I love the quiet period between Christmas and New Year. It’s a time for reading, watching old films and catching up with friends and family. Oh, and lots of muddy dog walks!

But, having recently finished the second book in my Book Lovers series, I knew it wouldn’t be long until I found my way back to the keyboard, eager to make a start on the next novel and, when inspiration struck, we found ourselves heading down to the beautiful Sussex Weald to a very special house …

Bateman’s is the Jacobean manor house sitting in the heart of the Dudwell Valley. It belongs to the National Trust and was once the home of author Rudyard Kipling and it was glorious to see it all decked out for Christmas.

I knew at once that this would be the setting of my next novel and there must have been something very special in the Sussex air because I’ve already written 10,000 words!

It’s a novel about love, loss, family and renewal. And gardening! Because there is a fabulous walled garden at Bateman’s that I simply can’t ignore.