Happy New Year!

Current work: (day off)

Listening to: (not, am sleeping)

Reading: (not, am sleeping, but I have a fab TBR pile)

Just about managed to see in the new year with DH last night: I was feeling rubbish and he was on call anyway, so we stayed in. (Not that we've done NY parties for years. Would rather have a dinner party with decent music and good company. Clearly am middle-aged.) Cuddled up on the sofa with the kids and saw a couple of films (can't remember the name of the first one - Rhys Witherspoon was v good in it, though - a woman whose spirit haunted her apartment and then of course she fell in love with the new tenant; second was Meet the Fokkers - am not that keen on humiliation-type humour, but Dustin Hoffman was very good); watched the programme about great movie love scenes, and then switched over to hear Big Ben and see the fabulous fireworks.

This morning, I’ve succumbed to the lurgy. Hot forehead + sore throat + thumping headache + ice-cold hands + sleeping all morning = lurgy. (Not hangover. Didn’t even have a sip of wine last night because of sore throat!) Ah well. I’m happy because it’s not 2008 any more and this year is going to be MUCH nicer.

I was given this wonderful personalised calendar for Christmas, so think here is a nice place to post the pic for January:

I’m also happy because I have two books out this month. For Medicals, out in the UK, US and Australia/New Zealand, there is The Greek Doctor’s New Year Baby – the first in my London Victoria duo, about two cousins. (The second is out in the UK in March and the US in Feb – Katrina’s story, i.e. the deaf doctor, so I will have much to say on that subject on release day.)

For Presents, in the US, there’s Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded – and, if you’re into ebooks, you’re in for a treat because this has an enhanced edition. I got mine yesterday and played with it: the links are fantastic, and they’ve even managed to link to the lyrics of the wedding song. Fabulous.

Righty. I’m going back to bed now. But happy new year!

Nice news and beautiful stained glass

First of all, thank you very much to the readers who’ve put Hotly Wedded, Conveniently Bedded on the Waldenbooks’ Top 10 bestseller list. What a lovely end to the year! (Thanks also to readers who’ve put it in the eHarlequin Top 10, too.)

Today, met up with lovely Jan Jones; we visited the Stained Glass Museum in Ely Cathedral.

The glass was gorgeous (I especially liked the medieval peasant – scary to think this was just before the Black Death). Two fabulous Burne-Jones angel windows (and two by Rossetti which didn’t look at all like his work, to me). A couple of the exhibits have really helped with the church book (to do with the production of glass); and one piece of glass in particular had us in stitches: The Prodigal Son by Moira Forsyth. Beautifully done, witty, and very, very clever. Apparently she has work in Norwich Cathedral, so I must go and take a look.

I also rather liked the ironwork on the cathedral doors.

Had lunch in the cathedral coffee bar, then a walk by the river to see the swans. Ely’s very pretty and I liked the place very much.

On the way home, stopped at a couple of churches – sadly, they were locked. Fair enough, but there wasn’t a keyholder listed, which was a bit irksome. I did manage to get a shot of a certain monument, which was moved very slightly when the A11 was dualled; I must’ve passed it on the way from school to the city for years and years without realising it was there. The monument is to Sir Edmund Rich, who gave money towards the the second turnpike road to be built in the country, between Attleborough and Wymondham. (The first was the Great Northern Road. Just in case you were wondering.)

And now... back to work!

something to smile about

Current work: nonfic and Modern Heat

Listening to: Christmas compilation

Reading: Diane Watt, The Paston Women

Today is the anniversary of my mum’s death. Now, I know she would want me to remember her with smiles. I do. But I also miss her very much; and this year it works out that I’ve spent more of my life without her than with her, which makes me feel quite melancholy. This afternoon, both children will get an extra-special cuddle from me. And I’m going to put the Christmas CD on and sing along with them (actually, I might just do it with the guitar) and think of her.

Today I have some good news to share: the covers of my March releases. First is my deaf doctor book: The Children’s Doctor’s Special Proposal.

The second is the real stunner: Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh. My first ever Sheikh book. (Modern Heat’s first ever Sheikh, too. And the one Harlequin asked me to write a Dear Reader letter about their 60th anniversary… in which I’ve paid tribute to the author of the first M&B/Harlequin book I read, and who started all this because her books are so fabulous: Sara Craven. It’s also dedicated to an author friend of mine, who writes fabulous books that have kept me sane in dark times, but I haven’t told her about the dedication yet and so I’m keeping quiet for the moment. That’s a pleasure I’m keeping for next year. I can’t wait to get my hands on my author copies.)

In the book, one of the key scenes involves a bath, and the cover is pretty much what I had in mind. (Well, it’s actually set in a penthouse flat overlooking the Thames. But the bath and the tone are just perfect.) In an ideal world, you would be able to press a button on the front of the book and hear the music that the characters are hearing: Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. (If my soundcard were not defunct, I would give you a YouTube link. But until I get the new PC and a soundcard – next month – I am avoiding to YouTube. Which, from a glass half full point of view, is probably good for my bank balance.) Have told my ed how pleased I am with this cover and asked her to thank the production team.

And I’ve had some other nice stuff this week. Really wonderful reader feedback on Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded (thank you to everyone who wrote to me); and said book at one point managed to be #1 in both the eHarlequin top 10 books AND the eHarlequin top 10 ebooks. Thank you again to the readers who put it there. You’ve made this particular author very happy.

Harlequin's open house (and some anti-crow material)

Current work: nonfic and Modern Heat
Listening to: Take That
Reading: Next on TBR

There’s something today guaranteed to put a smile on my face: Harlequin’s open house! So do go over and visit. (There are lots of authors around, and lots of giveaways…)

The Presents party is here; Medicals is here; Romance is here; Historicals is here. Do come and say hello.

And the anti-crow material?

I’m not usually a jewellery fiend, but there’s something about the Pandora range that really appeals to me. And my bracelet is looking very nice indeed, since I decided that I’m going to buy each bead as I work on the book instead of waitng until I’ve finished. (In my defence, I had an advance cheque… and I didn’t have a responsible adult with me… and… Well, DH has given up nagging. Will not be buying another one until February)

Next time I have an attack of the crows, this is what I’ll see.

Reading from right to left (the order in which they went on to the bracelet):

• The bracelet itself and the two heart charms: for winning the RNA Romance Prize 2008
• One charm which looks like an iris (yes, I know it’s really a poinsettia – am stretching it slightly) - this is for a reason I cannot divulge yet, but it’s a definite crow-scarer
• One pretty Murano glass charm (simply because I happen to like this one and apparently it’s not easy to find - this was a carpe diem moment)
• One 'roses' charm with gold accents: to celebrate my book Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded being the first Presents enriched e-book (roses = romance, and the gold = enriched)
• One spacer charm covered in kisses (because you need something between the larger beads to make them look nice – and kisses are appropriate for a romance author)
• One shell with a starfish: to celebrate my Penhally book (aka my 27th Medical Romance/37th M&B; the working title is The Heart Surgeon’s Proposal – and, as the Penhally series is set in a Cornish fishing village, I thought this bead was appropriate)
• One spacer charm covered in roses (see note above re spacer with kisses)
• One charm that reminds me of a child’s drawing of a sun: to celebrate my Norway book (aka the one I’m working on now: my 11th Modern Heat/38th M&B – this bead makes me think of the midnight sun. And that's a cubic zircona, not a diamond)

OK. So I'm a bad puppy... but it works. And it's better for me than chocolate, right?

A season for giving

Current work: Medical, polishing
Listening to: Joni Mitchell, Blue (superb album - one of my favourites)
Reading: Kelly Hunter, Playboy Boss, Live-in Mistress (excellent read and great secondaries)

It's coming up for Christmas - the season for giving.

Jo Leigh, a fellow Harlequin author, lost her husband to cancer back in June. Not only did she lose the love of her life but, because she’s in the US and is self-employed, she has huge medical bills to deal with on top of it. So the romance writing community is rallying round to help with a grand auction.

This is particularly poignant for me because, only 10 days ago, I was having fairly major worries about being in a similar position myself in a few months’ time. Luckily, DH had the all-clear, but there but for the grace of God. (And he’s not better yet, though he’s insisting on going back to work. Sigh. Men.)

Anyway, if you’re interested in getting a book bundle or a critique (agent/editor/author) or mentoring or additional items, please click on the button below to see what’s up for grabs:

I’m offering a bundle of five signed copies - One Night, One Baby; The Doctor's Royal Love Child; Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded; The Greek Doctor's New-Year Baby; and The Spanish Doctor's Love Child. (Go here if you want to bid for the bundle.)

So if you want to do something to help Jo (and also help yourself by getting a critique or mentoring or some good reads – or even buy someone else a Christmas present), please go and join the bidding.

Thanks.

And thank you also to readers who put me at #3 yesterday on the e-Harlequin top 10 bestsellers with Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded. Really made my evening. Especially as, at that point, the book was pre-order only!

Am polishing the last half of the Med at the moment. Have been watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (very pleased that Tom got through – yep, that’s my vote for the final) for inspiration. Am still mulling over the wedding ‘first dance’ song. I need a proper waltz (i.e. something in 3/4 time – annoyingly, all the songs I’ve picked or looked through in my piano books are 4/4 – and rats, that includes Take That’s ‘Rule The World’, which is just fabulous – will earmark that for another one). Not ‘Moon River’, as I’ve used it before; and not ‘Time in a Bottle’ (ditto). I was thinking maybe my own wedding song, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Need Your Love So Bad’ (hey, would you guess DH is a blues fan?). But I’m open to suggestions...

New books, new covers

Current work: Medical – tinkering with the outline and working on chapter 1
Listening to: Corelli
Reading: Next on TBR pile

Nice parcel this weekend – a big box of books containing the paperbacks of book 1 of my new duo, and the hardbacks of book 2.

Here’s my gorgeous Greek – and you’ll be able to find him at the M&B website in just over a fortnight’s time. In January, the book will be available in the UK, the US and Australia/New Zealand.

Right now, in Australia and New Zealand, my sexy archaeologist is on the shelves:

And the book will be available on the shelves in the US in January (or from the eharlequin website next month).

Busybusy and fabulous review

Am working like a maniac to finish the current book. (Sigh, overdue yet AGAIN - will I ever get back to being professional?) Not helped by lots of interruptions last week - meetings, phone calls, needing to do family stuff, etc.

The idea was that I'd have the book finished last week and have the weekend to tidy my office, chill out and maybe do location pics with DH and the kids. Um. I did a lot at the weekend, but it's not quite there and I want a final readthrough. Especially as I'm busy tomorrow, and Thursday and Friday I'm in London. Argh.

Today my car's being serviced, so I'm at the library - where I may finish the book (ha, no, there'll be a power cut or a fire drill or something) and/or do some research.

I'm a bit grumpy. So, to add a note of calm, I will leave you with a lovely, lovely review of Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded from wonderful Julie at Cataromance (you can read the whole thing here):

Award-winning author Kate Hardy sure knows how to pen an engaging romantic story that sparkles with blazing sensuality, powerful emotional development, realistic characters and heart-tugging emotion. Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded is a smart, sexy, poignant, funny and totally absorbing romantic novel written by a supermely talented writer who never fails to deliver spellbinding and enthralling romantic stories that touch the heart and leave readers engrossed from start to finish!

Thank you, Julie. You've really made my day.

and a whoo-hoo moment

Current work: Med duo
Listening to: Diana Krall
Reading: whatever my cherub wants to hear

I did indeed end up reading a lot to cherub yesterday. But son has also gone down with it and they both insisted I join them on the sofa (complete with duvet) to watch Wallace and Gromit. Dog was not happy. He paced and paced and paced – then forced his way onto the sofa between son and me, glared at son and sat on my lap. (He’s used to having me to himself. And late in the evening he did the same thing – inserted himself between DH and me, then poked his paws into DH and stretched so that DH would move. Normally, he shadows DH, so it worries me a little that he’s suddenly gone clingy on me. Last time my dog did that, I had a week left with him. (That would be way too much for me to take at this time of year. Not because of Christmas, but because the teen days of Christmas seem to be when the horrible stuff happens.) Am pretty sure that Byron is fine and I am just being paranoid. He's probably just readjusting to the house being full during the day.

But I did have some really nice news yesterday. My lovely editor was really pleased with the revisions to the archaeologist book – so Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded will be on sale in the UK in September next year.

Today… hopefully the kids will sleep late and I can work straight through. Sainsbury’s delivery this morning (veg box arrived yesterday), and much playing of board games this afternoon; then (if littlest one is better) we’re going to see DH’s brother to drop off Christmas pressies.

I’m currently having this really mad idea: supposing my med duo runs concurrently rather than consecutively? Might be too ambitious… but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.