RNA Winter Party - Celebrating 50 glorious years and the New Writers' Scheme

After weeks of feverish anticipation the day of the Romantic Novelists' Association Winter Party finally arrived.

My friend Jules and I set off on the train excited about attending our first big RNA event. Finishing touches were put to hair and makeup enroute, so apologies to everyone for the smell of nail varnish on the 16:56 to Euston.

The beautiful IMechE Library

Number One Birdcage Walk is a very impressive building with an even more impressive library. The perfect (and extremely hot) venue for the party.

Organiser Jan Jones, Chair Katie Fforde,
President Di Pearson

I apologise for the lack of shoe photos. It was very remiss of me, especially as there was some gorgeous footwear on display.

It was lovely to meet so many Romna, blog and Twitter friends and I can't wait for the next RNA event to do it all over again.

Cara Cooper and friends

Unfortunately there were people I saw from afar who escaped my clutches left before I could get round to saying hello. 200 people attended, so even if the party had lasted another 3 hours it wouldn't have been possible to speak to everyone that I wanted to. As it was we were pretty much among the last to leave.

Even having to stand up for most of the journey home packed shoulder to shoulder with a lot of very subdued England fans (don't think the game went too well) could dampen our mood.

I feel privileged to be part of the New Writers' Scheme during the RNA's 50th anniversary year. The Winter Party was truly a fantastic evening, so thanks RNA. You are still 'Fabulous at Fifty'.

There are some lovely photos of the party on the RNA blog

Book Review: Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto

Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto
Liz Fielding

Published: November 2010 by Mills & Boon
Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0263888479
ISBN-13: 978-0263888478

Summary:
Lucy Bright can't believe it when she's plucked from secretarial obscurity and transformed into the pampered fiancée of a slick retail guru. But then she discovers it was all a publicity stunt! Rushing away from the media frenzy, she bumps - literally - into delicious tycoon Nathaniel Hart...

Spooked by their instantaneous chemistry, Lucy flees - but Nathaniel is determined to find his barefoot beauty. Though all he has is one very expensive red designer stiletto to help him!
[Goodreads]

Review:
Ms Fielding gives the Cinderella story a fun, modern twist with a social networking heroine.

Lucy Bright has everything. She thinks she's met her Prince Charming and after a whirlwind romance is planning a fairytale wedding. But a chance discovery exposes her Prince for the frog he really is and her new world comes crashing down.

She makes her escape into a large department store but loses one of her Christian Louboutin stilettos along the way and bumps into retail magnate Nathaniel Hart. She disappears again and hides out in his store, but neither of them can ignore the instant attraction they feel.

I love Lucy B - she's fresh, vulnerable and says what she thinks even though she knows she probably shouldn't. Nathaniel is a gorgeous tortured hero punishing himself for something that happened in his past. Together they are perfect - each one rescuing the other.

Ms Fielding yet again delivers a beautifully written story full of emotion, with characters I will remember long after finishing it. The final scene had me closing the book with that warm glow and satisfied 'aah' that all romance readers are looking for and all aspiring romance writers wish they could achieve. Frankly, I am in awe!

Thank you Ms Fielding for such an enjoyable unputdownable read and for a masterclass in how a romance novel should be written.

Rating:
I give this book 5 out of 5. It is one of my favourites this year and now firmly on my keeper shelf. I recommend it to all romance fans who want a feel-good Christmassy read.

Thanks Liz for being kind enough to send me a copy of this book.

I Should Be Writing - Wrimo Edition

A little distraction for everyone feverishly getting ready for this year's National Novel Writing Month.

If you want to waste even more time when you should be writing, check out Errol's other fun videos - NaNoWriMo in 3 Minutes and Good Ol' NaNoWrimo

Right, now I must get back to that outline...

Waiting on Wednesday: The Hating Game

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. My "can't wait to read" pre-pub this week is:

The Hating Game

by Talli Roland

Publication Dates:	1 December 2010 (ebook)
	9 March 2011 (print)

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £50,000 prize?

Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.

Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?
[Goodreads]

This sounds like such a fab read I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

So tell me, what book are you waiting on this week?

New Release: Miss Bramble and the Leviathan

Check out this steampunk romance novella from fellow Romance Diva Kristen Painter. Available today from Samhain Publishing.

Miss Bramble and the Leviathan
by Kristen Painter
ISBN: 978-1-60928-212-7
Publication Date: 19 October 2010 (Samhain Publishing)

The last thing she planned to steal was his heart.

The Company. Military institution, protector of Praeton and the nation of Grand Isle. Dirty rotten thief.

When Pandora Bramble steps aboard the Company’s premiere airship Daedalus it’s not for the exclusive VIP tour. It’s to secure proof that the Company stole the regulator valve her father designed—even if it means tearing the engine apart. Foiled by the unexpected appearance of a handsome crew member, she despairs of ever getting another chance—until he kisses her.

Captain Theolonius Hatch, sentenced to engine room duty for refusing to take part in the Company’s fleet week activities, never dreamed a woman like Pandora existed. Her brains match her beauty, a combination that adds up to more trouble than he ever expected.

As Pandora allows Theolonius to sweep her into a whirlwind courtship, her wildest dreams come true. As do her greatest fears, leaving her to decide what matters most. Loyalty…or love.

The clock is ticking.

Warning: This book contains airships, mechanical owls, women who are good with tools, men in and out of uniform, steam generated by engines and people, and some hot carriage scenes.

Read an excerpt online

Waiting on Wednesday: Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. My "can't wait to read" pre-pub this week is:

Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto
by Liz Fielding
Publication date: November 2010

Lucy Bright can't believe it when she's plucked from secretarial obscurity and transformed into the pampered fiancée of a slick retail guru. But then she discovers it was all a publicity stunt! Rushing away from the media frenzy, she bumps - literally - into delicious tycoon Nathaniel Hart...

Spooked by their instantaneous chemistry, Lucy flees - but Nathaniel is determined to find his barefoot beauty. Though all he has is one very expensive red designer stiletto to help him!

I love a good Cinderella story so I can't wait to read this one.

So tell me, what book are you waiting on this week?

Fabulous at Fifty

Fabulous at Fifty, a memoir of the first half century of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA), will be launched at the RAF Club in London on Thursday. Fabulous at Fifty delves into the past, with first-hand recollections of people who were there, and describes the growth of the Romantic Novelists’ Association into what was described by PD James at a recent Awards ceremony as ‘one of most professional writers’ organisations of the present day’.

The book is packed with fascinating and frank detail about past and present members, the opinion of other novelists (often less than flattering) about this massively successful commercial genre, the changing attitude to sex and a public broadside from Marje Proops in the Mirror, plus the spats, the flaps, the End of Publishing as we Know It (1968), hot books and cold champagne.

The book is published by the RNA at £9.99 and is available from their website www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org

The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Well done RNA and here's to another 50 years.