HERE GO THE GROOMS

Ciao

Domenico here again. Kate asked me to write the blog for her – see Max – she asked.

Yesterday Max (that’s Max Valentine over one Liz Fielding’s blog) came over all domineering and autocratic – ‘This blog is Mine!’ Anyone would think he was the Presents hero around here! Not to mention Theo’s demanding - "I want Martha. Here. Now" over on Anne's. But then I guess he has some cause to be demanding He's got a very pregnant not-quite-wife. He certainly doesn't want her flitting off to Ireland with her bride buddies!

Nor does Max want his fidanzata disappearing just when he thought they were heading for that Happy Ever After they were promised. But bullying the authors won’t work – without them there’d be no Happy Ever After and I’m not about to take risks with that. So a little Italian charm was all it took. The lady Kate was happy to let me chat with you a while. It seems she’s busy with some new Spanish guy anyway so she doesn’t mind if I talk with you and tell you what the Grooms have come up with. A Spaniard, huh? So what’s wrong with another Italian I asked, but she says she has two more Italians after me – Sicilians – and she’d like a change! Italian’s make the best heroes, I pointed out – just ask Alicia. But Kate says she’s getting to know a Spaniard so I can have the blog and talk to you about the plan that the other guys - the other Grooms - and I have come up with.

I told you we’d come up with a contest that would make their little effort look insignificant – and we have. We had a great night last night sitting round the table at Max’s restaurant in Chelsea – great food – great wine – and when we got Theo off the topic of his sailing exploits we all got along like a house on fire. (You English have some truly strange expressions of speech).

So – to the contest. Seems to us that the Brides have underestimated you readers and your abilities. All they asked are three small questions and for that, as a prize, they offered three chances of winning three books. Well, anything the signorinas can do, the signori can do better. The Brides may have got their - our - authors to offer you our books, the one s we all appear in, but we’ve persuaded them – I told you all it would take was a little sweet-talking Max – to offer three books each. To make this contest even bigger and better than the one the Brides came up with, of course we had to ask a little nmore of you. But Kate, Anne and Liz all claim that you can handle the challenge – their readers are smart, they say – they can track down the answers, non problema – so here’s what we’ve come up with.

So, here's the deal -- our GROOM'S CONTEST has much the same rules as the brides' contest.

You get three chances to win -- one on each of the blogs: mine (well, Kate’s), Max's (Liz's), and Theo’s (Anne’s)

You have to answer the following nine questions - three on each blog. That’s just one for each book you can win, Some of them have two parts, so make sure you’ve got all the answers before you send them in. For nine books you didn’t expect a walk in the park. (another strange English phrase) The answers can all be found on the blogs– or by using the sidebar links..
What do you get if you're a winner?

Well, from Anne each winner gets:

A three-in-one book containing three complete novels: The Cowboy's Code, containing Cowboys Don't Quit, Cowboys Don't Stay and The Cowboy and the Kid (Romantic Times's Best Series Novel of the Year) PLUS a copy of Theo Savakis's book by the author whose name you have to figure out.

From Kate each winner gets:
Her best-selling Alcolar Family trilogy: The Twelve-Month Mistress, The Spaniard's Inconvenient Wife and Bound by Blackmail. (Spaniards again – see? But she tells me she has two really great Sicilian guys coming up later this year)

And From Liz each winner gets:
Copies of her terrific book all about GROOMS: The Corporate Bridegroom, A Suitable Groom and Her Wish-List Bridegroom

So now I’m sure you’re longing to know how you can win these great prizes – well, like I said, all you have to do is answer these nine questions - we’ve each set three of them and you can find the answers on our author’s blog.

THEO’S QUESTIONS

1) Which book, also being published in February has a hero called Theo Savakis (who is NOT ME because he is going to marry Miranda Weston and I am going to marry MARTHA!) and who is the author of that book?

2) My (Theo's) sister was the heroine of an earlier McAllister book. What's the name of the book -- and the full name of my sister?

3) McAllister says there is "another hero" in The Santorini Bride (which isn't true, by the way). What breed of dog is Ted?


DOMENICO’S QUESTIONS:

1 Where did Kate celebrate a book launch party this month and which famous novelist did she meet there?

2. What award did Kate's February release - The Italian's Forced Bride win? (see – I told you Italians are the best heroes – we win awards)

3. If the winner of The Brides Contest has already read The Italian's Forced Bride, Kate will give away a copy of her March M&B Modern release which also had Bride in the title. What is the name of this book – and what is the name of its hero? (If you need as clue he’s one of those sexy Sicilian guys . .)


MAX’S QUESTIONS:


1) St Valentine’s Day is a worldwide phenomenon, but Liz (my author) lives in Wales and they have their own special day for lovers in January. What’s the date? And what is the name of the saint involved?

2) The Valentine Bride (the book that Louise and I share), is the last one in a mini series. What was the series called? Name another author who wrote a book in that series.

3) Liz wrote a special online story The Cinderella Valentine to set up this series. What are the full names of the two characters who met and fell in love in my Chelsea restaurant?

When you’ve got all the answers, send a copy of all of them to each of our authors. You can contact them through their websites (there’s a sidebar link on the blog) or, in the case of Anne you can just click on the "Contact Anne" tab and then send the email from there. Don’t forget to put GROOMS CONTEST in the subject.


The contest starts now and ends February 10th, 2007 so we can send off prizes before the weddings (and so Anne and Kate can go to Ireland "to research") And believe me, once February arrives and I get my hands on Alicia again, I don’t intend to be disturbed for a long long time . . . Not for nothing is that time after the wedding called a luna de miele.

So, that’s it – You have three chances to win a pile of great books. Okay, so you might not get my story – or Max’s or Theo’s. In fact Kate is getting involved with Spaniards all over again – but Liz, Kate and Anne are all award winning authors. , so you know every book will be worth reading.

And if there are more entries for the Groom’s contest than there are for the Brides, then I’m sure I can persuade la bella Kate to add a little something to those prizes when she sends them out . . .

Just remember, the Grooms give you three times the pleasure

Here Come the Grooms . . .

Ciao

My name is Domenico Parrisi. Alicia calls me Dom – but she’s the only person I let do that – got that Max and Theo? The name’s Domenico and I’d prefer it if you use the full version.

Kate knows better than to call me Dom. But then Kate knows more about me than most. Which is why I was surprised that she’d managed to keep a secret about Alicia from me until now.

Alicia? Oh scusi, I should have said. Alicia is mia adorata – mia fidanzate – I call her Alicia because it sounds so much better, much softer than the stiff – Oh so English Alice that is her given name. You, of course, will know her as one of The Brides! But to me Alicia is the woman of my heart – the only woman for me. And Kate knows this. She should after all – she’s the one who created both of us and made us for each other.

So Kate knows how difficult I’ve found it to let Alice into my life. How and why I have kept my distance from almost everyone until now. So you can imagine how stunned I was when first Theo – that’s Theo Savas whose author is Anne McAllister – and then some Englishman named Max Valentine got in touch from Liz Fielding's blog and told me that my Alicia – my bride - had gone off somewhere with their respective brides and that they were filling in the time between now and the happy ever after our authors are supposed to have created for us by creating uno concorso! – A contest!

Naturalmente, I had to know more. And who better to ask that my author – my Kate. The one that Theo has taken to calling O'Kate because she has just spent time in Irlanda at a party. The other two had to work a little hard to get the information they needed – and the access to the blogs to tell you all about it – but I am Italian . I know how to charm . . . and so I had no trouble getting past my author. She was still recovering from a long weekend at that party and her mind was full of other things so she was - what is it you say? Putty on my hands?

I needed the password to this blog. I asked - she gave - but of course!

You have to know that this is the third time I've tried to keep Alicia in my life - the first time she ran off and I had to go after her to bring her back - then I was supposed to marry her but . . .

Well, you'll have to read the book to find out what happened then. I don't talk about it. Not in public, anyway. . .

Now I learn she's off planning something with these other signorinas? Well - we'll see about that. Like I said, Theo and Max and I have been talking - And we will come up with uno concorso meraviglioso that will show lei nostre fidanzate just how men do these things!

Mia sposa and her friends may think they have come up with a great idea – but believe me, it is as nothing to what i sposi will create.

So – as you English say – watch this space!

Domenico

In Dublin's Fair City - 3

And this one had to have a post all to itself.

This is the moment I met the wonderful Maeve Binchy

In Dublin's Fair City - 2

I have so many wonderful memories of this weekend that it’s hard to choose which ones I should post here. From the moment that we arrived in Dublin (after a hair raising flight from UK with torrential rain coming down in sheets so that you couldn’t see the plane, never mind the end of the runway and gale forced winds) where we were picked up by our carefully chosen to be entertaining driver, Pat (who turned out to be a scriptwriter himself with – hopefully – a TV series coming up soon) to the moment we took off again on Sunday in bright blue skies and mild temperatures we had a wonderful time.

But of course the book launch was the highlight of the weekend. And one thing’s for sure - Irish writers know how to throw a great party.

There was a large crowd of friendly, welcoming, interesting and interested people – Pat the driver showed up again, as did 6 Mills & Boon editors over from Richmond, Trish Wylie from the North of Ireland, Susan Stephens who had put in effort above and beyond the call of duty to get there. Her plane flight from Leeds was cancelled because of the gales, Doncaster airport flight was full – Manchester grounded - so she and her friends took a taxi to Teeside and finally landed just in time to make it to their hotel and then to the Odeon Bar where the event was held. Everyone was delighted and thrilled that Abby had her first book published and the large number of copies she had ready to sign disappeared in a matter of minutes. With typically Abby-like generosity, she asked people to make donations to a cancer charity in return for a book - in memory of Abby’s Mother who died of the disease some years ago.

There was plenty of wine , food, soft music – and one of the highlights of the evening was a demonstration of tango dancing – Abby dances the tango – she’s a multi-talented lady! And everything they say about the hot, intense sensuality of that dance is true. It’s no wonder that Abby understand the hot intensity and passion needed write a great Presents novel – it’s obviously in her blood.

There was an amazing mixture of people – people from the film world where Abby works, her large extended family, and many friends, even her junior school headmaster turned up to help celebrate.
And then there was the Grand Dame of Irish writing, world-famous, best-selling novelist Maeve Binchy. Just to hear her name made my heart leap – I’ve read so many of her books and loved them, and I’ve watched the film Circle of Friends that was based on her book. ‘Come and meet Maeve,’ said Abby and I admit I felt my knees tremble. I actually curtsied when I was introduced - who wouldn’t – this lady is a multi-million bestseller. But she couldn’t have been warmer and more welcoming – or more interesting. She told me how she had come to know Abby through Abby’s mother, how she had held the new Presents author when Abby was just 6 weeks old. We talked books of course - I learned of two new film versions (one big screen and one TV ) of her books that are appearing soon. And we talked about writing. She was fascinated to hear of my 51 books – so much shorter than her blockbusters but she was interested to know about writing for Mills & Boon and asked me what my latest book was about. She even asked for a copy of Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride. I shall be both honoured and terrified to send it to her. And we discussed the way that the current trend is for the Mediterranean Man to be considered the most passionate, most exciting of heroes - which was a pity we both agreed as we were both married long term to our own English heroes. We both had a husband who was born in Leeds, I learned.

I could have talked to her all night. But lots of people wanted to meet her too – and I didn’t want to monopolise her company, But I met one of my own personal literary heroes and I shall never forget it. And I have photos to prove it.

The rest of the evening was a blur of meeting people, talking about my parents’ time in Dublin, explaining that my uncle still lived there. Whenever I looked up the BM was talking to someone else and obviously enjoying himself every bit as much as I was. I spent time with Susan Stephens who like me has a book (The Greek’s Bridal Purchase) coming out in America in February, with Trish Wylie who gave me a copy of her next Modern Extra release Breathless which I am so looking forward to reading . And I spent some time with all the HMB editors who arrived looking truly glamorous and ready to enjoy the warm Irish hospitality. My editor told me that we weren’t to talk about work – except for one thing – she had the title for the Greek Pineapple book – the one that has just been called Andreas’s story.

Its official title will be The Greek Tycoon’s Reluctant Wife when it’s published in November.

Trish Wylie



Eventually my voice finally gave out. And the BM was starting to croak too. The party had begun at 7- in the early hours of the morning we left and made our way back to our hotel through the now mild dark night. Back in my room I tried to sleep but my mind was a whirl of faces, sounds, impressions, laughter – the perfect aftermath of a wonderful party

Thanks so much Abby – we had a fabulous time!

All the HMB eds with

Susan Stephens & Abby in the front

In Dublin's fair city . . .

. . . Where the BM would definitely agree that the girls - lots of them - are so pretty - I had a wonderful time.

Abby Green is a delightful, generous and warm hostess. She gives a fabulous party - and all her friends and family are welcoming and delightful too!
I've talked myself hoarse, laughed myself silly, eaten rather too much, drunk a little wine, remet loved friends, made new ones, and reacquainted myself with the city that both my parents called home at some point in their lives and that I loved to visit as a child and a teenager.

Oh yes - and I had the thrill, the delight and honour to meet a very famous and world renowned lady writer whose books I have enjoyed for years and whose prescence at the party made it an extra special moment for me.

I'll report more later but for now, here's a picture that sums up the lovely celebration it was.
Happy Happy Book Launch, Abby - I wish you every success, you so deserve it!

Fly by post

I meant to blog about things that are coming up for me this year, but I haven't had time - I've been busy packing and organising a weekend away which is one of the good things coming up for me.

Remember this ->?

Chosen as the Frenchman's Bride by Abby Green was one of the books in my Christmas stocking prize. It's the first book by Abby, published this month - so go and buy it! I'm heading for Dublin to help Abby celebrate the launch of her very first book. I'm so looking forward to it. There will be lots of M&B editors too - and plenty of other great M&B authors.

I'll tell you all about it when I get back

PS BRIDES BUZZ -

Intriguing news over on Anne McAllister's blog - she's been getting messages from - well she says it might be her hero Theo who is trying to contact her - and I've been getting indignant messages to - in Italian!

Makes me wonder if this Brides Buzz might yet have to turn into GROOMS' GOSSIP.

I'll have to see what's happened by the time I get back on Sunday.

Brides Contest - The Valentine Bride

BRIDE BUZZ
I had a lovely post today - my own copy of The Valentine Bride - Liz Fielding's book that's in our joint contest - HERE COME THE BRIDES.
Now all I need is some time to read it. But as I'm preparing for a trip to Dublin this weekend, time is going to be a little short. But guess what book I can read on the plane?

So until I can read this for myself, I'm going to tell you what Liz had to say when I asked her to give me some detals about this book - and other new titles she has coming up.

THE VALENTINE BRIDE

“Dammit, Louise,” he said, “you haven’t changed one bit –”

“Dammit, Max, neither have you!” She was on her feet, in his face. “You’re still the same arrogant, over-bearing, despotic, pig-headed idiot you always were!”

Working with Max was never going to be easy. There’s always been something between them – something they’ve done their best to ignore. Family loyalty wins, but Louise extorts a very personal price from Max for her co-operation and sparks fly from the start.

The Valentine Bride is the final book in the Harlequin Romance series about "THE BRIDES OF BELLA LUCIA" . This series of books tells the story of the Valentine family, their luxurious Italian restaurants, their feuds, their secrets and their loves.

Here is what Liz told me about her February book:

Louise has just discovered that she was adopted and that everything she believed about herself was a lie. But angry as she is, she knows how much she owes her family and she'll use her PR skills to help launch the Bella Lucia restaurants into a new era before she walks away to a new life with her half-sister in Australia. Unfortunately that means working with Max. And the last time they worked together, he sacked her very publicly, in front of a restaurant full of diners. Right after she threw a fully loaded vase at his head. Their relationship has always been ... explosive. She'll work with him. But it's going to cost him. And she's goingto name her own price.

And she added that she had a picture of Christian Bale who was her inspiration for Max over on the Brides of Bella Lucia blog. I've shown that here for you - but if you want to know more about the whole series and all the books in it, that lead up to Max and Louise's story, then you'll find it there, along with lots of fascinating information about the whole series and the authors who have written books for it.

You can also read an extract from The Valentine Bride, to whet your appetite, on Liz's web site here.

Next up for Liz is The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella (May 2007) I asked Liz for a summary of this upcoming book and I have to say that what she told me makes the book sound like a must-read.

THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA

Ellie March, drop-out English teacher, is living a double life. In her "day job", she's plain Ellie , an emotionally unattached and much in demand cleaning lady, waitress and house-sitter. In her secret life the one she's made up -- she's the aristocratic Lady Gabriella March, wife, mother of three perfect children and an entire menagerie of well bred pets, the "lifestyle" columnist for MILADY magazine. Oh, and in her spare time she's writing an historical novel.

It's all going incredibly well -- apart from the novel -- until Dr Benedict Faulkner, the owner of the house in which she's "sitting", without his knowledge, turns up unexpectedly. Then the editor of "Milady" gets more demanding, the menagerie becomes a reality and one of the neighbours starts shooting at her. Actually she could have coped with all of that if she hadn't made the really big mistake of falling in love with Ben, a man who just wants her gone from his life...

If it all sounds like a bit of romcom romp, well it probably is, but you need to remember that Harlequin Romance is strong on emotion and since this one made Liz's editor weep there's obviously something deeper going on.

And also don't forget that Liz is a double RITA winner, most recently for her heart-tugging, emotional novel The Marriage Miracle. (Anne McAllister is a double RITA winner too - I feel really out of my depth with these two great authors!) So you cvan expect a moving, heart-twisiting story in The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella. I can't wait!

I also asked Liz what she's working on now and I was thrilled with her answer. You see, I've read The Sheikh's Guarded Heart andwhen I did, I really wanted to know more about a scondary character - Zahir. So I was so pleased when Liz told me that he is the hero of the book she's working on at the moment.:


The work in progress is THE SHEIKH & THE CHAUFFEUR. Sheikh Zahir al Khalid made his bow in The Sheikh's Guarded Heart and from the very beginning looked like a character who would grow into his own story.He's spent the last few years turning a miserable little desert tour operation into a major company. There's only one thing missing from his portfolio. A wife.

No problem. He doesn't have to take time out of his busy schedule to find a suitable bride. In his culture marriages are arranged. His bride will be virtuous, charming and from one of the best families in Ramal Hamrah his mother will see to that. It's the way things have been done for centuries and it works.

Then he meets Diana Metcalf, a very unsuitable woman, whose only ambition in life, apparently, is to drive a London Taxi - a pink one and be her own boss. A woman, who has a figure made for sin and a smile that warms him to his heart.

I'm really looking forward to these new books from Liz - and don't forget that if you fancy a chance of winning not just Liz's Valentine Bride but the lovely Anne McAllister's The Santorini Bride - and The Italian's Forced Bride (or Sicilian Husband, Blackmaield Bride) by someone called Kate Walker, then check out the HERE COME THE BRIDES contest on all our web sites and get your answers in to us.Remember - you can enter this contest on each web site which gives you three chances to win.

And watch the blogs for updates and any new developments.

Bride Buzz

BRIDE BUZZ

This really should be Blushing Bride Buzz - not because the Bride is blushing, but because I am. Blushing with pride and delight - and to be honest, blinking back happy tears too.

This morning I did what I always did - I checked on the blogs of the people I want to know about - a regular trawl through various sites to see if there's any news - and so as always I ended up on Anne McAllister's blog. And that's when I started blushing.

Because Anne has posted an unexpected and most wonderful write up of The Italian's Forced Bride after she read it (finally! ) a couple of days ago.

To say I was thrilled is an understatement - this book has already had some great reviews, and I'll post some of them nearer the publication date - but reviews are one thing. A glowing write up from a writer you admire and respect (and have done since before I ever met Anne as a person and she became a very special friend) - well, that's something else.

All I can say Anne - is thank you. I'm honoured.

Janus's Month - looking backwards and forwards

This is the post I meant to put up a couple of days ago.


I’ve spent much of today taking down and packing up the Christmas decorations. The house looks strangely bare – but much more ready for work and getting down to a new year. But if ever there was an occupation that is guaranteed to have you looking back wards and forwards at the same time, then this is one of them

So as I worked, I was thinking – and remembering what 2006 had contained. One of the problems, I think, with the idea of a new year, and New Year Resolutions, is that the need to resolve to do better, be thinner, become more organised etc etc implies that what we were before wasn’t good enough. That we need to improve, become the ‘New You’ when in fact the old one was perfectly fine, it just needed a dust down and a spruce up. There are people I know –scary Kate – you know who you are! them who will come out with phrases like ‘I only wrote 10 books this year’! And add, like in a school report, ‘must do better.’ Hmmph! That’s why I love the Best Year Yet book – it makes you look at what you have achieved, rather than berating yourself for what you haven’t.

So - 2006

Books- obviously, there were books. Books published and books written. The books published were The Antonakos Marriage. The Italian’s Forced Bride (UK edition) and At the Sheikh’s Command. The USA publications were slightly different – The Antonakos Marriage, At The Sheikh's Command - and an older book, The Married Mistress finally made it into America (and sold out on eharlequin). All the USA books hit the Waldenbooks Top 10 lists for Romances for 2 or 3 weeks. Antonakos was the #1 bestseller for the month it was out in the UK – and the ebook was in the ebook top 10 for weeks on that site. Oh yes, and The Twelve Month Mistress was shortlisted for Romantic Times Best Presents award and The Italian’s Forced Bride won CataRomance’s Best Mills & Boon Modern Romance in the Reviewers’ Choice Award.

Books written – this time last year, I was starting out with a new editor. And that is always a slightly scary, unnerving time. You get to know how one editor’s mind works, the approach they have, the things they like – dislike – and you settle into a routine. A change of editor jolts you out of that routine, makes you adjust and learn all about this new person. That’s not a bad thing. It stops complacency settling in. My current editor is wonderful – and I’m not just saying that because she’s flatteringly complimentary about my work. She’s the best sort of editor – an editor who comes to the books having been a reader first and you can’t learn that instinctive appreciation any other way. I love working with her. We’ve worked together on three books – the three titles together now – four if you count the fact that she took over the preparation of At the Sheikh’s Command. And I love the way that she ‘gets’ my books – she understands my heroes, and she falls in love with them just like me.

So this year, I have three new books written – including the two linked Sicilian Brothers stories. One of which will be my 50th title for HMB – but we’ll come to them when I’m looking forward, not back! But one thing my new editor does is encourage me to go for things. She was right behind me with the Sicilian Brothers project and so I’m thrilled that she’s my editor for that important 50th book.

But it’s funny the things you forget – before I could even get those books written, I had to have eye surgery – the second of 2 operations to remove cataracts. Looking back on that, I can recall how scared I was of the first one – but by the time the second one came round I was a lot more confident. Now I’ll tell anyone thinking about the operation to go for it. Before the surgery I was groping around in a haze without my contact lenses – sometimes even with them! – now I have the sort of sight that I haven’t known since – well, I don’t remember ever seeing things thins clearly! I was 12 when I was prescribed my first pair of glasses.

Teaching – one of the greatest things about last year was watching the way that the reputation of the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance grew. I kept seeing it mentioned on the internet and I was thrilled by the way that people said it helped them. Newly accepted authors like Abby Green and India Gray both mentioned the book in their ‘call’ stories, which was a huge compliment. I taught three courses on the book in 2006, one in Kent (a one day seminar) one in Caerleon – where I did a 5 session course at Caerleon Writers’ Holiday in some of the hottest weather I can remember – and finally there was the November Novel Weekend in Fishguard just a couple of months ago. Each of those was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion – I had some lovely students and some great fun. Also under teaching comes the work I did with the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. I read and critiqued 8 manuscripts – all of varying standards and there were two authors in that mix who I hope I will one day see make the leap from New Writer to newly published writer. That was another delight, learning that another New Writer I had worked with in the past had had her first book accepted – look out for The Kristallis Baby by Natalie Rivers coming in summer.

Which reminds me to remind anyone reading this who wants to be part of the NWS scheme – don’t forget that numbers are limited and if you want to join – get your application in to the RNA.

What else happened in 2006 – the start of this blog for one thing . I’d been blogging on eharlequin and that got me hooked. So in February I launched this blog – and now have had over 10,000 hits (since I set up the stats recording ) from 69 countries. As a result, the entries for both the Bag of Books Contest and the Christmas Stocking Contest went through the roof (much to Sid’s delight). There were other contests too, both on my web site and through my Newsletter where I run special Members only Contests and through all these ways I’ve been able to get in touch with so many readers from all over the world. I just heard this morning from Jenny in Singapore who was one of the Christmas Stocking winners. And the Here come The Brides Contest has entries from India, Malaysia, Bulgaria.

People - there were lots of great people in my life 2006 – old friends and new ones. Students on all the courses, members of the RNA at the Conference or the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards at the Savoy. Other M&B writers who came to the Association of Mills & Boon Authors lunches . . . new authors Abby Green and Christina Hollis who came to the Presents authors dinner – where Sandra Marton joined us from America. Of course there was Anne McAllister who came on a far too short visit (Sid would never forgive me if I missed her out), Lovely Anne and Gerry who run Writers’ Holidays and the Fishguard weekends, that new editor I mentioned, The Girls ( you know who you are), fellow authors and friends Michelle Reid, Kate Hardy, Michelle Styles, Susan Stephens. Duck in a fleeting but so welcome visit from Dubai - together with Mr Duck (Mr Drake?). The founders of the Pink Heart Society, Lee from My Tote Bag, Heather and Terescia from We Write Romance who designed and set up my fabulous new web site (have you visited it yet?) . . . no – I can’t mention everyone but I have to give a special mention to the gorgeous and adorable Nathaniel - my ‘cyber grandchild’ - welcome to the world Nate! I hope I get to meet you properly very very soon.

As well as people there were lovely creatures in my world in 2006 – the cats of course, Bob, Spiffy, Dylan and The Cat Sid. Mysp onsored guide dog puppy Uffa, ‘my’ lions – Raffi and Anthea who sadly died during the year and Achee the young lioness who became my adopted lion instead along with Roque, my adopted tiger . I hope to have more news of them in 2007

.

Phew! That was quite a year. A very satisfying year to look back on. And yes, a great antidote to the ‘must do better’, New Year New You syndrome that’s filling so many papers and magazines right now. I have areas of my life that need a bit of dusting down – some of them need a real sort out - but even the imperfect, ‘old’ me achieved plenty, did plenty, lived plenty in 2006.

And I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2007.

Miranda, meet Theo . . . and Theo . . . And Leo

BRIDE BUZZ

Remember how I mentioned Miranda Weston, and her hero Theo ? if you followed the link to Anne McAllister's blog, then you will have found that, investigating Miranda , Anne found out this:

Miranda Weston is the heroine of, believe it or not (and sadly, I do believe it because I know from experience the mysterious ways that editors schedule books) another February book with the word Bridal in the title (The Greek's Bridal Purchase) by the lovely wonderful Susan Stephens.

This would not be cause for concern for either Susan or me except that my hero is called Theo Savas and hers (and this is where editorial needed to rethink the way they schedule things) is called Theo Savakis!


So there's a real coincidence there. Two Greeks, both called Theo Sava . . . something. But this had started me thinking. There was something buzzing at the back of my head, reminding me that I'd met up with one of those names somewhere else . . . And then it clicked with me. I'd read it in a book over Christmas - and the book I read over Christmas was Michelle Reid's January release The Italian's Future Bride. (There's the Bride word again!)
No, the Italian isn't the guy with the similar name - he's Rafaelle Villani - but his heroine Rachel has a sister who is married to - guess what - Leo Savakis! Obviously he's Theo Savakis's brother or cousin or something!

This is a perfect example of the way that three romance writers, all writing at slightly different times, in very different circumstances and places, can come up with things so similar that you'd think they'd all been in conatct and discussing their ideas before they wrote them down. But they haven't - none of them knew of the coincidence until the books are out and in print.

I've seen this happen before. Some years ago (way back in 1997) I wrote a book called Hers For a Night. The heroine was called Georgia. Until I wrote the book, I hadn't seen any heroines called Georgia anywhere. But as soon as I'd written it and had it accepted, suddenly there were Georgias appearing all over the place. Lots in Harlequin novels - a UK 'soap' - Brookside had one major character called Georgia. When my book appeared in sthe shops, people asked if I'd taken the name from the soap- but I'd thought of it before that character had appeared.

Sometimes I think that there's something in the air that popular fiction writers/scriptwriters/screenplay writers breathe in so that we can end up thinking on the same or very similar lines. I remember when I first met Michelle Reid, she told me that she had started an amnesia story, got several chapters into it, the she picked up my Shattered Mirror and found it was so very similar to her story - we both even had the American hero and English heroine. And that was before we became friends. Now we have to be careful not to discuss the books we are working on of we find we're following the same lines of development.

The really intriguing thing about this is that it's a sort of future prediction as well. When we write a book, we know it won't be published for at least a year. The gap between acceptance and publication is getting narrower now, but it's still about 12 months. So when we sit down and write, we are predicting what will be popular in a year's time - themes, settings, characters - names. It's all part of what the Offspring calls having your finger on the pulse - and Theo, Theo and Leo Savas/Savakis are perfect examples of that happening.

Not the post I meant . . .

This is not the post I inteanded to write.

It's 2007 - new year - new me and all that. I fully intended to be sorted out, tidied up, organised in a word . . .

Hah! Insert hollow laughter here.

I was planning on a review of the past year and a look into what's happening in the new one - but Fate has a way of stepping in and hitting you over the head with thigs when you don't expect them. This time it hit me over the head with a migraine. Thanks Fate! I really did feel as if I had been hit over the head too.

So I'm not sorted out, tidied or organised at all. And the review of the year is still to be written - as is the looking into the future post . . .

So instead of that - I shall post something else - let's have some



BRIDES BUZZ




I'll start by talking a bit about The Santorini Bride - or, rather, Anne McAllister will because I asked her yo give me some background on her book so I can pass it on to you.

Here's what Anne has to say about The Santorini Bride , how she came to write this book and what titles she has coming up next in 2007 onwards :

THE SANTORINI BRIDE is the middle book of three (so far), beginning with THE ANTONIDES MARRIAGE DEAL (which it is not necessary to have read, but if you did read it,this will explain where Martha was when no one could find her! That she met her match in Theo Savas was as big a surprise to her as it was to Theo. He has a heck of a time convincing her, though! While I'd intended to go back to the Antonides and Savas families for my next book, another character from THE SANTORINI BRIDE piqued my interest when he offered Martha a shoulder to cry on. Actually he did more than pique my interest, he grabbed the book and tried to run away with it!

His name was Spencer Tyack and the minute he appeared, he seemed determined to take over. He muttered about stupid Greeks who didn't know a good woman when they saw one (that would have been Theo) and said he'd do a far better job of things -- which just goes to show how blind some men can be, as Spence's own soulmate was right under his nose! He didn't believe me. But he wouldn't let me alone until I proved it to him. So he and Sadie Morrissey (the girl under his nose!) have their own story coming in October from Harlequin Presents and HM&B Modern called THE BOSS'S WIFE FOR A WEEK. It's all about what happens to Spence when he's making other plans.

I fully expect to come back to the Antonides and Savas families in the future. But I wanted to tie up another loose end first. That's the book I'm working on now. It is a spin-off of THE GREAT MONTANA COWBOY AUCTION and the rest of the Code of the West books I've done for Silhouette. Only this one is going to be a Harlequin Presents!

It's the story of Flynn Murray, consummate charmer and Irish journalist who, to his dismay, has finally had to take over the drafty Irish castle -- and the earldom -- he has tried to forget for years. That also means settling down and begetting little heirs to the earldom. But just when Flynn is prepared to do his duty, coincidence -- or fate -- brings Sara McMaster back into his life. She awakens memories he'd long buried and desires he believed he'd forgotten. Six years ago life pulled them apart. Now it has thrust them together again, if only for a moment. A moment is all Sara can stand. She doesn't want to fall in love with Flynn again. She's been there, done that, and she's finally recovered from it. She has made a life for herself, picked up stakes, moved on. If Flynn had wanted her back then, she would have followed him to the ends of the earth. Not now. And she doesn't want him disrupting her equilibrium again -- or their son's! Flynn doesn't know about Liam, which is no fault of Sara's. She'd tried to tell him. He'd moved on. That's what he does -- move on.

Well, he might have done it to her, but she won't let him do that to Liam. I'm just beginning work on the book now and it's already going in directions I didn't expect. Flynn is as big a charmer as ever. Sara is not quite the idealist with the practical bent that she used to be. She's a mom now. She's had to adjust. Flynn's an earl now -- he's made some adjustments himself. And Liam -- well, he's five and he's got an agenda of his own. I'm hoping to go to Ireland in February to do some on-site research for their story which begins in New York City. I don't know if we'll get back to Elmer, Montana or not. But it doesn't matter. Sara and Flynn will always carry memories of it in their hearts.

I read The Antonides Marriage Deal and loved it when it came out in April last year (can't get used to saying that and meaning 2006 - I still think of that as this year!) It was, as one astute reader and reviewer commented, like:
a Kathryn Hepburn and Spencer Tracy movie, the bantering, power struggle, and sexual tension.
I fell hard for Elias and lov ed the way his relationship with Tallie developed. So I'm really looking forward to gettting my hand on The Santorini Bride and reading that too.

Oh yes - and here's a little more BRIDES BUZZ

Anne, Liz and I have been receiving lots of entries for this contest - but several of them puzzled us for a while. In fact they created something of a mystery.

Who was Miranda Weston - and why did people think she was Anne's heroine?

If you want to know the answer to this, you'll have to check out Anne's blog where she explains everything.

And no - Miranda's not the name of Anne's heroine - she's a heroine all rig ht - but in someone else's book! The coincidences that have set off this little mystery trail just go to show that there's nothing new under the sun - and that romance author's minds work in very similar ways!

Now I'm back to organising and sorting . . . and maybe I'll write that review of the year tomorrow . . .

PS I should have said that if you want to enter the HERE COME THE BRIDES contest then you need to check out my web site (you can admire it's new design while you're there) or Anne's or Liz's and find the details of how to enter - don't forget, if you enter from each site you get 3 separate chances to win!

New Year, New Site, New Contest

So it's 2007 - I hope this will be a very special year for you all. I wish you joy peace happiness and love to create some very special memories to look back at this time next year. And because it's January 1st, my brand new web site is officially lanched today. It's still at the same place but if you go and take a look, you'll find that it's a very different look - totally revamped and brought right up to date

And to mark the launch of this new look, I have a brand new contest to launch too.
As you'll already know because I - and they - have been trailing this contest for a while, this is a contest I'm running jointly with special friends and wonderful writers Liz Fielding and Anne McAllister .

The contest came about because we realised that all three of us have new books out in February - in both England and the UK in the case of Anne and Liz. And each book has a title with the word 'Bride' in it. So it seemed natural to get together and bring you the Here Come The Brides Contest. And that is what we're launching today.

The winners of this contest will each receive a set of the three band new February releases, signed by each author. And we have three sets of those to give away. And what's more, if you visit each author's site and enter the contest there, then each entrant will have three chances to win.

The books you can win are illustrated here -
Firstly, there's Liz Fielding's Romance release The Valentine Bride.
Harlequin Romance #3932

Then there's Anne McAllister's latest Presents novel - The Santorini Bride
Harlequin Presents #2610



And finally, there's my own February Presents release
The Italian's Forced Bride.
Harlequin Presents #2605

I'll be giving some more details of each of these books over the next couple of days.


So what do you have to do? It's simple really. All you have to do is to visit each site, find the details of the books where the name of each of the brides is listed, and collect them up. Then send those three names to each author according to the instructions on their web site.

The contest ends February 1st, 2007.

But of course once the Brides start running their own contest, the Grooms in question are bound to get to know about it, and when they do, anything can happen. So it could pay you to keep checking back and find out just what's happening in the future.

Oh yes - as I don't have a February UK publishing date - and I'm well aware of the fact that many of my English and Australian readers will have already had and read The Italian's Forced Bride when it came out in M&B Modern/M&B Sexy in April and May 2006. So for anyone who has already read Domenico's story - and I know there were lots of you because I got so many letters about this book and how it reduced you to tears - I have an alternative prize of a brand new signed copy of my not yet published March M&B Modern UK release - Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride in which you'll find another Italian hero - a Sicilian this time, obviously - in sexy Guido Corsentino.

This book is so new that I don't yet have the paperback cover to show you - but here is a look at the library edition cover.

So that's the Here Come The Brides contest - good luck to everyone who enters. Just watch out for fireworks when those grooms find out!

And a Happy New Year to everyone.

Cat Calendar - January

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Brides are coming . . .

So here's a little bit more about one of those 'things I did on my holidays':

I mentioned working with Anne McAllister and Liz Fielding on a joint contest.
This started because all three of us realised that we all have books coming out in February with the word Bride in the title. So we decided to create a "Here Come The Brides" contest to celebrate the publication of these books beginning January 1st.
From the start of the New Year, details of this contest will be published on each of our blogs and our individual web sites - visiting each author will give you another chance to win not one, but three brand new titles from Anne McAllister, Liz Fielding and myself.

Watch this spot for info about all the books and contest details!

And keep calling back because once this contest starts - you never know what might happen.

Look out for posts with the buxom bride picture in them and you'll get all the information you need.

The Brides are coming . . .