Website dilemma and ‘Best of Bosses’

Current work: fiction
Listening to: Bach
Reading: Animal Instincts, Nell Dixon (enjoyed this – made me laugh out loud for the right reasons, and I particularly liked Dave the Parrot); The Valtieri Marriage Deal, Caroline Anderson (enjoyed this one, too – and I’ll have to ring her and nag her to write Luca’s brothers’ stories).


Spend the weekend mainly working, though we did go out to see friends on Saturday. AND I updated my website (yeah yeah, not before time). I think my Books page needs revamping. I mean, it’s fine if you have a short backlist. You can do lots with covers and it looks pretty instead of going on and on and on… whereas if you have a backlist that’s more than 30 books long, it’s a pain for the reader to scroll down to find the one they want if they have to bypass a list of covers and ISBNs and publication date and... (yada, yada, yada).

So I think it’d be easier for readers if I gave a list with clickable links to the titles.

But said list also needs refining – because a list of 30-odd titles in a lump is just not user-friendly. So. Do I put them in order of publication? Reverse order of publication? Alphabetical order? Do I split the Modern Heats from the Medicals? Do I then split them into mini-series and standalone? Because Medical readers like themes, do I say whether it’s an A&E book or a children’s ward or a GP surgery? Do I mention which ones were shortlisted/won awards/were a Waldies bestseller?

In short, what do you look for when you look at an author’s books pages?

Was just checking my new cover on Amazon when I discovered that I have a new ebook bundle out. I’m with Cathy Williams and Barbara Hannay in the ‘Best of Bosses 2008’ bundle. The book is ‘In Bed with Her Italian Boss’, aka my RNA award-winning book Breakfast at Giovanni’s. And you can find it here at e-Harl or on Amazon in a Kindle edition.

Plan for today: looks as if today is the only day this week without heavy rain. Will ask the kids what they fancy doing…

PS Go and congratulate Jan Jones, as she has some great news!

And a giveaway...

Obviously the cold snap has slowed my thought processes.

Last year, when I was celebrating being shortlisted for the RNA Romance Prize with Breakfast at Giovanni's, I ran a competition offering a copy of the book. So I'm going to do the same thing this year.

My heroine, Lissy, has a dog. Although Saffy's a yellow Labrador rather than an English Springer Spaniel, she was inspired by something I often see Byron doing (he has a habit of raiding the children's bedrooms and stealing something in particular - which I've mentioned in previous posts when I nicknamed him Kleptodog).

If you want to be in with a chance to win a copy of Sold to the Highest Bidder, simply answer a question: when Jack meets Alicia, what is the dog carrying?

(Give you another clue: this also inspired my heroine's name. Because Alicia sounds very like Aloysius, yes?)

(And if you're really stuck, click on the link and read the excerpt!)

Post your answer in the comments. I'll leave this open until the weekend, to give everyone in various time zones a decent chance, and my daughter will pick the winner's name out of a hat on Sunday evening, UK time.

Exciting news!

Current work: revisions to Penhally book
Listening to: various classical
Reading: Paul Doherty, The Field of Blood

I’ve been teasing everyone for weeks about having a secret. Finally, I can share. In fact, I’ll let the press release do it for me:

Romance Prize celebrates shorter fiction alongside the Romantic Novel Of The Year

The Romantic Novelists’ Association, who will announce the shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year award on 13th January, is also honouring writers of shorter romances such as those published by Harlequin Mills and Boon.

“Although both awards celebrate novels with a high romantic content,” explains Catherine Jones, Chairman of the RNA, “the Romance Prize honours the most memorable stories set around a single theme that concentrates on the developing love affair.”

The Romance Prize will be presented at the RNA’s Awards Lunch on 10th February 2009 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. The winner will be selected from the following books:

What's Love Got to Do With It? - Lucy Broadbent (Little Black Dress, Headline)
The Wild Card - Beth Elliott (Robert Hale)
Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure - India Grey (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Sold to the Highest Bidder - Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Saying Yes to the Millionaire - Fiona Harper (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Promoted to Wife and Mother - Jessica Hart (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

Fiona Harper has been short-listed before, and both Jessica Hart and Kate Hardy are past winners. Kate Hardy, who won in 2008 with Breakfast at Giovanni’s, had this to say: "Winning the Romance Prize has been the highlight of my career to date, and it's certainly opened up opportunities. I'm very proud to have won the award and to be part of the RNA - and have been delighted by messages of support over the year. I even had a personal letter of congratulations from the chancellor of the University of Leicester!"

The shortlist will be judged by Margaret James, creative writing teacher for the London School of Journalism and regular columnist with Writing Magazine; Paul Reizin, writer, producer and journalist; and Linda Leatherbarrow, prize-winning short story writer, reviewer and MA lecturer at Middlesex.

________________________

So now, finally, I can say congrats to my fellow shortlistees!

I’m especially pleased about being shortlisted with this book, because Sold to the Highest Bidder is set in my favourite part of the world, i.e. where I live. And now I can confess why the third bead on my Pandora bracelet is a pointsettia that looks like an iris: it’s one of my heroine’s favourite flowers, and Lissy is a horticultural lecturer who wants to restore the lost gardens of her family home. Jack, the hero, buys her some gorgeous jewellery based on an iris, and how he proposes to her… Well. You’ll have to read it. But let’s just say that the heroine shares my taste in flowers, and that particular bead suited the book very well.

I’m not expecting to win. (I mean, two years in a row? That’d be greedy.) But I’m really looking forward to being in London, the day before my birthday, drinking champagne with my agent and my editor and having a lovely lunch at a wonderful hotel. Especially as I’m staying in London the night before; I’m planning a trip to the Hunterian museum and then meeting up with my best friend.

Definitely a nice start to the new year.

Ring out the old

Today’s a day for looking back. What kind of a year has 2008 been?

Workwise

It’s been great.

• For Modern Heat, I wrote Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh and Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion, plus a little bit of my current one (aka the reindeer/Norway book)
• For Medicals, I wrote The Greek Doctor’s New Year Baby, The Children’s Doctor’s Special Proposal and The Heart Surgeon’s Proposal (in the Penhally series)
• On the nonfiction front, I wrote Scandals, Sieges and Spooks: Norfolk Ghosts and Legends, plus about two-thirds of The Little Book of Norfolk, and am working on two others (the Suffolk follow-up to Norfolk Ghosts, plus How To Explore a Medieval Church for How To Books).

I was also Norfolk’s ‘writer in residence’ for the National Year of Reading 2008, which was a real honour. I had a ball talking in schools and at libraries, and achieved a personal ambition because I actually cut the ribbon and opened the new school library at Wicklewood. (How cool is that? I still haven’t quite got over it.)

But best of all were the two career highlights. The big one was winning the RNA Romance Prize 2008 with Breakfast at Giovanni’s (US title: In Bed With Her Italian Boss). I wasn’t expecting it and it was just wonderful. I was also shortlisted for the inaugural East Anglian Book Awards with Heroes, Villains and Victims of Norwich. That kind of accolade from the publishing world, together with the lovely reader letters I’ve had this year telling me how much people enjoyed my books, nice reviews, and the emails and letters I had over the year from people congratulating me on the award/shortlisting, and the way everyone cheered spontaneously at the M&B party in September when Karin Stoecker listed the year’s highlights and mentioned Gio… that’s really made my year. The fact that I’ve achieved something, and people have been genuinely pleased for me.

Personally

2008 vies with 1986-7 for being the worst year of my life. Not going into details, but I’m very glad to see the back of this year. I managed to smile my way through it, most of the time, pretending that everything was hunky-dory when it really wasn’t at all because one crisis hit after another. This summer, when we had a lot of major things happen in the space of two weeks, was spectacularly horrible. So I’d like to say a special thank you to the people who were so kind and supportive in the darkest bits of the year – those who sent me cards and emails and pictures just to make me smile, those who gave me real and cyber hugs, those who sent me books and chocolate and music to distract me, and those who were careful not to lean on me because they realised I was completely out of emotional resources and just couldn’t give anything more/be a listening ear the way I normally am. I appreciated every single one of you: I truly am blessed with my family and friends. (And I hope the people concerned know I would do the same for them, if the situation were reversed.)

So how did I do with my goals?

The first one was exercise. It was fine for the couple of days until Dad went into hospital – and then, as my life for the next month became “school run, hospital, school run, help with homework and sort dinner, try frantically to keep work ticking over so I don’t end up in a financial mess, rely on husband to do much more than his far share to keep house ticking over”… I really didn’t have the time. And it didn’t get much better after Dad was out of hospital. I spent the whole year running to stand still, metaphorically. (Sadly, metaphors and worrying don’t burn calories. Or I would be fit and substantially thinner.)

Second was weight management. See above.

Third was writing. This was a three-pronged one. Firstly, I wanted to merge my ‘Modern Heat voice’ and ‘Medical Romance voice’ and grow my ‘brand’ (aka hot weepies with a real-world, warm feel to them). I think I’ve managed it, but the reason I hope so is embargoed at the moment. (I will spill the beans, the minute I’m allowed to!) Secondly, the project I really wanted to work on: it fell between the cracks because Real Life got severely in the way, and it was just too much to cope with, even for me in Superwoman mode. (I had to shift deadlines, as it was; my publishers were all very kind and understanding, but I still hated having to be in that position. It felt like failure.) Thirdly, I wanted to sell another local history book by the end of the year – actually, I sold three, and the next three or four years’ books are pencilled in with Breedon. So I think that goal can count as pretty much achieved.

Three goals. Two flops, one achieved. Yup, about the same as last year. Need to set smarter goals, methinks.

the glitzy life of an author

Current work: Medical, polishing (still - because I loafed, yesterday: bad me)
Listening to: Take That (great to drive and sing to – catchy, poppy and fun; plus one of the tracks is going to work on a Black Moment playlist)
Reading: next on TBR pile

Madam and I had fun in town yesterday, despite the queues. The Christmas shopping is done (including the stocking and special chocolate Santas for the dog – yes, Santas made from special doggy chocolate do exist).

Now all I have to do is wrap the stuff.

At the moment, everyone (including the dog) is banned from my office until wrapping is done. (Though I know they’ve been peeking. They take after me. Can't wait for a surprise.) DH and the kids have trimmed the tree, and it all feels nicely festive round here. As I’m just about to start my new book – set in winter, in Norway – it’s the perfect background.

This evening, the new library at Poringland has its official opening and it’s one of the National Year of Reading events. Authors attending include Sue Welfare, Sharon Griffith (local journo who writes a column I really enjoy in the EDP), and a certain Kate Hardy. (Actually, I’m going as both parts of me, as my talk is ‘A double writing life: romance and local history’.) Which means lots of make-up to hide the dark shadows under my eyes, and hope the light isn’t too bright!

Am still quite surprised at (and flattered by) the news that my blog is listed in Writing Magazine as a resource for writers. (Thanks, Nicolette, for letting me know – and also thanks to those of you who’ve emailed me.) I don’t tend to do that many craft posts. Maybe I should do more. If there’s a topic anyone wants me to cover, do tell me in the comments (or email me if you’re shy).

Still, I guess if you want to know what an author’s life is like, this blog gives a flavour.

And today (when I’ve finished the book, which has first priority), I’d better update my website, which is horrendously out of date. (Dear Santa. Please may I have a time machine for Christmas?)

Oh, yes – and those two secrets I’ve been teasing you about… One will be revealed on Tuesday over at the Pink Heart Society. I’m immensely excited about it (about both, actually, but I'm not allowed to talk about the other one yet).

Maybe I need a Pandora bead to celebrate. (Have bought one for Secret #2.)

I was going to buy the Northern Light bead yesterday, to inspire the new book, but sadly it wasn’t as nice in reality as it was on the website. Far from having turquoise waves on a black background, it had kind of twisted Vs in fawn, with the tiniest bit of turquoise. Very disappointing. So I’m sticking with Pandora, as I like the designs more.

Nice post yesterday: Greek copies of Breakfast at Giovanni’s (aka In Bed With Her Italian Boss - it’s out as a Desire). And M&B has sent its authors a book I was planning to buy – “The Art of Romance”, which is M&B’s cover art since 1919. Fabulous stuff. I do like the 1920s covers. Some of the old titles are gorgeous. “Where No Stars Shine” by Ivy Ferrari – really evocative. (Nowadays, there’s a 3-second buying decision, so that’s why we have “buzzword” or “hook” titles – it’s a kind of code for the reader.)

And I was so chuffed that the cover of the book that started my own journey into M&B is included: The Devil at Archangel by Sara Craven. This was the book that made me realise I wanted to write M&Bs. I was 13 at the time – I read it in 1979, the year after it came out. (And Sara's books are still wonderful. I tend to buy by author rather than line, and she’s still one of my autobuys. And the fact that the author who started this whole thing for me happens to be a friend of mine, now... Just pinch me. Sometimes this glitzy writing life is unbelievable.)

None of my covers are included in the book, but it’s still thrilling to see the names of people I know personally in there. Besides, I’m not a Really Big Name – I might be writing my 37th book for M&B right now, and I might be this year’s RNA Romance Prize winner, but my first M&B only came out in November 2002 – there’s still a long way for me to go! If one of mine had been included, I would have liked it to be The Cinderella Project – still one of my favourite covers – or The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child (that baby is soooo cute). Or...

Dear, lovely editor, please can I have Antonio Banderas as my cover model?

(You can hear her laughing, can’t you? One of these days…)

Brazil, damp floors and A Discovery

Current work: nonfic; MH duo book 2
Listening to: Del Amitri
Reading: Next on TBR pile

I don’t speak Portuguese, but my (somewhat rusty) grasp of Spanish/French/Italian means I can work out the gist of things. Anyway. I was just checking which of my books were out in Brazil. (OK, so I was procrastinating a tad.) And then I noticed that there were reader comments and ratings. As in five-star ratings. Wow. The readers say my stories are warm and realistic; one in particular loved the ending of In The Gardener’s Bed (am v pleased as that was one of my own favourite endings – that’s The Pregnancy Ultimatum, for US readers). And they seriously loved Breakfast at Giovanni’s. I especially enjoyed the ‘PS – Gio is mine’ from one of the readers. This is the kind of thing that really warms a writer’s heart. To my readers in Brazil, I would like to say obrigada.

Today, the loss assessor is due to come and take moisture readings. He did say last week that he’s 99% sure the flooring will have to come up. I have a feeling that today is the day that decision will be made. The idea of my lovely kitchen looking and feeling like a building site again, for weeks and weeks and weeks… Aggravating, upsetting, but far from the worst that has been thrown at my family this summer.

Anyway. My Discovery.

I’ve always been a bookaholic. As a child, I read the entire children’s section in our village library (and it was quite a big space). Some of the authors I really loved were Alison Uttley (especially The Country Child), Philippa Pearce (who hasn’t bawled over A Dog So Small?) and Penelope Farmer. I loved Charlotte Sometimes. As Madam is almost at the end of the Jane Blonde series (and I’m looking for books for a 7-y-o with very advanced reading skills, but which are emotionally suitable for her age – oh, and she likes a fast-paced read) I was thinking about introducing her to some of my childhood favourites. So I Googled Penelope Farmer. Which is when I discovered that she has a blog. It’s a great read, and she sounds like a thoroughly lovely woman. The sort I’d like to meet in a café for an afternoon and do what writers do – talk a lot, drink a lot of coffee and eat a lot of cake.

(Oh, all right. It’s what this one does, anyway. But I happen to know there are several people who read this blog who have done precisely that with me. Cake. Ice cream. Italian food. I am a woman of simple pleasures... which unfortunately involve lots of calories. Must Try Harder on the weight regime. After the school hols.)

begin at the beginning – or not

Current work: nonfic/MH book 2 c1
Listening to: Martin Ostertag and Boris Bagger, Nocturne (cello and classical guitar)
Reading: Eileen Ramsay, The Stuff of Dreams plus some nonfic research

I don’t often do craft pieces (mainly because I dislike analysing my own work and why I do things – I’m too close to it to judge, and analysing it always gives me a nasty dose of Impostor Syndrome) but I spent a lot of yesterday dithering about this question. One that normally doesn’t bother me – I usually like the beginnings of books and have problems ending them. (We don’t talk about the saggy middle syndrome – my book and my body tend to share this problem, and although I can fix it in the book… no, let’s not go there.) But yesterday the book refused to start.

So where do you start a book? At the beginning? Or not?

I know the theory. In a romance novel, you’re meant to start

• at a point of change (i.e. the beginning of the journey)
• preferably with something that pulls the reader straight into the middle of things
• and with your hero and heroine on the page together as soon as possible. (The theory there is that your readers are like puppies – they bond with the people they meet first. That’s quite insulting to said readers, but it’s a valid point: readers do expect to meet the hero and heroine first because they’re the most important characters.)

Now, the beginning of the journey isn’t necessarily the same as the beginning of the story. Yesterday, I could have started my book in three different places.

Number one was the beginning of the story (and involved a journey, so that appealed to me) – but it just wasn’t strong enough. I could see big information dumps (things which are better shown by the characters in dialogue and action rather than told by Mrs Omniscienct Narrator – oh, how basic a mistake is that? How many books have I written? Have I learned a thing?).

Number two skipped over that beginning and was probably going to end up being a love scene by the end of page two. Too much, too soon?

Number three was definitely a strong, dramatic opening – but it was the storm and I want the calm first. I want the readers to know my characters before seeing them tested.

And then there's the whole question of viewpoint. (Am dithering on that one, too.)

It doesn’t help that I watched a film with DH this weekend which I enjoyed hugely and set all kinds of ‘what if’ threads running through my head. A little bit of self-discipline is required. Which means getting on with what I’m supposed to be doing and not letting myself be distracted by new exciting storyline here. Especially as I know said distraction will wait: I’m putting off starting this book because I’m scared it’s going to go pear-shaped. It’s planned, it’s doable, it’s something I want to write. Bu-u-ut- I’m having one of those sticky moments where I wonder if I’m up to the challenge.

Or maybe authors change the way they work from time to time without realising it. I used to rush through a book and then the ending was like treacle. Maybe it’s going the other way round for me now, because at the moment I seem to be writing the endings first and putting off the moment where I have to write the first words.

Right. I need some trumpet-blowing to bolster me. So. Apologies in advance for this. The University of Leicester has done me proud with their press release (and I’ve had some nice emails about it); this weekend saw me in the local bestseller chart for the sixth week running with Heroes, Villains and Victims of Norwich; and One Night, One Baby is still in the e-harlequin top 10 ebooks. (That’s been ages – about a fortnight now.)

Thank you SO much to everyone who’s been buying my books. I will do my best to write a new story you’ll really enjoy. (And thank you, Jan, for passing on comments to me about Breakfast at Giovanni's (aka In Bed With His Italian Boss). Maybe I should redo my tagline as 'warm, realistic romance' or something like that...)

Plan for today: school run, guitar lesson, work, school run, evening meeting at Madam’s new school (where I get to hand in admission forms etc). And then a bit more work.

Gio in Germany

Current work: still officially poorly, but feeling better than I was last week so I might tinker this morning
Listening to: not at this time of the morning…
Reading: Liz Fielding, The Three Year Itch (usual sparkling Liz – I especially liked the snow scenes)

Spent the weekend doing very little apart from coughing (!), so I had little to say until my mate Nicola Marsh emailed me to let me know that Giovanni is in Germany. (And it happens to be her 5th anniversary of 'the call' today, so please go over and say congrats.)

Anyway, here's Gio in Germany:

Seit Fran zusammen mit Giovanni Mazetti einen Coffeeshop leitet, steht ihre Welt Kopf. Der blendend aussehende Italiener und sie sind schnell gute Freunde geworden, obwohl ... Für Fran ist es viel mehr als nur Freundschaft – sie hat sich unsterblich in Giovanni verliebt. Doch der Mann ihrer Träume will keine feste Bindung, und Affären am Arbeitsplatz sind für beide tabu. Da bietet das Schicksal Fran überraschend eine zweite Chance: Giovannis Großmutter kündigt ihren Besuch an! Und er braucht dringend eine Frau an seiner Seite ...

the wonders of chocolate…

Current work: Med duo 2/nonfiction
Listening to: Karine Polwart
Reading: about to pick something from my TBR shelf

It’s school holidays, which means I can’t really do that much work during the day. Son is fine because he’s studying Aardman films and has his nose in an animation book (not to mention plasticine models appearing all over the house). Daughter isn’t quite so self-contained, as she’s younger, bless her. So yesterday she wheedled me into doing some baking after the weekly shop arrived. We made cakes.

She did the brownies all by herself (I helped crack the first egg, and put the tin in the oven/removed it) and they were very scrummy…

Other than that, some Dutch translations arrived yesterday – ‘Espresso en amore’ (aka Giovanni). Sophisticated cover (though he doesn’t look Italian. I think I need Antonio Banderas as a cover model...). Also had highly gratifying phone call from local BBC radio station saying they loved my latest romance and they want me in again soon for a chat. Weeks like this, I really feel I’m getting somewhere.

Blogging and birthdays

I'm over at the medical romance authors' joint blog today, Love is the Best Medicine, talking about dreams coming true - so do go over and leave a comment, as you'll get a chance to win a copy of The Doctor's Royal Love-Child AND a copy of Breakfast at Giovanni's.

Birthdays? It's Diane's, so go over and wish her a lovely day.

treasure hunt reminder

Current work: research day at library
Listening to: Corelli’s concerti grossi
Reading: too tired to read last night (hmm – getting to be a bad habit, this)

Last clue in the Modern Heat authors’ Valentine’s treasure hunt went up yesterday. Just in case you missed any, nip over to Sensational Romance where you’ll find links to all the clues. Send ALL the answers to win@allyblake.com and you’ll be entered in the draw to win all the books, including two from me: Sold to the Highest Bidder and the award-winning In Bed With Her Italian Boss (aka Breakfast at Giovanni’s).

Plan for today: school run, library, meet David Dane to discuss painting, back to library, school run, pick up Madam after guitar lesson, write up library notes.

Your clue in the Modern Heat Treasure Hunt

Assuming you visited Anne Oliver before me (and if you didn’t, go back now!), I’m the next stop on the MH Authors’ Valentine’s Treasure Hunt.

I’m giving away a copy of In Bed with Her Italian Boss (my April US release - you can get an early copy from the eharlequin website next month – click on the link in the sidebar to the left). This book was known as Breakfast at Giovanni’s in the UK and Australia, and, um, caused a rather nice splash. (I should add, I haven’t had my US copies yet so I’ll be sending a UK cover – the contents are the same but the cover is a little different.)

What you do is have a look over here to find out about the book (and you can read the first bit too, if you like), make a note of the answer to the question below, then head over to the next author’s blog to collect their clue. At the end of the month, send ALL the answers to win@allyblake.com and you’ll be entered in the draw to win all the books.

My question is: which award did this book win on 4 February 2008?

Next stop from me is lovely Heidi Rice, who met me for coffee before the awards do and made sure I didn’t spill it over myself (trust me… I do that sort of thing) - and if you want to reminds yourself of the 12 fabulous books up for grabs, have a look at Sensational Romance. Happy hunting :o)

Winning Romance Prize icing on the cake for Mills & Boon’s centenary celebration

This is a press release I just have to share...

In the week of celebrating 100 years of publishing romance, Mills & Boon also took the Romance Prize 2008, awarded to author Kate Hardy by the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

All six shortlisted books were published by Mills & Boon, to the delight of executives Randall Toye, Karin Stoecker and Linda Fildew, who attended the Awards Lunch on 4th February at the Royal Garden Hotel.

In the winning novel, Breakfast at Giovanni’s, recently-fired Fran takes on a new job, but also finds herself pretending to be her boss's adoring girlfriend in order to get his matchmaking family off his back. But when the kisses start happening in private, Fran discovers that breakfast at Giovanni’s has a whole new meaning.

Winner Kate Hardy was thrilled. “It's such a huge accolade - it's a real high point in my career. It's the only award for category romantic fiction in the UK, and I can’t believe my name is engraved on the Betty Neels Rosebowl along with authors such as Liz Fielding, a writer whose books I've enjoyed so much over the years. I haven't stopped smiling for a week!”

Breakfast at Giovanni’s is Kate’s 25th novel for Mills & Boon and she was ‘over the moon’ to win in the Centenary year. Kate lives in Norwich with her husband, two children, a very soppy spaniel and too many books to count. She's been writing for Mills & Boon since 2001, having known her career choice from a very early age - her first typewriter was a present for her sixth birthday. Following an English degree, Kate worked in marketing communications for ten years before going freelance. She also writes bestselling local history books.

Judge Trisha Ashley, who presented the award, said of the winning book: “Because myself and my fellow judges are all novelists, we tend to read other people's work with an inner critic pointing out weaknesses. But we were all in agreement that this book was so warm, believable and engaging, that not only did we entirely forget our inner critics, we couldn't put it down until we got to the very end.”

[Words like that, said about my book, put me straight back into dog-with-six-tails mode. Whoops, nearly forgot the important bit – if you want to interview me, contact Katrina Power at Midas Public Relations on 020 7590 0802 or katrina.power@midaspr.co.uk]

[And especially for US readers: this book will be available in shops in April as 'In Bed with Her Italian Boss', and from eHarlequin in March.]

be my valentine?

Still being thoroughly spoiled: my dear friend Michelle sent me a beautiful orchid yesterday (thank you again, Michelle), and my best local friend came over with, ahem, special chocolate and a treasure pot marked 'handbag fund' (and yes, it's pink... I'm just surprised she didn't customise it and write 'Radley' on it, too).

Today I’m off to London to see the Tutankhamun exhibition, but meanwhile nip over to Nicola Marsh’s blog to be my valentine, and you’ll get the chance to win a signed copy of my new book, Sold to the Highest Bidder.

And remember the Modern Heat Valentine’s Treasure Hunt is still going! I’m back again later in the month – with a chance to win ‘In Bed with Her Italian Boss’, aka Breakfast at Giovanni’s, my award-winning book. (And how fantastic it feels to be able to write that!)
Now for something a little less nice. UK authors: you may have read that the government is considering reducing PLR. This money is an important source of income for many authors (note that, as with the music biz, big advances and authors who need to become tax exiles are news precisely because they’re rare), so please go and sign the petition asking the government to keep the funding as it is.

Son has decided he can't wait for his birthday to get a Digiblue camera and is using the family DVD camera instead. Discovered he has recorded the same scene over and over and over again today. Why? ‘I had keep going until my sister got her lines right.’ Uh-huh. Actors of the future, start trembling now. If he switches from animation to movies, he’s going to be a very, very pernickety director...

still in dog-with-six-tails mode

Current work: TCVB (honestly, I really will do some writing today – I’ve nearly calmed down enough to work) and proofs of Norwich HVV
Listening to: various cello pieces
Reading: next on my TBR pile

… though life is getting back to normal. (Sort of.) We haven’t yet had the family celebratory dinner – Tuesday evening was parent-teacher consultation (and it seems my daughter is bright but lazy. How? How? HOW can she be lazy, when her mother is a workaholic?); last night I think my lack of sleep was finally catching up on me; and tonight we have a meeting about son’s residential trip (three days away at one of these activity centres that does abseiling and wet, muddy, tough-guy stuff) and need to move furniture ready for the new stuff that’s being delivered tomorrow. If it arrives early enough we’ll go out tomorrow night; and if not it’ll be Saturday.

I did, however, have lunch out yesterday with my lovely ex-PTA friends. (Waves to Jo – thank you for the champagne!) And I have major puppy envy as my friend Sarah has this gorgeous, gorgeous Westie puppy and I met him today…

Ahem. And I did some PR stuff. Here is the official photo, thanks to the RNA. And I love what they put as a trailer in the local paper: ‘Our heroine gets her fairytale ending’. That’s just so lovely!



And I had some GORGEOUS flowers from my agent – the same shade of pink as I was wearing on Monday! (Roses and gerberas and freesias and lilies. Just lovely.)

I’ve been thinking about buying myself something to keep to commemorate the RNA Romance Prize. Most of my friends are convinced that I’m going to buy yet another Radley signature handbag… Well, I thought about it. But actually, I’d like something a little more visual.

I’d like a painting.

A special one.

Something that reminds me of Breakfast at Giovanni’s: so it’ll be compact (as in a 50,000-word book is compact) - and warm and realistic. (I am still really, really pleased about that description.)

And it needs to be made in Norfolk. Just like my book was.

Which means I’ll be moseying round local galleries for a while. I think I know what I want, but the exact painting will choose me. It’s likely to be a seascape (aka North Norfolk, my favourite place in the world). 0r poppy fields, or maybe a windmill and/or sunrise/sunset over the Broads. Whatever: it definitely needs a proper Norfolk sky.

I like David Dane’s work but, apart from the fact his paintings are snapped up the second they go on exhibition, I have a feeling he’s out of my price range. I really like the one at the bottom of this page and lots on this page. I also REALLY like Gerard Stamp – check out the Marshscape exhibition, which has utterly fabulous use of the light - but he’s *definitely* out of my price range, and anyway those paintings are bigger than what I have in mind.

So. Something special. About ten inches by twelve. Quite traditional (my main love is Victorian art). And something that will make me smile every time I look up from my computer screen. Watch this space…

It’s also the M&B party in London tonight to celebrate the centenary. Unfortunately, I can’t make it (DH is busy at work and short-staffed so it’s not fair to ask for another two days, i.e. today and tomorrow because I wouldn’t be able to get a train home). So I’ll be raising a cup of coffee to them all at home, and look forward to a full report from my friends. Am sure they are going to have a BRILLIANT time.

And I'll reiterate that I am very proud to write for a publisher that's been going for 100 years and brought so much pleasure to so many people over those 100 years. Congratulations to Mills & Boon. Here’s to the next 100 years.

The RNA Awards Lunch (long post!)

It's late, I'm not long home from London (the train was late) and I'm a bit wired, so I've made myself a cup of tea... and as I know a few people are dying to hear what happened...

What an amazing weekend.

The journey to London was fine (especially as I got to read Julia Williams’ lovely debut, Pastures New) and had a lovely meal out that evening with my best friend and another of our oldest friends from university.

Monday dawned bright and sunny, and I headed in to town. Met up with my fellow Modern Heat author Heidi Rice for coffee at St Pancras (waves to Heidi - thank you for the coffee), then off to Kensington to find the hotel. Met lovely Roger Sanderson on the high street and then Ray-Anne; and the second we walked in (on the red carpet)... Wow! As one of the shortlisted authors I was suddenly very busy doing photo calls and interviews. Met up with loads of people I knew - lovely in particular to see Jan again - and all the hugs and congrats on the shortlisting were so very much appreciated.

It was lovely to see my fellow shortlisters too - Liz Fielding, Fiona Harper and Julie Cohen (I'll post Julie's pic a little further down the page ... well, you'll see why when you get there). Lucy Gordon somehow managed to escape my camera lens!

Saw my lovely editor Sheila and my wonderful agent Dot. Then in for lunch - and all the shortlisted authors had the most beautiful deep red single rose with a very sweet message from Catherine Jones, the RNA chair. That was such a lovely, thoughtful touch.

The staff all had very smart uniforms and white gloves, and the way they came into the dining room was sheer pageantry.

Lunch was scrummy. Now, I thought either Lucy Gordon or Liz Fielding would win... But just in case there were more photos afterwards (and because I am very clumsy and prone to spilling things) I decided to pass on the tomato and cumin soup. The guinea fowl was lovely, as was the mulled wine soufflé with plum ice cream.

And then it was time for the winners of the Romance Prize to be announced. Trisha Ashley was the chair of judges and told us what they thought of the shortlisted books. They described Breakfast at Giovanni’s as ‘warm and engaging’, which pleased me hugely. The judges said their decision was unanimous and I was getting ready to applaud the winner... and then Trisha mentioned the word ‘warm’ again. Followed by ‘realistic ending’.

Now, this is what my editor and agent always say about my books. Warm with a 'real life' feel.

And even as I was thinking, ‘no, it can’t be,’ Trisha announced that the winner of the Romance Prize 2008 was...

Kate Hardy.

It took a few moments to sink in. (As you can see from the pic below… - me saying to my lovely ed Sheila, did they really say me? , Karin Stoecker and Liz Fielding)


I remember welling up. I don’t remember getting on the stage and Trisha handing me the Betty Neels rosebowl.



But then it was me and the microphone. Making a speech.



I did manage to thank my wonderful editor and agent and my husband and the judges. I wasn’t expecting to win so I hadn’t prepared a speech. I really should also have thanked the RNA, certain authors who took me under their wing when I was a newly published M&B author (Liz Fielding, Jenny Haddon and Kate Walker), my mum (who always said I’d make it and I wish I could share this with her in person as well as spirit), my fellow shortlisted authors and my readers (without whom I wouldn't be here). So I’m saying thank you now and apologising for my poor manners.

I was just so proud and so thrilled that the words wouldn’t come out properly - they did come straight from the heart, though. I remember people clapping, and people came up to me afterwards to say they had a lump in their throat or I’d reduced them to tears (ha, Kate Hardy’s trademark weepie strikes again).

Helen Lederer made a fabulous speech (she was witty and sweet and judged the length perfectly rather than rambling – judging by this standard, her book will be v enjoyable), and the Romantic Novel of the Year Award went to Freya North, who made a gorgeous speech.

And then it was more photographs and interviews, and when the journalists realised I hadn’t had a chance to tell Gerry and the kids, they persuaded me to ring him. Gerry was driving the kids home from school, so I spoke to son, who relayed the message and there were all these screams and cheers from husband and kids... Just fantastic.

I got a chance to share a hug with my wonderful, supportive agent. (Apparently my speech made her cry. But she deserves her share of the glory and I was jolly well going to make sure she got it.)



And with my fellow shortlisted author Julie Cohen (now you can see why I didn't post this one earlier - would've given the game away a bit).


Thank you to everyone who came up to me and congratulated me. And to the RNA. (And to all the nice people in the pub afterwards who bought me drinks, and the guy with the guitar who came up and shook my hand - very appropriate, given what my lovely Giovanni does for a living.)

Then I met Fi, had something to eat at Liverpool Street, then caught the train home. In London, people tend to avoid your eye on the tube. But I think they saw the rose and the helium balloons and the wide smile on my face and judged correctly that I was celebrating - and they all smiled back at me.

It's been such a very special day. Up there with my wedding and the days my children were born and the day my first M&B was accepted. And it's my proudest career achievement to date.

Thank you.

win lots of stuff

Current work: website coding, book outlines
Listening to: Corelli
Reading: Sarah Morgan, The Sheikh’s Virgin Princess (I really enjoyed this and it isn’t just because she’s one of my mates – fast pace, good plot, gorgeous hero, and I thoroughly enjoyed the heroine)
Steps yesterday: 14,214 (and apparently I walk fast… so how how HOW is the flab not melting? oh, yeah, the biscuits that made me buy them in M&S yesterday)

Dog is very pleased that I’m home and life is back to normal (ish). He is currently lying on his back in my office, snoring, in a state of doggy bliss. He’s going to be disappointed at lunch, though, as I’m having ravioli and salad rather than chicken…

I have two books in my head at the moment – the one I’m supposed to be writing and the one I was originally going to write this month (given that the former should have been written by now). The latter is currently winning – especially as I’d like the heroine’s job and I like even more what she really wanted to do as a career but couldn’t due to circumstances… I might have to give in and scribble down the bits in my head (would be a shame to forget them and waste the time). However, I need to get back to my lovely Welsh doctor as I want Med Duo #2 (working title TCVB) in a state where I can work on it on the PDA on Sunday/Monday morning before the lunch.

Blimey. I’m sounding like me again. (And it’s so lovely not to wake up every day worried sick, going to hospital after the school run, and then being too drained to work in the evening and getting miserable about it.) (The worries are still there, but not quite the same, and I’m not blogging about it because it’s not fixable stuff and moaning about it will achieve nothing – I’d rather stick to making lemonade and being my usual Pollyanna self.)

Anyway. The point of this was to talk about all the exciting things coming up in February.

Apart from the RNA awards lunch on Monday (where, just in case you didn’t know, I’ve been shortlisted for the Romance Prize 2008 with Breakfast at Giovanni’s, which will be released as In Bed With Her Italian Boss in the US in April), there are some exciting competitions where you can win stuff – including books by me.

First off, there’s the Modern Heat Authors’ Treasure Hunt.

Follow the trail, answer ALL the questions, and send in your answer at the end of the month and you’ll be in with the chance of winning a stack of fabulous books! Mine include an advance copy of my March UK release, Sold To the Highest Bidder, and a copy of my US April release, In Bed With Her Italian Boss (though you’ll be getting the UK version, Breakfast at Giovanni’s – everything’s the same except the cover!). Want a sneak preview? Nip over here…

Secondly, Nicola Marsh is running a ‘Be My Valentine’ competition from February 1 to February 14.

And again you have a chance to win books by lots of authors (including mine) as well as a grand prize on February 14. Go over to Nic's blog to find out more about the rules and how to enter.

I will be reminding you about these exciting events throughout February...

half-full again

Today has been just lovely. (This is going to sound pathetic… but it felt like having my life back. And it was so, so lovely. I will never take it for granted again.)

Started with a teensy bit of research in the archives (didn’t get what I wanted, so I need to narrow things down in my notes and try a different source). Then it was the BBC Radio Norfolk interview. Had an absolute ball; the presenters – Graham Barnard and Karen Buchanan - were great fun and so nice to work with, and my fellow guest (Sarah Bower – author of historical romance Needle in the Blood) was absolutely lovely. I think we did M&B proud between us. And Graham is encouraging me to do my radio book, so I’ll be sweet-talking my editor. (Might be a radio doctor; might be a presenter. I have all sorts of ideas buzzing.)

DH was listening during his break at work and came home sighing. ‘I knew you’d start running on about Antonio Banderas.’ Who, me? Lucky he didn’t hear the rest of it… (Dad, on the other hand, said it’s the best interview he’s heard me do. Bless.)

Real blast from the past, too: one of my old classmates sent an email while I was on air saying that in the five years when we were in the same class at Wymondham College, my nose was ALWAYS in a book. No changes there, then. (Dave, if you happen to come across the blog, hello! Of course I remember you. And thanks for emailing.)

After that, had coffee with Sarah (her book is on my TBR pile and is going to be moved up) in one of the few places in Norwich that does proper latte art (which is why I, ahem, frequented it a bit while researching Breakfast at Giovanni’s).

And then it was my treat for the month: I went to see the PRB exhibition at Norwich Castle. There was a beautiful pencil drawing of Jane Morris by Rossetti, as well as his watercolour of Pandora; and some lovely Burne-Jones sketches, too. (Not, however, Merlin – which is still my favourite painting of all time.) Had a quick look at the other half of the exhibition – local drawings – and there were some lovely ones by Cotman and Sandys (both of whom I like – Cotman in particular as he’s one of my subjects in Norwich Heroes, Villains and Victims). Not so keen on the modern art; am possibly narrow-minded and set in my ways, but abstract doesn’t speak to me the way realism does. (Or medieval art. I have a big thing about wall paintings and I have a lovely, lovely publisher I know is very keen on art (as well as being hugely knowledgeable and a really nice bloke to boot), so… a lightbulb is flickering. Hello. I think my muse might be coming back.)

Did a bit of shopping and now possess some hair mousse. (Am hoping it is going to tame Dougal for Monday – when I will also be wearing the black pearls as they feel lucky.) Also bought another pillow (yeah, yeah. Princess Kate – and the v. expensive down pillow has been a huge disappointment). Went to the post office on way to school; parked early so tinkered a bit with my new outline.

And the big news for today: Dad is out of hospital, so things should hopefully start to settle. I’ll be doing phone support for a while; but I get most of my work time back.

Half-full.

Almost back to normal. Good.

another week

Current work: Med duo
Listening to: not decided yet – probably Corelli as I need comfort music (superstar DH cleaned my car yesterday; I think he may have taken all the CDs out and put them back in the rack).
Reading: Bittersweet Deception by Liz Fielding. Another fabulous read, especially as it was set in my part of the world and I recognised bits in the book. Bits which, in fact, I’ve used in Sold to the Highest Bidder. (And yes, I am reading a lot of Liz Fielding’s books right now. I find that when life is rough, a seriously good short romance is just what I need to put a bit of sunshine in my day. I’ve had readers say that to me about my books… and all I can say is I’m very glad that my books have helped to lift someone, the way Liz’s are helping me right now.)

Um. Nothing much to report because I’m not blogging about the two big issues in real life. Nothing much to report on the work front (and my poor ed must be as frustrated as I am). I sincerely hope that this week is much better than last week on those three fronts!

Glass half full. Righty. I had to research Greek chocolate yesterday… and as it’s about 15 years since I last visited Greece and ate chocolate, it was a bit of a trip down memory lane. Oh, and the Tooth Fairy visited our house last night. Someone got a little impatient and wobbled her wiggly tooth until it came out… and then moaned that her mouth was sore! No doubt all will be well this morning when she finds the tooth gone and the pound beneath her pillow. In my day, it was 10 pence…

Oh, yes. And I had another ‘tough go shopping’ moment yesterday, albeit from my desk. And my goodies should arrive on Wednesday. (Certain friends and style queens have been a bad influence. I bought myself a string of black pearls… and a string of lavender ones. To celebrate the shortlisting.)

And finally… Winner of the signed copy of Breakfast at Giovanni’s is Lou Gagliardi. Lou, please email me with your snailmail addy (see the first comment below as I’m trying to avoid spam!).

award shortlisting

Current work: Med duo
Listening to: Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon (very loudly)
Reading: Quick addendum to the one I raved about the other day – sorry, I got the title wrong due to sleep deprivation – it was Dangerous Flirtation by Liz Fielding. Fabulous, fabulous book and I hope M&B decide to reprint it.

OK, so I’m blowing my own trumpet about this awards shortlisting and it doesn’t sit well with myEnglish upbringing – feels too much like boasting.

But I discovered there’s a logo I can use here (edit: I was using an old one so I've revamped)


As it’s not often one gets the chance to use logos like these (and because real life is still horrible and I want to focus on something nice), I’d just like to reiterate that I’ve been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists Association’s Romance Prize with Breakfast at Giovanni’s. Which will be out in the US in April as In Bed With Her Italian Boss.

I’m still doing the giveaway – one signed copy of said book – and the question is easy: tell me which instrument Giovanni plays. All names go into the hat and the winner will be picked Sunday evening UK time.

Hope everyone stays safe from the threatened floods. The river near us has burst its banks so the fields are just lakes and although the road was passable this morning it won’t be by this afternoon: so it’s back to the alternative route and add another 15 minutes each way on the school run journey. And as time is at a real premium at the moment… oh, pass the coffee.