Anna Jacobs
Agent: Broo Doherty
I have a very happy life. I've been married to my own personal hero for many years and he's still my very best friend. I have two daughters, a son-in-law and a small grandson whom I love to pieces. That makes a wonderfully solid emotional platform from which to enjoy writing my novels and seeing my stories published. It also explains why I like to write romantic and family stories with happy endings, whether they're historical, modern or fantasy stories.
My husband and I have a house in Australia, where we live by the water's edge. If it weren't for the mosquitoes, which adore me, I'd spend more tiime out of doors. I have to be the most delicious person on this planet as far as mozzies are concerned.
We both emigrated from England and have close family there still, so we spend the northern hemisphere summers at our Wiltshire home so that we can spend time with them. All the years of hard work have paid off to allow us to do that - not that I mind working hard. How else would I write three novels a year? It's also good to see my publishers and agent, as well as do research in person for the books set in England.
On the home front, I confess to having no domestic genes whatsoever. I'll never be remembered for my dusting and ironing. I don't iron. Not at all. One has to have standards! I won't waste writing time on an activity that is useless, because the minute one puts an ironed garment on, it gets crumpled again. I pay someone else to clean my house because I do like to be clean. And cooking has lost its interest since I developed several food intolerances. Cooking something you can't taste or eat because it'd make you ill does not appeal. My favourite hobby is spending time with my husband, family, personal and writing friends. People are so endlessly fascinating.
I also love reading other writer's novels. I'm so addicted to stories that I read three books a week, some of them for research but most just stories for my pleasure. What can I say? I'm hopeless! I have to have at least one book on the go.
I used to enjoy embroidering pictures of my own designing, but arthritis has put paid to that. I enjoy watching TV in the evenings, because I never write after teatime. I especially love programmes from which I learn something. (I'm also addicted to learning). I love Time Team, Grand Designs, history programmes, antiques shows, drama series (as long as they're not too violent) and I have to watch the news at least once a day. I'm interested in nutrition and health, because I lost my health a couple of times, first to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME in England) then to fibromyalgia, which sometimes follows it a few years later. To anyone with those problems, I say they can be overcome. Go for it!
I vowed after I got better that if any effort of mine could prevent me losing my health again, I would do whatever was needed. I'm not a naturally sporting person (eyesight too bad, giving poor co-ordination) but I do walk on a treadmill nearly every day and it is worthwhile. You have to do gentle exercise to keep fibromyalgia at bay. I use a treadmill because the mozzies can't get me inside the house!
The treadmill has another benefit. Walking seems to stimulate creativity. Other writers have found that too.
© Joan Frewin 2017
Books by Anna Jacobs
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Diamond Promises, November 2023, Jubilee Lake (Book 3)
Golden Dreams, May 2023, Jubilee Lake (Book 2)
Paula's Way, February 2023, Waterfront series (Book 3)
Silver Wishes, November 2022, Jubilee Lake (Book 1)
Larch Tree Lane, October 2022, Larch Tree Lane (Book 1)
Kirsty's Vineyard, May 2022
A Valley Wedding, May 2022, Backshaw Moss (Book 3)
Sarah's Gift, February 2022, Waterfront series (Book 2)
The Best Valentine's Day Ever (and Other Stories), January 2022
A Valley Secret, November 2021, Backshaw Moss (Book 2)
The Corrigan Legacy, October 2021
A Very Special Christmas, October 2021
Mara's Choice, June 2021, Waterfront series (Book 1)
A Valley Dream, May 2021, Backshaw Moss (Book 1)
In Focus, April 2021
A Woman's Promise, November 2020, Birch End (Book 3)
Marrying Simone, October 2020, Penny Lake (Book 3)
A Widow's Courage, April 2020, Birch End (Book 2)
Finding Cassie, January 2020, Penny Lake (Book 2)
Christmas In Peppercorn Street, October 2019, Peppercorn (Book 5)
A Daughter's Journey, August 2019, Birch End (Book 1)
Changing Lara, April 2019, Penny Lake (Book 1)
One Perfect Family, July 2019, Ellindale (Book 4)
The Cotton Lass and Other Stories, October 2018
Once Special Village, September 2018, Ellindale (Book 3)
Peace Comes To Honeyfield, June 2018, Honeyfield (Book 3)
Bay Tree Cottage, March 2018, Peppercorn (Book 4)
One Kind Man, January 2018. Ellindale (Book 2)
Saffron Lane, September 2017, Peppercorn (Book 3)
One Quiet Woman, May 2017, Ellindale (Book 1)
Gifts For Our Time, January 2017, Rivenshaw (Book 4)
A Stranger In Honeyfield, January 2017, Honeyfield (Book 2)
The Honeyfield Bequest, August 2016, Honeyfield (Book 1)
A Time To Rejoice, May 2016, Rivenshaw (Book 3)
Cinnamon Gardens, October 2015, Peppercorn (Book 2)
Tomorrow's Path, September 2015
A Time For Renewal, August 2015, Rivenshaw (Book 2)
Legacy of Greyladies, June 2015, Greyladies (Book 3)
Winds of Change, March 2015
A Time To Remember, January 2015, Rivenshaw (Book 1)
Peppercorn Street, November 2014, Peppercorn (Book 1)
A Time For Hope, October 2014, Hope Stories (Book 3)
Mistress of Greyladies, August 2014, Greyladies (Book 2)
The Trader's Reward, April 2014, Traders (Book 5)
In Search of Hope, October 2013, Hope Stories (Book 2)
Heir to Greyladies, July 2013, Greyladies (Book 1)
Marrying A Stranger, April 2013
Moving On, April 2013
The Trader's Gift, March 2013, Traders (Book 4)
Destiny's Path, March 2013, Swan River Saga (Book 3)
Persons of Rank, January 2013
A Place of Hope, November 2012, Hope Stories (Book 1)
The Trader's Dream, October 2012, Traders (Book 3)
An Independent Woman, September 2012
Yew Tree Gardens, June 2012, Wiltshire Girls (Book 3)
The Trader's Sister, April 2012, Traders (Book 2)
Short and Sweet, October 2011
The Trader's Wife, August 2011, Traders (Book 1)
Elm Tree Road, August 2011, Wiltshire Girls (Book 2)
Cherry Tree Lane, August 2010, Wiltshire Girls (Book 1)
Licence To Dream, July 2010
Beyond the Sunset, July 2010, Swan River Saga (Book 2)
Farewell To Lancashire, July 2009, Swan River Saga (Book 1)
Saving Willowbrook, March 2009
Freedom's Land, September 2008
Chestnut Lane, May 2008
Yesterday's Girl, January 2008, Lady Bingram's Aides (Book 2)
Kirsty's Vineyard, November 2007
Tomorrow's Promises, July 2007, Lady Bingram's Aides (Book 1)
Family Connections, February 2007
Heart of the Town, December 2006, Music Hall (Book 4)
The Group Settler's Wife, November 2006
Bright Day Dawning, July 2006, Music Hall (Book 3)
The Corrigan Legacy, April 2006
Star of the North, January 2006, Music Hall (Book 2)
Pride of Lancashire, August 2005, Music Hall (Book 1)
Calico Road, February 2005, Staley Family (Book 2)
The Wishing Well, November 2004
Marrying Miss Martha, May 2004
Threepenny Dreams, February 2004, Irish Sisters (Book 3)
Twopenny Rainbows, February 2004, Irish Sisters (Book 2)
Our Mary Ann, September 2003, Kershaw Sisters (Book 4)
Change of Season, March 2003
Pennyworth of Sunshine, February 2003, Irish Sisters (Book 1)
Mistress of Marymoor, September 2002
Our Eva, September 2002, Kershaw Sisters (Book 3)
Down Weaver's Lane, January 2002, Staley Family (Book 1)
Replenish the Earth, October 2001
Lancashire Legacy, June 2001, Lancashire Settlers (Book 2)
Seasons of Love, September 200
Our Polly, June 2000, Kershaw Sisters (Book 2)
Lancashire Lass, January 2000, Lancashire Settlers (Book 1)
Like No Other, January 1999
Our Lizzie, January 1998, Kershaw Sisters (Book 1)
Jessie, January 1997
Spinners Lake, January 1996, Gibson Family Saga (Book 5)
Hallam Square, June 1995, Gibson Family Saga (Book 4)
Ridge Hill, January 1995,Gibson Family Saga (Book 3)
High Street, June 1994, Gibson Family Saga (Book 2)
Salem Street, January 1994, Gibson Family Saga (Book 1)