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Barbara Taylor Bradford

Best-selling novelist EARLIEST HOLIDAY MEMORY?

GOING to Bridlington with my mother as a child — we used to stay in a B&B and I loved digging in the sand and making little sandcastles. I also went to Blackpool once, a real thrill for a little girl.

YOU LIVE IN THE U.S. – HOW DID YOU ADAPT TO LIFE THERE?

I MOVED to the States in 1963 after marrying my [late] American husband Bob and have lived there ever since. But even after all these years, I still miss English fish and chips — when I return to Britain, that’s the first meal I have.

NEW YORK OR LA?

I’VE lived in New York for more than 50 years, but with Bob being in the movie business, we regularly visited LA and stayed at either the Bel-Air or the Beverly Hills, both beautiful hotels in a lovely part of town. One of my favourite restaurants is also in LA: La Dolce Vita, Beverly Hills.

FAVOURITE U.S. WEEKEND BREAK?

WE HAD a weekend home in Connecticut and I loved going there — it has quite an English feel. Washington, Connecticut, is home to the wonderful Mayflower Inn.

TOP HOTEL?

THE Plaza Athenee in Paris off the ChampsElysees — just the most gorgeous place.

BEST PART OF YORKSHIRE?

MY MOTHER was from Ripon and took me there as a child, so I’ve always loved the Dales. When I visit Yorkshire now I stay in Harrogate — I always try to squeeze in a trip to Bettys tearooms.

WHERE NEXT?

I’M LOOKING forward to travelling to England later this month to promote my new book, but it’s going to be sad in a way because it will be the first time I’ve visited the UK without Bob in 57 years.

BarBara’s new novel In The Lion’s Den is published by HarperCollins on November 28, priced £16.99. It is available to pre-order now.