A Fabulous Time In London

I'm back from London - and  have recovered from the travel, the heat, the meetings, the lunch/dinner/party  . . .

Well, that was a hectic - and fun time. Let me see - there was the trip down to london and the unexpected heatwave that of course got warmer the further south we went.

The first evening we were at the Garrick Theatre where we had seats for  The Entertainer - with Kenneth Branagh. A  great evening - I have to say that the play is not one of my favourite ever  and I have some problems with it  where at times it's rather static and wordy - but the music hall scenes were brilliant - and that's where K B came into his own.  So glad we saw it.

Andie Brock with her cover display

Thursday was spent visiting the Harlequin office in the News Building (next to the Shard) at London Bridge.  Another unexpectedly hot day   but it was great to be shown round the offices (on the 16th floor!), meet all the editors  - specially Grace who knew just how to make this author's day by telling me how much she had loved Indebted to Moreno when she read it! -   and get to know (again!)  my new editor.  Except she isn't my new editor  - we worked together in the past  (can you believe 20 years ago!)  when the first book we worked on  was The Groom's Revenge which was published in 1997!!  It was great to catch up again and renew our working relationship and friendship.  That evening  was a great time to get together with some lovely friends - Rachael Thomas (who regular readers will know is one of my ex -Fishguard Writers Weekend students who is now building a successful writing career and into double figures with her  accepted titles.)  Chantelle Shaw and Lara Temple who you met on this blog some weeks back.

My lovely friend Anna Sugden and her book cover

Friday was the AMBA lunch and  then the fabulous Harlequin party - back in the News Building  - but this time on the 17th floor!  It was  great to meet up  with some many lovely friends old and new and make some new ones amongst the   Mills and Boon Authors.   There were celebrations of some authors 'milestone' books, prosecco and other

With my sexy Spaniard cover

 celebratory drinks  and canapés - not that  I could manage any after the  AMBA lunch.

More lovely friends Rachael Thomas and Chantelle Shaw

Scarlet Wilson and Kate Hardy looking glamorous

Great goody bags for everyone 

     

 

Rachael Thomas  again with author  Louise Fuller

And finally  - my  favourite editor ever  - lovely Lesley Stonehouse. Why is she so very  special to me?
Because Lesley is the lady who picked my book out from the slush pile   over 30 years ago  -  the book the became The Chalk Line - my first ever published novel - so she started me on this wonderful career and she's  taken a great interest in what I do ever since.

Thank you Lesley!

40 for 40 - Scarlet Wilson

Today's guest is Medical Author Scarlet Wilson.  I was going to tell you how we first met, but I see that she has done that for me in her post! Thanks Scarlet!  But before I met Scarlet as a writer, I 'met' her as a reader when she wrote to me about one of my books - Kept for Her Baby.  So it was a thrill to meet her as a person and then as a new writer for M&B. Scarlet has what I think is the unique honour of having had not just one book nominated for last year's RNA's RONA Rose Award - but two in the same final. Sadly she didn't win  - but that is some accolade for her books.  And you'll have the chance to win  her latest - which is a two in one so some lucky reader will win both titles.

Welcome Scarlet!
Meeting Kate and the Babe Magnet

I was lucky enough to first meet Kate and the Babe Magnet  at the RNA conference in London in July 2010.  I hadn’t yet made my first sale but had a manuscript in with Mills and Boon and had an appointment to meet the editor I was working with and was very excited.  I followed Kate’s blog on line and was delighted she was so friendly and would be going to the conference.

But I didn’t meet Kate first.  I met the lovely Stephen first.  He saw me wandering along aimlessly, outside Greenwich University.  He gave me a friendly smile and the words “Going to the Romance Conference?” which was quickly followed by, “Follow me.”  Stephen actually picked up a few waifs and strays along the way and herded us along to place we were supposed to register.

I met Kate a little later after a few glasses of wine!  I told her about my editor meeting (which had also involved a few glasses of wine! Do you see a pattern emerging here?) and she was full of

enthusiasm and encouragement.  I made my first sale in Jan 2011 and Kate was one of the first to email and congratulate me.

It’s because of friendly people like Kate and Stephen that I love going to the RNA conferences so much.  People who take the time to say hello and give you a smilewhen you don’t know a single person and are just a bit terrified!

I have a double bill out in August this year.

THE MAVERICK DOCTOR AND MISS PRIM

Unleashing the 'real' Callie Turner!

Dr Matt Sawyer isn't afraid to break rules. After losing his wife on a field mission, he thinks life is too short for red tape.  When there's a suspected outbreak in his ER, the last person he wants brought in is someone like Callie 'By The Book' Turner!

Callie is truly in the firing line, but Matt is reluctantly intrigued by the latent beauty under her neat designer suits and sparks are soon flying - in more ways than one - between the buttoned-up investigator and this sexy rebel doctor!

ABOUT THAT NIGHT…

That night…

...when Dr Evan Hunter had no resistance to Dr Violet Connelly in her silver dress and spiked heels...

That night…

...when her kiss made him forget he was her boss, and the consequences of his actions..

And the next day. ..

. . . it was if nothing had ever happened.  Because nothing could happen between them.  Ever.

Until they are sent to Africa on a vaccination campaign together, where the hot climate and the less than ideal sleeping arrangements make working together difficult - and forgetting that night impossible!

To win a copy just answer this question…

Where would you spend your perfect night?  On a tropical island, in a luxury hotel, on the Orient Express, or somewhere else entirely?