The One-Link Lowdown on - Sue Perkins

My guest this week is Sue Perkins. Sue grew up in Devon, England, but emigrated with her young family to New Zealand, where she now lives on a stunning three-acre property overlooking the beautiful south island. A multi-talented author, Sue brings us 'worlds of magic, mystique and love' in her different genres of fantasy novels, tween, middle-grade and young adult works, and we can't forget her romantic novels, often with a touch of history in the mix.

I've been lucky enough to meet Sue in person on her recent visit 'home' to the UK, so I'm doubly delighted to introduce her to you today. Join me in saying hello and welcome to Sue!

What’s the worst job you've ever had?

Most of my jobs have been great, it's the bosses who cause the problems - typically men! What do you do when your boss almost, but not quite runs foul of the law? I read he spent some time in jail recently. Couldn't have happened to a nicer man - LOL!

Tell us three surprising things about yourself, one of which is a fib - and we'll try to guess the fib!

I've travelled the world and lived in the Middle East.

I was the last white woman on the island of Gan before it the British Government handed it back to the people of the Maldives.

I run marathons.

Sue, I can't guess the fib - I'm prepared to believe all of those things about you! What your favourite sandwich, and where in the world is the best place to eat it?

Subway sandwiches in New Zealand are lovely. I like the Seafood Sensation in garlic herb bread with honey mustard sauce. My daughter tells me the Subways in England aren't the same. The fillings are slightly different and the bread in NZ is extra fresh. The best place to eat it has to be Tahunanui Beach (pronounced Tah-hoon-ah-nooh-ee) in Nelson, New Zealand. Miles of sand and blue sea. Absolutely beautiful.

It sounds wonderful. I keep hearing that the food in New Zealand is amazing. On a slightly less delicious domestic note, tell me which household chore would you happily give up for ever?

Only one? What a shame. Then I guess it would have to be ironing. I try and iron as little as possible. A rumpled look is au natural I like to think.

Who would you invite to your ultimate fantasy dinner party?

Hopefully you include movie and book characters. One of the beautifully painted people from Avatar, Kat from Marva Dasef's "Bad Spelling", Lessa from the "Dragons of Pern" series. Real people - is anyone actually real or does everyone play a part? Actual people I'd invite is Jasper Fforde, Terry Pratchett, Dr Who and Amy Pond. What do you mean the last two aren't real? They're on the TV, they must be real.

Of course they are! What talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?

I'd like to be able to speak Cantonese. My daughter-in-law comes from Guangzhou and I'd love to be able to talk to her in her own language. Plus my little grandson also speaks his mum's language as well as English. It would make it seems as if grandma wasn't such a dumb old lady.

I do agree with you - being able to speak another language fluently is a wonderful things. Now tell me, Sue, because it's imagination time again - you're given a time travel machine. Where would you go, and why?

Regency London. Of course I'd have to be one of the aristocracy, couldn't manage the servant bit. Too much like hard work. I'd love to dress up in the clothes of the time and sit in the corner and watch the ladies and gentlemen as they parade to and fro. I wonder if they really are like the people in Regency romances?

What's your guilty pleasure?

Mine is the same as the guilty pleasure of most women. Chocolate. Near where we live is a boutique chocolate factory. The chocolate is rich but not sickly. A normal box of truffles lasts me over a week. They have to be eaten slowly to savour them. Hmmm. I'm hungry now.

No guilt where chocolate's concerned! My next question - what single invention would change your life for the better?

My you ask such easy questions Jane. A robot who could go to work instead of me so I could stay home and write. I don't think my boss would notice as long as the work was done on time.

Aside from writing achievements, family, etc - what are you most proud of?

I'm most proud that my headmistress's prediction was wrong. She said I'd wasted my education and wouldn't get anywhere in life. I proved her wrong by doing well in all my jobs, running my own secretarial business for seven years and changing careers about ten years ago to graphic art and succeeding in that too.

And don't forget your writing success too, Sue! Sue's One-Link this week is this one to her tween fantasy novel, Reva's Quest, published by Muse It Up - and you'll also find links there to Sue's website where you can follow up more about this very interesting and lovely lady. Oh, and Sue's fib? Here's what she told me: 'Jane, running marathons is the fib, I couldn't even get to the end of the road running!' I know the feeling!

Sue, good luck with Reva's Quest and all your future projects. Thanks so much for being my guest today.