It's nearly Awards time!

Shortlisted books for 2011 Love Story of the Year

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Eeek, it's nearly the RNA Pure Passion Awards night and I DO NOT have an approaching cold. I am telling my throat that it does not have that incipient tickle signalling full-on loss-of-voice, my glands are merely over-excited, my nose is not running, and my slight headache has simply been caused by the adverse weather.

However, just to be on the safe side I am carrying the Big Box of Tissues around with me and am mainlining tea with a side-order of paracetamol.

Because Monday sees a big sparkly Romantic Novelists' Association party and the announcement of the Romantic Novel of the Year, the Love Story of the Year, the RNA Historical Prize and the RNA Romantic Comedy prize. Nothing is going to stop me dressing up, going to the Gladstone Library at One Whitehall Place with my pals, celebrating being shortlisted and cheering on all the winners!

[Excuse me while I put the kettle on again, please.]
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RNA Love Story of the Year 2011

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Woohoo! At last I can announce my sheer delight at being on the shortlist for the 2011 Love Story of the Year!

I was thrilled to be shortlisted in 2010 with my Regency romance Fair Deception - I’m stunned and ecstatic to have made the cut again this year with the sequel, Fortunate Wager!

Fortunate Wager is a story very dear to my heart as it is set where I live in Newmarket. I loved stepping back 200 years or so to find out what the town would have looked like and felt like then.

The Love Story of the Year is administered by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The full shortlist for 2011 is:

Abby Green - "Bride in a Gilded Cage" (HM&B)
Jan Jones - "Fortunate Wager" (Hale)
Caroline Anderson - "Mother of the Bride" (HM&B)
Valerie Holmes - "Moving On" (Thorpe Large Print)
Mary Nichols - "The Captain's Mysterious Lady" (HM&B Historical)
Louise Allen - "The Piratical Miss Ravenhurst" (HM&B Historical)

To be in such company is an honour in itself, but the overall winner will be announced at the Pure Passion Awards Champagne Reception on Monday 7th March. The event takes place in the Gladstone Library at One Whitehall Place... and I for one can’t wait!
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The Kydd Inheritance

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It occurred to me that I have had my lovely cover for The Kydd Inheritance for some time and haven't shared it with you all.

Created by the fabulous David Young who was responsible fro bringing Fair Deception and Fortunate Wager to life.

The book is a prequel to my Newmarket Regencies, being the story of Nell (Kit Kydd's sister) and the frankly gorgeous Hugo.

Sadly, you'll have to wait until the New Year to get your hands on it.

I might post a teaser or two in the meantime...

Another lovely review!

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Another lovely review - this time from the completely charming Liz Fenwick who said she couldn't put Fortunate Wager down.

Thanks, Liz!

Wonderful review for Fortunate Wager!

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Thank you to Cybil from Rakehell for this wonderful review of Fortunate Wager. I loved writing this book, so I'm delighted that she enjoyed reading it and took from it all that I was trying to convey.

And if anyone is thinking of buying a copy - it's a staggering £11.69 from Amazon right now!!!

(Also, they still have Fair Deception at £14.94 - it can't last long!)
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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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Fortunate Wager

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

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.

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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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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Fortunate Wager available for pre-order

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Hooray! Fortunate Wager is now available to pre-order from the Hale website at only £13.29 post-free (in the UK) instead of the rrp of £18.99

It might even arrive before the official publication date of 30th November!

Caroline Fortune wants to be left in peace to train racehorses. Lord Alexander Rothwell wants to know who is trying to kill him.

Another sparkling Newmarket Regency from Jan Jones

Fortunate Wager cover!

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Hot from the very talented paintbrush of David Young comes the cover for Fortunate Wager, my newest Newmarket Regency. I am quite amazingly pleased with it!

If you have read Fair Deception, you will remember Caroline Fortune, who played a walk-on part. Being a girl of decided opinions, she made it very clear to me that she was destined for far greater things - and so Fortunate Wager was born.

As you can see from David's lovely cover, Caroline frequently sneaks out at dawn in her brother's clothes to exercise his horses. It's only when she finds injured nobles that the problems start...
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FORTUNATE WAGER sold!

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I am delighted to announce that my second Newmarket Regency has been sold to Robert Hale Books Ltd! Fortunate Wager - as the title suggests - is set in the heart of the Newmarket racing scene. No publication date yet, but probably November this year.
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Ms to go

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There. In the interests of sanity, Fortunate Wager has been polished, printed and packaged ready to post to the publisher tomorrow.

Wish it well.

(Mind you, I'm not sure it's really ready to be sent - I mean, I'm not throwing up at the sight of it yet.)
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