Archive for August, 2008

August 15, 2008

Last night we had a party at Waterstones, Stafford to celebrate the launch of Just Say Yes. Nothing grand but it was lovely to celebrate with family and friends. Here are a few pictures.

Me with fellow LBD author, Nell Dixon. The shop did have Nell’s new LBD novel, Blue Remembered Heels, in stock but it had been snapped up.

All those people packing Waterstones (and I don’t know any of them..

The best bookshop manager in the world and my bestest pal – Janice Hume of Waterstones, Greengate Street, Stafford.

My agent looking extremely glam as ever. She and my dad were exchanging jokes. OMG!

Who? Me? Sign another copy? Well, if you’re forcing me…

Note the seagull (Dad’s), the clotted cream scones (parents-in-laws), mini-pasties (me) and the gorgeous bouquet of flowers in yellow/white (from my friend, the Headline author and N&S fan Rosy Thornton.)

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August 11, 2008

So my third LBD novel, Just Say Yes, is officially here… and all this week I’ll be telling you how a bit more about it. I am hoping an excerpt will go up on the LBD site any moment. Fingers crossed.

Today I’d like to kick off with a chance to win a signed copy. But first, the video that started it all off…

I got the idea for Just Say Yes last year when Annette (the creator of www.richardarmitageonline) sent me an email to brighten up a dull morning.

Annette’s email contained a link to a YouTube video in which an American man proposed to his girlfriend during an advertising break for her favourite TV show. It’s a brilliant video. I love watching it and it always makes me smile to see people this happy!

Of course, the girlfriend was ecstatic but I started wondering: what if this happened to you and you said ‘no’? Why might you say no? What makes people chose to make public proposals and dramatic romantic gestures?

I suppose the new book is rather satirical on the subject of reality TV and it’s also about themes of truth/lies and deception/honesty. I think it’s the sunniest book I’ve written so far but mainly, I wanted it to be a sexy, feelgood read. I absolutely loved writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it.

Win a signed copy

If you’d like to win a signed copy of Just Say Yes, just leave a post on the blog or email me via the contact form with your idea of the best or the worst places to make a proposal – or even a romantic declaration.

Later this week, I’ll be blogging about Cornwall, the glorious setting for Just Say Yes.

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August 8, 2008

It’s launch week from Monday but I thought I’d post this ready for the weekend. One of characters in Just Say Yes is a good cook and one of his favourite recipes is Lamb Tagine. I suspect he may have got the idea while dining with a mate of mine – restaurateur Steve Lloyd – who owns (and is chef) at The Journeyman which is a lovely restaurant at St Issey near Padstow in North Cornwall.

Cornwall also happens to be the setting for Just Say Yes. Its a stunning region of the UK with a beautiful coastline. Lucky Steve – here’s The Journeyman.

Steve and I went to school in the Midlands, but he ‘emigrated’ to Cornwall some years ago. He’s posted a message which I’ve copied here.

Hi Pip

Is giving your school nickname away a faux pas now you’re a famous novelist? Belated thanks to Jeff Ecclestone for my limited French – do you know if he’s still alive?!

Hope that the recipe goes down well, was a little surprised given the nature of the story that you didn’t want something a little hotter and a little steamier, my hottest curry is aptly named “make chef’s day” althought to be honest few ever do!

Sorry to disappoint all those who were expecting Rick (Stein), but all I’ll say is he’s tried my fishcakes and loved them! Good luck with the launch and as ever if you’re in this neck of the woods stop by – have recently moved house and now live a mere 51 steps from the village pub – what’s not to love!

Steve

If you do visit Steve please don’t believe anything he tells you about our schooldays. If he does try any gossip, just remind him of the bottle green velvet jacket he used to own…

Lamb Tagine

Serves 4.

750g lamb leg, trimmed of visible fat & cut into large
2″ cubes.
8 tablespoons good olive oil
2oz butter.
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 tsp turmeric
2 tsp ground cumin
pinch saffron
2-3 finely chopped medium chilies
1 large red onion, 1/2 very finely diced, 1/2 roughly
chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
400g can chopped tomatoes
15ml clear honey
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp smoked paprika
8 dried apricots, finely chopped.
40g fresh coriander leaves, chopped
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup chicken stock

In a casserole, melt the butter and add the garlic, cook for 1 min and add half the olive oil, onions and chillies, cook for 5 mins.

Add the lamb and cook for 5-6 minutes to brown. Remove the meat and set aside.

Add the remaining olive oil and saffron, cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining spices, salt and pepper, and apricots and cook for 2 mins, add a little water if the mixture seems too dry.

Add the wine and reduce for 5 mins, add the tomatoes, stock, honey and the lamb, bring to the boil then simmer for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until the lamb is tender. Stir in the coriander leaves just before serving on a bed of sweet potato mash.

You can find out more about The Journeyman and see some more of Steve’s recipes (and his wonderful photographs of Cornwall) here.

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August 7, 2008

You can win a copy of Just Say Yes and Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson in Now magazine competition. They have 20 sets to give away (but my copies next week are signed and believe me, I won’t have *quite* as many entries. )

Look out for Steve the Cornish Chef and his recipes tomorrow.

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August 5, 2008

For a week now, I’ve been having great fun guesting on Liz Fielding’s blog where I asked people to share their idea of a perfect gift. I had some unusual and original answers – you can take a look here - and I decided to offer two signed copies of Just Say Yes, although I could have given everyone a prize.

On Monday, I’ll be running my own contest to win a signed copy of Just Say Yes and chocolate sea shells – well, the book is set in Cornwall so any excuse! Despite the official publication date on August 7, many of the people who have preordered have already got – and read – their copies. Vikki from Facebook, I hope yours had arrived by now:)

My work life is busy but I’ve started to work through some new book ideas when I can. Two very different ideas are swirling around at the moment.

On Friday, ready for the weekend, I’ve got a special Cornish guest, a ‘celebrity’ chef who lives near Padstow. (If by any chance, you went to school with me, you’ll especially love it) who has cooked up a recipe that features in Just Say Yes.

Watch this space…

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