When Claire inherits a house out of the blue - she thinks she's struck it rich! But while the word 'cottage' inspires images of romantic idylls and roses round the door, there's nothing remotely heavenly about Paradise Cottage. It's a tumble-down wreck in the middle of nowhere - more in need of a demolition expert than a decorator. Still, Claire's not one to shirk a challenge. Much to the amusement of her hunky new neighbour, Aidan, she decides to renovate the cottage herself. After all, problem-solving, trouble-shooting - it's what Claire does best. She's used to planning events for thousands of people. She can sort out one little cottage ...Can't she?
I think I decided that I wanted to be a writer at the age of five, while queueing in the freezing rain for the school outside loos. Perhaps it was all down to the romance of the location... But by the time I went home that night, I'd come to the conclusion that it wasn't a very realistic ambition, and I considered being a pixie instead.
Yet even when reality struck and I had to start earning money, the old dream died hard. And when I won 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987 and was asked to co-write a book about secretaries, it was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to me (yes, even better than the Blue Peter competition badge I won when I was seven).
As time went on, I did everything I could to dig myself a foothold in the writing world, doing everything from writing jokes for greetings cards to articles about sewer-cleaning machines for 'Construction News'. I started translating French erotic novels, then began writing my own; and from there, I worked my way into more ... er ... mainstream fiction, first as Sue Dyson and then as Zoe Barnes. I still use the name Sue Dyson when I translate and when I sing professionally.
I'm married to Simon, and my dad, Jack, lives with us - along with five cats known locally as The Furry Horde. Please go out and buy a Zoe Barnes novel (or three) and ensure that they're a happy, well-fed Horde!
Zoe
xx
