Fabby news! English Lord, Ordinary Lady just got a five-star review at Cataromance! Here's a snippet:
"Sublimely entertaining, wonderfully moving and unashamedly romantic, Fiona Harper is an absolute genius when it comes to creating terrific characters and writing superb romances. Warm, witty and feel-good, contemporary romance does not get any better than this!"
If you want to read the whole thing, you can find it here. And if you want to know where the original idea came from, read a snippet and have a chance to win a signed copy, then head over to Liz Fielding's blog where I have a guest slot today. She's celebrating her 50th book by inviting authors along all year to post and give books away, so put it on your favourites list!
And, if you are interested in finding out more about the story behind the story, in the next week or so I'll be blogging about the characters, the setting and the ideas that all came together to create English Lord, Ordinary Lady.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
To be read
I know everyone says they have a teetering TBR (to be read) pile, but mine really is. I mean, look at it! I tried to make one big pile but it stopped teetering and started falling instead. Bad idea.This pile is as tall as I am. Literally. Almost exactly 5’3. Do you reckon I can get it to the floor in 2008? Me, I’m not sure. But once again I’m doing the eHarlequin book challenge and attempting to read 100 books this year. Why, oh why, don't I have more thin ones? That's what I want to know!
If you want to see what I’m reading, come on over to the eHarlequin community and join the fun!
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Review
English Lord, Ordinary Lady has just received a really nice review from All About Romance! If you want to read the whole thing, click here, but if not, here's a snippet:
"There are some series romance titles that clearly lure some readers...and send me running in the opposite direction. Take, for example, anything that includes the words "sheikh" or "cowboy." On the other hand we have a title like English Lord, Ordinary Lady. I took one look and thought, "Count me in." Happily, the book was every bit as good as the title suggested...
…as a light and cute love story, it succeeds admirably. Even though I've never had the desire for pink hair, I found Josie nearly irresistible. She is perhaps a little stubborn at times, but it fits with her character, and she really grows during the course of the book. She's also just plain fun. By far my favorite scene was when Will decided that the tearoom staff ought to wear uniforms, and Josie "alters" hers to suit her personality. This paragraph made me laugh out loud:
"Customisation. What a beautiful word, thought Josie as the blades of her scissors sliced through the grey fabric. She said it twice more in her head then once out loud, just for good measure. It just rolled off the tongue."
I shared it with my daughter, who asked if she could read the book next. Naturally, nothing suits a rebellious heroine like a stuffy hero who needs to get a little less stuffy. Will is the perfect foil for Josie, and his actions at the end of the book – when he proves his love in a most unexpected way – seal the deal. "
Seeing as All About Romance can be a little picky about category romance, I was really pleased with this review!
"There are some series romance titles that clearly lure some readers...and send me running in the opposite direction. Take, for example, anything that includes the words "sheikh" or "cowboy." On the other hand we have a title like English Lord, Ordinary Lady. I took one look and thought, "Count me in." Happily, the book was every bit as good as the title suggested...…as a light and cute love story, it succeeds admirably. Even though I've never had the desire for pink hair, I found Josie nearly irresistible. She is perhaps a little stubborn at times, but it fits with her character, and she really grows during the course of the book. She's also just plain fun. By far my favorite scene was when Will decided that the tearoom staff ought to wear uniforms, and Josie "alters" hers to suit her personality. This paragraph made me laugh out loud:
"Customisation. What a beautiful word, thought Josie as the blades of her scissors sliced through the grey fabric. She said it twice more in her head then once out loud, just for good measure. It just rolled off the tongue."
I shared it with my daughter, who asked if she could read the book next. Naturally, nothing suits a rebellious heroine like a stuffy hero who needs to get a little less stuffy. Will is the perfect foil for Josie, and his actions at the end of the book – when he proves his love in a most unexpected way – seal the deal. "
Seeing as All About Romance can be a little picky about category romance, I was really pleased with this review!
Monday, 21 January 2008
Writers' Forum Article
I have some other good news was totally usurped by last week’s mega good news. But now the dust has settled a little, I can let you know that I’ve been interviewed, along with M&B editor Jenny Hutton, for the current issue (Feb) of Writers’ Forum magazine in the UK. Unfortunately, they don’t have a web link for the article so it’s buy the magazine or nothing!
The article goes into the history of M&B and asks what it takes to ‘break in’ today (hence, my input). I even have my very own pink sidebar with a heart and the title “Fiona’s top tips”. This gives me visions of imparting sage, housewifely advice on how to remove stains or bake the perfect sponge, but ignore me – I’m daft that way.
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The article goes into the history of M&B and asks what it takes to ‘break in’ today (hence, my input). I even have my very own pink sidebar with a heart and the title “Fiona’s top tips”. This gives me visions of imparting sage, housewifely advice on how to remove stains or bake the perfect sponge, but ignore me – I’m daft that way.Thursday, 17 January 2008
Romance Prize Nominations!
Two of my books have been nominated for the same award! Her Parenthood Assignment and English Lord, Ordinary Lady are in the running for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romance Prize. The winner will be announced at the awards luncheon at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on the 4th of February. Until then, I will mostly be gnawing at my fingernails…
I was in the middle of a rather large roast beef dinner with some friends last Sunday evening when the phone rang. ‘Let the answerphone get it,’ I yelled, tucking into a Yorkshire pudding. Above the noise of four adults and four children that I could hear one of my friends’ voices. I’ll ring her back after dinner, I thought, but then I heard the words ‘awards luncheon’ and ‘fourth of February’ and suddenly I was across the room with the phone in my hand. Not quite sure I remember how I got there. And I gave the award organiser on the other end of the line quite a surprise too!
I was in the middle of a rather large roast beef dinner with some friends last Sunday evening when the phone rang. ‘Let the answerphone get it,’ I yelled, tucking into a Yorkshire pudding. Above the noise of four adults and four children that I could hear one of my friends’ voices. I’ll ring her back after dinner, I thought, but then I heard the words ‘awards luncheon’ and ‘fourth of February’ and suddenly I was across the room with the phone in my hand. Not quite sure I remember how I got there. And I gave the award organiser on the other end of the line quite a surprise too!
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Happy New Year
2008 is a special year for Mills & Boon as it marks their centenary. One hundred years of publishing popular books loved the world over! So I'm really pleased to have three books out this year as it makes me feel very much a part of the celebrations.My first book for 2008, English Lord, Ordinary Lady is out right now at both Millsand boon.co.uk and eHarlequin.com, and will be on the shelves in February. And, if you like eBooks, it's also available in that format too from eHarlequin's eBook boutique - along with other titles from my backlist.
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