The writing bug bit me hard in primary school but I knew for certain what I wanted when I was seventeen. I just didn’t think it was feasible until I had a few life experiences under my belt.

I love baking and cake-decorating. With the exception of cooking dinner, I find time spent in the kitchen to be very soothing.

I’m also working on getting my second black belt in karate. As a Shodan-ho I’m nearly there… Tai chi and yoga are other great loves.

As a family, we spend weekends traipsing around ruins when we can drag my husband out of the garden.

I have three areas where I’m a long-time superfan:

• Original Star Wars Trilogy
• Diana Wynne Jones novels
• Terry Pratchett novels

Favourite Diana Wynne Jones:

• Fire and Hemlock
• Charmed Life
• Hexwood
• Howl’s Moving Castle
• Power of Three

Favourite Terry Pratchett:

• Mort
• Pyramids
• Small Gods
• All the Tiffany Aching books

All-time favourite movies include:

• Princess Bride
• The Mummy
• The Long Kiss Goodnight
• Ladyhawke
• Suddenly 30

I also have an unholy appreciation of Live. Die. Repeat. Partly this is due to adoring Emily Blunt’s kick-arse and care-not heroine, but mostly because the multiple ways Tom Cruise dies is endlessly enjoyable. (I know this is so, so wrong, but he does it so well.)

I tried getting into Marvel. I really did. Guardians of the Galaxy is a joy, but under torture I’d probably reveal my favourite to be Captain America. Closely tied with Thor because, well, Loki and Chris Hemsworth.

When it comes to TV series, the remake of Battlestar Galactica cannot be beaten. I also really love the new She-Ra and Monkey Magic reboots. I can quote almost every episode of Blackadder and frequently do. And I am gutted they canned Agent Carter: I want her hair, make-up and shoes.

Growing up, I loved books by Diana Wynne Jones, Tamora Pierce and Terry Pratchett. All are still great favourites and I’m thrilled my daughter loves them too.

These days I read a lot of Regency and Contemporary Romance because they tend to be different to what I write myself.

There are a few authors/books I 😍 hard. Recent examples I’ve recommended to others include:

Contemporary

• I have read and re-read Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game so many times and it’s still brilliant.
• For endless giggles, the Invertary Series set in Scotland by Janet Elizabeth Henderson.
• For sweary, sexy country fun then pretty much anything by Amy Andrews.
• For a US city version of the same, then Jana Aston.
• Karina Bliss for smart characters in ‘realistic’ tropes, especially her Special Forces and Rock Solid series.
• Anything by Madeline Ash for gut-wrenching emotion.
• Lucy’s Parker’s London Celebrities for a fresh, representative fix on life in the UK.

Regency

• For a romp, I love Elisa Braden’s ‘Rescue from Ruin’ series.
• For ‘real’ characters in what feels an authentic portrayal of the times, then anything by Catherine Tinley.
• For a queer spin, I adore KJ Charles, especially their Band Sinister
• For a touch of magic, the Baleful Godmother series by Emily Larkin.
• Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels has to be the go to for classic Regency hijinks and an unforgettable heroine.

Victorian

• Although I’m not a huge fan of the Victorian era (hello? Irish Famine anyone?), the go-to has to be Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister series.
• Alyssa Cole’s Loyal League series for both heart-sickening tension and the biggest relief payoff ever of a Happily Ever After.

Paranormal

• Cassie Laelyn’s Fallen Guardians series actually made me like angels, probably because she writes guys so darn well. 
• The classic Mediator series by Meg Cabot will always be my Buffy.

Fantasy / Space Opera

• Cannot wait for the final novel of MJ Scott’s Four Arts trilogy.
• Likewise for Jessica Thorne’s Queen’s Wing.
• Everything by Lois McMaster Bujold although my softest spot is for the Hallowed Hunt.
• CS Pacat’s The Captive Prince trilogy.
• Stephen Donaldson’s Mordant’s Need duology.

All time favourites:

• Tam Lin by Pamela Dean.
• Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
• Persuasion by Jane Austen.
• The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye.