Monday, February 18, 2013

Half term

Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: nothing – everyone’s home so I have sound out to let me concentrate
Reading: next on TBR

One armful of blood later, I am back at my desk (deadline, deadline, deadline). DH is playing the guitar in the living room with dog as adoring audience. Daughter is doing her geography homework in the kitchen. Son is doing the teenage boy thing and not emerging from bed on the grounds that he desperately needs sleep. (DH isn't aware of this yet but as he's off this week I'd like him to take over from me on the nagging front - homework and working out a revision timetable for GCSEs.)

I really need to concentrate on the book and not stress about the blood tests, especially as I'm pretty sure they're simply going to confirm what the GP and I already think. Though it is a relief to know that it's not totally my fault I'm horribly overweight - I am eating all the right things, I'm doing the right kind and amount of exercise, but my endocrine system is having an almighty hissy fit and refusing to play ball. I did ask if I could do 5:2 and she said no - I need to eat little and often, keep the sugar as low as possible, and balance low-GL carbs with lean protein. So. Deep breath, get on with the week, and try not to think too much!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The perfect Valentine...

Lovely DH bought me a card and choccies (though the card and sentiment were obviously the most important).

And then I had lovely news. Yesterday and today, The Brooding Doc's Redemption was in the eHarlequin bestseller list. (Thank you, lovely readers!)

And today, I discovered that I've won the Cataromance Reviewers' Choice award for Dr Cinderella's Midnight Fling. (Thank you, Cataromance!)



And I'm part of a new joint blog with some of my favourite authors - do go over and say hello to us at http://www.chocolateboxwriters.com, because there are lots of door prizes. And, y'know, given the name of our site, you have an idea of what some of those prizes might be...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

dancing, cake and Vienna, oh my!

Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: next on TBR

Had a wonderful birthday – spoiled by DH and the children, serenaded while I was making breakfast (by daughter, on the guitar), and then a really nice dinner out. Now, I wasn’t going to crash the diet, so I split my starter with my daughter (crab cake), had a very low-calorie grilled lobster salad for my main course


(sorry for the rubbish quality of the pic, but DH hates me taking pictures of food, so I had to sneak it on my iPod rather than take it on my proper camera), and crème brulee for pud - so I got to have everything I wanted, without wrecking my hard work on the sensible eating/exercise front. Scrumptious. Oh, and the coffee was proper Italian coffee. Cue blissful sigh.

Back on deadline today. But I am over at the Harlequin Romance Authors' blog, telling the truth about dancing, cake and Vienna (aka the story behind my new book) if you want to go and take a look at the pics and leave a comment :)

Monday, February 11, 2013

da da daaa-da da daaaa

Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: next on TBR

Gone mad? Nooo. Is a tune. Sung once a year (unless of course you have an official birthday or, like me, spread it out and do lots of little celebrations instead). And it was played to me on the guitar when I was making breakfast this morning, thanks to littlest.

Am having a nice day (though for once am actually working on my birthday because I have been stressing about some health issues and it’s put me behind on my deadline). Started with a great workout at the gym (boxing! Immense fun), and then a recommendation for a restaurant – and when I looked at the menu online, it has my name written all over it. (Lobster. Crème brulee. Oh, yes, please.) Lots of things that DH and the kids will like, too, so I think we’ll give it a try.

Other than that, am working… but I will try to be a better blogger. I will.

Friday, February 01, 2013

Publication day!

Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: George Harrison/Swedish House Mafia at the gym (yeah, my playlist is a bit diverse - also has Nickelback, The Calling, Keith Urban and McFly, among others)
Reading: Eowyn Ivey, The Snow Child (enjoying); Elizabeth Speller, The Return of Captain John Emmett (also enjoying); Dr Rob Lustig, Fat Chance (very interesting) (living room Kindle read, bedside table and kitchen read respectively)

Publication day today!



The Brooding Doc’s Redemption is out in the UK and US today; Ballroom to Bride and Groom (my very first Harlequin Romance/Cherish) is out in the US, but it’s in the hops next month in the UK (or from today on the M&B website, if you really can’t wait).

Righty – that’s me back to work. Have a nice weekend! :o)