January Sales and other shopping

If you live in America, did you miss getting your hands on a copy of  The Good Greek Wife? 

If you did then here's your chance  to grab a copy in the eHarlequin January sale  - at 40%  off! I just noticed that over on the eHarlequin web site The Good Greek Wife - and  lots of other books are currently on offer at the great sale price of $2.85   - if I lived in America I'd be tempted myself!

The return of the proud Greek husband...



He was declared missing at sea – but now notorious Zarek Michaelis is back and ready to take control! First he’ll see to his business, and then to his wayward wife...


For two years Penny has struggled to come to terms with Zarek’s disappearance. But enough is enough. It’s time to move on… Her proud Greek husband is still as darkly handsome as ever, and the attraction between them is just as potent. But Penny can’t trust Zarek’s motives – does he just want her body and the fortune he left behind…or to try again?


This is the book that's sold out in the UK over on the M&B site - but I think there are still some copies around on Amazon or the Book Depository  (it's on sale there too - not 40% but still a reduced price)

And talking of shopping - I was out in the January sales at the weekend where I bought - or so I thought - a cuddly soft toy  that you can warm in the microwave to keep you cosy at night for the small daughter of a friend who is having a brithday today (Happy Birthday Kelsey!) .  I also bought 2 pairs of leggings.
When I reached home and checked the receipts it turns out that what I actually bought was  a 'lying hottie' and some 'casual bottoms'.

Which just gave me the perfect example for the point I was trying to make in an interview - that one of the things I have most needed to make sure of during my 25 years of writing  - is that my writing/my language stays contemporary and  doesn't date and age me and my  books.

So as I get back to work  on what I think my be my 60th title (need to check on that!)  that's something I need to keep in mind.   Can't help thinkikng though that theres a story in that 'lying hottie'!

Thank  you all for your comments about possible writing  posts - I will hope to get to them as soon as I can. But for now -
Jane -  you asked for notes on Conflict. Where were you last year when  I did a whole series on it?  Put Conflict into  the search  box on this blog and you should get  loads of  posts that might help.  Around July/August last year.

The Presents Writing Competition - some good news

As well as the major winners of the Presents Writing Contest announced a few days ago (the winning chapters are up on the I Heart Presents site now if you’re interested) there were a lot of writers who entered the contest and submitted a first chapter who, obviously, didn’t win the main prize(s). So the next flurry of interest was created when the letters from the editors with their responses were sent out. For some this meant the disappointment of a form rejection but others who – very sensibly in my opinion – had decided that they would be happy to receive any feedback and comments have received more detailed responses over the last week or so. And in the past few days I’ve been delighted to hear from several of them.

Over on the Romance Bandits blog at the beginning of the month, I wrote a post about my 25 years celebrations - and I also commented on some of the reasons why I like to work with aspiring writers – why I feel this is important. In case you missed it, here’s a quote from what I said:


Some months ago I went to a concert by a favourite singer, Michael Ball. He has had huge success as a recording artist, on stage in musicals, and had won many awards. I’ve seen him on stage many times. This time he had a slightly different show because it included performances by several new young singers who had appeared with him in productions of Hairspray etc. Giving these young - and hugely talented singers – a break by letting them appear on stage with him did nothing to reduce the singing power and presence of the star . Instead their new voices added a different depth and richness to songs I had heard many times before, allowing for different and original arrangements, extending the range and scope of the music.

That’s what I hope for when new authors are signed with Harlequin – in the Presents line I write for, or for any line at all. In fact any genre at all., Every line, every genre, needs new blood to stay alive, stay fresh. Any form of fiction needs to grow and develop, to change and adapt to new years, new trends, new types of societies so that it will always be relevant and never ever become a stuffy old dinosaur that no one wants to read.

And that’s why I love helping what the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association calls ‘New Writers’ those who aren’t yet published but with a little help and adv ice and encouragement might yet be the new Lynne Graham, the new Jennifer Cruisie, or even the new Nora Roberts. That’s why I run the courses etc and that’s why I wrote the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance. This book has already sold out one edition completely and the second, much expanded and updated edition was brought out in an American edition for the first time this year. Since it was published, I’ve heard from at least seven brand new novelists who have been helped on their way to publication by reading this book – and believe me that’s one of the best presents I’ve ever had. Almost – though not quite as good as that very first published book that I held in my hand this time 25 years ago.

I was reminded of this this week when 3 writers contacted me to let me know that as a result of their entry to the contest, the editors had asked to see more of their work. Either a further few chapters of the book they had submitted or the first three chapters of their next submission. They have also received comments on their submission and advice on how to improve it. And the reason why I was so pleased to hear this news was that all 3 writers have been in touch with me before for advice - either by email, at one of my workshops or at a one-to-one at a Writers Roadshow I’ve been part of. Or, in the case of one writer who lives in New Zealand, through my 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance and studying my own novels - particularly The Alcolar Family. So I feel I’ve had a small part in helping them reach this next step in their writing careers and I hope it develops into something better in the coming new year.

And then when I wrote to congratulate Joanne Pibworth on her place as runner-up in the Modern Heat section of the contest, she too delighted me by responding: I have to tell you that I read your book cover to cover, and it has been and will continue to be invaluable to me

So Joanne 1, Joanne 2, Rachel and Fatima - Congratulations on getting this far. I hope it’s just the launchpad to bigger and better things. And it’s an extra special sort of Christmas present for me to know that my 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance has helped you get this stage at least. After all, that’s what I wrote it for!

Presents competition chat 2

If you missed the live chat with editor Joanne Grant yesterday on eHarlequin.com then you can find the transcript of the whole event here on the site today

It makes interesting reading

Presents Competition Chat

Remember that today, Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 11am EDT / 4pm GMT / 8am PDT is eHarlequin's live editor chat with Harlequin Presents editor Joanne Grant about the Harlequin Presents Writing Competition.

Joanne will be taking questions and telling you everything she's looking for in the line. You could join the ranks of previous winners Lynn Raye Harris whose debut novel, SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE, is coming out in 2009 from Harlequin Presents and Lucy King who sold her novel Damsel in Distress to Modern Heat.

This will be a live event held in the eHarlequin.com Community chat room — click here to get there when the time comes!

Bring your questions (just remember it’s a protocol chat — you alert the moderator that you have a question and she will tell you when it’s our turn to ask) or just follow along! Jayne from eHarlequin will be live-blogging on Harlequin Twitter using the hash tag #presentschat as well and will post the transcript sometime on our Community pages afterwards.