Archive for February, 2009

February 7, 2009

Oh, gosh, this is scary but also very exciting. The March releases are now up on the Little Black Dress site – ncluding an extract of It Should Have Been Me.

You can read it here.

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February 6, 2009

Just received this from headquarters.

Romantic Novelists vote Richard Armitage Sexiest Thing On Two Legs

British actor Richard Armitage has leapt from last year’s 4th place to this year topping the ratings in the Romantic Novelists’ Association 2009 Valentine’s poll, to take the title of Sexiest Thing on Two Legs, beating top Hollywood stars to the number one spot.

Johnny Depp, who topped last year’s poll, was pushed firmly into second place, with Hugh Jackman and George Clooney mere also-rans. “Richard Armitage took 20% of the vote, more than double the count of any other male on the list,” said the RNA pollster. “He was a clear winner from the off.”

The RNA is not alone in admiration of the actor, as numerous online Richard Armitage fan sites will testify. The ardency began with North and South, grew by leaps and bounds with his appearance as the leather-clad baddie in Robin Hood, and shows no sign of diminishing as Spooks takes to the airwaves.

‘It’s a coup for Britain ,’ said one starstruck writer, ‘not just for sexy Richard.’

According to romantic novelists, the sexiest male celebrities of 2009 are:

1 Richard Armitage

2 Johnny Depp

3 Hugh Jackman

4 George Clooney

5 Daniel Craig

6 Sean Bean

7 Alan Rickman

8 David Tennant

9 Pierce Brosnan

10 Gerard Butler

The winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2009 will be announced on Tuesday 10th February.

Guess who I voted for? How lovely, considering he’s my inspiration for Dr Matt in It Should Have Been Me.

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February 4, 2009

I am sure I must be the last writer on Earth to have discovered this brilliant writing/industry site – How Publishing Really Works. But just in case I’m not, go there now.

It’s full of essential advice, informed opinion and Writer Bewares. It really does do what it says on the tin and tells you How Publishing Really Works. Trouble is I wasted spent at least half an hour on it last night. Addictive stuff. Scary stuff. Inspiring stuff.

One of my favourite posts is Apologies to Angelas Everywhere.

Perfect for the serial Procrastinator (who is now too scared to send off the Mad Proposal to her agent.)

I’m also hoping that any day soon, my author copies of It Should Have Been me will arrive. Naturally there’ll be a chance to win signed books in the launch week.

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February 3, 2009

Haven’t blogged again for a week…

The reason is the edits for It’s My Party have ground to a halt. I need time and space away from it. Yes really, I’m not just procrastinating. Previously when I’ve felt that things are not going well, I’ve pulled a black cloak over my head and convinced myself I’m rubbish at this fiction lark and should despair. (I don’t have those moments over copywriting any more, they happened 20 years ago and now I just do my job and hope to get paid.)

No, instead of wallowing in woe and self-pity, I decided to Write Something Mad. The result is that I have:

* Written a nine-page single spaced proposal for Something Mad which is now waiting for my agent’s er…thoughts when she gets back from a break.

* Written the first two pages of the Mad Something.

* Written two chapters of the book after that which is going to need so much research, it’s not true. But I have also ‘bumped into’ the person I need to interrogate and he has agreed to speak to me. Poor, foolish man. (I ought to add that I don’t yet know, if either of these crazy books will be published yet but hey, I’m on a procrastinatory high right now.)

* Agreed to two interviews for blogs.

At the same time, Nell and I are very excited about the response to our Joint Launch Event at Merry Hill, Waterstones on March 7th 2008. Facebook is proving to be a fabulous way of harassing LBD fans, our writer friends and families into coming to the event.

Now, all I have to do is regain a shred of confidence in It’s My Party and set to work on the edits with renewed enthusiasm. You see I really am only procrastinating…

Please tell me that you procrastinate too… and preferably, that it worked for you.

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