Oh my goodness!!! Bought: Damsel in Distress won the Joan Hessayon award!!! I can hardly believe it. I was sitting on the sofa yesterday evening channelling my inner calm (oh, alright, nibbling at my nails and wondering what was going on in London), when I got a lovely phone call while the party was in full swing, from none other than the RNA chair, the awesome Katie Fforde.
All a bit of a blur (the announcement on the RNA website makes far more sense than I suspect I did), but the cheering down the other end of the phone was wonderful. Am totally thrilled and honoured and delighted!
14 May 2010
13 May 2010
US cover
In honour of the fabulous cover for the US version of Propositioned by the Billionaire - which comes out in the UK in July and as a Presents Extra in September - I've stuck a sneak peak up on my website.
06 May 2010
Joan Hessayon Award 2010
Bought: Damsel in Distress is up for the RNA's Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award!!
Here's what the website says... "The New Writers’ Scheme aims to encourage fresh talent in the writing of broadly romantic novels that reflect all aspects of love and life, contemporary or historical ... The award is generously sponsored by Dr David Hessayon, in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member of the RNA and a great supporter of the New Writers’ Scheme."
I've been a member of the RNA since 2006 and submitted two full and one partial to the NWS. I can't recommend it highly enough. The depth and scope of the feedback is awesome, and absolutely priceless.
The other two (fabulous) shortlisted books are:
Pursued by Love by Georgia Hill (E-Scape)
Divorce Etiquette by Monique deVere (Wild Rose Press)
The winner will be announced at the Summer Party in London next Thursday. Agh. My nails are rapidly disappearing. Wish me luck!!
05 May 2010
Sevillanas and rebujitos
The bump and I are bunking off revisions this afternoon and heading to Feria - a week-long festival where everyone dances sevillanas and drinks rebujitos (a potent mix of sherry and 7-up) from lunchtime til dawn.
Obviously I'll be steering clear of the rebujitos, and as I was recently told that sticking both hands in the air at the same time induces labour, I think I'd better refrain from the dancing too...
Obviously I'll be steering clear of the rebujitos, and as I was recently told that sticking both hands in the air at the same time induces labour, I think I'd better refrain from the dancing too...
26 April 2010
Revisions
I've taken a break from unpacking boxes to immerse myself in the revisions which arrived in my inbox on Friday. As suspected, they're numerous and mainly focus on that tricky little sucker: strong emotional conflict.
At the moment there isn't much development of the stuff, and I haven't made the most of the themes that I've introduced. I'm relying too much on external pressures, and my characters are bickering when they should be getting to know each other. Annoyingly enough, some of the scenes I altered as being too coincidental might turn out not to have been, and my original beginning probably is the right place to start. If I'd gone with my gut instinct instead of overthinking things and endlessly fiddling around, I suspect I could have saved myself a whole lot of trouble.
I think/hope that some of this can be solved by restructuring. The rest needs to be rewritten. Ugh. Still, daunting though the amount of work I have to do is, it's kind of exciting as I know the story will be much better for it. Let's just hope the baby (due in ten days) stays where it is for a while!
At the moment there isn't much development of the stuff, and I haven't made the most of the themes that I've introduced. I'm relying too much on external pressures, and my characters are bickering when they should be getting to know each other. Annoyingly enough, some of the scenes I altered as being too coincidental might turn out not to have been, and my original beginning probably is the right place to start. If I'd gone with my gut instinct instead of overthinking things and endlessly fiddling around, I suspect I could have saved myself a whole lot of trouble.
I think/hope that some of this can be solved by restructuring. The rest needs to be rewritten. Ugh. Still, daunting though the amount of work I have to do is, it's kind of exciting as I know the story will be much better for it. Let's just hope the baby (due in ten days) stays where it is for a while!
09 April 2010
Moving
The young hot royal went in on Tuesday, woohoo!! I suspect Matt and Laura's story will soon be winging its way back with reams of revisions, but at least it's in. To celebrate, I played hookey and spent Wednesday at the beach, coming home with what I like to call a healthy glow, but what others might call a touch of sunburn.
Now, ideas for the next book are hammering away - I'm thinking a world famous jewellry collection, a gemmologist, an ice-cool aristocrat and a batty old aunt with an online poker habit - but first I have to move house. Ugh.
Hope you all have a more glam weekend ahead!
Now, ideas for the next book are hammering away - I'm thinking a world famous jewellry collection, a gemmologist, an ice-cool aristocrat and a batty old aunt with an online poker habit - but first I have to move house. Ugh.
Hope you all have a more glam weekend ahead!
02 April 2010
Happy Easter
It's Semana Santa in my part of the world, which means pointy hats and pasos once again.
Of course I can't go and watch any of it as I'm head down at my desk tackling my young hot royal, so to speak, who now doesn't have to be in until Wednesday.
Happy Easter!
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