Hello, snow!

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East Anglia has turned pretty overnight.

Later on it will no doubt be slushy and not pretty at all...


but for the moment it's all rather beautiful.
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Longlist for Romantic Novel of the Year 2010

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Longlist time! This is for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year 2010 and there are some terrific names on it.

Who am I going to be rooting for though? There are my RNACambridge pals Judith Lennox and Mary Nichols (how good is that - a tiny chapter and TWO longlisters!)

There are also chums Julia Williams, Jean Fullerton, Veronica Henry and Sarah Duncan.

And lots of other good books too. I foresee the Santa's Christmas book sack straining at the seams.

Full story on the RNA Awards page.
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RNACambs Christmas Lunch

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Lovely RNACambridge Christmas lunch on Wednesday, with a whole bunch of talented mates, food, wine and a Secret Santa as well. I had every intention of taking photos, but then I got so involved with the million conversations all going on at once that I, er, forgot. So no pic of us in all our finery, I'm afraid. Or the beautifully wrapped pile of Secret Santa pressies. Sorry.


I did photograph the food though. My Xmas dinner at the top ... and Kate's Christmas-Vegetable-Omelette at the bottom. Look at it: carrots, parsnips, sprouts, the lot! Definitely not something you see every day.

Surprise review!

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How lovely is my friend Kate Hardy! I clicked on her bog this morning on my usual round up and saw this!

Reading: Jan Jones, Fortunate Wager – read this in one sitting. I love Jan’s Newmarket books because she has the place spot on. I also love her characterisation (Caroline is a tad unconventional and utterly lovely – the kind you’d want to be your friend; and Alexander is just gorgeous), her dialogue, the way she writes the most horrible villains, and the rollicking good pace of her stories. (Jan, you’d better have the next one almost complete now. Impatient readers – i.e. me – want the next one…)

Thanks, Kate! And congrats to you for being nominated for "Best Presents"

(Oh, and the next Newmarket Regency is, er, in progress. Ish. Very ish.)
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Another lunatic plant!

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This is such crazy weather for this time of year. This poor, deluded Daphne shouldn't be out until the Spring!

Fortunate Wager

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Oooh, quick! Fortunate Wager is down to £13.69 on Amazon!

December?

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This is my idiotic fuchsia which has been delighting me on the patio since May. It clearly has not realised that it is now December!

Gone Blogging

Today I have packed my thermos and sandwiches and can be found at the RNA Blog talking about Writing Close To Home. Do pop over there if you have a moment.

Chocolate Box again

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Oh, dear. look what I had for lunch today.

I just love the way the folk at the Galleria present this small cube of deliciousness differently every time I go in.

My phone with its attached camera had run out of battery, so I am indebted to my talented friend Elaine for taking the photo.

And also this one of me signing her copy of Fortunate Wager. Which I am SO relieved she liked!

See Elaine's review here.

RNA Winter Party '09

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Fabulous party! Three million people there, all of them happy. There was SUCH a positive buzz around this time.





There was also the usual sufficiency of drink, networking and food. Anyway, here's a flavour for all you unfortunate folk who couldn't be there.



And the REALLY important details...
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Party! Party!

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The normal running of this blog will be interrupted this week while I take time out to go to TWO parties. Yes, two!

On Wednesday I will catch up with lots of my talented friends at the launch of the fabulous
RNA 50th Anniversary Anthology
Loves Me, Loves Me Not (in which I may have mentioned that I have a story)

and then on Thursday it is the turn of the RNA Winter Party with even more friends!

There will also be several hours of RNA committee meeting in between, but hey, it's a small price to pay.
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And the winner is ...

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Congratulations to KAREN who wins a copy of Fortunate Wager !!!

If you email your postal address to jan at jan-jones dot co dot uk then I'll parcel it up and send it off forthwith.

Everyone else will just have to buy it through Hale, Amazon or the Book Depository, sorry.

Or order it from your library.

Or even both!
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Lest we forget

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For the Fallen...

They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them

Lawrence Binyon 1914

I Have Books!

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I have copies of Fortunate Wager!

Two weeks earlier than expected!

There I was, cold and glum, looking at the screed of disconnected rambling sentences that is the current wip, with all sorts of jobs stacked up waiting for me...

DING DONG DING DONG (no, I don't know why it always rings twice, either)

And lo and behold, outside my front door was a completely out-of-the-grey delivery!

Aren't they gorgeous? All glossy and shiny and with my name on them and everything.

So, to celebrate, I'm going to give one away. Yes, really, don't try to stop me.

To be in with a chance of winning, just tell me what would make your life suddenly full of sparkle and good cheer if an unexpected parcel of it turned up on your doorstep?

But do it by Friday 13th, okay?
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Autumn

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Autumn. Isn't it lovely to look at?

Provided I could see through all the condensation on my brand-new windows, that is. Is that right? Should brand-new double-glazed windows in new wonderfully white uPVC frames get condensation?

Ah, of course! It must be all that brand-new cavity wall insulation making the inside of the house warmer than the outside.

At this rate the promised reduction in heating bills will be used up in buying extra kitchen towels to mop up all the 'internal dew'!
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