Veronice Henry's new book The Forever House comes out today so we asked her to tell us a some things we don't already know about her.
Veronica Henry
I WENT TO NINE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS
My father was in the army, so we were forever on the move. Moving so much has made me very adept at making new friends. Books, however, were my constant. Wherever I was in the world, my fictional friends were always with me.
I’M HALF IRISH
My father was Irish, and I spent many happy holidays by the sea in Kerry where he was brought up during the war. My heart is in those misty hills, the air sharp with burning peat.
I STUDIED LATIN AT UNIVERSITY
People think Latin is a dead language and therefore useless, but as a word lover it is incredibly useful. And Latin is so disciplined and structured it helps train your brain for plotting a novel. It’s very logical.
I RAN A POST PUNK NIGHTCLUB
While I was at uni in Bristol I ran an alternative club night. I found my old playlists the other day and was sad to see so many of the artists I used to feature are now dead – Bowie, Prince, George Michael, Pete Burns …
I PLAYED PEACHES THE BARMAID IN THE CAT AND FIDDLE IN ‘THE ARCHERS’
My first job was production secretary on The Archers. Every now and then, for a joke, the producer would get me into the studio to play ‘Peaches’ the extravert barmaid in the nefarious drinking den.
I WAS A SCRIPT EDITOR FOR CROSSROADS
Crossroads was a teatime television institution – legendary for its bad scripts and wobbly sets. I worked on the show before it was axed in 1987 and the scripts were getting better by the end!
I’VE WRITTEN SCRIPTS FOR HEARTBEAT
I loved working on this show – a real feel good drama with a big heart. My proudest moment was when Jenny Agutter was cast as one of my guest characters.
I LOVE LOBSTERS
One of my favourite songs is Rock Lobster by the B52s, and I love a bit of lobsterabilia. My eldest son bought me a hatchling from the Lobster Hatchery in Padstow – called Rock, of course. I like to think of him bobbing about somewhere.
I’VE GOT A MINIATURE SCHNAUZER
When I got divorced, my friend persuaded me to get a dog – I was dubious at first but now we are inseparable. She’s called Zelda, after Zelda Fitzgerald. She’s naughty and feisty and makes me laugh.
MY BROTHER AND I ARE OBSESSED WITH COOKING
My brother lives in Australia, but now we have FaceTime we call each other two or three times a week. We can literally spend two hours talking about what we are each going to cook over the weekend. Food is very important in my books and it’s great to have someone who shares that passion and understands when I rave about something I’ve had in a restaurant. He took me for an incredible meal at Peel Street when I visited him in Adelaide in March – banana blossom salad and Armenian lamb soldiers. I dream about it!
