Writing has always been important to me - almost as important as reading. I knew, from a very early age, that I wanted to weave stories for others to read and devoured every book I could get my hands on from the often sneered at but magical tales of Enid Blyton to Dickens, the Brontes, Jane Austen, Philippa Gregory, Maeve Binchy, Stephen King and many, many others. Eventually, I became a freelance journalist and was forced to stick to the truth. But now, mostly retired, I can let my imagination soar. Hence my novel, Black Damask, which perhaps gives vent to my mixture of tastes and blends an authentic historical background with a strong flavour of the supernatural. I hope you'll try it and find, perhaps, that although it's a mite strange it is also to YOUR taste. If you like the world of the Tudors and some strong, interesting characters it might be for you. I hope so.