I’m delighted to welcome Erin Green to today’s Five. Erin’s writes contemporary novels focusing on love, life and laughter, what’s not to like? I met Erin last November at a meeting of Romantic Novelists and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to invite her along to join us.

Photograph by Aimee Spinks

About Erin

Erin was born and raised in Warwickshire. An avid reader since childhood, her imagination was instinctively drawn to creative writing as she grew older. Erin has two Hons degrees: BA English literature and another BSc Psychology – her previous careers have ranged from part-time waitress, the retail industry, fitness industry and education. She has an obsession about time, owns several tortoises and an infectious laugh!

Erin’s writes contemporary novels focusing on love, life and laughter. Erin is an active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and was delighted to be awarded The Katie Fforde Bursary in 2017. An ideal day for Erin involves writing, people watching and drinking copious amounts of tea.

So over to Erin

Which 5 pieces of music/songs would you include in the soundtrack to your life and why?

These first four songs simply make my heart sing with joy! I was born in the seventies so, they take me straight back to various stages of my younger life. Each song has a specific music section or instrument solo which I love. I never tire of hearing them, my reaction to each is instant and each makes me happy on hearing them. What more can I ask from music?

Dancing Queen – Abba

A Town Called Malice – The Jam

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

I don’t like Mondays – Boom Town Rats

The Everley Brothers songs remind me of my dad when I was a little girl. We used to love to sing together in the lounge or travelling in the car. I would only be four years of age and onwards but I knew all the words to all their songs. Still do, in fact – which surprises other people who are present when a song track comes on in a pub. My dad suffered with Multiple Sclerosis during my teenage years and onwards so, the man I loved changed a lot from the father I had as a little girl. The songs we sang together when I was very little provide many happy memories for me now.

Let It Be Me – The Everly Brothers

Highlight 5 things (apart from family and friends) you’d find it hard to live without.

Animals – I love having pets. Yes, they make you sad when they die but that’s only because you love them so very much when they share your everyday life. The sadness is worth all the years of joy.

Glasses/contact lens – from birth I’ve had duff eyes. I can’t read or write without them.

Tea – I am a total tea monster. I drink over fifteen cups a day, every day.

Face cream – a girl has to look after her skin, always!

Fountain pens – I love the feel and flow of ink from a pen nib. I feel it represents my imagination which I hope goes on forever.

Can you offer 5 pieces of advice you’d give to your younger self?

Being solitary – stop feeling bad about not needing other people. You are happy, content and at peace being by yourself. It has made you self-reliant and independent to live your life as you wish. It will be a further asset when you are an author spending hours on her own writing.

Your gut reaction is always an honest reaction. Stop doubting that ‘sensation’ when faced with a choice to make. You always follow your gut reaction but you feel guilty for doing so – don’t.

Stay on at sixth form and do your ‘A’ levels. Ignore the ‘mean girls’ who ruined secondary school for you, they probably won’t be in your sixth form classes.

Eat the cake – every time it’s offered. Enjoy it and ask for seconds!

You were right not to trust liars! Good girl.

Tell us 5 things that most people don’t know about you.

I only wear one contact lens (strange eye/brain situation from birth).

I have my first three book titles tattooed along my right ribcage.

I have a very ‘dirty’ belly laugh.

I own three tortoises.

I was born on April Fool’s day.

What are the first 5 things you’d have on your bucket list?

I’ve completed one bucket list during a big birthday year so, I’m going to struggle with this question.

To finish reading all of Charles Dickens’ novels – several more to go.

To return to India – where my maternal grandmother was born and raised.

To visit Florence, Italy.

To learn how to whistle using my fingers.

To master the ‘Bob Doubles’ method in church bell ringing.

Thanks so much for sharing Erin, we have a lot in common. We’re both Aries, Dancing Queen also made my list and I love tortoises (I had one as a teenager, but it sadly died). I’m quite happy on my own and always trust my gut instinct. If we meet again we should swap face cream recommendations over a cup of tea as I’m also addicted to both. I’m glad you struggled with the bucket list items as you’ve already ticked many off – always good to have some dreams in reserve though, so hope you can tick off some more.

Erins’s Books

Taking a Chance on Love

Meet Carmen, Polly and Dana – all happy and successful women, with very different views on relationships.

Carmen has made a life with Elliot for the past eight years. She’s ready for the next step but a proposal seems to be as far away as ever.

Polly is devoted to her family. But after her parents’ bitter divorce, she’s wary of marriage – even after sharing twenty years and one son with Fraser.

Single mother Dana longs for companionship, despite her dedication to raising her son Luke. Finding the right person to bring into their lives feels impossible – until a unique way to select a potential Mr Right comes along.

With 29th February fast approaching, will they each take the chance this Leap Year to take control of their fates?

New Beginnings at Rose Cottage

You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage – where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed…

One glorious summer brings the chance to begin again.

When solo travellers Benni, Emma and Ruth find themselves holidaying together at charming Rose Cottage in Brixham, Devon, they are initially disappointed to be sharing with strangers of a different age group.

But ‘friendship and home comforts’ are guaranteed at Rose Cottage and soon a bond blossoms between the women, who each have valuable life lessons to share.

As the summer unfolds, Benni, Emma and Ruth begin to realise that age is just a number. Before their time at Rose Cottage ends, will they take the chance to grasp the dreams that are now within their reach?

The Magic of Christmas Tree Farm

The scent of pine fills the crisp air as local villagers select their perfect tree. Picking the tree is the easy bit, creating a perfect Christmas is a bit trickier…

Nina has the most magical job in the world, matching customers with their perfect Christmas tree. Working at Christmas Tree Farm is always fun and full of laughter but the weight of past tragedy bears down on her. Her admirer is a great distraction, but is he the right man for her?

Holly is just trying to be a normal teenager, having to deal with the mean girls in her class. But then the most handsome boy at school takes an interest in her. Have all her Christmases come at once?

Angie is trying to bring her family together and save her broken marriage. It’s not something she can force, but it’s the only gift she craves. Will her Christmas wish come true?

It’s the season of goodwill, and at Christmas Tree Farm anything could happen…

The Single Girl’s Calendar

A task a day to cure a broken heart.

Esmé Peel is approaching thirty with some trepidation, but hope in her heart. If she can just get her long-term boyfriend Andrew to propose, she will have ticked everything off her ‘things to do by the time you’re 30’ list. She didn’t reckon on finding another woman’s earring in her bed however, and soon she finds herself single, homeless and in need of a new plan. Her best friend Carys gives her the perfect present – The Single Girl’s Calendar – which has a different cure for heartbreak every day:

Day 1: Look and feel fabulous with a new hair style.

Day 2: Step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Day 3: Reconnect with friends and enjoy!

Despite thinking it’s a bit of a gimmick, Esmé hasn’t got any better ideas, so she puts the plan into action. By the end of week one she has four new male housemates, and despite a broken heart she is determined to show Andrew she can do more than survive, she can thrive.

A Christmas Wish

As the snow begins to fall, will all her dreams come true?

Flora Phillips has an excuse for everything; she was abandoned as a baby on a doorstep, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her philosophy is simple: if your mother doesn’t want you – who will?

Now thirty, with no boyfriend, career or home, it’s time to find out who she really is. So, whilst everyone else enjoys their Christmas Eve traditions, Flora heads off to seek a special doorstep. Her doorstep.

There she finds more than her life story. She finds friends, laughter, someone to love. Because once you know where you come from, it’s so much easier to know where you’re going.

A story of love, romance and Christmas dreams-come-true.