Kate’s 25th party, guest blogger #25 – Fiona Harper

You know I said yesterday that Anne was my last guest? Happily, it wasn’t true! My final guest has just come back from America. She was going to do me a post before she went away, but due to deadlines and going to her first RWA conference (as a double Rita nominee, no less) she ran out of time. However, being a total sweetheart, she emailed me yesterday. ‘I haven’t forgotten your blog post…’ So I do indeed have 25 guests to celebrate 25 books – thanks to Fiona Harper for making it the magic number. (And if you want to know more about her adventures in Dallas, go to her blog.)

And yes, I met Fiona Harper at a party. Actually, the first time I met her, it was at the RNA Awards Lunch last year, and as I was one of the nominees for the Romance Prize I was a bit rabbit-in-headlights and I can’t remember a single conversation I had. I know she was sitting on my table, but that’s all I can tell you about that first meeting! I made up for it on the second – at said party, when we had a cup of tea together before the author lunch and compared PDAs (she’d told me about hers a couple of weeks before and I had a case of instant lust – so it’s all her fault I have this dinky piece of kit in my handbag). Unlike Fiona, I don’t have the flashy fold-out keyboard to go with it, but the PDA is just perfect for library research. And Fiona was also brilliant when I quizzed her about the voice dictation software she’d bought and whether it worked better than it did when I last used a similar system, ten years ago. (It does. I’m sold.) Given that she also shares a love of Suzanne Vega’s music with me, not to mention a love of chocolate (and I didn’t even MENTION the w-word… which has four letters and in my case is preferably New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc) I would say she’s a Thoroughly Bad Influence. (And I like her books. A lot.)

So here’s Fiona:

I first met Kate online not long after I’d sold to M&B’s newly revamped ‘Romance’ line. I also was a bit of a fan-girl and sent her an email after reading Her Honourable Playboy. [Edit from Kate: and I was so thrilled to get it. Like most authors, I suffer from Impostor Syndrome.]

There was a bit of a funny story attached to me reading that particular book. I like to read in the tub – probably the only place I get any peace and quiet – and I had sunk into a hot bath just before school pick-up time one afternoon with Kate’s book in my damp little fingers. Anyway, the ending had me engrossed and made me cry hard and, by the time I was finished, I had to clamber into some clothes and sprint to the playground to pick up my girls.

It wasn’t until I got home and glanced in the mirror that I had huge dark circles under my eyes from where I’d cried my mascara off reading the final few chapters of Kate’s book. I hold her entirely responsible for me going out in public with the biggest panda eyes in history.

Anyway, I forgave her. I’m sure I’m not the only one she’s reduced to a snivelling wreck in the 25 books she’s managed to write. So, congratulations, Kate! May you boost waterproof mascara sales the world over!

GIVEAWAY: For my giveaway I’m offering a copy of ‘Break Up to Make Up’, my August release, and a Fiona Harper pen as well.

GIVEAWAY QUESTION: Well, since I seem to be my own Bridget Jones-type disaster area most of the time, I’d like to hear about some of your embarrassing moments. The one that tickles me the most will get the prize!