Beverly and Tamara: Welcome to SSLY Charlotte. Thanks so much for joining us today. So first why don’t you tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Charlotte Howard, I’m a housewife and mother of two young children, and a writer! I live in Somerset and my first full-length novel ‘Seven Dirty Words’ has just been published.

Tamara: What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?

A cup of tea. In a big mug!

Beverly: When did you start to write?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. A poem I wrote when I was 10, was published in an anthology, and I’ve had chapters and articles published in anthologies and on the internet since 2008.

Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?

I think the hero has to be brave, but not necessarily aware of their bravery…

Sometimes the best things happen unexpectedly.

When nothing is planned for dinner, but there happens to be a few chicken thighs thawing, or perhaps a couple of pork steaks.

“Do you want to grill?”, she asks.

That’s all the invitation that I need. But tonight, I want something a little different. Maybe it would be a good night to try a new technique. test a new thermometer, to grill a little differently, because I’ve been reading, you know. I’ve been looking to Meathead Goldwyn, and his Amazing Ribs website. No, I’m not thinking of anything specific, but just some grilling principles in general.

So the pork steaks immediately took a bath in a balsamic, olive oil and lemon mixture. The chicken thighs were just as quickly thrown into a saltwater brine, anticipating a spontaneous party with some asian/chinese flavorings, and a good dose of pecan wood smoke.

Pretty good for…