1. I am madly in love with my husband, even after 60 years of marriage – but still haven’t managed to train him to be obedient.

2. I have several severe food intolerances which restrict my ability to go out to restaurants or even eat a slice of bread. Such a nuisance. No one chooses this so will you please be kind to anyone with food intolerances.

3. About 30 years ago I got even more fed up than usual of trying to keep more or less in fashion, so changed what I wore to what I like best, ie pretty coloured skirts and plain dark tops – and only those. It has made clothes shopping so much easier. I am definitely not a shopaholic.

4. I sleep quite badly because story ideas often pop up during the night. I’m not taking sleeping tablets or anything like that because this is very useful. There are no phones or other interruptions during the night and I have the peace and quiet to ‘see’ my ideas clearly. I found out a word for this – I love quirky words – lucubrations.

5. I adore apple pies but for 30 years my severe intolerance to both wheat and corn made it impossible to cook them – concrete pastry was all that rewarded my own efforts. Now my clever elder daughter, who has the same problems, makes them for me. The first one I ate after 30 years brought tears of joy to my eyes.

6. I was born in Lancashire and am Lancastrian to the core. When I did a DNA test I thought I’d have some Irish ancestry showing because of the family names but it was about 90% Lancashire.

7. I don’t like using mobile phones when I’m out and about. I don’t want to spend my life at the end of a digital umbilical cord, thank you very much.

The Book

Silver Wishes 

The first novel in the heartwarming and gripping new Jubilee Lake series, from million-copy bestseller Anna Jacobs

Lancashire, 1895. When her controlling stepfather suddenly dies, it seems that Elinor Pendleton finally has a chance of freedom. But her hopes are soon dashed when she learns that the thuggish Jason Stafford has inherited every penny, and is determined to have Elinor too.

Forced to flee with her beloved maid, Maude, Elinor finds shelter with Maude's distant cousin in the remote village of Ollerthwaite, on the shore of Jubilee Lake.

But Walter Crossley has troubles of his own. Having lost his closest family in a tragic accident, he needs one of his grandsons to return from America to inherit his farm - and when practical, kindhearted Cameron arrives, he appears to be the perfect heir.

But is this young man everything he seems? And will Elinor's secret wish to have a family of her own ever come true...?

Femalefirst View:

In Silver Wishes Anna cleverly introduces the main characters then brings them all together as the story builds leaving you to speculate how it is going to play out. It draws you in from the start, but be prepared for twists along the way. An absolute brilliant read

About the author

Anna Jacobs is an extraordinary author, coming to the fiction game late - publishing her first novel at the age of 51 - shes been making up for lost time ever since. In 2022 she published her 100th novel. She is one of the UK's most prolific and popular authors, being the most borrowed adult fiction author in British libraries. Anna's books with Hodder alone have also sold over 4.35 million copies across all formats.

Anna grew up in Lancashire and emigrated to Australia, but still visits the UK regularly to see her family and do research. Her historical novels have been published by Hodder & Stoughton since 1993 and the last three series have been set in her home county. It's a place she loves, and memories from childhood form the backdrop to her stories. As she sometimes says: Lancashire made her.

Anna likes to write about people, especially women, overcoming adversity or making a new start in life, as Anna herself did when she became a novelist. And she always gives them happy endings because she can. She also likes to feature older characters, both men and women, who are often either ignored in fiction or portrayed as stumbling along in their later years instead of still striding through life and contributing to the world.

Anna has a dedicated fan base and is often told by readers that her books have helped them through difficult times. She loves interacting with her audience through her website, social media and in person at events. Happily for her many readers,

Anna has no plans to retire.

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