Crafting is a wonderful way for families to spend quality time together. Not only is it fun and creative, but it helps build bonds, teaches new skills, and creates lasting memories. This article will explore several crafts that parents, children, and teens can all take part in together. With a little planning and preparation, you can find activities that suit everyone’s interests and abilities.
Simple Sewing and Embroidery
Sewing and embroidery projects allow family members of all ages to flex their creative muscles. Young kids can practice basic stitches on burlap or felt. Older children can try cross-stitch patterns or sewing simple items like pillows and tote bags. Teens and parents can take on more advanced embroidery hoops or make their own clothes. The great thing about sewing is that it can be as simple or complex as you want. Start with an easy kit that has pre-cut fabric and designs. As skills improve, move on to selecting your own materials and patterns. The finished products will be great memories for children you foster with Foster Care Associates.
Building Model Cars, Planes, and Rockets
Parents who want to share their love of mechanics and construction with kids will enjoy putting together model vehicles. Look for beginner kits of cars, planes, helicopters, ships, and rockets that snap together or use basic gluing. Teens may appreciate more challenging models with fine details and electronics. Not only does this teach hand-eye coordination and following instructions, but it opens up conversations about science and history.
Nature Crafts
Using materials found in nature is an eco-friendly way to craft with the whole family. Go on walks together looking for interesting flowers, leaves, seeds, feathers, rocks, sticks, seashells and more. Then get creative repurposing your finds into art and decorations. Make pressed flower cards, leaf rubbings, or collages. Arrange your nature collections in shadow boxes or frames. Use sticks and rocks to make sculptures or paint them bright colours. You can even make bird feeders by spreading peanut butter and birdseed on pine cones. Encourage children to use their imagination to invent new ways to use natural objects.
Melting and Moulding Crafts
Melting crayons, sculpting clay, and moulding plaster allow for all sorts of unique crafts. Young children can cut or break old crayons and watch them melt together to create colourful swirl art on canvas or cardstock. Air-dry clay allows sculpting without any baking. Let the whole family craft their own clay figurines and ornaments. For bigger messy fun, make your own plaster moulds using plastic cups, bowls, and packaging, then pour in plaster to create one-of-a-kind shapes. As the mould dries, the children can paint and decorate their plaster creations. Cover your workspace and wear old clothes for these delightfully gooey activities.
Making crafts as a family is not just about the end product. It’s about slowing down, being present together, and experiencing the joys and challenges of creativity. Find activities that play to each person’s strengths and let everyone go at their own pace. Stay flexible and keep a light-hearted attitude. With the right materials and guidance from parents, kids and teens can create memories to last a lifetime. So, put on some aprons, turn on some music, and let your family’s imagination run wild!
Scottish soap, River City, is sadly coming to an end. I got my first acting break on River City. I was an incredibly ambitious 18-year-old who had studied acting at college and was desperately trying to get as many auditions as I could. Auditions are hard to get so I was doing extra work to earn money and get some on-set experience. An actor didn’t turn up and I was picked out alongside one other woman to audition for a small part with lines. I was the one who aced it, and got my first ever speaking role on TV, and the BBC no less.
The scene was in a cafe. I ordered a drink from Luca, the character that all of the women fancied. My heart was beating fast, and I was happy. Exhilarated. I knew this was a great credit to have. When the episode came out I watched it with my family. I was left with a feeling that anything was possible. A moment of luck gave me my first proper acting credit. In truth, these moments of luck, along with a huge amount of talent, work ethic and perseverance is they key to success in any creative career.
Seeing myself onscreen was a learning curve. I was a teenager with terrible roots, who needed her blonde highlights redone. I was wearing a coat that looked instantly unfashionable the moment I saw it on screen. I cringed when I saw myself, but I delivered my lines well.
The main character in my book, Where The Light is Hottest, is based on my own experiences. Unlike me, Natasha doesn’t quit when things are going well. She continues on going from small town Scotland to big time Hollywood. As acting books go, Where The Light is Hottest, is a no-holds barred, real and raw inside into what it takes to make it as an actor. My acting career was a wild ride that left me with a lifetime of stories. The highs were like nothing else, but the lows were crashing. All thanks to that moment on the set of River City. Thank you. The show is supposed to end in 2026, but people are protesting and there is a petition. Good luck, River City. Long may you burn bright.
London Book Fair is a bustling and exciting place to be. A lot of deals are made. You can feel the buzz. This year they had an Author’s HQ and the SOA (Society of Authors) was also there. But is it worth it for authors? We ask Joanna Knowles, author of Lost and Found in Venice.
Was this your first time at the London Book Fair?
Yes, it was. I had contemplated going before but I had been advised that it was more of a trade event, not an event for authors to network or make contacts. However, now I was more established as an author, I saw the LBF advertised, and with tickets available specifically geared towards authors, I decided that maybe the event would be beneficial to my career. Plus, a trip to London is always a great location for inspiration and cultural enjoyment. The museums, the libraries, the natural beauty of the parks contrasting against the giant structures that seep their histories via their bricks and mortar; no wonder J.M Barrie said, “London is a swarming, restless, bustling town, always on the go.”
Why did you go?
The brochure advertised seminars that really appealed to me, and so I planned by visit by what seminars I could attend and learn from. I also noticed there would be an Authors HQ stage. With writing being a naturally solitary profession, I was excited at the prospect of meeting fellow authors and visiting the hub of a profession I am proud to be a part of.
Did you enjoy it?
The vibe was definitely humming. An eclectic mix of languages, conversations, and book genres that meant the place was thriving. And huge! Sadly, the recommended app requested to download before attending wasn’t working and so I was unable to navigate the fair with destinations in mind. It was more of a stroll to find stands that interested me. I did speak to a wonderful LBF employee at their large Helpdesk who did offer guidance based on where I wanted to visit.
The Olympia Building stands as a beauty icon in its own right. As you enter, it is the sheer amount of glass and arching ceiling that made me want to stop and just stare. However, the enormity of the site from a practical point of view was a little overwhelming without a map to guide me, and I also found little seating in the complex, observing others sitting sporadically on the floor.
I did have certain seminars that I had pencilled in to attend, noting previously that they didn’t need advance booking, but I found myself unable to enter the first seminar due to a lack of spacing and a plethora of people spilling outside of the Author HQ stage. I did try to fit in the area outside, in the hope that I might be able to hear, but I was moved on by a security guard for health and safety reasons as the walkway was beginning to get blocked.
Do you feel like it’s a good place for authors?
If a group of authors visited together, I can see the advantage of networking and comparing notes. There is a real opportunity to utilise the opportunity of having so many authors in one place.
Plus, the seminars I had chosen to attend were directed towards authors, and if there had been more space and seating available, I can see it being a great place to gain insight from a profession that is mostly remote. Plus, if an author is without an agent, then learning the valuable processes of how the industry works could be incredibly useful.
What did you gain from it?
The people I did speak to are very friendly, agreeable, and everyone is clearly passionate about the industry. I felt energised just from being there and being in the presence of the giants of publishing. I did visit my own publishing house and could see the energy and excitement that goes into each meeting with attendees.
It was also fascinating to be a part of something that is industry renowned around the world. To know that deals were happening under the same roof and that potentially, the next bestseller was being discovered over coffee, or the newest trend was being discussed was exciting. Equally, to see the various stalls evidence the creativity, passion, and effort that goes into the written word was just a joy to be around. Particular highlights include theHatchette UK stand, the Audible stand, Wordsworth Editions Ltd and The British Library stand.
As an author, what would you like to see more of at LBF?
Networking opportunities that are both free, assessable and insightful for authors that are navigating their own position in the industry. To be able to pre-book onto seminars so that the itinerary is set, and a place is guaranteed. This would avoid the over-crowding and limited access that I encountered on the day.
The queues for refreshments were long; so perhaps more catering would help with keeping people hydrated and provide the valuable seating that the 2025 LBF lacked. Also, a potential opportunity to purchase goods on display (which I appreciate would be limited in space and volume), but would offer great marketing potential rather than just scanning a barcode and being sent a summary of activity after the event.
Do you recommend other author goes?
Not unless recommended by their editor/agent to do so. There are limited opportunities for authors as the fair stands now; but I do feel there is huge potential to make the event more author friendly and desirable to all.
Joanna Knowles –
Author, Writer, Prolific Reader, Lover of Cake.
Joanna lives in the south of England with her family, in a house with far too many books, and a cat who often ignores her. She hates to fly but loves to travel; she prefers paperbacks to eBooks, and she adores American sitcoms.
Alongside her writing, she has a love of movies, eating out, and socialising with her friends. Her family are her world and her husband is the love of her life. She loves to read. Anything. Shampoo bottles, magazines, current affairs, 19th century literature; and she has a particular penchant for a pretty book cover. She has completed both a BA(Hons) in English Literature and a master’s degree in creative writing, all while her children were little. Her biggest complement would be to be called a geek. Her love of literature comes from a young age, when seated cross-legged on the classroom floor, reading book after book in the book corner.
These days, she can often be found scouring the internet for her next book destination, failing miserably at the daily crossword, and writing her next novel sitting absolutely anywhere, but at her desk.
Lost and Found in Venice is Joanna’s second published novel with Orion Fiction. Her debut, Love is in the Air, was published in November 2023. She is currently working on her third novel which takes place at the top of a volcano.
Last week, thanks to a fantastic article in The Atlantic, I found out that one of my books had been taken from a piracy site and used by Meta to train their AI. Seeing your book on a piracy site hurts a lot. It takes years to write a book. There is a huge amount of sacrifice. Of sleep, time spend with loves ones, and time spent with Netflix. Querying is hard and tough on your mental health. After all of that, your book can then die on submission. Then you have to write another book and start the whole thing from the beginning.
Authors do not earn a lot of money. At last count the average was seven thousand pounds a year. If you worked out the hours we put in, it is below minimum wage. You have to really love it to be an author. The highs are liking nothing on earth and the lows are crushing.
Being an author is as hard as any other career. Yes, it has a huge amount of benefits. Working from home, being creative and seeing your work out there in the world. But the work can be tedious. Reading the same book multiple times. Editing it so many times that you want to give up. Then you market it while writing your next one. It is the dream, it really is. Don’t get me wrong, but there is a lot of work involved. If you cannot afford books you can go to the library. Authors get paid when you borrow our books. There is also the Libby library app if you are not near a library. My two books, Where The Light is Hottest and Ember are both on kindle unlimited. I hate to be downer and I know how lucky I am. I feel privileged and happy every day, but please stop stealing our work. Especially if you are a trillion dollar company. We can only write if our books sell. Publishers will not give us contracts if they think we have no readers. Publishing is a business like no other. It is all about the bottom line. Thank you. Please share any comments below.
Five eight in heels. Five four in a bullet proof vest.
Fundamentallyis the book of 2025. It is in every magazine and newspaper with rave reviews, and its author, Dr. Nussaibah Younis, long-listed for the Women’s Prize, is the woman of the moment. Readers, do believe the hype. The Times called Fundamentally Bridget Jones with Isis brides. It says a lot about the talent of the author that she can take such a serious subject and make it so funny. This debut, yes, it is actually a debut, is funny as fuck. Written with a bravery and lack of filter that sorts out the great writers from the good ones. This no-holds-barred novel takes a serious subject, the rehabilitation of Isis brides and extremism and handles it perfectly. It is not tackled with kid gloves, and Younis reminds me of I.S. Berry, who wrote The Peacock and The Sparrow (pretty much my favourite book of 2024). Written in first person, Dr. Nadia Buart has been abandoned by her mother and is escaping a broken heart after her girlfriend, Rosie, leaves her. Going to Iraq to rehabilitate Isis brides is one hell of a rebound. Dr. Nussaibah Younis knows her stuff. She’s a peacebuilding practitioner and a globally recognised expert on Iraq. She advised the Iraq government for years on proposed programmes to deradicalise women affiliated with Isis. It is impossible not to fall in love with Nadia, despite her many faults. Younis writes with such humour that you will laugh even when you wonder how she was brave enough to write it. Fundamentally is an immersive novel. Completely unique and full of hilarious, well-rounded characters. It tackles a very serious subject with such skill and compassion. Some of the women in the camp ended up there because their husbands told them they were going on holiday. When they get there, they are trapped. It is hard to say who my favourite character is because I kind of love them all. Younis put a huge amount of work into the book. I went to her book launch, and she said how she did a stand-up comedy course to get the jokes right and be funnier. She even got her book club to read her manuscript and critique it. The result is a morally complex, sparklingly funny, jaw-dropping, and gripping novel. It will make you laugh out loud. Fundamentally, is essential reading from a bright new talent who is completely unafraid. Nussaibah Younis has big things ahead of her. We are all just along for the ride.
A wickedly funny and audacious debut novel following an academic who flees from heartbreak and lands in Iraq with an insane job offer—only to be forced to do the work of confronting herself.
When Dr. Nadia Amin, a long-suffering academic, publishes an article on the possibility of rehabilitating ISIS brides, the United Nations comes calling, offering an opportunity to lead a deradicalization program for the ISIS-affiliated women held in Iraqi refugee camps. Looking for a way out of London after a painful, unexpected breakup, Nadia leaps at the chance.
In Iraq, Nadia quickly realizes she’s in over her head. Her direct reports are hostile and unenthused about taking orders from an obvious UN novice, and the murmurs of deradicalization being inherently unethical and possibly illegal threaten to end Nadia’s UN career before it even begins.
Frustrated by her situation and the unrelenting heat, Nadia decides to visit the camp with her sullen team, composed of Goody Two-shoes Sherri who never passes up an opportunity to remind Nadia of her objections; and Pierre, a snippy Frenchman who has no qualms about perpetually scrolling through Grindr.
At the camp, after a clumsy introductory session with the ISIS women, Nadia meets Sara, one of the younger refugees, whose accent immediately gives her away as a fellow East Londoner. From their first interaction, Nadia feels inexplicably drawn to the rude girl in the diamanté headscarf. She leaves the camp determined to get Sara home.
But the system Nadia finds herself trapped in is a quagmire of inaction and corruption. One accomplishment barely makes a dent in Nadia’s ultimate goal of freeing Sara . . . and the other women, too, of course. And so, Nadia makes an impossible decision leading to ramifications she could have never imagined.
A triumph of dark humor, Fundamentally asks bold questions: Who can tell someone what to believe? And how do you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?
Yes I did. I began writing as a five-year-old with my Petite Children’s Typewriter and throughout my childhood wrote self-illustrated pony stories. I love horses, so wanting to become a writer was mixed up with my other longing to work with horses. I guess writing pony stories nicely mixed the two. And I did go on to work with horses – on a Thoroughbred stud, riding racehorses (when I was young and thin) and then in a riding school. After I married a farmer I even ran my own riding school for a while, interspersing that with writing.
What books did you read growing up?
Haha! Pony books, of course. But also pretty much anything. I loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as a child, and Alan Garner’s. My dad used to take my sister and me to the local library once a week and I read my way through the entire children’s section. I particularly loved their good selection on myths and legends of various cultures. As I got a little older my tastes matured, and I read all of Georgette Heyer’s novels, all of Dick Francis’s, plus authors like Mary Stewart, Jerome K Jerome, and Tolkien, plus I’m proud to say all of War and Peace. You name it, I read it.
What was the idea behind The Sham Engagement?
I was asked to write a Regency era novel set in London, with balls for the heroine to attend. I have Asperger’s Syndrome so balls are not my cup of tea. I decided it would be nice to write a heroine who felt the same. So I made Elenora autistic in the days long before it was even thought of. This reflected my youth as I didn’t know I was autistic until my sons were diagnosed and my childhood and teenage years were difficult. On the other hand, that’s probably why I read so much.
You also wrote the Guinevere series. Do you think you will write more?
If you read the Guinevere series you’ll know I can’t write any more books for that. It has the sort of ending that doesn’t suggest any more. However, I am at present working on a prequel. I haven’t quite decided if it should be a genuine prequel or a total standalone series not connected to the first. I loved my Merlin so much (and so did my editor) that I wanted to write his story, so that’s what I’m doing. King Arthur having been my Aspie obsession since childhood, I don’t actually have to do much in the way of research. I’ve been doing that for the last fifty plus years.
Can you tell us about your publishing journey?
Long and slow! I think I must have had over a hundred refusals before I won the Dragonblade Write Stuff competition in 2021 and a three-book deal. A long time ago (1983), pre-children etc, I had a short story published in Pony magazine, and only this morning someone who specialises in republishing old pony stories and has back copies of Pony sent me a scan of my story. I’d long ago lost my own copy, you see. That was an exciting moment for me, and the story wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I also had an article on living in France published in Smallholder magazine, but those two were my only successes until that win in 2021. Since then I’ve won a few prizes for short stories, and one of mine that was shortlisted for the Bedford Prize is in their 2024 anthology.
What’s your writing routine?
I write every single day unless we’re going out for some reason. I start at breakfast time and keep going through the day with a few breaks here and there. I have to write as much as I can because I can be rudely interrupted by random vertigo attacks which render me unable to even stand up without being overcome with dizziness. It’s horrible, and I definitely can’t write while that’s happening. So when I’m able, I’m writing all day long.
I do intersperse writing with other things so I don’t get stale. At the moment I’m teaching myself Ancient Greek, so spend maybe up to an hour a day on that. As I’m getting older I decided it might be a good idea for my cognitive reserve. Plus I love it. I’ve already taught myself Latin, which is very useful.
Who are your favourite authors and books?
I love Stephen King, Harlen Coben and John Grisham, also Nicci French, because I’m very fond of a thriller. I just reread Shogun and loved that. I think I could probably say that my favourite author is usually the one I’m reading at the moment. I’ll read most genres if they’re well written and can’t abide books that aren’t. Life is too short to read badly written books so I DNF them. As I tend to buy my books on Bookbub for my kindle, I do get a few that I just bin.
What’s your favourite thing about being a writer?
Being my own boss, being able to write whenever I like, being able to write whatever I like. Living in a world I’ve created myself, seeing it unfold in front of me in technicolour. Letting my imagination run wild and free. By the way, the worst thing is doing the publicity. Hands down. So difficult.
Your first six books were a retelling of the Arthurian legend. Can you tell us how you approached them?
I’m a discovery writer (so much nicer than saying I’m a pantser) so I just sat down and wrote. I don’t plan at all, although, saying that, I had a vague structure of Arthurian legend to follow. And I knew as soon as I began book one where book six was going to end, just not how I’d get there nor how many books there would be. Because I’ve researched the Arthurian period for so long it’s as real to me as my own world, so it was easy to sit and write what it’s like as my characters move through it. Very little research was required, although every so often I had to look up what their underwear was like or what did they use for a baby’s nappy. That was fun. Rabbit skins, by the way, for the latter, only my research didn’t specify if that was fur side in or out. Think of having to clean the fur side!
What’s next?
The book, or series, about Merlin. He has a nice selection of legends I can draw on, some of which were mentioned in the Guinevere series, so I have a vague structure for that as well. Right now I’m about 27,000 words in and he’s just a boy. I write very quickly so should have the first draft done by mid-March. And I love doing revisions. Someone once suggested that I am a planner in a way, and that my first draft is my incredibly detailed plan. Maybe they’re right.
I also have some ideas for some more Regency era books. Just waiting to hear if they’ve been approved. I might end up simultaneously writing two books which I’ve never tried before. It’ll give me time to let one rest while I work on the other. Always a good idea. I don’t like to be without some kind of writing to do. I think I’d be lost without it.
Your debut, The Cuckoo Sister, was a top 10 bestseller. Did you expect it to be so successful?
I came to publishing with my eyes fairly wide open, due to having both worked in film and TV (which has crossovers in terms of how it works) and then at Cambridge Literary Festival as the events coordinator. I knew nothing was certain with publishing so the top ten listing for The Cuckoo Sister was amazing! Obviously I wanted it to be a success and had dreamed about it, but making the top ten was fantastic!
You are known for tackling brave subjects and writing complex characters. How do you come up with your characters? Where do you get your ideas?
I read a lot-of everything. From books to magazines, to online forums, chat groups, newspaper articles. and often snippets of ideas or characters will come from these. Everyday people in extraordinary circumstances is what I like to write about and so inspiration for this can come from all sorts of places. I observe people, I listen into conversations (much to my daughters’ embarrassment!) when out and about and it all slots into the jigsaw when I’m putting together an idea. I’m like a magpie, stealing shiny things!
What was your publishing journey like?
It was strange because it happened during Covid. I had just started approaching agents in March 2020, having been longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and then my plans to focus on that got somewhat waylaid! I hadn’t sent The Cuckoo Sister to many, when my now agent, Marianne Gunn O’ Connor, responded and wanted to develop the book with me. I liked how she worked and her vision for the book so we worked on various edits before sending it out. I was on submission for about six months and I wrote The Silent Friend at that time as a way to keep sane! Boldwood then picked up both and offered me a three book deal. So it was quiet and fairly uneventful!
Describe your writing routine.
I recently moved to full time writing after juggling working for Cambridge Literary Festival as well as writing and parenting, so now my routine is a little less harried! I work from home and start the day turning the kitchen/diner back into my office! Then I usually work on admin and social media while I turn my brain from mum to writer. I then work from mid-morning to the school run on whatever stage I’m at. At the moment it’s the first draft stage for book five, so I’m aiming for 1000-2000 words a day. Once the children are home I might be able to do a little more work, or it’s back into family life.
Your fourth book, The Man She Married, is out now. What is it about?
The Man She Married is about Beth, who wakes up after a car accident with 5 years of memories missing. She doesn’t remember leaving Australia nor meeting or marrying Rob, the man at her bedside who everyone says is her husband. She goes home to recover but cannot shift the feeling that something isn’t right and that she ought not to trust Rob. But-with her own mind so unreliable, can she trust herself? The book is about strength in adversity and the power to start over again.
Does writing get easier the more books you publish?
Yes and no. The worry of a first draft can be alleviated by knowing that you’ve done it before so you can do it again, and skills and techniques that you’ve learned as you’ve developed as a writer make it easier to some degree. Yet each new book is a new idea, new characters, a new plot and developing these and bringing them to life in a way that readers will connect with, is a new unchartered challenge every time.
What is your favourite thing about being an author?
I love that I get to create all these stories in my head and then share then with the world. I wanted to be a writer from a young age so the fact that I get to do this for a living is still amazing to me!
And your thing you dislike?
The required self-promotion! I am too British, and I find it difficult to overcome the cringe factor!
What books have you read that you love?
Too many to list but the latest advance copies that I’ve loved include The Rush by Beth Lewis, set in the Canadian gold rush of the late 1800s and 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon which is set in the UK when a alarm is sent that a catastrophic nuclear strike is due in 59 minutes. We follow the main characters as they decide what to do with that time. Both brilliant, both out this summer.
What’s next?
I am working on book five for Boldwood, which is about the intensity of female friendship and what happens when it goes wrong.
I became a writer in 2002. That was the year I began a four-year break from full-time work at the British Embassy in Berlin to look after our children, then aged eight and ten, so my diplomat wife could work full-time. She took over my job in the embassy. I’d begun my first novel, Eternal Life, in 1986. That was when the British Embassy in Vienna, where I was then working, got its first word-processor. I thought: ‘wow – you can edit your work before printing it! That’ll make writing much easier.’ Of course, it didn’t. But although I made some progress with my writing while I was working full-time as a diplomat, in Vienna, Moscow and Berlin, I found taking a break from full-time work transformative.
In the four years from 2002, I started writing for the Financial Times, sold two treatments to a film company, attended writing courses, and wrote two novels. When I returned to the Foreign Office full-time in 2006 as Director of Overseas Territories (Saint Helena, Bermuda, the Falklands & Co), then as Ambassador to Ukraine, I continued to write.
Unfortunately, the Foreign Office hated me trying to publish fiction and be a diplomat at the same time. They even threatened me with disciplinary action if I persisted after a bust-up in 2014, when I was working as British Consul-General in Istanbul. I started publishing excerpts from my romantic comedy The Cheat on-line. They objected to the rude words! It was a difficult situation.
I’m a bit manic, to be honest. Every morning, after a bit of yoga, I walk my partner to her work, then sit down until lunchtime to write. In the afternoons and sometimes in the evenings I focus on writing-related jobs, including organising book tours and social media – I have a website, a podcast, and post on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Linkedin. My “Lessons in Diplomacy” videos on TikTok have the best response – I work hard to publish good stuff for my 5,000 followers! Linkedin yields most speaking opportunities, including talks about “Lessons in Diplomacy”. I always make time to attend schools and universities, in particular, to discuss the book and answer questions.
You have written non-fiction and fiction. What is your favourite?
I love both! Creating characters and stories in fiction is a thrill. I love to work late into the night on a scene, then review what I’ve written in the morning, and find that characters, apparently independently, have led the story into unexpected places. Writing Lessons in Diplomacy was a different experience. The months of painstaking research, scouring my records, fact-checking and – above all – choosing the most fun, enlightening stories to illustrate the “life lessons” that make up the book, was rewarding. Like other writers, I sometimes worry that I’m putting too much of myself on display. When the publishers urged me to include even more Russian honeytrap stories about my travels to Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and elsewhere from 1992-95, I declined. But maybe if there’s ever a Volume 2 I’ll go further.
I loved Lessons in Diplomacy. What are your hopes for the book? Do you want to help people become diplomats?
The aim of Lessons in Diplomacy is three-fold. I wanted a book about diplomacy that was fun to read, opening up the truth about diplomatic life to the non-expert. Too many of us have a stereotypical view of upper-class twits swanning round the globe. Diplomacy is changing fast, including many more women and other under-represented groups becoming diplomats and ambassadors.
The book is also designed as a collection of life lessons from diplomacy. It’s not for nothing that the book includes chapters on “How to craft a career”, “How to drink wine and know things”, and “How to know people”. The skills and attributes that make a good diplomat can be applied to many – perhaps all – jobs and careers. I hope people find it useful.
Finally, I hope the book is a breath of fresh air for anyone studying politics or international relations. Many academic textbooks about diplomacy are written by great academics who have never been a diplomat. Others are written by great diplomats who have never written a book. I’m hoping readers will find Lessons in Diplomacy both useful and a great read.
You have lived an exciting life. What made you go into diplomacy?
My parents’ life was a lot more exciting than mine! They moved in 1951, as young adults, to northern Nigeria, and later to Lesotho, in southern Africa. Living in different countries instilled in me a deep interest in what made countries tick, as well as a restless desire to travel. Diplomacy was an obvious job choice, and I had great fortune in getting into the Foreign Office – on my second attempt. But as I say in Lessons in Diplomacy, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The jobs I did before the Foreign Office – in the Department of the Environment and the Treasury – were some of the most exciting I ever did – far more so than most Foreign Office jobs!
Germany, Berlin, 08.04.2003
Leigh Turner, author, with his children Owen and Anna preparing cakes. Working on a novel set in the Foreign Office. Job Swaps.
(c) Stefan Boness/Ipon, www.iponphoto.com
I loved how you took some time out to be with your children. Do you wish more men would do this?
The four years I spent looking after the children full-time, while my wife took my job in the British Embassy in Berlin, were the best four years of my working life. I was able to form a deeper bond with my children, to look at the world in a different way. I encourage all men to take seriously the option of some time out to help raise their kids. I recognise that not all parents have jobs that allow them to stop work for four years; or enough income for one parent to support the family. But do explore the options! Many women thought a man taking time off to bring up children was fabulous. But many men were hostile. They seemed to feel threatened by what I was doing.
Who are your favourite authors and books?
I’m an eclectic reader. I immensely enjoy modern thrillers such as Lee Child or Vince Flynn. But I also love romantic thrillers – I recently enjoyed books by Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane. And I have a soft spot for the classics – I’m nearing the end of a “read all books by Dickens” campaign, and love anything by Anthony Trollope. I’ve written a lot about Trollope on my rleighturner.com blog – although he’s a 19thC writer he has a lot to tell us about relationships, gender and power.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Persevere, and train your writing skills! Submitting books to agents and publishers is a cruel, unrelenting slog. But you have to keep doing it in the hope that one day, your painstakingly constructed work will see the light of day. There’s also the option of self-publishing, which I have tried, and which can work brilliantly. But it’s worth trying for a “traditional” publishing route first, if you can, to give your book the best chance.
I’m also a huge fan of honing your art. Writing courses are great ways to get feedback on your work, and mutual support. I go on courses regularly, and am even teaching on one in September 2025, in Lesbos, Greece. Details of the Lesbos course, and on other writing courses I’ve attended, and recommend, are on my blog.
Writing groups are also terrific. I’m in a virtual group with five writers from the US and Canada that meets every month. Their comments on my work have helped me improve my writing. They’ve also strengthened my self-belief – invaluable!
What’s next?
I’m currently working on a trilogy of romantic comedies I call the “Diplomats in trouble” series. I’m excited about it, although, as always, it’s not yet certain it will ever see the light of day. My hero Angus is a protagonist many test readers, mostly women, love to see try, and fail, and try and try again, to find love and a meaningful relationship in the chaos that is modern life. Watch this space.
Leigh has also written extensively about Russia’s war on Ukraine, in his book “Lessons in Diplomacy” and on his website.
