A few days later and I am still in a state of delighted shock… A Cornish Affair won the Festival of Romance's Readers' Award for Best Romantic Read! The short list was superb and I still become teary when I think about it. This book took a long time in coming to publication. Those who follow the blog know that it began life as August Rock back in 2005.
Since then if has been rewritten more time than I want to count. But I am so thrilled that Jude's story won.
As with last year the Festival was held in Bedford and this year it was bigger and better. This is the only event in the UK for readers of romance to meet their favourite authors and connect with new writers. I think there were 60 romance authors this year.
On Saturday morning it was the coffee and cake event with 14 authors. I read an short extract from the award winning (need to keep saying so I can believe it!) A Cornish Affair. And the big highlight was meeting the wonderful John Jackson!
The book fair was held in the Corn Exchange and it was great with share a table with Kat Black and William Coles.
Then I had a book signing at Waterstones with the lovely Hazel Osmond (one of my fellow short listed authors)…
Then complete collapse in my room. I was beat. I looked at my dress which glittered and sparkled at me and thought I can't wear it. But bullied on by friends on Twitter I donned the frock and set forth the ball. As with any time when you get a bunch of romantic novelist together the volume is high and the conversation can slip low…this was no exception….
I was happily tweeting the award winners live and was all set to type in the winner of the Readers' Award for Best Romantic Read when…my name was called. I am grateful there are no pictures of my face! I fully expected any other the other wonderful authors on the list but not my name.
Somehow I made it up to receive my award from the wonderful Christina Courtney (fellow Heroine Addict) and then sat down stunned. In fact I was shell shocked all evening and didn't know what to do with myself…still feeling this way but now I can at least work on the next book!
Kate Allen has done a wonderful job with the festival and I'm already looking forward to next year.
I wish I could thank the readers personally. I am so thrilled they loved Jude's and Tristan's journey…
So off to Dubai in about a half hour…yes, back to normal life on a plane.
PS…finishing this post at 35,000 feel somewhere over Europe!
Since then if has been rewritten more time than I want to count. But I am so thrilled that Jude's story won.
As with last year the Festival was held in Bedford and this year it was bigger and better. This is the only event in the UK for readers of romance to meet their favourite authors and connect with new writers. I think there were 60 romance authors this year.
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| Me holding the lovely Miranda Dickinson's latest book Take A Look At Me Know |
On Saturday morning it was the coffee and cake event with 14 authors. I read an short extract from the award winning (need to keep saying so I can believe it!) A Cornish Affair. And the big highlight was meeting the wonderful John Jackson!
 |
| Me reading…picture courtesy of John Jackson |
The book fair was held in the Corn Exchange and it was great with share a table with Kat Black and William Coles.
Then I had a book signing at Waterstones with the lovely Hazel Osmond (one of my fellow short listed authors)…
Then complete collapse in my room. I was beat. I looked at my dress which glittered and sparkled at me and thought I can't wear it. But bullied on by friends on Twitter I donned the frock and set forth the ball. As with any time when you get a bunch of romantic novelist together the volume is high and the conversation can slip low…this was no exception….
I was happily tweeting the award winners live and was all set to type in the winner of the Readers' Award for Best Romantic Read when…my name was called. I am grateful there are no pictures of my face! I fully expected any other the other wonderful authors on the list but not my name.
 |
| Sue Morrcroft, Liz Fenwick, Jane Lovering, Rowan Coleman and Hazel Osmond |
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| Sorry about the pink lightening…Tracy Bloom (Tracey won the Best Author Published Book) and Liz Fenwick |
Kate Allen has done a wonderful job with the festival and I'm already looking forward to next year.
 |
| Broo Doherty won the agent award |
I wish I could thank the readers personally. I am so thrilled they loved Jude's and Tristan's journey…
So off to Dubai in about a half hour…yes, back to normal life on a plane.
PS…finishing this post at 35,000 feel somewhere over Europe!
