My first few trips to England were when I was a “stewardess” with a charter airline, but my emotional ties to her began early. Not only were both sides of my family from England and Wales, but after World War II our family had contact with a family who lived in Paignton, with whom we exchanged Christmas presents. Their gifts were the only ones we were allowed to open on Christmas Eve, and they were always special. Usually books. Through them we received wonderful glimpses of the Country of our forebears.

Naturally we also read “A Christmas Carol” as children, so by the time I actually stepped onto English soil, I was already in love with the Country, and Scrooge was very real to me. Little did I know that he and I would become such good fictional friends and that he would encourage me to write.