This Is What A Romantic Novleist Looks Like

Interrupting my postcards from Vienna to join the campaign....on Twitter in responce to the Daily Mail's article here there is a Hash Tag #thisiswhataromanticnovelistlookslike thanks to gorgeous RNA member Kate Johnson. Her post is here...

So in case you did know...here's is what a romantic novelists looks like -

and here's a picture from the party in question. It's me with the winner of this year's Romantic Novel of the Year JoJo Moyes

And just for the record I was wearing pearls at the party....(but with Pucci not with support tights and twinset). For a brilliant reply to the article see Julie Cohen's responce here.

Pure Passion and Sue Moorcroft (well Sue's book) In Dubai

Today I was in the Kinokuniya book shop in Dubai Mall and much to my delight I saw Sue Moorcroft's latest book - STARTING OVER on the table just as you walk through the front door and near by I saw all Rachel Hore's books including her novel THE GLASS PAINTER'S DAUGHTER which was short listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year and it had its PURE PASSION sticker on it!

I was so pleased I had sneak these photos!

Today I printed off the first40 pages of PENDEROWN, looked through my notes, mind mapped my thoughts on where I thought the book should be going. I also allowed my self to rewrite in long hand the first page - magic again. Tomorrow I will write the synopsis as I see it at the moment and read what I have printed off without editing (this will be difficult) then as a reward I can rewrite page two.

It looks like ds2 can fly out tomorrow - now I am filled with worry. What happens if he's diverted? He's only 15 although he towers over the rest of the family at six foot two. Will he be able to manage the chaos that will be on the other end?

Now For Something Completely Different

Over on Twitter the lovely @CraftyFushia has been kind enough to be interested in my wardrobe dilemmas for the glamorous 50th Anniversary RNA Awards Lunch. This year it has been a real problem, but a delightful one as I have lost a substantial amount of weight (some day I'll tell that story) and well, to put it mildly nothing fit. It was therefore my duty to prowl every Mall Dubai has to offer in order to find something sufficient glam and flattering.

Well, I came up with three in the end and as nothing else in the wardrobe fit I really had to buy all three, but one is head and shoulders above the rest......

What do you think? Can't show you the other two as they are still at the tailor's being taken in.

PS I'm also having coffee with one of the short listed authors - Rachel Hore, tomorrow who is here for the literary Festival

I Am Alive - promise

It's been a long time since I've been here - sorry. I could give you explanations, but I don't want to bore you.

So rather than looking backwards I want to look forward. Next week bring the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature to Dubai and no of course I'm not excited - hah. Can't wait. This has been marked on my diary since they announced the dates last year. The only downside is that I won't be here for the whole thing - no, only two days, in fact missing the main days. However this is balanced with the fact that I will be in Cornwall a week from today and will be celebrating the christening of my great nephew - I do keep telling my niece I'm not old enough to be a great aunt but she just laughs....

Then the week beginning 15th March - well, a dream comes true. We complete on a flat, or more correctly a shoebox in London. When DH and I sold our flat in London 21 years ago I never thought we would be able to have a foot hold in London again, but dream do come true and from the 15th we will have just that a foothold or a shoe box which should make this crazy traveling life of mine much easier.

On the 16th of March it is the glittery affair - the RNA's Romantic Novel of Year Award Lunch! This years it's even more glam as it's the 50th anniversary. The stress of what wear and what shoes to wear has nearly done me in.

Now there is lovely link back from the lunch to the lit festival as one of this year's short listed authors, Rachel Hore will here at the festival!

Now have made that nice link I will give you another one or rather two which go together nicely. The are one making your hero likeable....

Sarah Duncan

Guide to Literary Agents

Finally I'm polishing up the synopsis for A Cornish House for two pitch sessions a the York Festival of Writing. I will try and blog the process about tomorrow as it has been an interesting exercise but right now I am off to read Chapter One again to make sure I saved the cat!(see above links)

RNA Conference 4 - Linda Gillard

I was unable to attend Linda Gillard's session on Sense and Sensitivity, but heard wonderful things about it. Here's what Biddy had to say when she blogged about the conference over on The Pink Heart Society Blog:

"One of the best for me was Linda Gillard about Sense and Sensibility, the use of senses in writing. We mostly concentrated on all the senses but the vision. We live in such a visual world that sometimes we neglect the other senses. We did some exercises that really helped. "

So Linda has very kindly offered me her notes and allowed me to share them with you! Today I'll post through to the first exercise and then continue on from there. Before that though let me tell you a bit about Linda. She now lives in a village outside Glasgow, but spent six years living on the Isle of Skye. Her first career was acting which led to journalism then onto teaching and finally to writing novels. Her last novel Star Gazing was short listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2009. Here's part one of her notes:

"It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision." Helen Keller

Intro
How I came to write STAR GAZING’s blind heroine…
1. “Playing with my imaginary friends” led to imaginary hero
2. Non-visual representation of Isle of Skye to avoid cliché.

I thought the blind “pov” would be limiting and readers would get bored. Reverse was true.
It extended my writing.

Qualifications for a writer:
To be curious
To be observant
You need a good memory
To be sensual (esp. writers of romance!)

When you’re writing, you’re trying to see the picture, to watch the movie of your story unfold. You will eventually be trying to hear what the characters are saying. You’re “eavesdropping”.

But do you tend to stop there?
Do you ever wonder if your readers feel as if they are actually there, in the middle of your story? As if it’s happening to them?

We tend to confine our observations to what we see and hear, but experiences and memories are very much related to all the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, smell & taste.

Memories aren’t just visual.
eg “They’re playing our song”. The power of familiar music to evoke whole scenes.
Looking at holiday photos will show you only what you saw. They don’t convey the heat, the sound of the sea, the noise of children playing, the delicious smells coming from the taverna.

A visual record is incomplete but we tend to think a visual record is a good record simply because sight dominates our other senses. And we live in a visual age. (Elizabethans invariably talked about going to “hear a play”.)


Examples of my childhood memories that couldn’t be captured just visually:

Smell of blackcurrant leaves and the buzzing of bees in the hollyhocks when I played as a child in my garden.

Basil’s Italian ice cream (taste of vanilla, crystals in and coldness of ice cream; the sound of his bell which triggered excitement and salivation!)

The two abiding memories of my first teddy - damp patches on his paws where I chewed and the sound of sawdust moving when I squeezed him. (But I can’t remember what he looked like.

WRITING TASK 1 A Childhood Memory 5 mins 10.25 – 10.30

1. Record an intense memory, perhaps from childhood. Try to recall the event in more than just a visual way. (Your oldest memories are unlikely to be just visual, that’s why they’ve stayed with you.) Use all your senses. Jot down your impressions in note form.

2. Select most powerful aspect of that memory, the thing that brings it to life for you. Note whether it’s a visual memory.

Tomorrow part two........ and let me know how your exercise went and I'll share mine!

RNA Romantic Novel of Year Awards Lunch

What happens when you place a large group of romantic novelists together? There is a queue at the bar and buzz of conversation that is amazing. The publishing industry gathered to celebrated the joys of romance and did so with style and more than a touch of glamour! The event began with a reception where most of these photos were snapped. Please forgive for I have forgotten some name (pls don't be shy if it's you or someone you know - let me know).

Blogger is playing up so I will just list the pictures in order.

Roger Sanderson (aka Gill Sanderson) and Anne Ashurst (aka Sara Craven)

Louise Allenand Evelyn Ryle

Jenny Haddon, Catherine King and Trisha Ashley






Carol Townend and Kate Hardy (who has a great write of the lunch on her blog)



Julie Cohen(who also has a wonderful write on her blog) and another author

Judy Astley

Susie Vereker, Brigid Coady and Carol

Biddy and moi!

Jane Wenham-Jones and you know who

Mary Zacaroli, Carol Sheldon (agent) and Elizabeth Harris

Emma Beswetherick (editor Piatkus) with Paola Ehrlich (Piatkus) and Cath Burke (editor MIRA)

Jane Wenham-Jones and Katie Fforde

Julia Gregson receiving the Romantic Novel of the Year Award for East of the Sun

Julia celebrating.

Judy Piatkus shortly after she received the Life Time achievement award

Jan Jone Jan Jonesand Catherine JonesCatherine Jones (aka Kate Lace)

Victoria Connelly and Jean Fullerton

The winner of the Romance Prize, India Grey

The pub afterwards!

Fellow Novel Racer Cally Taylor and I - amazingly still standing!

Katie Fforde, Susannah Kearsley (short listed author for the main award) and Janet Gover

I have run out of steam I'm afraid................ will post links to other blogs with more detail.

Snow, Snow and more Snow

Well, surprise surprise I'm still in Oxfordshire! The upsides are many - staying with wonderful friends, saw ds2 (for Capt. B that dear son 2) yesterday, and due to limited internet access (hate taking other people's puters) and rising ahead of everyone else (4:30 - thanks to jet lag) I'm making good progress on the rewrite - just over half way!

Tomorrow is the RNA Romantic Novel of Year Awards lunch and I will be there!!!! I leave here this morning to visit ds1's school and discuss A level choices then off to London! Can''t wait.

Have loads of pictures to post but will have to wait until I have a connection for my laptops! Ta for now.

Romantic Novelist Vote Richard Armitage Sexiest Thing on Two Legs

"British actor Richard Armitage has leapt from last year’s 4th place to this year topping the ratings in the Romantic Novelists’ Association 2009 Valentine’s poll, to take the title of Sexiest Thing on Two Legs, beating top Hollywood stars to the number one spot. Johnny Depp, who topped last year’s poll, was pushed firmly into second place, with Hugh Jackman and George Clooney mere also-rans.

“Richard Armitage took 20% of the vote, more than double the count of any other male on the list,” said the RNA pollster. “He was a clear winner from the off.”

The RNA is not alone in admiration of the actor, as numerous online Richard Armitage fan sites will testify. The ardency began with North and South, grew by leaps and bounds with his appearance as the leather-clad baddie in Robin Hood, and shows no sign of diminishing as Spooks takes to the airwaves. ‘It’s a coup for Britain,’ said one starstruck writer, ‘not just for sexy Richard.’

According to romantic novelists, the sexiest male celebrities of 2009 are:
1 Richard Armitage
2 Johnny Depp
3 Hugh Jackman
4 George Clooney
5 Daniel Craig
6 Sean Bean
7 Alan Rickman
8 David Tennant
9 Pierce Brosnan
10 Gerard Butler

The winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2009 will be announced on Tuesday 10th February. "

And I'll be there - Now wouldn't it be a wonderful thing is Richard happened to be free on Tuesday!

Currently am snowbound in Oxfordshire - no Cornwall for me. However it is glorious here and weather permitting I may just get to ds1 and ds2!

On the Road Again

Sitting in airport. Looking forward I think to the cold and frosty weather in the Uk but definitely looking forward to the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year lunch!!!!

Alive and Undamaged but still Resmebling a Chipmunk on One Side and the Romantic Novelists' Association 50th Anniversary Book

Couldn't blog yesterday as the Internet here was playing silly. So I am alive and almost well but best of all no nerve damage. I can now say hand on heart I love my dentist. Thank you all for thoughts and good wishes - I'm sure they helped.

Now for exciting stuff......The RNA will celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2010 and in honour of this occasion they are bringing out this gorgeous book! Loves Me, Loves Me Not. I can't wait as it contains short stories by some of my favorite writers. You can read more about it here.

Other RNA news.....the short list is out for the Romantic Novel of the Year. Here's the press release:

"Bestselling author Cecelia Ahern is one of the six authors shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009, which is organised by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The final six novels are currently being read by a panel of three judges, who will select the winner in time for the presentation at the Awards Lunch to be held on 10th February 2009 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.

This year’s award has a truly international flavour, with authors living far afield and books set in Japan, Canada, India, Dublin and Skye. Cecelia Ahern, whose hero is American, comes from Ireland. She is joined by Susanna Kearsley, who hails from Canada, and Linda Gillard, who lives in Glasgow. England is well represented by Lesley Downer, based in London, Judith Lennox from Cambridgeshire and Julia Gregson, whose shortlisted novel was one of Richard and Judy’s summer reads, from Monmouthshire.

The shortlisted novels are:

Thanks for the Memories - Cecelia Ahern (Harper Collins)
The Last Concubine - Lesley Downer (Transworld/Bantam)
Star Gazing - Linda Gillard (Little, Brown/Piatkus)
East of the Sun - Julia Gregson (Orion)
Sophia’s Secret - Susanna Kearsley (Allison & Busby)
Before the Storm - Judith Lennox (Headline Review)

Cecelia Ahern’s magical tale, where the consequences of a blood transfusion are not quite as expected, was described by readers as “an unusual story, full of originality, with fascinating characters…it blew me away.”

Lesley Downer says: “I'm thrilled and flattered to have been shortlisted. I grew up with Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice and hugely enjoyed creating a romantic world of my own. I found it utterly gripping to write about a society which has no concept of romantic love. It made it all the clearer what a powerful and primeval force love is.” Readers agreed, saying, “a real magic carpet of a book… truly moving… a hero to die for…couldn’t put it down.”

Linda Gillard’s haunting, lyrical story of a blind woman and the stranger on her doorstep had readers entranced: “…beautifully written and very moving.” Linda says, "I'm thrilled to bits that my eccentric love story has been shortlisted for this important and exciting award."

Julia Gregson’s historical novel of 1920s India was “thought-provoking, rich and engaging with a real sense of place,” said readers. Julia says, “I am delighted and honoured to be shortlisted for the RNA prize.”

Susanna Kearsley’s compelling time-slip novel was described as a “most wonderful love story, a well-written, original and satisfying read”. Susanna says, "I still can't believe it. It's a great honour, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be in company with such wonderful authors."

With the multi-generational family drama by Judith Lennox, readers spoke of “a beautiful epic of love and loss with engaging characters”. This is Judith’s third time on the shortlist, “so I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed!” she says.

The panel with the difficult task of picking a winner from this page-turning collection of romantic novels comprises Alice O’Keeffe, Books Editor at the Bookseller, Fanny Blake, Books Editor of Woman & Home, and Peter Crawshaw, who runs Lovereading.co.uk."

Now the question for today is - have you read any of them and if so which one do you think will be the Romantic Novel of the Year? Last year it was Pillow Talk by Freya North (which I really enjoyed). The best bit for me, of course, is that I'm going to the lunch on the tenth of February.

Laughter and Learning

I had a very high brow post planned for today but my day began with hysterics after DH read this headline from the Gulf News - "Lovers fight after man breaks wind. " You can find the full article here. It's well worth a read. I am still trying to recover.

Things for A Cornish House are starting to fall in place, I think. Having the lightbulb moment, while reading Pillow Talk by Freya North, that I haven't given Madde a voice I realized yesterday working with Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook that I hadn't really given Madde much of a story. Now, I know that sounds funny but it's very true. Here's my protagonist and although her story is interesting and touching it just isn't enough to balance out the story of Serena. So this is why she takes over even though she controls fewer pages in the story - her story is more compelling. So when I had been pounding the pavement around Safa Park here in Dubai in the mornings I worked through some aspect of Madde's story that I could change but it seemed pat as I said a few days ago. But then Julie's words...The key is to write them in such a way that only you could have done it.

So the brain went into overdrive with the questions posed in Donald Maass's book. I could make this work and tell it my way which would make it unique. So while I circumnavigated Safa Park this morning more of the new plot line fell into place and it will make this Madde's story and Serena will take second place. However I know this won't be an easy rewrite. I just hope I am up to the task because I will have raised the stakes and I don't want to let Madde down now that she has become more vulnerable and more flawed.

I finished Pillow Talk earlier this week - Delicious. The book is a pleasure to read and I enjoyed every moment of it. A truly romantic story for the Romantic Novel of the Year award.

Madde Doesn't Have A Voice

First thank you for all your support while I looked at my writing or lack there of and fell into the pit of despair......Several things occurred to me. One is how wonderful the are people who visit my blog and two what a trememdous amount of knowledge there is out there in blog land.

A light bulb moment has just literally occured. I am enjoying a lazy Saturday morning thinking that well if I can't write I can bl..dly well read. So I have been stretched out on the sofa with Pillow Talk by Freya North. This is the book that won the Romantic Novel of the Year and I must say the pages are just turning.

Anyway in the back of my mind was the comment from Julie Cohen regarding the fact that my writing is too pat. here is her comment (hope you don't mind Julie):

"I think it's almost impossible to tell if your own ideas are "too pat". I write things that I think are obvious all the time and someone will always say she didn't see it coming (though perhaps they are just being nice). Of course the ideas are obvious to you, you thought them up yourself. The key is to write them in such a way that only you could have done it. "

I love Julie's books. Her slant on life is fresh and lively. Her voice is unique. So you are wondering where I am going with is this I can tell. Well, I have been struggling with A Cornish House and the fact that Serena, the 15 year old, dominates the story even though page for page there is less of her. I have spent hours thinking of how to balance the story and what can to do to Madde to make her story as compelling. Then reading Freya's book I realize that I have starved Madde of her voice. I have told her story although in her viewpoint in dialogue and action but none of it really in her head and with her thoughts. I know this is a funny thing to say but I felt freedom to run riot in Serena's head which is sucessful but I held back from Madde's because I was incorrectly thinking that being in Madde's head was telling and showing and make for bad writing if that makes any sense.

Suddenlty thinking about this I think this may be what holds August Rock back from being the book it could be .......but I am not going to rewrite that one now. However having decided this morning that I was going to give myself a week to work on the new book I know now I am going to go back into Madde's head from the start and let her voice be heard!!!

Here's a great link if you haven't seen it before - it gives one hope.

First Pages

As one does in Dubai, I was killing time while the boys were having a snow boarding lesson. So I wondered into Virgin and did an exercise........I looked at books. I stroked covers and admired titles. I debated what made me pick up a book and what made me put it down then I read first pages as I have been thinking about mine. As an 'pre-published' writer I know that quite possibly my first page may have to 'better' (here read - a real grabber) than someone who has a following already. I know that because on authors I love I just pick up their books - at most I will read the blurb on the back. I don't read the first page in the shop. I also know I am not alone on this.

However yesterday I read loads of first pages of 'my' type of books - women's fiction. Yesterday's exercise wasn't about improving my mind or challenging it. It was about pleasure as a book buyer. It was also about trying to learn what would make me continue to read my own book - for I am after all writing for me or my type of reader - if that makes sense.

So I stroked and perused my way through maybe fifty books. I am sure the staff thought I was some sort of a pervert. The first book that grabbed me on the first page was Maggie O'Farrells The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. I was intrigued and I would have read more but yesterday I was not in a historical mood and it struck as historical - dance cards yous see. Did I mention that I didn't read the blurb on the back of the books. I chose purely by title, cover and first page. So I put Maggie back for another day. Then I hit upon a section of Erica James' A Breath of Fresh Air. I will confess it wasn't the title or the cover but the fact I knew her name as she won the RNA Romantic Novel of Year award in 2006 with Gardens of Delight. So therefore my research was skewed. However the first two sentence had me:

"Charlotte had never seen a man cry before, so she wasn't sure how to react to her husband's unexpected display of emotion. Not once had she ever imagined Peter capable of crying; It went against all she had ever known about him."

I read on and I am now the owner of the book. I caressed a few more and the next book that ended in my basket was Christina Jones' Love Potions.

"Okay, so finding so finding a naked man in her bed wasn't unusual. There had been one or two in her past - not at the same time, of course."

There was another one that I loved but sadly left behind.....and I can't remember the authors name of the title. May have to return and add it to my list........

So what did I learn in this ... Covers are third on the list of importance to me, titles are first if I don't know the author at all, and the first page put the book into my basket so to speak. Now The cover and title told me it was 'my' type of fiction so maybe I should put them first because when you are looking through tables of mixed fiction I really don't see the covers of Andy McNab and Clive Cussler so packaging works.

You may be wondering how I read out of my 'box' because I do. I love reading the reviews in the weekend section although they never review 'my' type of fiction. Of course there are book club selections, friends books and personal recommendations that round out my trb pile.

When I came home I looked at the various opening lines of August Rock and wondered based on the above research which would make me put it in my basket.

1. Judith sat watching the incoming tide lap over her red toenails and wet the brilliant white lace of her wedding gown. Tears caused it all to blur to pink.

2. The cloying scent of oriental lilies permeated the heavy air. June was not supposed to be this hot on Cape Cod and certainly not on her wedding day.

3. The leaves in the birch trees hung limp as Judith looked at the grey sky. Even the birds were not moving in the heavy air but little girls in rose coloured dresses spun about her with stinking pink lilies clutched in their fists.

Interesting......I know which I would choose based on the first lines but which one would you?

Savoy

What a day! The day would have been wonderful no matter what but was made more so by the recipient of the Romance Prize being friend, Nell Dixon for Marrying Max. I was sitting next to Julie Cohen when the award was announced and we just refrained from totally embarrassing ourselves. The others on table commented.......so you know her then!!!!

Rosie Thomas won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award for Iris and Ruby. I did managed to speak to her and she said she did remember meeting me last year and commenting of the Savoy Lunch.......well, it was nice to here.

I will blog more about the day later but will confess to being tired as I rolled home at 10......

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.