Thursday, November 01, 2007

Happy, Happy November 1

Current work: PM job
Listening to: Justin Currie
Reading: Sarah Morgan, The Magic of Christmas (hope to start it tonight, anyway)

November 1. All Saints’ Day.

It’s a very special day for me for two reasons.

First of all, it’s my gorgeous girlie’s birthday. She’s seven today, but it seems like yesterday that I was holding her for the first time in hospital. She was actually due on my mum’s birthday (next week) but was born a week early because I had an elective section. (Not because I was too posh to push – I had a really difficult first labour and, with another back-to-back baby, didn’t want to repeat it. My midwife and consultant agreed.) I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she has blue eyes like my mum’s (genetically speaking, my eyes should be the dominant colour).

Here’s my baby – one of my faves from when she was a toddler – and my mum. I wish they’d had a chance to meet. However, I’m not going to be maudlin. Today is a celebration day.




















I might add that Madam was utterly delighted with her Radley handbag. She scared her dad by saying, ‘Now Mummy and I can BOTH go shopping with our Radley handbags…’ (Great idea, honey – shall we start in Monsoon or M&S? And we need to go to Waterstone’s and…)

Secondly, it’s my anniversary with M&B. A double anniversary, actually. I started my first M&B Medical Romance, A Baby of Her Own, a little under 7 years ago – on Christmas Eve, at my baby’s bedside, when she was in with bronchiolitis. By coincidence, M&B accepted the book on my baby’s first birthday and published it on her second. (This story usually makes my editor go all misty-eyed, and I guess I need to retell it tomorrow over lunch.)

So I’ve officially been an M&B author for six years today – out on the shelves for five – and I’ve just delivered my 32nd book; starting #33 (first of a duo) on Monday, and discussing #35-40 with my editor and agent tomorrow. (These figures are starting to get a bit scary.)

Plan for today: paracetamol, school run, very quick trip into town (got paid yesterday, yay), more work on PM job and email some of the queries to my author, school run, see doctor (because I’m driving DH mad with the cough), and go out to dinner.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to Madam, and happy anniversary to you!

BOOKS 35-40!?!? *runs out terrified and very impressed*

Ray-Anne said...

Ditto what Julie said.

More than impressed actually.

Hope the quack, oops, I mean, highly trained medical professional, prescribes something useful. Dirithromycin comes to mind or failing that Erythromycin 500mg.

Go Kate and mini-Kate! A Pamette?

At this point Ray-Anne slinks off into a corner since she is only on book nine after 5 years of slog and already feels exhausted just reading your to do list. Sigh.

Diane said...

Happy Birthday to Chloe. Is she back in school yet?

Enjoy your celebrations, if you can, but don't forget the drugs. :o)

Michelle Styles said...

Happy Birthday to Chloe and Happy Anniversary to you as well.

35-40. I am very impressed. Terrified but impressed.
You are truly a STAR!!!!

Nell Dixon said...

Happy Birthday to Chloe and congratulations on your M&B anniversary. Hope you shake off the cough soon.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to Chloe, I hope she has a great day and a lovely party at the weekend. I had a big chuckle about the bags!!

And huge congratulations and Happy M&B Anniversary to you! I'm still reviving myself with smelling salts over your fantastic production rate!

Have an enjoyable and successful trip to London tomorrow.

Love,
Mags xx

Unknown said...

Happy birthday to Chloe! Happy anniversary to you, too. 35-40? Wow. That's scary.

Hope the doctor sorts you out and that you're able to enjoy the celebrations.

Kate Hardy said...

Thank you, Julie. (Well, I have to live up to my 'Scary Kate' nickname *g*)

Thank you, Ray-Anne. Love the idea of a Pamette, LOL. (I'm hoping for Erythromycin. Definitely *not* tetracycline again, though.) And excuse me, nine books in five years is pretty good going. You'll get there.

Thank you, Diane. Yep, she's back in school and perky.

Thank you, Michelle. You're pretty stellar yourself, though!

Thank you, Nell. And I'm really looking forward to the day when I can say the same to you. (You *must* hear soon...)

Thank you, Mags - and I thought the bag story would amuse you. :o)

Liz Fielding said...

Heavens, Kate, I thought I was looking at a picture of young you! You are so like your mother. And your precious girly is gorgeous. I hope she has a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to Madame! I hope she has many many mores to celebrate alongside her mum also Happy Anniversary!


Now I must get back to my NaNo. Have fun today ladies, and dont spend too much!

Jan Jones said...

Many many happy happies to both of you.

Melissa Amateis said...

What an adorable little girl! And congrats on six years with M&B! Definitely a wonderful milestone!

Bailey Stewart said...

Happy Birthday to Madam - glad she got her Radley.

Happy M&B Anniversary! 35-40? Wow, what an accomplishment.

montyandrosie said...

Woohoo!!! Birthdays and anniversaries AND Radley bags. What a day!

Happy happies all round.

And me back to NaNo, too, although not going so well this year so far...

Kate Hardy said...

Liz - thank you. Everyone was saying that on Sunday, too.

Lou - thanks - we were restrained :o) Hope NaNo is going ok.

Jan - thank you.

Melissa - she certainly is :oD - thank you.

Bailey - thank you, and she's pretty pleased about it too!

Susan - thanks. Hope NaNo goes more smoothly this week.