the glitzy life of an author

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

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

Now all I have to do is wrap the stuff.

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

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

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

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

And today (when I’ve finished the book, which has first priority), I’d better update my website, which is horrendously out of date.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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

D is for...

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

Disaster. Which is the zone my life appears to have entered for the last three weeks.

It's also for something else scary. Dentist. Yup... there was I, keeping all fingers and toes crossed that all the disasters had gone. But at 3.30 am on Wednesday morning, I was hunting through the medicine cabinet for painkillers.

8.30, lovely receptionist answered the phone and booked me in for lunchtime. Arrive with kids and timidly ask who's going to see me. To my relief, NOT the dentist who hurt me last year. To my even bigger relief, a female dentist.

She did the usual tapping things. Teeth refused to react. Then: 'Oh, you've got a loose bit in your filling.' Out comes enormous needle. Two children sitting in the corner look horrified. This is a Good Opportunity, to be seized immediately. 'This is what will happen to you if you don't clean your teeth properly without me having to nag you...'

Into the waiting room. 'How loud is a drill?' asks littlest. I explain that she can hear a drill going right now. 'Can we stay here?'

Actually, am glad they did because the decayed bit (just like last year) was nasty. The words 'root canal' and 'extraction' were suggested as possibilities, countered by 'you'll need to sedate me first'.

Right, back to nice things. Remember there are still books to be won. A copy of The Spanish Doctor's Love Child at Love is the Best Medicine - where I'm talking about the lure of the Mediterranean; and at The Writing Playground, a copy of One Night, One Baby is up for grabs.

castles

Current work: nonfic; MH duo book 2

Listening to: various piano stuff

Reading: Next on TBR pile

I forgot to mention our trip out on Friday (needed to escape for a bit). Went to Orford Castle, which was built by Henry II as one of his defences to keep the Bigods in check. There's also a fascinating story about a merman.

And there's a very strange opening just outside the constable's chamber.

According to the audio guide, this is a rare urinal. (Sorry. I know it's not exactly a salubrious topic. But I was fascinated. It didn't even occur to me: I'd thought garderobes and possibly chamber pots.)

We also visited Framlingham Castle, which is pretty (but practically empty - inside there's a newer building which was formerly a workhouse and a school). Mary Queen of Scots was pronounced queen from here.

You can walk right round the castle walls, at the top - fabulous view. But it's only when you walk round the outside of the castle as well that you notice something about the walk... (That rickety-looking bridge isn't rickety. The real thing is much less scarier than from this viewpoint.)

The loss assessors came yesterday and were really, really nice and helpful. Am shocked by how bad the damage is, though. Three rooms' worth of flooring to be redone... all from one little leak. Not sure how much damage on the cabinets. I did squeak when it turned out our garage wall is damp - because on the other side of that wall are 2,000 books, some of which are antiquarian (think colour, mid 19th-century, i.e. expensive). But my office floor readings are OK so hopefully all is well.

They're coming back next week to do more readings; in the meantime, we have a dehumidifier and fans in. And weeks of disruption to the kitchen!

So now for nice stuff. You can still go into the draw to win a copy of The Spanish Doctor's Love Child at Love is the Best Medicine - where I'm talking about the lure of the Mediterranean.

And I'm also blogging today at The Writing Playground, where a copy of One Night, One Baby is up for grabs. Come and say hello - I'm talking about heroes!

(Yeah, yeah. We all know who that means...)

Lovely review -and still in the Waldies

Current work: nonfic; MH duo book 2
Listening to: various piano stuff
Reading: India Grey, Mistress: Hired for the Buisnessman’s Pleasure (lovely read – and I’m not biased just because I suggested the Chopin *g* - Orlando is wonderfully drawn, as is Rachel)


Had a lovely review from Cataromance for The Spanish Doctor’s Love-Child:

“a wonderfully poignant tale rich in feeling, emotion and romance by a wonderful romantic novelist who never fails to captivate, enthral and move her audience. Featuring a gorgeous hero, a lovely heroine and lots of tender romance, pathos, drama and passion, The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child is a spellbinding tale about moving forward, new beginnings and the redeeming power of love by an extraordinary writer whose books I just cannot get enough of!”

Thank you, Julie Bonello, for making my day.

And a special thank you to those readers who've kept One Night, One Baby on the Waldenbooks' Top Ten list for the third week running.

These sort of things really are helping me get through a personal rough patch. (Did I mention DH ended up being called out to work on Sunday night at stupid o'clock? Bang went my sleep. Couldn't sleep last night, either. Probably because I'm worrying too much.)

Dad wasn’t too bad yesterday, so am keeping fingers crossed that he continues to do well and that particular crisis will resolve. Really pleased that we got some smiles and laughs out of him yesterday.

It's pouring with rain today – but we have to stay in anyway for the insurance loss assessor. Keeping my fingers crossed that that goes without a hiccup. Might take the kids bowling afterwards.

New week, and please let it be better than last

Current work: nonfic; MH duo book 2
Listening to: various piano stuff
Reading: Mistress of the Art of Death, Arianna Franklin (just finished it – superb and this series is going to be autobuy – loved the characters, and particularly enjoyed the historical note)

Thank you to everyone who’s left a note here or emailed me privately about the catalogue of disasters. Appreciated.

Had a nice weekend – spent Saturday with DH’s best friend (barbecue in the rain) and yesterday with bestest family (another barbecue, plus Madam and I made the infamous choc chip cookies. Kleptodog stuck with me as the Person Most Likely To Feed Dog Surreptitious Bits Of Chicken – well, he must be missing his usual weekday lunch with me, which involves him getting surreptitious bits of chicken). Was nice just to try and forget all the other stuff and chill out a bit. Plus one of my friends sent me a replacement chocolate stash, which was very much appreciated. (Dog grabbed the parcel as it came through the letter-box and brought it over to me, bless him.)

There’s a chance to win a copy of The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child this week over at Love is the Best Medicine, so do drop over and talk to me about the lure of the Mediterranean. (Guess who I’m talking about?) I’m also talking about heroes in a couple of other places later this week – will post the links when they’re up.

Plan for today: errands in the morning, maybe some shots for the book (depends on the weather), then going to visit Dad. And I want to stick to my work schedule, which is sensible and doable and will keep me sane.

some good news, for once

Reading: Mistress of the Art of Death, Arianna Franklin (superb storytelling – unsurprisingly, as she’s written one of my all-time top ten novels under another name. Recommended.)

Righty. Real life is still difficult, so here are some nice things that are happening in my life.

Firstly, I have a book out on the shelves in the UK this week (it’s out next month in Aus and US, and in October as a Presents Extra in the US). And I just LOVE the cover.


Secondly… I have a new nonfiction out, which went straight into the Jarrolds' top 5 local books chart on its week of release, and was there again on Saturday (with another of my books).

And thirdly (saving the best until last) - guess what’s #2 on the Waldies list, this week?




Thank you very much to the readers who put me there. And if you want the chance to win a copy of One Night, One Baby, drop by at Book Talk with J&J.

conspiracy

Current work: Modern Heat duo book 1
Listening to: Colin Blunstone, Ennismore
Reading: not – am busy trying to write and smacking my head on my desk

Good things about today:
1. My ed has given me the green light for book 2 of the duo
2. My ed likes my Dear Reader letter for The Children’s Doctor’s Special Proposal
3. My ed has given me an extension on my deadline

Bad things about today:
1. I still have a sick child at home (this is the reason for the extension – arrgh, one bug after another)
2. Said child has given man flu to DH (he has been stupid and gone into work armed with Lemsips, and spreading his germs… sigh. Take as read the rant about stupid men)
3. Said child has given me her sore throat (very bad – I’m doing a talk at the RNA conference in 2 weeks. Arrgh)

Very bad things about today:
1. Sainsburys’ computer system crashed so they lost my order and did not deliver my groceries this morning
2. Because they’re so busy, they didn’t tell me that they’re not turning up and they’re not rescheduling (I had to ring to find out what was going on – they did eventually ring me and I did feel rather sorry for the poor lad charged with the task of having to soothe ruffled feathers)
3. I do my weekly shop on a Wednesday so my fridge is empty (and my throat isn’t going to handle cheese on toast for lunch… guess it’s going to be an omelette, then).
4. I can’t get the shopping myself this morning because of sick child… which means DH is going to get it tonight. His approach to my list is ‘we don’t need this, we don’t need that’ (along with adding things that we don’t need or I normally refuse to buy, for example on the grounds that fizzy drinks are junk and taste disgusting anyway – this is why I dilute proper fruit juice with carbonated water for the kids) so – oh, actually, I’ll wait for him to come home and then do it myself. Even though it means wasting loads of time in rush-hour traffic, at least I’ll get what I want. (The alternative is letting him do it and moaning at him for not getting what I asked for – he’s particularly bad with yoghurts, deciding he’ll be helpful and buy the ‘diet’ ones stuffed with additives and gelatine which are ‘on special offer’ instead of the nice organic ones I like. And then I’ll have to go and get the stuff I wanted)

Very, very bad things about today:
1. The ants are back. In my kitchen.
2. DH has put my ant bait house thingies in a ‘safe place’ (cue rant re stupid men)

I’m beginning to think that there is a conspiracy trying to stop me writing this book.

There is however one important stock in my fridge that was replenished this weekend… Guess what it is, and I’ll put you in a draw for a signed copy of my new book, The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child - the one with the lovely cover on the lefthand sidebar. (Will do the draw on Friday lunchtime - UK time.)

Right. Enough moaning. Go and see Julie Cohen and tell her how pretty her new blog is.

Happy birthday and a FABULOUS new cover

Current work: MH Duo
Listening to: Lifehouse
Reading: thinking about the next on my TBR pile (got caught up in research last night)

It’s my best friend’s birthday today. Happy birthday, Fi, with much love.

I’m on a roll, here, with covers. I was checking to see if there was anything new on Amazon, and it seemed very odd that my September paperback was listed but my August one wasn’t. So I googled the title, just in case… and yep, Amazon got the author name wrong. So I’ve put in a correction (which they’ve acknowledged, so hopefully it will show up soon).


And I think this is going to rate as one of my favourite covers ever. Thank you, lovely art department at M&B.