I'm moving to the UK from South Africa and everything seemed to have happened at once. In the same month that we packed up our house, I had to finish up my second novel, work out the notice period on my day job, and somehow go on a last family holiday with my husband's parents, sister, niece and nephew… Somehow, I kept it all together but only just. What's kept me going is how excited I am for our new adventure. That… and wine. Lots of wine.

Lily Graham

Lily Graham

My favourite tea is rooibos. In the UK it's called 'Redbush' which makes me smile. While it's available all year round, to me it always signals the start of my favourite season which is Autumn/Winter.

I dream about the sea. Johannesburg is one of the only cities in the world that wasn't built around a water source. Instead, the dry heat plains were made habitable during the gold rush in the 1880s through a 'let's make a plan' approach that still characterizes the city and it's people, everyone is willing to try to lend a hand or try to DIY things. Not being near a lake or dam, makes most Joburgers long for water, for a patch of blue that isn't sky. And as Africa is so large it takes close to seven hours to get to the nearest sea by car. I spent most of my life in Johannesburg, and my dream is to one day live near the coast - which won't be too hard in England.

The sight of a dog, any dog, turns me into Elmira from the Looney Tunes. I'll look at it and think, 'I just wanna hug you and squeeze you …' I spend hours staring at my bulldog, Fudge, trying to get her to play with me instead of sleeping for her requisite eighteen hours. She's the best tonic for any bad day at the office.

I get grouchy in Summer. My caveat is that I get grouchy in South African summers, where the temperatures soar well above 32 degrees. It's the reason I'll never move to Australia … I'd probably cry hot ugly tears in 45 degrees. In summer, nothing fits. The only way I'm comfortable is when I'm wearing things that frankly look indecent. UK summers are much better. You can stand in the sun without burning to a crisp. I'm happiest when the weather is slightly cooler and I get to wear a light jersey … or a scarf, fluffy socks, and have a hot chocolate.

My favourite part of The Hobbit was his house. I loved how it was really the perfect hideaway, lined with books and an impressive pantry. Also, the second breakfasts. That's a concept I can get on board with. I've always been a bit of a hermit, even from a young age and would sometimes lie to my friends just so that I could stay home and read when I was growing up. I've often wished that I could spend a year simply reading. No TV, somewhere beautiful and with a sea view - bliss.

When I'm feeling blue I watch old episodes of Frasier. It's one of the most well-written comedies of all time, and it never fails to get me out of a slump. What I love most, I suppose, was how the two brothers were always just that little bit out of step with the world, while theirs is due to unbridled pretension and snobbery, I've always felt a little out of step myself, like you're trying to explain which planet you arrived in from. True story.

I once won an award for most books read at my high school. I was in grade 8, so it was mortifying and did absolutely nothing for my 'street cred.' I was horrified that they kept count, and felt betrayed by the librarian who made a sweet speech that no single person in the school's history had ever read as much. She practically loud speakered my nerdom to the school. I will never forget how embarrassing it was to go and shake the principal's hand while all my classmates laughed like idiots. From that day forward I attended the public library instead.

I was never meant to write Women's Fiction. For most of my life I've been a major fantasy/sci-fi nut - my favourite films are Back to The Future I, II, and III. And most of my early attempts at novels were fantasty based. When my mother got stage IV breast cancer eight years ago though, my whole world turned upside down. I wasn't able to read anything for months, I felt so lost, unable to concentrate. Then a friend of mine suggested some light reading in the form of Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess, and I remember laughing so much I thought I'd crack. After that I looked for more books in that sort of genre and discovered Marian Keyes as well. When my mother got better I found I could read some of the books I loved before, but I'll always have a soft spot for lighter women's fiction now. I think it really helps people who are going through a bad time. Soon afterwards I started to write my first 'real world' story. It was completely rubbish, but I liked the premise and decided to rewrite it eight years later, and it became my first completed novel, which is being published by Bookouture on 26 May.

I'll have ten pounds left in my wallet and I'll buy books with it. For some people it's shoes or handbags, for me it will always be books. Now with ebooks I don't even have to pretend, 'This? Oh I've had this for ages…" to my husband.

The Summer Escape will be out on 26 May