CLARE FLYNN

I’ve only visited Canada once – a road trip in 1999 to the Canadian Rockies. Memorably, I decided early one morning to leave the main...

Clare Flynn stays at Galle Face Hotel, a key location in two of her Penang Series novels.

Sadly, I never met either of my grandfathers – they both died in the 1930s when my parents were still children. My paternal grandfather,...

Evening at the beach When I was in Sri Lanka recently, I started writing what would have been my seventeenth novel. At that stage, I...

People sometimes ask me why I love writing retreats. Surely you can write just as easily in your own home, or in a library or coffee...

When I think of the Victorians I get visions of Dickensian smoke-clogged cities, widows’ weeds, funeral coaches with black-plumed horses,...

I can’t believe I’ve never been to Ditchling before. Less than twenty miles from me, it used to be home to artist Frank Brangwyn, and...

I’d had a writing drought for three months. Not what I’d expected when I set off to sail around the world in one hundred and thirty days....

I’ve visited Istanbul several times – once in the mid 90s on holiday and several times on business with the odd weekend tagged on.  I...

I’ve been doing writing retreats for ten years. Not the sort with tutors but ones where you can hunker down and do some serious writing...

I’ve just spent a delightful three days staying in Rye. I rented a house at the top of Mermaid Street in the heart of the old town with...

Recently I visited Ireland for a family wedding. Whilst there, enjoying an evening in a local pub, I was reminded of one of the inspirations behind part of my book Storms Gather Between Us - an inspiration I'd entirely forgotten about until now!

I love writing retreats. Not organised ones with tutors, but small gatherings with other authors in attractive or new surroundings to...