Fabulous at Fifty!

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It will not have escaped regular readers' notice that the Romantic Novelists' Association has been busy celebrating its fiftieth birthday all year.

This week saw the launch of Fabulous at Fifty, a fascinating selection of reminiscences from 1960-2010 (psst - do you know how we identify historical romances? They are set pre-1960, ie pre-RNA).

Being us, we needed to have a celebration to launch it properly, so we gathered for a truly sparkling lunch in the RAF Club Ballroom.

Shiny, I mused, as I innocently offered to decorate the tables.

I also decorated the book display, the mini-exhibition assembled and annotated by the indefatigable Jenny Haddon (the impressive gold decorations are Jenny's - the sneaky sparkles are mine)

and anyone foolish enough to come within reach.

Oh, and as with the best parties, there were presents.






It was just fabulous. And judging by the great fashionable lunches of the past,

some of us are keeping up traditions.

(There was chocolate too)

(And this really special bit of the exhibition)

Talks

I have got various events planned to go with the launch of Fair Deception, and have just realised, belatedly, that I should probably have a list on here of where I am going to be when!

Thursday 6th November - 10.30am to 11.30am - Talk to the Top Timers at Newmarket Library

Wednesday 12th November - 7pm to 8.30pm - a talk at Haverhill Library

Friday 14th November - 3.30pm to 5.30pm - book signing at the Community Association Fair at Cheveley School

Saturday 15th November - 10am to 12 noon - chat, book signing and Regency nibbles at Newmarket Library

As well as my Newmarket Regencies I'll also be talking a bit about Stage by Stage, short stories, and where my ideas come from.

If anyone is in the vicinity - you're more than welcome!
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Viggo was robbed!

Sometimes I really don't understand my fellow members of the Romantic Novelists' Association.

They recently took part in a poll to find our favourite celebrity hero - and Viggo Mortensen wasn't on it!!!

It's true - I have scrutinised the list, I have checked out photos (just in case he was in disguise, you understand), and he simply isn't there. How? I know I voted for him. I based my hero in Stage by Stage on him. Forget Arwen, I'd give up immortality in the blink of an eye for him.

So, sorry Viggo, you were robbed, but at least it means I get to keep you all for myself, right?


Oh - if anybody would like the top ten celebrity heroes list, it's here:

Members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association have voted Johnny Depp as the Number One Perfect Romantic Hero in a poll to mark Valentine’s Day. According to these authors, a romantic hero should be gorgeous, deliciously sexy, intensely masculine and have a commanding presence.

The top ten male celebrities voted the Perfect Romantic Hero were:

1. Johnny Depp
2. Daniel Craig
3. Sean Bean
4. Richard Armitage
5. Hugh Jackman
6. Colin Firth
7. Alan Rickman
8. Pierce Brosnan
9. George Clooney
10. David Tennant

And in the over-fifties category:

1. Pierce Brosnan
2. Harrison Ford
3. Ranulph Fiennes
4. Bill Nighy
5. Liam Neeson
6. Sam Neill
7. Sean Connery
8. Peter O’Toole
9. Clint Eastwood
10. Omar Sharif

I love libraries!

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Well, isn't that splendid! Those nice PLR people are going to give me £107.94 for all the times people have borrowed Stage by Stage this year.

I do love libraries.

Large Print edition of Stage by Stage

The Large Print edition of Stage by Stage has just been published by Magna. Priced at £19.99, it is aimed mostly at libraries. As you can see, the cover is quite different to the original, but it does say, very definitely, that this is a romance set against a theatrical background.

Long may it attract both readers and PLR!