2009
20th December
Joyeux Noel...
I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to tell you that my second book, "My Lady Innocent" which is set in early Tudor times, is coming out in a French translation as "La Chatelaine de Woolton Manor".
You can see a picture of the beautiful cover the French have given it on “My Books” page.
Here is the back blurb: Angleterre 1495...
A seize ans, Maddy a déjà connu bien des chagrins. La misère et l'humiliation aussi. En effet, son père et ses frères ont donné leurs vies pour Richard d'York, prédécesseur et rival d'Henry, l'acturel roi d'Angleterre. Hélas, ils n'ont pu empêcher ce derneir de récupérer le trône et de leru confisqur leurs biens. Ruinée et victime de la cruauté de sa cousine Eleanor, Maddy s'est donc résignée à ne plus jamais revoir le domaine de Woolton, la demeure familiale. C'est alors que, contre toute attente, le roi décide de le lui restituer. Mais à une condition: elle devra épouser Sir Geraint, un simple chevalier. Ce manant, cet usurpateur sera désormais son seigneur et maître...
15th November
I'm glad I ran out of pasta...
...because it gave me an excuse to go into Tesco's and have a peek at my book on the shelves! It still gives me a thrill to see my work there, and, funnily enough, this month, almost next to Martin Clunes!
"Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss" appears to be selling really well. Louise Allen, another writer of Regency romances for Mills & Boon, emailed me this week to alert me to the fact that on Amazon UK, my book reached the dizzying heights of 4th place (for M&B sales, that is)
8th November
And yet more blogging...
Making a guest appearance on the writing playground blogspot was great fun, and quite illuminating about the male of the species! I discovered that more women would go to ballroom dance classes, if only they could get their husbands/partners to go with them. Men seem to think it is not quite, well, manly.
I'm blogging again, this Friday, the 13th, on another blogsite, called;
romancereaderatheart.com/
And this time, I've put the invitation to win a free copy of my book in the text, so if you drop by, and leave a comment on the blog about which is your favourite fairy tale, your name will go in a prize draw.
1st November
It's all happening this month...
My seventh story for Mills & Boon comes out in paperback in the UK and Australia this month.
UK cover: please visit my books page
Australian cover: please visit my books page
I will be giving away some copies (of the UK paperback version) this month.
On Tuesday 3rd November, I will be blogging at:
www.writingplayground.blogspot.com/
As part of their "Tasteful Tuesday" theme, I will be talking about ballroom dancing.
I will also be blogging on Romance Reader at Heart on 13th November - more details of how to have a chance to win a free copy of my book, to follow!
9th October
Reaching half a century...
Yes, I had a milestone birthday over the summer. I know that this is not exactly new news, but I really wanted to share a picture of this fabulous cake my family had made for me. As the birthday coincided with the arrival of my next book, they incorporated that in the icing...probably as a form of distraction. Hard to see, but the baker did the icing so that it looked like pages of an open book, with the purple ribbon (to go with Mills & Boon colours) for a bookmark.
(picture deleted)
There's a better picture of the book cover on My Books page, but the cake is long gone. Even the slices I wrapped in cling film and put in the freezer.
8th October
Now appearing at your local supermarket...
I was in Asda yesterday, and spotted some copies of a Christmas anthology in which I have a story on the shelves! "A Regency Candlelit Christmas" was released in the USA last Christmas, as "One Candlelit Christmas", and also contains stories by Julia Justiss and Terri Brisbin.
It is also going to be available for sale in Australia.
For more details, visit My Books page.
6th October
Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible...
I can't belive it has been 5 months since I last posted any news on this page! My excuse - I moved house, and it took over two months to persuade the phone company to give us a landline. So I have been without broadband for a very long time. Still, everything is up and running now, so I plan to spend the next couple of days updating several pages of this website. I have new editions of books out in various countries, notably Australia, so will be posting pictures of the gorgeous Aussie covers, as well as news about brand new releases coming soon.
I turned in my 9th book yesterday, so I have been busy at my writing, as well as packing up 22 years of memorabilia from one house, and carting it to its new domain.
One thing I would love to understand - why is it that just when you decide you do not need that item you have hung onto for 20 years "just in case it comes in handy", and finally throw it out, do you suddenly need it one week after the binmen have carted it away?
14th May
On Monday I finally turned in revisions for my 8th book for Mills & Boon!
Waiting now with bated breath for my editor's response. I am really very excited about this book, as it is one of a series which will be coming out in 2010. It has been great fun working in collaboration with the other authors involved in this project: namely, Louise Allen, Christine Merrill, Julia Justiss, Gayle Wilson, and Margaret McPhee. I'm going to have to create a whole new page, I think, to cover the progress of this series as it comes out, as we plan to organize competitions and giveaway prizes galore!
More news: my second ever published book, "My Lady Innocent" has been translated into both Greek and Italian. The Greek cover is very like the one it had for it's UK release:
But the Italian one is totally original:
(pictures now on My Books page)
26th April
On Friday I attended the launch of Trisha Ashley's latest book, "Wedding Tiers".
A photographer from the magazine My Weekly turned up to take pictures, for a feature to coincide with a story that will be out, by Trish, in their June edition.
She is shown here, cutting a replica of the pomander cake that the heroine of her story, Josie, makes for an Elizabethan themed wedding.
Once the photographer had finished, we all went into the restaurant of the Talardy, to celebrate with a glass of bubbly, and a light lunch. Trish cut the cake after the meal, and after tasting our slice, what was not eaten straight away got divided up and taken home for our respective partners and families, along with little goody bags containing wedding favours.
When I got home, I sat down and devoured this book in just a couple of sittings. I have read Trish's earlier books, "Sowing Secrets" and "A Winter's Tale" both of which are set in the same fictional location, but this has been my favourite so far. It was a lovely, lively story, which sometimes made me smile, and sometimes had me almost in tears, I felt for the heroine so deeply.
Trish's book "A Winter's Tale" is shorlisted for the Melissa Nathan award. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she wins it.
17th March
I have finally sent in my latest manuscript, so now I can catch up on all those things I have been putting off!
First of all - to update you all on the fab morning I spent at Bank Quay station, courtesy of Virgin Rail.
As a result of Mills & Boon's campaign, the station manager has now removed the "No Kissing" signs that caused all the furore, and replaced them with "kiss me quick" notices.
I did try to speak to the taxi drivers, whose complaints about people causing queues by spending too much time bidding passengers farewell, sparked off the whole controversy. But they were all very shy, retiring types...when faced with a camera!
So I just had to take pics of the "heroes" from Mills & Boon novels who had come along. A billionaire, and a Regency Rake.
And, for some reason known only to the PR people from Virgin rail, Brad Pitt and Marilyn Monroe lookalikes!
Those of you who have read my "news" page before, will note that at last, there are TWO fast ticket machines in the entrance way, (you'll have to look closely, but there they are, just behind Brad. Yes - take a closer look at Brad...)
There is also a coffee shop and newstand. I would have taken a photo of them, but Brad wasn't standing over there. But anyway, the "improvements" going on at Bank Quay, are, slowly, improving the station.
And for one day, at least, Warrington Bank Quay station was a very romantic place to be!
12th March
Well, it seems like somebody heard my complaint about Bank Quay...I'm off tomorrow to bring some much needed romance to one of the least romantic railway stations I have ever been to...
And also raising funds for "Comic Relief".
Mills & Boon® and Virgin Trains
kiss and make up…
Following Mills & Boon’s passionate opposition to Virgin Train’s kissing ban at Warrington train station, Virgin have finally been seduced by the world’s leading publisher of romantic fiction.
This Friday, Virgin and Mills & Boon will officially kiss and make up.
In support of Comic Relief on Friday 13th March, Mills & Boon and Virgin Trains will be indulging in a day-long romantic reconciliation at mainline rail stations including Euston, Warrington Bank Quay and Glasgow.
Warrington-based Mills & Boon author Annie Burrows and Virgin Trains’ Director of Communications Arthur Leathley will be launching the initiative at Warrington Bank Quay station at 9.45am.
Kissing-friendly platform events taking place throughout the day include:
· Mills & Boon book jacket photo-opportunities
· Brad Pitt look-a-likes and Virgin staff selling kisses for Red Nose Day
· Free chocolates and ‘kissing mints’
· Love-seats designed by Mills & Boon and Virgin
· Live readings by costumed Mills & Boon ‘Romantic Heroes’
· Mills & Boon book giveaways
Mills & Boon in numbers:
In 2008, Mills & Boon celebrated 100 years of romance publishing - A Mills & Boon book is sold every 5 seconds in the UK alone - 130 million Mills & Boon books are sold worldwide every year - In the past 50 years, Mills & Boon characters have shared 10,325 weddings, 29,500 kisses and 35,250 embraces.
9th March
Is this the least romantic railway station in Britain?
(for this article, I've re-posted the pics, as you have to see WBQ to believe it!)
Warrington Bank Quay station was featured on the news recently, when passengers complained about the "no kissing" signs going up on the forecourt.
Although there is an area set aside for those people who have not already been put off by what locals call the Persil factory, pictured above, (and I am referring to the smell, which on certain days can be just like wash day. I don't mean that the air is fragrant with the scent of lavender and chamomile. No, it puts me in mind more of old fashioned wash days, when the whole house would fill up with the pungent aroma of boiling socks)
The Kissing Zone
No, you're eyes do not decieve you...would-be kissers would have to balance on the bonnet of somebody else's car in order to indulge.
The problems only started after massive "improvements" had been carried out. I noticed the difference to a travellers experience last time I attempted to go down to London. Before improvements, taxis used to have plenty of space to pull up on the forecourt and let passengers out. There was even an area where you could park, and wait in the car if you were collecting somebody from a train. Now, there is so little space for dropping off that taxi drivers get irate if people take too long over their farewells...hence the "no kissing" signs. A hint to hurry up and get out of their way!
Other "improvements" include an enlarged foyer, which houses the single "fast" ticket machine. This means that there is plenty of room to queue in the dry, when all the people who have pre-booked their seats turn up for the London train.
February 14th
Valentine's Day!
A happy Valentine's day to all my readers...
in honour of the day, I'm posting the results of a poll carried out by writers of romance, to find the "Sexiest Thing on Two Legs" 2009. Results published by permission of the Romantic Novelists Association:
Romantic Novelists vote Richard Armitage
"Sexiest Thing On Two Legs"
British actor Richard Armitage has leapt from last year's 4th place to this
year topping the ratings in the Romantic Novelists Association 2009
Valentine's poll, to take the title of Sexiest Thing on Two Legs, beating
top Hollywood stars to the number one spot.
Johnny Depp, who topped last year's poll, was pushed firmly into second
place, with Hugh Jackman and George Clooney mere also-rans. Richard
Armitage took 20% of the vote, more than double the count of any other male
on the list, said the RNA pollster. He was a clear winner from the off.
The RNA is not alone in admiration of the actor, as numerous online Richard
Armitage fan sites will testify. The ardency began with North and South,
grew by leaps and bounds with the leather-clad baddie in Robin Hood, and
shows no sign of diminishing as Spooks takes to the airwaves.
It's a coup for Britain, said one starstruck writer, not just for sexy
Richard.
According to romantic novelists, the sexiest male celebrities of 2009 are:
1 Richard Armitage
2 Johnny Depp
3 Hugh Jackman
4 George Clooney
5 Daniel Craig
6 Sean Bean
7 Alan Rickman
8 David Tennant
9 Pierce Brosnan
10 Gerard Butler
28th January
I have just had some really good news. My December release for Mills & Boon UK, "Captain Fawley's Innocent Bride", has won an award from the Cataromance reviewers!
Here is the full list of winners:
CataNetwork Reviewers’ Choice Award Winners for 2008
Avalon Romance EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE by Holly Jacobs
Harlequin American Romance TEXAS HEIR by Linda Warren
Harlequin Blaze SHAKEN AND STIRRED by Kathleen O’Reilly
Harlequin Everlasting Love THE VOW by Rebecca Winters
Harlequin Historical A KNIGHT MOST WICKED by JoAnne Rock
Harlequin Intrigue SHEIK PROTECTOR by Dana Marton
Harlequin Presents THE SHEIKH’S CONVENIENT VIRGIN by Trish Morey
Harlequin Romance FALLING FOR Mr. Dark and Dangerous by Donna Alward
Harlequin Romance LAST MINUTE PROPOSAL by Jessica Hart
Harlequin Romance THE SINGLE DAD’S PATCHWORK FAMILY by Claire Baxter
Harlequin Superromance A SOLDIER COMES HOME by Cindi Myers
Harlequin Special Releases FULL EXPOSURE by Diana Duncan
Heartsong Presents PROMISES, PROMISES by Amber Miller
M&B Historical CAPTAIN FAWLEY’S INNOCENT BRIDE by Annie Burrows
M&B Medical DOCTORY ROMANO’S CHRISTMAS BABY by Amy Andrews
M&B Medical A BABY FOR EVE by Maggie Kingsley
M&B Modern Heat PLEASURE, PREGNANCY AND A PROPOSITION by Heidi Rice
M&B Modern Heat BUSINESS IN THE BEDROON by Anne Oliver
M&B Modern Heat THE MAGNATE’S INDECENT PROPOSAL by Ally Blake
M&B Modern Romance Extra MISTRESS: HIRED FOR THE BILLIONAIRE’S PLEASURE by India Grey
Silhouette Desire MISTAKEN MISTRESS by Tessa Radley
Silhouette Nocturne VIELED TRUTH by Vivi Anna
Silhouette Nocturnal Bites MORTAL ENEMY, IMMORTAL LOVER by Olivia Gates
Silhouette Romantic Suspense THE HEART OF A RENEGADE by Loreth Anne White
Silhouette Special Edition THE DADDY DILEMMA by Karen Rose Smith
Silhouette Special Release BRETHLESS Sharron McClellan
Steeple Hill Love Inspired COUNTDOWN TO DEATH by Debby Giusti
Congratulations to all the other winners! Raising a glass of champagne to you!
Happy New year!
Ok, I know I'm a bit late wishing you a Happy New Year. In fact, I can't believe this is the first time I've updated my website this year. (I'm not going to admit that its already the 18th!)
But I have actually had some news this week. My seventh book, which I told you last time, now has a title. It is called "Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss" and will be published in the UK in November.