I’ve always maintained that I survived a convent education largely thanks to a ready supply of inappropriate novels – mostly ‘borrowed’ from the bookshelves of my friends’ mothers – but to be honest it’s closer to the truth than I care to admit.
My love of books has been a rewarding constant throughout my life – inspirational novels allowed me to explore life, relationships and ambitions vicariously, from the warmth and community of Veronica Henry, to the joyous romps of Fiona Walker and Jilly Cooper. The number of scribbled story ideas filled many a Garfield notebook and the dream of becoming an author took hold.
The nuns were not impressed.
It was, however, the nineties – and everybody knew that writing stories didn’t really count as a ‘proper job’, so I went on to study International Management and Modern Languages at Bath University, then Agribusiness at Cirencester.
After a stint at the BBC opened my eyes to the world of location filming, I set up my own business finding and managing film locations all over the world – although some might argue that wasn’t really a proper job either! Altogether far too much fun, even despite the long hours, caffeine-only meal plan and constantly being on the move. Film, television and advertising projects all gave me the perfect, legitimate excuse not only to travel, but also to peek behind the scenes – a habit I still find hard to resist and providing wonderful inspiration for the books yet to come. It was also incredibly handy for disgraceful anecdotes and ice-breaker conversations…
I wrote my first novel without telling a soul, except my ever-tolerant husband, whose frustrated challenge that I ‘stop talking about writing a book and actually write it!’ gave me all the firm nudge I needed to make a long-held dream my reality. With the benefit of hindsight, writing every day had already made me a writer – but it wasn’t until I had secured an agent and a publishing deal that I actually felt able to say those words aloud, to other people.
When I’m not writing, my world revolves around my two children, my two dogs and my husband – probably in that order! I’m still slightly obsessed with travelling, even though I’ve been grounded for the last few years, but have managed to persuade the family to join me in various inter-railing trips over the years, excursions to the Arctic isles of Norway and mad trips to pursue some of my more peculiar passions, seeking out perfect gluten-free pastries, puffins en masse, and home-spun Scottish yarn.
If you follow me on social media, you will also know that my health situation (an alphabet soup of autonomic and autoimmune conditions that would put Dr Seuss to the test) also challenges and inspires how I manage my work, my writing and my time. I love to knit, to bake and am on a constant quest to sew the perfect capsule wardrobe from natural fabrics. I am not allowed my own alpaca – I have asked – repeatedly… but get by instead by finding the most amazing independent producers. I also adore swimming outdoors, or plunging into my ice barrel – the bobble hat remains optional.
Do follow me over on Instagram @CotswoldPenny for more snapshots of my writing life in the Cotswolds, and you can read more in my Notes From The Cotswolds columns.
Penny Parkes 