Savoy Lunch

Tomorrow I get to play a grown up and a writer. Tomorrow is the Romantic Novelist Association's luncheon to award the Romantic Novel of the Year. This is big stuff - very big stuff if you are a groveling little (not really a correct term for me but what the h...)aspiring novelist like me. Last year I went and trembled all day as I knew so few of the very very glamorous people there. Fortunately the members of the RNA are a kind and friendly lot. Jan Jones showed me the ropes when I arrived and soon with a glass or two of wine on an empty stomach the world looked a lot brighter. I then found the face of fellow newbie Fiona Harper and this helped tremendously. The whole event passed in a blur but again Jan who had helped with the seating arrangement had put me at a table with a great bunch which included two of my now fellow novel racers, Lesley Cookman and Bernardine Kennedy, plus Jill Mansell and Giselle Green. I had a ball and the only down side was the speaker but that is best forgotten. Post lunch I had a wonderful time chatting with Katie Fforde and Danuta Kean in the pub. I think I floated home. I, a lowly nobody, had had a ball with so many wonderful authors........I still smile thinking about it.

The following day I went to my book club which this time was taking place at the then Oktars in Putney to discuss Rosie Thomas's book Iris & Ruby with her. Well, I was still glowing (nothing to do with the copious amounts of wine consumed the day before) from my exciting day at the Savoy. I spoke with Rosie and asked if she had gone. No, she hadn't been in years. Well ,as Iris & Ruby is shortlisted this year, I trust she'll be there tomorrow.

Also awarded tomorrow is the Romance Prize. This is given to the best category Romance. There are two newcomers on the list that I am secretly routing for - Nell Dixon and Michelle Styles. I'll keep you posted.

So now down the the nitty gritty........what to wear. What fits? What's comfortable - as it's a long day and finally, what looks good? Answer........nothing. Tomorrow morning I will have turned out my entire wardrobe and nothing will make me happy. I should have taken the sound advice and bought something new but I haven't. Well, I did in Florida so hopefully something from that shopping will come up trumps tomorrow. Let's hope anyway.

So tomorrow morning I'll be meeting up for coffee before had with Fiona Harper. Both of us and really looking forward to the big event this year.............

Hopefully the profiles of the novel racers will start to filter in.......slowly I am slipping around blogs and asking them. Of course I would greatly appreciate anyone being proactive and emailing (address in profile).............off to do my broken nails for tomorrow.