity absolutely vital!) and eating the most delicious food at The Seafood Restaurant where I fell in love with the amazing art-work which adorned the walls there.

And this is currently the view from my window.
(Funnily enough, I don't seem to have done very much writing this morning.....!)

So won't you look out of your window now - and tell me what it is you see?

TRAINS AND BUTTERED TOAST

Am back from my glorious mini-break in Cornwall - which ticked all the right boxes. The sun shone. The sea alternatively glittered/pounded/rhymically mesmerised. And made me feel very grateful as I lay tucked up in a warm bed, listening to the never-ending movement of the waves. Sometimes I take warmth and security too much for granted.....

On a long walk, we came across a beautiful little church - made famous because an illustrious person is buried there. Any idea who it might be?





Need a closer look?


The clue is in the title of this post.....

MARY HAD A LITTLE.....

So this was Cornwall. Unlike the cerulean skies and golden dappled paths which featured in my last trip, this time it was all windswept and rainswept - with winds which howled at night like caged beasts. But oh, so atmospheric. Particularly when I looked out of my window first thing - to see apricot-tinged waves sparkling in the early morning light.
Here's a glamour shot while out walking!



And my friend Catriona's unique use of a paper back to help shelter her from the driving rain!



And the cutest little lamb you ever did see. This part of Cornwall has so mild a climate that lambs are always born before Christmas. And this one bleated so sweetly that we all began reciting nursery rhymes and deciding that mint sauce should definitely be banned


What shall we call the little lamb?