Happy New Year - and plans

One of my 'new year tasks' is to update my calendars and diaries putting in the details of the events coming up n this year of 2020. It's always a delight to be able to note down the dates of one of my favourite events of the year - the first writing weekend planned -

Since the Writers' Holiday in the summer closed, there always seems to be such along gap between the last time I was in lovely Fishguard and the date that I'm heading there again - but now there's just over a month to go before I'll be back there with my friends and waking up to the sight and sound of the sea outside my bedroom every morning. I can't wait. You know that feeling with real friends when you haven't seen each other for too long - but when you meet up again it's as if you only parted yesterday. Well, that's one of the very special parts of the atmosphere at  Writers Holiday - and that's why I love it so much.

February 21st - 23rd 2020 - Advanced Romance Writing Course with the fabulous Writers Holiday 

Courses also with poet Alison Chisholm, Simon Whaley,  Short story writer Della Galton, novelist Janet Laurence  and   drawing and painting tutor  Susan Allison.

Numbers on this course are strictly limited so if you're interested, get your booking in while there's still spaces. The course also includes a one to one critique on your writing.

There are a couple of other weekends planned with Lois Maddox- one a course and one a writing retreat - I need to check on the details and dates and places then get back to you.

Writing Courses

Did you decide that as your new year resolution, that this is the year you are determined to write your

romantic novel?

 Would you like some help with that - a weekend learning about writing, discussing writing, making friends - in a welcoming atmosphere with lots of laughter - and perhaps a little wine?

 I've just finalised my teaching timetable for 2019 and the weekend courses start in February - at Fishguard Bay Hotel. Friday 15th February – Sunday 17th February 2019

For the first time in a long time - well, since I set up this special Advance Romance Writing Course - I still have places on the February course so if you're interested, contact me - or Gerald Hobbs at   Writers'  Holiday.net  who organises the whole Writing Weekend for details. I'm so looking forward to seeing so many familiar faces - and I'd be happy to make new friends this year.

Other courses are coming up but I'll post the details of them later.   They will  be with Relax  and Write if you want to check out their web site.

Want to write a romantic novel?

Unexpectedly I've just heard that 3 of my students who had booked for the Advanced Romance Writing Course at Fishguard with Writers Holiday have had life changes, events that have meant they

have had to cancel their places for next February 2019.

So for the first time in  ages I have three places available for anyone who wants to join us on the course - lots of discussion, learning, fun, laughter. . . oh and a total focus on writing the best romance novel you can create. This is an advanced course so if you're looking for a basic 'starter course' then perhaps it's not for you but this is a rare event - I'm usually turning people away when they've booked before leaving the last course in February this year.

So if you're interested check out Writers' Holiday. net and grab a place while they're still going. I'll be happy to meet some new students.

Or if you don't want to write romantic fiction - there are also courses on

Poetry, 

Short Story Writing, 

 Travel Writing, 

The Novel or even 

Painting and Drawing 

 available on the same weekend.

Blink and you'll miss it

Well, don't say I didn't warn you! I put this up on my blog:

Re the Advanced Romance Writing Course weekend - that's back again in February 2019 with Writers Holiday I saw lots of my students booking ahead to ensure a place on this popular course next year - so if you're interested, register that fact now! I'm told there are 'a few' places left but as I've talked with two people who wanted to book a place in 2019 - those don't look like they're going to hang around!

So true! I heard from Gerald P Hobbs today that in fact 12 of this year's students have already booked their places on next year's (2019) Advanced Romance Writing Course. 12. There was a time when the numbers of this course were officially limited to 12 - then another person asked if they could please have a place - and another . . Seeing as I had 15 in the class this year and didn't die (just) perhaps I'll go with a limit of 15 places again in 2019.

The trouble is that this course really has to have some prior learning on a basic romance writing course - like the one I used to run in the summer at Writers Holiday but now, sadly, that event no longer runs. Hmm . . .

I can't really take students with no foundation knowledge of genre fiction writing . . . I think I'll need to have a chat with Lois Maddox about turning the autumn course with Relax and Write into a preparatory weekend to cover the foundation work for the Fishguard Weekend. That could work!

Leave it with me - and Lois.

There and back again

Finally catching up with things after a long and lovely weekend in  Fishguard,  teaching the Advance Romance  Writing Course,  getting to see and talk with fellow  tutors and students  - established and new ones. 

This year everyone seems to have been even more enthusiastic and involved  than  usual - and there had been really enthusiastic groups  in the past.   We didn't want to leave, we were enjoying ourselves so much,  but  the weekend seemed to pass in  a flash and  before we knew it we were packing the car ready to travel home.  And that was when life got interesting . . .

This country has a strange climate. Spent a wonderful wonderful weekend in Fishguard in bright sunshine then set off home in sunshine and blue skies. Halfway home we got stuck in a raging blizzard which was not fun but eventually we made it home safely . . . to find none of the threatened snow here at all!

Overnight this changed and we are now snow-bound in deep deep snow and whirling winds! Oh well,I have cases to unpack, books to sort out, course teaching papers  to file away . . . and the presents . . . .

Every year I try to point out to my students that I have as much fun teaching them as I hope they have in doing the course with me - add in a stay at the Fishguard Bay Hotel - and the fabulous company of the Fishguard 'Family' -   Gerry  and Anne Hobbs, Alison  Chisholm,  Simon Whaley.  Della  Galton  and Susan Alison . . . and everyone else. So there is no need to do anything else. But every year they ignore me and I came home with this lovely bundle of 'excess baggage'! Thank you all for your kindness and warmth - and specially for your company over a great weekend.

  And it's  a lovely reminder of  a fabulous weekend in Wales while  I  try to catch up with everything, write revisions, send out critiques and letters.   And it's  so sad that it will be  next Febraury (2019) before we're back in Fishguard again.

Oh well,  it's warmer and safer inside right now, when my garden looks like  this  with the birds queing at the door for extra mealworms and  seedcake to get them through the freeze.

Keep warm and safe everyone!

PS Re the Advanced Romance Writing Course weekend - that's back again in February  2019 with Writers Holiday   I saw  lots of my students   booking ahead to ensure a place on  this popular course next year  - so if you're interested, register that fact now!   I'm  told there are 'a few' places left but as I've talked with two people who wanted to book  a place in 2019  -  those don't look like  they're going to hang around!

Just got back from Harrogate ( PA duties for the other writer in the family ) but before that spent Thursday night absolutely entranced and mind-blown watching Paapa Essiedu in the tour of RSC's Hamlet in Hull.

 3 hours of totally absorbing magnificent magic. The big soliloquies were presented as real thoughts not - this is the moment when I do the 'to be or not to be' speech. Brilliant. DH and I are still talking about it. If you get a chance to see this production - grab it. I already want to see it again.

The next couple of days will be spent finalising the details of the Writers' Holiday Advance Romance Writing Course for Fishguard  next weekend. 

Can't wait to be back in Wales and reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

Great weekend in Keele.

What a fantastic weekend - even though I was officially 'working' - running the Writing Fiction that Sells weekend for Relax and Write at Keele, I had so much fun that the weekend just flashed past in learning, laughter, friendship, enjoyment and fascinating discussions. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us and made the weekend a real delight. The only flaw was that sadly Lois Maddox couldn't be with us. She was missed.

So that's it for my teaching for this year. I need to draw breath and look at my own work now! Next course will be at Fishguard in February with WritersHoliday - the Advanced Romance Writing course but that is already booked up!

So the one after that will be a Focus on Writing Romance - a Writing Retreat at Cirencester in April . Again, numbers on this course are strictly limited - and I know  4 or 5  places are already booked. So if you're interested please get in touch with Relax and Write to get your name on the list.

Courses Coming Up 1

Ok so, I said that I would give some details about the courses I have coming up in case anyone was interested in joining me on one of them. But then it seemed that as soon as I mentioned that, bookings took off with the one just on the horizon - so -

The Advanced Romance Writing Course in February in Fishguard is now totally booked up.Writers' Holiday just in case.

The last two places were allocated this week - so if you wanted to put your name on the waiting list you can - contact Gerry Hobbs  at

 I believe that most of the February Weekend is also full or filling fast - so if you want to consider
Poetry with Alison Chisholm
Short Story writing with Della  Galton (though that may be filled as well!)
Novel Writing with    Rachael Thomas              
Writing Feature Articles with    Simon Whaley
or Painting and Drawing with    Susan Alison 


It will be a good idea to at least make an enquiry with Writers Holiday right now.

One of the best parts of summer.

As you probably already know, I spent a  fabulous week in  July at Writers Holiday in Fishguard. Yes,

I was teaching a course - and so was my husband - but there is so much more to Fishguard than the teaching and the courses, there's the friendship, the laughter, the after-dinner speakers, the food, the massages (yes - we have a lovely lady who gives fabulous back and shoulder massages - just what you need after a day's teaching!) the music - the Cwmbach Male Choir - perhaps a little bit of wine - the conversations, the new friends,. . the husbands.  (yes husbandS)

Sadly, this summer's event was the last on in Fishguard in July - though, thankfully, the February Writing Weekends are still continuing - thank heaven or I'd pine away completely.

One of the unexpected delights of teaching with Gerald P Hobbs Writers' Holiday every year is that some years back I unexpectedly acquired another 'husband' !😉😮 (It's a long story - and a case of mistaken identity!) Interestingly both husbands have the initials SW - Stephen Wade and Simon Whaley. Not only is Simon (Husband 2) great company and an inspiring teacher, he's also a very talented photographer and he's responsible for a wonderful assortment of photos of the last night of the last summer holiday at Fishguard (sob!😪 )  - if you can see them on his Facebook page

So many times I'm asked why I travel all that way to Wales for this week in the summer - and again in February - well, take a look at these photos of that last night - the friendship, warmth, affection and sheer family atmosphere of Gerald P Hobbs Writers' Holiday shines out of them. More than worth a few (OK - a lot) of hours' driving, and besides that I get to spend a week by the sea with a whole group of friends. I'm only sorry I won't be doing that next summer - but there will be February 2018 (and Husband 2 is teaching a course there.)

Behind every great event there has to be someone who has worked tirelessly and non-stop to make it right. In the case of Writers'Holiday - those people are Gerald  Hobbs and his lovely wife Anne. This photo will be special to so many  Writers' Holiday visitors, past and present. over the 32 years they have been running this lovely event. You arrive as a stranger, not knowing anyone, and leave as a member of a warm and welcoming family. I should know, the Babe Magnet and I have been part of that family for well over half the time it's been in existence. Without Anne and Gerry planning Writers' Holiday and making sure it was one of the most giving and welcoming writers' events in the country, I'd never have enjoyed some of the most special times of my life. (And as I said   it has to be special to make it worth making the l-o-n-g journey from

Lincolnshire to Wales twice a year)

I (and many many others) am so sad that the summer event has now become unworkable - but there are still the February Weekends, and the Babe Magnet and I will be there as long as we can manage it. Caerleon/Fishguard regulars will know that this is a rare photo - getting Gerry centre stage has been a near-impossibility over the years. We managed it once on the 25th anniversary and now, thankfully, managed it again for this special bittersweet evening.

(and thank you Husband2 for the photo)

To Anne and Gerry - from all the Fishguard regulars - so many thanks for all you've done over the years, and thank goodness you're carrying on with the February weekends or I think we'd all pine away without you and all the friends you've helped us make over the year.

Back home from Wales

Back home  after the wonderful Writers And Artists weekend in Fishguard with everyone there.  I had such a good time with all my friends and making new ones - plus fellow tutors Alison Chisholm Della Galton Susan Alison  and of course my own former student and now multi-published author - and tutor on  the Novel Course - Rachael Thomas.  I had a fabulous time.

So many of my students have been on other courses before that they are affectionately known as

  Walker's Stalkers - they wanted to thank me for the course and  I came home laden down with gifts! (There was another bottle of Walkers' Bay wine, but that was enjoyed on the last night before I left Wales!)  

So very generous - but the real truth is that the fun and laughter - and the great discussions we shared was more than gift enough.  But a huge thank you to everyone who was there and who contributed.  I really enjoy these weekends - and can't wait to do it again!

I'm also so looking forward to teaching the  Writing Romantic Fiction course at Fishguard in July.

Meet Della - Della Ga er . . . . Della Parker

Every year I go to Fishguard  - well, I go twice a year actually.  Every February and July.   I go for the wonderful conferences run bu  fabulous Writers' Holidays - a weekend in February and a week in the summer, in July. I always look forward to it so much. 

It's by the sea for one thing - what's not to like about waking up every morning with the sound of the sea lapping against the beach outside my window? And then there are the people I meet there - the students - and of course  fantastic Gerry and Anne who run the holidays each time.

And then there are my fellow tutors - a great bunch of people who have become dear and special friends over the year.    They're all great writers too - very successful in their own fields.  I try not to envy them but there's one lady I have to admit I do feel envious  of! And that's Della -  I know her as Della - but  she's recently have a name change -  check out the rest of this blog for details.

I envy her because of her ability to write and sell short stories.   You'd think that having published 65 books, I might be able to manage a short story or two - but the thing is that writing short is a very special skill. I find my ideas naturally grow and  fill a novel - I have sold precisely 3 short stories in my writing life.    Della recently  sold . .  .  her 1500th short story!!

Yes that's right - 1500th!

Perhaps I should go on Della's short story course at Fishguard - but there's just one small problem - I'm usually teaching my own course  when she'd teaching! But I know how much everyone  who does attend any course of hers  enjoys it - and how much they learn from Della in her own area of expertise.   

And now Della is branching out. She's become Della Parker - and she's writing something new too -  a series of novellas called . . .but no, I'll let Della tell you all about them -

Welcome to my blog, Della  . . .Parker or Galton - whichever you are!

My New Name – Della Parker

2016 was the year I changed my name to Della Parker! Or rather my new publisher did.  A new name for my new series of novellas, which is called The Reading Group.  I have had the best fun writing them and the first few are now out so Kate has kindly agreed to me coming along to her blog to talk about them. Thank you so much, Kate.

My New Novellas - The Reading Group. 

The Reading Group focuses on five women who meet monthly to drink wine, have nibbles, gossip and – oh yes – discuss the classics.

In December they are reading A Christmas Carol and Grace’s life seems to be taking a curious parallel to Dickens’ classic story! Spooky! 

In January they are reading Jane Austen’s Emma – and this time it’s Anne Marie who’s the focus of the story. Like Emma, Anne Marie fancies giving Cupid a run for his money. But matchmaking isn’t really her forte!

In February they are reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Oh and Kate has a handsome gamekeeper (I mean builder) in renovating her kitchen. Hold on to your hats, ladies.

In March, Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca is the book of the month. Jojo has a new man in her life. She is starting to worry that there may be certain parallels between her life and Daphne Du Maurier’s heroine. Age gap romance and ancestral homes spring to mind.

The Reading Group series is published by Quercus Books.

January, February and March are out now. They are novellas and are 99p each (ebook only)

December, which is a short story, is free for your kindle. I would be eternally grateful if you would download it.  I’m hoping that lots of downloads will catapult me to writing fame and fortune! I’ll report back on this at some later date, possibly from a Hawaiian beach!

But seriously... Having the chance to write a contemporary version of these classics has been an absolute privilege and a joy.  

Della Galton

www.dellagalton.co.uk

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If you fancy coming on any of Della's short story courses at Fishguard - then check out   Writers' Holiday  for more details  of the courses there in February and July 

Trying to catch up

So far. 2017 has been a not-very-successful attempt to catch up with everything I have on my To Do list (OK - so it's the To Do List carried over from 2016!) so if you're waiting for messages/emails/letters from me - I promise - soon! I was about to talk about courses coming up in the not too distant future - like the one with Writers Holiday in Fishguard in February.

I was about to say that there were a few spaces left on the Advanced Romance Writing Course on the we
ekend of February 17 - 19th 2017. But even as I was writing that post, more people had booked - so there is perhaps just one space on the weekend now.

Was it something I said about the new Mills & Boon Love to Write contest that people wanted advice and help with?

Anyway - this is a last chance to book a place on this weekend before the course is filled up.

Meanwhile, there is another tutor on the February Weekend - Della Galton who teaches Writing Short Stories. She was supposed to be guesting on my blog at the beginning of the week, but obviously she's having the same sort of start to the year as I am - so she will (hopefully) be visiting my blog this weekend. See you soon (both on the blog and in Wales) Della!

Writing course queries . . .

Another thing that got forgotten - well, no, not forgotten but had to be put on the 'to do list ' that is s-l-o-w-l-y being worked through is the answer to the enquiries I've had about writing courses I'll be running in 2017 - which is getting dangerously, frighteningly near!

So here's a quick reminder of the first such course/weekend that is coming - in February 2017 - - Winter Workshop Weekend
Friday 17th February – Sunday 19th February 2017

 As always, I will be running the Advanced Romance Writing Course in Fishguard at Writers' Holiday Fishguard

A series of six advanced novel workshop sessions led by Kate Walker. This course is open to previous Fishguard workshop OR Caerleon Romance course participants OR those who have been on Kate’s basic Romance courses OR Kate’s workshops elsewhere. It is NOT for beginners. Designed especially for Fishguard to move you on, the whole weekend will be concentrated on this workshop – without other distractions. Guests are encouraged to complete and submit work to Kate prior to the weekend commencement.

Usually this course is booked up months ahead but this time because of unexpected health issues or travel problems, I do have a couple of spare places if you're interested - either message me/email via my web site - or send and enquiry via the Writers Holiday Newly updated web site.

And if you don't want to join the Advanced Romance Writing Course - there's always Poetry (with Alison Chisholm) Short Story Writing with Della Galton,   Basic Novel Writing with Rachael Thomas and Painting and Drawing with Susan Alison.  All details are on the web site.

I haven't forgotten the need for details of the 12 Days of Christmas giveaway - but I went out to the shops this morning and so have to recover first!! But those details will follow. But everyone's posts/comments will be noted and go into the draw for winners next week - Charlie is delighted!

A special gift from a past student.

I’ve been busy sorting out my office. This room gets so messy when other things in life are going on – and even worse when the ‘other things’ are writing the next book.

Or planning a course that I’m teaching.

So today has had a bit of both – I’m mapping out the next  novel I’m writing  - and the one that goes with it. This book is planned as a duet, part of two linked books – because my editor asked for that. So really I have two stories to work on and plan out.  Two heroes, two heroines, two stories – ones that are connected and interlinked.

Good thing then that the course I’m currently planning out is  - Beginning Middle and End - Planning Your Novel

(This one takes place on 15 - 17 APRIL 2016 at THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY CIRENCESTER)

I’ll be looking at things like  beginning well, ending so that the reader wants to pick up another of your stories, avoiding the sagging middle!

So hopefully that will get me started well  as I plan out the sessions for the workshops. And then if I get into a muddle and find that I have hit a wall, or , worse, writer’s block , or all my confidence has seeped away, driven away by those dangerous enemies to writers The Crows of Doubt,  then hopefully my workshops for the next course - The Writer's Repair Shop (at Swanwick in Derbyshire )– will give me some help and boosts to my confidence to put things right.

(It's a course for those with work in progress. We've all been there - getting that nasty feeling that some things are not quite right with the book we're working on - but what's the caused it? And even more important, how to fix it? Problems that we will look at: Where to begin your story. Writers' Block and ways to break through it. Characters who don't come alive - how to sustain them as 3 dimensional beings. The sagging middle. Letting your story slip away from you/ lack of belief in what you're writing. Tropes or Clichés - it's all been written before)

So it’s been a busy and concentrated time.  But today I received a package that reminded me of just why I love  running these courses so much. Apart from the enjoyment of meeting up with students, some of whom have now become close friends and some are newcomers, hopefully destined to join that group in the future, there are the moments when discovering that one of my students is now a past-pupil and has achieved her dream of becoming a published author and is launched on her own  successful writing career.

One of these successes is Rachael Thomas who, as most of you will know, was a regular at my Fishguard Bay courses for some years and who had her first book A Deal Before the Altar was published in  published in  October 2014. Since then there have been  four more  with several lined up to appear on the bookshop shelves very soon.

Which brings me back to the package that arrived today. The Sheikh’s Last Mistress will be Rachael’s newest title – published in May this year and I’ve been lucky enough to be sent an advanced copy.  So, I have to acknowledge that this book isn’t new to me.  I first read the opening of it when Rachael brought it for a one-to-one at Fishguard  and then I read the early version of the full story in 2012. So I recognise it and the essential elements of it very well.  But those earlier versions didn’t  succeed and, wisely Rachael put the book away until she could look at it with clearer and more objective eyes.  (One of the things I often recommend when a writer gets really stuck and just can’t see where the book is going wrong.) Then, when your head is clearer, you can take it out and look at it afresh.  (Yes – that will be one of the points I’ll make in the  Swanwick course.)

Another point I always make is not to throw anything away – what doesn’t work now can always be reworked  when you know more, have a clearer idea of where you’re going and what editors want. So I’m extra delighted to get my hands on an advance copy of The Sheikh’s Last Mistress. I’m so looking forward to reading about Rachael’s heroine Destiny and the hero Sheikh Zafir in these new reincarnations, reworked, revised – but built on the same foundations as that first version I read in 2012.

It’s so great that my courses and my advice have helped  other writers move from student to published author – and to read their works  as printed  books  rather than in manuscript. 

So guess what my weekend reading will be -  a lovely relaxation  after the work on the next couple of courses coming up.  
And hopefully Rachael’s never give up approach will  inspire my next group of students . .and he next.

Thank you so much for the copy if Destiny and Zafir’s story, Rachael – I’m so looking forward to reading it.

Home again, home again . . .

I have finally found my way to my computer keyboard.  I got home on Wednesday but the decorators were still in the house and we've spent the last few days climbing over pots of paint, dodging wet  gloss on doors and windows,  avoiding  dangling, pasted wallpaper and  hunting for things under dust sheets  . . .  We lost Ruby the cat under those sheets several times and she has a couple of suspiciously glossy looking new patches on her fur.

But now the decorator is packing up his pasting table and step ladders and hopefully we'll have the house to ourselves for a while.  Until the new wardrobes are put in!  The bedroom wallpaper looks lovely as do the hall, stairs and landing and I'll be able to move a chest of drawers, bookshelves and dressing table back into the places they belong over the weekend.

It seems impossible that it is actually a week since I was just starting to teach on the weekend course of Advanced Romance Writing at Fishguard in Wales. I ha d a fabulous time there! Teaching this

course is so much more like  enjoying myself talking to friends so that it's never a hardship. We laughed so much, talked for hours (I think the earliest I got to bed was 1.30 am) and shared a great time. There were a couple of newcomers to the course this year but they were absorbed into the group from the start and everyone jelled so well.

I have to send special thanks to Melissa, Vasiliki, Sallyann, Melanie, Marie, Sonia, Andrea, Kim, Fiona, Nerys, Jenny, Claire, Ingrid for sharing the weekend with me - and for your lovely card and gift. I  was so touched to receive that.  Thank you!   I shall hope to find something special to celebrate with the champagne!

I always love my weekends (or weeks in the summer) spent beside the sea on the Welsh coast and I'm already looking forward to teaching the Complete Romance Writing Course at the Fishguard Bay Hotel in July ( Monday 25th July - Saturday 30th July 2016). There are still some places available on this course this year - and there are also some day   delegate plac

es still available. The week holiday rates are all-inclusive  and the day delegate places include everything but a bed!

But if you're interested in the Advanced Romance Writing Course in 2017  then better make enquiries now!  I'm not exactly sure how many spaces are free for next year - yes I did say that - for 2017! - but I think there are only one or two available right now as almost everyone booked up again  after this year's event.  Details and booking forms are available on the Writers' Holiday web site

But I must also let you know about the other courses coming up this year  so I'll post the details over the next couple of days - but basically they are these:

15 - 17 APRIL 2016 at THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY CIRENCESTER

 Beginning Middle and End 

 13 - 15 MAY 2016 at THE HAYES CONFERENCE CENTRE SWANWICK DERBYSHIRE

The Writer's Repair Shop  with Kate Walker

A course for those with work in progress.

'

14  -16 OCTOBER 2016 at The Hayes Conference Centre Swanwick Derbyshire.

All inclusive fee for these courses £249

Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction  A RETREAT.

Details for these courses, and to book - go to the Relax and Write web site

And of course I will be back at Fishguard in July for the

 FISHGUARD BAY HOTEL July

The Complete ROMANCE Writing Course  

  This course is intended to provide information and advice for anyone who wants to learn how to write a popular romance genre novel. It gives an introduction to all the skills needed for success, from creating realistic characters, sustaining pace and conflict, packing emotional punch, writing sex scenes and crafting a satisfying ending. While the focus may be on romance novels, the techniques – dialogue, characters, tension, pacing, settings, hooks etc. will also be relevant to all forms of popular fiction.

Bookings for this course and a summer week by the sea at: Writers’ Holiday  web site  http://writersholiday.net/

Pink Hearts Day

Today's my day for blogging at the Pink Heart Society blog - and from now on the 3rd of the month will be my regular date there. Today I'm talking about one of my favourite February (and other dates!) way of filling up my writer's 'well' - with the courses I run with  Writers Holiday  and those run by  Relax and Write  which reminds me, I need to give more details of some of those  when I update my Events Page

Courses coming up 1 - Cirencester in April

OK  - so as I've been asked to let you now about my teaching plans for this year   - the first course coming up is the Advanced Romance Writing Course in the Winter Weekend and Fishguard but as I said yesterday there's only one place left on that   weekend  so I'll list the rest of the course planned for this year.

The first one is a weekend course at the Royal Agricultural  College Cirencester .  That's coming up in April. There has already been quite a bit of interest in this one  - so if you are interested in a place on them course, contact Relax and Write and  put your name down for it.

RELAX  AND WRITE

CREATIVE WRITING WEEKEND COURSE

‘Beginning Middle and End’

Planning your novel from start to finish

15 - 17 APRIL 2016

Attend as a Day Visitor or Residential Member

at

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

CIRENCESTER

Was your New Year resolution to ‘write that novel’?  Did you start out hopefully, wanting to write the story that was burning in your head ... Only to find that now you’ve slowed down, lost the plot, lost your way, become bogged down in a ‘sagging middle.’  Could you do with a route map - some guidelines to help you find your way?

This course will teach you how to plan out your novel so that you have a much better idea of where you’re going and how to create the best read possible.  It will show you how to:

l  Start well

l  Use opening hooks

l  Use a synopsis to keep yourself - and your characters - on track

l  Avoid the ‘sagging middle’

l  Maintain pace to keep the reader turning pages

l  Create a satisfying end - making the reader want more from you

All inclusive fee £245 and includes Sunday Lunch.

For further information Contact Lois Bird-Maddox ‘Relax & Write’ Course Organiser  :  www.malagaw

orkshops.co.uk 

Write to: The Secretary, ‘Relax & Write’ 9 (D) Langthorn Close, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol BS36 2JH.

Groups are kept small to benefit from the writing experience. Please let your Writing Group know about our ‘Relax & Write’ weekend courses, which are held at different venues during the year.  Book early to guarantee a place. Book early and pay by instalments. Non-participating partners welcome. Free Parking is available.

Also at this weekend: 

'Writing the Past' with Stephen Wade

This course is intended to help both fiction and non-fiction writers at all stages of their writing lives. The aim is to provide help and guidance in all areas of writing which is concerned with the past. The course topics include the full range of writing and research skills you need to write in any category about the past. All inclusive fee £245 and includes Sunday Lunch.

So You Think You Can Write - what if your story doesn't make it?

With the SYTYCW Top 50 being announced today, there will be  lots of entrants who didn't make the cut wondering what to do with your  submission, how to rework it so that  the editors


would like to see more of it if you want to submit it  later.


Rachael Thomas who was in the Top Ten in the contest in 2013   was one of my students on the Fishguard Advanced Romance Writing course with Writers' Holiday.   She now  has  more than five books published  after her first title  A Deal Before The Altar came out in September last year and  just had her latest submission accepted.   She knows what it's like to be successful  - and what it feels like to have a novel rejected - like most of us, she's been there and got the tee shirt.
Rachael has some great points on the best way to look at something that  was rejected the first time round  so NOW  needs reworking. She has a great blog post about - well, about 3 important things -




 1. Never give up 


 2. Never throw away any story that didn't work because - well, . . 


 3. The 'didn't work ' stories can always be reworked when you've had time to step away from them for a while then come back and rework them so they do work.
Well worth reading
.  
 I first saw this story as part of the  one to one in the Fishguard Course and  again in full in the RNA's New Writers' Scheme back in 2012 and I'm so glad to see it will now be published. Looking forward to seeing  Destiny and Zafir's story in print.

Coming soon . . .

I'm back from a fabulous  week at Fishguard for the Writers Holiday summer week. I can't believe I've been back  for some days now and still haven't caught up with all the emails, posts and other jobs I have to deal with.

And already people are asking about  courses coming up. Like the Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction Retreat with Relax and Write  in Swanwick in October.  (last I heard this was almost full)

The Advanced Romance Writing Course in Fishguard in February 2016. (Latest information is just 2 places left)

Planning The Romantic Novel - Beginning, Middle and End in  Royal Agricultural College in April 2016 (That's with Relax and Write too)

. . . even to booking for the  summer  Complete Writing Romance course  for the summer  Writers' Holiday  next year.

And in the meantime I have a deadline looming and too much book to write!


Oh well, I should be used to planning ahead - that's part of the game in the publishing world. For example, I just got a copy of the cover for my next book  - the American Harlequin  Presents edition - and that's not out until December!

But it's a great cover so I wanted to share it with you - and the blurb  to whet your appetite.  So here's the first preview of Destined For The Desert King.   

There's no doubt that their marriage is one of convenience and political maneuvering. But shy beauty Aziza El Afarim secretly hopes that her husband—the boy she once idolized—remembers something of the closeness they shared as children.

Except Sheikh Nabil Al Sharifa is far from the boy he used to be. The weight of loss and power has changed him beyond recognition. Where once there was warmth and generosity, now only a ruthless passion burns. He'll give Aziza everything…except his love.

But as pressure to produce an heir mounts, could there be more than duty in the marriage bed?

Back home - and catching up

I'm back - from a wonderful weekend at Fishguard for the Writers' And Artists'  Weekend. As always I had a wonderful time - with a fabulous group of students who gelled together so well that everything was  fun and not at all like work.
Thank you to all my students who made teaching the Advanced Romance Writing Course  so much fun and filled each day with laughter, discussion and interesting debates. (And some really good writing - I'm hoping (more than hoping) that I'll soon be able to add #15 to my total of 14  past students who have published books in their hands .  Or is that 15 now - and looking to #16? Not sure - I need to go and add up the total!)  Anyway, it was just great.  It always but it seems that each year just gets better.
I know the next one is just about a year away - but this courses always books up so fast that I thought I'd better mention it  now!
Last I heard the Advanced Romance Writing Course was 'very nearly full' - so it's always a good idea to book early: 
Here’s what Gerry of Writers’ Holiday has to say:
Thank you to everyone who took part in the fabulous Winter Weekend and what a lovely time I had thanks to you all!
The FEBRUARY 2016 WINTER WEEKEND WORKSHOPS will take place Friday 19th February - Sunday 21st February at THE  FISHGUARD BAY HOTEL.
FULL DETAILS ON WWW.WRITERSHOLIDAY.NET
No increase in fees for 2016 events
...still remarkable value at only £229 FULLY INCLUSIVE of FULL BOARD PLUS.
WE ARE ALREADY 75% FULL - SO BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PLEASE!!
We look forward to seeing you!
Gerry
(I have a suspicion that the week-long Writers' Holiday in July is also full now too -   good things go fast! But you can always enquire if you're interested.)