Archive for the ‘friends’ Category
February 6, 2010 | Honey Trap, free book, friends, hero worship
Nicola Marsh is having a hot hero countdown to Valentine’s Day on her blog this month. Every day a different author posts a picture of a hot man who inspired a hero in one of her books. There are giveaways and lots of phoaaaaar.
Today I’m up, with a lovely pic of the lovely Maine man who inspired the hero of my book Honey Trap. And I’m giving away a copy, too.
Go visit, today and every day till Valentine’s Day, to check out the totty! And also to congratulate Nic on becoming a USA Today Bestseller!
July 3, 2009 | RNA, friends
On Wednesday I celebrated the publication of my friend Nina Harrington’s first Mills & Boon Romance, Always The Bridesmaid. We convened in a suitably bookish place and Nina looked very glamorous in her fascinator, surrounded by balloons and brand-new sparkling copies of her book:
We drank fizz, ate cakes, and generally had a brilliant time. Congratulations, Nina!
In other news, the Romantic Novelists’ Association has started up its own blog, with details of the latest books, and glimpses into favourite authors’ lives. A great resource for any reader or writer.
May 31, 2009 | friends
Phillipa has had some amazing MOVIE NEWS on her blog…go see!
March 16, 2009 | about me, friends
Well, Saturday was awesome. I was so very excited to have a day off being Mum and to connect with other writers. The panel at the RNA meeting was very inspiring. Bestselling author Carole Matthews, Alexander Martin from Midas PR, and my own editor Catherine Cobain talked about publicity, and I now have a to-do list as long as my arm. Well, longer. Here, in no particular order, are some of the little tidbits that I learned about what to do to be a publicist’s dream:
As is usual at an RNA meeting, I met some fab and exciting people of like minds, old friends and new. I was very surprised and pleased when two very glamorous chicks came up to introduce themselves and turned out to be Elizabeth Mahon and Hope Tarr, over from New York. I seized on them immediately, as the book I’m writing is partially set in New York and I really need some help from a native. Of course Biddy (and other Usual Suspects Vicky and Gemma) and I dragged them out to the pub and thence to a wine-sodden meal at our favourite Italian restaurant. I do believe at the end of the evening that I drunkenly told the proprietor that I had set a scene in my next book, Girl from Mars, in his restaurant. His smile was both bemused and indulgent, bless him.
In the end it was so late that I ended up staying in Biddy’s, sharing a bed with her and her sister (shut up, you have a dirty mind) and spending a lovely morning discussing plots with Biddy. I came back refreshed in mind and hungover in body, and spent the whole afternoon in the garden with my son.
Today it’s back to writing. I’d like to keep up an average of at least 1000 words a day this week, too. And if I’m very very lucky tonight, I might get to go see Watchmen.
March 14, 2009 | RNA, about me, friends
Because I wrote 10,000 words this week (!!!!I rule!!!!) I’m rewarding myself by having today off, while the husband looks after the Fecklet. Providentially, it’s also the day of a Romantic Novelists’ Association meeting in London, so I am going to spend the day being A Lady Novelist with lots of my Lady Novelist mates. I’m meeting my friend Claire at the station to travel to London. It’s her first time at the New Cavendish Club and I know she will love it, being in a room with so many like-minded people. It’s such a pleasure to look forward to introducing your friends to your other friends.
The topic for this afternoon is “Getting the Most Out of Your Publicist” and I will be storing up information like crazy.
And Biddy reminded me that she and I met at a spring RNA meeting at the New Cav, six years ago! It’s hard to believe it was that long ago, and that short a time ago, too. Since then we’ve spoken to each other in some way nearly every day. She reads all my books before I send them to my editor and she is thanked at the beginning of every one. And all of that started by her getting me horrendously, droolingly drunk on white wine, six years ago!
Joining the RNA was really one of the best things I have ever done. I’m feeling all misty-eyed about it.
I might have a glass or two of white wine with Biddy this afternoon to celebrate. In fact, I predict that by 6 pm I will be hugging everyone in sight, saying, “I love you, man.”
March 4, 2009 | contests, friends
Feeling in need of some good animal anecdotes to keep you chipper on a Wednesday? Fancy hearing about a pottymouthed parrot? Or gay donkeys?
Nip over to Nell Dixon’s blog, where she’s having a party to celebrate the release of her Little Black Dress book, Animal Instincts.
You can win a signed copy, too, if you leave an animal story before she picks a winner on Thursday.
February 21, 2009 | One Night Stand, about me, courses, free book, friends
What a nice day. It’s sunny, for one thing. It was sunny yesterday, too, and Fecklet and I visited the crocuses in the park (I said hello, but Fecklet had to touch every one). It feels like it hasn’t been sunny in ages, but maybe that’s because I’ve been holed up in here with my 56+ cups of tea, revising.
For another, I’m spending this afternoon at Datchet library, talking about writing sex scenes. I’ve done this workshop quite a bit, all over the UK and in the USA too, and once (frighteningly) on television. But I haven’t done it for about a year now, so last night I went through and rejigged everything to update it a bit, and include some more words to describe penises. It should be lots of fun. (I’m doing this particular sex scene seminar in memory of Dee’s sister, Daphnee.)
I’ve had lots of little snippets of good news. Like a box full of my German book, Der Glücksunfall (One Night Stand). It’s lovely and pink, a nice chunky mass-market paperback, and as always it’s fun to speculate about the translation, but I’ve got six of them and I can’t actually read them. If you read German and would like a copy, send me an email.
I won a copy of After the Fall at Cat Marsters/Kate Johnson’s blog for relating my humiliating Valentine’s Day story. Nice one.
Rachael Johns has given me a “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade” Award. I guess this means I’m optimistic or something. Anyway, I never turn down lemonade and its sweet-tart goodness, and apparently I have to give it to ten other people too. Hence, some people who habitually make things sweeter:
Rach 
Candace
Janet Gover
Kris Starr
Biddy Coady
Jan Jones
Anna Louise Lucia
Anna Adams
Mary Beth Lee
Donna Alward (Who, you know, I named a foul-mouthed male character after in Girl from Mars. Just so you know, Donna.)
You don’t have to pass it on if you don’t want to, but you can.
Now I’m off to talk about sex.
January 30, 2009 | friends, the web
My friend Suzanne McMinn’s blog, Chickens in the Road, is a nominee in the 2009 Bloggie Awards. This is the Oscars of the blogging world.
Suzanne’s the only romance author to ever final in the Bloggies. Her blog is a warm, wonderful account of living on a farm. It’s also totally addictive. It’s in the “Best-Kept Secret” category.
If you get a chance, check out her blog. And, if you like, visit the Bloggies site and cast your vote for the best blogs around. You might see several of your favourites there. (On my browser, at least, it works by scrolling sideways rather than up and down.)
September 2, 2008 | friends
Fellow RNA member and Reading romance writer Ray-Anne got the call this morning telling her she’s sold her book to Harlequin/Mills & Boon romance! Go congratulate her!!
April 10, 2008 | friends
Go wish Anna a happy birthday!
August 28, 2007 | friends, the web
We’ve recovered, and the Fecklet seems to have escaped the bug, though we’re still keeping our fingers crossed.
Three quick pimpage things, and then after I’ve got some words down on my wip, I’ll post about the Reading Festival:
My friend Christyne Butler has her first book, Reilly’s Promise out today: her website
Anna Louise Lucia has the cover of her first book with Medallion Press on her blog: www.annalouiselucia.com
And click here to donate mammograms: www.thebreastcancersite.com
In the past two weeks I’ve received copies of my books in Japanese, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish. I know there are some Portugese and German ones out there, too, which I haven’t received yet.
July 9, 2007 | friends
Go see Anna.
