THE PATIENT WOMAN

I think, unless you lead a charmed life, very few writers get an easy transition from a desire to write, to becoming a published author. So, in that respect, my story is little different to thousands of others, but it certainly took a circuitous route and gave me a few hard knocks along the way.

I was born and raised in Kent, an only child who loved school, and especially art, sport and English. Being given a composition to write was a pure delight, and when that pleasure never left me as I grew up, maybe I should have begun to suspect something? But no… I had other plans. It was thought I would make a good teacher, and my careers mistress fought a determined battle in that direction, but I was horrified at the thought, and leaned towards the armed forces or the police force. So how on earth did I become a florist? The headmistress of my school, a technical college for young ladies, was approached by the prestigious Mayfair florist Constance Spry Ltd, and offered