Barbara Taylor Bradford

A Few Of My Favorite Things

2012-01-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

By Barbara Taylor Bradford

Some years ago, a British magazine called MORE! asked me to compile a list of my favorite things for a feature article. This could be anything from my favorite books, to my favorite products, foods and movies. I recently came across this page while organizing my files at home. I thought it might be fun to update it and share it with you on my blog. Here’s what I’ve come up with…

My idol, tongue-in-cheek, remains Emma Harte, the heroine of my novels A Woman Of Substance & Hold The Dream. Not only because I created her, but also because she has been an inspiration all over the world. More than 30 million copies of A Woman Of Substance have been sold to date. That accounts for a lot of readers who still embrace the concept of strong women characters (real, or in fiction). Jenny Seagrove (pictured above), played the young Emma in the miniseries. Deborah Kerr was the older Emma.

Naturally, my true idol is Margaret Thatcher, who became the most powerful woman in the world, and actually was for eleven years. My biographer, Piers Dudgeon, said that if she hadn't existed I would have invented her. He was right! Because I create women who conquer the world, and she certainly did!

When it comes to men on screen, my hero is Colin Firth. He’s got that clean-cut English look that I like. He’s handsome, sensitive and a wonderful actor. His Oscar winning role in The King's Speech is one of the best performances ever.

My all-time favorite film is Gone With The Wind. Even when I see it on TV these days, the film still holds up beautifully. Perhaps because of the period costumes the film does not become dated. Clark Gable was the greatest sex-symbol ever. Of recent films, I absolutely adored War Horse, the Steven Spielberg WWI epic. It was a moving and touching story about a young man's love for a magnificent horse, and the horse's love for and dependence on this young man. I sat on the edge of my seat watching that extraordinary film. Spielberg is a genius.

On TV, I’ve been absorbed by the British TV series Downton Abbey. I’ve been watching every episode on PBS (now in season two). Julian Fellowes, the creator, has written some powerful segments. His depictions of the aristocracy and the servant class in the Edwardian era is excellent, while the storylines are dramatic and realistic. Costumes beautiful; so are the settings. Gareth Neame, who took the original idea to Fellowes, had a brainstorm!

People often ask me what my favorite book is. I’ve read many great modern novels. One of my favorite’s is the spy series featuring Gabriel Allon written by Daniel Silva. But in terms of all-time classics, I’d have to go with Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I suppose I was indirectly inspired by it. It’s a Yorkshire novel and I’m a Yorkshire writer after all. My roots will always be in the Dales. I go back there often, but my home is in New York.

My favorite meal is fish and chips. When I was in London recently, a friend and I had an old fashioned fish and chips supper at the Dorchester Hotel of all places, in the Promenade. I had mushy peas, malt vinegar, the lot. I enjoy smoked salmon and caviar, and also like good French cooking, but I prefer English food; you can’t beat roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, the latter made by a Yorkshire woman.

When it comes to a drink, I like a glass of Billecart Salmon rosé champagne. I can tell the difference between champagne brands and I know when I am drinking Billecart rosé , even if I haven’t seen the bottle.

I’m a great tea drinker. I’ve got a collection at home and English Breakfast is one of my favorites. Taylor's of Harrogate, from Bettys cafe in Yorkshire, is the brand I prefer.

I could joke and say that my favorite department store is Harte's (Emma’s store in A Woman Of Substance), but in reality it’s not. I like Fortnum and Mason. Everyone thinks that A Woman Of Substance is based on the story of Harrods. But it isn't. The story is fictional. My food department in A Woman Of Substance was similar to the one at Harrods, but that's all.

My favorite item of clothing is a simple black dress. Everyone says that I have good legs, so I like to make the most of them with opaque black stockings and high-heeled shoes.

I use Clinique cosmetics; I think blondes can look very faded without eye make-up and lipstick, so I don’t like to go without. I emphasize my green eyes with a hint of purple eye shadow. It works best over brown shadow.

Frank Sinatra is the best. My favorite song of his is One For My Baby & One More For The Road. Other artists I like include Barbra Streisand and Neil Sedaka.

Although I have English taste in decorating, and admire certain English painters, such as J.M.W. Turner, Gainsborough, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, I am addicted to the great Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, who were painting in France in the 1800s. Renior is my favorite, but I also love the paintings of Cézanne, Degas and Gaugin.

I hope you all enjoyed reading my list of favorite things. I would love to hear your lists of your favorites in return...

Holiday Greetings From Barbara & Bob

2011-12-20T07:06:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Through The Eyes Of A Yorkshire Girl

2011-11-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up in Yorkshire, the holiday season always centered upon Christmas and Boxing Day with New Year’s Eve thrown in for good measure. Certainly I had heard of Thanksgiving in America. And the concept for such a holiday sounded rather pleasant, even festive. However, until I married an American and moved to New York to experience it myself, this fabled holiday was nothing I could ever have imagined.

What separates Thanksgiving from the rest of the holiday season is the absolute sincerity of the day. Unlike the commercialism of the modern-day Christmas, Thanksgiving is about families, friends and a celebration of a way of life. Sure, Thanksgiving has the Macy’s Parade and marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. But it possesses a warmth and homely quality that holds strong appeal to an English woman at heart.

To begin with, much of the holiday revolves around the kitchen. For days, if not weeks prior to the big day, families start preparing for the year’s most elaborate feast. From essentials such as the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce, down to the desserts, the mere planning of the menu can make one’s mouth water and the stomach growl with anticipation.

For a personal English touch to the festivities, I’ve come to add a bit of my favorites to the menu, such as a warm Yorkshire pudding as a first course and stewed apples with the turkey. No doubt, all who have blended into the great melting pot add a bit of international flavor to the time-honored American customs, which only underscores the motive behind the celebration.

Then there is the guest list. Choosing the names who will share your Thanksgiving table is akin to making a personal who’s who list of the most treasured people in your life. Whether it be friends – old or new, close family – or extended, no Turkey-day table is complete without those most cherished.

And finally, as we gather round our lavish tables to enjoy the banquet, there is the simple, eloquent reason as to why we celebrate. Raising a glass, we toast to our freedom, our history and our way of life. We give thanks for all that is good in our lives. And we offer appreciation for our ability to enjoy our blessings in light of all that is going on in the crazy world around us.

For me, Thanksgiving has become my favorite day on the American calendar.

Wishing a happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

My Interview With Gabby Logan On "The Wright Stuff Extra" (UK TV)

2011-09-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed it last week, here's a fun interview that I did for Channel 5 (UK) about my new book, LETTER FROM A STRANGER. I also discuss a number of topics including how I manage to conduct all the historical research for my novels. I hope you enjoy it.

Hooked on Hermès Handbags! A Daily Mail Feature On My Hermes Collection

2011-09-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Hooked on Hermès handbags! They’re the most sought after bags in the world and author Barbara Taylor Bradford has 24 of them, thanks to a very generous hubby

By Amanda Cable
Last updated at 2:03 AM on 22nd September 2011

Lucky lady: British-born author Barbara Taylor Bradford

British-born author Barbara Taylor Bradford has sold a record-breaking 85 million books worldwide. Unbeknown to many of her fans, she is also a lifelong devotee of Hermès, perhaps the most sought-after brand of designer handbags in the world. Her collection, accumulated over the 47 years of her marriage, bears testimony to many of the landmarks of her life.
The author, 78, says: ‘Each bag was bought for me by my husband Bob, a television producer, to celebrate a special moment in our lives — whether it be a birthday, a Christmas, an anniversary, a surprise gift when we’ve been apart or to celebrate the release of a new book. Together, they tell the story of our marriage.
‘I keep my bags in my walk-in dressing room at our home in New York, but when I took them out to clean them the other day and saw them all together, I felt close to tears. I still love Bob as much as I did on our wedding day and I feel so incredibly lucky to have the bags as each one is a symbol of our love, and the five decades we’ve spent together.’
Here, Barbara tells the story behind some of her favourites...

BLACK KELLY January 1964

I first fell in love with Hermès bags when I was a young journalist after I saw photographs of Grace Kelly with hers. I loved the style and elegance of the design — I had never seen anything so beautiful before.
I will never forget the joy of receiving my first Hermès. Bob and I married on December 24, 1963, and flew to Paris for our honeymoon. One day while we were there, he suggested we went for a walk and we found ourselves at the Hermès shop where he bought me this black Kelly bag. I think it cost about £800.
I had loved these bags for years and, although I was 30 years old, I was as excited as a child. I still wear the same original bag on my arm. It’s a tiny bit worn, but the beautiful stitching and detail is intact.

Looking back, when I first carried this bag, I had no idea what would happen with my career, if I would ever write a book or even if my marriage would last. I was young and I was in love, but I certainly didn’t know that our marriage and partnership would be so long and so happy.

Handbag addict: Barbara first fell in love with Hermès bags when she was a young journalist and saw photographs of Grace Kelly with hers

BROWN KELLY May 1965

For my birthday on May 10, Bob bought this brown Kelly from Hermès in New York. He bought a Hermès scarf as well, because we’d lived in Paris for a while and I wanted to copy the way that French women tie their scarves to the handle of their bags for an extra touch of elegance.

BURGUNDY KELLY January 1966

For our third wedding anniversary, Bob said: ‘I thought I’d get you a Kelly bag.’ I said I would love a burgundy one, which would go with both navy and grey outfits. Originally called the Sac A Depeches, this bag was first produced in 1935. But in 1956, Grace Kelly was photographed in Life magazine. She had just become the Princess of Monaco and she held the bag in front of her to hide her pregnancy. From then on, the public dubbed it The Kelly Bag and Hermès eventually adopted the name.
CREAM CROCODILE May 1969
My mother used to tell me that crying doesn’t change anything, and generally I never cry. But one of the few times I did weep was when a waiter spilt something on the floor where this cream, crocodile Hermès bag was sitting. I tried wiping it off but it had sunk into the leather.
Hermès couldn’t remove the stain either, but I loved the bag too much to throw it out. Now I hide the mark with a silk Hermès scarf tied on the handle.

Grand gesture: Each bag was bought for Barbara by her husband Bob, a television producer, to celebrate a special moment in their lives

BLACK KELLY 1970

This vintage black Kelly bag made it into one of my novels many years later. In my book, Breaking the Rules, the heroine is a young woman who calls herself M. She comes to New York and she carries a battered, black Hermès bag, a little like a badge of honour. My bags aren’t battered — they are stuffed with tissue to maintain their shape and taken back to Hermès each year for repair and cleaning, but the bag in the novel definitely is a homage to my own vintage black Kelly bag.

NAVY AND BURGUNDY 1980

My first novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979. The following year, I flew to Paris to meet my French publisher. While we were there, Bob treated me to this bag, which is one of his favourites. The colour, with a burgundy flap, navy handle and dark green front, is unusual and goes with any outfit.

THE DRAG 1981

Bob was working in Italy on a movie when he went to Hermès in Rome, looking for a Kelly bag to surprise me. They didn’t have one, but he bought this black leather bag instead. It has two H’s made of brass and is incredibly elegant. It was only recently that I discovered it was known as The Drag Bag, which I can’t understand because it’s far too beautiful to have a name like that. Throughout the Eighties, Bob gave me several black Kelly bags and a navy and a brown one to celebrate movies he had made from my books.

KELLY IN CARDOVAN BROWN late 1990

In the Nineties everyone seemed to be discovering Hermès bags. Suddenly, they were the must-have accessory on every well-heeled shoulder. As a result, they became increasingly difficult to get hold of, so these Hermès bags show how determined Bob has been to treat me to something that I love. We chose this handbag together in the London Hermès shop.

Growing trend: Barbara says that in the Nineties everyone seemed to be discovering Hermès bags and as a result, they became increasingly difficult to get hold of

WHITE KELLY June 2005

We were in Paris just after my birthday, and Bob wanted to buy me a Kelly bag. We knew they were scarce and the manager told Bob that there was nothing left. I said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll buy a scarf.’
At that moment, a salesman came over and told the manager — in French — that a customer had come to collect a Kelly bag which had been made especially for her, but she didn’t like it and had left the shop. Bob speaks fluent French, understood the entire conversation and asked if we could see the rejected bag. It was white leather, with a white leather handle and trim, and the front of the bag was made from a silk Hermès scarf with leaping horses. I loved it and we bought it — it became my ‘happy accident’ bag.

THE EVELYNE 2009

I found this in Beverley Hills two years ago, when I was in LA promoting my novel Breaking the Rules. By this time, the world was going mad for the Birkin bag — so much so that it’s almost impossible to get one.
I seem destined not to own one, and I refused to join a waiting list for a handbag because it seems so silly. We did see a Birkin in the window of Hermès Paris recently, but when Bob asked to take a look at it, he was told it was not for sale. I still love this one, though, called the Evelyne. There is an enormous perforated H at the front of it, which makes it so distinctive.

ORANGE KELLY December 2010

We were at our Manhattan apartment when Bob announced one Saturday that he was going to Hermès to try to get me a bag. Kelly bags had become so hard to get hold of that I told him not to bother. But he went and, an hour later, he rang me and said: ‘I’m in Hermès and they’ve got a Kelly!’
I was so excited. He told me it was gorgeous, big and orange. I said: ‘What do you think?’ and Bob said: ‘I think it’s beautiful and it’s perfect for summer or winter.’
I looked at it once and then put it away until Christmas Day. It was sheer luck that this bag was waiting that day. Forty-six years after Bob bought me my first ever Kelly, my latest one cost about £5,400 — and I love it.

Letter From A Stranger by Barbara Taylor Bradford is published by HarperCollins at £12.99. barbarataylorbradford.co.uk

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2040251/Hermes-handbags-Author-Barbara-Taylor-Bradford-24-them.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#

My Appearance On ITV's "This Morning" - Letter From A Stranger

2011-09-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

September 15th is finally here! The UK publication date of my 27th novel, LETTER FROM A STRANGER.
To celebrate this occasion, I got to appear on ITV's "This Morning" show to talk about my new book, my future writing ambitions and my family tree (among other subjects). I really enjoyed taking part in this interview segment. For those of you who missed it, here below is this clip:

My Appearance On BBC-1's "The One Show"

2011-09-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Monday, September 12, I got to visit "The One Show" on BBC 1 for a chat about my new novel, LETTER FROM A STRANGER. For those of you who missed it, here is the clip of my interview...

My Portrait In Vanity Fair - The "On Time" Literary Issue

2011-09-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

I have always been a great admirer of Vanity Fair. I've been thumbing through the pages of this glamorous publication for as long as I can remember. So, when I was recently asked to have my portrait taken for a special "Literary Issue" for the UK edition (October, 2011), I was only too pleased to say "yes!"

Vanity Fair Cover Illustration by Sonia Roy

I later learned that the theme of this magazine would be about timepieces. In fact, they've called it: "Vanity Fair On Time." I was asked to select my favorite wristwatch for the photo shoot, which took place at my Manhattan apartment back in June. The timepiece I selected is by Graff Jewelers. It's called the "Graff Superstar." The VF photographer for this shoot is Julian Dufort. He captured this unique image of me in my dining room.

Photo by Julian Dufort

Last week, Bob and I were so pleased to attend a launch party in London to celebrate the publication of this special Vanity Fair "On Time" issue. It took place at the famed Annabel's. A great time was had by all! The October issue of VF hits newsstands in the UK this week. I hope you enjoyed this little preview...

My UK Book Tour - Public Events

2011-09-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

I've just been handed this schedule of public events from my UK publisher, HarperCollins. These, of course, are in support of my new novel, LETTER FROM A STRANGER, which comes out in the UK on September 15th. It will be great to see many of my loyal UK readers at these special events this month.

Monday 12^th September:

8.30pm – 9.45pm Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival, Ivy House, 94 - 96 North End Road, London, NW11 7SX

Barbara Taylor Bradford "In conversation" with Trudy Gold.

Tickets: http://www.hamhighlitfest.com/events/monday

http://www.ljcc.org.uk/events/1745-font-color-cc0000-barbara-taylor-bradford-talks-to-trudy-gold-br-i-a-woman-of-substance-i-font.html?festival=1

Tuesday 13^th September:

12pm: Wellbeing of Women Lunch at Fortnum and Masons, London

Barbara Taylor Bradford "In conversation" with Eve Pollard

Tickets: http://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/support-us/shopping/online-shop-items/?item=Literary%20Lunches

Wednesday 14^th September:

12pm Meet the author lunch at Calcott Manor, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. T: 01666 890 391

http://www.calcotmanor.co.uk/special-events/meet-the-author-lunch-with-Barbara-Taylor-Bradford-OBE

Wendesday 14^th September:

6pm Meet the author at Barnsley House, Barnsley, Cirencester. Champagne reception and screening. T: 01285 740 000 http://www.barnsleyhouse.com/offers/cinema/

TO PRE-ORDER A COPY OF LETTER FROM A STRANGER CLICK HERE

LETTER FROM A STRANGER - Coming September 15th In The UK

2011-08-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

Captivating and evocative, Letter from a Stranger will take you on an unforgettable journey from idyllic Connecticut to exotic Istanbul to war-torn Berlin then back to the present day.

When award-winning film maker Justine Nolan returns to her beautiful childhood home, she is intrigued by an envelope she finds in her absent mother’s post. But the letter inside contains a shocking revelation. If genuine it will change everything she believes about her family’s recent history, her mother and her adored grandmother, Gabriele.

With the support of her beloved twin brother, Richard, Justine resolves to uncover the truth. To do so she must travel to Istanbul – the teeming, beguiling city on the cusp of East and West. It is a place which holds its own secrets, leading her to a fascinating man who appears to know more than he is prepared to disclose.

Yet even when her quest succeeds, Justine is faced with a further mystery: Gabriele’s background is not what it seems. Justine is given a book of memories in which the real story unfolds, taking her back to the darkest days of European history, with its suffering and astonishing acts of bravery. At the heart of it lie the final facts of Gabriele’s identity – and her own.

The letter from a stranger has brought her not only to the truth about her family but also a chance to heal the wounds of past betrayals, to embrace a new love and new life.

Click Here To Pre-Order Your Copy

Literacy Gala In NYC - A Major Charity Event For A Great Cause

2011-05-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Last night, Bob and I attended a wonderful black tie Gala for Literacy Partners at New York's Lincoln Center. This year's honoree was Leonard Riggio, Chairman of Barnes and Noble, and his wife Louise Riggio. Bob and I were of course, last year's guests of honor at this special annual event.

Special guests at last night's event included: Bestselling author, Michael Connelley, Katie Couric, Whoopi Goldberg and novelist, Stacy Schiff.

Barbara Taylor Bradford with the guest of honor,
Len Riggio, Chairman of Barnes and Noble. In the center is
Mark Jackson, President of Literacy Partners and CEO of
Dow Jones Company.

Also in attendance was Tom Hooper, director of the 2011 Oscar winning film, The King's Speech, and David Seidler, who wrote the Oscar winning original screenplay.

For those who want to know more about Literacy Partners, and their works, there are currently more than 3.7 million adults in New York reading at less than a fifth grade level who need our help -- and that number is growing. Literacy Partners is serving almost 2000 students and they have hundreds more waiting for a spot in their program, hoping for a chance to learn and write.

Literacy Partners has been able to educate over 35,000 adult students and family members who cannot read or write living in New York City. For those of you who want to contact Literacy Partners for information or donations, please visit: LiteracyPartners.org.

Barbara Taylor Bradford and Robert Bradford with
their Houston guests, Brian Teichman and Andrew Cordes

Robert Bradford with Majorie Reed Gordon and Kate White
Editor & Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine.

From Left: Robert Bradford, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Len Riggio
Loise Riggio, Mark Jackson and Jackie Weld Drake.

All Photos By Patrick McMullen

My Honorary Doctorate At Mount St. Mary College

2011-05-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I was honored to have been chosen by Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY to receive an honorary doctorate degree in Letters from the university in front of some 3,000 students and faculty. This is the kind of honor I will cherish always.

That's Me At The Podium Giving My Remarks to the Students.

Speaking before thousands of these young students at this very special commencement ceremony made me feel proud to be an American citizen. They are the future of our country. They are the young people who will be the leaders in reshaping our world. We must be proud of them and support them in their endeavors as they face an uncertain future.

From left: Fr. Kevin Mackin OFM, Mount Saint Mary College president;
Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier; Barbara Taylor Bradford, bestselling author;
Capt. Scott Smiley, commander of the Warrior Transition Unit, West Point;
James W. Taylor Jr., founder, president and chief executive officer of Taylor Biomass Energy LLC;
and R. Abel Garraghan, Mount Saint Mary College board of trustees chair

A special salute of affection to goes to my good friend, Father Kevin Mackin for his tremendous leadership at the university.

The night before my going to the college, I attended a charity gala dinner (The Princess Ball), which was headed up by our dear friends, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia. The dinner was to raise money for orphaned children in urgent need of medical assistance in Serbia. There's such a great need all over the world for children who require our support and attention.

Another Group Shot.
That's me in the middle.

A Busy Season Of Events In NYC

2011-05-06T08:40:00.001-07:00

This has been a busy time in our lives. While I'm trying to finish my new book by the end of this month, we attended a number of social events for charity, which has become a priority in our lives.

Last week, we attended a fabulous evening for the NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, with supper at the Plaza Hotel. Bob and I are very proud to be part of this event, as we were actually part of the founding group creating the orchestra some 25 years ago.

Today, it is comprised of over 100 outstanding musicians. This highly respected orchestra is much thought after around the world.

We also attended the yearly gala/English Ball by the St. George Society of New York, of which we are patrons.

The event honored an outstanding lady, Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive of Burberry.

I'm looking forward to being honored in one week's time by the prestigious Mt. Saint Mary's College at their commencement, where I will be addressing the graduates and will be awarded an honorary doctorate in literature.

Now, back to my typewriter to wrap up my latest novel, Letter From A Stranger.

My Appearance On Fox Business About The Romance & Economics Of The Royal Wedding

2011-05-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Royal wedding: a love match that was meant to be - My Piece For The Sunday Telegraph

2011-04-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Royal wedding: a love match that was meant to be

The story so far: how a shy, homesick young prince fell for his sporty home counties heroine. By the novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Both Prince William and Kate Middleton excelled at school as youngsters

By Barbara Taylor Bradford 8:30AM BST 24 Apr 2011

They’re the hottest couple on the planet. They’re young, good-looking and in love. When they marry at Westminster Abbey on Friday an estimated two billion people worldwide will watch the royal wedding ceremony. She was born on January 9 1982 (a Capricorn) at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, the daughter of Carole and Michael Middleton, and christened Catherine Elizabeth at St Andrew’s Church.

He was born five months later on June 21 (a Gemini) at St Margaret’s Hospital in London, the first son of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Prince William Arthur Philip Louis was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace.

While “Baby Wales”, as his mother called him, was growing up in Kensington Palace with his younger brother, Harry, and attending Wetherby School, Kate was thriving. She lived in a semi-detached house in the village of Bradfield, and attended Bradfield Church of England Primary School.

After a brief interlude living in Jordan the family returned to Bradfield, then moved to Bucklebury when Kate was five. William’s early childhood was also a happy one. At Highgrove he enjoyed hunting, shooting and fishing with his father; with his mother and Harry he had marvellous adventures.

Kate left Downe House, a private school, in 1995 because she was bullied. Her parents sent her to Marlborough College. From then on she blossomed. Liked for her sense of fun, reliability and loyalty, she excelled at sports; her flair for acting won her the lead part in school plays.

As Kate came into her own at Marlborough, William went to Eton College. Shy and self-conscious, he was haunted by family troubles from the first day. Once his parents were divorced, things settled down. Like Kate, he was a diligent student, excelled at sports and made good friends.

In August of 1997 William and Harry went with their father to stay at Balmoral for their summer holiday. They were both asleep when Prince Charles woke them to break the devastating news that their mother had been killed in a car crash in Paris. Whatever Kate was doing on September 6 1997, more than likely she paused to watch the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, just as the rest of the world did. It was William who insisted he and Harry escort their mother’s coffin through London.

In 2000 Kate left Marlborough and William Eton. Both took a gap year. She spent the year travelling abroad, as did he. They both went to Chile, but at different times. Their first meeting took place in January of 2001 at the University of St Andrews, where they were reading art history. They met on the day William arrived, billeted to St Salvator’s Hall, known as St Sally’s. They got on well from the start, and quickly joined up with a former Etonian, Fergus Boyd, and Olivia Bleasdale and Ginny Fraser.

The romance began as a friendship; they were both involved with other people at the time. Kate sat with him for hours when he felt homesick, suggesting he must stop going home to Highgrove so much. When he wanted to leave St Andrews she persuaded him to stay.

William found Kate appealing. She was quieter than the other girls, shy, a little reticent, and he liked that. They usually had breakfast together; when William was forced to miss a lecture she took notes for him.

It was in March of 2002 that Kate stepped on to the catwalk at a student charity fashion show. She was wearing the now-famous dress (just sold at auction for £78,000). See-through black lace over skimpy black underwear supposedly caused William to exclaim to Fergus, “Wow, Kate’s hot!” She was discreet, but she could be daring.

By September of that year Kate was such a trusted friend that she was chosen to share a house off-campus in Hope Street with William, along with Fergus Boyd and Olivia Bleasdale. They all did the cleaning and cooking, or bought takeaways from Tesco. In the next two years their relationship became an open “secret”.

They attended each other’s birthday parties; seeking more privacy, they found a little farmhouse on a nearby estate, and rented it with Fergus. William and Kate took long walks; she cooked his dinner every night; their friends knew they had fallen in love. Some weekends were spent at Balmoral.

But even fairytale romances can have problems. In the summer of 2004 William told friends he needed space, and planned a yachting trip in Greece with a friend, Guy Pelly. Kate was annoyed when she discovered that Guy had arranged for an all-girl crew.

Accepting sage advice from her mother, Kate decided to give William some space. It worked. Within a few months they were back together.

Kate and William both graduated in the same ceremony in front of their families at St Andrews in June 2005. Their university days were over, and they both felt sad as they packed up the farmhouse.

William went to Sandhurst to begin his Army training in January 2006. Kate was not a career girl, and for a time she worked for her mother’s online business. But in November she got a job as an accessories buyer with Jigsaw, the fashion chain.

In December William graduated from Sandhurst. Looking stylish in a bright red coat and a chic black hat, Kate made heads turn with her appearance at the ceremony. She and her parents were given front-row VIP seats. Everyone believed that she was his permanent girlfriend. But trouble was brewing again. William felt that he was being pressured to propose to Kate, and believed that his Army career should come first.

In early 2007 William started a two-and-a-half-month course at Bovington Camp in Dorset. In March he and Kate took a skiing trip to Zermatt, but they were spending less time together. He explained that his training schedule would continue to keep him busy for months. Obviously, she was upset when William came to London and was seen in nightclubs, like Boujis in South Kensington, without her.

The relationship became increasingly difficult. The night William had been seen at Boujis had embarrassed Kate; she was humiliated again when he was photographed with an 18 year-old student in Bournemouth. Kate gave William an ultimatum. She needed a full commitment if they were to remain together. It backfired. William decided they should have a break from each other. They separated for the second time.

Kate pulled herself together. She was not going to feel sorry for herself. Instead, she put on a big smile and a stylish dress and went to a girls’ night party at Kitts nightclub in Chelsea to announce her single status again. She also joined Alicia Fox-Pitt and became part of the Sisterhood, a group of 21 girls planning to row from Dover to Cap Gris Nez to raise money for charity. Alicia put her at the helm of the boat.

But William and Kate were ready for a reconciliation. They spoke on the phone every day; they were missing each other. At this point Kate left the rowing team. She knew it would become a media circus because of William’s presence in her life again. In August William invited Kate to a fancy-dress party at his barracks in Bovington. That night he never left her side. They were back together once more.

The announcement that William wanted to join the RAF to become a search-and-rescue pilot in 2008 was unexpected. Kate was apparently stunned. But there was no break-up. She supported him. And waited.

When they announced their engagement last November the chemistry and happiness between them was obvious. While some were surprised by the news, others were not. Friends say they “pledged their troth” to each other in 2007, and that under the radar there have been holidays with her parents and visits to Birkhall, with Prince Charles’s house on the Balmoral estate. Since William became an RAF pilot they have been openly living together in a rented cottage in Anglesey near his base.

Today Kate looks radiant, never more beautiful. And chic. Some say she’s revived “the Sloane”. Certainly she’s a style icon. Whatever she wears sells out overnight. Sloane or not, she’s no longer “Waity Katie”. She’s the future Queen of England. She hasn’t put a foot wrong in seven and a half years. She got it right. “Whatever in love means”, to quote Prince Charles, Catherine has shown us.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8469789/Royal-wedding-a-love-match-that-was-meant-to-be.html

Mount Saint Mary's College Graduation

2011-04-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

Brett Baier, Barbara Taylor Bradford to speak at Mount graduation
By Michael Randall

Published: 2:00 AM - 04/20/11

CITY OF NEWBURGH — Brett Baier, anchor of "Special Report with Brett Baier" on the Fox News Channel, will give the commencement address to Mount Saint Mary College's Class of 2011 on May 14.

Novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, author of "A Woman of Substance" and other bestselling novels, also will address the graduates.

The Rev. Kevin Mackin, the Mount's president, will confer honorary doctorates on Baier, Bradford and two other guests: Capt. Scott Smiley, commander of the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point, and Jim Taylor, founder of Taylor Biomass Energy in Montgomery.

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110420/NEWS/110419743/-1/SITEMAP

Ben Gazzara & The Lotos Club

2011-04-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

Barbara Taylor Bradford with Ben Gazzara.

Renown television, motion picture and stage actor, Ben Gazzara was recently honored with a State Dinner by New York's famed Lotos Club. Ben is a wonderful talent and a good friend of Bob and myself. The State Dinners, honoring notable people from all professions , were started back in 1870. A few of these honored over the last hundred-and-forty-one years are the writer Wilkie Collins (1873), count Ferdinand DeLesseps, builder of the Suez Canal (1880), Oliver Wendell Holmes, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1883), and Samuel L. Clemens, known better as Mark Twain (1893). More recently, playwright Arthur Miller was honored in 1998, and in 2010 the actors Christopher Plummer and Angela Lansbury were honored along with General David Petraeus and Maya Lin, the sculptor. Bob and I attended Ben's dinner at the Lotos Club, which is the oldest writer's club in America.

Bob Bradford & Ben Gazzara

My Childhood In Leeds - A Daily Mail Feature

2011-04-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

Barbara Taylor Bradford: 'I was an only child, an only grandchild and only niece, so I was much treasured'

By DEANY JUDD
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 8th April 2011

Novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, lives in New York with her husband Bob. She has sold more than 82 million books.

Here I am at six as a fairy in the school play at Christ Church Primary in Upper Armley, near Leeds. It encapsulates so much about my childhood.

My parents had a son called Vivien who died of meningitis before I was born and my arrival was most welcome. Not only was I an only child, I was an only grandchild and only niece, so I was much treasured, as this photo shows.

Six-year-old fairy: 'My mother made my fairy costume, I remember being terribly proud of it'

My mother took great care of me and I was always beautifully groomed. She made my fairy costume. I remember being terribly proud of it and my mother telling me to stand still while she pinned and fitted it. My father painted the tap shoes gold.

The plays are my strongest memories of my time at school – I adored being in them and they sparked my life-long interest in drama. I was a member of Leeds Amateur Dramatic Society for years. I was quite good and if I hadn’t been a writer I would have been an actress.

Although my school teachers were great, I would credit my mother Freda’s influence far more. She was a former children’s nurse and a voracious reader. She introduced me to books at the age of four.

More...

When I was ten I wrote a story and she sent it to a children’s magazine. I got a postal order for ten shillings and my first byline. I then announced I was going to be a writer.

Then I moved to Northcote Secondary School in Armley. We wore a green uniform with a Panama hat in the summer. I was very happy there. I remember a kind teacher called Mrs Cox who nurtured my writing.

Vivid imagination: 'I said to my husband Bob recently that when I grew up in Yorkshire it was always sunny, and he said, "Barbara, I'm sure it wasn't, it was just you were so happy"'

She said I had a vivid imagination. I always tell people who want to be writers, ‘You’ll need one because it’s all made up!’

By 15 I knew I couldn’t expect to write a novel until I had lived a bit, so I decided to be a journalist and got a job in the typists’ pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post. In the evenings I wrote news stories and one day I plucked up the courage to drop a couple onto the sub-editor’s desk.

Lo and behold he used them! It came as a shock to discover they were written by a typist. The editor asked if I wanted to be a cub reporter and that was that. Initially the men in the newsroom weren’t too happy because they had to watch their language but we were soon friends.

Before long I turned my hand to fiction and never looked back. I’m so glad my parents lived to see my books published.

I said to my husband Bob recently that when I grew up in Yorkshire it was always sunny, and he said, ‘Barbara, I’m sure it wasn’t, it was just you were so happy.’ He is absolutely right, I had a wonderful childhood.

Playing The Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford, Harper Collins, is out now, £14.99.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1374386/Barbara-Taylor-Bradford-I-child-grandchild-niece-I-treasured.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Welcome To The BTB Blog

2011-03-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

A big hello to all my readers, fans and now followers of my blog. It's amazing how technology keeps evolving! I went from having one website, to adding a second one for UK readers, then a YouTube channel for video content, two Facebook pages and a MySpace page for "social media," a LinkedIn profile for professional networking... and now a blog to do... well, whatever blogs are good for.

I guess one thing they are good for is posting ideas and features on anything from the novels I write to the books I read by other authors. Then there's my take on current events. I did begin my career as a journalist, and I do still write newspaper features from time to time. I thought it might be fun to share my thoughts on the news and news-makers when time allows.

It will also be great to get your instant feedback on my "blog comments." So, by all means, feel free to chime in with your posts and questions in this forum.

I look forward to this exciting new venture and to everyone's participation.

Happy reading,