29th November

Yesterday I went to the north west chapter of the RNA's Christmas lunch at the lovely Scarisbrook Hotel in Southport.  The day started at 11.30 when I drove to Lynne Connelly's house to collect her.  She writes remarkable stories about shape shifting spies, for various epublishers, such as Ellora's Cave.

After catching up with friends in the bar (thanks for the drink, Lynne, by the way) we sat down to a three course meal, followed by mince pies.  Most of us on our table eyed the mince pies, looked round furtively, and promptly wrapped them in napkins and stuffed them in our handbags!

(pictured: Karen, June and Val)

While we were smuggling mince pies under the table, Carol Hainstock, from The Author Care Company, gave a very interesting talk about her work helping authors to organize book signings.   She believes in the personal touch, and thinks that local knowledge is a great advantage when escorting authors to promotional events.  She is especially keen to promote authors living north of Watford.

27th November

Hurrah!  I've won a copy of Michelle Styles's latest book "A Christmas Wedding Wager" in a competition run by the Unusual Historical blogspot (see links).

The blog promotes historical novels set in time periods OTHER than Regency, so Michelle, who has so far written about Raunchy Romans and Voracious Vikings, is a regular contributor.

"A Christmas Wedding Wager" is set in Victorian England.  That is virtually all I know about it so far.  Will post again when I have read it.

1st November

The libraries in the North West of England have been promoting romance reading this year, under an initiative called "Pure Passion".  As part of the programme, I will be taking joining two other Mills & Boon authors to give a talk at Blackburn library in February 2008.

Details:

Celebrate 100 Years Of Mills & Boon

As part of 'Love Month' Blackburn Central Library is pleased to present a panel with 3 Mills & Boon authors.


Bestselling author Penny Jordan, who writes Modern Romance and many other styles.


Bestselling author Susan Stephens, who writes Modern Romance and is known for her shower scenes.


Finally, newcomer Annie Burrows who writes Regency Historical Romances.

October 15th

I have just managed to find out some more about the anthology my next story is to appear in.  The anthology is called Mills and Boon presents...and is coming out in April 2008, as part of several special events to celebrate Mills and Boon's centenary year.  It will contain one modern romance, one historical romance, (written by me) and one medical romance.  I was going through a sticky patch with my writing, and while I was waiting for inspiration to strike me, I typed my name into google.  (As you do...and discover you won a medal for athletics in Scotland) And there, I found a mention of the anthology, on the website of Annie West.

www.annie-west.com 

Annie West is the author of the modern romance which will be called, The Billionaire's Bought Mistress.   It is her sixth book for Harlequin Mills and Boon.

My historical offering will be called The Earl's Untouched Bride, and is about a young French woman, intent on escaping Paris when Napoleon escapes from Elba.

The other author contributing to the anthology is called Mary McDonagh.  Her medical romance is called "An Italian Affair"  You can find out more about her work on her website:

www.margaretmcdonagh.com

September 24th

I attended my first Association of Mills and Boon Authors (AMBA) lunch on Friday.   It was held at the R.A.F. club on Picadilly.  My dad would have loved the place - he served in the R.A.F. during the second world war.  There were so many pictures of twin enginned planes on the walls, and other memorabilia, he would never have made it to the dining room.  We enjoyed an excellent lunch, followed by a question and answer session, with various people from Mills and Boon's marketing team, led by Michelle Styles.

I was seated, for the first part of the meal, with Carol Townend, who I had never met before, but who turned out to be a kindred spirit (pictured in the foreground.  Also snapped, in red cardigan, Heidi Rice, who writes for Modern Extra, and Nicola Cornick, another Historical writer)

Carol's next novel, "The Novice Bride" comes out next spring.

It was also lovely to meet up with two authors I had met at the Romantic Novelists Association conference in summer - Claire Thornton, and Natalie Rivers.

And Heidi Rice, who helped me irritate the waitress in Selfridges coffee shop. 

Following that brief respite for tea at Selfridges, we re-convened at the Oriental Club, off Oxford Street, where the waiters plied us with champagne and canapes.  My photographs from here on in got increasingly fuzzy, for which I blame the champagne.   This is the only one fit to print of my editors, Maddie Rowe and Linda Fildew.

The camera shy lady in the gorgeous scarlet silk jacket, is Michelle Styles, who, as you may be able to make out, wisely stuck to drinking orange juice. 

I had to leave before the end of the event, to catch my train back north, having had a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring day.

Thanks to Michelle, and Pamela Hartshorne, for organizing such a wonderful event.

September 14th

Finally got into my local WHSmiths, to find all the Mills and Boon are on a "3 for 2" offer.  Miranda Jarrett's wonderful story "Lady's Hazard" (the second of her Penny House trilogy) had already sold out.  Well done Miranda!

I managed to restrain myself from re-organizing the shelves.  All the historical titles are at eye level already, and clearly selling well!

September 10th

Yesterday, I went into my nearest branch of Asda to see my books on the shelves.  At first, I couldn't even find them.  After a while hunting, I found the historicals hidden behind various other titles.  And then couldn't resist the temptation to put them in a more prominent position.

Yes, that looked better - my book was now at the front of a column of historical novels.  But, hang on a minute...

...there were only 2 copies of my novel in the shop - why shouldn't they both be at the front?

September 9th

On Wednesday I went along to the RNA (Romantic Novelists Association) lunch, held at a lovely hotel in Southport.  After a delicious meal, June Francis (pictured concentrating on her roast lamb) opened a discussion on the many genres covered by the term "Romance Writing." 

Authors present write everything from gritty sagas, through short stories for periodicals such as Woman's Weekly, to erotica.  Those of us who write historical romance confess to loving the opportunity to throw in some swashbuckling action scenes.  In "His Cinderella Bride" which is out in paperback this week, I have not only a tavern brawl, but also a stagecoach held up by a highwayman (albeit a very inept one!)

August 29th.

What an eventful week!  Not only have I received a lovely advance cheque for my third novel, "The Earl's Untouched Bride", but I am a guest blogger on the Pink Heart Society's page. (see links)

August 23rd.

I have just noticed that on every other author website I have looked at, they post new news at the top of the page, so that you don't have to trawl all the way down to the end, to find out what's going on.  So from now on, that is what I will do too. 

I've been off on my travels yet again - this time to visit family in Suffolk.

(typical beach huts on the "prom")

The weather was kind to us, and we managed to take some walks along the beach in between showers, as well as spending an afternoon in my favourite second hand bookshop, aptly called "The Treasure Chest".

On my return home, I heard from my editors that the revisions I had been working on were well received, and the finished story will appear in an anthology next April, as part of several special editions being brought out to celebrate Mills & Boon's centenary year.  It will be called "The Earl's Untouched Bride".

July 11th

I have just come back from my first RNA (The Romantic Novelists Association) conference.  This was held at Leicester University.

It was a wonderful experience to meet so many other people who love writing romance as much as I do.  It was particularly exciting to meet authors whose work I have enjoyed for many years.

My mind is still reeling from all the seminars I attended.  I hope some of the information will stick in my brain, because it was all so usefull.  I came home with a folder full of notes, and a carrier bag full of novels which I am looking forward to reading.

My thanks must go to Mandy Jones in particular, for her invaluable advice on setting up a website.

Yesterday I received a parcel containing paperback copies of "His Cinderella Bride."  There is no feeling like holding a book in your hand, and thinking "I wrote this!"  Except perhaps hearing that somebody read it, and enjoyed it.

Currently I am supposed to be working on the final revisions for my third novel, which is due to come out in an anthology to mark Mills & Boon's centenary year, 2008.  It is a Regency Romance, set during the months surrounding the battle of Waterloo.  The hero is an English Earl, the heroine a French woman.

 August 4th

Phew, finally managed to finish my revisions, and email them off to my editor the day before I went away on the family holiday to North Wales.  It did not rain every day, so we managed to get out for some walks along the beautiful coastline of the Lleyn peninsula. 

We also spent an afternoon exploring the fascinating village of Portmeirion.  How many of you are old enough to remember the TV series, "The Prisoner" which was filmed there? 

I returned to find my very first review had come in.  It will shortly appear on the Pink Heart Society blog.  The reviewer said he really enjoyed reading "His Cinderella Bride", and looked forward to seeing more of my work, giving it 5/5!  I am so proud of this review, I have posted it on "my books" page.