Beautiful Blogger thing

The ever so lovely India Grey asked and I have held off doing this until today as today is a special anniversary for me.

1. Where were you five years ago?

• Five years ago I went to the bookshop to pick up a book my husband had ordered. And had just arrived home.


• Five years ago the phone rang. I answered it.


• Five years, I spoke to the sr editor of HMB Historical and initially thought she was going to let me down gently as editors did The Call on a Thursday


• Five years ago, my editor Who Is Right On Such Matters informed that she wanted to buy The Gladiator's Honour.


• Five years ago today, I became a HMB author.

2. What was on your things to do list?

• After the phone call – buy champagne. Didn't trust myself to drive so I walked or rather floated on air.


• Have a wonderful weekend. (My editor suggested that and Editors generally know best in these sorts of situations)


• Let various people know without seeming like a jabbering idiot.


• Finishing the ms that became A Noble Captive.


• Do minor revisions.

To do now – major revisions for my current Victorian. Then minor revisions for my Roman Undone. Get ready for the RWA Nationals in July, Get ready for my eldest coming home tomorrow from university. Support my daughter who has a History A level today (which I think she will ace!

3. Name 5 snacks that you enjoy

• Olives
• Salami
• Clam dip
• Seven layer dip
• cake

4. Name 5 places in which you have lived

• the two bedroom bungalow where I was born that was built over an old apricot orchard so there were trees to climb and apricots to pick – still remember the cutting for drying...
• the three bedroom bungalow we moved to just before my sister was born and where I spent my formative years. One of the chores was to bag the ivy that grew as a hedge separating us from the park. I hated it.
• the Grade 2 listed late Georgian terrace house that was the first house my husband and I bought – one bedroom but oh what a period pieces were left.
• Our current house – an Edwardian bungalow built 1908 with its large garden...with lots of ivy which I now enjoy doing...

5. What 5 things would you do if you were a billionaire?

• Donate money anonymously to causes I support. Doing good just needs to be done. People don’t need to know my name. (I have always been so impressed with the man who founded Xerox)


• Travel to places I have always wanted to go.


• Buy a horse for my daughter.


• Keep writing because I enjoy it.


• Live modestly but well. Because there is more to life than money. But money can help make you comfortable.

I think just about everyone else has done this one. If anyone wants to do it. Go ahead. And thanks to Kate Hardy for her tweaking of the topics!