My Favourite Things by Carole Matthews, Author

Occasion

Afternoon Tea: praise the day that this glorious British institution came back into fashion. I love the whole thing, the food, the occasion, a chance to wear a tiara. I like that my job gives me plenty of opportunity to sample it in the name of research.

Drink
Prosecco: or any drink that involves bubbles. I like the elegant shape of a champagne flute as much as the contents.

Film
In Bruges: I think if you want to see Colin Farrell at his finest, then In Bruges is the film for you. If you’re going to the beautiful city of Bruges, you have to see this film too. You’ll spend the entire time wandering around in awe and uttering the film’s famous catchphrase.

Book
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory: My favourite book changes on a regular basis, but if I had to read one book over and over for the rest of my life it would be this one. Philippa Gregory is the Queen of Historical Fiction in my eyes. She really brings the Tudor court to life. I’d love to write an historical novel, but I just don’t have the brain for it.

Character
Daryl: I do like a bit of zombie action and Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead is my favourite character at the moment. He barely says anything, hardly moves, but goodness me he dominates every scene he’s in. If the series producers kill off Daryl I think there’ll be rioting in the streets.

Song

The Man Who Can’t be Moved: I listen to music all day while I write, usually Radio 2. One of my favourite songs – and there are many of them is The Man Who Can’t be Moved by The Script. It moves me to tears every time I hear it. Danny O’Donoghue of The Script was a definite inspiration for my hero, Danny Wild, in The Cake Shop in the Garden. I used to love watching him on The Voice, every emotion was written so clearly on his face.

Holiday Destination
Keswick: My partner Lovely Kev and I travelled the world until we found Keswick in the Lake District. Now we go there every year. We rent the same holiday home which we pretend is ours and go out walking in the hills every day. There are also some very fabulous tea shops. We visited Beatrix Potter’s house there last year which was beautiful.

Animal
Pandas: I do love a panda and had the joy of seeing pandas close up and personal in China. They behave like cuddly toys rather than wild animals and will do anything for an apple.

Person
Lovely Kev: I’m very lucky that my favourite person is Lovely Kev. We found each other later in life – after several false starts on my part! We work together all day, but still feel that we don’t see enough of each other. He is particularly lovely.

Place to Write
My office: I live in a three-story house – hence the name Matthews’ Towers – and my office is on the top floor. It’s the world’s tidiest office and I have a lovely view over the park. I’d love to be able to write in coffee shops but I’m too easily distracted. This is a very nice space to work in.

Seasons
Changing seasons: I love all of the seasons of the year. I could never live in a place that was hot and sunny the whole time. I even like wet, rainy weekends – except when I’ve got a barbeque planned. I’m currently enjoying the blossom and spring bulbs and can’t wait until the bluebells come out.

Thing in the whole world
My favourite thing in the whole world is being curled up on my own sofa with Lovely Kev watching rubbish telly.

Thanks for joining us today Carole and for sharing your favourite things.

Thanks, Annette for having me on your blog to talk about my favourite things!

Click here to buy Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses

Bio:

Carole Matthews is the Sunday Times bestselling author of twenty-seven novels, including the Top Ten bestsellers A Cottage by the Sea, Calling Mrs Christmas, The Christmas Party and The Cake Shop in the Garden.

In 2013, Summer Daydreams was shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan award for Fiction about Life and Love. Carole was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy RoNA in 2012 and inducted into the Reader Hall of Fame by the inaugural Festival of Romance. Her novels dazzle and delight readers all over the world. She was given an award for Outstanding Achievement by the Romantic Novelists' Association in 2015.

She is published in more than thirty countries and her books have sold to Hollywood.

For all the latest news from Carole, visit www.carolematthews.com, follow Carole on Twitter or join the thousands of readers who have become Carole's friend on Facebook