Refilling the well (part 2)

Current work: Capri medical romance

Listening to: Corelli

Reading: Anita Brookner, Strangers

Refilling the well, for me, involves... um... history. And particularly churches. So apologies in advance, because this is going to be one of my nerdy posts. (I needed a dose of nerdiness. I'm at THAT stage of the book.)

I admit that I’m horribly biased towards my home city's cathedral. I’ve visited other cathedrals (including York and Canterbury) and this one is still my favourite. And here are some of the reasons why:

The vaulting (you can’t see it properly in this pic, but there’s also some rather nice medieval painting here).

The bosses (this one’s from the cloisters, the Green Man).

The bosses (again - there are about 1,000 of them, telling the Biblical stories right from the creation – if you want to see more of them, there’s an excellent book called ‘Stories in Stone’ which has fabulous close-up pics. One of my faves is Noah's Ark).

The Norman architecture (this huge Norman pillar – son is about 5 ft 9, to give you some idea of scale – and its companion mark the position of the original altar).

The East Window (speaks for itself - and yes, it's Victorian).

The font (there can’t be many places that have a copper vat, formerly used by the city’s chocolate factory, as a font).

The memento mori (this one is Thomas Gooding, and the inscription says “All you that do this place pass bye/Remember death for you must dye/As you are now then so was I/And as I am so that you be/Thomas Gooding here do staye/Waiting for God’s judgement daye.” Allegedly, he was buried standing up. Could be true as the top of the skeleton's head is pretty near my height).

James Goldwell’s chantry chapel.

James Goldwell was the Bishop of Norwich in 1472 – having formerly been Henry VI’s secretary – and gave the cathedral its spire (the wooden one burned down in 1463 after being struck by lightning). He was also one of the first Englishmen known to have owned a printed book; and his chantry chapel is the only monument of its kind that survived the Reformation. According to Bishop Hall, the Puritan soldiers practised shooting muskets in the cathedral in 1643 – and one of the balls is still lodged in Goldwell’s tomb (look at the central gold decoration, slightly to the left, just below the horizonal gold line).

I’m also rather fond of the little dog at Goldwell’s feet. (OK, will shut up about medieval wooden effigies. Have dragged the family off to see enough of them. But this dog has character.)

Refilling the well (part 1)

Current work: Capri medical romance

Listening to: Corelli

Reading: Anita Brookner, Strangers

Busy weekend, head down on book. On Sunday, I needed a break, so went for a walk in one of my favourite places. (We’ll skate over Madam’s huge tantrum first, sigh.) We had a wander by the river. This is the last remaining swan pit in England, behind the Great Hospital (where swans were indeed fattened for eating).

I was also rather taken by the reflections and the beginning of autumnal colour.

From there to Cow Tower (not part of the city walls, but was part of the city's defences on the bend in the river - and it was damaged during Kett's Rebellion in 1549.)

From there to Bishop's Bridge, which is the last remaining medieval bridge in the city, and was the only entrance on the eastern side of the city until the 19th century.

Just past the bridge, you get a great view of the cathedral across the playing fields of Norwich School.

And then round the corner you reach Pull's Ferry – named after John Pull, who kept the ferry until 1841. This was also the site of the Water Gate (i.e. the fouth 'gate' to the cathedral) and until the later 1700s a canal ran through here. The canal was used to transport the stone from Caen to build both the cathedral and the castle).

And from there we went to the cathedral - of which more tomorrow.

Fabulous at Fifty

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Daughtry
Reading: Anita Brookner, Strangers (very Prufrockian - very sad and lonely characters)

Fabulous day in London. Good journey down (and made progress with the book); and then it was a matter of going across London to the RAF club in Piccadilly.

Lovely to catch up with lots of friends, old and new (some I knew through email/blog/FB but hadn't actually met in person until today). OK, namedropping time: including Sara Craven (whose wonderful books inspired me to start writing a Mills and Boon when I was 13), Joanna Maitland, Louise Allen, Jenny Haddon, Jan Jones, Lizzie Lamb, Roger Sanderson, Kate Harrison, Mary Nichols, Cara Cooper, Catherine Jones, Margaret Barker (the first M&B Medical author I ever met), Eileen Ramsay. Plus my former editor, Tessa Shapcott - lovely to see her again, too.

(Louise Allen and Mary Nichols)

(Kate Hardy and Jan Jones)

(Lizzie Lamb and Kate Hardy)

(Phillipa Ashley and Kate Hardy)

Being met with a glass of champagne was very glamorous. I had a bit of a surprise when we went in to lunch (in a very, very glam dining room). There was a display of award-winning books from the last few years... And then I looked closer at the middle…
and ended up squeaking, 'Oh, my God, that's MY book!' Such a thrill to realise that actually, yes, I am a part of the RNA history over the last 50 years, because Breakfast at Giovanni's won the RNA Romance Prize in 2008. (And it lifted my mood tremendously - the last month has been a struggle, and this helped me get a bit of my mojo back, precisely because I wasn't expecting it.)

When I got to my table, I discovered that there was a wrapped copy of 'Fabulous at Fifty' on my chair (because I was one of the contributors - though of course I bought a copy as well, and if you want one you can get it from the RNA website).

And I had lovely company over lunch (Lyn McCulloch and Cathy Mansell, who looks a good 15 years younger than the age she admitted to).

Katie Fforde, our chair, made a fab speech talking about the work that went in to making the 'Fabulous at Fifty' memoirs, paying tribute to the generosity of Elizabeth Harrison. Diane Pearson, our president, also made a speech that had us all smiling for the right reasons.



Oh, lunch? Smoked salmon, roast beef and trimmings (note, this all works with the diet - no potatoes or Yorkshires for me), and then chocolate gâteau (which I didn't have, AND I didn't have any chocolates with my coffee - still had fun, still enjoyed my lunch, but no 'bad carbs' to take me off track - AND people noticed that my face looked thinner, which pleased me immensely. Not being vain, just want to be a healthy weight for my height instead of being like Garfield, and losing weight is very hard work).

And then it was a dash back across London to get my train home. Lovely day and, even though part of me felt guilty about being away from my desk, as one of my friends said, 'Coming here and having a good natter with your mates and getting a hug in person is going to do you a lot more good than being chained to your desk.' Absolutely right, and we all need to refill the well from time to time.

Congrats to the RNA and its lovely warm-spirited members. May you remain just this fabulous for the next 50 years.

London-bound

Off to London today for the launch of the RNA's 'Fabulous at Fifty' memoirs. I'll be working on the train, but it'll be so nice to see writing friends in person and I think it'll be the pick-me-up I need.

I am wearing a skirt. Those who know me in real life are probably sniggering now: I wear skirts for weddings and posh lunches only, and I've been a bit rebellious and worn trousers for the last two posh lunches. But I really am wearing a skirt today. My personal style guru (aka daughter) has approved it, son said I looked nice, and DH had a twinkle in his eye before he did the school run for me (so I guess that's approval from him, too).

Back tomorrow, possibly with pics. Have a nice day!

Dowland

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Dowland
Reading: Anita Brookner, Strangers (very Prufrockian - very sad and lonely characters)

Up to my eyes in stuff, so keeping this short. I’m learning a new piece on the guitar - Tarleton’s Resurrection by John Dowland. (This version is on the lute.) It’s tricky because the chords are four-noters and it’s all over the place position-wise, so I had to think about it. Loved my lesson yesterday: once I’d worked my way through it, Jim got me to do variations with twiddly bits (ha, channelling my inner Ritchie Blackmore). So at three a.m. this morning I was wide awake, fretting a bit; and instead of a book opening up in my head, what do I get? Yup, late 17th-century music. Wouldn’t have been fair to everyone if I’d sneaked downstairs and played it into my phone or what have you… and sadly, after I finally got back to sleep, it had gone when I woke.

Am pleased to report that Paris tickets are in (I was starting to worry), tumble dryer working for now, and electrics in utility room no longer fried. And I have the RNA ‘Fabulous at Fifty’ lunch to look forward to. (And nice scales again this morning.) So the rest of this month is going to be nice… right?

top tens

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Muse
Reading: next on TBR

I’m channelling Bob Geldof at the moment, i.e. I don’t like Mondays. (At least, not this month.) Last Monday I’m not talking about. Yesterday: missing Paris tickets and broken tumble dryer (with insult added to injury by the way it was dealt with – I have to PROVE it’s less than 10 months old by flashing my receipt, because the serial number isn’t enough, and I might have to pay a whacking great callout charge. Er, not at the price I paid for that dryer…).

I could go into a huge strop here, but instead I’m going to pinch something from my mate Nicola Cornick’s blog. It’s a ‘top ten’ list – but the catch is that there are ten categories and you have to choose my absolute favourites. Song was tricky (because there are others vying for that spot, and do you make a distinction between songs and classical music?), but some of them were absolute ‘oh, yes’ moments. So here are the categories and my answers. (And yes, we ALL know who my favourite actor is. I nearly put Mr Olivier, just to shock everyone, but we know who it is really.) Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to tell me your top ten (either in the comments here or on your blog, but do give me a link so I can come and be nosey).

Book – The Mill on the Floss, George Eliot
Film – It’s a Wonderful Life
TV programme – Life on Mars
Actor – Antonio Banderas
Song – Since I’ve Been Loving You, Led Zeppelin
Quote – “Life’s like a marmalade sandwich. You only get out of it what you put in.” (Paddington Bear)
Holiday destination – Venice
Animal – dog (if we’re being specific, Springer spaniel)
Dessert – crème brûlée
Pastime – reading

getting back on track

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Muse
Reading: next on TBR

Friday’s talk was great fun. The kids all seemed really interested and had a huge range of questions. (Plus they were so QUIET when they walked in and sat down – that was really impressive.) They were a bit bemused by one of the writer’s desks I showed them (if you haven't seen it already, Google Will Self’s desk – it’s that plotting wall with all the Post-it notes) but they loved it when I showed them Infinote on the iPad as my, ahem, equivalent. Ha. If I had Post-its on my door or a wall, Kleptodog would mosey past, swishing his tail, and my book would be all over the place!

Am pleased to report that one thing in my life is working as planned at the moment: a week of the South Beach diet has produced definite results (as in one whole point off my BMI and a huge increase in my motivation). I’m still not wildly keen on the veggie juice, but I can live with it. And I’m looking forward to the slow reintroduction of starchy carbs, starting next week. (Porridge and cinnamon for breakfast. Oh, yessie.) I think the reasons why it’s working are (a) it’s new to me so I have to look things up, and that makes me think twice before scoffing starchy carbs (aka toast); and (b) I’m writing down what I eat (online, in a journal that also calculates the nutrition, including vitamins and minerals – and it analyses by meal as well as overall day, which really soothes my nerdy side). Exercise will be added in properly next week.

As for the book… well, on Saturday I woke up with the wrong book in my head (i.e. the next one) and ended up putting down scenes for that instead of the Capri book, but I guess that still counts as progress. It’s getting there.

But if you need a bit of inspiration this morning – go over to YouTube to see Matt and Aliona’s foxtrot from Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday :o)

a day in the life of an author

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Def Leppard, X
Reading: next on TBR

That’s what I’m talking about at school this afternoon. Ha. It’s meant to be about how you create a book (fiction and non-fiction), how books are produced, the kind of publicity you do to promote it, and that sort of thing.

My morning, so far:

• discover that DH was clearly distracted (aka reading cycle reviews on his iPod) when letting the dog out, because one of my shoes was in the back garden this morning. Wet, after being there all night. And I only have one pair of shoes I can drive in… which means I have the joy of one wet foot this morning
• daughter has huge tantrum because her hair doesn’t look like Tracy Beaker’s and she was dressing up as Tracy Beaker for book day. Bearing in mind that I spent AGES plaiting it (tiny plaits) last night, and I had a great scene in my head – gone, gone, gone, thanks to her tantrum
• discover that DH (and no, the D doesn't stand for 'dear' this morning) unplugged my iPad while it was charging last night. Now, I have explained to him about the memory effect, i.e. you run the battery down as low as possible and then charge it fully, otherwise the battery doesn’t charge fully and the battery life shortens dramatically. Hissy fit from me, and I put it back on charge. Came home from school run to discover… yes, he’d taken the plug out. Argh! About the only one who hasn’t caused me grief this morning is son.

Sigh. Going to hit the coffee, try to ignore the fact that monster daughter hasn't eaten the chocolate she asked me to buy yesterday and I said it was on condition it was NOT IN THE HOUSE WITH ME ON MY OWN, try to wheedle that scene back, and hopefully write it this morning before I have to change into less scruffy clothes and go out and be Smart Author Person. (Yeah, the acronym works for me, too.)

Meanwhile, I’m over at the Pink Heart Society talking about one of my fave films of the summer. (My two absolute favourites were Inception and Toy Story 3, but my mate Heidi Rice has already covered those – she has excellent taste…) I was going to talk about hero characteristics over here today, but with the Tantrum Queen, Mr ‘I-think-I-know-best-even-when-I-don’t’ and Kleptodog driving me crazy… that’ll have to wait!

Season of mists...

Current work: Capri medical romance

Listening to: Def Leppard, X

Reading: next on TBR

Gorgeous school run this morning – mist floating everywhere. Didn’t have my camera in my handbag (shame, as I missed taking a sundog) but couldn’t resist snapping these clouds this morning before the school run.

Busy morning: seeing my accountant, then my GP so we can sort out the follow-up scan (nothing scary – something many women in my age group get). Talked to her about the diet, and she approves; I think she approves a bit more of phase 2 than phase 1, but phase 1 is important for me psychologically as I'm seeing the numbers on the scales go DOWN. Phew.

Plans for rest of today: finalise my Powerpoint presentation for tomorrow’s talk, and keep on with the book.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment on the last post or emailed me. Much appreciated. And I’m glad to report that I’m doing OK. Deep breath and onward – with determination, if not quite with my usual brio :o)

blessed

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Corelli
Reading: next on TBR

Having a bit of a rocky patch right now (not talking about it yet, but I might do next month when I’ve bounced back a bit) and I have to say I’m really blessed with my family and friends. Daughter made me play “Just Dance” on the Wii with her for half an hour (which was fun – bit hard to be in the doldrums when you’re pretending to be a surfer to the Beach Boys or a boxer to “Eye of the Tiger”), son gave me a big hug (note, he picked up on my mood, and that’s pretty damn good for an Aspie – actually, that in itself nearly set me bawling), and DH made me sit with him in the evening to watch some comedy. (And he didn’t snack in front of me – possibly because I threatened to make him drink the vegetable juice if he did!) And my mates were just brilliant. I will share some wisdom in a few weeks’ time, when this book is off my desk and I’m in a better place than I am right now.

Anyway, thank you, the lot of you. You’re really appreciated.

elsewhere today

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Take That
Reading: Sarah Morgan, Dr Zinetti’s Snowkissed Bride (Sarah’s Christmas books are always a lovely read – as usual, this one’s heartwarming, sparkly, very funny, and leaves you with a smile on your face)

Where did the weekend go? Most of it was a blur, though one hilarious moment was when our neighbours confessed that they thought DH was the spendthrift and I was the ‘careful’ one. Talk about completely the wrong way round! The kids were in hysterics, and I think we’re going to get a lot of mileage out of that. Anyway, I think it prodded DH’s conscience a little bit, because on Sunday he bought me something nice for my bracelet to commemorate the fact we’ve been together 25 years this year. (Somewhat late, but better than never. And he did let me choose it.)

Anyway, I’m elsewhere today. Talking about the D-word over at the e-Harlequin Medical Authors’ blog. And no, that isn’t ‘deadline’ – try two syllables, four letters! ;o) Come over and say hello and share a recipe or two.

Minxed again :o)

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Daughtry (first album - though was also tortured with Lady Gaga)
Reading: next on TBR

I’m over at the Minxes of Romance today, talking about the joys of research and telling more about the research I did for my latest release, Champagne with a Celebrity. (Thank you very much, Lorraine, for having me.) Do come over and say hello.

Other than that, daughter has new earrings (today is the first day she’s allowed to change them) and I had the not-so-lovely task of removing the ones from the initial piercing – ick, and I think I might’ve pinched her ear a bit (long nails on strumming hand), but she’s happy.

I’m also trying to resist the lure known as our fridge (and no, I’m not talking about the chocolate drawer, which is deliberately populated with chocolate I don’t like. And yes, you did read that correctly. There is some chocolate I don't like. Mainly Nestlé, owing to the texture).

At the moment, I have a real yen for toast with proper butter and posh raspberry jam. I think this is because I’m planning to go back on the straight and narrow on Monday. Still low-carb, but because I’ve been very half-hearted on the current diet for the whole of this year (probably because I know it too well and therefore can ignore it), I’m trying something a little different. Something new to me, so I’ll have to look things up; in theory, that should make me stop and think before falling off the diet.

The tough phase is for two weeks (during which time I have a posh author lunch in London, but I can work round that), and by that time I should have broken the bad habits and lost enough weight to motivate me to continue. Two weeks without porridge for breakfast is going to be horrible (says middle-aged woman in severe breakfast rut, wondering if cinnamon would be nice in an omelette and then remembering it's meant to be a vegetable omelette), but it’s only two weeks, and the way this year is whizzing by it’ll pass in the blink of an eye.

Righty. Back to work for me. I want to hit half today’s quota before lunch, and then I need to book various things (aka the Book of the Dead exhibition, Christmas party for DH’s work, and ten-pin bowling for daughter’s birthday). And caffeine’s allowed on my new diet. I think I might have to nip into town tomorrow to buy some French Vanilla…

where’s the week going?

Current work: Capri medical romance/ special project for M&B
Listening to: Daughtry (first album)
Reading: next on TBR

Time seems to be whizzing by at a rather frightening rate. I’m sort of settling down to work – more so since lovely editor called yesterday to ask me to work on something. (Not third revisions. Keep your fingers crossed for me as I really, really don’t want that.) Can’t talk about the project, but I’m enjoying it and it was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up – even though I’m behind with my work, I’m busy and I’m still a bit stressed over the situation last week. It’s good to have something nice happen. (Hopefully That Situation has calmed down a bit now, though I’m still keeping an eye on things.)

free books

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Daughtry (first album)
Reading: next on TBR

It’s Tuesday afternoon already? Ouch. I need to be head down and stuck in to the book as I lost a fair bit of ground last week (and this week so far has, um, been more of the same). I really hate chasing my tail the whole time instead of being uber-organised and full of energy, but that’s the way life is right now. A really tempting opportunity came my way yesterday (going back to being a school governor) but, as DH pointed out, I’m already overloaded and taking on more work is not sensible. Kids agreed. And I guess they’re right.

Anyway. Right now my head is elsewhere. So, instead of writing a proper blog, I’ll give you a link to a site with free e-books (legitimate, NOT pirated – take the rant as read) from Mills & Boon. Enjoy :o)

congrats to the top ten New Voices - and to all the entrants

As I prefer things on my blog to be on a happy note, I’d like to say congrats to the top ten contestants on the New Voices site – well done to you all, and good luck in the next round! You can read more about it over here on the M&B New Voices Website.

And those who didn’t make it? I do feel for you because disappointment is always hard. I watched the X Factor with the children last night, and seeing the faces of those who didn’t get through made me want to go and give them all a hug. So consider yourself hugged, too.

The important thing is, you tried – you didn’t sit there saying, ‘Oh, I wish I could…’ and then did nothing. You put the work in and you made the effort – and that’s definitely something to be proud of.

Now you go on to the next step. Just as, last night, some of them were saying that singing was all they wanted to do: if writing’s all you’ve ever wanted to do, don’t give up. Look at the feedback you had, and see what you can learn from it to improve your writing. Keep reading a lot. Keep practising your craft (and maybe get a critique partner – maybe one of the other contestants?) and take your writing forward.

Remember that rejection slips aren’t personal – they’re a chance to improve your skillset, because they tell you what you need to work on. Spend a day being upset, then do a self-appraisal: look at where you are now, where you want to be, and what you need to do to get there. Break that list down into manageable steps (aka SMART objectives – specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and timed) and then you’ll have a structure to help you towards that dream.

Good luck!

back from being awol

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Daughtry
Reading: next on TBR

Apols for going AWOL, last week (and sorry for worrying people - I've appreciated the emails). I was trying to sort out some sticky stuff – not blogging about it but I’m beginning to feel like Macbeth. (As in ‘shall sleep no more’; I haven’t committed regicide! I just don't sleep well when I'm worrying.)

As I’m taking a sabbatical from nonfic, this year, I don’t even have my safety-valve of research. So I took comfort in – wait for it – doing my accounts. Yes, really. This is where I’m glad I did let things slip last year and did the shoebox method – which a lot of authors I know do – instead of updating it every week and staying on top of things. Sorting out receipts and indexing them is incredibly soothing. (OK, so we all know I’m weird. My accountant thought it was hilarious, too.)

Weekend was nice. Saturday was a bit lazy (aka finishing off my accounts), and on Sunday DH went to Silverstone to see the bike racing and the kids and I went into town, had lunch in M&S and then bought the Simpsons version of Monopoly. We played all afternoon (actually managed to prise son off the X-box, and it was lovely to spend time together). As usual, tycoon daughter beat us all; she bought the equivalent of Park Lane and Mayfair, and stuck hotels on them. The bank-and-credit-card contraption does make playing easier, with no money cluttering up surfaces, but I was too sleep-deprived to work out how we could continue to use the ‘Free Parking’ rule (where all fines go in the middle rather than to the bank, and if you land on Free Parking you scoop the proceeds). D’oh. Obvious, this morning: sticky note and pen job :o)

I’m also doing a talk at daughter’s school for Book Week, next week. She’s asked me to bring in some of my foreign editions, as she thinks everyone would be really interested to see books in different alphabets. Should be fun, as it’s a nice school and the kids are really responsive.

And I’m really hoping that this week is much quieter than last.

lovely review

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Athlete. Black Swan
Reading: (I’m supposed to be working, not reading, but I have Sarah Morgan’s ‘Dare She Date the Dreamy Doc?’ on my desk… and it’s too good to put down)

So, not only am I thrilled about my book cover appearing in The Sun online (and amused that when I went to look at it, I got the Radley handbags ad – serendipity or what?) – I also get a lovely email from Julie Bonello, with her review of Red Wine and Her Sexy Ex at Cataromance. And she gave me 4.5 stars :o)

This is what she says about it:

Red Wine and Her Sexy Ex is another first class romance from the wonderful Kate Hardy! The talented award-winning storyteller writes with such flair and panache that readers will feel as if they are in the South of France falling in love with devastatingly attractive Xavier and richly nuanced Allie!

Redolent with breathtaking romance, spectacular emotional punch, a believable conflict and vivid atmospheric details, Red Wine and Her Sexy Ex is the latest gold star standard romance by Kate Hardy.

Thank you, Julie, for making my day. (You can read the full review here.)

(Hmm – now that’s two nice things. So the third is going to be my editor telling me next week that I don’t have to rewrite the Venice book yet again… right???)

New Voices and a ray of Sun-shine :)

Apologies for the terrible pun. My writer mates Natalie Anderson and Robyn Grady gave me some news this morning - The Sun (online) has top tips for writing a romance novel, linked to the M&B New Voices competition.

And guess whose book cover is right there at the top?

You can see it over here :)

I'm absolutely thrilled!

London, part 2

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Daughtry
Reading: (next on TBR)

On Saturday, Fi and I went to the William Morris gallery in the Water House, Walthamstow. (Morris lived here from 1848-1856.)

The house itself is beautiful, and as for the contents… Fabulous. I particularly loved the Burne-Jones stained glass. (Please indulge me with the pics - much of my stained glass has been removed from the Venice book, sob – and EBJ is my favourite artist of all time.)

This is his Praising Angel, originally made for the house of George McCulloch in Kensington. The design was also used in the windows at Salisbury Cathedral and churches in Painswick (Glos) and Montreal.

And this is his St Cecilia.

And a detail I really liked.

This is a lock of William Morris’s hair, in a silver and glass case, which was cut after his death in 1896 by his friend John Carruthers.

These gorgeous fish tiles were designed by William de Morgan.

These two Minstrels windows were designed by Morris for The Grange, Fulham. (And because they use of glass roundels is pretty much how windows are in Venice… There was a little whimper from me, here, for the slash and burn job I did on my windows in the book.)

I also really liked this peacock feather plate (designed by one of the Faulkner sisters – nobody’s sure if it was Kate or Lucy). I can imagine this done in glass - would be amazing and you'd get the blues and the greens.

Back to Fi's for lunch (her risotto is just fabulous), much talking, and then off to Piccadilly Circus for dinner before going to the Gielgud Theatre

to see 'Yes, Prime Minister'.

The theatre is absolutely beautiful - here are the ceiling and the circle (as seen from our seat in the stalls, four rows from the front).

Henry Goodman was absolutely brilliant as Sir Humphrey (came across as terribly corrupt and manipulative, unlike lovely Nigel Hawthorne in the TV series - scary to think that was 24 years ago!); David Haig was an excellent Jim Hacker; and I thought Jonathan Slinger was superb as Bernard (came across as cleverer and much more moral than Derek Fowlds's original). Emily Joyce was very good, too, as the spin doctor. Very, very contemporary - brought in a lot of the issues in politics today and updated them from the original series. We were laughing out loud in quite a few places. Superb writing - and a real treat.

National Alzheimer’s Day

Today is National Alzheimer’s Day. Although my dad’s form of dementia is slightly different, I’m still pleased that the condition is getting a bit of publicity and hopefully people will become more aware of dementia.

As we’re living longer and have an ageing population, I think that in the future more and more people are going to find their lives touched by it. And it’s important to talk about it and share coping strategies, because frankly having a parent with dementia can be absolutely heartbreaking at times and talking to someone who’s been there can really, really help you cope.

Fitting, too, that today is visit day. Actually, I’m due a rough one – but, hey. I had two nice ones on the trot, and that’s pretty good going. And I do at least have my guitar lesson this morning to chill me out first.

London, part 1

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: Daughtry
Reading: (next on TBR)

Friday, had a good journey down (aka worked on the train) and arrived at the Charing Cross Hotel




where I met my fabulous friend Liz Fielding for coffee (and also met her gorgeous, gorgeous granddaughter). Then it was time for lunch. Lovely to see so many old friends and meet some new ones.

First, of course (because this is my blog and you know I'm a foodie), you'll expect to see pics of the scrumptious food: so here we go.






Marinated salmon, chicken wrapped in Parma ham with asparagus bundle and leek and rosemary compote, then lime cheesecake with raspberry coulis. All scrummy (particularly the potato - must ask how they did it as it was much nicer than any of the rare potatoes I've eaten in the last year).


It was lovely catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Sorry, I didn't get pics of everyone (probably because I was talking too much - and I might point out here that Natalie Rivers and Claire Thornton are bad influences because I went clothes-shopping yesterday afternoon, following their recommendations).


Excuse the shameless namedropping (I still find it hard to believe that I actually know these people and they're friends), but:


Sara Craven and India Grey:


Jennie Lucas and Lynn Raye Harris, all the way from the other side of the Atlantic:


Lynn and me:


Caroline Anderson and me: [this is one that would strike fear into our editor's heart because she'd be wondering just what we're planning, with wicked smiles like this - relax, O lovely ed, we're planning lunch and nagging each other on towards deadline. Really, really.]


Nina Harrington and Fiona Harper:


We had a talk from our MD, Mandy Ferguson (and I so owe her a pic of Richard Armitage, though sadly I didn't manage to persuade her that Antonio Banderas should be the cover model for my next book - I did try, dear readers, I did try).


Then I went for a cup of tea with my mate Caroline Anderson (discussing books and what have you, plus showing her the iPad) and then it was time for the author toast with our editorial director, Karin Stoecker. Three milestones to celebrate this year: Maggie Cox's 25th book; Sarah Morgan's 50th, and Catherine George's 75th.


After the do, I met Fi and Liz at Russell Square; sadly, Strada was being refurbished and was closed, so we went to Pizza Express instead. Although we weren't reminiscing about our student days, it was very like being students again, talking for ages about all kinds of subjects over pizza and wine. And (much as I adore my children and I do actually like my job) it was really nice to have a day when I wasn't chained to my desk or being Mummy.

publication day, and London bound

Current work: Capri medical romance
Listening to: (probably not, on the train)
Reading: (next on TBR)

Today is publication day for Guy and Amber’s story, aka the second in the Chateau Lefèvre duo, aka the perfume book – Champagne with a Celebrity. (I still wish it had its original title, but I knew that battle wasn’t going to be won!)

And I am off to London this morning. The iPad is going with me (in its new bag, cough), so I’ll be working on the train, but I will admit that the weekend is going to be a bit of a glamorous and skivy affair. Back on Monday with a report and piccies. Hope your weekend is going to be as nice as mine is planned to be.

Oh, what, you want to know what I’m actually doing? OK. Firstly I’m meeting lovely Liz Fielding for coffee, and then it’s the annual M&B author lunch. After that, it’s catching up with more friends. And then it’s the annual M&B author party, where I will get to give my lovely editor a hug. And then I’m meeting my best friend for dinner and staying at hers for the weekend – we’re going to the William Morris gallery on Saturday morning, and we’re off to the theatre on Saturday night. On Sunday, I will of course be working on the train home :o) But, yes, much skiving and glamour, aka a well-deserved break after finishing second revisions…

an unexpected and stellar review

Current work: second revisions on the Venice book (last push because it has to be done today)
Listening to: Robert Plant, Band of Joy
Reading: Freya North, Home Truths (still enjoying)

Had a wonderful surprise yesterday – a lovely review for Neurosurgeon…and Mum! on Dear Author.

Sunita, the reviewer, was absolutely lovely and gave it a B+. Yes, she saw flaws in it, but she was honest and constructive about it rather than snarky (which is very much appreciated, because I can learn from that and make my books better – constructive criticism, for me, makes a much better review than a post full of mockery). And there was praise as well as criticism.

This is what she had to say:

“This is a pretty realistic, down to earth story with characters who could live next door to you, and with whom I would happily have dinner. The hurdles Amy and Tom face in terms of Amy’s decisions about her professional life, deciding whether they are committed enough to move forward as a family, and the lingering effects of their past relationships are dealt with very well.”

The bit that really warmed me, though? Excuse the trumpet-blowing, but when reviewers come out with a line like this, it’s brilliant crow-dealing material. So I’m going to share it (take that, crows) :

“the lovely characterizations of the main characters, the realistic feel of the setting and the storyline, and Ms. Hardy’s usual excellent writing made this a very enjoyable read”

Wow. Just wow. Dear Sunita, I’ve been having a pretty rubbish week, work-wise, and you just made it a whole lot nicer with your review. Thank you very much. (And you can see the full review if you click on the link to DA above.)

when only naughtiness will do

Current work: second revisions on the Venice book
Listening to: Robert Plant, Band of Joy
Reading: Freya North, Home Truths (still enjoying)

Sometimes, you need to be naughty. And only naughtiness will do.

Given that (a) I’m having a tough time on the work front and need a treat to cheer me up; (b) it’s THAT time of year, when a certain handbag firm produces the Autumn/Winter picture bag; and (c) I haven’t bought one of said picture bags for two years, so I have been extremely well behaved…

Add in being soaked through yesterday evening, having to wait in a long queue to get something son has been waiting to get for months (the queuing bit made more difficult by the fact that DH put the pre-order receipt in a safe place – probably in the Man Drawer – and it was so safe that he couldn’t find it, so Game had to take our loyalty card and check with head office before they could give son the Halo limited edition stuff he'd pre-ordered and take off the deposit we’d already paid), losing lots of work time while in said queue and then having to go to the café next door to try and wait out the heavy shower and then being caught in rush-hour traffic and taking ages to get home, and...

Yeah. When I’m grumpy and out of sorts, I go shopping.

And this particular piece of naughtiness contains absolutely no calories.

And I’m going to London on Friday (with iPad, so I need a large handbag to contain said iPad).

So I had to do it, didn’t I?

(Could you have resisted? The Radley tag - like the cloud - is pink-and-white striped. It had my name on it...)

something beautiful

Current work: second revisions on the Venice book
Listening to: Robert Plant, Band of Joy (the two Low tracks, the van Zandt song and the Los Lobos track are all superb; the rest of it needs a bit more listening, but the Low songs are utter standouts - just wish RP was playing more places in the UK. Especially small venues as he did on the Strange Sensation tour. He's playing Paris on a night when I happen to be in Paris, but... no, it's not going to happen, sigh.)
Reading: Freya North, Home Truths (enjoying this – nice fast pace, and very contemporary)

Am still head down on revisions and don't have much to say, so here is a link to a BBC slide show that’s REALLY worth watching (thanks to my best friend for this). The pics are from the 2010 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, and they’re utterly gorgeous. (And yes, there are aurora pics. Bliss.)

Oh, and if you can’t be bothered to click? Here’s a sunset from my back garden at the weekend.

dealing with second revisions, and men with long hair

Current work: second revisions on the Venice book
Listening to: Corelli
Reading: Susanna Kearsley, Sophia’s Secret (finished yesterday and it’s brilliant – couldn’t put it down because I had to know what happened next)

Righty. So, the email you don’t want to see from your editor hits your inbox: second revisions.

And you suck it up and deal with it, like the professional you are. There will be moaning and groaning and whining beforehand (thank you to those who put up with it on Friday/over the weekend and sent me lovely messages of support) and there will be much consumption of chocolate, but at the end of the day you do have to deal with it. (Dear crows: please bugger off, because I really don’t have time to indulge you this week.)

Normally, with revisions, I work straight to screen in a single document. I go through my editor’s notes, then do myself a table showing what the book looks like now and what I’m going to need to remove/add/shift round so I know what the new shape looks like (i.e. what I’m doing and where), and when I start writing I work in ‘track changes’ so I can see exactly what I’ve taken out and put in, plus I can make notes to myself all over the place and colour them in. (This is because I am a nerdy planner – though it doesn’t work for everyone, so please don’t take this as a “you MUST do it this way”. If you find some of this useful, great; if you don’t, then try something different because it might work better for you. Oh, and you can’t do this on an iPad, because it only lets you have one file open at a time and it doesn’t do track changes or highlighting (dear Apple, your target market is just not having its needs met), so this is a desktop job.)

This time, I’m taking a different approach. I don’t have to move things, exactly, though I will be cutting the last little bits I kept in from the first version, cough. (That’ll teach me. Next time I get a rewrite, I’ll start with a completely blank document and not try to save anything.) What I need to do is tighten things and show emotions happening on the page. I know what’s happening, in my head, but my readers don’t have access to my thoughts. They just get the pages. Which isn’t the same thing at all. And I need to show it more on the page. To me, this feels terribly heavy-handed, but as I’ve clearly gone too far the other way for now, heavy-handed it has to be. So, instead of doing it all on screen, I’m doing it the old-fashioned way: I’ve printed it out (single spaced and in ‘fastdraft’ print, so as to waste as little paper and ink as possible) and using a pen to make changes. Hopefully, this time, I will crack it. Two phrases to bear in mind for this round: “increase tension” and “on the page”.

Anyway. I’ve cancelled guitar this week and I only have one meeting at school (and please let me not have a bad visit to Dad this week), so I should be able to get this sorted before I go to London on Friday. It’s a matter of gritting my teeth and getting on with it. (Helped by lovely DH keeping me in chocolate all weekend.)

And I bought myself a new toy on Saturday. One of my writing mates swears by the 3-axis type of pedometer because you don’t have to clip it to a belt; you can wear it on a lanyard or stick it in your handbag, even. Had a chat with the girl in the sports shop and she was really helpful. I tried walking down the road, counting my steps, and then checking the display, and WOW! Absolutely accurate. Considering that the last six I bought (cheapies) stopped working after a week, were too sensitive (or not sensitive enough), could be reset to zero very easily by accident, or the clip broke… This is exactly what I wanted. Should also be the kick up the backside I need to get a proper amount of exercise (ha, says the writer who ain’t intending to move from the dining room table except for school runs, laundry and cooking dinner until the second revs are D.O.N.E.) and start getting my weight back under control.

Men with long hair? Ah. That’s my Pink Heart Society post today. I dare you to look and find not a single one of them gorgeous :o) Go and have a look and tell me who’s your fave.

Is it Friday the 13th?

Current work: second revisions on the Venice book (sob)
Listening to: Nickelback (because I am in a bad, bad, bad mood, and I might just have a splurge on DH’s iTunes account)
Reading: Susanna Kearsley, Sophia’s Secret (still enjoying, and I’d rather go and finish it than work at the moment)

I have come to the conclusion that the calendar is wrong. That, or I jinxed myself the other day by admitting that I’m actually enjoying writing. Because today everything is going pear-shaped.

Today, I tried to do my post for the PHS on Monday. I was REALLY CAREFUL to check that the date and time of posting was for Monday. What does Blogger do? Sticks it up today. Three times I’ve tried, three times I’ve failed, so I’m just going to try again on Monday and if the post is a bit late… well, it’s a bit late, so apologies for that in advance.

So I gave up and went back to work. I was enjoying writing my new medical romance. And then… I got the email I’ve been waiting for from my ed. Except she said what I hoped she wasn’t going to say. Sigh. The Curse of the Second Revisions is still ongoing, then. (I never used to get this. Which is why it’s so depressing. It means that I’ve become worse and worse as a writer instead of improving. Maybe I ought to go and get a proper job.)

It definitely feels like Friday the 13th today, and I’m feeling very sorry for myself. I might just have to go and buy some chocolate… Still, it’s termtime, so finding work time is easier. Deep breath and back to the salt mine, methinks.

routine

Current work: Medical romance (Capri/Sorrento) and proofs of The Fireman and Nurse Loveday
Listening to: Oasis, Time Flies (I really do like the early stuff)
Reading: Susanna Kearsley, Sophia’s Secret (just started it and enjoying it hugely – can’t resist ruined castles and history, so I know I’m going to like this. SK’s ‘The Shadowy Horses’ is a brilliant read and I think this might just join it)

So today is back to proper routine - with no meetings and nothing to do except write :o) A quiet house, a cup of vanilla rooibos tea (my latest discovery and highly recommended), and a book that – no, I’m not going to say, in case I jinx it. Let’s leave it that I'm enjoying working on it, and it's nice to be back to proper routine.

I’m also doing proofs of the St Piran’s book (aka Penhally series 3 – out in April next year, I think, but don’t quote me on that). Actually, I quite like doing proofs; by the time they arrive, there’s a big gap between me and the book, so I’m no longer sick of the sight of it and can re-read it with a fresh eye. (And yes, you do get sick of the sight of your own work. Revisions make it worse! And I'm trying very hard not to think about the possibility of second revisions on the Venice book...)

Thanks to everyone who’s sent me song suggestions – either here, on FB or privately. Some of them have made me laugh like a drain: clearly I’m not the only one with a slightly dark sense of humour and a love of very bad puns :o) Growing up around medics does kind of do that to you; my mum’s colleagues were great fun.

falling off a cliff...

Current work: Medical romance (Capri/Sorrento)
Listening to: Daughtry, Leave This Town (I really, REALLY like this album)
Reading: Abby Green, The Virgin’s Secret (enjoyed this)

Falling off a cliff? Not me, personally. But when I was going to do my nice, sensible meeting of the hero and heroine at the beginning of my book (for an agreed outline, arrgh), my heroine took me to one side and whispered in my ear that she had a much better idea.

Not quite sure how my editor’s going to take it, but hey. It works for me, too.

My heroine’s not falling off a cliff, exactly, but I need a song. (Not going to use the lyrics, obviously, for copyright reasons, but you are allowed to mention song titles.) This song has to unfreeze someone who’s terrified. So:

• it has to be uplifting
• it has to be well known (otherwise the copyeditor will take it out for being “popular culture and dating the book” – or I would’ve used Daughtry’s “What About Now” because I love, love, LOVE this song – and hey, Westlife covered it, so does that make it classic? Umm, better not answer that)
• it has to be easy to sing (or I would’ve gone for Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”).

OK, so medic humour would dictate something like Tom Petty’s “Free Falling” (or, as one of my writing mates suggested, anything by Cliff Richard. Geddit? LOL, I’m so going to have a running gag on this subject. Unless my ed makes me take all this out, which I’m hoping she won’t, because you need a little light stuff to balance the deep emotional stuff). But my hero is being nice and not doing something like “I Believe I Can Fly” (did I mention that my writing mates took this as an excuse to be sick puppies? Probably my fault for suggesting the Tom Petty song).
Right now, I’m torn between Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop”.

But does anyone have any better suggestions?

beginnings

Current work: Medical romance (Capri/Sorrento)
Listening to: Lifehouse, Smoke and Mirrors (fave track was co-written with Daughtry…)
Reading: next on TBR

I do like beginning a new book. Even though I’m a planner, there are still so many possibilities in those opening pages.

Dog and I were a bit lonely yesterday sans kids, so I’m afraid there was a bit of guitar playing going on yesterday. (While I was thinking about outlines. That’s something that sometimes needs to be done in the back of the head rather than the front, so I wasn’t actually skiving, even though it looks like it: I was being creative!) And no, I wasn’t playing the stuff I’m meant to be practising, either. I’m messing about with my current favourite song, Daughtry’s ‘What About Now’ – lovely easy chords for the verse, but the ones I’ve seen online for the chorus and bridge don’t feel quite right. Guess I’ll be torturing Jim later today, then :o)

Kids both had a good day at school yesterday, so I can stop being fidgety now.

Oh, and I nearly forgot – I’m talking about new beginnings over at the eHarlequin Medical Authors’ blog.

Plan for today: guitar lesson, visiting Dad (and trying to stay off chocolate afterwards because I really want to get my weight back on track), and doing a bit more on the book.

Back to school – and exciting stuff!

Current work: Medical romance (Capri/Sorrento)
Listening to: Oasis
Reading: Kate Walker, The Good Greek Wife? (enjoyed – think this is one of my favourite of hers, and I loved the dog); Caroline Anderson, The Surgeon’s Miracle (I knew what this was about because she had lunch with me after a research trip and told me all about it… but it still made me bawl my eyes out. Really good read).

Back to school. Back to routine. I adore my children, but it’s nice to have headspace again and get back to routine. (And not to feel guilty about working.) My project list is up to date and stuck on the wall behind my monitor (where I can see it all the time), the Pocket Informant (time management/to do list) app on the iPad is up to date, and I know what I'm doing. And that's a nice place to start from.

Exciting stuff #1: today, the Mills & Boon New Voices competition goes live – hop over to http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/ to get all the details.

Exciting stuff #2 (well, for me, at any rate) – we have booked a research trip to Egypt. (I enjoyed putting that outline together. Whether my ed will like it is another matter... I might have to behave and toe the line on that one.) We’re staying in Luxor for a week, which means antiquities (especially Tutankhamen’s tomb and Karnak and the museums) and the Nile. Can’t wait. Apparently it's going to be hot (95 degrees) BUT it's a dry heat, so I should cope OK. And it's a v nice hotel with a pool overlooking the Nile. Apparently the sunsets from the restaurants are amazing. And I happen to know there's an excursion involving sunrise and a hot air balloon, and daughter and I are lobbying for this. (Am also lobbying for a day trip to Cairo, but that depends... if, as rumour has it, we leave at 5am and get back at 1am, that's a little too much.)

Apologies to those who have suffered my over-exuberance on FB about this particular matter. But if anyone has ‘must eat here’ or ‘don’t miss this’ tips, I am all ears. I am very, VERY excited about this as it’s joint top of my wish list of places to visit – the other one would’ve blown our budget big time, plus the troops balked at the ice hotel so I am going to have to do much persuasion over the next year. (Or, alternatively, go without my research crew. Think they might mutiny if I try that one, though.)

Exciting stuff #3: I had a bit of a skivy afternoon yesterday. ‘Time Team’ is apparently covering the Roman town at Caistor St Edmund early next year, and the dig is going on for the rest of the month. And it’s open to the public. My stepmum went the other week and said I’d love it. Given that I am planning an archaeologist heroine (yup, that’s the Egypt book), that was a research opportunity not to be missed. We were supposed to be going to the beach; I begged and the kids piled in on my side, so we had a teensy detour en route to the seaside. Fascinating stuff.

Minxed…

Current work: outlines
Listening to (aka being forced to listen to) : Justin Bieber (because she doesn't like Daughtry)
Reading: next on TBR

Suddenly realised mid-baking session with daughter (hence music 'choice' today) that I’d forgotten to put up the link!

I’m over at the Minxes of Romance today, talking about, ahem, time management, so please come over and say hello.

Usually I’m good at time management. Today I’m doing six things at once, as usual, but I’m a bit overexcited because I’M GOING TO LUXOR!! (More of which, next week.)

Have a nice weekend :o) And the timer’s beeping again so I need to go get the gingerbread hearts out of the oven…

September

Current work: outlines
Listening to: Daughtry and Tom Petty
Reading: next on TBR

I had intended to talk about something else, yesterday, but the relief at getting the book off my desk rather knocked that to one side!

So. September. Perhaps I’m weird, or maybe other people have noticed this too… but the air always seems to change on September 1. There’s a slightly smoky, autumnal feel about it. And it smells like a new school term. It always used to fill me with anticipation: a mixture of excitement at having a new challenge, and the kind of worries most children have about a new academic year (will I still fit in or will people have changed over the summer?). I’d be fascinated to know if it’s the same for teachers, though obviously the challenges and worries will be different.

Today, I’m going to be sewing in name tags. Joy. But on the plus side we’re having a baking session tomorrow morning as we have friends coming over for lunch.

I’m over at the Romance Minxes tomorrow – will put a link up tomorrow. Other than that, yesterday's guitar... let's just say that my recent lack of sleep showed and I was utterly inept. Sigh. It will get better. I just need to carve out time to practise. At the moment, I seem to be waking up at 3am, but that might not be fair to the rest of the house if I start practising then ;o)

But I will leave you with a link to the track I was listening to at stupid o'clock - brilliant for a romance author.

Yes!

Current work: outlines for next contract
Listening to: Green Day, Muse and MCR
Reading: Kelly Hunter, Untameable Rogue (love my mate Kel’s books, especially the Bennett family series – and reading this after going to see the Karate Kid was excellent timing on my part *g*)

The book is off my desk.

Big, happy sigh of relief.

Hopefully it’s not going to bounce back with second revs. (I have everything crossed. Everything.)

And I have celebrated with a music splurge. Not too bad a splurge…

Oh, all right, it was pretty bad. Daughtry’s ‘Leave This Town’, Athlete’s ‘Black Swan’, Lifehouse’s ‘Smoke and Mirrors’, and pre-ordered Robert Plant’s ‘Band of Joy’. Plus two songs I like by Sheryl Crow and Daughtry because I am trying to wean myself off the ‘buy album just for one track’ habit. And I ordered Ritchie Blackmore’s latest for DH. (This is definitely wifely indulgence, as I’m not keen on Ritchie’s current direction – I’d love to see him stretch himself by doing a whole album of Bach, but sadly it’s not going to happen.) Oh, and because dear old Apple told me to update my iPad software last night, which crashed my iPad and then wiped ALL my music off it (putting back 850 tracks took ages, and there was much ranting on my part - especially during the restore, when I was worrying that my data was gone), I had a bit of a sulk and bought some more music. (Oasis. I know, I know. It’s possible to like a band’s music but not the personalities. This is the latest best-of job with some of the good early singles on – and, joy, ‘Whatever’.) I foresee loud stuff in the car for a while...

Now I need to clear my head (aka write proper outlines for the next contract and look at my ed’s thoughts on the new Medical, which is due later this month and she's giving me feedback in the next day or so).

Plan for today: guitar, mess about with the kids (and check they have everything they need for school; not to mention sewing name tags in new uniform), and visit Dad if DH is home at a reasonable time. And sort out above work.

Still feel as if I'm running to stand still, but next week is back to normal routine and things should be easier again. (And I am SO having a day in the library to do some family history research.)

Oh yes - and I have an article up here at eHarlequin re submitting as part of their Book in 3 Months.