Mills and Boon Author Lunch

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!

Fun, fun and more fun!

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!