Archive for May, 2007

May 31, 2007 | 19 Comments

…but it was! Last night - and I still can’t believe this - Decent Exposure won the RNA Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers.

I have just this minute got back from Oxford where I was staying overnight. We didn’t get back to college until 2am (gossiped with Julie Cohen on the train home) and I heard the chapel clock chime 3am before I dozed off, I was so excited. Then I woke at 5.30am and now I’m starving after the drive back to the Midlands.

Even without winning (which I *really* didn’t expect) I was having a wonderful time chatting with cyber friends such as Julie, Carol, Fiona Harper (Fiona - you are a star), Biddy and Anna Lucia. I also met Louise Allen, my NWS ‘reader’ for the first time and I think I hugged her rather enthusiastically. Then JH, CJ and I went off to La Tasca for a meal and more wine.

We forgot to take our camera but my family insisted on buying a disposable from the station. I know the RNA and my friends were taking pics so will try and post some soon.

Thank you so much, RNA and Dr Hessayon - the award is made to new writers in honour of his late wife, Joan. I feel enormously guiilty winning with so many other great romances up there too. But I’ll shut up and stop saying that now, and just try and enjoy it.;)

Oh…and apologies to all the people who must have heard me talking gibberish!

May 29, 2007 | 7 Comments

I just dropped by the blogs of the Baby Racers, Jess and Jude, to see if there is any news of their little ones arriving yet.

By an amazing coincidence, both Jess and Jude are due to give birth this week. They are also listed for the New Writers Award. I was SO looking forward to seeing them at the party tomorrow but it’s understandable that they don’t want to travel far from home. I’m not sure if there are any midwives at the party - I know Nell could attend but it’s a bit of a hike from the Midlands.

I will be thinking of you and Wishing You Were There and also looking forward to meeting people I’ve only known hitherto in cyberspace.

PS Don’t forget to enter the contest though you still have two weeks… 

May 27, 2007 | 6 Comments

I’d just like to say thanks to all the people who have been entering the competition - and have been emailing me to say encouraging things about Decent Exposure. You still have until June 14th to enter.
I got my six author copies last week (woo-hoo!) but they have already gone as competition prizes; to my parents and parents in-law and to Duckface who helped with my research. I have two left - Mr Bennet is reading one.
The weather in the UK is pants right now so yesterday we went shopping. I had a new Per Una bright green handbag and a Laura Ashley beaded shrug for the RNA Summer Party. I needed retail therapy as I had some not-very-nice news about my Achilles tendon problem this week. It’s got pretty serious and I am a big coward. ;(

Shrug above: but mine is in brown.

May 23, 2007 | 2 Comments

It’s the RNA New Writers Scheme Awards next Wednesday and I’m going along, with Mr B and Miss B, to make up the numbers. Mr B surprised and delighted me last night by saying he’d taken time off work to come with us so after a hasty call to Jan Jones, I’ve got him a ticket.

On the same theme, Liz Fenwick’s addictive blog features her experiences with the RNA and agents. I had an RNA report on Decent Exposure which was a huge help. It was the first time I’d ever shown my writing to a professional and I was absolutely terrified of the response. What have I done, I thought. How dare I presume etc etc

In the end, my ‘reader’ phoned me one Friday evening with the words: “Phillipa, I love your book, but…”

I was not the least dismayed by the report even though it was chock full of (blush) ‘pointers’ about plot and character development. I was just so grateful to be told I wasn’t wasting my time and to finish the book and try and get it published. I spent months thinking about the characters and plot, revising the novel, setting it aside and tweaking again before I was persuaded by a non-RNA writer friend that my best bet might be an agent. Then fate took a hand and I happened to send it to an agent who liked it because it was ‘entertaining’. That’s just luck, I guess, and I feel guilty about that quite often. Yes - really!
PS Competition entries are coming in as we speak - don’t forget to enter and win a copy of Wish You Were Here and More Than Love Letters!

May 21, 2007 | 3 Comments

Here, as promised, is my first ever contest which I’m running jointly with fellow Headline author, Rosy Thornton.

The prize is a signed hardback copy of Wish You Were Here, my new novel which goes on sale on June 14th.

The winner also gets a copy of More Than Love Letters in paperback, signed by Rosy.

To enter, simply tell me on which Mediterranean island Jack and Beth had their original whirlwind engagement. Clue on Amazon here!

Please send your answer and email address to me via the contact button on my blog panel by June 14th 2007 please.