At the centre of every fairy tale lay a truth that gave the story its power

There is something about losing your mother that is permanent and inexpressable - a wound that will never quite heal.

Insults sting but a little when they stem from a man's ignorance.

You're never alone when you're reading a book.

Scary thought - what if I get to know myself and I'm someone I don't want to be?

Here's the thing about broken hearts. You can always survive them. Always. No matter how deep the hurt, the capacity to heal and move on is even stronger.

I've always loved writing emotionally rich, character-driven novels that explore the way people fall in love and deal with life's triumphs and tragedies. I enjoy writing the contemporary and historical books equally, though perhaps 'enjoy' is the wrong word.