I have always been interested in the relationship between biography and history and whether it is people who make history – or if events make people who they are – or a combination of the two. Inevitably this kind of analysis leads on to ‘royal biography’ but with a twist – as with The Pirate Queen and the writing of a 600 year history of power and greed in writing the history of the largest white diamond of its day, The Sancy Diamond. But before deciding on whether the relationship between people and history is worthwhile writing about today, I must see a resonance and context for us to learn from today. I do subscribe to the school of history matters… For this reason, my histories will always show a ‘fresh perspective’ that helps us to understand why they do what they do in the context of their relationships and their times. Human motivation rather than facts and figures are the staple diet of my stories.