The awards lunch had a red carpet leading to it. Really. How cool is that? And inside the door were copies of all the books up for the Romance Prize and the Romantic Novel of the Year, surrounded by flowers and balloons. However I didn’t have any time to dwell on that fact with pleasure because I instantly saw all sorts of people I was happy to see. I saw my agent, looking impeccable as always, and then although Anna and I tried to make a beeline for the ladies’ room so we could renew our lipstick after talking and laughing with Ian, we were waylaid by friends to talk and laugh and take photos, and then of course in the ladies’ we saw more friends, and then as soon as I drew breath enough to go to the Mills & Boon table to graciously accept a glass of champagne, I was whisked off by the RNA press officer to have my photo taken with the other Romance Prize finalists and our editors.
Top row: Fiona Harper, Lucy Gordon, ed Jo Carr, ed Maddie Rowe..
Middle row: ed Kim Young, Liz Fielding, ed Bryony Green, me.
Front row: ed Sheila Hodgson, Kate Hardy.
This was a genuine pleasure. Although I was meeting Lucy Gordon properly for the first time, Fiona, Liz, and Kate are all friends of mine and it was a celebration to stand together and smile. It was also wonderful to stand next to my editor for Driving Him Wild, Maddie Rowe. She has since moved on within the company but I absolutely loved working with her.
I managed to down my champagne between shots and then, afterwards, made my way to the Headline table where I was instantly given another (I have found that having two publishers generally gets you twice as much champagne), but then it was time to go in for lunch. The room was decorated with balloons and books (a stack of the shortlisted titles on each table), and as a finalist, there was a red rose at my place from the chairman of the RNA. Excellent. Even though I wasn’t allowed any more champagne in case I had to make a speech.
Lunch was lovely, I think. I can’t really recall tasting much of it. There was roast guinea fowl and something called “cabbage confit” which puzzled me, as it was actually steamed cabbage in a perfectly symmetrical cabbage parcel. But never mind; it was nice. I believe. I like cabbage, so I imagine I liked it. Or rather I imagine that if it were given to me at a time when my entire being wasn’t concentrating on the question of whether I’d win a major award, I would like it.
Anyway. Then they announced the Romance Prize. Well, actually I think there were some other things that went on, like dessert and speeches, but all of that was a bit of a blur, up until the moment where the judge came on stage to announce the prize, and then it all became a serious blur.
I recall our book covers appearing on the big TV screens beside her, and her reading out a description of each novel. I can’t actually tell you what she said about any of them. I remember thinking, “I need to remember this” as she described my novel, but…well, I don’t remember. I think she said it was “quirky”. I hope she did, as I can live with “quirky”.
Then she announced the winner and it was Kate Hardy! And Kate went up to the podium to accept her award and I do remember that bit, very clearly, because I had tears in my eyes for her, because she deserved it so very much. It was a lovely moment.
Kate Hardy and me
And then…I was allowed to drink! Hooray!!
Great pictures! And congrats on being a finalist.
I had to reread the beginning……were you drinking shots inbetween the champers???? Only kidding
It’s tough to come back to the real world after all the fun………
So what was the glass total in the end?! Glad you had a great time and the dress looks lovely