If you were going to write a book...

My main passion has always been history, in particular the Middle Ages. I have always been interested in food production and cooking too, and have considered at times writing a book about eating through the ages. Although it's been done a few times now, I think.

I'm already writing up the family history, but the biggest scandals are too recent (living relatives) too write up yet

Lives of some of the soldiers lost in The Great War. I have done a lot of research into my own family, some very sad stories.

I would not write something based on real life that involved research - as the real story is never as exciting as a novel and I'd find it hard to warp a true story to make it fit.

1001 Ornamental Gourds. I don’t know why, but they just fascinate me, and I think the world needs to see more of them.

Casdon I agree! I would buy that book.

I don't believe I've ever seen an ornamental gourd.
Have I led a sheltered life?

Here’s some MissAdventure, you’d be my target audience if you’ve never seen them before.

I'd write a Ruth Rendell type book, I think.

Are they all edible, Casdon?

I have nearly finished mine. Romance set in the 1960s

Casdon, Apologies, but I really don’t like them. I think they remind me of storybook witches faces and I never know what they’re for. Perhaps if I read your book I’d learn!
I’d write a love story/village relationships tale, centred around allotments, sex amongst the sweet corn anyone? it’s been rumbling around in my head for a while, (perhaps gourds could feature ?).

I think there's a squid or two hiding amongst those gourds.

No, they are purely ornamental MissAdventure, they were very popular as Autumn house decorations in the past, but have faded from popularity. I like them because they are all different, so varied in colour, shape and form, and they look stunning in a group in a bowl in the house in the Autumn, they last a good few weeks. I think they deserve a Renaissance, although I can see Jaxjacky doesn’t agree!

You could call your book 'The gourd, the bad, and the ugly'.
Do they smell?

What a good idea, I like that title very much! No, they don’t smell, they are like mini pumpkins , quite hard to the touch.

I can quite see your book gracing country house coffee tables.
I'm quite intrigued by them now.

I would write a Murder mystery, set in a small market town, with a woman found dead on a path frequented by dog walkers and cyclists.

Similar to where I live. (Not that this scenario has occurred here, just my plot outline).

Also know the sinister music that will accompany the discovery of the body when the rights to my best selling book have been bought by the BBC/ITV.

Just need to progress to page 2.

I have always known that I do not have a book in me, not, if you are talking novels or anything like that. I have written a couple of articles for learned journals and research reports, but, as far as fiction goes, I am entirely without imagination.

Bbevan that sounds like my sort of book ? would you like a proof-reader?

I’m not imaginative either, but I did write a blog when we travelled by boat in the States. I’m thinking about putting it in book form for our grandchildren to read in years to come.

I guess that NotSpaghetti won’t be buying my book then . Actually one of my lost ones has a very exciting story but it would be outing if I mentioned any of it, so you’ll have to wait for the book.

An Ian McEwan inspired novel about young, naive love, an unplanned pregnancy and child, a shotgun marriage, divorce, class and religion ... written from the perspective of the people involved fifty years later.

... I fogot the third young woman involved in the original love triangle.

I wrote a blog when I had breast cancer. I often thought I should have persisted and tried to get it published. It had quite a lot of followers.

I have tried to write fiction, started 3 different novels. Named Crap 1,2 & 3, they were so bad.