Welcome

I'm so glad you've found my blog! This is where I share what's going in my life, and where you'll usually find the most up-to-date information on my latest releases. For more detailed information on my books, check out my backlist. And be sure to check out my contest page so you don't miss out!

Margaret

seperator

Thursday 30 October 2008

Contest

Only two days left to enter my contest. So if you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of my latest book The Billionaire’s Blackmail Bargain, just email me your answer to this question. Where in the world is this book set? The answer is on the books page of my website, and the clue is it’s in the southern hemisphere.
Good luck!

Monday 27 October 2008

Proofs

I don’t normally welcome proofs, especially when I’m working on a new book. But on Friday the proofs to The Santorini Marriage Bargain arrived – my other MofC story. And when I read them through over the weekend I was happily reminded that it is nothing at all like the one I’m writing now. So my mild panic is over. It doesn’t mean the story is going to be any easier to write, but at least I’m reassured.

Also there were only three minor corrections – which is a first. I’ve known proofs with lots and lots of corrections.

Friday 24 October 2008

Brick wall

Two chapters in to my current book and I’ve hit a brick wall. Usually if this happens it’s much later in the story, so this is a worrying brick wall. I’m sharing this to give newer authors hope, so that when and if it happens don’t worry. It’s part of the game. It happens to all of us sometimes no matter how long we’ve been writing or how many books we have written.

My first impulse today is to forget the book and go and do something else. (Actually I have a husband at home who I delegate jobs to – he’s cleaning windows at this very moment). But that never works for me. So what I intend to do this morning is give myself a question and answer session. Why isn’t the story working? Do I know enough of the character’s history? Is the hero too nice? (This is so easy to do when you fall in love with him yourself too soon in the story) Do I have enough emotional conflict? Yes, yes, yes, is the answer to this last question. My problem lies in that this story runs along vaguely similar lines to my last one and I obviously don’t want to make it the same. It’s a marriage of convenience where the couple need to marry for the sake of the business.

So it’s head down today and hopefully I’ll sort myself out. I’ve had a busy week this week with not much writing done. I hate interruptions when I'm working on a book, so I really need to get back into the swing of it.

Also, a reminder that there’s only one week left to enter my current competition for a copy of my latest book The Billionaire’s Blackmail Bargain. The question is, Where in the world is this book set? The answer’s on my website so email me here for a chance to win.

Monday 20 October 2008

I'm blogging over on We Write Romance today about how I became a romance author and the fact that I fall in love with every hero I write about. Do take a look and let me know whether you too fall in love with the heroes in Presents books.

Thursday 16 October 2008

Heroes

Chapter one completed. Vidal is absolutely dishy. I’m going to have a wonderful time exploring his character, falling in love with him myself. He’s a full-blooded, fiery Spaniard and already he wants Elena in his bed. Whew! I’m expecting my daughter any minute with my adorable grandson and that means writing will stop for the day. On the one hand I’m sorry, on the other I have my new little hero to play with.

Monday 13 October 2008

New book

We have lift off. My blank screen is no longer blank. The story of Vidal and Elena is about to be told. I know it will take me some time to get into it as I’ve had a longer break than normal between books, but I’m feeling quietly excited about this new story. There’s going to be an aristocratic feel about it as both hero and heroine move in high circles – something I’ve not tackled before, at least not from the heroine’s pov. I don’t have any photographs of my characters yet, but when and if I do I’ll be sure to post them.

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Waiting

I'm running another idea by my editor so while I'm waiting I thought I’d share this. It’s from the instruction leaflet that came with a tube of gel prescribed by my doctor.

Remove the tube from the carton and unscrew the cap... Then it goes on to tell you how to apply the gel, finishing with: Replace the cap on the tube and return the tube to the carton.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel insulted. Who writes this stuff?

Thursday 2 October 2008

Synopsis

The waiting is over and it was not good news. My ed had grave reservations about my synopsis – so it’s back to the drawing board. We talked over some ideas and I’m going to spend the weekend fleshing them out and hopefully get back to her early next week. I suppose the fact that the story had gone no further in my mind during the waiting period should have told me that it wasn't a brilliant idea in the first place. Nevertheless it's disappointing.