Nicola Cornick 's Interview

On Writing and Reading...

What do you love most about being a writer?

The fact that I am doing a job I enjoy so much.

What do you like least about being a writer?

I haven't discovered anything to dislike yet!

Do you have a favourite locale or setting for your novels? What is it and why is it your favourite?

I love the English countryside and am particularly attached to the county of Somerset, which features in some of my books. I also love Suffolk because it has everything — the sea, the wide skies, and a fascinating history!

Which of the books you have written is your favourite?

It's very hard to choose between them but I suppose it has to be True Colours because it was my first book, and I love the characters so much!

What is your favourite recent Mills & Boon, Silhouette, or MIRA title by another author?

His Desert Rose by Liz Fielding.

What are your five all-time favourite books?

It was such a tough choice! But...

Briefly summarise how you began writing.

I was about 16 years old and I went to the theater in York. I (literally) bumped into a gorgeous actor who was the hero of the 1970s costume drama Poldark. I was so smitten that I watched all the episodes of Poldark over and over again and decided that I would like to write romance, and the rest, as they say, is history....

As a romance writer, what are your greatest goals?

To write books that will capture the hearts of my readers.

Challenges?

The same answer as for the previous question!

What gives you the most satisfaction in your job?

The creativity.

On Romance...

Describe the ultimate romantic meal.

Dinner with my husband in the sort of restaurant where the food is marvelous and the service so discreet that we can sit and talk to each other for hours without noticing the time.

What is the most romantic gesture or gift you have received?

We were having dinner on the terrace of a hotel in Costa Rica last year when my husband unexpectedly presented me with an eternity ring that he had had specially made for me.

How do you keep the romance alive in your relationship?

By making sure that we make time to talk — and, more important, to listen to each other, no matter how busy we are.

Where is the most romantic place you've ever travelled?

It was a little log cabin on an island off the coast of Norway. It was February and there was snow all around, and the Northern Lights were glowing overhead. It was the most magical place I have ever been.

What is your most memorable Valentine's Day gift or experience?

My husband proposed to me on Valentine's Day. It was sunset and we were standing in the ruins of an ancient manor house on top of the hills near where I lived. It was the most memorable and romantic thing that has ever happened to me!

All About Me...

Besides writing, what other talent would you most like to have?

I've always wanted to be able to play the saxophone.

Who is someone you admire and why?

King Richard III. Needless to say, I don't think he was a murderer, but an enlightened monarch who has had particularly bad press!

Do you have a good luck charm or superstition?

I'm very superstitious but I don't have a good luck charm because I feel it would be tempting fate!

Share one of your favourite indulgences with us.

Dauphinois potatoes — a recipe that is incredibly fattening, but so delicious!

What quality do you most admire in a man?

Integrity. Closely fo