And the answer is . . .

So yesterday I had avery quick (blink and you'll miss it) interview with Radio Kent - and that question came up again.

No, not the 'formula' one. Or even the 'How many of those do you churn out . . .' one. No this was the even more basic, even more frequently repeated one:

'Why do you think these books are so popular.'

So I gave the interviewer some answers - like the fact that they are about relationships and we are all fascinated by relationships. That they are about couples/people . . .ditto. They are 'comfort reads' where you know that you are going to get a happy ending and not be left disappointed. They deal in universal themes, appeal to international audiences. They are women's reads, easy to pick up and get into when you're tired, pressed for time . . .

But then I checked out some newspapers on-line and there was another major reason. Yet another celebrity - a TV star this time - admitting to having cheated on his wife, the mother of his children. He wanted to be open and honest, he said. He had been irresponsible.


Irresponsible? He'd been unfaithful. And apparently he was only admitting it now because his mistress had threatened to reveal all. (And there's 'mistress' used in the 'bit on the side' meaning, not the 'just his lover/not married partner ' romance type of meaning.)

And there's another reason why romances are popular. Readers want to know that it is possible to work through problems, weather the inevitable storms, dig deep into what brought you together in the first place and overcome the temptations/boredom/fights that inevitable come up along the way. They want to know that liars and cheaters are not heroes - not for me anyway. They want to feel that love and faithfulness can last and not be destroyed because a younger model/ glamorous other woman - any other woman is available. Tiger Woods, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Mark Owen . . . the list grows every day. And to be honest, I'm tired of reading about them. I'd much rather read stories like this one about childhood sweethearts who eloped to get married as teens become Britain's youngest golden anniversary couple.

Or read romances that show couples working through things and finding the real value in a relationship. It always makes me smile - wryly - when romance writers are given a bad press for giving readers an unrealistic image of love and marriage. Hmm . . . That probably comes from someone who hasn't read one but who 'knows' the books are just full of roses/chocolates/and women being swept off their feet by billionaires.

My books are about couples doing the working things through thing.

That's one of the reasons why I write them. And why I read them.

What about you? Why do you read romance? Why do you think they are so popular? I still have some prize books to give away in the birthday celebrations week. So I'd love to hear from you.

Oh - and talking of interviews - today the Babe Magnet and I had another(much longer) interview with Judy Theobald from Radio Lincolnshire - and we ended up talking about, and looking back on some of the major rows we'd had in 37 + years we've been together. So yes, I do believe it can happen. You can hear the interview on Sunday at 1.00 pm if you're interested. We also talked about writing and books and other things.

Today I'm talking about . . .

Some days I can sit here at my desk and it's just me and the keyboard. Perhaps a cat or two. Then at other times the world comes knocking, usually in the form or request for interview etc and this usually happens when Harlequin Mills & Boon are in the news for some reason or other and then people want to find out more.

So today I've already agreed to two interviews. One with Radio Kent and one with Radio Lincolnshire.

The Kent one is today at about 1.50 - I'm assuming that's on the Pat Marsh show seeing as it was their producer who contacted me. The reason for the interest this time is the story that historic Ham House is celebrating its 400th anniversary and as part of the celebrations, the house will feature in a M&B Historical novel Scandalous Innocent by Juliet Landon. If you have time to listen on the site, the interview is timed for 1.50 pm. Or it should be available on the listen again facility.

The second interview for Radio Lincolnshire is for the Judy Theobald show. Her Sunday show is focusing on the written world as a prelude to the Lincoln Book Festival which launches on May 12th. Judy will be interviewing the 'husband and wife team' - Kate Walker and the Babe Magnet in his role as Stephen Wade author of history, true crime and the 'grim and gruesome.' This will probably be broadcast on Sunday May 9th at around 1pm.

And now for some birthday winners - on Sunday Sid picked Mary from the comments. Monday's winner is Amanda Holly - so will Mary and Amanda please email me with yur postal address and I'll organise that prize for you.

Feline flirtations

Flora has a suitor - an ardent suitor.

But she's just not keen ( I'd say he doesn't suit 'er but perhaps not . . .)

So far she has totally repulsed his advances with hisses, spitting and scratching. Oh, and the most horrendous wails from Dylan as he comes to the defence of his sister's honour - a real alpha hero cat!

Of course nothing can come of it as Flora has been 'done' over a year ago. But I keep looking at this beautiful long-haired, golden-ginger male with big green eyes and a white tip to his tail and I can't help thinking what gorgeous kittens they'd make!

It's almost 11am - time to tune in to the Babe Magnet being a radio star on Radio Lincolnshire talking about his latest book Tracing Your Criminal Ancestors.

Red Nose Day

It's Red Nose Day.

Here in the UK that doesn't need any explanation bit in case anyone doesn't know what it's all about, it's when everyone has permission to be totally silly, do daft things in the hope of raising lots of money for Comic Relief and the charities they support.

Last time this happened - in 2007 - I joined in on this blog by asking people to post their favourite jokes in the Comments section and for everyone who posted a joke I would donate £1 to the Comic Relief fund. So come on - make me laugh - it's all in a great cause! And there will be a small prize for the one that Sid likes best.

And in the spirit of Red Nose day, to mark the end of the No Kissing ban in Warrington, Mills and Boon will be kissing and making up with Virgin Rail - here are the details:

After Virgin invited us to 'kiss and make up', Mills & Boon are going to pop up to Warrington station tomorrow.We're bringing a couple of M&B heroes and local Warrington author Annie Burrows. In tow, we'll also have M&B books to give out and cut out book covers for passerbys to have their photo taken with.There will also be book giveaways at Euston and Glasgow so if you're in the area drop in.

Meanwhile I will be chatting to Judy Theobald over on Radio Lincolnshire at 11.10.

PS You can listen to the interview on the listen again facility here

(about halfway through) though I felt a bit daft talking about my book Cordero's Forced Bride being 'just out' when I'd been into WH Smith in Lincoln and there were none left on the shelves! Nice for me but not so good for anyone who wanted to buy it.

Kiss goodbye to the Kissing Ban

This happened while I was in Wales, but I know other M&B novelists covered it.

Remember this? Back in February, Warrington Bank Quay station put a ban on couples kissing on the platform as they said goodbye:





No Kissing sign has been unveiled at a railway station in a bid to cut delays.
The sign was placed by rail bosses at the passenger drop-off point at Warrington Bank Quay station in Warrington, Cheshire.
Virgin Rail, which runs the station, said if passengers want to share an embrace before they part company, their loved ones should pay to park their cars nearby.
A Virgin spokesman said: "We have not banned kissing in the station.
"But we have put the sign up at the drop off point because it is not a very big area and it often gets busy with lots of traffic.
"The sign is a light-hearted way of getting people to move on quickly."
He added: "If people wish to spend a little more time with their loved ones before they leave, then they should park in the short-stay car park nearby."
The no kissing zone was created at Bank Quay's drop off point ten years ago following a suggestion by the local Chamber of Commerce.
The sign was created and installed as part of a "1 million refurbishment of the station which is currently under way.








Well, romantics like Mills & Boon weren't going to stand for that.

Using Facebook to start from, they launched a Kiss Goodbye To No Kissing Campaign and many authors, and other supporters signed up for it.




'It's our right to kiss where we like' they declared -
Mills & Boon have come out in protest against Virgin's ban on public displays of affection in UK train stations.“Romantic embraces and passionate kisses are a vital part of life and should never be discouraged. We don't believe that you should restrict passion to certain times or areas. Lovers should be free to express their feelings whenever the mood takes them,” says Mills & Boon Publishing Director Sarah Ritherdon. If you're as annoyed by the breach of our fundamental right to kiss in public, please download the posters, join the twitter activists (follow Sayyestokissing) and upload photos of you kissing at stations here.Join our fight and kiss goodbye to no kissing.



And yesterday those of us who signed up to the campaign heard that the course of romance and public displays of affection started to run smoothly again when after meetings and a discussion of views, Virgin have removed the kissing zone at Warrington BQ. Couple are free to kiss where they like and romance is once more restored.



The next piece of news is that Virgin told us they'll be running some romantic activity at Warrington station on Friday to celebrate Comic Relief and have asked if Mills & Boon would like to be involved. They're thinking of doing some sort of kiss and make up.




So if you're anywhere close to Warringto station for Red Nose Day, you might want to find out what's happening. I'd love to be there but at the moment I'm booked for another radio interview - this time on Radio Lincolnshire (94.9 ) with Judy Theobald. That's at 11. 10 am.

But I'll hope to hear more about the end to the kissing ban - and the kiss and make up as it happens.