I know you’re waiting with bated breath to know my next career move but prolonged breath-bating isn’t good for you (unless you have hiccups) so I thought I’d better give you an update. The story so far…. a few weeks ago my publisher thought the WWI story I’d pitched to them was a good plan. Then they decided it wasn’t. But they did think Caroline of Brunswick was a ripping idea and so even though there was no money on the table I started thinking about Caroline. She’s had a bad press. I rather liked the idea of rehabilitating her.

But suddenly Messrs Publisher & Co decided Caroline was a terrible idea. Actually, I think they decided that Laurie Graham writing about Caroline was a terrible idea.

‘Call yourself a historical novelist?’ they said. ‘Look at these sales figures, you miserable waste of paper.’

So here endeth my stint at historical fiction. I’m getting bumped back to the 20th century. Or maybe the 20th century counts as history now.

Moving along to Plan C, how do we feel about sequels? Not sequins. I love sequins. My only commercial success with fiction was The Future Homemakers of America. How about taking that story on a few more years? Sounds good to me.  Which is why I’m currently revisiting my old characters and playing God. Who lives, who dies, who fades from the scene unnoticed. I suppose playing God is what novelists do all the time, but this time it feels strangely personal.

Tune in same time next week. Who knows, by then they may be asking me for science fiction.