Blogger Bundle

It’s getting closer to the release of Harlequin’s latest Blogger Bundle selected by We Write Romance. If you love Presents this would be the best New Year’s ‘present’ to yourself.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that Harlequin Presents stories have it all: strong, sophisticated heroes and sensual, endearing heroines fighting to find love in exotic, romantic places.

This blogger bundle would be perfect post-Christmas reading.

The line up for the Bundle is:

The Twelve-Month Mistress by Kate Walker

Lessons from a Latin Lover by Anne McAllister

The Brazilian’s Blackmailed Bride by Michelle Reid

Surrender to the Millionaire by Margaret Mayo

Happy!

Why does something that sounds so simple become so major? Change one scene, my editor said. It took me all day! I worked from 9am to 11pm. Admittedly I took time off to eat, to shop (a necessity), to watch my two favourite soaps (another necessity). I was brain dead by the time I had finished but I had increased my output by a thousand words as a consequence, so I was happy. And all my Christmas shopping is done, so I'm happier still.

Good news

It's good news. My editor likes my partial. So Zander and Kara can continue happily with their story. Thank goodness, because I'm on Chapter 8 and I would have hated to put it to one side. The trouble is at the moment that Christmas is kind of getting in the way. I'm pretty well organised but I think my writing will have to take a back seat until after the holiday. Last year we went away for Christmas but this time we're having a quiet one at home. If Christmas can be quiet!

Heroine

I thought you might like to see a photo of Kara, my latest heroine. (She's actually a model by the name of Eliza Dushku - isn't she gorgeous?) How can Zander not fall in love with her? It's a pity he's off women altogether. No, that's not strictly true. He's just sworn never to get married again after a painful divorce.

Foreign editions

It seems to be the week for foreign editions. I’ve had Polish and Czechoslovakian. Italian and French, as well as Japanese. It’s intriguing to see all the different covers and how I wish I could read the translations.

Christmas is fast approaching and I need to go and shop but I don’t want to leave my writing. I am being persuaded, though, to go out tomorrow – but only on condition that I work on Saturday. Time will tell if it works out.

Review - The Twelve-Month Marriage Deal

The Twelve-Month Marriage Deal is in the shops now here in the UK, and also on-line.

It's the story of Elena taking her sister's place as Vidal's bride in order to save her parents' bank. And I've had my first review from The Pink Heart Society.

Margaret Mayo has succeeded in bringing two characters together who challenge each other from the first page, ensuring this story is a one sitting read. I literally couldn't wait to turn the pages to see how they were going to react to the situations they found themselves in. The ending was beautifully done, with each character realising their marriage was full of sparks - but for all the right reasons.

You can read the rest of the review here and don't forget you can win a copy by entering my latest contest.

Christmas Contest

Just a reminder that there is only one month left in my Christmas contest. If you want to be a winner check it out on my blog. Or in case you’re feeling lazy and don't want to go there all you have to do is tell me what would be the perfect Christmas for you? Money no object. I think that for me it would be if I didn’t have to cook dinner. I’d like all my family around me but I’d like to be waited on hand and foot. Your answer need not be this simple. You might fancy being on a desert island with your hero. Or a trip out in space, looking down at the earth with all its Christmas lights. How fantastic would that be? Go on, surprise me.

Fingers crossed

I cleaned the windows inside this morning before I began work. Then coincidentally the window cleaner came and did outside. And now I can hear my dustbin being cleaned (every six weeks this guy comes and cleans and perfumes it, following the bin men around. We have to pay, of course, but it’s worth it) So everything is sparkling today – except the weather. It’s been pretty grim the last week or so with torrential rain – especially in Cumbria – my heart goes out to the people who have had their homes flooded.

But in my writing world all is well. I shall be sending off four chapters to my editor later today – so I want you all to keep your fingers crossed for me. If you remember my last two books were both rejected at this stage. And it’s not good for my moral. At the moment I’m feeling fairly confident. In fact I love my new Greek hero. I also feel sorry for him because he’s had problems in his life. Hopefully they will be overcome when he falls in love with the beautiful Kara. Not that she doesn’t have her own problems.

Harrumphing

Has anyone ever used the word harrumphing? I typed it today and then wondered whether anyone would know what it meant. I guess it's a very old word because I can't find it in any of my dictionaries and yet my spell checker didn't pick up on it. I've changed it now to snorted. But it got me thinking about how words have gone out of fashion. My grandson is always coming up with words that I have never heard. And I remember the first time my son called a girl fit. I thought he meant physically fit - until he explained.
Oh, well. Back to the writing. I'm on a roll at the moment. (which doesn't happen often I can assure you)

Greek hero

Not managed as much writing today, only 1300 words. No sprinting!! But everyone of them was important - I'm setting the scene for much heartache later on. My hero is Greek and I've given him the name Zander, but I'm not sure that it suits him. Any other suggestions?

Speed writing

Over the weekend I read Nicola Marsh’s blog about Sprinting. Sprinting with regard to writing. A fifteen minute writing sprint without stopping. It apparently increases your output so I thought I would give it a try this morning. But did it work? Not really. Before five minutes was up I’d stopped to read back through what I’d written. I guess it’s not in me to keep going. I need the reassurance that what has gone before is OK. I can’t seem to carry on if I don’t perfect as I go along. When I do have sprints, albeit mini ones, it’s because I know exactly where I’m going. At all other times I feel my way – every inch of it, every word, every sentence. How about you, are you a sprinter or a plodder?

Oh, and by the way, despite not sprinting I managed just over 3000 words today.

New beginnings

Today I wrote the first thousand words of my new book. I always think this is the exciting part, introducing the characters and setting the scene. My hero is Greek and gorgeous, I guess that isn’t surprising, and my heroine is – well she’s a bit of an alpha woman, owning her own business, quite successful in her own right, adequately capable of standing up to the Greek. Except when he sends her dizzy with desire! I’m really looking forward to getting to know them better. I’ve lived with them for a week or so now as I’ve worked out my plot, but there’s still a lot for me to find out.

e-books

I have some exciting news to share. We Write Romance are sponsoring an e-book bundle of four back-list Presents books – and my Surrender to the Millionaire is one of them. The collection will be available from January 1st so if you prefer e-books then make a note in your diary now. Other authors in the bundle are the fabulous Kate Walker, the inimitable Anne McAllister, and the lovely Michelle Reid. So all in all it will be an excellent read.

Christmas contest

Two more days and I shall be able to concentrate on my writing again. Meanwhile it's time for a new contest which will shortly be up on my website.

So here it is, with a Christmas theme - because, whichever way you look at it, Christmas is fast approaching.

November/December contest

As Christmas is just around the corner how would you like to tell me what would be your perfect way to spend Christmas?

Perhaps you’d like to go away, get away from it all, be waited on for a change?

Or maybe you just love a traditional Christmas with your loved ones around you?

Or would a perfect Christmas be where money is no object, where you could throw the biggest party ever, buy whatever you like and not even have to think about the expense?

I’d love to hear from you. A copy of my December release The Twelve-Month Marriage Deal, together with a little extra surprise, will be on its way in the New Year to whoever succeeds in catching my imagination. And who knows, it could form part of a story some time – especially if there’s a gorgeous, handsome hero somewhere on the scene.

If you want to enter e-mail me your answers here.