Archive for February, 2008

February 15, 2008 | 7 Comments

To all the people who have emailed me, texted me, posted messages etc, I hope you don’t mind me telling you all what happened on the blog. I’ve had such a busy work week and I have to go out on a feature today and then …there’s a small matter of a romantic novel to finish.

To everyone, especially at The Messageboard, you were magnificent.

Mr B drove me to Brum because the debate was taking place in the downstairs bar of The Pitcher and Piano. The studio had been set up in a tiny little room with red leather walls. I met Ros Dodd and Dr Gary Wood who were both really good fun, despite us having a ‘debate’. We shared a bottle of wine afterwards so there were no hard feelings.

Richard Bacon is incredibly energetic and rather cute. I gave him a red rose which made him blush but he did kiss me (not bad from a man who just got back off honeymoon and Mr B was looking but I’m a bit of a hussy).

The producers were very friendly and now have Decent Exposure and Wish You Were Here to read.

Dr Gary Wood is a scream and when they got the lovely speed daters on, it was a riot. They were such good sports, much braver than me. We didn’t say much after that, there wasn’t time to fit everything in. The show runs at a manic pace, you barely have time to make one point.

I’m afraid I mentioned black pudding, toilet cleaning and the pink item of clothing that Mr B bought me for Valentine’s Day. You can see it here.

We had little name badges in case we forgot who we were (which I do a lot).

It was actually, great fun to see how the show was put together (a LOT of people for one show). I would have liked to talk about romantic fiction but there just wasn’t the chance. Maybe on another show.
I was rather worried when Richard asked me ‘which messageboard’ as I didn’t want to invade anyone’s privacy by naming XX. I had to think on my feet. I hope that was OK.

February 14, 2008 | 2 Comments

I’m now on 5live at 10pm tonight, not 11pm.

February 13, 2008 | 9 Comments

Hot off the press

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.

‘We should be qualified to judge,’ one writer commented. ‘After all, we create these heroes on paper every day.’

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

A second poll, taken by members of the RNA bravely admitting to being ‘over a certain age’, voted for male celebrities over fifty who’ve ‘still got it’. Remarkable for his appearance on both polls, Pierce Brosnan took the crown for the over fifties by a huge margin.

The top ten Over-Fifty Perfect Romantic Heroes were:

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

PS I’m so chuffed! I sent this poll to Aled Jones on BBC Radio 2 and he’s just read it out (but said he’d never heard of Richard Armitage.)

February 12, 2008 | 6 Comments

I should be working but have to share this. My all time, favourite short romance is being brought to life on ITV.

It’s Octavia by Jilly Cooper.

Tamsin Egerton is Octavia. Richard Coyle is Gareth.

Yes …I can see him as Gareth.

PS The Valentine’s Competition is running until Friday.

February 11, 2008 | 2 Comments

Have got three days solid of copywriting so have to rush in and out but *do not* miss this interview with Catherine Jones/Kate Lace, Little Black Dress author and Chair of the RNA. A brilliant and very entertaining read here at Vulpes Libris.

PS Keep the entries coming for the Valentine’s competition. I need more and will announce the winner on February 15th. If I haven’t left the country by then.