Thanks to blog friend Lynne for passing on these questions – What me and Lynne have in common is that we both started with a letter in Woman’s Realm. Lynne’s was about two seagulls flying up the motorway; mine was about drying thistles to use in flower arranging from the garden. I have quite a bit of catching up to do, but I’m always writing and promoting, though I spend too much time promoting and not enough time writing. Sometimes I think I link from this to that and that to the other, I’m sending my readers round in circles. It’s all good though, so here we go…
Q. Where were you born and where do you live at the moment?
A. Born in hilly Staffordshire, where you will find Cannock Chase and there’s lots of horses grazing in the fields and sometimes on the roadsides. Our family lived in a bungalow built by my Grandad; an old Gypsy called Sam lived down the road in one of those bow topped caravans. I found it fascinating to see him cooking and washing up outdoors. Now I live in leafy Warwickshire; home of Shakespeare and George Eliot and Susan Jones.
Q. Have you always lived and worked in Britain or have you been based anywhere else?
A. I love England, there’s nowhere I’d rather be. We spent a year in West Africa when I was younger with Dad’s work in a gold mine. I moaned a lot asking Mom to send word back to England for ham and cheese cobs. I didn’t settle too well. I loved climbing fruit trees and hurling the guavas to the little children who were half-starved. They ran like ants to gobble them up. It taught me to be grateful for basics like food… On the way back we stayed at Las Palmas which seemed a sophisticated place back in the 60’s.
Q. Which is your favorite part of Britain?
A. I love Torbay, especially Brixham. It’s such an unassuming place and I love the multi-coloured houses and fresh fish.
Q. Does your favorite place feature in your writing?
A. I wrote a short story set there, a ghost one, but it hasn’t been published yet.
Q. Do you agree about the British stiff upper lip?
A. Absolutely; most definitely; oh gosh, tally ho – yes, what?
Q. Do any of your characters have the stiff upper lip?
A. I have such a lot of characters, but mine tend to be working class types. They usually wear a pinny, work in a factory or worry about money.
Q. Tell us about one of your recent books.
A. I have a short story in an e.book. It’s on Amazon ‘Growing up in the 70’s’ There are four stories in the book. My story is called ‘High School Blues.’ A work of fiction about three girls who’re not sure what they’re doing, except playing around and listening to music.
Q. What are you currently working on?
A. A romantic story ‘Hats off to Love.’ This came on the shortlist of the Romantic Novelist’s New Talent Award for 2012. I panicked a bit and because I couldn’t make the award ceremony, I began wondering who could collect my award if I won!!! You have to be positive don’t you? No need to panic, I didn’t win, but it’s given me the confidence to complete it. It’s at around 30,000 words now, needs lots of editing, but I’m having fun with it.
Q. How do you spend your leisure time?
A. Gym, swimming, gardening, knitting, walking, talking, laughing, eating sweets, selling, oh…..writing…
Q. Do you write for a local audience or a global one?
A. Anybody who’s interested in reading.
Q. Can you provide links to your work.
A. Yes, of course I can. Here’s the e.book with my story in.
Here’s my author page on Amazon. My story is in each of these books of short stories.
I have four stories on Alfie dog.
Entering competitions is also a hobby of mine. Thanks Lynne for nominating me, now I’ll put a couple of names of people who’s writing I like. I do realize that Lynne nominated Teresa, but she’s such a great story writer.
Buddha says tickle my tummy and you’ll get rich…
Susan Jones - Writer 
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