Tell us about the location for your SUNLOUNGER short story… Ibiza, it has a special place in my heart. Some years ago I worked on the Island as a podium dancer and had some of the happiest, craziest, funniest and exciting times of my life! Back then it wasn’t as commercial as it is now (though it is still beautiful). It had such a special vibe about it. When you’re in Ibiza, it feels like the centre of the universe, like you’re in on some big secret. It’s a party island, of course, but it’s so much more than that: colourful, creative, chic, sensual, and in my humble opinion the sunsets are unrivalled anywhere else in the world. It’s also a very accepting Island, an eclectic mix of all kinds of people from all sorts of places – everyone is welcome and anything goes! I danced all night in some of the world’s most stunning clubs and slept all day on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches - not a care in the world! Somehow everyone seems beautiful in Ibiza. A few years back, my brother told me he was going there on holiday for the first time. I told him it was a little bit magical and that he wouldn’t want to leave. When he returned he said to me, “I know exactly what you mean.”
Have your books featured any destinations outside the UK? Exotic destinations featured heavily in my debut novel, CHELSEA WIVES, including Lake Como in Italy, the Caribbean, Rio, and, of course, Ibiza. My heroines like to globe trot! In my new novel, WICKED WIVES, the main protagonists end up in all manner of fabulous locations including, LA, Vegas, Santorini (Greece), Paris, Capri and Antigua. I like to write about destinations I have either been to, or hope to visit in the near future! A girl can wish!
If you could live anywhere in the world… A cliche perhaps, but I would have to say Ibiza for all the reasons I give above and more. On a deeper level I am attracted to that laid back, boho chic aesthetic that is part of what makes the Island so special. It has the right mix of everything; the weather, the beautiful beaches, the hedonism and the breath taking beauty of the island itself. Ibiza town is very chic with lots of fabulous boutiques and amazing restaurants so I could still get my fashion and culture fix. I often day dream of spending my days writing novels in a little whitewashed villa up in Saint Rafael or the hills of Es Cana. I would rise early, write for a few hours, then swim in the sea before watching the sunset on La Salinas beach. It would be an amazing place for children to grow up too; so much beauty and nature – and think of all the fun you could have after dark! On another note, I’m also becoming more and more obsessed with Italy; the lakes, Capri, Portofino and Rome… I guess living in one of these places wouldn’t be too shabby either.
Destination you’ve returned to the most times? Spain. Many reasons: it’s close (I hate sitting on a plane for hours), you’re pretty much guaranteed sunshine, the beaches are fabulous and I LOVE the Spanish people. My dad has a place out in Gran Canaria and I go with my family every year. We have never had a bad holiday there and the weather is always perfect.
Ticket, passport, money and… Bikinis, lipgloss – and lots of attitude.
Favourite cuisine from around the world? Any type of super-fresh seafood. I’m partial to a freshly-cooked paella and adore sushi.
Favourite holiday cocktail? Champagne darling, especially if you’re buying!
What was your best holiday romance? I never kiss and tell.
