Scarlet Wilson

Three things at once

2012-02-23T01:25:00.001-08:00

I'm currently being pulled in three different directions.

I'm waiting to hear back on my Christmas revisions. Is my editor happy with the story? Or does she want further changes?
The author alterations for A Bond Between Strangers - my September book are due to hit. This book is part of a duet with Anne Fraser and because we wrote these books out of synch there are quite a few amendments to be made. Author alterations usually involve checking grammar, missing words or wrong names and run to about 2 pages. These will probably run to about 12!
I'm ready to start the cruise ship book. In fact the cruise ship book is already written. But then it's not. I wrote another cruise ship book 3 years ago. So I have the research. I have the character profiles. But I'm starting again from scratch. This will be completely different story. The ship will just be going on the same route!

When I'm writing a story I like to stay in that story. I become immersed in it and don't really want to be pulled out. So I'm itching to get started on the cruise ship, but would prefer it if my author alterations and any further revisions were out of the way first.

Then I can really focus on the story I want to write.

In the meantime here is the cover for my May story West Wing to Maternity Wing! I've escaped the orange writing and got some groovy purple!

It's going to be a very busy year......

2012-01-31T02:11:00.000-08:00

So now that Christmas and New Year are distant memories, my house has started to resume of semblance of normality, the kids are back at school and have activities every night of the week, I've decided to take stock. And plan ahead.

YIKES! Do I really think I can do all this????

Lots of things I'm doing this year are fun. I'm going to the RNA Summer Party on 17 May in London. And I'm organised, I've booked my flights and hotel so I will definitely be there. I'm up for the Joan Hessayon Award as my first published novel went through the New Writers Scheme. I don't think I'll win - I've seen the other nominees, but I'm looking forward to going. Hoping to see Natalie Rivers and India Grey and lead them astray... I'm also hoping I'll get the opportunity to go and see Mills and Boon headquarters in Richmond, now that would be cool!

July is the conference at Penrith, which I'm hoping to drive to - I may never be seen again as I don't have the best sense of direction in the world. But my other half and I drove down to Blencowe Hall in Cumbria in November and that didn't seem too far away. My place is reserved, I'll be in a room near to Natalie and India again, and I will hopefully meet the minxes!

Finally September is the Mills and Boon Author lunch in London again and as I had such a good time last year I will definitely be going again. (In between all this I have a "football" weekend in a dodgy caravan with my 7 yr old in May, a family holiday on a cruise ship in July and a girls weeked in Edinburgh in November which I haven't told my other half about yet!)

I also have three lovely books to write for Mills and Boon this year. The first is submitted and awaiting revisions, the second is almost planned and the third? Ask me about that in October!

I've also agreed to be an editor at the Pink Heart Society this year and write a monthly column for them. I will also be blogging at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs a few times this year.

All this a day job, 2 lively kids and a beloved other half. Time? Who needs it!!!!

So near and yet so far....

2012-01-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

I'm in the last fifth of my Christmas story. I've finally hit the 40,000 word mark and I do know what's going to happen in the next two chapters. I just want someone else to write it for me.
It's quite sad as I really, really wanted to write a Christmas story for Mills and Boon. In fact I begged!

But part of my issue is the book I've written previously. Book 4 shot out of my fingers like wildfire. I don't know where it came from. It's part of a duet with Anne Fraser and I've just been given a title for it The Bond Between Strangers.

It seemed to have a life all of its own. I wrote everyday and couldn't stop. It wouldn't let me. I loved my characters and they spoke to me constantly.

This book has been like wading through treacle.

The beginning came easily, my partial went to my editor who gave me some pointers which have been amended accordingly. It's just the rest of it that's been the problem.

But I know I'm not the only one. Two books I've read recently have had interesting dedications that made me feel as if I'm not alone. Barbara Wallace's The Heart of a Hero which read To my editors - for being so patient while I worked to get this story just right, and Trish Wylie's The Inconvenient Laws of Attraction which read - For everyone who kept me from hitting the ground until I remembered how to fly again.

So I am absolutely determined to finish this week. 1500 words a day will do it.

And off I go....

Anyone else had a treacle like book??

Favourite Reads 2011

2011-12-31T08:06:00.000-08:00

I have to admit to having the biggest TBR pile in the world. But in all I've read just over 150 books this year. So how do I pick some favourites? I am sad. I have an excel spreadsheet and a marking system that I will never reveal to anyone.
This is completely random, but the favourites this year have been
Room by Emma Donoghue

I have to be entirely honest and say if I'd read the back of this book in a supermarket I wouldn't have bought it. But this book was recommended by a friend who told me it didn't have a bad ending. And with that safe mantra I read it and I loved it.

The Mommy Miracle By Lilian Darcy

This book has a fabulous unique twist on a very traditional storyline. I absolutely loved it.

Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson

This is cracking debut novel that has been sold all around the world. The story of a woman who loses her memories every time she goes to sleep is totally captivating all with a dark thread running underneath.

Ordinary Girl in a Tiara by Jessica Hart

I loved this story. Jessica Hart just makes this story magical!

When One Night Isn't Enough by Wendy S Marcus

I have no idea why this book picture has worked out smaller than the others! But this was the debut story of one my fellow medical writers and it sizzled!

So what was your favourite story of the year?

Next year is going to be pretty busy for me. I'm taking on the role of an editor at the Pink Heart Society blog, as well as writing three new books for Mills and Boon medicals, still working fulltime and trying to keep up with my two sons activities!

So, if I'm thin on the ground - forgive me!

Christmas the Disney way

2011-12-22T10:24:00.000-08:00

We're just back from four magical days in Disneyland Paris and if I was struggling to find the Christmas spirit for the book I'm writing before - I'm certainly not now.
Because like it or not Disney do Christmas very, very well.

From the beautifully decorated Main Street, to the huge Christmas tree at the entrance of the Disneyland Park the whole place just oozes Christmas spirit.

And everywhere you turn there is another Disney character - often adorned in Christmas regalia. And you are surrounded by Christmas music being piped all around you.

Christmas at Disney is definitely commercial, but the spirit is definitely alive and well!
Merry Christmas everyone!

One Perfect Night by Rachael Johns

2011-12-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Today I want you all to help celebrate the release of my critique partner, Rachael John's debut release with Carina Press - One Perfect Night.

And the story is every bit as hot as the cover! Here is an excerpt.

“Don’t look now,but Mr. McSexy just entered the building.”

“Blast.”Peppa Grant spun round and did exactly what her best friend and colleague Izzyhad ordered her not to. Her breathing faltered at the sight of six foot plus ofunadulterated male who now towered at the entrance to the company’s functionroom. An anxious hush fell over the previously buzzing room. As all eyessnapped to him, she tried not to quake in her costume’s fairy shoes.

Untilhalf an hour ago, Cameron McCormac had meant nothing more to Peppa than the newname at the very top of the office food chain. Now he was the man who owned thecar she’d sideswiped in the car park tonight.

Thedangerously handsome man who was making her pulse spike simply by standing inthe doorway. “Oh, God.”

AsPeppa pushed her barely touched glass out of reach and let her head fall ontothe table in front of her, Izzy giggled.

“It’s.Not. Funny,” Peppa declared when she finally looked up. Her eyes sought thecompany’s new CEO again and she felt her heart collapse into her stomach.

“You’reright,” Izzy said, reaching out and stroking Peppa’s hair like a mother over asick child. “If I’d just put aprize-winning dent in the big boss’s red, convertible pride and joy, I’dprobably be at Sydney airport boarding a plane or planning to hitch a ride withSanta back to the North Pole.”

“Hilarious.”Peppa shot her friend a sarcastic smile. “Please tell me McSexy has justvanished up a chimney?”

Izzytook a sip of her chocolate mocktail, her sea-blue eyes sparking with laughteras she peered theatrically over Peppa’s head. “No can do. Looks like he’s doingthe rounds, handing out candy canes or something to all the children. Mollymust have put him up to it.”

Molly,although old enough to be his mother, was Mr. McCormac’s personal assistant.Rumor had it when he did anything remotely human, she’d put him up to it. She’dbeen with the company longer than anyone and was the brains behind this event,the annual Christmas party for children of Lyrique Recordings’ employees. Peppahad a fleeting fantasy of leaving a message with Molly about her littlemisdemeanor in the car park but that wouldn’t be right. And she hadn’t beenbrought up to take the easy option.

“I’lldo it now,” she said, resting a hand on her queasy belly as she pushed herselfoff the stool and onto quaky feet. Although whether her shakiness was fromtrepidation or her gorgeous boss’s sexy gait and air-of-confidence, shecouldn’t be sure. “Confess before I’m due on stage and then, if he has anysympathetic bones in his body, he’ll let me entertain the kids before thecrucifixion.”

“You’resuch a drama queen,” sighed Izzy. “The top job pays well. He has enough moneyto line his undies drawer in gold. You apologize. You give him the details ofyour insurance company. You get on with your life. Simple.”

Simple.Right. But Izzy didn’t know that Peppa had just switched to a budget insuranceprovider. As she had never needed to claim in seven years of driving, theswitch had seemed a good decision at the time. The upside was low monthlyrates. The downside? A mammoth deductible on claims.

Well,that faux-pas may not only have cost Peppa her car and her job, but paying backthe damage to the boss’s vintage Lamborghini would seriously endanger herability to pay her mortgage. Not to mention she’d have to put her plans for anoverseas holiday on hold—a holiday that had been all about helping her mind andemotions recover from the battering of the past few months.

“Ithink he’s looking at you.”

Izzy’swords broke Peppa’s reverie. And of course she looked up, across the room, onlyto find her gaze colliding with the Head Honcho himself. Her heart hitched abeat. Despite the distance she could see the roguish tilt of his lips, theslight frown of his distinguished black brows and that his devilish licoriceeyes were trained on her. Dark-chocolate hair, speckled with naturallysun-kissed spikes, framed a face so chiseled it could have been carved fromstone. A man so in-control of his world he had no reason to question it. Heatflooded her cheeks and, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention, Peppa forcedherself to break her gaze.

If you’ve enjoyed this excerpt, you can readthe first chapter of ONE PERFECT NIGHT at Rachael’s website: http://www.rachaeljohns.com/pages/bookshelf.html

Or, you can buy the book at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/One-Perfect-Night-ebook/dp/B005Z1CF2A/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321790650&sr=1-1) or Carina Press (http://ebooks.carinapress.com/262D0727-23A2-4E9D-B75E-249FF29C76DF/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=5BB8BC4C-4898-4073-8306-FECF92B5DC5B)

And to celebrate her debut release, Rachael isblogging today at the following places, giving away a copy of ONE PERFECT NIGHTat each spot:

· Get Lost in aStory (http://getlostinastory.blogspot.com/_

· Chick-lit Central(http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/)

· Novel Thoughts (http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com/)

AUTHOR BIO:

Rachael Johns is an English teacher by trade, a mum 24/7, a chronicarachnophobic, a supermarket owner by day and a writer by night. She rarelysleeps. Rachael received The Call from Angela James telling her Carina wantedto publish her book on April Fools Day and, when she told her friends, half ofthem wondered if it was a big joke. Luckily it wasn’t. As an active member ofRomance Writers of Australia, Rachael has finaled and placed in a numberof romance writing contests. Each success is uplifting and publication is her dream but evenif none of this happened, she’d still write. It’s a much better option thanironing, which she refuses to partake in. Ever.

Australian Cover!

2011-12-06T00:56:00.001-08:00

So here it is - the cover of The Boy Who Made Them Love Again from Australia! I love it! And the little boy is much nearer the age he is in the story, than the cute toddler on my UK cover. What do you think?

My latest heroine...

2011-11-29T06:37:00.001-08:00

This is the latest inspiration for my Christmas heroine - Cassidy Rae. Isn't she gorgeous? And what about that dress? You all know I'm a girl that likes red......

I have to admit to not being a particularly big fan of Castle when it first started. I could take it or leave it. But it's kind of grown on me. Like a disease.

And one of the reasons I like it so much now is because of Kate Beckett. Apart from the fact the woman is extraordinarily beautiful, there are lots of personality traits about her I find intriguing.

There's the obvious - she's smart, she's sassy and she can take care of herself. But there is also a hint of vulnerability about her. And a huge lack of ability to actually say how she feels.

So when I was looking for inspiration for my character Cassidy, a nurse in a Glasgow hospital, I found it all wrapped up in Kate Beckett.

I'm at just over 20,000 words so far and taking a little time out this week to make my hero a little nastier. I wonder who I'll find for inspiration for him??

Christmas Inspiration!

2011-11-14T11:32:00.001-08:00

So, I'm writing my first Christmas story for Mills and Boon and I'm really excited about it. For the last few weeks I've been looking for Christmas books to help inspire me and get me into the Christmas spirit.
And this is one of the books I've found

And here's the blurb.
Beth Prince has always loved fairytales and now, aged twenty-four, she feels like she's finally on the verge of her own happily ever after. She lives by the seaside, works in the Picturebox - a charming but rundown independent cinema - and has a boyfriend who's so debonair and charming she can't believe her luck! There's just one problem - none of her boyfriends have ever told her they love her and it doesn't look like Aiden's going to say it any time soon. Desperate to hear 'I love you' for the first time Beth takes matters into her own hands - and instantly wishes she hadn't. Just when it seems like her luck can't get any worse, bad news arrives in the devilishly handsome shape of Matt Jones. Matt is the regional director of a multiplex cinema and he's determined to get his hands on the Picturebox by Christmas. Can Beth keep her job, her man and her home or is her romantic-comedy life about to turn into a disaster movie?

So, I finished this book last night and I loved it. I have two favourite parts - one when Beth is on the recruitment weekend in Wales and one when she attends an ex's family party. I was literally cringing for her on both occasions, but in fact I was also laughing out loud.

If your looking for a good Christmas read - this is it!

Mills and Boon Author Lunch

2011-10-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

So Friday dawned and I got up at 5am and made my way to Glasgow Airport. And - I got lost twice. My other half usually drives when we go to Glasgow Airport and when I'm in my car I literally have no sense of direction. Hence, getting lost twice.
Eventually I made it and flew down to London City Airport and got the train into central London. First stop was Oxford Street, House of Fraser to see the wonderful Mary Portas store. I met all the lovely folks who were on her TV show and tried on every dress in the shop. Then, I sped across to Harrods in search of a Christmas teddy for my new great niece.

By 1230 I was suitably attired, if a little red-faced, hot and bothered - and ready for the AMBA lunch at the Charing Cross Hotel. It was fab. The speakers were Donna Hayes and Loriana Sacilatto from Harlequin in Canada who spoke before the lunch and answered authors questions. Followed by Dianne Moggy and Tessa Shapcott after lunch.

Fiona Harper and Lucy Gilmour

Me with my new editor the lovely Carly Corcoran.

Then I went to meet my new editor Carly Corcoran for coffee so we could discuss my latest set of revisions and plans for next books.

And by 530 we were in the extremely posh Royal Horseguards Hotel for drinks and canapes at the Mills and Boon Author toast, where I met lots of lovely people!

Fiona Harper, Kate Hardy and myself

Heidi Rice and Abby Green

Then I went for dinner with some of my fellow authors India Grey, Heidi Rice, Abby Green, Lynn Raye Harris and her lovely husband Mike. It was a fabulous night!

Myself and the lovely India Grey who is far too pretty by far!

Lynn Raye Harris and her husband Mike.

And blogger hates me again and won't let me write in the comments section!

Lets start at the very beginning, a very good place to start!

2011-10-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

So, while we're all singing along with The Sound of Music tune up above, let us think about where we start our stories.
There have been over 1000 New Voices entries. Some of the starting points have been good, some have been unusual, some have been mediocre. Lots of the comments have been around telling people they haven't started their story in the right place.

Do you find it very easy to start? Do the words just flow easily along?
Or do you have a few hit and misses before you can really get started?

I've done both of these things.

In my first book It Started With a Pregnancy, I wrote the beginning three times. First attempt had Missy in the shower thinking about what she'd done the night before. But it was too much tell and not enough show. Second attempt had her walking into the ward and meeting her one night stand. But again, too much thinking back to the events beforehand.

But neither of these versions 'felt' right.

Attempt three started in the bar, where they met, left together and did some horizontal dancing. And the words just flowed from there.

Book number two, The Boy Who Made Them Love Again, started with Abby Tyler having a lazy day in the ER, seconds later her ex Luke Storm shows up with the First Lady in labour in the back of the secret service limousine! This time the starting point felt right. There was panic, shock and a very important patient to treat. Not to mention, Luke finding out Abby has a young son.

Book number three, West Wing to Maternity Wing, starts with Lincoln Adams looking after the President's premature baby. Seconds later he gets a call to say his heavily pregnant wife has collapsed at the police cordon outside the hospital. Only problem is - Lincoln Adams doesn't have a wife.

And Book four starts with John Carter receiving a letter. He is expecting it to tell him the embryos that him and his wife created for their now defunct marriage have been destroyed. Instead the letter tells him that one of those embryos has been wrongly implanted, and someone else is now carrying his child.

And Book five? Right now, I have no idea where it will start. All I do know is - I always need to start in the right place. Otherwise things don't flow and the story doesn't progress.

So what about you? Do you have problems starting in the right place? Or, does it all just flow easily? Or, have you ever read a book that you felt didn't start in the right place?

PS I'm going to the Mills and Boon Author Lunch in London on Friday and can't wait! Will tell you all about it next week. Also hoping a friend of mine will share some good news!

Getting your foot in the door

2011-10-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Lots of people have entered New Voices, some of you may still be preparing your entry – last year there were over 800 participants, with a flurry of entries on the last day.

Then we’ll all wait anxiously for the Top 20 to be announced. But what happens if that’s not you?

New Voices is only the start of the journey. For some people it may be the first time you’ve dared to submit. Congratulations on taking the first step. For others, you may be veterans and looking for some feedback. And if you weren’t here last year you should know that after the announcement of the Top Ten (it was ten last year, not twenty), Mills and Boon also published a list of entries they wanted to see more of.

But for all of you that don’t make it on the top 20 list, and feel all sad and dejected – don’t be. There are lots of opportunities out there to get your foot in the door!

It you haven’t had a chance to look at the harlequin website now is the time. The Write Stuff is full of information for aspiring writers. It also frequently features pitching opportunities – specific to individual lines across the harlequin series. For those of you who’ve never tried a pitch, you write a brief paragraph about your story. If you’re lucky enough to be chosen you get to have an online conversation with one of the editors for the line you are targeting. The chances are they’ll ask you for a partial submission and you’ll have a real live editor to submit it to.

In March 2010, there was an pitch opportunity for medical romance. Myself and Wendy S Marcus were successful “pitchers”. And after some hard work, we’ve both been published. So, for those of you who are sceptical, it does happen.

The harlequin website also ran a Fast Track opportunity in August last year. For one month anyone could submit to the medical line and hear back within a few days. And for anyone that’s experienced going through the slush pile before that is like gold!

If you have a little money you can also join the professional organisation in your area. Two years ago I joined the Romance Novelists Association. They have a New Writers Scheme, where unpublished writers can join and submit a full manuscript before the 31 August that year. Your manuscript will be read by a professional writer in the RNA and you will be given a detailed critique on your work. If they like your manuscript, it will be sent on for a second read, and could be forwarded to a publisher. Fiona Harper got published this way. Her first book Blind Date Marriage was published by the Romance line at Mills and Boon. Be warned! The New Writers Scheme is only open to 250 writers every year, place are limited and you literally have to get your application form in on 1 January! If you live in the US, the Romance Writers of America have a competition every year called the Golden Heart. Unpublished writers can submit their manuscripts and have them judged. Many people who have finalled in the Golden Heart and have gone on to be published. Historical author Jeannie Linn is one, and new Medical Author Tina Beckett is another.

And finally, there is the slush pile. Let me tell you about another new medical author Louisa George. She entered New Voices last year – didn’t final and didn’t get a mention in the call back list. But she submitted her three chapters via slush and will be published in March 2012. Maisey Yates, one of the Modern/Presents authors was pulled from the slush pile too, so it does happen!

So whatever happens in the next few weeks, think of New Voices as a first step, and keep writing!

And not sure whether blogger still hates me or not. Last week no-one could post on my blog and I couldn't post on any others!

Fabulous Review!

2011-09-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday blogger hated me and wouldn't let me post and my Facebook author page disappeared.
I'm hoping today will be better, because I've got some news.

I got a fabulous 4.5 star review from Cataromance. You can read it here.

It made me so happy I was crying!
Here's a quote

"Stirring, emotional and wonderfully absorbing, It Started with a Pregnancy is an impressive debut novel from a fabulous new voice in category romance: Scarlet Wilson!"

Interview at RNA today

2011-09-09T03:29:00.000-07:00

Now, here's hoping I've learned a new skill. I'm being interviewed at the Romance Novelists' Association today and giving away a free book, so come and join me!
Here's the link

http://bit.ly/nmELmO

It Happened Again..........

2011-09-04T01:13:00.000-07:00

It did! REALLY!

Someone mugged me and threw a Radley bag at me. Only this time........it was a PICTURE bag. How long have I waited for one of these????!!!!!!
Someone really needs to do something about the crime around here.........

On the shelves!

2011-09-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

My book! On the shelves in Tesco! I let out a scream when I saw it and scared a pensioner standing next to me. Then I took out my secret pile of bookmarks and stuck them in all the books.
Then I decided to go to WH Smith and do the same!
Can't wait to see what the Australia cover is going to look like!

New Voices - are you brave enough?

2011-08-25T02:30:00.000-07:00

Well, the time is fast approaching. So the question is......are you in?...or are you out???????
Some people I know are out - for a good reason - they've been published in the last year. WHOOPEE!
But others, still have a superb chance to shine this year like a glistening star in a dark night sky.
See, I'm being all writerly.

I have to put my hands up and say, that last year, I read EVERY entry. Over 800 of them. And about a quarter of them were uploaded on the last day at about a quarter to midnight!

And I found some entries I absolutely LOVED. And some that I hated. And some that I didn't understand. And some that just made me say....What??????

I also was taken aback by some of the comments.

Now, I don't think anyone can accuse me of being a shrinking violet. Last year, I registered under a pseudonym and commented on lots of the entries - constructively, or so I thought. Until someone took umbridge when I pointed out a little mistake in her entry. And she chewed me up and spat me out.

This year I will look for her and smile sweetly thinking to myself - wait until you're given revisions Missy - that'll sort you out!!!!!!!

Some of the comments last year were nothing short of acerbic. And as my granny always said, "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all." And I was conscious of that. And I will be this year too.

But most of all I'm looking forward to the chance, once again, to get the opportunity to read loads and loads of first chapters. I want to find some, that I reach the end and think... NO!!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENS NEXT???????

Some of the other Mills and Boon authors got accused of favouritism last year, or having secret knowledge, when they said they liked something. But they didn't. They were there as a reader, just like I was, and simply said what they enjoyed.

So this year I will be brave and will be commenting as Scarlet Wilson. And letting the world know what I love! So are you in...or are you out??????????

The Mystery House

2011-08-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

So, I went for lunch on Saturday with my eldest son. And as usual I decided we would go to a farm shop/tea shop. I'm a great lover of these places, while my son was crossing his fingers and praying for a McDonalds.
As we drove along the country road we passed this house with the turret. I was so impressed I turned back - not easy on a country road.
What kind of a house has a turret? This is on a farm road in Ayrshire, in the middle of nowhere. I was even more intrigued by the big wrought iron gates. But the absolute mystery for us was the fact that underneath all the foliage on the turret, was a window. You can just see the bottom edge of it in the picture.
Now why would you have a house, with such a beautiful distinguishing feature, and let foliage cover the window? My son automatically started giving ideas - but they were all to do with spies and wizards.
I thought it could be a setting for a lovely romance novel, with a touch of mystery. What do you think?

Revenge of the Couch Potato

2011-08-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

So I finally decided to do it. There's only so many times I can sit on the couch and watch the kids go out on their bikes with their dad. Plus, August means two boy birthdays - and both required bikes, so I've become Halfords best customer. Three days after I bought their bikes I went back - to buy one for myself.

Now, that may not sound like much. But the last time I was on a bike it was called a Hercules and I was 13. And I've never ridden a bike with gears before. I mean, GEARS?? Why on earth does a bike need gears? You get on. You peddle. That's it. What's the big deal.

Heaven help Halfords best salesman. The colour drained from his face really quickly when he realised the magnitude of the job ahead of him. He made me cycle around the car park three times, desparately trying to explain gears to me, before letting me cycle home.

And by the time I got home I had to lie down. I kid you not. My legs were shaking.

So, now this is me.

Out today on the bikes with the kids.

And shortly after this picture was taken? I got a puncture. I kid you not. I cycled my whole childhood without one puncture.

So my bike is currently in Halfords getting fixed - after I purchased the years care plan of course!

How much fun can one girl have?

2011-07-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

First of all apologies, I'm due to post on eharlequin medical authors blog and it seems to hate me. So right now the only way to post is to do it here first and then copy to the other blog. Some of you may have already seen this on the Minxes of Romance, so if you have, apologies!

The gala dinner with editor from Harlequin and fellow authors

It didn't start well. The train to Newport in Wales was packed with a variety of dogs and children crawling down the aisles. At one point I ended up with two unknown babies sitting on my lap. However once we arrived in Newport I recognised some fellow women scrambling with cases and shared a taxi with the lovely Freda Lightfoot to Caerlon.

Conference is all the about the people. Last year I met the lovely medical author Kate Hardy, along with Heidi Rice and Kate Walker. This year, I met two other lovely medical authors Margaret Barker and Jennifer Taylor. I also had the privilege of meeting two Present authors India Grey and Natalie Rivers, and the lovely Harlequin Romance author Fiona Harper.

Scarlet with Harlequin editor Flo Nicoll

But then there is also the lectures - to give us all a chance to learn a bit more about the craft. There was a huge range of topics covered in the programme and the hardest thing was picking what to attend. I have to say that this year I was naughty and ducked out of a few lectures through sheer brain drain.

But the ones I attended were fab. The conference started with Celebrations and this year there were a lot of members with good news of sales. It seems great that when we continually hear about tightening purses and less income, writers are still considered a priority. There was an award winning panel with Louise Allen, Elizabeth Chadwick and Jill Mansell all answering questions on how they wrote. I was amazed to learn that Jill Mansell writes all her books longhand with a Harley Davidson fountain pen! I was even more amazed when Fiona Harper (who writes for Harlequin Romance) pulled out her moleskin notebook from her bag and showed me that she writes long hand too - her next book was sitting right in front of me. I nearly snatched it and ran away!

Scarlet with Harlequin Romance author Fiona Harper

The Harlequin editors delivered a talk on being Unpredictable - their latest buzzword. They want new twists on the old stories and are still keen to acquire new authors.

Jenny Hutton and Anna Baggaley from MIRA and Mira Ink gave an overview for their line, highlighting all areas that sell well in women's fiction and teenage fiction. They also have new websites www.mirabooks.co.uk and www.miraink.co.uk

My favourite talk was given by Fiona Harper on getting emotion on the page and keeping it there. You could have literally heard a pin drop in the room while she was speaking. She has promised to put her notes for the talk on her website

The conference ended with agent Carole Blake and her client Elizabeth Chadwick letting us know how they were 'A Perfect Match'. Their working relationship has lasted longer than Carole's two marriages and they were a true doubleact!

It was a perfect end to a great conference and after the long journey home to Scotland I spent the next few days in bed recovering!

But then it was up and off to London with my kids and what did I do? Something I can never help. I bought tat. Lots of it. My other half cringed in horror when I was let loose in the Harrods Gift Shop. Any item that had the name Harrods on it - I bought. And here's the proof.

So what makes a fun day for you? Attending a conference? Buying tat? What will it be??

Scarlet Wilson's debut book It Started With a Pregnancy is out on 2 September in the UK.

Freaking out!

2011-07-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

So, as a subscriber to the Mills and Boon reader service my books have just arrived.
Drumroll please......

And my book is amongst them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of a sudden this seems real and completely terrifying!
People are actually going to be able to read my book and comment on it! Oh NO!
What if they hate it???
I'm also not sure when I will receive my author copies to give to my family, friends and the people the book is dedicated to. I'm hoping they won't take long.
In the meantime I will sit here shaking, waiting to see if on the 1 August someone will put a review of my book on the Mills and Boon website.
The thought petrifies me!

Nearing the finish line...

2011-06-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

So I am nearing the end, about to cross the finish line. I'm in my final chapter of book three, around 46,000 words and currently charging towards the end.

I'll finish it this week, hopefully have a quick read through for any glaring errors and then send on to my wonderful critique partners. At this point, my terrible grammer will be highlighted. My fondness for particular words will be found. My glaring medical errors or timescale issues will come to light.

And the - Oh NO! You can't do THAT!!! Will also be open for critique.

But that's what you need. Often I can't see something that my critique partners will spot straight away. Often I will highlight a sentence that I've rewritten ten times and say "this just doesn't sound right" and a few taps of the keyboard from a critique partner will show me what I've meant to say all along.

Then there is the missing gaps.

You know - that things that were in my head all along for this book, that have just never made it on to the page. And I thought they had.

So, I'll get asked the question - BUT WHY???????????? And I'll realise I haven't written it down anywhere!

I'm lucky. I have another month before I need to send my manuscript to my editor. So that will give me a few weeks to set it aside - enjoy the RNA conference in Wales - make any amendments my critique partners suggest (maybe even hopefully get to read something of theirs!) and then press SEND.

And while that sounds fabulous, we all know at that point the crows of doubt start to circle......

So, do you like finishing and pressing send??

Oh dear.......

2011-06-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

My addiction has struck again. Someone mugged me in Glasgow City Centre yesterday and flung this bag at me! No - honestly they did!
Radley addiction is a serious business. Does anyone know a cure???

My first book cover!!!!!

2011-06-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

So, drumroll please..................here it is my first book cover!!!!!
This is real, it isn't some wild fantasy I've cooked up in my head or dreamed up at night. I really DO have a book cover posted on Amazon.
So what do I think? Well, I am a tiny bit disappointed the writing isn't in red - but that's just me.
What can you expect from someone called Scarlet?

And blogger still hates me. I can sign in to put up a new post, but it doesn't recognise my sign in for commenting on any pages. Including my own. I am now named Anonymous. I have to go and use someone else's computer for it to work. So what's wrong with mine? Can anyone give me a clue?

The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award

2011-06-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

So, thank you Rachael Johns for this award. Now I need to think up 10 random facts to share with other bloggers. And since I've done something similar, I really need to find 10 different facts....

My book that is due published in September - It Started With A Pregnancy, is really the book of my heart. To sum it up, a diabetic midwife falls pregnant and starts to freak when she realises she can't control her diabetes the way she used to. Been there and done that. Twice. For someone who has spent their life knowing when a hypoglycaemic attack is about to hit, and could usually always avert it, to have a total change of condition and have NO signs of oncoming hypos is/was terrifying. I could have normal, rational conversations with people with a blood sugar of 1.2 (normal is between 4 and 7, hypo warning signs usually show when it drops under 4). Even my family were freaked by it. And for a control freak like me, well....
I'm a trained nurse and health visitor. I've worked in medical wards, orthopaedics and coronary care. I've also worked as a District Nurse and as a health visitor I was addicted to the smell - yes, the smell - of newborn babies. You really didn't want me near your child!
My favourite kids were the ones who refused to do the assessments. The ones who threw the bricks off the wall instead of building a tower. The ones who you tried to coax to say five single words and all they would say was NO. The ones who wouldn't draw a circle or a cross but would look you in the eye and take the crayon along the wall. I like kids with spunk.
As a student I was once asked to put cream on someone's APRON. I was working in the ward from hell, with the Sister from hell, so I pulled the curtains, armed with my tub of cream and thought "Wherever the apron is I'm going to get it." The poor patient had cream from the top of their forehead to the tips of their toes. Incidentally, the APRON is the roll of fat that hangs over your belly!
I once auditioned for ballet school in Glasgow, but wasn't really sure I wanted to go. I did ballet, tap , modern and jazz dancing until I was 16.
I used to be a good girl. At school I was known as a goody two-shoes. I've never done drugs and didn't start drinking alcohol until I was 19. Please note, I said used.
My radley bag collection (from the last post like this) has unfortunately grown. I now have 18 bags, and a suitcase (which isn't that great!). All the bags are absolutely essential and none of them I can do without.
I wrote my first Mills and Boon when I was 17. It was a medical and was called Hidden Love and involved a typewriter and that horrible tippex white paper for whenever you made a mistake. Funnily enough I got a standard R, as it would now be known, and took myself off in a huff for a bit. I didn't write my next one until 2009.
I'm taking my beloved and my kids to Eurodisney this year at Christmas and we are going to stay in the Disney Hotel at the park entrance, all with my M & B advance!
I have two wonderful critique partners for whom I am extremely grateful. Nancy (Sheandeen on eharlequin) and Rachael Johns, both take a bow. I am not going to forget that I couldn't have got published without you!

PHEW!!!!!!!!!! All done!

Now, I would love to pass this on to others. Feel free to download the pic and participate!

Scottish Hen Nights and How Well Do You Know Your Friends?

2011-05-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

It seems that these days hen nights are big business. It's all limousines or fire trucks or weekends away to foreign climates.
When I was a girl (and I'm not that old!) hen nights involved your work mates making you a coat decorated with L plates and coloured tissues made into flowers. And they also decorated a potty for you to jump over on your hen night.
Here is the evidence

So, the top two pictures are my sister Valerie and were taken 25 years ago. The bottom picture? I'll leave you to figure out who the 10 year old imitating her sister is!

So, recently I had to help organise a hen night for a work colleague. It was her second wedding and she didn't want a big fuss. We had booked a table at a local restaurant and decided to organise a few games (we also organised a potty that was full of HRT and incontinence aids!). One of the games we picked was to ask her friends to reveal a secret about themselves - one she might not know. And on the night we made her try to identify which of her friends was the secret keeper.
Here is the list

Which one of your friends…………………………..

1. Was asked out by Captain Sensible?

2. Burned a hole in the front of her wedding dress, the night before she got married?

3. Was accepted for music college as a drummer after working in clubs in Glasgow?

4. Worked on a farm and can milk a cow?

5. Featured on a TV production of “My Secret Desire” as she wanted to swing from a trapeze with her teeth?

6. Won a dog in a raffle by the parish priest but had to get it put to sleep after 6 months as it was mad!!!!!!!

7. Did advanced archaeology at teacher training college and as a result had to lead a mock “charge” across Bannockburn!

8. Had elocution lessons in her young days?

9. Went to the pictures with one man and left with another?

10. Frequently travels on the Orient Express?

11. Had lunch with the Bay City Rollers in Tam Paton’s house in Edinburgh?

12. Got married wearing a pair of green boots?

13. Is apparently a red hot Leroc dancer?

14. Husband’s cousin is Jackie Chan’s stunt double?

15. Used to baby sit for Sting?

16. Has secretly written an episode of Star Trek where she is Captain Picard’s daughter?

17. Was a Scottish skating champion?

We had hours of fun with this! One poor work colleague, Brenda, who hadn't contributed something to the list, was accused of all 17!
I'll let you try and guess which one of the 17 was mine.
Now, what about yours? Can you reveal a secret you haven't told us about??

Book 2 is sold! and The One That Got Away

2011-05-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

So I've had a lovely email to say Book 2 is sold and it's title will be......
The Boy Who Made Them Love Again and is scheduled for December 2011.
Now, it's definitely not a Christmas book, so what do you think about that? Do you only buy books around that time that have a Christmas theme?
Or by that time are sick of Christmas overload and are looking for something different?
And I was delighted because my editor told me it brought a tear to her eye - you don't get better than that! Now Book 2 has a different theme. And the theme is The One That Got Away.
Do you have one of those? Is there somebody from long ago that you occasionally remember and think mmmm........what if?
I remember reading somewhere that everyone has one of those, whether they admit it or not.
Book 2 also has a different kind of medical theme - it's about the staff from the White House Medical Unit. It can be difficult to find something that hasn't been used in medicals before but I haven't ever seen this used and was delighted to give it a go. And I also have a First Baby.

And yes, that is what I meant. I was inspired one day looking at Michelle Obama and thinking to myself that there, in the White House, for the first time in a number of years we had the potential for a White House birth.
But my First Lady doesn't want to give birth in Washington, she wants privacy and needs rest, so she heads to Mendocino Valley and Pelican Cove, a quiet little hospital and goes into labour early. And that's where all the fun starts!
So Book 3 will be a follow-on from this and I'm pleased to say I've agreed a new contract with Mills and Boon and will be writing a few more medicals. WHOOPEE!

Inspiration for Book 3

2011-04-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

So, who is your inspiration for your writing? Do you actually have someone in mind to play your characters when your book becomes a Silver Screen Film? Or is it all just in your head?
I've started writing what I hope will become my Book three. And even though I didn't think I'd ever do it, I'm doing a sequel to Book Two. There was a really interesting leftover character from that story that really needed a story of his own. And in my head, this is him...

Yes, yes I know. It's a medical and I've picked Patrick Dempsey. But I have to, because
a) I love him and
b) this was the picture that came into my head as I sketched out the story. But Patrick has a new identity, he's now Lincoln Adams, Neonatologist Extraordinaire!
Now this is where you might get mad with me. Either that or you'll know what I've been watching to death, because here is my heroine

Yes, it's Amy Adams. and yes I've been watching Enchanted. A LOT. However, this is not the princess Amy Adams - this is the hardass Amy Adams. Who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. And her name in the story is........Amy. But to be honest, I'd already picked my names before I picked my inspirational pictures. So, it's stuck.
I plan in the near future to use an equally gorgeous picture of Sawyer aka Josh Holloway, who will play a distinct bad boy in a story all of his own.
And for some reason in Books 1 and 2, I find I've been writing LOTS from the male POV. I wonder why this is?
So who are your current Hero and Heroine? Share, please.
And finally, for those who were wondering - I went with the Mr Men for the Easter Egg Competition and yes, we did win!

Let's be Frivalous!

2011-04-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

So I could post about doing revisions etc but that would just be boring.

I'm starting to get excited. I've booked my place at the RNA conference in July this year. The conference is in Wales this year and it's going to prove a little tricky to get to from sunny Scotland. I think I'm going to arrive just as the opening address is taking place, however I'm happy to go in dragging my case behind me!

So when planning the conference there is a dinner on the Friday night and a barbeque on the Saturday night. Mmmm, so what will I wear.......
Well my new writing name is Scarlet therefore

Isn't it gorgeous! And look at the ruffles - they will hide a MULTITUDE of sins!
So that's Friday taken care of. What about Saturday??
I'm swithering here. I have two outfits. One probably a bit too formal for a barbeque and the other? Well, I'm not quite sure if I'm brave enough!

Wow, that came out bigger than expected!

I've bought the "jumpsuit" but I just don't know if I'm brave enough to wear it! What do you think?
And finally the RNA conference is all about the shoes.

So what do think of the shoes? And is there votes for the dress or the jumpsuit for the Saturday night?

The fiercest Easter Egg competition in the World!

2011-03-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

I've been a very bad blogger lately and I know that, but never mind, now I need some help. Because it's coming up to Easter time again, and let me introduce you to the fiercest competition in the world!
Let me explain, every year at our church we have a boiled egg decorating competition for the Sunday School. This sounds simple enough - but believe me, it's not. It takes weeks to decide what your egg is going to be this year. Weeks to design your "costume" and "set". This is NOT a competition for kids!
Let me introduce you to Nemo.

This was a winning egg, but it took nearly a week to create. Let me let you into a little secret of boiled egg decoration. Car spray paint. Yes, car spray paint. It's the only thing that sticks to a blinking egg!
Here's another winner.

Happy Feet. And yes, that penguin did fall over. It was propped into place for the picture!
Then there was.....

Ratatouille. Is anyone seeing a pattern emerging here??????
Yes, I like children's films. And I always seem to find a character in them.
Then there was last years effort. And I mean that, an effort. It was the worst ever!

Daleks. From Doctor Who - just in case you couldn't possibly recognise them. Yes, I know they look awful.
Which is why this year I need some help. Some suggestions. Some prize winning suggestions. But remember it has to be a decorated egg - so try and imagine how it should look.
Last year my son wanted to make WWE wrestlers. Any idea how to make them out of boiled eggs? No, neither did I.
So, help PLEASE!!!!!!!
All suggestions gratefully received.

News and the Shred

2011-02-25T13:17:00.000-08:00

I am in a happy place. I heard back from my editor today with revisions for book 2. I am delighted. This is the book I wrote while waiting to hear back from Mills and Boon about It Started with a Pregnancy. So, my editor had never heard anything about this story, hadn't seen a proposal and hadn't agreed it at all. After I got The Call for book 1, I sent this in and held my breath.
So now I am breathing a huge sigh of relief. I don't need to write something completely different. I have to make changes, but that's fine. The revisions seem reasonable so I'm going to bury my head in the sand for the next month and work away on them.
Next, I've joined the Craze. The Craze for the Shred. I've heard other people talking about it and finally decided to see what it was all about. I'm currently only on Day 4 and I'm still at level one of the 30 day Shred. Apparently if you follow this 20 min exercise routine every day for 30 days you can lose 7-10lbs, change shape and drop a dress size. Now I hate exercise. I'm practically allergic to it. I danced up until I was 17. Then did nothing for years. I went swimming for a bit, only because I'm not a particularly good swimmer and wanted to get better. But it annoyed me. The grey-haired swimming brigade kept swimming in front of me (going breadth wise instead of length wise - why would people do that?) and as I can't tread water, every time they swam in front of me I sank like a stone. Recently I've been going to a Zumba class once a week and have quite enjoyed it, but an hour a week is not going to sort out my flabby tum.
So, Shred it is! I've decided not to weigh myself until the end of the 30 days - so I'll let you know how it goes.

And what do you think of this? It's my banner for my new website which is being built by a work colleague. Hopefully it will be ready soon.
Finally a huge congratulations to Leah Ashton, the winner of New Voices who just sold her book to Mills and Boon. I look forward to reading it!

After the Call...

2011-02-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

First of all, thanks to everyone who sent their good wishes following The Call. You might have been able to tell I was on a high...
So what happens next? Quite a lot actually. I wasn't asked to do any final tweaks to my manuscript so have been able to sleep soundly. My editor let me know that my book will be titled It Started with a Pregnancy and will be published in Sept 2011. WHOOPEE!
I also had to agree a date to have my next manuscript ready. I've agreed on the end of May but have just finished writing a medical romance that's a little different. It's been off to my critique partner and had some changes and has now been sent on to my editor, who will get back to me in a few weeks.
I'm not delusional. I know that revisions will be required. And hopefully now I've had some practice I will be better at them. My big worry is that my editor will tell me she doesn't like it and I'll have to start something new completely. Because I love this story and I love that it features a profession I've never seen in a Medical Romance before.
In the meantime I've started revising something I wrote last year and has room for improvement - oh, and a POV!
I've just had my first set of Author Alterations sent to me and I plan to work on them tomorrow. This is the last time I get to see my book before publication. Yikes!
I also received my contract, which made my knees tremble as I printed it out. So I just need to sign that and send it back.
I also purchased a domain name for my website and a friend at work is going to build my site for me.
Finally I found out that my first book will be eligible for the Joan Hessayon Prize with the RNA as it went through the New Writers Scheme. So next year I get to go to the RNA Summer Party! Yippee!
So how is everyone else getting on? I know some people are still waiting for their SYTYCW entries and my fingers and toes are crossed for you all!

The Call!

2011-01-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

At 1.34pm today my life changed. The phone rang. The Call. As I was driving. The number came on the dashboard and I thought 0208???? is this a marketing call? But I pressed the button on the steering wheel and it was the lovely Sally Williamson from Mills and Boon.
Now at first I was worried. When other people have got the "The Call" they've usually had an email to arrange a time to talk. I hadn't had an email. But the day before I'd emailed Sally asking if she'd had time to look at my revisions and if she liked them or not. So I was worried. The crows of doubt were definitely circling.
My first thought was - she's phoning to let me down gently. So when I heard the words "We want to buy your book" I screamed so loudly I probably deafened her. Then I had to pull the car over as I started crying. Happy tears. Lots and lots of happy tears.
Then I heard the words "forward" and "two book deal". It was all a bit of a blur after that. I phoned my beloved and shouted "I can pay off the Visa bill!"
Then I ran into work and started shouting "I write for Mills and Boon!" The people I work with are wonderful and have known that I was waiting to hear for a while, so flowers and cake seemed to appear out of thin air.
Then I took two minutes to go and email my critique partner Nancy, my other online colleagues, Rachael, Jackie, Joanne. Then I emailed the poor Mills and Boon medical authors I've been stalking for a while Kate Hardy, Wendy S Marcus and Anne Fraser.
Then I had to go and tell my mum, dad and sisters. None of whom knew about my exploits to write for Mills and Boon - so that was fun.
So tonight I've finally sat down. I've read the confirmation email that Sally sent me. This ISN'T a dream. It is true. I've got to pick a pseudonym as there is another Romance writer in America called Susan Wilson. So what will I pick? I have no idea. But I have a whole weekend to decide. Feel free to make suggestions... Friends have already told me to call myself Scarlet, as I spend my life wearing red, but I'm going to take a bit of time.
Finally to say, that this all came about because of a Pitch on the eharlequin website in March last year. Wendy S Marcus, myself and two others won the chance to pitch our stories to Lucy Gilmour from medical romance. A partial was requested and then I was passed to Sally who requested the full. The rest as they say is history!
Now, to find the wine...........

How many do you have?

2011-01-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

Writing books that is. Or How-to books.
I must confess I've been a bit naughty again. And it's all Mulberry's fault. She recommended a book on her blog and that's all it took. To be fair to her I'd heard this book mentioned before, but this was in a workbook style so I felt like it was a message for me to do something. And I can't blame her for the second purchase. So, lo and behold, off I trundled to the Book Depository and bought
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.

Now I'm sure that I'll like these books. Because I seem to like ALL of these books. Then I took a little wander through to my "office". You know I don't really have one, but it's the part of the house that's designated mine, with my old clanky computer, a filing cabinet and a bit of a bookcase.
And guess what I find. A treasure trove of how-to books. Some that I'd forgotten that I'd even purchased!
So what was in that store? Wait for it folks and take a deep breath.....

Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies                                       Leslie Wainger
Revision and Self-Editing                                                             James Scott Bell
The Everything Guide to Writing the Romance Novel                   Christie Craig & Faye Hughes
The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes                          Jack Bickham
On Writing                                                                                  Stephen King
Hooked                                                                                       Les Edgerton
Solutions for Novelists                                                                Sol Stein
The Romance Writers Handbook                                                 Rebecca Vinyard
The Writers Journey                                                                     Christopher Vogler
The Enneagram made Easy                                                           Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
12 point guide to Writing Romance                                               Kate Walker
The Romance Writers Phrase Book                                              Jean Kent & Candace Shelton
How to Write Romances                                                              Phyllis Taylor Pianka
How to Write a Blockbuster                                                         Helen Corner & Lee Weatherly
Manuscript Makeover                                                                  Elizabeth Lyon
Scene and Structure                                                                     Jack Bickham
Goal, Motivation and Conflict                                                       Debra Dixon
Getting the Point                                                                           J Hadden & E Hawksley

WOW!!

I really need to get out more. But to be honest some I've liked some more than others. And they're not all writing books, some are about editing, some about characters, and some about punctuation.

It's a weak defence - I know!

Most of all my favourite is still the one I bought first - Kate Walkers 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance. It's still the one I find most useful. And what's better, she's just released a new updated version. There are a number of websites currently offering copies as prizes, but I won't be telling you where they all are because I'll be entering them myself!!!!

There are others I've enjoyed like Leslie Wainger's Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies and, now don't laugh, The Romance Writers Phrase Book. It may be a little outdated, but it helped me write my very first story aimed at Mills and Boon. For my latest story I didn't use it at all, but I think that just shows me that I've finally made some headway and progressed.

So, what about you? Do you own any of these books? Do you have a secret stash somewhere? Which one do you like best? Or, dare you recommend something else to me? Remember - there may be repercussions!!!

Bad Blogger

2010-12-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I've been a bad blogger. That's because I received a 4th set of revisions, so decided to get my head down and do them. So today I sent them back to Mills and Boon again. Just as the lovely editor I'm working with emailed to let me know she was off now until 4th January.
So I am hoping that when she returns from holidays, mine will be the first email she opens!
In the meantime I will work on the other story I've been writing Pelican Cove. I've signed up at Sassy Authors for their EditPalooza course for the month of January. It fits really well, because editing is exactly what I need to do right now for this story.
So in the meantime blog friends, lets look forward to 2011, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and here's hoping 2011 is the year some of us get The Call!!!!!

What's in a name?

2010-11-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

So today I want to consider character names. How do you pick yours?
I am a little sad and keep notes on all the Mills and Boon/Harlequin books I've read. One of the things I keep notes on is the names. Now I read mainly Medicals but also some Romance, some American Romance and some Modern. And I have a little list of the favourite names. For heroes it is Max, Nick, Mac, Luke, Jake and James. For heroines Maggie, Francesca, Izzy and Annie. And GULP I've used one from each list in stories that I've written.
This year, during Romance is Not Dead it was one of the things I noticed about the first chapters. The character names. Sometimes, they really threw me out of the story. When I see a name, I can hear myself saying it in my head. But, quite often, during Romance is Not Dead, particularly in Historicals and Paranormals, I came across some strange names. Some I couldn't even have pronounced no matter how hard I tried. Whilst I am sure there was a good reason for the names, it really threw me out the story. I stumbled every time I read a name that I couldn't even begin to pronounce and I lost the flow of the story.
It is also interesting that this year one of my comments from the New Writers Scheme, run by the RNA, was that the person giving feedback on my story hated my heroine's name. And she told me. Even though she didn't know why. And she particularly hated it when my hero shortened the heroine's name. Her name was Melissa by the way, occasionally shortened to Missy.
So I have to put my hands up and admit that I know that sometimes I am put off a story by a name. Particularly when it reminds me of the school bully, or someone I really don't like. And no matter how good that story is, it will never be a keeper for me.
When I was writing my latest story I had a name hurdle. My heroine's name didn't sit quite right. Then one day, as I typed, I just changed it mid chapter. And suddenly the story just felt right. Has that ever happened to you? Tell me how you feel about names. And if there are any you really, really hate!

Waiting....

2010-11-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

The revisions are finally finished and have flown off to Mills and Boon again. But I really felt as if I couldn't post a picture of the flying books for a THIRD time. That would have been really lame. So, instead I found a nice tranquil picture, to try and show a nice, calm, patient, waiting attitude. But those of you who know me, know that that's never me in million years. (Incidentally, this is actually wallpaper. Would be a nice feature wall in a room somewhere, but since my beloved has just decorated our bedroom with a lovely red feature wall - pictures on facebook! - I think I might not be able to suggest it!)
This is me...

So, now comes the question of how long you wait. Incidentally SO appears to my favourite word in a manuscript, Rachael Johns found a multitude of them that had all passed me by... Therefore I have to say thank you to her and my lovely critique partner Nancy (AKA Sheandeen on eharlequin) for their help in the past week.
What do I think about the revisions? At first, I have to admit, I wasn't sure. After all, I was tearing 'my baby' apart and putting it back together again. At one point I really didn't like my characters anymore, and would have hated to be stuck in a lift with them. However, things moved on and I learned to love them again and I do think the story is stronger. But is it strong enough? Here's hoping.
The competition for today is HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING?
Most of us will have heard of Soraya Lane, who got the Call recently after around 8 months. Maisey Yates had a 20 month wait all in. However, the lovely Wendy S Marcus, returned her revisions on the Monday and got the Call at the end of the week!
I know that another blogger Janette has been waiting a while too. So the question is everyone, how long has it been? Move over, there's plenty of room on the waiting bench!

Light Relief

2010-10-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't already know I've just received my 3rd set of revisions for my medical romance and am going to have to and retreat into the Bat Cave for a while.
Meantime Heidi Rice got me crying this week when she put a clip of 'The Way we Were' on her blog, I haven't even seen the film but the last seven minutes had me crying buckets.
So for some light relief I decided to compile a little list of my favourite films. Now not all my favourite film actors even feature in some of these films, so hats off to Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage who are nowhere to be found. I am also about to reveal myself as a true eighties girl.
I tried to compile a list of ten, failed miserably, and only got it down to 13 by amalgamating some together.
I make no excuses for some of the stuff I like, I only know that if any of these films are on the TV there is a strong possibility I'm going to sit down and watch.
So, in no particular order, here goes

Back to the Future - everybody loved Marty McFly and I really, really wanted a shot in that car....

Raiders of the Lost Ark. One of my absolute favourites, with one of the best lines EVER "Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?" I loved Indy, and none of the other Indiana Jones films ever matched this one.

Star Wars. Because I'm a Sci-fi geek and I always will be. I could watch this again and again and again. And oops! there's Harrison Ford again - how did that happen?

Star Trek First Contact. Do you see a theme here? Captain Picard is my all time favourite Star Trek captain and I do think I should be cast as his daughter. But this film had the best baddies ever - The Borg! Even the name sends a chill down my spine.

E.T I told you I was a sci-fi geek and I do have son called Elliott. The reason I chose this picture is because there is a ride at Universal Studios where you climb on Elliott's bike, go up in the air, and ET appears in your basket! It is magical and I felt a tear in my eye as I sat next to all the kids on that ride. And I really loved the glowing finger...

Dirty Dancing. "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" yet another great line, delivered by a man who will always have a special place in my heart. The tunes in this film were beyond fabulous and no, I didn't like Jennifer Grey, but then again, that's because she was dancing with MY man!

Pretty Woman. What a fabulous story. How beautiful, vulnerable and fiesty was Julia Roberts in that part? She nailed it! And I really, really loved it when she back into that shop and gave them what for, go girl!

Beverly Hills Cop. Okay so I know that Victoria Beckham has now nicknamed him Beverly Hills C*ck because he done the dirty on her friend, but this film was magical. The theme tune was fabulous and even my six year old hums it. The one-liners were great too. Watched Daddy DayCare the other day and he had me in stitches for that too, but this was definitely the best.

Die Hard. The common theme here is that none of the follow up movies have ever trumped the first ones. Bruce Willis was the perfect hero for this, reluctant, hard ass and definitely fit. Everyone should have a Bruce in their corner when the chips are down.

It's a Wonderful Life. Because I love Jimmy Stewart and I loved the fact he was so despondent in this film, absolutely rock bottom and he learned the value of life. I loved the message behind this movie.

Musicals - The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music and Singing in the Rain. Because I spent hours and hours watching these as kids and they don't make films like these any more. And because I played the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz at dance school. Remember Donald O'Connor running up that wall in Singing in the Rain, and the fabulous scene with Gene Kelly dancing in the rain - do you know how much of a perfectionist he was and how many hours he spent practising that?

The Slipper and the Rose. Does anyone remember this Cinderella story with Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven and really snide singing. Well I loved it! Every second of it and I don't care if you are all screaming with your heads underneath your pillows. We are all allowed one really bad film on our lists and this is mine.

White Christmas. So I know that I've done musicals but this one is special too. And I have to watch it every year because I love schmaltz and this one does it to perfection. And do you remember the little girls on pointe at the end, who were WAY to young to be doing that??

Okay, so that's me. So what gets your vote?

How do you pick your setting? Or how I discovered Pelican Cove

2010-10-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

So I had a rough idea of what I wanted my next story to be about. The only thing was - this medical had a little twist. And this twist required the story to have an American setting. So, since I don't live in America, how was I going to pick a setting?
Then it appeared, via Murder She Wrote. Shown at present every afternoon on British TV. Cabot Cove. Perfect.

Then I discovered that the Cabot Cove set at Universal Pictures was also where they filmed Jaws and that kind of put me off. Then I made another discovery - although Cabot Cove was set in Maine, some of the outside settings were actually filmed in Mendocino, California. So that made me think a little harder and do a little research.
And here's what I found

Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!! And just perfect for my setting. So I did a little more research and found out about the nearby medical facilities, what was available, what would fit with my story. I found out about the surrounding area and the beautiful nearby housing stock.

so I'm loving it. Perfect. My characters have the perfect setting for falling in love. And now I find out about the local industry so I know what kind of accidents can happen that my characters can deal with! Then it happens - I find out about the Pelicans.

The pelicans that are native to Mendocino valley. And now I have my name for my fictional setting PELICAN COVE.
Now, just be glad I didn't want to tell you about the research I did for The Venetian Doctor, all set on a cruise ship!
So how do you pick your setting for your story?

Early NaNo Writing Month

2010-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's time to admit I've been lazy. It's very nice to have a story sitting the midst of Mills and Boon somewhere. But this is the point where I should have been rapidly writing the next one. And I haven't. So it's time to get my head down and start writing. Last time around I definitely had a slow start. It took three attempts to write the first chapter, probably because I kept starting in the wrong place. However I finally had something I was happy with. This time around I've planned my storyline, worked out my conflict (well some of it anyway), did my lovely character profiles (courtesy of Kate Walker) and have a good idea of what I want to achieve. I have also spoke to my lovely critique partner and my blog friend Wendy Marcus as this story is set in America, so I have two lovely American nurses who can point me in the right direction when I have any queries.
I have also been HEAVILY distracted by New Voices. (Note to slap the back of my hand and stop going on to the website everyday).
So it's time to set a goal. So I've decided to set October as my own personal NaNo Writing Month. Yes, I know that I'm a month early, but this is a good time to start. I'm going to aim to have the little word counter moving in an upward direction on a daily basis. Hopefully by the end of the month I will (almost) have a dirty draft and spend the next few weeks editing after my critique partner has given me her thoughts.
It will also help to keep my mind off of Mills and Boon land. So if I get a YES I can scream and shout and say, Yes I have written something else. Or if I get a NO I can smile sweetly and say "Well that one might not have worked, but what about THIS one."
Time to get writing. If you see me anywhere, tell me off and send me back here!

HELP! Disc Assessment

2010-09-19T01:20:00.000-07:00

Now this may be completely unrelated to writing but someone out there has to know how to help me. I'm getting interviewed for a new job and have to go through an 'enhanced selection process' Part of this is carrying out a DISC assessment. I will be sent an online password and have to do the assessment on Tuesday, after 24 hours the assessment closes and you are no longer allowed to complete it.

I've never done one of these and need any advice you can give me. Is this where they find out I'm secretly nuts, have true OCD tendencies and am a stalker?? I've looked online but am getting more and more confused by the minute. Another friend completed one for a job interview and did it 'from the heart'. She says she will never EVER do that again and advises me to find another method.

So can anyone give me some advice? Please?

And does anyone wish it was the 22nd already so we knew who the final 10 are in New Voices?

New Voices - What have I learned?

2010-09-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

So it's only been two days but I feel as if I have been on a huge learning curve. I am absolutely determined to read every single entry and give it a grade. Here's what I've learned so far.

Everyone who has submitted is very brave. I have the utmost respect for anyone who has put their work out there for the world to comment on.
Now I understand the premise of having a REALLY good first line. Something that makes you sit up and take notice. Something that throws you into the start of the story straight away. I'm not too good at first lines and it's definitely something I could work on.
Funnily enough, now I understand the premise of having a really good last line, or 'hook'. I've got to the end of some chapters and screamed NO! I want to read more! I've also read some last lines that totally intrigued me and made me want to turn the page. I also read some last lines and thought HUH? is that it?
Backstory dump is a disease that is widespread and is in danger of becoming an epidemic. I always find it so much easier to see this in someone else's work than my own.
Getting the hero and heroine on the page together as soon as possible is the most important element of the story. No excuses. I don't want pages and pages of blah blah blah I want to see them reacting to each other and I want to see the conflict.
I'm not a huge fan of historicals or paranormals but I've read a few chapters here that I've really enjoyed. I mainly only buy historicals from Michelle Styles and Michelle Willingham as they live in blogland quite a lot, have lots of good advice and show support to all aspiring writers. But I've found some chapters that have sparked my interest and made me curious. That can only be good.
My crit partner Nancy, helped me immensely with my punctuation and grammar, she practically held my hand. Some submissions could do with a little hand-holding themselves.
Some chapters SPARKLE. I don't want to show favouritism but Rachael and Jackie's ROCK. You know when you read something and just think Wow! well if you haven't read them yet ladies, then go and hunt them down.
Names. I want to give comments on what I've read, I want it to be constructive criticism or praise. I also want to vote honestly. When I registered I wasn't sure if people would know who had given them what % vote, and I don't want to offend some of the brave soldiers, so I am currently voting under an alternative pseudonym that I've used when writing. And to be honest, now I feel a bit crap about it.
Now I really feel for the Editors when they read through the slush pile. In a way I think I can understand. You don't know what genre or style you're getting, or the standard of everyone's writing but you read anyway. Then if something stands out from the crowd you just KNOW it. And it terrifies me, because I'm not sure if any entry I put in would do that.

So there we go, after two days that's what I've learned so far. What about you?

Ten things you didn't know about me

2010-08-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm still waiting. And I think I could be waiting a while. The editor I'm working with will have been busy with the medical fast-track all through the month of August, and she is part of one of the teams for New Voices, Romance is Not Dead which starts on the 6 September. So I think that will keep her pretty busy too.
So in the meantime, here is an idea blatantly stolen from Jane Holland. So here it is...

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Me

I wrote my first book age 8. It was called Shirley and the Magic Purse and I was very proud of it. My favourite part was the full page describing an army of mice all with names beginning with M....
I am an absolute sci-fi fanatic. Especially Star Trek The Next Generation. In my dreams I am Captain Picard's daughter, which means I get away with anything. But I enjoy all forms of sci-fi and yes, I do have a Star Trek outfit which I have been known to wear on occasion. But the biggest giveaway is my son, Elliott, who was named after the little boy in ET.
I had a spat with J-Lo's manager. My friends and I had tickets for TGI Friday in London and managed to blag our way into the bar where Chris Evans did all the interviews. J-Lo was a guest (it was before she was HUGE) and came with an entourage that almost filled the already packed bar. Her manager was standing behind me and was a hideous, frantic woman. As J-Lo walked in and sat down next to Chris this woman was wittering behind me in my ear "Is she okay? Is she okay? Do you think she's okay?" The bar was free at TGI Friday's and I'd had a few. I couldn't hear the interview for this daft woman so eventually I turned round and said "OF COURSE SHE'S BL***Y ALRIGHT, SHE'S ONLY WALKED FIVE STEPS AND SAT DOWN. NOW SHUT UP SO I CAN HEAR!" I think the thick Scottish accent flummoxed her and she shut up.
As a child I was a great singer and had star parts playing Joseph in Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat and the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. Today I could clear the room by singing the first few lines of any song. I am AWFUL.
I am a learning junkie. I trained as a nurse, then did a BSc degree at night school while working. Then I trained a health visitor and did a BA degree. I started an English Literature degree with the Open Uni. Then did a Masters. Finally, last year I did a few extra modules in the Masters in Public Health, Epidemiology and Communicable Disease, because I thought they would be interesting.
I've been diabetic since age 8 and do 4 injections a day. I was a boring teenager and never did any of the rebellion stuff and have always did my injections the way I should. I had a wonderful Diabetic Liaison Nurse who gave me a reference to do nursing, then spent the next few years trying to persuade me to be a Diabetic Liaison Nurse too, as there aren't any in Scotland who actually have the condition. I love chocolate and as long as I don't use it as my sole food source there is no reason I can't eat some. The experience of being a patient is VERY different to the experience of nursing someone with diabetes. And I firmly believe, that no-one can know everything. I generally keep well, but like anyone can have spells where things are difficult. For a control freak like me that can be hard, however I've been blessed with 2 healthy children, so I must be doing something right.

This is my dirty confession - I am a Radley-a-holic. I can't resist them and firmly believe that a girl can never have too many Radleys. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

8. I spent an absolutely ridiculous amount of money on books. I am a book addict. I subscribe to the medicals, but buy everything else I see recommended anywhere. In the last two years I've catalogued every Mills and Boon/Harlequin book I've read. That's 223. Taking notes on conflict, black moments, story arcs. The bonus is that I registered for Gift Aid at the local Oxfam, where I donate all my books. In the last six months I've made them over £300, so even though you can't find a surface in my house without books on it, I can smile.

9. I have absolutely NO patience. A bit of sad confession for a mother of two and a nurse. It's kind of strange because as a health visitor I had lots of patience for other people's children and as a nurse I had all the patience in the world for my patients. But put me in queue and I'm guaranteed to flip my lid.

10. Finally, I really, really want to write Medicals and hope that one day, the dream will become a reality.

Last thing, I want to say a HUGE congratulations to Joanne Coles and Suzanne Jones who both submitted to the Medical Fast-track and received requests. GO GIRLS! (Jo also gave me an idiot's guide to learning to link names in blogging, so if it hasn't worked....)

It's away Part 3

2010-08-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

So the revisions are done and have flown away to Mills and Boon land. And I know they've landed because I've had a lovely email to tell me. So what now? Because this is the time that the crows of doubt usually land. And they've been known to heckle me quite a lot. So I'm looking back through my lists and thinking "Did I capture what they want?" and "Will I be in with a shot?"

Then there is the really big question - WHAT IF THEY HATE IT? What if they think we've given her two chances, she hasn't delivered, let's just ditch her. In the meantime Harlequin has a medical fast-track until the 24 August. If I hadn't had this opportunity I would have submitted.
Then there is the New Voices contest. Would I be brave enough to submit a chapter for the whole world to read? In the meantime I have decided to plan ahead. I have last year's story to rewrite. This time with a POV. I've done the first three chapters but will continue with the rest. It's good practice in rewriting and editing. I am also doing Shirley Jump's online class From Good To Sold. Halfway through and it's proving quite inspiring. It really nice to read the whole classes homework and the changes she suggests. I am also planning towork on something else and try and put a synopsis together. So this is me trying to be calm while I'm waiting, what do you think?

And finally, a big congratulations to two Australian Medical Romance Authors who won a R*BY for their stories.
Sharon Archer for Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way Winner of Short Sweet
Amy Andrews for A Doctor, A Nurse: A Christmas Baby Winner of Short Sexy
It's lovely to see medical authors getting recognition for their work, sometimes medical books aren't eligible for some awards, or are overlooked, so I was delighted to see some medical authors waving the flags. Well done Ladies!

Revisions received, time to get to work!

2010-08-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

Okay...so this is me. Stuck between plain terrified and stressed! I've received my revisions from my editor and it's time to get to work.
The truth is they are fine. Five pages of notes and a genius action plan which is very concise and just what I need. It tells me in one page and a few bullet points exactly what to change. Some things are going to need a little thinking through. My problem here is the time scale. I need to give some indication of how long I think the revisions will take me. Of course I want to do them all NOW. But right now, I'm really not that sure how long they are going to take me.
Plus on top of all that - I'm scared. There I've said it. I'm scared I might do these wrong. You know what I mean. I'm a data nerd and posted on eharlequin about getting some stats, and someone gave me some. I wondered how many people who submitted partials were asked for fulls. Then how many fulls got revisions. Then how many get second revisions and how many go on to be bought. I've seen lots of people on the eharlequin boards who've got to this stage and then got a big fat R. So that's what I'm afraid of. But on to better things...

Jenny Harper who I met at the RNA conference sent me a sparkly pic of my black dress. Who said black was boring! I was also invited to join an email group for Writers Scotland which seems very informative and supportive. And last but not least I heard Rachael Johns talking about an online course on her blog and decided to join in, so Shirley Jump's From Good to Sold (I'm rubbish and don't know how to do things that link) now has myself, Rachael and Joanne Pibworth on board. It seems we apparently are the bad girls at the back of the class, some things never change! It's proving to be value for money already and it lasts until the end of August. So I'm listening to what she says as I'm plotting my revisions.
Last of all, good luck to everyone at the Romance conference in Australia - I'm expecting FULL reports on your return!

Holidays....and waiting...

2010-08-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

So we have just got back from a fabulous Mediterranean cruise on a beautiful ship with Swarovski crystals in the stairs. Yes, you will have to look hard at the picture to see them but I swear they are there! I could also tell a few tales about a terrifying visit to the Medina in Tunis and a very annoying man at Heathrow who rebooks your flight when you've been delayed. But this is not an adult only blog and swear words are definitely not allowed!

So a week spent in Genoa Italy, Pompeii, Palermo Sicily, Tunis, Palma Majorca, Barcelona and Marseille was certainly something to dream about. Can I pretend it was all research for my next story, which incidentally is set on a cruise ship? Actually, I wrote it last year and am currently revising it. Not because any of the geographical details are wrong, just because I managed to write a whole romance novel with no POV. Yes, I did. 55,000 words of it. Actually I think there should an award for that and I do mean a raspberry type award. Never mind, revising is fun and it gives me something to do, it also means I can see improvements in my work which I am eternally grateful for.

I wanted to post some really cool pictures of Pompeii but when I looked at them all I realised that I had lots of pictures of the artefacts and practically no pictures of the family. Ooops.

So decided to take a bit of artistic licence and show you a picture from Chateau D'if in Marseille. It was the prison that inspired Alexander Dumas to write The Count of Monte Cristo and was absolutely fascinating to visit. See, it is connected to writing! The cell I am pictured in held one prisoner for 19 years. All the prisoners names and length of stay were above each of the individual cells (including the one that inspired the story and - no - he wasn't a Count).

And now for the waiting. Because that's what I'm doing. I'm still waiting to hear about the revisions that they want done on the current book. Patience is a skill I have never been very good at (and being a nurse and a mum that almost seems a criminal offence) so I guess it's time to learn. I know that right now M & B are fast-tracking all medical submissions in the month of August. So I think I might have to wait until that is completed. I actually would really like to submit the other story I've revised but I know that I can't. I also would like to try and submit to the New Voices Romance is not Dead competition - have you seen the fantastic prizes?? But I know that I won't do either of these things. Both seem like fabulous opportunities but I've been really lucky and am currently working with an editor so I think it wouldn't seem fair to try and do this too. I remember the furore last time around and wouldn't like to be part of that when right now, I have an opportunity of my own. I also wonder if I really have the guts to submit a chapter that everyone in the world gets to read. I mean, really, what if everyone thought that it was rubbish and said so??
So I'm going to sit here patiently waiting. But I'm not back at work for the next ten days and my fingers are itching to type.....
Anyone else submitting?

Fun, fun and more fun!

2010-07-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

There's something really fabulous about spending a weekend with other writers. No-one thinks you're crazy for wanting to write and no-one thinks you're wasting your time. In fact everyone offers complete support and is interested in what you're currently writing.
I had the opportunity this weekend to meet some people I've only ever spoke to online and some people who write work that I totally love. So hello to Gemma Jackson, the minxes Lorraine, Romy and Joanne, everyone who stayed in the fabulous Scots corridor in part 15 of the building, Jane Holland (who has had a gorgeous haircut) and all the other great people I met this weekend.
Special hello to Kate Walker and her lovely husband Stephen, Kate Hardy with the great ipad, Sarah Morgan, Nina Harrington (who told me how she got her writing name) and Anne Fraser. Thank you for your support and great advice you all gave to me over the weekend.

Here's a pic of me looking starstruck with Kate Walker.

I learnt loads at the conference but although all the workshops were great the best part was definitely the socialising with the other writers. I had arranged a 10 minute appointment with the editor I've been working with at Mills and Boon but she actually took me out for a drink later and spent a lot of time talking to me. This week I will get some more revisions from her, she was very enthusiastic about my writing and hopefully I will have good news in the future.

I also had a real shock when Katie Fforde gave me an honorary mention at the Saturday barbeque for the short story I had written with an anniversary theme. I choked on my wine and sat with a smile plastered on my face thinking to myself "I can tell people that Katie Fforde read my story."

However here is a picture of Elizabeth our worthy winner and Jo. Followed by some of the Scots contingent Jenny and Lorna.

Can't wait for next year!

The Wedding Part 2

2010-07-08T02:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a glorious day in Scotland even though we had a forecast for rain. So the sun shined brightly on my niece Carissa and her new husband Norrie. Right up until Elliott my son, threw up over the famous Brig o Doon bridge where the wedding photos were being taken! It's a shame, I had the dreaded bug a few days ago, my youngest Rhys had it two days ago and I honestly thought everyone else would be okay. Bless him, he never complained and just went and lay down in the room my mum and dad had at the hotel, then like a brave soldier came and sat through the dinner. He was a star, honestly. I couldn't move out of my bed for 24 hrs when I had the bug. And then at five this morning I was awoken by the sound of??? You've guessed it. My beloved Kevin is currently away to work with a basin sitting in the passenger seat of his van.

All this and I'm trying to pack for the most exciting weekend in the world - RNA conference. I've waited a whole year for this and am determined to enjoy every second. Even though I know my train coming home arrives back in the middle of the World Cup Final. So who will pick me up? A girl's best friend - my mum! So if you are going to the conference, please, please, come and say hello to the mad Scotswoman who will be delighted to meet you.

It's away Part 2!

2010-06-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! Well the revisions are completed and it's away! One chapter completely rewritten, another partially rewritten and some "onion" layers a la Kate Walker added. So the picture is my book flying off to Mills and Boon London on it's merry way (and YES Joanne Pibworth I did Google Street the building after you told me about it!)

So now I'm all aquiver. What a good word that is. Jackie Ashenden always tells us not to read anything we send in. So I'm going to try and follow her advice. No, really I am. I'm already wondering if I've really captured exactly what they were looking for. Do I think the manuscript is better? Yes, I do. Do I think it's perfect. No, not yet. But hopefully someday....

Never mind. At least I can't start wondering if they received it or if it's lost in cyber space. Since I got a lovely email acknowledging receipt. Thought about replying to that - but then decided that might make me a bit of stalker. Now I need to focus on the next WIP. Haven't decided yet whether to rewrite last year's attempt or to try something completely new.

I've also got an appointment to meet the editor I'm working with at the RNA conference in London in July. So I'm really looking forward to that. A little nervous at the prospect, does anyone think 11am is too early for wine????

Wedding Day

2010-06-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Thursday was my nephew Jordan's wedding day and it was a gorgeous day. Hayley the bride, was beautiful and the family had a wonderful time. Couldn't post all the pictures I wanted to, so had to put them on facebook instead.

In one month's time my niece Carissa gets married too, so will have lots more pictures!

Have been amazed by the amount of emails I've received about newbies at the RNA conference. I think yesterday alone there were around 40 flying back and forth between us. It seems everyone is just as excited as I am. I've picked my workshops (how hard was it to choose? I want to go to them ALL!) and I've also got an appointment with the editor I'm currently working with at Mills and Boon which will be fabulous to get the opportunity to meet her in person.

I will be finished my revisions this week, which means I've done it in the time frame I wanted to. Now I'm just wondering whether I should send them in as planned, or wait until I've spoken to her, just in case there is something I haven't quite nailed. Decisions...decisions.

If anyone else is going to the conference, I look forward to meeting you there. Unfortunately I think I'm going to have to leave just a little early around 12.30pm in order to get the train back to Scotland, but never mind, I know it will be great.

By the way does anyone know how to change your background? I saw a FABULOUS background on someone else's blog that looked like shelves of books. I SO want it, but don't know how to get it!

Jumping for Joy

2010-05-16T03:18:00.001-07:00

So.... my children are demonstrating what their mother is doing right now (I couldn't post a picture of myself jumping on the trampoline as there are somethings that other people should just not see!) I got a lovely email back from the editor at Mills and Boon asking me to revise and resubmit my full. Again the revisions are entirely manageable. It will mean rewriting one full chapter and around one quarter of another. Along with that there are some general comments that I will have to check throughout the manuscript. So am I happy? Yes I'm jumping for joy.

She also asked for an approximate return date so I guess I have to realistic. Some items in the day job have recently swollen in size. I've had to bring some work home this weekend and I can predict that this could happen a few times this month.

What I really want to do is put my head down and focus on the revisions and nothing else. However life sometimes get in the way. Overall I am delighted to have some feedback and I also have to say that the feedback has been super quick. Most of the boards have people waiting for over 6 months for feedback (whether it's an R or revisions) so I do appreciate how lucky I am.

I also got my feedback from RNA New Writers Scheme. It was very positive and suggested a few changes, most of which were pretty minor. It is interesting to say that the suggestions don't match the ones which the editor has given me, but I can see where they have come from. And of course, it is all constructive criticism which I can learn from. I guess it just goes to show how subjective writing can be. I know that on occasions I have read book reviews that I just didn't agree with and I suppose it just supports the learning curve that tells me "you can't please every reader, every time." But guess what? There's one person that I certainly do want to please!

And finally, how glad am I that I booked a train for the RNA conference and chose not to fly Ryanair? After wanting to go to the RNA conference for nearly a year I would be devastated if I'd book a flight that never took off. And to think the only reason I went for the train is that my Radley flight suitcase didn't meet the hand luggage restrictions on Ryanair... It must be fate!

It's away!

2010-04-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

So the revised manuscript was emailed on Friday afternoon to the far away office in London. Now the waiting game begins. I only hope I get a return email to let me know they received it, I have horrible visions of things being lost in cyberspace.
But on to other things check out www.brendanovak.com/auction.shtml This is a website for an American Romance Author who has an auction every year in aid of diabetes. Her son suffers from diabetes and she is keen to raise money for research. This is an area close to my heart as I have had diabetes since the age of 8. There are some fabulous things to bid for. For writers there is a chance to bid on critiques from various published authors around the world. This includes our own Kate Walker, Heidi Rice and lots of others. There is also autographed books and goody bags from various authors. The auction starts on 1 May with bidding similar to how it is on ebay. Have a look ladies!

Request for a Full!

2010-04-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

I am officially the happiest girl in the world! I received an email tonight from one of the editors at Mills and Boon. Let me have a dreamy moment and quote "Susan, we absolutely love your voice - it's contemporary, lively and really fresh, and there are some utterly unique fabulous moments in your story such as the brilliant ending to chapter one!"
Have I told you yet that I'm happy? She has given me lots of detailed feedback - I've just printed it and it's three pages - asking for some revisions and requesting a full by the beginning of May. The revisions sound completely manageable and I'm going to start straight away.
I am so happy to have this opportunity. Someone from Mills and Boon has read my work and likes it! I didn't get a form R! I didn't think I was going to hear anything as I knew one my counterparts in the Medical Pitch had heard back already with a request, so I was sure mine must be heading for the bin.
Thank you, thank you and Please, please, please just let me do this right.....

Sunday 28 March

2010-03-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

This has been an eventful week. Took part in the Medical Pitch at eharlequin. Managed to get my times mixed up, it was set for 10am a question and answer session with Sheila Hodgson and 11am for the medical pitch with Lucy Gilmour. Tried to convert the american times into UK times and I thought I had done it, being 3pm and 4pm. But when I logged into the chat room at 250pm I found myself at the end of Sheila'a hour long chat with the pitch about to start! I got the fright of my life. Asked some of the hosts what time it was in their part of the world and it turned out they were all at different points in America and it was 8am, 9am and 10am respectively. Don't think I'm ever going to the hang of time conversion. One of the pitchers never showed for her pitch and I just can't help thinking about the missed opportunity. Haven't seen her on any of the boards since, so I hope she's OK. Anyway the pitch went well, and I emailed my synopsis and three chapters the next day direct to Lucy Gilmour. I know she's received it as I got an email back from her, plus another email later from the eEditors at Mills and Boon with a reference number, so at least I know my email isn't lost in cyberspace.
In the meantime I've sent my manuscript in to the New Writers Scheme at the RNA. It takes around 8 weeks for feedback so I hope to hear before the conference in July.
Now time to start something new......

14 March 2010

2010-03-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

Finally managed to put a pitch together for the Harlequin Medical Editor Pitch and sent it in. Had reread it too many times and fiddled continously for days - so it's probably rubbish. Currently trying to write the most hated synopsis. I think I want to employ somebody to do that part for me as I hate writing them. Once I've finished that I'm going to have final read over my manuscript and send it in to the RNA New Writers Scheme. It can take three months to get feedback and I would kind of like to have it before I go the conference in London in July. Have heard back on all my chapters from one of my critique partners and am just waiting to hear back from the other who has the first three chapters. Isn't it amazing what a fresh set of eyes can see? And why is it when you get comments back you think.....of course, why didn't I see that!
I'm going to have to think about a new project and I've no idea where to start so I think I better do a little research, I've currently got about 20 medicals to read and that sounds perfect!

Thursday 11 February

2010-02-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to me!
I'm now 37 and feel absolutely ancient. Never mind, good news is I've booked up for the RNA conference in London in July and am really excited about going. Can't wait to meet everyone.
The writing is ticking along nicely 35,000 but am kind of stuck around Chapter 8. I know how the book finishes - I just have to get there. Deadline is end of February as I need to prepare a pitch for the Harlequin Medical Pitch by 12 March. Could be really exciting...

Wednesday 13th January

2010-01-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

Plans for 2010

This year I plan to submit more than once to mills and boon and will continue to target the medical line. The Independant Midwife is coming along nicely 17,034 (34%!!!!!!!!!!!!) I love seeing the percentage go up and up. I am aiming for around 5,000 words a week and hope to have revised the first three chapters for the end of Jan to send to my crit partners for some feedback. Have also rejoined the New Writers Scheme which is part of the Romance Novelists Association in Britain. Loved the feedback last year and who knows maybe this year I will get a second read? Also going to attempt the pitch for the medical line on eharlequin in March this year. Busy, busy all this plus a full time job and two demanding boys, there is just not enough hours in the day!

Monday 14 December

2009-12-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

Just read Kate Hardy's blog about Christmas shopping and loved it - it really got me in the mood. A parcel arrived for me this weekend, from vista print, lovely notebooks with a tropical island cover, my name on the front and the words This Will be a Mills and Boon. What else could a girl ask for? Well the call obviously, and another radley bag, but never mind. Didn't win the Presents competition or place but praying for some feedback. Currently working on new first three chapters for a medical submission and a full manuscript for the RNA New Writer's Scheme next year, hoping 2010 will be my year for a second read!

http://picometer.writertopia.com

2009-11-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

http://picometer.writertopia.com/