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I am often asked, 'What made you want to write novels?'  When in fact I never saw myself as a novelist, but I'm still hoping for the mainstream publishing break that will validate me as a writer.

Born in London, the city's colourful history has always been part of my life. At one time I haunted the National Portrait Gallery, where a painting of James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, caught my attention.

Fascinated by the tragedy of this illegitimate son of Charles II, I chose it as a backdrop to a story about an Exeter girl caught up in the attempt Monmouth made in 1685 to seize the throne. The story changed over the years, as did the characters, but essentially, it stayed with me, although I never described the closely typed pages as a manuscript.

The next step was to find out if I could actually write, so through Lisa Yarde; a lovely, generous lady with an old spirit, who encouraged me to submit my embryo novel to a Historical Fiction Critique Group. The group moderator, Anne Whitfield, a wonderful author herself, told me I had a good story, I simply had to learn how to write it.

The novel went through an evolutionary process and I discovered Anne was right, the original story now benefits from some polish and reads like a proper novel! The sequel was published in 2008 and now I can't stop writing.

I have learned so much from members of the Historical Fiction Critique Group, and the Medieval Fictions Writers Critique Group, through both giving and receiving critiques. Their stories range from ancient civilisations to Regency England. I'm convinced some of them will be published soon - and I got to read them first!