Archive for June, 2007

June 30, 2007 | 5 Comments

Because I have to go to my college Gaudy tonight. Actually, I don’t have to but I want to. I am so looking forward to meeting the friends I made there, some of whom I’ve lost touch with and haven’t seen for over 20 years.

However, all the bad memories have come flooding back. The terror and confusion of my first day, week, term, year… of being a fish out of water; of everyone being confident, well-spoken and knowledgeable. I’d been born and brought up in a council house, had a broad Midlands accent (I still do) and went to a bog-standard comprehensive. I didn’t know what a gap year was, much less a kibbutz (a place where several young women had spent their gap years.)
And don’t tell me that being an ‘award-winning’ romance/chick-lit author should give me confidence. Oh no. I’d be better off claiming I’ve been studying the nose hairs of the Albanian parrot for the past 20 years. Everyone there will be hugely successful in every field - biochemistry, physics, medicine, law, the arts, writing, TV, the diplomatic service, defence, history, classics… you’d have to have won the Booker Prize for anyone to even be mildly interested in what you do. You think I’m exaggerating? You don’t know what I do.

Only the other day I had a ‘moment.’ I was in a posh tea room with two very dear but incredibly erudite (Oxbridge) friends and didn’t know which tea to choose, having only ever sampled the English Breakfast/Typhoo variety.
I’m absolutely terrified and I may not turn up! My only consolation is that I was going along partly as research for a novel on the very theme of a Gaudy and the terror thereof.

June 28, 2007 | 7 Comments

Whew. Am still recovering from the LBD party. It was very glamorous with almost everyone in their LBDs. The wine and Pimms flowed (ahem), the canapes were yummy and there were LOTS of Little Black Dress hardbacks everywhere, artfully arranged amongst glittery black candles. My books were in the foyer, on the tables, even in the pink loos! We all had gorgeous goody bags filled with books, treats and chocolate. Totally surreal ….
I spent the evening talking with editors, agents, Headliners and my fellow authors Julie Cohen, Kate Lace and Lorelei Mathias.

Afterwards I was whisked off (wisely) to Duckface’s new house for cheese on toast. The next day I had a taste of culture at The Wallace Collection, one of Europe’s finest art collections (also where The Impressionists was filmed.)

Now off to WORK!!!!

Still can’t tell you about the news…

June 25, 2007 | 3 Comments

Tomorrow is the Little Black Dress First Anniversary Party in London where I hope to meet Julie Cohen, Lorelei Mathias and Kate Lace plus the Headline team. I hope it stops raining so I can wear the ridiculously impractical satin shoes I bought. I think I will resort to a cardi, too.
I still can’t tell you any more about THE BIG NEWS but I will as soon as I can.

On Friday we went to see an open air concert in Cannock Chase forest. It was the best gig I’ve ever been to featuring UK bands, Ghosts and the amazing Feeling. See them now, they are awesome.

June 21, 2007 | 4 Comments

Something very exciting has happened this morning relating to one of my books.

I’ll give more news when I can. In the meantime, my daughter is home from uni which is very messy but wonderful too. The shopping bill is huge, the hall is full of junk and the laundry is overflowing (she does her own, however and ours too which is cool).
Welcome Home, dd - glad you are here to share the fun.

PS This is for Kate Walker

June 19, 2007 | 1 Comment

…I’m in love. This is Will from Decent Exposure. It’s him. Exactly how I imagine him. (Yes, I know it’s Gerry Butler but hey…how absolutely gorgeous is he?)

PS I worked Saturday on the book, most of Sunday on my day job and now I’m taking’the afternoon off’ to clean my daughter’s room before she gets home from uni, to go swimming and to write some more of Just Say Yes.