Dear friends and readers,

Welcome to this very special website we’ve set up to celebrate the 30th anniversary since the publication of my very first novel, A Woman of Substance.

When I first wrote the book, I never anticipated that it would become such a source of inspiration for success in people’s own lives. Over the years, thousands and thousands of women have told me how the book changed their lives; how it inspired them to juggle successful careers with family life; how it empowered them to believe in themselves and how it gave them the confidence to overcome a lack of education and great adversity, to triumph as a human being. I still love to hear all their stories as they epitomise what it is to be a real women of substance today.

A Woman of Substance was a book that changed the world. I’m delighted that now, 30 years later, we are surrounded by real examples of women of substance and I feel it’s about time that we recognised and celebrated their achievements! That’s why we are launching the search for the 2009 Woman of Substance Awards here in the UK.

All the information you need to know about the Awards and how to enter can be found on this website. I also thought I’d use this site to share some empowering advice from A Woman of Substance that holds true even three decades later.

I’m really looking forward to reading all your submissions and would like to thank you for sharing stories about your own wonderful women of substance with me.

Wishing you lots of luck.