Katie Fforde is a well-known writer of 'grown up' romance and is in Monmouth tomorrow (Saturday 2nd February) evening at 7.30pm at Bridges to give a talk and answer questions.

For an author, this kind of book tour can often be hell on earth. Many writers are introverted so speaking to a room full of people is the last thing they would ever choose to do. Not so with Katie.

"My writing was born from wanting to communicate with people. I love to get my message across," she said.

"Katie is warmhearted and funny, with the irresistable message that romance is ever present in our lives, if sometimes dormant, that there are always adventures around the corner and that we are never too old.

"My husband is notoriously bad at romance. I didn't think I led an interesting life," said Katie, just after telling me that she had been to sea with her husband when first married.

"When you read my diary from that time it was pretty boring, mostly revolving around whether I had been seasick that day or not."

Katie is certainly an interesting person. She draws on her own experiences and those of friends and family to help fill her books with real life.

"The key to using people's lives in your work is always to ask them if it's acceptable and then to try to be as tactful as possible."

Katie is not in the business of airing other people's dirty washing in public and her family does not quail every time a book is published, wondering what part of their private lives she has exposed.

Katie started writing when her children were small. "Juggling children and trying to write a book is extremely difficult," she says, "I used to get up early, 4.30 in the morning was not unusual.

"I'd write until everyone woke up and then do a normal mother's day. I spent a lot of time tired and not fully functioning."

"My husband was a Deck Officer so very often I was, really, a single mum."

Ironically, sometimes too much romance in your life can hold you back. Having the time and space to write and organise a family without the added problem of a man around your feet can be of benefit.

"When he was home, though, he was brilliant and helped out enormously.

"Being a working mother is a balancing act no matter what job you do. I was once asked by a (not so well) meaning friend, 'Why aren't you a proper mother?', which is unnerving.

"But I firmly believe that my children, although sometimes they didn't get taken to swimming lessons, learned a lot about life through me and became more self reliant."

Katie will be talking about her life, her books and anything else that the audience decides to ask her about.

The evening is set to be charming and full of humour. It is the ideal place to take yourself, your mother, your sister or anyone else in need of a treat heading towards Mother's Day.

Don't forget to take your books with you for signing or you can buy them at the venue.