I wrote my own magazine called “Stories”, which I copied out three times on carbon paper and sold for two pence at school. I then went on to write for my church magazine--only to be accused of irreverence toward the ladies in the sewing circle, and fired. So began a career in writing which has seen 7 million copies sold, and 11 years as a bestselling novelist.My first "real" job was at the Harrods Library in London (where I was nearly fired but not quite). After secretarial college, I worked as a junior secretary at Vogue and Tatler magazines, before moving to the Daily Mirror as personal assistant to Marje Proops, Britain's legendary agony aunt. Marje encouraged me to write, and I became fashion editor and beauty writer at the Mirror, working for the women's editor in what was irreverently known as the "fragrant department". Eventually I left the world of magazines to work for a cosmetics company, and formed a connection with Boots, Britain's number one health and beauty brand.The connection with Boots was a turning point, and my husband Paul and I went on to launch Looking Good magazine. We sold our house and took out an enormous bank load to fund the magazine, and we literally had bailiffs at the door just before launch date. It was probably the greatest gamble of my life, but it paid off. The first issue was a sell-out.I once asked bestselling British author Jilly Cooper for advice on writing a novel while interviewing her for a magazine profile. Jilly put me in touch with her own agent, who promptly auctioned off my (then unwritten) first novel. It was quickly snapped up and the rest, as they say, is history.Today, I'm married with four children and four grandchildren and living in London, where I write full-time.