‘mum taught me about antiques and the power of story’

The TV presenter and novelist, who turns 68 this month, on weight loss, her unusual way with words, and why she has fallen in love with going to church

When journalist and author Hunter Davies lost his wife of more than 50 years, the novelist Margaret Forster, he began writing to her instead

Third time lucky, as they say, certainly rings true for Alison Coldridge and her husband Simone, recalling the ups and downs of house hunting. Both their number one and number two choices fell through

Stranded on a Moroccan mountain, Jane Johnson thought she was going to die. But one random phone call changed everything. Here the Cornish author reflects on an unlikely but lasting love story

Author Tanith Carey’s world fell apart as a child when her dad left. Fifty years on, she’s still dealing with the aftershocks

Back in 1979, David and Linda Williams felt ready to move to a spacious, light house with a good-sized garden. Ideally, it would be low maintenance so as not to encroach on David’s job as head of art