Early Life
![[image] Joan Moules](images/joan_01.jpg)
I was born in Hastings, Sussex near the beginning of February and it was snowing the day I was born (so I've been told.)
My schooldays began in Hastings and continued in various parts of London during the war.
Was back in Hastings in 1945 and dancing round Winkle Island in the old town on VE night.
Family
I'm married to Leon and we have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Oh yes, and two cats.
We live in Selsey, in Sussex now and love it here.
Apart from family and friends my greatest interests are writing, reading, walking (on the flat), music hall, Victorian jewellery, Sussex stories and going to the theatre.
Writing
![[image] Warminster Writers Party in Selsey](images/warminster_writers_party.jpg)
When we lived in Wiltshire I started the Warminster Writers' Circle and this has now been active for twenty years.
It grew bigger and better after I moved!
This is a picture of some of the members when they come to Selsey to visit for their annual summer party.
Selsey Writers' Circle
![[image] Elizabeth Arnold talking to Selsey Writers Circle.](images/elizabeth_arnold_selsey_writers.jpg)
I also started the Selsey Writers' Circle a few years ago.
Here is a picture of author Elizabeth Arnold talking to the group about writing for children
and Peter Lovesey talking to us about crime writing.
![[image] Peter Lovesey](images/peter_lovesey.jpg)
Interview with my publishers, Robert Hale Books
![[image] Robert Hale Newsletter, November 2007, featuring my interview](images/robert_hale_newsletter_1107_thumb.jpg)
The November 2007 Newsletter of my publishers, Robert Hale Books, featured an interview with me, which is included on this page - to download the newsletter in pdf format click on the newsletter image on the left (requires
Adobe Reader).
Tell us about yourself
I was born in Hastings, Sussex near the beginning of February so I am an Aquarian. My schooldays began in Hastings and continued in various parts of London during the war. I'm married to Leon and we have two daughters and five grandchildren. Oh yes, and two cats. We live in Selsey now but we have moved around the country a lot over the years when we ran our own business. (Newsagents)
What do you write?
With my love of variety I go in for romance, crime, sagas and non-fiction. In between writing books I like to do short stories and articles.
Why do you write?
Because I enjoy it (well, most of the time). It sounds precious to say because I need to, but that is true as well. I’m miserable if I can’t have my ‘fix.’ I never want to stop writing, although I often wish I could paint and sing too, but you can’t have everything can you? We live by the sea and we couldn’t be happier. To walk into a bookshop and see a book with your name on the cover is the icing on the cake. Especially if someone is buying it!
What are you writing now?
A ‘who-dun-it’ set in a seaside town in the 1950s.
What do you do in your spare time, when not working?
Apart from family and friends my greatest interests are reading, walking (on the flat), music hall, Victorian jewellery, Sussex stories and going to the theatre. Walks by the sea, knitting, chatting with my husband, playing with the cats, entertaining friends and family and visiting them also.
What do you hope to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?
This is a big question, but to reach other people I suppose could describe it. Success in my writing career is when people enjoy the books and write and tell me so. And having your name above the title.
What are you going to write next?
A saga set in Sussex.
I hope you will enjoy visiting my website, reading the books, (or borrowing them from the library) and come again.