First, the good news! I'm delighted to announce that two of my books have been awarded prizes in the prestigious CIBA competiton. CIBA (Chanticleer International Book Awards) is a respected competition which offers writers across a broad spectrum of genres the opportunity to compete for one of its Grand Prizes. Winners were announced at the Annual Conference, which was held in Bellingham WA in April. Tall Chimneys, ever my golden girl, cleared the slush pile to make the long-list, and then...

Me? I'm a list-maker. Be it the week's menu, a shopping list or a to-do list, I have them all! Why? Mainly so that I don't forget stuff. I'm approaching that age when I can only keep so many things in my head. Also, for the satisfaction of ticking things off. Nothing gives a great sense of achievement than, at the end of the day, seeing all my chores completed. I've recently discovered there's another kind of list I ought to be checking, though. Goodreads has dozens of lists which show the...

Years ago I sat on a bus in front of two women who were discussing the colour of the mother-of-the-bride outfit one of them had bought the week before. ‘What colour is it?’ ‘Hard to say. Orangey.’ ‘Like a tangerine?’ ‘Oh no! Not so vivid. When I say orangey, really it’s more orangey-pink.’ ‘Orange blossom, then? That’ll be nice for a spring wedding.’ ‘N ... no, not really. That’s really pale, isn’t it?’ ‘More of an apricot?’ ‘Mmm. But pinker.’ ‘Shrimp?’ ‘No! Not as pink as that.’ ‘Coral?’...