Lucy King

Keeping calm (sort of) and carrying on

2012-01-16T08:13:00.000+01:00

The five months I gave myself to write this book has somehow dwindled to six weeks, and I now find myself in the scary position of having almost the entire story to complete before the end of Feb. Ok, so life has got in the way quite a bit recently, but really for weeks now working on this story has been like wading through treacle. I've written Chapter One more than a dozen times and every word has been excruciating.

So I'm starting again, which given how little there was to start with, isn't as painful as it could be (although it is wildly panic-inducing). My heroine's original conflict was seriously heavy going and depressing, and she kept wanting to make jokes and do things that she wouldn't have done if she'd been as tormented as I'd decided she was to be. My hero's baggage was so confused even he didn't know what it was. So I've had a rethink. I've simplified, decided to go easy on the angst and lightened things up. And what do you know, this morning I wrote 4,000 words and all three of us are enjoying ourselves a whole lot more.

Unfortunately I doubt this level of output will last, but at even half the rate I should make my Feb deadline. Any tips from all you speedsters out there would be much appreciated!

And the winner is...

2012-01-11T11:02:00.003+01:00

Nas Dean!

Nas, email me your address and I'll pop your copy in the post.

Thanks to everyone commented and emailed!

On the shelves & a giveaway

2012-01-06T00:32:00.000+01:00

Hooray, Say It with Diamonds hits the UK shelves today!

And look what I found when stalking browsing Amazon: the US cover. It's lucky that the scene depicted doesn't actually take place in a convertible otherwise they'd both be arrested for committing an extremely lewd act in public. The book's not out until May but you can pre-order it here.

I think they're both fab, but which do you prefer? For a copy of the UK version, leave your answer in a comment or send me an email (info at lucykingbooks dot com) and I'll select winner at random on Tuesday.

Penny Jordan

2012-01-02T19:26:00.002+01:00

I was very sad to learn today of the death of Penny Jordan, who lost her battle with cancer two days ago. She introduced me to the world of M&B back in the 80s and her books had me hooked then and now. She was an incredible writer and an inspiration, and leaves a great hole in the romance world.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T11:36:00.002+01:00

Happy 2012 everyone!!

Some of the things I'm looking forward to this year are:
a new baby
a new house
a significant birthday (not sure 'looking forward to' is quite the right expression!)
the release of 2 books

What about you?

Lovely review

2011-12-23T03:12:00.004+01:00

Have had a great review for Say It with Diamonds. The lovely RLA, who is nearing the end of an awesome 365-books-in-365-days challenge, gives it 4 out of 5 stars and says...

"Bella is a fabulous heroine; quirky, fun, and interesting. She is the perfect balm to Will's brooding and damaged personality. The sexual tension is so thick you could almost cut it, and *that* scene in the back on the limo is scorching! The story itself is deep, emotional and interesting, and very well written.

Full of sass as well as emotion, all in Lucy King's very unique and utterly compelling style. I loved it!"

Thank you, RLA! To read the full review, click here.

Sold!

2011-12-22T14:50:00.002+01:00

Book 5 has sold! This one is the story of Jack, Luke's best friend and the laid back charmer in Bought: Damsel in Distress, and Imogen, a socialite on a mission. It even features the hideous painting of the scorpion that Jack ends up winning at the charity auction in Bought.

No title yet, but apparently it'll be out as an M&B Modern in September 2012. What a fabby early Christmas present!

Harlequin Open House

2011-12-14T08:05:00.001+01:00

Today sees the 10th Annual Harlequin Community Open House, where Harlequin authors and fans can mingle and meet (without having to leave our sitting rooms!) all day. There are virtual mince pies and wine, and REAL prizes, so come and join the party. Hope to see you there!

Baby it's cold outside

2011-12-13T08:03:00.003+01:00

I'm now in the UK. It's brutally cold and stormy, but that's absolutely fine - all the more reason to sit snuggled up drinking tea in front of the fire. The weather and being bundled up in wool does, however, make it tricky to conjure up the mood for the sultry Spanish summer in which my wip is set, but I shall persevere. Perhaps with something considerably stronger than tea...

December already?

2011-12-01T07:49:00.004+01:00

How did it get to be December so quickly? And where did all those virtuous plans to have my Christmas shopping done and dusted weeks ago go? The same place as November, I suppose.

One fab thing about December (as if there aren't enough already) is that Say It with Diamonds is now available here on the Mills & Boon website. Here's the blurb...

All that sparkles...

At thirty-five, Bella might be an expert on diamonds-but she's still missing a big fat one on the third finger of her left hand. However, at least she has her successful jewellery business-with very interesting new client William Cameron, AKA the Duke of Hawksley, no less!

She's expecting portly and chinless-but actually Will's tall, dark and so distractingly good-looking it's hard to concentrate on his jewels! More of a surprise: this weird chemistry between them is actually mutual. Urgent... And it catches them completely unawares in a black London taxi...

All that glitters is not gold. All that sparkles isn't diamond. All men who turn you on aren't the real thing. But being cynical gets boring...maybe it's time for Bella to throw caution to the winds...?

Hmm... Diamonds in my Christmas stocking? Now wouldn't that be lovely?!

Quality control

2011-11-27T09:49:00.003+01:00

My revisions are back with my editor. The 'tweaks' ended up adding 5000 works so I had to get cutting. What with my love of adverbs -along with a new tendency to waffle and repeat myself - this wasn't nearly as painful as I'd imagined. In fact, it made a nice change from worrying I'll never make the word count, which happens with every book I write.

Now with a bit of a break, I've been baking muffins - carrot/orange and spinach/parmesan. Ostensibly these are snacks for my toddler, but obviously I've had to check they're OK. Quality control is so important, isn't it?!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:20:00.000+01:00

To all my American readers, Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you have a lovely day.

Say It with Diamonds

2011-11-18T14:34:00.000+01:00

My website now has a brand new page for my January M&B, Say It with Diamonds. There's the blurb, the inspiration for the story and an extract. Woohoo! (Have I mentioned how much I loved writing this story???) Check it all out here.

Revisions and happy endings

2011-11-16T13:32:00.000+01:00

Revisions for Jack and Imogen's story have arrived and are mercifully minor. They mainly focus on adding a showdown scene to plumb the characters' emotional depths, and the intensifying the ending.

Intensifying the ending is a revision I often get, probably because as a deadline looms I tend to rush it. In real life I'm not hugely sentimental, so I'm always tempted to just write 'hey, sorry, I've been an idiot but I love you, so how about it?', but am aware this kind of approach may not be entirely appropriate in a romantic novel. After all the emotional build-up and the awful moment where it looks as if everything's gone irredeemably pear-shaped, the reader deserves a bit more than 'yeah, sure, why not?'.

So over the next day or two, I supsect it's not just my characters' emotional depths that are going to be plumbed, but mine too. It could be painful.

How do you feel about writing that happy ending? Do you love it or hate it?

A baby crow of doubt

2011-11-14T15:38:00.003+01:00

I think I've given myself a bit of a challenge re the next book. I have a heroine with PTSD and some serious hangups and a story that, being Riva, is supposed to be sassy, flirty and sizzly. Hmm, not exactly a match made in heaven...

New Voices winner announced!

2011-11-04T18:46:00.004+01:00

First of all many congratulations to the winner of the New Voices comp, Natalie Charles with her entry, The Seven Day Target. It's a fab story and a very worthy winner.

I'm back home after a few days in the UK which involved AMBA lunching and grandparent/grandson bonding, and have been fairly snowed under with exam marking and panicking about my next book. The latter has been through so many incarnations I've rewritten the first three thousand words half a dozen times at least. Therefore I have no plans this weekend except hopefully adding to my very paltry wordcount (NaNoWriMo is but a distant dream). Hope you're all up to something more exciting!

Cover love

2011-10-24T09:15:00.006+02:00

I've just seen the cover for my next book, Say It with Diamonds, out in the UK in January, and am having serious cover love. (And even more serious gem envy - check out those rocks!)

Bella, the heroine, is a jeweller who meets the hero, Will, when he takes a sample of his family's jewellery collection to be valued. However, all is not as it seems...

As you can see instead of being released as a Riva, it's out as a Modern, but the story's still (I hope) Riva-ish in feel.

I have to say I loved writing this one!

NV

2011-10-22T09:41:00.001+02:00

I'm having a lovely Saturday reading the second chapters of the 21 New Voices finalists. What an awesomely talented bunch - am gripped! I really don't envy the editors at M&B the task of having to whittle down the shortlist...

Creating Characters

2011-10-10T08:54:00.000+02:00

Creating the characters for my next story (the stage I'm currently at) is one of my favourite parts of the whole writing process.

I've realised that main reason I had such trouble with books 2 & 3 was that I was so eager to get writing, I didn't have a good grip on who my hero and heroine really were. I had no idea what motivated them or why they behaved the way they did and consequently fell into the schoolgirl error of trying to shoehorn them into the plot. With such dire intial results that both books had to be rethought and rewritten.

Now I hope I know a bit better. Which is why I spend days nailing down every tiny detail of their personalities, lives and backgrounds before launching in with the help of the character questionnaire in Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance and this: The Enneagram Made Easy. Both make me add facets to my characters that I'd never think of and help keep their behaviour consistent.

Following the personality types set out by the enneagram, my new heroine is an 8 (Asserter - direct, independent, upholder of just causes) and my hero a 5 (Observer - analytical, self-contained, calm in a crisis). As I can already see the sparks flying I can't wait to get started on their story!

How do you build your characters?

Rejoining the land of the living

2011-09-30T08:48:00.005+02:00

The book is in (on time!!) which means that I can now catch up on all the many things that have been piling up: tax return, filing, cooking, washing... Or I could kick up my heels and browse the entries in the New Voices competition...

One thing that kept me going yesterday as I was speeding towards the finish line was the lovely review for my current Harlequin Presents release, The Crown Affair, over at Cataromance. Julie says

Lucy King is on top form with The Crown Affair! An addictive page-turner that brilliantly juxtaposes laugh-out loud humour with steamy sensuality and heart-tugging pathos, The Crown Affair is a lively contemporary romance with a lovely heroine you will love and a gorgeous hero you are sure to swoon over.

A sparkling tale of unexpected blessings, chance encounters and red-hot passion, The Crown Affair is another keeper by Lucy King!

The full review is here. Thank you, Julie!

New Voices - free ebook

2011-09-28T18:55:00.005+02:00

Goodness it's been a long time since I last blogged... My only excuse is that I've been hard at work trying to finish my wip in time for my deadline on Friday and haven't been doing much of anything apart from writing!

In the meantime, the Mills & Boon New Voices competition has launched and so far has a staggering 411 entries. I wish I could read them all (hmm, maybe after Friday...) but good luck to everyone who's entered or is planning to. It takes a lot of guts to put your work out there so congratulations to all entrants for taking that giant step.

And to help all aspiring authors, the fabulous editors at M&B have put together a free eBook with tips and hints galore (including a section from me about a good hero grovel!). You can download it from Amazon here (and at the iBook store by searching for secrets uncovered boon). It's also available in Adobe Digital Editions from the M&B website here.

Hope to be back soon!

On Royalty

2011-09-02T17:06:00.001+02:00

In celebration of the release of The Crown Affair in the US, I am over at iheartpresents today talking about royal romance. Pop over and tell me what you think!

Out in the US

2011-09-01T05:58:00.000+02:00

The Crown Affair is out in the US this month! Woohoo!

Tag Team

2011-08-31T07:46:00.006+02:00

My fellow Riva writer and all round romance goddess, Nicola Marsh, has a short story up on Amazon. It's called Tag Team and here's the blurb...

A Victorian Police Special Ops team leader joins forces with an Australian Defence Force Tactical Assault Group expert who specializes in biological warfare to stop an imminent chemical threat.

When the threat becomes personal and the body count mounts, they find themselves locked in a safe room, where they discover their sizzling history takes little to ignite.

How fab does that sound??? I've downloaded it to my Kindle and as soon as I've finished my wordcount for the day I'll be tucking in (if I can hold out that long). You can get it here if you're in the UK and here in the US. Enjoy!

New Voices

2011-08-29T14:42:00.002+02:00

Only two weeks to go now to the launch of the new M&B New Voices competition, and how exciting is that! Visit romanceisnotdead.com for all the deets, but in the meantime, here's a list of all the workshops being held around the UK by M&B authors and editors. What a treat! If only I could go...

Wednesday 31st August, 11.00am-1.00pm
Event Leader: KATE WALKER
ASHBY LIBRARY AND LOCAL LINK, Ashby High Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN16 2RY
Tickets cost £5, including refreshments. For more information please call Emma Prideaux on 01724 860161 or email library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.

Wednesday 31st August, 2.00pm-3.30pm
Event Leader: LIZ FIELDING
PONTARDAWE LIBRARY, Holly Street, Pontardawe, Swansea, SA8 4ET
Please call 01792 862261 to book your place.

Friday 2nd September, 2.30pm-4.00pm
Event Leader: MILLS & BOON EDITORS - Megan Haslam and Carly Corcoran
CHIPPING BARNET LIBRARY, 3 Stapylton Road, Barnet, Herts. EN5 4QT
To book your FREE place on this writing workshop, please call 020 8359 4040.

Thursday 8th September 6.30-8.00pm
Event Leader: LOUISE ALLEN
BECCLES LIBRARY, Blybur Gate, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9TB
To book your FREE place on this writing workshop, please call 01502 714073 to book your place.

Saturday 10th September, 10.00am-12.30pm
Event Leader: JOANNA FULFORD
ALFRETON LIBRARY, Severn Square, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7BQ
Tickets are £5 and include refreshments. TO BOOK YOUR PLACE, please email Alison.betteridge@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01773 831359.

Tuesday 13th September 10.30am-12noon
Event Leader: KATE HARDY
ATTLEBOROUGH LIBRARY, 31 Connaught Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2BW
To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 01953 452319 or e-mail attleborough.lib@norfolk.gov.uk or myra.browne@norfolk.gov.uk.

Wednesday 14th September 6.30-8.00pm
Event Leader: FIONA HARPER
BRIXTON LIBRARY, Brixton Oval, London, SW2 1JQ
Tickets from: Caroline Mackie at cmackie@lambeth.gov.uk

Saturday 17th September 2.30-4.00pm
Event Leader: ANNE FRASER
SHETTLESTON LIBRARY, 154 Wellshot Road, Glasgow G32 7AX
To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 0141 276 1643 .

Monday 19th September 2.00-3.30pm
Event Leader: SHARON KENDRICK
BASINGSTOKE DISCOVERY CENTRE, 19/20 Westminster House, Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS
Tickets are £5 and can be purchased from Basingstoke Discovery Centre information desk or over the phone on 01256 478670.

Tuesday 20th September 6.00-7.30pm
Event Leader: MARGUERITE KAYE
WHITEINCH LIBRARY, 14 Victoria Park Drive South, Glasgow G14 9RL
Places are limited so booking is essential. To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 0141 276 0695 .

Tuesday 20th September 6.30-8.00pm
Event Leader: HEIDI RICE
MAYFAIR LIBRARY, 25 South Audley Street, London W1K 2PB
Places are limited so booking is essential. Tickets are £3. To book your place on the writing workshop, please call 020 7641 4905/4916 or email mayfairlibrary@westminster.gov.uk.

Wednesday 21st September 5.00-6.30pm
Event Leader: MILLS & BOON EDITORS - Megan Haslam and Carly Corcoran
BARKING LIBRARY, Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Square, Barking, London IG11 7NB
Places are limited so booking is essential. To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 020 8724 8719 or email denise.lovelace@lbbd.gov.uk.

Monday 26th September 6.00-7.30pm
Event Leader: HEIDI RICE
FULHAM LIBRARY, 598 Fulham Road, Fulham, London, SW6 5NX
Places are limited so booking is essential. To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 020 7753 3877 or email clare.edgson@lbhf.gov.uk or rob.symmons@lbhf.gov.uk.

2011-08-25T17:02:00.001+02:00

As I only have a month or so to go til my deadline and still have a LONG way to go before being able to type The End, I'm tucked away in my study, knuckling down and getting to serious grips with my wip.

At the moment, my hero is taking my heroine back to his place. Originally I had him living in Mayfair, but while idly googling images of central London flats I decided to relocate him. To Knightsbridge, and a penthouse in the super swanky No 1 Hyde Park:

[image deleted]

Many moons ago I used to work at an oil company located in the building that previously occupied the site. It used to look like this:

[image deleted]

Now it looks like this:

[image deleted]

Externally I'm not sure it's much of an improvement, but I bet the views are spectacular!

Are books just for the middle class?

2011-08-12T13:22:00.002+02:00

Hope not, but there's interesting article in the Guardian today asking why Waterstone's wasn't looted in the recent riots in England...

Minxes of Romance

2011-08-10T10:12:00.000+02:00

I'm over at the fabulous Minxes of Romance blog today ~~offering deep, thought-provoking insights into~~ wittering on about my writing.

Piracy (sadly not of the Jack Sparrow kind)

2011-08-07T18:56:00.001+02:00

Someone came to this blog looking for a free download of The Crown Affair. All I can say (that's printable, at least) is thanks for the heads-up.

First sign of madness?

2011-08-05T08:15:00.000+02:00

I’ve spent the last few days trying to shoehorn my characters into bed. I’ve cajoled and rewritten the chapter a dozen times but unfortunately they’re not having any of it (quite literally). It’s infuriating and I feel like I’ve been writing my way into a brick wall.

The conversations I’ve been having in my head go something like this:

Me: Why don’t you want to go to bed with Jack? He’s gorgeous and charming and fancies the pants off you. And you could really do with a boost to your ego. So what’s wrong with you?
Imogen (eyebrows shoot up): Wrong with me? Jack might be gorgeous and charming, but he reminds me too much of my lousy ex. (Shudders) No way am I going there again.
Me: You didn’t seem all that fussed a couple of pages ago. In fact I distinctly recall you being extremely tempted to go exactly there again.
Imogen: Yes, well, that was before I found out who he was. Besides reminding me of everything I’ve sworn to avoid, the man’s a complete waste of space and has a terrible reputation. I’d have to be mad to ever contemplate going to bed with him. In fact I’d be perfectly happy if I never laid eyes on him again.
Me (depressed): Oh.

Me: Jack, help me here. You’re supposed to be great with women. Heaven knows you’ve had enough practice. Can’t you switch on the charm and seduce Imogen into bed?
Jack (jaw drops in horror): Why on earth would I want to do something like that?
Me: For a start, you spent a large part of the evening flirting with her. Then you invited her out to dinner.
Jack (glowering): And then she went all weird on me. Sorry, but the woman is shallow and pointless and has some SERIOUS issues.
Me: You know she didn’t really mean to insult you like that, don’t you?
Jack (muttering): Whether she did or not she’s still bonkers. So thanks, but no thanks.

See what I have to put up with? Anyway, today I gave up trying to make them what I want them to do, and am letting them do what they want to do. Not entirely surprisingly, the brick wall has disappeared and things have become a whole lot easier. Harrumph. You’d have thought by now I’d have learnt to avoid this basic mistake, but apparently not...

Out and about

2011-08-01T08:05:00.000+02:00

It's 1st August and that means The Crown Affair is out in a variety of places!

Firstly in the UK it should be hitting the shelves any day now. Secondly it's downloadable to Kindle and ibooks. And in the US it's available on harlequin.com.

Here's what RT Book Reviews thinks of it...

THE CROWN AFFAIR (4) by Lucy King: She wouldn’t be human if the shirtless man toiling in her neighbor’s backyard didn’t bring out her inner voyeur, but architect Laura Mackenzie doesn’t expect to be caught in the act. And it isn’t long before Laura agrees to a one-night, no-strings affair under his roof. After all, what are the chances Matt will end up her boss on his isolated Mediterranean island kingdom? With an abundance of humor and sizzle, this story charms from start to finish.

Thank you, Sandra!

8 years

2011-07-26T09:30:00.001+02:00

Today is my wedding anniversary!

26th July 2003

What's it all about?

2011-07-21T08:36:00.001+02:00

Whenever I start a new book I set up a spreadsheet with dates and word counts targets. I calculate what I need to do by when, taking into account any days I know I'm not going to be able to write. According to the spreadsheet for my wip, the last time I looked at it was 17th June. (!!!) According to the same spreadsheet my word count ought to be 35,000. Unfortunately it languishes somewhere around half that.

Not that I've been sitting on the sofa, watching TV and eating biscuits. No. The intervening weeks have passed by in a bit of a blur because I've:

- attended the RWA conference in New York
- been to my cousin's wedding in London
- marked 3092 exam papers (not that I'm counting)
- done the line edits for Say It With Diamonds

as well as tackling all the little things that life with a 14mth old involves. (How can they generate so much washing? And as for eating... My mother asked if he was eating less now it was so hot. Huh? Not so as you'd notice.)

The more time spent away away from my story, the more sure I am that what I've written is complete rubbish. The more that happens the more nervious I am of going back to it. Something of a vicious circle.

Anyway I've bitten the bullet and read through the 18000 words, and although I'm not 100% sure about the heroine's name, but am 100% sure that the story starts in the wrong place, it's not as awful as I feared. In fact, now I've reaquainted myself with the characters and the plot (which had become decidedly fuzzy), I can't wait to get stuck back in. Fingers crossed for a smooth run up to my September deadline...

And the winners are...

2011-07-16T19:13:00.004+02:00

Suzanne and lollslynne!

Send me your address either by using my contact form or sending me an email (info at lucykingbooks dot com) and I'll pop a copy of The Crown Affair in the post.

Many thanks for all the comments and emails!

Giveaway

2011-07-14T14:56:00.000+02:00

My RIVA copies of The Crown Affair have just arrived and they're absolutely gorgeous. To celebrate, I have TWO to give away.

All you have to do is leave a comment here, or drop me an email (info at lucykingbooks dot com), and on Saturday I'll pick a couple of names out of a hat.

In the meantime, here's a teaser...

What exactly was it about that penetrating stare of his that pinned her to the spot? Why were her insides going all squirmy and quivery? And more importantly why wasn’t she taking advantage of the fact that he’d released her, and running off just as fast as her size sevens would carry her?

That was what the old Laura, the one who avoided confrontation like the plague and never said no, would have done. And despite the assertiveness course she’d recently completed, there was enough of the old her still floating around to make her long to run and bury herself under her duvet.

But scarpering in the face of confrontation wasn’t an option any longer, was it? Laura squared her jaw. No. Now she dealt with stuff. Or at least that was the idea. Up until now she hadn’t had the opportunity to practise.

Channelling everything she could remember from the course, Laura took a deep breath, stuck her chin up and returned his glare. ‘What do you want now?’

‘Who do you work for?’ he snapped.

She blinked and inwardly flinched. ‘That’s none of your business.’

‘What?’ His eyebrows shot up.

Laura bristled. ‘Well, who do you think you are hauling me around and demanding to know who I work for?’ She tilted her head and shot him a defiant stare. Her tutor would be proud. ‘You know, your small talk skills leave a lot to be desired.’

Matt’s face tightened. ‘I’m not interested in small talk. Do you or do you not work for Celebrity magazine?’

Laura frowned. Maybe the mushrooms she’d eaten for breakfast had had a touch of the magic about them, because this conversation had her baffled. ‘Of course I don’t. Currently I don’t work for anyone.’

‘Freelance?’ he snapped.

Made redundant, but there was no way she was going into that. ‘On sabbatical.’

‘Right,’ he drawled, clearly not believing her for a second. ‘Then why were you watching me?’

Don't forget to comment/email for a chance to win a copy!

More Than Words

2011-07-11T21:49:00.000+02:00

Have you heard of the Harlequin More Than Words program? Its aim is to enhance the well-being of women and its goals include raising awareness about causes that are of concern to women.

Every year Harlequin solicits nominations of ordinary women who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities. This year, they're choosing three recipients and will make a $15,000 donation to each of their chosen causes. Short stories, inspired by these women and their charitable work, will be written by some Harlequin authors and distributed for free as ebooks.

Nominations for the 2012 More Than Words program are open, so spread the word and nominate a woman who has been an inspiration to those around her. The deadline for submissions is 5th August 2011. For more info, check out www.harlequinmorethanwords.com.

The Crown Affair

2011-07-08T07:16:00.000+02:00

In all the excitement of the RWA, and what with not being sure what time of day it was let alone what month, I nearly forgot that my first Riva, The Crown Affair, is now available on the Mills & Boon website. A whole month before hitting the UK shelves! It features Matt, the reluctant ruler of a Mediterranean island kingdom, and Laura, a recently dumped and unexpectedly unemployed architect. What's supposed to be a one-night stand backfires when Laura gets a job working on Matt's island, and things end up getting a bit hot and steamy.

Click here to find out what inspired the story or to read an extract.

RWA 2011

2011-07-06T13:55:00.000+02:00

I'm now back home after a fabulous week in the States, and despite the 5-hrs-of-sleep nights, my liver having to work overtime to deal with the sudden influx of sauvignon blanc, and a voicebox hoarse from all the talking, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Here it is in pictures...

The Riva Girls
In front: Susan Stephens, Kimberly Lang, Jackie Braun
Behind: Fiona Harper, Bryony Green (Editor), Heidi Rice, Amy Andrews, Kelly Hunter

Appletinis

Margueritas

The Harlequin Ball

Travels

2011-06-25T07:51:00.002+02:00

I'm off this weekend to the RWA conference. Soooo excited!! Can't believe I'm going to be footloose and fancy free in New York for a WHOLE WEEK. After spending the last week marking endless exam papers, it's like the best present evah.

But first, a school reunion in London this evening. It's been 21 years since we left and can't wait to catch up. Someone's set up a Facebook page and people have been posting school photos from the 80s. All I can say is, OMG the HAIR... The 80s was NOT a kind decade to hair. Thank heavens for Frizzeze!

Happy Weekends!!

(Apols for all the exclamations marks, but am just the tiniest bit excited, don't you know.)

Scintillating Voltage

2011-06-16T08:08:00.000+02:00

Bought: Damsel in Distress is out in Dutch. According to Google Zinderend van spanning translates as 'Scintillating Voltage'. Personally I think it sounds more like the name of a Bond villain.

Inspiration

2011-06-09T12:54:00.001+02:00

As a treat for totting up 2500 words so far this morning, I've been browsing images of the delectable John Barrowman. Some might call it gratuitous ogling, but I like to call it Essential Research.

So meet the hero of my current wip, Jack Taylor. Laid-back, charming and utterly irresistible. Even to my heroine, who's adamant she's through with laid-back, charming and utterly irresistible men. However as she's just had her wicked way with him in a hotel laundry cupboard, I don't know who she thinks she's kidding.

[image deleted]

Blurb!

2011-06-07T14:25:00.002+02:00

Here's the blurb for The Crown Affair!

Close encounters of the Royal kind!

After being made redundant and finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman, Laura's decided it's time to take charge of her life! However, the last thing she expects is the new Laura to end up having wild, naked fun with the gorgeous guy next door…

Okay, she virtually runs away afterwards in shame—but so what? She soon gets a new job—on the Mediterranean island of Sassania, no less! But the island has a new king—aka Laura's guy-next-door! Now they're both in trouble, for King Matt should be focussing on affairs of the state, not be intent on re-igniting a hot affair of his own…

To find out what inspired the story or to read an extract, click here.

New website!

2011-06-03T14:28:00.001+02:00

Thanks to Liz Wilkinson at Bookwebs I have a fabulous (and much-needed) brand new website. It has reviews and extracts and much more besides so come on over and take a look...

www.lucykingbooks.com

I love love LOVE it, so many thanks, Liz!

The Island of Enchantment

2011-05-27T10:47:00.004+02:00

When the buzzer of my flat goes and the postlady at the other end of the intercom growls 'Correos!' I know she has a parcel for me. A delivery from Amazon is exciting (although that happens a lot less often now I have a Kindle), but what's even more thrilling is a delivery from Harlequin.

The postlady this morning handed me a box with the Italian translation of Propositioned by the Billionaire, which shares a spine with Mira Lyn Kelly's fabulous Wild Fling or a Wedding Ring? Just the incentive I need get on with the WIP!

Happy Birthday

2011-05-25T10:29:00.004+02:00

Today my little boy is one. I can't believe how fast this year's gone. Happy Birthday, William!

Blessed by the cover fairy

2011-05-24T19:57:00.000+02:00

I've spent the last week or so in the UK (among other things, celebrating my parents' 40th wedding anniversary!) and have come home to spy not one but TWO covers for The Crown Affair. So exciting. Don't you think the Riva cover is just gorgeous?!

Out in the UK in August

Out in the US in September

Cliché bingo

2011-05-23T22:53:00.000+02:00

There's been a bit of a furore going on in Romanceland following the Daily Mail's bizarre account of the RNA Summer Party. I was there (to hand over the trophy to this year's very worthy winner, Charlotte Betts for her debut novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, and to catch up with friends) and have to say, along with everyone else who attended, there wasn't a blue rinse, support hose or perm in sight. Of course I can't actually back this up with photographic evidence as I forgot to take my camera, but there are lots of pics here and here.

The brilliant and insightful Julie Cohen and Nicola Cornick (to name but a few) have commented on the DM article, and the fabulous Kate Johnson has started a #thisiswhataromancenovelistlookslike campaign on Twitter where you can upload your own photo and even buy the t-shirt!

Personally, I'm so sick of these yawningly predictable articles that I've created a new game, cliché bingo. So far my list of clichés to look out for in any article about romantic fiction includes...

Barbara Cartland
bodice ripper/ripping
swoon
manly
formula/formulaic
churn out
£100,000

Any other suggestions would be most welcome.

Fav title so far...

2011-05-17T20:08:00.003+02:00

Book 4 has a title! (*drumrolllllll*)

Say It With Diamonds

Sums up the story perfectly and I love it! It's out in the UK in Jan 2012.

Sold!

2011-05-13T19:13:00.004+02:00

Apparently my revisions for Bk 4 were fine, and it's sold! No idea of the title or release date yet, but with be back with the details as soon as I have them.

It was such a fun story to write, which was probably why I managed to finish it in two and a half months. Of course, taking the novel approach of actually knowing my characters and their conflict inside out BEFORE starting might have had a tiny bit to do with it.

Most writers, I guess, would take this as a given, but me? Noooooo. With the two previous two books I just dived in without really analysing my characters or knowing why they did what they did, and as a result ending up with dozens of rewrites. This time I let things swim around in my head for a bit before sitting down at the computer and it seems to have paid off (thank goodness, because another total rewrite might have finished me off).

Here's hoping this process works for Jack and Imogen's story!

Game Theory for Socialites*

2011-05-02T11:32:00.006+02:00

While waiting for the verdict on the revisions I turned in for Bk 4 (and not much liking all these bank holidays!), I'm thinking about ideas for the next book. I'm at that exciting-but-scary stage of figuring out my characters and their conflicts. Exciting because it could go anywhere and scary for exactly the same reason.

So far I have a gregarious yet lonely and restless It-girl and the gorgeous but emotionally bankrupt womaniser, Jack Taylor. Jack put in an appearance in Bought: Damsel in Distress as Luke's best friend, and has been demanding his own story ever since. Which he might regret when he sees what I plan to torment him with - and man, does he have issues!

I have the horrible suspicion, though, that it won't be long before he's getting his own back...

*Bk 5's working title

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T07:34:00.001+02:00

[image deleted]

Happy Easter

iPlayer v. Revisions?

2011-04-21T09:00:00.002+02:00

Despite the temptation to catch up on the crime dramas and murder mysteries that I missed while away (Waking the Dead's over? Oh no!), I've just hit send on my revisions for The Real Thing (my title for Bk 4). They weren't huge - mainly tweaking a motivation here and the emotional intensity there - but were still a little fiddly.

Fingers crossed I've nailed them!

(And even if I haven't, I deleted 53 out of 133 'just's, 9 'gave him/herself a quick shake's and 14 'pretty much's so am feeling very virtuous!)

RNA Joan Hessayon award shortlist

2011-04-20T21:59:00.003+02:00

Announced today! And the nominees are...

Kate Jackson Second Chance (DC Thompson)
Molly Hopkins It Happened In Paris (Little, Brown)
Sally Clements Catch Me A Catch (Wild Rose Press)
Charlotte Betts The Apothecary's Daughter (Piatkus)
Paula Williams A Place Of Healing (My Weekly Pocket Novel)

Congrats to all the nominees! The winner will be announced at the fabulous RNA Summer Party in London on Wednesday 18th May 2011.

I’ll be there with my party shoes on. Will you?

The well refilled

2011-04-08T14:52:00.003+02:00

Hello! I'm back from holiday in South Africa, feeling refreshed and revitalised and with ideas for a new story bouncing around my head. We had such a lovely time, just moseying around and hanging out with family. We even went to a bush wedding where a couple of rhinoceroses turned up as uninvited guests. (Hmmm, now there's an idea for a story...)

But what a lot's been going on in the world of writing in the last fortnight! First of all, many congratulations to the winners of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards. Fantastic stuff. And even more congratulations to all the RITA nominees, especially fellow RIVA author, Kelly Hunter, whose fabulous Red-Hot Renegade is up for Best Contemporary Series Romance. Can't wait to see her (if there's any justice in the world) pick up the prize in New York!

Revisions for the story I sent in before going away have landed in my inbox - mercifully minor, which makes a change - and my August release, The Crown Affair, (sans cover at the mo) is available for pre-order on Amazon. So lots of good things to banish the post-holiday blues!!

Done!

2011-03-18T07:37:00.003+01:00

The book is done and sitting in my editor's inbox - hooray! I've no doubt it'll come back with dozens of revisions (let's hope not a total rewrite like the last one) but in the meantime, I'm off on holiday. See you in a couple of weeks!

Challenge update

2011-03-07T16:13:00.001+01:00

So it's the first week in March and following my self-imposed challenge I'm supposed to have finished my wip. Needless to say, I haven't - although am not far off. I have to confess to being kind of fond of the story (which probably means it'll need no end of revising) and after taking two years to produce two books, getting this far in a couple of months is something of a relief. I'm off to South Africa in a fortnight, so here's hoping it'll be done and in my editor's inbox by then!

Feeling the Facebook lurve

2011-02-22T07:11:00.000+01:00

I'm not the most regular Facebooker on the planet - frankly I struggle to find anything interesting (or even not that interesting!) to say. But lately I've been trying to embrace the wonders of Facebook and have actually managed to set up pages for my books. Go me.

Each book has its own page, with the blurb, ISBNs, cover pics and other stuff that I'll hopefully keep up to date. Pop on over and take a look!

Bought: Damsel in Distress
Propositioned by the Billionaire
The Crown Affair

Spousonomics

2011-02-20T08:59:00.003+01:00

Thanks to the people over at Heroes and Heartbreakers, I've got another book I'd like to get my hands on.

According to Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage and Dirty Dishes, "every marriage is its own little economy, a business of two with a finite number of resources that need to be allocated efficiently." Apparently "the key to keeping your sex life hot is keeping it affordable."

So next time anyone asks why romance novels feature so many billionaires, I'd be able to stun them into silence with economics. Hah!

Has anyone read it?

Jumping around

2011-02-14T07:54:00.001+01:00

As it's Valentine's Day and the day of love and romance and wotnot, I've decided to skip over the next unwritten ten thousand words or so of my wip to write the last chapter, in which my hero and heroine get to deal with their hangups and fight for their HEA.

Or at least, that's the plan! I've never written in a non-linear way like this before, but having spent the last week editing and fixing the first half, I am feeling the need to create. Lots. Once I get going I can produce around a thousand words an hour, and while under no illusion that it will be any good when I go back and resume working my way towards it, at least the wordcount should rocket!

Does anyone else jump around when writing? And does anyone else find a soaring wordcount a major motivator?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

It's all Greek to me

2011-02-13T09:58:00.002+01:00

I received Greek copies of Bought: Damsel in Distress yesterday. The title translates as A Modern Knight, which I love as much as seeing the whole cover pic! I wonder if the novelty of translations ever wears off...

In writing news I'm hitting my wordcount targets for my wip - just about - but am rather concerned about the slightly nutty plot, the hoards of secondary characters and my heroine's tendency to flounce.

In other news, my little boy has just learned stand and is keen to practise whenever possible. He currently favours 4am. I don't.

A challenge

2011-02-03T19:11:00.000+01:00

I've set myself a bit of a challenge and have decided to see if I can finish my next book by the end of February. This means writing at least 2000 words a day for the rest of the month (net of deletion), so naturally I'm finding all sorts of other Extremely Interesting and Important things to do. Yesterday I spent a considerable amount of time wondering if I could ever get the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a into a story and today I've been browsing the Harlequin Office for the Preservation of the Kiss. I can barely wait to see what excitements lie in store for tomorrow. I may even get to Chapter Five.

The Crown Affair

2011-01-24T16:19:00.001+01:00

I've spent the last two weeks marking 2500 EFL exam papers, which has left my poor old brain just the teensiest bit battered. But there's no rest for the wicked because what should drop into my inbox last week but the proofs for my August RIVA release, The Crown Affair. This story was such a marathon to write, and underwent so many incarnations at so many stages it's actually been fun to reread and see how it's all turned out. Apart from the alarming preponderance of 'practically's I kind of like it!

Happy New Year

2011-01-07T09:00:00.000+01:00

A bit late I know, but Happy New Year!!! Here's hoping 2011 is a good one!

Carols and a sale

2010-12-23T16:11:00.003+01:00

My attempts are rewriting a Christmas carol (or three) in the Presents style are up here. Spot the revisions displacement activity anyone??? Anyway, I got the revisions done and the book was accepted yesterday! This one has been tough, what with a certain little person arriving just before a total rewrite, so to say I'm relieved is a bit of an understatement. It'll be out in the UK in August 2011.

A Presents Christmas carol

2010-12-20T16:23:00.000+01:00

Over at iheartspresents some of the Harlequin Presents authors have rewritten favourite Christmas carols along Presents lines. I got just the teensiest bit carried away, and had a stab at three. All this week you can see our efforts, so head here to take a look.

I was one of the lucky few whose Christmas travel plans weren't scuppered by the snow, and flew to the UK on Saturday. Goodness, it's cold!

It must be true, I read it in The Economist

2010-12-10T18:35:00.000+01:00

Hmm. Well, after a nano-second of a break, I received further revisions, which is what I've been working on for the past couple of weeks. At the expense of:
1) Christmas present buying (current tally - 0)
2) Getting fresh air
3) Writing the next book (which was going rather well)
4) Blogging

So in the absence of anything interesting to report, I leave you with an article in The Economist on understanding why women find some men handsome and others hideous. There's a scientific study and everything, although personally I'd have thought it was kind of obvious.

The early bird...ends up exhausted

2010-11-15T07:50:00.000+01:00

Lately my day has gone something like this:

5am. Wake up. Write.
7am. Feed baby.
7.30am. Put baby back to bed and write.
8.30am Give baby breakfast, get ready and go to library.
9.30am-2pm. Write until library closes for lunch.
2-4pm. Have lunch. Play with baby. Wait for library to reopen.
3-8pm. Head back to library and write until it closes.
9pm. Have supper, fall into bed and sleep like the dead until 5am when it all starts again.

But now the book is in. So tomorrow my day is going to look like this:

7am. Wake up and feed baby.
7.30am. Put baby and myself back to bed.
8.30am. Give baby breakfast, get ready and... hmm. Shop? Sleep? Read? Or make a start on the next book...?

Awesome oarsmen

2010-11-03T06:48:00.000+01:00

Ah, I've been a bad blogger lately. Sorry about that. Babies, deadlines, travelling, writing and working have kind of got in the way. However I couldn't resist sharing this...

As my husband, brother and cousin were rowers I've spent a lot of my time on various towpaths. Which, naturally, was a hardship, but I do feel it's important to be supportive, don't you???

Grovelling Presents style

2010-09-20T17:00:00.000+02:00

Ah, the grovel. The moment when the hero (and it's usually the hero, isn't it?) realises he's been a prat and has to beg the heroine's forgiveness. What's not to love about that?! I'm over at iheartpresents today with my ingredients for a good grovel - pop over and tell me yours!

The agony and the ecstasy

2010-09-16T08:40:00.000+02:00

Being a published writer, for me at least, is a bit like being on a hyperactive seesaw. One minute I'm plumbing the depths of despair, with a deadline racing towards me, convinced that I can't write and my work is rubbish, the next I'm packing a dress and snazzy shoes and heading to London to the hang out at the glam Association of Mills & Boon Authors lunch and an HMB drinks party on Friday. I know which end I prefer!!

The stork cometh

2010-09-09T07:12:00.001+02:00

No, no. Not me again. That really would be a medical miracle. Last night I became an auntie! Many congratulations to my brother (who I know reads this blog, although may not now have the time!), my sister-in-law and their brand new baby girl.

Going global

2010-09-08T10:32:00.001+02:00

Naturally having been away for 3 weeks there was quite a lot of undeliverable mail waiting for me at the post office. Including 3 boxes from Harlequin. Much excitement ensued because look what was inside!

Distractions

2010-09-06T13:47:00.000+02:00

The Mills & Boon New Voices competition lauches... today! So exciting. Needless to say I'm a huge fan of these contests, which are such golden opportunities for aspiring authors. Unfortunately this particular one means huge distractions for moi. I mean, how tempting is it to keep sidling over and checking out the entries? I misplaced my will of steel years ago, so if anyone has a spare one, please wing it over, because I really need to focus on my revisions.

If you're entering, best of luck!

AWOL

2010-09-02T11:04:00.004+02:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted. There really is no excuse, other than I've been having far too much fun on holiday in the UK. But we're back to Spain tomorrow - where hopefully the heat has eased off - and from then I seriously have to glue myself to my computer. Otherwise I have ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE of meeting my 16th Sept deadline. As I have two weeks to rewrite 25,000 words, am a little concerned about this...

Q&A

2010-08-12T07:47:00.002+02:00

I'm over at the Writing Romance Question Forum today sharing everything I know about writing romance (hmm, it could be a short session...). Anyway, if you fancy checking out my pearls of wisdom, come on over and join the party!

Out now on eharlequin

2010-08-01T12:39:00.001+02:00

Propositioned by the Billionaire is now available on the eharlequin site - a whole month ahead of its release date!

Romantic Times says:

PROPOSITIONED BY THE BILLIONAIRE (4) by Lucy King: Phoebe Jackson is determined to make her PR business a success, even if it means accepting a proposition from her client’s overbearing brother just to prove she’s capable of the job. Since an unthinkable betrayal in his past, trust and long-term relationships don’t come easy to Alex Gilbert, but he can’t resist ruffling Phoebe’s unflappable exterior, especially by making her lose control between the sheets. The character growth is believable in this satisfying, emotion-filled novel.

New Voices

2010-07-24T09:08:00.000+02:00

On September 6th Mills & Boon are launching another contest! This is what they say:

In September 2010 we launch a global search for fresh writing talent to join Mills & Boon’s galaxy of romantic fiction stars.

A celebration of romance, New Voices will put entrants through their romantic fiction paces – and we want you to have your say every step of the way!

The winner of the competition will win some fantastic prizes, including publication of the winning entry by Mills & Boon and a Mills & Boon editor for a year!

Naturally I highly recommend entering these contests, although I'm quite glad all I had to do was send in Chapter 1 and a synopsis. Check out the details at www.romanceisnotdead.com. (Too right it isn't!)

Spreading the love

2010-07-23T10:51:00.006+02:00

Ooo, I'm spreading the love to Marilyn at Marilyn's Romance Reviews, who's reviewed Propositioned by the Billionaire, here.

At one point she says:
"Propositioned by the Billionaire by Lucy King was absolutely a magnificent love story and a very sensual and intense journey for Phoebe and Alex within weeks of meeting each other. It was one of those beautiful love stories once you began you had to finish it leaving you smiling one moment and crying the next."

It had me crying too, but probably not for the same reasons...

She adds:
"Propositioned by the Billionaire was such a sweet and wonderful love story ….simply amazing!"

What a star.

Destined for greatness???

2010-07-20T18:43:00.006+02:00

I think I love Julie Bonello at Cataromance. She's just reviewed Propositioned by the Billionaire and given it 4.5 stars. The full review is here, but in the meantime here's a taster of what she thought:

Propositioned by the Billionaire is another first-rate contemporary romance from Lucy King! Sparkling with a bucket load of sassiness, freshness and feel-good charm, Lucy King’s second novel has a fabulous heroine, a delectable hero, wonderful dialogue, sizzling chemistry, red-hot love scenes and a believable and plausible conflict.

Fast-paced, sexy, poignant and deliciously enjoyable, Propositioned by the Billionaire will go down a treat with fans of Modern Heat the world over – and readers would do well to remember Lucy King’s name because she is a writer destined for greatness!

Oh my. While I think she might be a tad optimistic about my future, I need to go and have a lie down...

7½ weeks

2010-07-18T19:20:00.005+02:00

William, aged 7½ wks

Minx interview

2010-07-14T10:49:00.001+02:00

I'm the lucky author in the spotlight over at the fabulous Minxes of Romance blog today (met two of them at the RNA conference and they're lovely). You can check out the interview here.

RNA Conference

2010-07-14T08:41:00.002+02:00

Have just about recovered from my dash to the RNA Conference in London. Despite my flight being delayed, I arrived just in the nick of time to pick up my trophy and to hear the fascinating discussion about the changes in romance over the 50 year lifetime of the RNA.

Then it was back to the accommodation for a speedy change before heading over for the Gala dinner for a fab night of catching up with friends, meeting new ones and chatting to my editor, before collapsing into bed for a few hours of sleep and then setting off for the airport again. Naturally I forgot to take my camera, but Kate Hardy and Lorraine Wilson took some fun pics.

A slightly crazy twenty-four hours, but well worth the effort. It was great to be surrounded by fellow writers and I wish I could have stayed longer. Not even my tortuous journey home - which featured a five-hour delay at Gatwick and an impromptu evacuation of the terminal - could eclipse the feeling of exhilaration!

Fammi Volare

2010-07-06T10:23:00.000+02:00

Thanks to the eagle-eyed Heidi Rice, I've just found out that Bought: Damsel in Distress is out in Italian, along with Heidi's Public Affair Secretly Expecting. My first ever foreign release. It's most exciting.

According to Google, the title 'Fammi Volare' translates as 'Fly Me' and the blurb goes like this:

'The strike by flight is perfect for preventing Emily Marchmont to attend the wedding of his ex, France. Fortunately! It was not a good idea. But Emily does not know that his sister Anna had already thought of a way to remedy the inconvenience. Luke Harrison will, thus, to accompany her overseas on his private jet. After all, the trip could be interesting.'

Ho-ho. But forget the fact that my heroine may or may not be a he and check out the gorgeous cover. Heidi's laid claim to the hunk, but she might have a fight on her hands...

On the shelf

2010-06-18T16:58:00.000+02:00

I've kind of lost track of time, what with being ensconced in babyland, but I think today's the day Propositioned by the Billionaire hits the shelves in the UK. It's also available on Amazon. Thrilling stuff.

Other non-baby-related recent excitements include my husband agreeing to hold the fort so I can go and pick up the Joan Hessayon trophy at the RNA conference in London. Hooray!! Anyone else going to be there?

In the meantime I really must get on with rewriting book 3...

Arrivals

2010-06-02T08:38:00.002+02:00

I've been absent for a bit because... little William finally arrived last Tuesday, weighing in at 3.4kg and 51cm. I think he's gorgeous but then I might be the teensiest bit biased.

And on top of that, my July release, Propositioned by the Billionaire, is now available on the Mills and Boon website. Hooray!

Blurb

2010-05-19T11:02:00.000+02:00

Look what I've found. It's the blurb to Propositioned by the Billionaire.

Mixing business with pleasure has never been more fun!

When a drop-dead gorgeous mystery man comes to PR exec Phoebe Jackson's rescue at a party she's hosting, she can't help but be tempted by the sparks of desire igniting between them...and soon both their attraction and the party go up in flames...

But her rescuer is Alex Gilbert - and he has her career in his hands! Now Alex has a daring proposition for her: she must prove her worth by staging a prestigious charity event on an island paradise or she'll be fired! It would normally be a walk in the park for Phoebe - but with the oh-so-sexy Alex by her side 24/7 can she keep her mind on the job...?

Oh my!!

Doing a very happy dance

2010-05-14T12:08:00.001+02:00

Oh my goodness!!! Bought: Damsel in Distress won the Joan Hessayon award!!! I can hardly believe it. I was sitting on the sofa yesterday evening channelling my inner calm (oh, alright, nibbling at my nails and wondering what was going on in London), when I got a lovely phone call while the party was in full swing, from none other than the RNA chair, the awesome Katie Fforde.

All a bit of a blur (the announcement on the RNA website makes far more sense than I suspect I did), but the cheering down the other end of the phone was wonderful. Am totally thrilled and honoured and delighted!

US cover

2010-05-13T07:33:00.002+02:00

In honour of the fabulous cover for the US version of Propositioned by the Billionaire - which comes out in the UK in July and as a Presents Extra in September - I've stuck a sneak peak up on my website.

Joan Hessayon Award 2010

2010-05-06T10:39:00.000+02:00

Bought: Damsel in Distress is up for the RNA's Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award!!

Here's what the website says... "The New Writers’ Scheme aims to encourage fresh talent in the writing of broadly romantic novels that reflect all aspects of love and life, contemporary or historical ... The award is generously sponsored by Dr David Hessayon, in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member of the RNA and a great supporter of the New Writers’ Scheme."

I've been a member of the RNA since 2006 and submitted two full and one partial to the NWS. I can't recommend it highly enough. The depth and scope of the feedback is awesome, and absolutely priceless.

The other two (fabulous) shortlisted books are:

Pursued by Love by Georgia Hill (E-Scape)
Divorce Etiquette by Monique deVere (Wild Rose Press)

The winner will be announced at the Summer Party in London next Thursday. Agh. My nails are rapidly disappearing. Wish me luck!!

Sevillanas and rebujitos

2010-05-05T09:54:00.002+02:00

The bump and I are bunking off revisions this afternoon and heading to Feria - a week-long festival where everyone dances sevillanas and drinks rebujitos (a potent mix of sherry and 7-up) from lunchtime til dawn.

Obviously I'll be steering clear of the rebujitos, and as I was recently told that sticking both hands in the air at the same time induces labour, I think I'd better refrain from the dancing too...

Revisions

2010-04-26T07:59:00.000+02:00

I've taken a break from unpacking boxes to immerse myself in the revisions which arrived in my inbox on Friday. As suspected, they're numerous and mainly focus on that tricky little sucker: strong emotional conflict.

At the moment there isn't much development of the stuff, and I haven't made the most of the themes that I've introduced. I'm relying too much on external pressures, and my characters are bickering when they should be getting to know each other. Annoyingly enough, some of the scenes I altered as being too coincidental might turn out not to have been, and my original beginning probably is the right place to start. If I'd gone with my gut instinct instead of overthinking things and endlessly fiddling around, I suspect I could have saved myself a whole lot of trouble.

I think/hope that some of this can be solved by restructuring. The rest needs to be rewritten. Ugh. Still, daunting though the amount of work I have to do is, it's kind of exciting as I know the story will be much better for it. Let's just hope the baby (due in ten days) stays where it is for a while!

Moving

2010-04-09T07:25:00.001+02:00

The young hot royal went in on Tuesday, woohoo!! I suspect Matt and Laura's story will soon be winging its way back with reams of revisions, but at least it's in. To celebrate, I played hookey and spent Wednesday at the beach, coming home with what I like to call a healthy glow, but what others might call a touch of sunburn.

Now, ideas for the next book are hammering away - I'm thinking a world famous jewellry collection, a gemmologist, an ice-cool aristocrat and a batty old aunt with an online poker habit - but first I have to move house. Ugh.

Hope you all have a more glam weekend ahead!

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T20:24:00.002+02:00

It's Semana Santa in my part of the world, which means pointy hats and pasos once again.

Of course I can't go and watch any of it as I'm head down at my desk tackling my young hot royal, so to speak, who now doesn't have to be in until Wednesday.

Happy Easter!

Secret passions?

2010-03-29T16:05:00.003+02:00

Apparently e-readers and the like are doing wonders for sales of Mills & Boons to thirty-somethings. Woohoo!

RITA nominations

2010-03-26T08:19:00.000+01:00

Big, big congratulations to fellow Modern Heat author, Kelly Hunter, who's a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA and Golden Heart awards for 2010 with Revealed: a Prince and a Pregnancy.

The winners will be announced at the RWA conference in July and am keeping all fingers and toes crossed (which does make typing tricky, but all for a good cause, I say).

Go Kelly!!

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Bye bye, plot device

2010-03-24T08:56:00.000+01:00

Hooray! I think I've found a way around my rather coincidental beginning. Not only does the new opening scene provide a better reason for my main characters to meet, it has the added bonus of my hero putting in an appearance on page 1 instead of waiting until Chapter 2.

Even though I'm under no illusion that it's perfect - or won't change - after the traumas of the last couple of days (on Monday the 1000 words I'd written on Sunday mysteriously disappeared and yesterday my laptop with a morning's work on it suddenly died) this is a relief indeed!

Panicking? Who me?

2010-03-21T20:23:00.000+01:00

Just popping up from a writing frenzy (during which I have to produce 15,000 more words and revise the lot before my April 1 deadline, gulp) to say a quick hello. Am rather worried the whole of Bk 3's story might hinge on a rather unlikely coincidence and that the hero doesn't have much of a conflict, but after the trauma of Bk 2 have decided to go with the flow and to try not to stress too much.

In the meantime, said Bk 2, Propositioned by the Billionaire, which is out in July and is up on Amazon, now has a cover! And here it is...

Much as I love Phoebe, I wish she'd get out of the way so we could all get a better look at that chest...

A review

2010-03-05T08:17:00.000+01:00

Bought: Damsel in Distress has had a lovely review and gets an A grade over at The Good, The Bad and The Unread. Am basking in a warm glow while trying to convince myself Bk 3 isn't as awful as I think it might be...

Treading water

2010-02-26T19:02:00.003+01:00

Goodness, has it really been nearly two weeks since my last post?

Real Life has recently got in the way of writing, in the shape of being given notice on the flat we've rented for the past four years. The hassle of finding somewhere new, packing up and moving (with an ever-increasing pregnancy bump) is not altogether conducive to wordflow. Agh.

But I shall perservere. With a deadline in a month, I don't have much choice!

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T10:36:00.005+01:00

Love's Philosophy
by Shelley

The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single,
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle
Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdain'd its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea
What are all these kisses worth
If thou kiss not me?

Ahhhhhh. Talking of smooching, there's an article in today's Times on what's happened to the cinema kiss over the last century. The classic screen kiss, it seems, is dead. Oh no! What do you think? Has the kiss "become the bland punctuation mark of bland romcoms"? And when did you last see a really great kiss in a film?

Right, having failed dismally to get any words added to my wip so far this weekend, I'm off to a flamenco fashion show. Happy Valentine's Day!