We were absolutely thrilled to have author Jo Thomas visit us, to talk about her latest novel A Recipe For Christmas.

Based in North Pembrokeshire, Jo is about to write her 21st novel, an amazing achievement, and she described how she got here.

Working as a BBC producer and presenter, Jo found herself at home with three children of age 3 and under. Starting to write short stories, she was encouraged by magazines like People’s Friend to develop her writing. But it wasn’t until the family relocated to Galway, Southern Ireland, and she was dining on oysters overlooking a bay, that she recognized her mission. She would write about romance, fun and food – feelgood novels with great characters, cultural insights and strong storytelling.

Jo described to us how she often writes in her car, in between ferrying children and distraction at home, with her laptop going everywhere with her. She’s extremely disciplined about her writing, and starts early in the day, always finishing by mid-afternoon to relax with something like ‘A Place In The Sun’ or ‘Escape To The Country’ on TV. She’s part of a community of successful romance writers, who check in with each other every morning, discuss progress and problems and get together regularly, where Jo cooks. It was so uplifting and inspiring to hear about this creative collaboration.

Jo is a great communicator on social media, often inviting friends on Instagram into her kitchen, to share meal plans on a Sunday. You get a sense from her that she is utterly and completely a storyteller to her core, on a mission to share her warmth and enthusiasm with readers, and that this comes most naturally to her. It is who she is.

To finish off Jo’s session, we thought we might combine Jo’s expertise in chocolate making (setting for A Recipe For Christmas) with a blind tasting of locally made Pembrokeshire chocolate.

Funnily enough, our readers took to this with great enthusiasm, and we were steered by Jo to consider smell, snap and shine. Judgement was passed, and Trwffl milk chocolate was declared top of the milks, and Dilly’s dark chocolate, top of the darks.

We thought this combination would make a perfect Christmas present.

Jo is off to Waterstones Piccadilly for a Christmas romance author event this week, and we are beyond chuffed that she could fit us in for a visit. Huge thanks to her – and Gert – and we very much hope she will come again. Thanks, too, to all of you who braved Bert to chat with Jo, sample and vote.