“His decision, although devastating at the time, was the wake-up call I needed. I had a good job, a lovely house and lived a comfortable lifestyle but it lacked adventure […]

“[Now] I have climbed an active volcano in Chile, slept in a Thai jungle, got covered in Holi paint in India, skydived in France, and even taken a flight past Mount Everest. I've experienced things that I would never have dreamed possible but the highlight is being able to call myself a writer. Nothing compares to that.”

Collins is now penning The Lonely Hearts Travel Club series, loosely based on her own experiences. The first book is out this month, and she revealed during the interview that the date she found out she'd got a deal was a reminder of how different her life is now.

“Ironically an editor called me on what would have been our third wedding anniversary,” she explained. “It is poignant to think how far I’d come through hard work, being brave and wanting to live the biggest life I could.”

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