I’ve seen the front cover but never the Full Monty so here it is. It was a PDF so Ms Bennet (who’s here for the weekend, double yay) turned it into a png for me.

Its very different to the original artwork cover for Decent Exposure which was great fun. Although I’ll never forget the shock when I first saw it and thought: “OMG, there’s a naked man on the cover.” Naively, as a first-time author, it had never occurred to me that if you write a book based on a nude calendar, the designers might just pick up on that theme. In fact, I still hadn’t come to terms with writing romance at all but I’m gradually getting there.

So it’s fascinating to me to see the wildly different takes on the same book. I confess that this photographic cover just has the edge for me.

Still, neither of the covers are pink and fluffy which should please a certain person. OTOH, they do feature half naked men. Oh dear. I fear I am beyond redemption and will probably burst into flames any moment now!

I hear some authors complaining that their covers are too fluffy and girly, when, in fact, they write serious women’s fiction. This is misleading the reader and I understand where they’re coming from. I however, can’t complain because my books are sexy, fun, upbeat – and (gulp) romantic – and I think this cover reflects just that.

This look, according to Claire’s, would appeal to Edward.

A new look for the Jacob fans.

It left me wondering what type of makeover would appeal to some other fictional heroes. John Thornton, for instance. Maybe you’d need a naive social conscience, something to cure your chronically sweaty palms (the real reason she refused to shake his hand) and a Victorian cleavage of Jordanesque proportions? (I’ve been trying to find a picture of Daniela Denby Ashe in *that* gorgeous dinner party dress. No wonder Mr Thornton seemed aloof, he was dumbstruck.)

How might you attract Mr Darcy? You’d definitely need fake tan (a natural consequence of your travelling in the summer,) 1000 calorie mascara (to enhance your fine eyes) and a realisation that you’d be willing to put up with a great deal to be Mistress of Pemberley.

Yes, I’m being very silly. Call it distraction therapy.

You can read the feature on Sugarscope here.

I dunno. What would attract *your* hero?

Here’s Rosy to tell you about it.

Sane and normal people, when they come back from a particularly enjoyable holiday, pester their friends with their holiday snaps. ‘Look where I went,’ they say. ‘It was so beautiful. If only you’d been there – honestly, you’d just love it.’ But novelists, I’m afraid, are not sane and normal people.

Twenty years ago now, I spent a fortnight’s family holiday in the Cévennes mountains of the French Massif Central. We rented a funny little stone-built cottage, dark and almost windowless, high up in the hills in a tiny hamlet, reached by the twists and turns of endless winding hairpins. It was the most glorious, remote and peaceful place on earth. We took pictures – here is one of them. See how beautiful?

But my novelist’s version of pressing photographs on longsuffering friends was something bigger, a more sustained assault. I wrote a 120,000-word novel about it.

Only I know the secret truth: that the book is actually the literary equivalent of my holiday snaps.

Mr July from 12 Men of Christmas

I’m going to a 400th birthday party at my old college on Saturday – a garden party (smart/casual) followed by ‘do’. Everyone assumed this would be black tie, like other college evening events. But no… the dress code is ‘celebratory’.

Meh??

It’s caused confusion. Do we arrive, for example, with a large cake on top of our heads or perhaps, strategically placed sparklers?

Of course it doesn’t matter a jot what we wear. (Yeah, yeah, sticks fingers in ears) But I still have seven dresses hanging off the doorway – and the one I *really* want to wear is too small. Mr B went out and bought a new ‘lounge’ suit, in the hope we also get invited to a wedding later in the year, to make it worth his while.

I just received a note from a lovely person at Sourcebooks, introducing herself as ‘my publicist’. She doesn’t sound the least bit like Max Clifford. I’ve never had a publicist before. I wonder if she would pop over and do my ironing and fetch me a coffee from Costa?

1. Thanks to Novelicious, I came across this terrific video interview with romantic author, Jane Costello which effectively offers a concise and sensible Guide to Getting Published.

I think Jane answered just about 90% of the questions that novelists get asked! If you’re writing a novel or would like to, I hope you find find it a head-nodding or light bulb moment. As Jane says, writing a novel is hard work, you probably won’t get rich but it’s far more rewarding than you could ever dream.

Part two is here and discusses the practicalities of getting your book into print. Jane is joined by publisher, Ken Rogers, who also gives advice on writing and publishing non-fiction, including local and heritage titles. I find I get asked a lot of questions about non-fiction of this type at library talks – and Ken has some honest, down to earth advice.

2. Had a great time in Cambridge Heffers celebrating the launch of at Rosy Thornton’s new novel, Tapestry of Love – complete with delicious French/Cevennes themed canapes with chestnuts and goat’s cheese. If you’re wondering where they all went, Rosy, I put my hands up. I would have taken pics but my camera was stolen recently.

3. Finally, I had a very nice review from a Waterstones customer for Wish You Were Here.

A lovely romantic read from Phillipa Ashley! I loved both the main characters, Jack and Beth and the setting of the story in Corsica is described so vividly! Gripping story, had the book read in a few days as I couldnt wait to find out how it ended, would definitely recommend!

Tomorrow I’m off to Cambridge to the launch of Rosy Thornton’s new novel, Tapestry of Love – but I’ll leave her to tell you about that later as today, I’ve got a guest blogger.

Elizabeth Ashworth is a historical novelist and also a friend from C19, the Richard Armitage inspired fan site which has become so much more – including an ‘incubator’ for new writers of romance and women’s fiction. Elizabeth’s debut novel was accepted by Myrmidon in 2009. Here she is to tell you about it.

Someone said to me the other day that it was daring to have a leper as the ‘hero’ of my novel The de Lacy Inheritance. So what made me decide to write about a man with leprosy?

Finally, thanks to Phillipa for letting me come and chat on her blog. It’s good to have such generous support.

There will definitely be giveaways and contests later in the year ready for the publication of Dating Mr December on November 1st. And yes, I’m excited, but I really don’t want to be thinking of autumn days yet. Haven’t even had a summer yet… but if you have a romance blog site, and would like to be added to a list for a possible review copy, just email me through this site.

You can already preorder the book from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, among others.

Name at least one book that you read as a child (ie 11 or under) that still exists in your memory as a perfect story. You can say why if you wish, or simply give a list — your choice. It can be a story that you are now uncomfortable about having loved or were uncomfortable at some point and have now come back to or alternatively just one that you have always loved:

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A gripping, emotional story – had no idea it was allegorical, and I don’t care, I just enjoyed it.

2. Enid Blyton – especially the Five Find Outers and the Galliano’s Circus series. Very un-Pc but what the heck? As a very young child, I also adored the Brer Rabbit books.

3. Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery – an auntie gave me a set of ‘classics’ for children when I was at primary school, mostly wholly inappropriate and I read Poe’s Tales over and over. Yes, they gave me nightmares and were very disturbing. I’m even more disturbed since I studied Poe at uni and found out what a very weird bloke he was.

4. Alistair McLean – from about 11, I developed an obssession with the thrillers of Alistair Mclean. I’m sure his craggy, taciturn heroes have had an effect on me… I read the lot and my English teacher was horrified when I told him how much I loved them. He made go and read Graham Greene’s ‘The Comedians’ which was deeply depressing.

5. The Hairy Maclary picture books by Lynley Dodd. I LOVE them, and confession here – they were some of my faves to read to my daughter, who’s now 22. I howl at the sweetly malevolent Scarface Claw, a huge cat who terrorises a pack of hilarious dog characters, all written in very funny verse. I’ve kept them all, in case I ever have grandkids.

I tag Debs Carr, Judy Jarvie, Elizabeth Hanbury, Grumpy Old Woman and Georgia Hill to do this too. I’d love to see what books you loved.