Current work: nonfic; MH duo book 2
Listening to: Nick Drake
Reading: The Bride Hunter, Amy Appleton (enjoying so far)
Am very glad it’s September. Not because I want the kids back at school tomorrow – we haven’t had time to do half the things we’d planned to do – but because life in August was utter, utter pants.
Today it’s a new month. And hopefully a new beginning.
Actually, it’s started in a very surreal fashion. I was taking a break from the current book yesterday (which, thank God, has started to flow) and thought I’d see if there were any new reviews of my current releases. (Yes, I know. This is a STUPID thing to do because I admit that, like many authors, I do take it personally if the review’s a bit meh.)
And I discovered this fanfiction stuff.
It was written in Portuguese and the ‘shipper’ chose Harry Potter as the hero and Hermione as the heroine. OK, so far – not my characters. BUT… the credits also state that the original story is adapted from Strictly Legal (aka Atração ardente - or in the US Mistress on Trial) by Kate Hardy. I had a quick look through, and although I don’t speak Portuguese I could make out the gist of it. Yep, my book.
I think I’m flattered. (They’ve certainly said nice things about me in the reviews… I did go to Babelfish to translate ‘Eu li o romance da Kate Hardy, é ótimo’ – and it came out as ‘I read the romance of Kate Hardy. It is excellent.’) But there is the question of legality. Fanfic, where someone makes up a new story using someone else’s characters, I can understand. There is creativity involved. But simply doing a search and replace on names, using someone else’s story? Hmm. Not so sure about that one. Even though it does say 'not for profit'...
The new Radley signature bag comes out today. Unfortunately, DH saw the email from my favourite supplier. I have husbandly instructions to behave. Even more unfortunately, my daughter is a complete and utter grass, so if I do manage to see it and I like it... the chances of sneaking it into the house and pretending I've had it for ages are pretty slim. Mutter, mutter. Might go bookshopping instead.
Showing posts with label Strictly Legal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strictly Legal. Show all posts
Monday, September 01, 2008
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
good things come in threes
Current work: fiction and nonfiction
Listening to: Sandy Denny
Yesterday started off with a bit of a wobble – turned the PC on when I got home, and was shocked to see my screen had turned red. Uh-oh. Loose wire or something more sinister? Had a quick panic: the idea of having my PC in with the tecchy guys to sort a graphics card, when I have lots of work to do in the next 6 weeks, is scary in the extreme. (I even rang my lovely tecchy shop. Who laughed and said, stop worrying as it’s most likely to be a dodgy wire… take them ALL out and put them back in. So I did.)
Relief: it was indeed a dodgy wire. So that was the first good thing: computer was OK.
Next, the post arrived, with a copy of Strictly Legal from Brazil. My first translation from there, so I was really chuffed. And then I moseyed over to the Harlequin website for Brazil, and discovered that In The Gardener’s Bed is also coming out there. (Dear tax inspector, please may I go to Rio…?) Here are the covers – which are definitely different:
And then I had a phone call from Waterstone’s (as in the branch that used to be Ottakar’s, which threw the launch party for my very first M&B, A Baby of Her Own). Would I go and do a signing? (Sure.) And a talk? (Err… how long?) 30 minutes. (Eek!) We’ve agreed that I’m going to do a reading. With a difference: because it’s the Norfolk Almanac of Disasters, I’m going to get people to give me a day and I’ll tell them what happened on it… So there we go.
Lovely start to the week. And I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet, but I’m going to see the Tutankhamun exhibition for my birthday, with DH, the kids and my best friend (booked the tickets on Friday night) so that’s lovely too. And I booked our family tickets for the panto. Was tempted to book Kate Rusby for me, but the available seats aren’t that good. (My fault for leaving it so late.) Am also temped by the Mediaeval Baebes – the Playhouse is very small so it’d be great. Then again… (Had it been Kathryn Williams, I wouldn’t even be dithering: I would’ve bought my ticket the day the box office opened. And I would dearly love to see Sheryl Crow…)
Plan for today: guitar this morning, then meeting a friend for lunch, and the PRESMA (pre-school music association – I’m a trustee) AGM tonight. And in between sneaking in some work.
Listening to: Sandy Denny
Yesterday started off with a bit of a wobble – turned the PC on when I got home, and was shocked to see my screen had turned red. Uh-oh. Loose wire or something more sinister? Had a quick panic: the idea of having my PC in with the tecchy guys to sort a graphics card, when I have lots of work to do in the next 6 weeks, is scary in the extreme. (I even rang my lovely tecchy shop. Who laughed and said, stop worrying as it’s most likely to be a dodgy wire… take them ALL out and put them back in. So I did.)
Relief: it was indeed a dodgy wire. So that was the first good thing: computer was OK.
Next, the post arrived, with a copy of Strictly Legal from Brazil. My first translation from there, so I was really chuffed. And then I moseyed over to the Harlequin website for Brazil, and discovered that In The Gardener’s Bed is also coming out there. (Dear tax inspector, please may I go to Rio…?) Here are the covers – which are definitely different:
And then I had a phone call from Waterstone’s (as in the branch that used to be Ottakar’s, which threw the launch party for my very first M&B, A Baby of Her Own). Would I go and do a signing? (Sure.) And a talk? (Err… how long?) 30 minutes. (Eek!) We’ve agreed that I’m going to do a reading. With a difference: because it’s the Norfolk Almanac of Disasters, I’m going to get people to give me a day and I’ll tell them what happened on it… So there we go.Lovely start to the week. And I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet, but I’m going to see the Tutankhamun exhibition for my birthday, with DH, the kids and my best friend (booked the tickets on Friday night) so that’s lovely too. And I booked our family tickets for the panto. Was tempted to book Kate Rusby for me, but the available seats aren’t that good. (My fault for leaving it so late.) Am also temped by the Mediaeval Baebes – the Playhouse is very small so it’d be great. Then again… (Had it been Kathryn Williams, I wouldn’t even be dithering: I would’ve bought my ticket the day the box office opened. And I would dearly love to see Sheryl Crow…)
Plan for today: guitar this morning, then meeting a friend for lunch, and the PRESMA (pre-school music association – I’m a trustee) AGM tonight. And in between sneaking in some work.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
of mice and men…
Current work: outlines + PM job
Listening to: Cut, Millionairhead
As in, the best-laid plans. Mine were scuppered yesterday as I had littlest one home, sick. She’d slept all day Sunday but seemed so much brighter yesterday morning that school appeared to be an option. So she got dressed. Had breakfast. And went all wobbly on me. ‘Mummy… my head hurts.’ No colour at all in her face. So I spent the day playing with her instead of working. Also ended up going to bed early and just flaking. (Still really tired this morning. Hmm. Maybe it's time for another blood test.)
Discovered that ‘Strictly Legal’ has a new name in Germany. Wait for it… ‘Sexgott-Alarm’. Nice cover, though I’m not sure this gets across ‘stuffy barrister meets flaky vintage clothes dealer’. (In fact, the German version refers to Rose as a fleamarket stallholder. Hmm.)
Listening to: Cut, Millionairhead
As in, the best-laid plans. Mine were scuppered yesterday as I had littlest one home, sick. She’d slept all day Sunday but seemed so much brighter yesterday morning that school appeared to be an option. So she got dressed. Had breakfast. And went all wobbly on me. ‘Mummy… my head hurts.’ No colour at all in her face. So I spent the day playing with her instead of working. Also ended up going to bed early and just flaking. (Still really tired this morning. Hmm. Maybe it's time for another blood test.)
Discovered that ‘Strictly Legal’ has a new name in Germany. Wait for it… ‘Sexgott-Alarm’. Nice cover, though I’m not sure this gets across ‘stuffy barrister meets flaky vintage clothes dealer’. (In fact, the German version refers to Rose as a fleamarket stallholder. Hmm.)
Oh, and for those who like wordgames? Go here. At the same time you're donating free grains of rice. (And for those of a competitive nature - your target is 49...)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Waldies bestseller
I know it’s horribly un-English to blow my own trumpet, but I’m so excited about this that it’s having a post all of its own.
Mistress on Trial (aka Strictly Legal) is officially a Waldenbooks Top 10 bestseller.
One in the eye for the crows.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
the t-word
Current work: pics and notes for new nonfiction;
Listening to: Pink Floyd, Echoes
Reading: The Boss’s Wife for a Week, Anne McAllister
Wrote the MX outline; here’s hoping my ed likes it, as it’s due in the end of next month.
Nice post: Dutch copies of Strictly Legal and German copies of Her Honourable Playboy.
And as it was pouring with rain, I didn’t think the kids would appreciate being dragged round churches. So I spent the day doing the thing I loathe: tidying my office.
Started by sorting out my overflowing shelves. Originally I had all my M&Bs together with my nonfiction on the top of the bookcases – looked impressive, but then I ran out of room. So at the moment I’ve got just the paperbacks on the top of the bookcases, and all the translations (one copy of each, in book order) in the bookcases (having moved some of my fiction around first). Even double-shelved, I’m up to two full shelves (i.e. four single shelves). Maybe I need a Kate Hardy bookcase… Anyway, I have a boxful of books to put on the shelves upstairs in my ex-office (now known as my spare copies shelving), and a boxful of duplicate translations to give to my local library.
DH was a star and helped me when he got home – did the shredding, moved the boxes of books, got me a box for my proofs (which I filled and which needs to go in the loft). So everything’s neat and tidy (tidier, anyway) and… my ‘personal bookshelf’ looks kind of shrunk. There are still over 60-odd books on said shelf (and the equivalent of two whole bookshelves, excluding translations) so it’s still an achievement… but I suppose I’m having an attack of Impostor Syndrome at the moment. Chasing my tail, getting nowhere (aka waiting for revisions on the last Med and getting twitchy, and I can never settle to a new M&B until the old is done and dusted - I must get my head round this and switch between projects, the way I do with nonfiction, or I'll end up with stupid deadlines again).
Watched James Bond with DH last night (great special effects) and then thought I’d read the first couple of chapters of Anne’s book. Yeah, right – try the whole thing… there’s always a detail in Anne’s books that really strikes me, and in this one it was Spence’s grandfather’s ring. Fab setting, too. I want to go and stay in a bure treehouse with a waterfall shower…
Interview with local paper this morning. Do I make cookies? (Problem: I have no willpower and I don’t want to wreck the unofficial diet which is doing v nicely – 6lbs so far – this is to do with trying to take more exercise.) And I have to hoover up as Byron decided to roll on the rug in the living room and cover it with dog-hair. And I’d better slap on some make-up and look a bit less scruffy than I usually do.
Listening to: Pink Floyd, Echoes
Reading: The Boss’s Wife for a Week, Anne McAllister
Wrote the MX outline; here’s hoping my ed likes it, as it’s due in the end of next month.
Nice post: Dutch copies of Strictly Legal and German copies of Her Honourable Playboy.
And as it was pouring with rain, I didn’t think the kids would appreciate being dragged round churches. So I spent the day doing the thing I loathe: tidying my office.
Started by sorting out my overflowing shelves. Originally I had all my M&Bs together with my nonfiction on the top of the bookcases – looked impressive, but then I ran out of room. So at the moment I’ve got just the paperbacks on the top of the bookcases, and all the translations (one copy of each, in book order) in the bookcases (having moved some of my fiction around first). Even double-shelved, I’m up to two full shelves (i.e. four single shelves). Maybe I need a Kate Hardy bookcase… Anyway, I have a boxful of books to put on the shelves upstairs in my ex-office (now known as my spare copies shelving), and a boxful of duplicate translations to give to my local library.
DH was a star and helped me when he got home – did the shredding, moved the boxes of books, got me a box for my proofs (which I filled and which needs to go in the loft). So everything’s neat and tidy (tidier, anyway) and… my ‘personal bookshelf’ looks kind of shrunk. There are still over 60-odd books on said shelf (and the equivalent of two whole bookshelves, excluding translations) so it’s still an achievement… but I suppose I’m having an attack of Impostor Syndrome at the moment. Chasing my tail, getting nowhere (aka waiting for revisions on the last Med and getting twitchy, and I can never settle to a new M&B until the old is done and dusted - I must get my head round this and switch between projects, the way I do with nonfiction, or I'll end up with stupid deadlines again).
Watched James Bond with DH last night (great special effects) and then thought I’d read the first couple of chapters of Anne’s book. Yeah, right – try the whole thing… there’s always a detail in Anne’s books that really strikes me, and in this one it was Spence’s grandfather’s ring. Fab setting, too. I want to go and stay in a bure treehouse with a waterfall shower…
Interview with local paper this morning. Do I make cookies? (Problem: I have no willpower and I don’t want to wreck the unofficial diet which is doing v nicely – 6lbs so far – this is to do with trying to take more exercise.) And I have to hoover up as Byron decided to roll on the rug in the living room and cover it with dog-hair. And I’d better slap on some make-up and look a bit less scruffy than I usually do.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Off to Italy!
Current work: PM copyediting job and still thinking about new MX outline and notes for new nonfiction
The Posh Docs series starts in Italy in September, with Primario e Rubacuori (Her Celebrity Surgeon) and a fab strapline: NOBILTÀ IN CORSIA Quando prestigio, fascino ed eleganza indossano un camice bianco. (And just for info, Her Honorable Playboy – the second in the trilogy – is also available in e-book form here at eharlequin.)
I’m starting to make progress on the tidying front. OK, so I got a box and put the contents of my desk (except PC and memory sticks and SD-reader and my accounts file) into it, which means I’m no longer working in a mess as long as I keep my eyes fixed on the desk itself (the whole room is in a state). But I got an offer yesterday. ‘I volunteer to help you.’ That’s a big word for a six-year-old. Do you know what it means? ‘Yes, it means I offer to do it.’ (Remember: her reading age is about 11. Smart cookie child.) Hmm. So what’s this going to cost me? (Thinking it’d be another Nintendo pony or princess game.) ‘Nothing. I love tidying. I want to help you. Can we do housework tomorrow?’ (She’s completely sincere and earnest. Bless her.)
Real plans for today: shopping for school uniform (DH measured them last night – son is still on 91st centile and daughter on 75th. Which means son will end up about 6 foot 1 and daughter about 5 foot 6 (both taller than me). There is a tall gene in my family but I didn’t inherit it: I inherited the fat gene instead. Sigh. (But I did lose 3lbs last week without trying. I’m not strictly trying now. Just not eating between meals, avoiding bread and wheat as far as possible, and trying to exercise more.)
Also have to do weekly shop (as we’re going swimming tonight) and as we’re in town I want to take a couple of shots for the book – so it’s the Cathedral and St Peter Mancroft today. I need to look up a few things in Pevsner before I talk the kids into visiting other churches, and I’m not 100% sure that St George’s Colegate is open.
Listening to: Led Zeppelin IV
Reading: Kate Harrison's The Self-Preservation Society (this is why I have bags under my eyes this morning and need coffee – it’s too good to put down and one of her secondary characters is adorable – reminds me very much of one of the secondary characters in a project I’m sneakily working on, though didn’t inspire him as this has been on the back burner for a good 18 months… SDP, look away now: (whispers) it’s my other summer project.)
Apologies for moaning yesterday – and thank you for the support and private comments. Back to normal mood today!
Sadly, I’m not going to Italy personally – but my books are. First of all in August with Strictly Legal; it keeps its title, too - Strettamente lecito. Am v pleased. Here’s the cover (a bit small but it's all that was available). It’s also available on the shelves in the US this month, as Mistress on Trial – available in e-book form as well from eharlequin.
Apologies for moaning yesterday – and thank you for the support and private comments. Back to normal mood today!
Sadly, I’m not going to Italy personally – but my books are. First of all in August with Strictly Legal; it keeps its title, too - Strettamente lecito. Am v pleased. Here’s the cover (a bit small but it's all that was available). It’s also available on the shelves in the US this month, as Mistress on Trial – available in e-book form as well from eharlequin.
The Posh Docs series starts in Italy in September, with Primario e Rubacuori (Her Celebrity Surgeon) and a fab strapline: NOBILTÀ IN CORSIA Quando prestigio, fascino ed eleganza indossano un camice bianco. (And just for info, Her Honorable Playboy – the second in the trilogy – is also available in e-book form here at eharlequin.)
I’m starting to make progress on the tidying front. OK, so I got a box and put the contents of my desk (except PC and memory sticks and SD-reader and my accounts file) into it, which means I’m no longer working in a mess as long as I keep my eyes fixed on the desk itself (the whole room is in a state). But I got an offer yesterday. ‘I volunteer to help you.’ That’s a big word for a six-year-old. Do you know what it means? ‘Yes, it means I offer to do it.’ (Remember: her reading age is about 11. Smart cookie child.) Hmm. So what’s this going to cost me? (Thinking it’d be another Nintendo pony or princess game.) ‘Nothing. I love tidying. I want to help you. Can we do housework tomorrow?’ (She’s completely sincere and earnest. Bless her.)
Real plans for today: shopping for school uniform (DH measured them last night – son is still on 91st centile and daughter on 75th. Which means son will end up about 6 foot 1 and daughter about 5 foot 6 (both taller than me). There is a tall gene in my family but I didn’t inherit it: I inherited the fat gene instead. Sigh. (But I did lose 3lbs last week without trying. I’m not strictly trying now. Just not eating between meals, avoiding bread and wheat as far as possible, and trying to exercise more.)
Also have to do weekly shop (as we’re going swimming tonight) and as we’re in town I want to take a couple of shots for the book – so it’s the Cathedral and St Peter Mancroft today. I need to look up a few things in Pevsner before I talk the kids into visiting other churches, and I’m not 100% sure that St George’s Colegate is open.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
publication day
Having a blonde moment, here - as this is a writer's blog, I should be mentioning things like new books coming out.
And today is a special one for me - my joint-favourite Modern Extra is available today in the US on the shelves. (This is a big deal for me as in the US my Medical Romances are only available from Harlequin direct.)
So I'm delighted to announce that Mistress On Trial (aka Strictly Legal in the UK and Australia) is now on sale, as a Promotional Presents.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Celebrating a few things...
Despite the fact that it seems the terror campaign is starting up again, I refuse to cower in a corner. Life's good and it's worth celebrating. Some things I'm celebrating in July:
- the publication of my 25th book
- discovering that not only was I # on the local book charts yesterday with The Norfolk Almanac of Disasters... I'm also #2 with The Norfolk Poisoners. How cool is that?
- school summer holidays start soon and I'm finally going to visit Hay On Wye after years of trying (is a loooong story)
- the sun is out and it's not raining [at the time of posting]
- new month, new blog
- I have two ebooks out at Harlequin - both Promotional Presents. Her Honorable Playboy is part of my Posh Docs trilogy (and I am so pleased that they used that as the title of the PP series!); and Mistress on Trial is the new title for my second Modern Extra, Strictly Legal (also available in print in August).
And because my blog party had a bit of a hiccup, I'm doing an extra giveaway today with a copy of Breakfast at Giovanni's. Tell me what you're celebrating and I'll get my daughter to pick a winner!
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