As with all of my books, the main character and narrator is always based on myself. She sees the world through my eyes, and experiences life as I have. All the other characters in my books are based on people, or composites of different people, who I've known in my life.
Anna's abusive childhood at the hands of her mentally unstable and emotionally cold mother, is based on mine. As is her sexual awakening, something I discovered myself slightly younger than Anna, but then realised it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life!
The book is a little bit of frivolity, and I do give Anna a lot of fun with her various different relationships. It's also based in Belgravia, somewhere that I knew very well, having installed phone lines there for twenty-years. I've worked in houses in both Eaton Square and Belgrave Square, so I know their interiors and the occupants very well.
I usually leave a list of books the I've read for research purposes, but this time I didn't really need to research an area I know so well, both geographically and emotionally.
Background: Avenue Road, St John's Wood in the 1880's.
Eaton Square, Belgravia in the late 19th Century.