Romantic Novelist Association - Romantic Novel of the Year Shortlist Has Arrived

Well, I was sad not so see Rowan Coleman's name one the shortlist but the list is good and very varied. The link is here http://www.rna-uk.org/index.php?page=awardlist&id=10&type=shortlist. I have to say the book that appeals to me most is One Last Summer by Catrin Collier (Orion) . The synopsis:-

“Allenstein, East Prussia, 1939 – Charlotte von Datski’s parents hold a glittering ball to celebrate her 18th birthday and to announce her engagement to a Prussian count. Meanwhile, Hitler is ready to plunge the world into war, one that will wipe East Prussia from the face of the map. Charlotte is eventually forced to leave her beloved homeland and by 1946 finds herself in London with her young son, struggling to adapt to a new country and a new way of life. The secret of Charlotte’s life is revealed when a book entitled One Last Summer is smuggled out of a Russian prison camp and tells of an affair between a Russian POW and a Prussian aristocrat. It becomes an instant international bestseller. Years later, Charlotte’s granddaughter Emma comes across material relating to these events and she and her grandmother embark on a journey into Charlotte’s past. Charlotte finally faces the demons that have haunted her for over half a century and recalls the one great love of her life. A moving and turbulent novel unlike anything Catrin Collier has written before, but with her trademark storytelling skill and her ability to portray characters with depth and sympathy.” (The novel is based on the life of Catrin’s mother and grandmother).

The other five are intriguing too but the best best thing is that I will be there to see whoever wins pick up their award. Yes, I am flying back for it. I have promised the DH that is not just a knees up with the girls, it is serious networking. Hell last year I met the most powerful woman in British Publishing, Amanda Ross of course I didn't realize who I was chatting to at the time....

Again, I find myself in the position of apologising for being a bad blogger. Dh is now on gardening leave and my parents seem to be stranded here in rainy Dubai. Yes, very rainy Dubai. My parents are longing to get back to Sunny FL but they are on standby and with George Bush's visit here yesterday it didn't seem a good idea to venture to airport last night. It might have been chaos.

I have been meaning to write about my delight at Heathrow terminal 3 as we left the UK. I wandered through Borders and found Patricia Wood's Lottery smothering the front tables in the store where I also found Lucie Whitehouse's The House at Midnight. It was so exciting as I almost felt as if they were my own books on display. I have followed Patricia's blog regularly and many of you know that back when Lucie was wearing her agent hat she gave me some of the best advice I have received in this writing lark.

I was also able to pick up Rowan Coleman's The Baby Club - so all in all I was well pleased with Borders except that they didn't have Julia Williams' Pastures New. However all is not lost as I will be back briefly in the UK. Did I mention that already?

Now finally on to my won writing........none, zip, zilch but I do plan to start today. I will keep you posted.