The last few weeks have brought plenty of excitement…
Firstly, the RNA’s Joan
Hessayon Awards. What a lovely evening that was! In front of a room full of
romantic novelists, enjoying wine and nibbles, my fellow nominees and I had our
photos taken, our books praised, and then, having waited in line like a group
of naughty schoolgirls outside the Head’s office, we all received a certificate
and cheque as we were loudly cheered and made to feel very special. No, I didn’t
win, but huge congratulations to Kate Field, who did. And it was great to meet
so many writers, and to see my editors there enjoying the moment too.
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| Joan Hessayon Award contenders with me 4th at the back |
And then, a week later, after an early meal with friends in
Shaftesbury Avenue, it was on to Romance
in The Court, a very warm, relaxed and enjoyable evening at (and outside)
Goldsboro Books near Leicester Square, mixing with authors, editors and
readers. Another event involving free wine (what a shame I don’t drink the
stuff!), with the added bonus of being able to buy newly published books and
have them signed there and then by their authors. I couldn’t resist coming home
with the new Jean Fullerton novel, which even she was surprised to see on the shelves
so far ahead of its official publication day!
Next stop: The SWWJ’s
Summer Gathering. After the annual general meeting, at which I hope to be
re-elected to the Council, we will all be enjoying afternoon tea and an
interesting speech from the ALCS, that wonderful organisation that hands out
money to grateful writers without any of us really understanding exactly where
it comes from! Maybe after this event we will know a little more.
And so it’s now back to the proper work of a novelist: writing
and promoting, in roughly equal measure. With How To Win Back Your Husband’s five minutes of fame at the awards
evening now behind me, it’s all systems go for Lily Alone, due to be e-published in just eleven days’ time. I have
been busy designing some eye-catching ads and promoting the book on facebook
and twitter, and it is already available to reviewers and book bloggers, so I
am hoping to see some early reviews for it very soon. I also had an unexpected
email from The People’s Friend
magazine who are planning to feature the book, and me, in their October ‘Special’
issue alongside a specially commissioned short story. As My Weekly are already planning something similar, I will be getting
lots of much-needed coverage just as the paperback edition hits the shops.
By the time of my next post, Lily will be out there in the
world and being read by thousands… I hope!
