Your Stories: Publishing my second novel while on maternity leave

Q. How long have you been working in travel?

I’ve been in travel since 2007, hopping around agencies in Guernsey before joining Travel Counsellors in 2017. I took a break and worked in private equity/finance but it didn’t last. I also had a part-time job for an electronics firm, but I won’t return there after maternity leave as I will be focused on Travel Counsellors.

Q. Why did you join the travel industry? 

I studied film and media at A level and my first job was for a PR firm, but I quickly learned it wasn’t for me. Reviewing papers for coverage of their clients, I spotted an advert for Travelmaker. That agency was based inside a Co-op, so I popped by to say hello. Travelmaker boss Natalie said that effort to say hello made me stand out from other applicants, so she gave me a chance.

My first booking was Disneyland Paris…I’m a Disney lover, so I dedicated every spare minute to learning. In 2017, my husband and I hoped to start a family and I wanted to be a work-from-home mum. Paige was born in November 2024 and I’m on maternity leave until May. 

Q. Have you booked some memorable holidays?

Bahrain was one of the most unusual, but I love every type of tailor-made enquiry. I arranged a honeymoon for Dominique – the graphic designer of my beautiful book covers. She and her husband spent almost a month travelling around Japan. I help anyone travel wherever they fancy but I am a honeymoon specialist and love pulling together once-in-a-lifetime itineraries.

I have a soft spot for cruise and cruise-and-stay itineraries too. There’s more demand for safari and ranching holidays, thanks to the ‘cowboy core’ trend. I’ve also seen an upturn in Scandinavia enquiries, as well as good old-fashioned European summer sun. Noctourism is also on the rise; I’ve seen the northern lights so I don’t blame anyone wanting to see it for themselves.

Q. How did you cope during Covid? 

It was a difficult time but I was lucky for several reasons. I have some very patient, loyal customers who rebooked wherever possible and most of those who took refunds were quick to rebook when things went back to normal. I also got more hours at another part-time job as they were essential suppliers and I got a third job at our local contact tracing team. I’m reaping the rewards of grinning and bearing those hard times as the appetite for travel has really come back.