tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196261132024-03-07T09:16:14.283+00:00Fiona HarperFiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.comBlogger344125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-41181055134004590042016-12-05T07:53:00.001+00:002016-12-05T07:53:38.688+00:00Plot board 2: the layout<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:1;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, a little bit more about the plot board! I use it to
pin ideas on in the planning stages, to help with restructuring and editing in
the revision stages, and just generally to help me to think through my book in
a visual way when I need it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I blog about how I’m using it on my current book, I
might as well explain how I lay it out, otherwise none of it is going to make
sense! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XojMMIh8RHFGaIX-CtPq7LJ9b6BTSyvB8I_dxxj5oS-8DWkz19p975WoorNZ63yMXajqc5Cy-5Lg7sPcHK8G8KS7lbysEzP3nXL3vIJO8Bq9mem_C88fyrG70Wt1hcmI8lxA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-12-03+at+20.00.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XojMMIh8RHFGaIX-CtPq7LJ9b6BTSyvB8I_dxxj5oS-8DWkz19p975WoorNZ63yMXajqc5Cy-5Lg7sPcHK8G8KS7lbysEzP3nXL3vIJO8Bq9mem_C88fyrG70Wt1hcmI8lxA/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-12-03+at+20.00.15.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I could have one very, very long board so I could see the
whole of my story in one line, I would, but since they don’t make cork boards
that shape, I have to make do with splitting the story up into four sections: Act 1,Act 2: split into two parts – a & b,Act 3.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think there are any set rules when it comes to story
structure. Some story gurus split the story into three acts, others split it
into four. There are different terms to for different parts of a story,
depending on who you read or who you listen to, but most tend to outline the same basics elements
of a story; they just have different ways of describing it. My advice is to go
with what works makes sense to you; I’m just going to share what fits my
personal process the best.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I mentioned in my last post, I like the way Michael Hauge
splits up a story: three acts, with a turning point between each, and then
turning points in the middle of each act. Now, this can sound a bit artificial –
and some of you reading this may be breaking out in hives at the thought of all
this scary structure! – but even before I knew any of this, my stories tended
to hit these breaks and turning points. I think it’s because stories that work
tend to have a certain rhythm, certain rises and falls in tension, twists and
turns in direction to keep them interesting. Quite often I don't plan what's going to be a turning point, but it becomes obvious as the story evolves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJKtbsvONBGp8-uA0p_cqMUsWduLXv8iVCY2zc_ovgJapObWd7gRrhEL9-NNOhBpBa6QKQaMqNRYPPepWfQqJETrcVVNLCd_X6WMIGllaoZVAiTw2HDf3L7ov-dP3AE-as_lO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-29+at+15.50.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJKtbsvONBGp8-uA0p_cqMUsWduLXv8iVCY2zc_ovgJapObWd7gRrhEL9-NNOhBpBa6QKQaMqNRYPPepWfQqJETrcVVNLCd_X6WMIGllaoZVAiTw2HDf3L7ov-dP3AE-as_lO/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-29+at+15.50.12.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you look at my empty plot board pic, you can see I have
some headings in yellow and these are my stages/turning points. I’ll outline
them here and then over the next few posts I’m going to go into more detail:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Act 1</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 1</b>: Ordinary
world</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turning point 1</b>:
The call to adventure</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 2: </b>Debate
& denial</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turning point 2</b>: Change
of plans</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Act 2</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 3:</b> Progress
(Fun & Games)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turning point 3: </b>Point
of no return</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 4: </b>Complications
& Higher Stakes (Bad guys close in)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turning point 4: </b>Black
moment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Act 3:</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 5:</b> Final
push (Dark night of the soul/Solution)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turning point 5: </b>Climax</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 6: </b>New
world (Aftermath)<br />
<br />
Next time, we'll break down Act One... </div>
Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-17278111101075039152016-11-29T16:19:00.001+00:002016-11-29T16:22:26.122+00:00The Plot BoardI posted a picture of one the most vital tools in my writing life on Twitter
yesterday and was surprised by how much interest it got. I'm talking
about my plot board. This is it, bare and ready for a new story:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEPn2XyrUBof8fPnNOQHq-JRsjoUtv0FVEX7b52lpJ5vKsHY8nI9J6TyH6Q6l1kYhCvHDxwU1Q_eN3dd67-auICaFyjYUyXir7Gifw3LsdU6q8QWyXVLeqxXQbwmcbkyAXBnO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-29+at+15.50.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEPn2XyrUBof8fPnNOQHq-JRsjoUtv0FVEX7b52lpJ5vKsHY8nI9J6TyH6Q6l1kYhCvHDxwU1Q_eN3dd67-auICaFyjYUyXir7Gifw3LsdU6q8QWyXVLeqxXQbwmcbkyAXBnO/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-29+at+15.50.12.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Nothing too special. Just a A1-sized cork board with added bits of string, pins and headings on cut-up index cards. However, I've found I'd struggle to write a book without it!<br />
<br />
I can’t claim to have
invented the idea – far from it – but I’ve been tweaking my own approach
for about ten years now. I don't always use the board the same way twice - it really depends on the story, but I'm fascinated about plotting and story structure and I wondered if blogging about my process as I write the next book might a) be useful to someone else who loves this kind of stuff and b) actually help me work out exactly why this helps me so much!<br />
<br />
I think part of it is that I’m quite a visual thinker and it helps
me to ‘see’ the structure of my book this way. It also provides a place
to put all those ‘lightning bolt’ ideas I get about my book before,
during and after the first draft. You know the kind of ideas I mean:
the ones you get when you’re minding your own business, not even really
thinking about the book and – BAM! – suddenly you know why your heroine
is acting that way, or the perfect setting for a scene comes to mind, or
just a line of dialogue pops into your head and triggers something off.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKim3p5Nne5XKHwekhgaK5wMmIgaFZsJzibIIDsXQLbqthwvaxSlSd_Ab2oKhGPEUOOzwLf2q21chXIYKZ3QSj8MAfhuQ0XZLiy5feKO5baw4U0X4bdpLEpELEAYjk9kdl-iWp/s1600/plotbrd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKim3p5Nne5XKHwekhgaK5wMmIgaFZsJzibIIDsXQLbqthwvaxSlSd_Ab2oKhGPEUOOzwLf2q21chXIYKZ3QSj8MAfhuQ0XZLiy5feKO5baw4U0X4bdpLEpELEAYjk9kdl-iWp/s200/plotbrd1.jpg" width="149" /></a>When
I get those kind of ideas – and they are generally my best ones – I
scribble them down and pin them to my board. My board follows a
chronological timeline of my work-in-progress, and when I think about
where to pin that scrap of paper it often becomes instantly obvious
where and when it should go. Do things move and change as I work on the
book? Absolutely. That’s why God gave us coloured pins! That’s the
beauty of a plot board: nothing is set in stone.<br />
<br />
My first plot board looked a little different. My whole approach to plotting was much less sophisticated (and probably
much less neurosis-inducing) back then. I’d read that a good way to
plot was to think of 20 things that needed to happen in your book. That’s what the pink index cards are: 20 plot points for the story. Then, as other ideas came to me, or notions of how I could develop those
plot points floated to the surface of my consciousness, I tacked them
onto the board next to the relevant plot point.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc4xYftaQY3pANaBRDiGwZGmeQNr4W2scLaSTaCStzpPy6MBb6_rCv0Pb1TRbnyif5QCUA3Y5zI5m4laaio7Brbd3SlYrBPh1DFTS4_whsXu7mWPYD444YGu-RtVXL3PPDtuI/s1600/plotbrd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc4xYftaQY3pANaBRDiGwZGmeQNr4W2scLaSTaCStzpPy6MBb6_rCv0Pb1TRbnyif5QCUA3Y5zI5m4laaio7Brbd3SlYrBPh1DFTS4_whsXu7mWPYD444YGu-RtVXL3PPDtuI/s200/plotbrd2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I then switched to trying to divide the board into acts. I particularly liked <a href="http://bit.ly/2g211V7" target="_blank">Michael Hauge's way of breaking down a story</a>, I tried dividing my board into six stages with five turning points, on the right, but found I couldn't quite fit everything on there so it was easy to see the flow of the story. Then I read Save The Cat by Blake Snyder. Great book, and I loved his
idea of storyboarding too. He divided his story board into four
horizontal strips: Act 1, Act 2a, Act 2b and Act 3. I immediately
decided to try the same thing, and discovered I now had room to use my
plot point cards in chronological order, but I still had room to pin all
the little flashes of ideas around them too. So this is what the plot board of my recently finished book, <i>The Other Us</i>, looks like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYza4bflvsn-pGj3auh17hzFWs38Q07g0u6LxzXvrQ-smOJG4gCbOjvzetHucOBNp1ZbAYn1Akfsn717DPioTh9A9hKCfwFr2gTeXWXxmZAVqeKW-saPjD1Yl2eFszk9UkvFim/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-29+at+16.02.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYza4bflvsn-pGj3auh17hzFWs38Q07g0u6LxzXvrQ-smOJG4gCbOjvzetHucOBNp1ZbAYn1Akfsn717DPioTh9A9hKCfwFr2gTeXWXxmZAVqeKW-saPjD1Yl2eFszk9UkvFim/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-11-29+at+16.02.29.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So that's the introduction to my plot board, next time... the different stages of a story and where they go on the plot board.Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-42312563696283958692015-01-19T21:21:00.000+00:002015-01-19T21:21:10.790+00:00No Ginger RogersOkay, I'm resurrecting my blog for a while. It's been an age since I posted, so there's probably only three people reading, which is fine, because I want to keep a diary of my latest research project. Don't laugh, but I'm learning to tap dance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiQB_ZAXifdgSyTNz6EA11Fc_5Cvl00rFa_t0jaNzxyi4e-8_6JUev6_UhJEDa-i1K0FpqaQqjY-RDMwGQXn8lyEEIIgwsJVkImNvK0lxXb1thLs20xFMEpinb0OhTR0QoFHm/s1600/IMG_0003_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiQB_ZAXifdgSyTNz6EA11Fc_5Cvl00rFa_t0jaNzxyi4e-8_6JUev6_UhJEDa-i1K0FpqaQqjY-RDMwGQXn8lyEEIIgwsJVkImNvK0lxXb1thLs20xFMEpinb0OhTR0QoFHm/s1600/IMG_0003_2.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
Maybe I should be more accurate and say I'm <i>trying</i> to learn to tap dance. Yes. It's that bad.<br />
<br />
I had my first lesson last week. Before that time, I hadn't even worn a pair of tap shoes. I had to rush out and buy some last Monday afternoon. The adult tap class that's local to me isn't a beginner's class though. I'll be okay, I thought. Even the head of the dancing school thought I'd be alright because I've done plenty of other kinds of dance (ballet, modern, contemporary). It did give me a slight heads-up. After all, I know what a ball change is, but other than that it was a bit like saying I'd be fine learning Chinese because I know how to order a glass of wine and a ham sandwich in French. That's what tap feels like at the moment - Chinese for my feet.<br />
<br />
Having said that, it is great fun and the ladies at the class are lovely. I just think it would be more fun if I could do the steps instead of flailing around at the back with a vague look of panic on my face. My goal is to be able to actually complete a step combination before half term in February. Just one will do. And it doesn't even have to be a difficult one! Wish me luck. ;-)<br />
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-30641946246905228182013-10-31T08:45:00.000+00:002013-10-31T08:45:15.011+00:00Behind the book: Kiss Me Under The MistletoeI've blogged before on how I used Agatha Christie's Devon home, Greenway, as inspiration for Whitehaven in <b><a href="http://www.fionaharper.com/page21.htm" target="_blank">Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe</a></b>. If you're interested in seeing the place that inspired the book, then check out the latest episode of Poirot (Dead Man's Folly) on <a href="https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/agatha-christie-s-poirot/series-13/episode-1-dead-man-s-folly" target="_blank">ITV Player</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdgeQd_XLSoP7JTR3Vm_plOmVGcdJXTBKr-PfGwFBH3y0D7IcQb2zEgID8Bfc2f6RJKb8YwbGhm84Fq3LkM2W53yU7Ue5-7z47G1t8X-EGFDQxMpGN1sZTWD70MMMUOLUVUkk/s1600/greenway2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdgeQd_XLSoP7JTR3Vm_plOmVGcdJXTBKr-PfGwFBH3y0D7IcQb2zEgID8Bfc2f6RJKb8YwbGhm84Fq3LkM2W53yU7Ue5-7z47G1t8X-EGFDQxMpGN1sZTWD70MMMUOLUVUkk/s400/greenway2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AvFyVBRCyJN7ahX_UtZIVjfJmv-AVVENf2stkL6byzb6ulKtNPVWiMYfVSr_59neFJWLm_Elcs5eVYZc91MvhwNfU-cQmTbqDa8H7wCbmdF4pnxamVfjeq4XFUr9rLf7HhTD/s400/boathouse+small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boathouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Not only have they used Greenway as the setting, but they've also used
the boathouse, which features heavily in Louise and Ben's story, and
there are glimpses of Dittisham across the river, which I renamed as
Lower Hadwell. It's such a beautiful location, I could watch this
episode over and over!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUi92hLgrkaEu709qpvlLFYF7ootLef1V7GWpfb-VGsZ55XHy4WJaJemVMklzLBYhTc1T0OYA-xP_9ISCEQZ9Sze8NjK7lbScD8Pd4Gdv_BOYYmyPIbjoWF6at9o3-Rm0M-I6/s1600/lowerhadwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUi92hLgrkaEu709qpvlLFYF7ootLef1V7GWpfb-VGsZ55XHy4WJaJemVMklzLBYhTc1T0OYA-xP_9ISCEQZ9Sze8NjK7lbScD8Pd4Gdv_BOYYmyPIbjoWF6at9o3-Rm0M-I6/s400/lowerhadwell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dittisham (Lower Hadwell)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe is going to be available again this Christmas in print in both W H Smiths and as a 2-in-1 offer with Sarah Morgan's Sleigh Bells In The Snow in Sainsburys!</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-52661692399098928262013-10-16T12:50:00.001+01:002013-10-16T12:50:33.524+01:00An Interview with Barbara Vey, for her Beyond Her Book blog for Publishers Weekly!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yd2x9E8weKA" width="459"></iframe>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-40494111866082243122013-02-18T17:35:00.002+00:002013-02-18T18:53:04.972+00:00Ooh, looky...I have a neat little blog widget for my latest release The Guy To Be Seen With! If you want a sneak peak of my brand new release for Harlequin KISS, and it's on the sidebar. You can read the first three chapters by clicking the 'browse' button.<br />
<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'm hard at work writing my next single title, so blogging has fallen by the wayside. But I'm sure that everyone would much rather that I got on with the books than waffled on my blog! You can catch me (sporadically) on <a href="https://twitter.com/FiHarperAuthor" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fionaharperauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> whenever I surface for air.Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-17067939161043116402013-01-26T20:27:00.000+00:002013-01-26T20:32:57.184+00:00Good news and not so good news<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvWEN9neyad9H0Mw45E6B2OIzJx905su00jaikAVi9F-oNDAnhs4vRxYsJcp-c339R48KOxuqqKRsnQjr2C_HKBK_FlrrMbT60OPK1drPMbthcSlSGwtxcTnOW_T_u7oXjzt4/s1600/ATBM+UK+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvWEN9neyad9H0Mw45E6B2OIzJx905su00jaikAVi9F-oNDAnhs4vRxYsJcp-c339R48KOxuqqKRsnQjr2C_HKBK_FlrrMbT60OPK1drPMbthcSlSGwtxcTnOW_T_u7oXjzt4/s200/ATBM+UK+cover.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>
<br />
Great news! <a href="http://www.fionaharper.com/page20.htm" target="_blank"><b>Always the Best Man</b></a> has been shortlisted for the RNA's <a href="http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/index.php/news/entry/category_shortlist_announced_for_2013_romantic_novelists_association_awards" target="_blank">RoNA Rose award</a>!<br />
<br />
People have been asking my where they can get hold of a copy. But the not so good news is that Always the Best Man hasn't had a full UK release yet.<br />
<br />
However...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJorvfkkXyRV-bvULL6vBwU3ls53Sqh5uKao34mTExJDvTWOmxgWrvWulBf7bZGEuu9EBvL7qTruCtKn45gmnSUxzu4nSK0KagF-mUdNWCGsE3266zngAopP0uRZt0dv7aGE9M/s1600/ATBM+US+cover.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJorvfkkXyRV-bvULL6vBwU3ls53Sqh5uKao34mTExJDvTWOmxgWrvWulBf7bZGEuu9EBvL7qTruCtKn45gmnSUxzu4nSK0KagF-mUdNWCGsE3266zngAopP0uRZt0dv7aGE9M/s200/ATBM+US+cover.gif" width="127" /></a>The US copy, which has a different cover, but is exactly the same inside, is available on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Always-Best-Man-Harlequin-Romance/dp/0373178263/ref=tmm_pap_title_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359231237&sr=1-11" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> and <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Always-Best-Man-Fiona-Harper/9780373178261" target="_blank">The Book Depository</a>. There's also the <a href="http://www.millsandboon.com.au/product/9781460885314" target="_blank">Aussie version</a> .<br />
<br />
And if you have an ereader that reads ePub files, you can get it from <a href="http://eharlequin.com/">eHarlequin.com</a><span id="goog_589553839"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_589553840"></span>!<br />
<br />
No kindle release in the UK, as yet. Sorry! But the more people that click "we'd like to see this Kindle" button <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/digital/fiona/detail/request-kindle-edition/ref=dtp_dp_su_0263893138?ie=UTF8&a=0263893138" target="_blank">here</a> the better.Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-53568401271553375242012-12-07T08:39:00.001+00:002012-12-07T08:39:19.658+00:00The Next Big Thing - Pam HartshorneI also tagged Pam Hartshorne (AKA M&B author Jessica Hart) in my Next Big Thing blog, and today I'm hosting her replies. Help me give a big welcome to Pam as she talks about her amazing timeslip novel, Time's Echo!<br /><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrgeR_AfhY6gUX7bcTi8SKHxcQUOGxiQ-IkZeYrZg9KWDPSSF_0ZvFZWxLNuGx1JOS3C8Qe037YgCcJGV957Bo_EpsW1aKrxQ1aRjXTPkDsnDVbhEyIAW_y_e6S-Vs1UKwzPC/s1600/Jessica+Hart+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrgeR_AfhY6gUX7bcTi8SKHxcQUOGxiQ-IkZeYrZg9KWDPSSF_0ZvFZWxLNuGx1JOS3C8Qe037YgCcJGV957Bo_EpsW1aKrxQ1aRjXTPkDsnDVbhEyIAW_y_e6S-Vs1UKwzPC/s200/Jessica+Hart+2012.jpg" width="168" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What is the title of your book? </span></i><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Time’s Echo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">How did you come by the idea?</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br />I’m
fascinated by the links between the past and the present, and have always
admired Barbara Erskine’s books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Time’s
Echo</i> falls firmly into that ‘time slip’ category, but I wanted to base my
story on my research into the ordinary people of Elizabethan York.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What genre does your book fall under? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br />Tricky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s part historical novel, part ghost story
with a dash of psychological thriller and a seasoning of romance.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Which actors would you choose to play your characters
if it were a movie? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br />Also tricky!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe Cate Blanchett and Harrison Ford (in
his prime!)</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br />Arriving in York to sort out
her dead godmother’s affairs, tsunami survivor Grace Trewe finds herself
increasingly drawn into the life of Hawise, whose unthinking smile in the
market place over four hundred years earlier sets in train a story of obsession
that ends in tragedy and a desperate search for a child that even death cannot
stop.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlObsIjVmhIQR1ClNp6E5qV2i8R0I8NqnVNcFdV1ryET_lxrC3C2zTZQ96gyyLT8GsqqI5i6iNWa3U9fnHt9VMM8lHsEQQy_AZwo_RYIYHvWulenXrTX7Va5CBxiyAw6E133j/s1600/Time's+Echo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlObsIjVmhIQR1ClNp6E5qV2i8R0I8NqnVNcFdV1ryET_lxrC3C2zTZQ96gyyLT8GsqqI5i6iNWa3U9fnHt9VMM8lHsEQQy_AZwo_RYIYHvWulenXrTX7Va5CBxiyAw6E133j/s200/Time's+Echo+small.jpg" width="131" /></a><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Will
your book be self-published or traditional? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>Time’s Echo</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> is
published by Pan Macmillan in the UK and available as a paperback or an e-book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">How long did it take you to write the first draft of
your manuscript? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br />This was the first time
slip I’d written, so it took me a long time to get to grips with a dual
narrative and a much more complicated plot than I’m used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I messed around for over a year, but when I
finally settled to writing a proper draft, I’d say it took me about six months.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What other books would you compare this story to
within your genre? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br />Barbara Erskine, Susanna
Kearsley</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Who or What inspired you to write this book? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br />The ordinary
people of Elizabethan York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like
I know them now after so many years spent researching their day-to-day lives.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What else about your book might pique the reader’s
interest?</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />Time’s Echo</i> is
really two books in one: Hawise’s story in the past and Grace’s in the
present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hawise has to deal with what we
think of as a contemporary issue of stalking and obsession, while Grace
struggles to come to terms with her experience of being swept up in the Boxing
Day tsunami.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was interested to learn
about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how something as
apparently insignificant as a sound or a smell can trigger a reaction in
sufferers that means they feel as if they are re-experiencing a past trauma. I
wanted to play with the idea that if you can re-experience a moment in the past
in that way, it might be possible to re-experience a more distant past.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This one is already on my To Be Read list! Thanks for dropping by, Pam! </div>
Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-89321151372940824092012-11-30T15:30:00.001+00:002012-11-30T15:46:39.518+00:00The Next Big Thing - Jennifer FayeWell, last week it was my turn to answer The Next Big Thing questions, but this week I am hosting brand new Harlequin Romance/M&B Cherish author Jennifer Faye! Take it away, Jennifer...<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Fiona, thanks so much for inviting me to stop be your blog. Am
so thrilled to be here. </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030;">:-)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">As Harlequin Mills & Boon’s newest Romance/Cherish author,
I’m still walking on the clouds and pinching myself, making sure this is all
real. I’ve had a dream most of my life to write stories to share with the world
and at last my dream has come true. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I write emotionally stirring romances that will bring a tear to
your eye and a smile to your heart with each happily-ever-after. If you want to
read more about me, you can check out my website: <a href="http://www.jenniferfaye.com/">www.jenniferfaye.com</a> (soon to be
updated)</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">****</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The following answers pertain to my first sale to Harlequin
Romance / M&B Cherish. Squee!!!</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 9.4pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q.
What is the working title of your next book?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">“RANCHER TO THE RESCUE”</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Available July 2013 U.S./U.K.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> Q. From where did the idea come?</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The story was something I developed
this summer for the Harlequin Romance Fast Track. I couldn’t actually tell you
where the idea came from. It started with the heroine being in the worst
possible position and grew from there.</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q. Under which genre does your book fall?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I write for Harlequin Romance /
Mills & Boon Cherish. I love the emotional depths you are able to explore
within the line—from smiles and laughs to the occasional damp eye. Talk about
an emotional rollercoaster with a happily-ever-after. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q: Which actors would you choose to play the part of your characters for
a movie?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I’d
picture Isla Fisher as my heroine Meghan.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">And
for the hero, I’d say he’s similar in looks to Adam Rodriguez from ‘CSI Miami.’</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q. What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">When a big, splashy wedding goes
awry, the runaway bride is aided by a reluctant rancher, but their adventure
has only just begun and as their complications mount, they’ll find out that their
future plans are about to be revised in ways neither of them could have ever
predicted. </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q. Will you self-publish or be represented by an agent?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This book will be traditionally
published via Harlequin Mills & Boon. </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q. How long did it take to write the first draft?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Honestly, not long at all. At the
time I was working one-on-one with my now-editor and I had deadlines to meet. I’ve
always worked best under pressure. Shhh…don’t tell my editor. </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings;">:-)</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> If you’d like to see how it unfolded. You can read about “The
Call” here:</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://community.harlequin.com/showthread.php/757-NEW-SALE!-Jennifer-Faye-SOLD-to-HARLEQUIN-ROMANCE-MILLS-amp-BOON-CHERISH!!!/page2"><span style="color: red;">http://community.harlequin.com/showthread.php/757-NEW-SALE!-Jennifer-Faye-SOLD-to-HARLEQUIN-ROMANCE-MILLS-amp-BOON-CHERISH!!!/page2</span></a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q: With which books within your genre would your story compare?</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I’m really hoping that it is
different and that’s the reason my editor and Harlequin Mills & Boon has
brought me onboard. </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q: Who or what inspired you to write this book?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">To be honest, the inspiration behind
this book had absolutely nothing to do with my characters. I was currently
working with a fabulous editor at Harlequin Mills & Boon and I wanted to
keep working with her. So I had to come up with a great story, something that
would make her sit up and take notice. So she inspired me to write a fresh
story with a unique twist.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Q: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Although the story is set in the
American Southwest, it has a contemporary feel with a celebrity cook, who likes
to turn up the heat in the kitchen. Things definitely never get boring for
these two.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #1e1030; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Fiona, thanks so
much for having me as your guest!!! I’ve had a great time visting.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-76592120681044143862012-11-23T05:00:00.000+00:002012-11-23T09:40:13.321+00:00The Next Big Thing<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been tagged by the gorgeous <a href="http://heidi-rice.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Heidi Rice</a> has tagged me to join in with THE NEXT BIG THING, a series of questions on my next book. So here's the skinny:</span><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7BSN56V8iNgexsSEehIRFaiZLlUKkcLdn4x7g8GFT7GZHE9lhnz4cDrpT6c_Y-F2Slc7KW0ewYaRjjc15UzZ3H1T3E1cAQG2YKHWy8thV0Rv2FVqLxWMDtZWFNIw8tifT8bH/s1600/mistletoe+smallest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7BSN56V8iNgexsSEehIRFaiZLlUKkcLdn4x7g8GFT7GZHE9lhnz4cDrpT6c_Y-F2Slc7KW0ewYaRjjc15UzZ3H1T3E1cAQG2YKHWy8thV0Rv2FVqLxWMDtZWFNIw8tifT8bH/s200/mistletoe+smallest.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>What is the title of
your book?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Kiss Me Under The
Mistletoe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>How did
you come by the idea?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I was fascinated by
the idea of a WAG (short for Wives And Girlfriends, normally applied to
partners of famous men). In this age of unprecedented opportunity for women, why
would she decide to define herself by her husband. And what would she do if she
wasn’t married to him any more and lost that key piece to her identity?</span><span style="color: #002060;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>What genre does your book
fall under?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Romance/Women’s Fiction</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>Which actors would you
choose to play your characters if it were a movie?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Ooh, interesting! Maybe Jennifer Connelly as Louise
and Hugh Jackman as Ben.<br />
</span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><br />
<b>What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">A WAG leaves her celebrity life – and her cheating
husband – behind and seeks to build a new life for herself in a crumbling
deserted mansion in the country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>Will your book be
self-published or traditional?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Traditionally published.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>How long did it take you to
write the first draft of your manuscript?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Hmm. Not sure. This was an ‘elongation’ of an
earlier book (think, the 12” compared to the 7”). I think the earlier version (60k
words) probably took about 4 months, but I added another 30k words in four
weeks!</span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>What other books would you
compare this story to within your genre?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Liz Fenwick’s The Cornish House took a similar
theme – woman on her own moving to a new place, and a very special old house,
rebuilding her life and finding love again – but our styles are quite
different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>Who
or What inspired you to write this book?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The idea of my WAG character, Louise, but also the
location. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">When I was a
teenager my father owned a boat that he moored near Dittisham, up the River
Dart, in Devon. If we ever took the boat out to sea, or went down river, just
for a few seconds we’d catch a glimpse of a marvellous old white mansion on the
hill, half hidden by trees. I used to wonder who lived there and what it was
like inside.<br />
Years later I was very excited to discover the name of the house was Greenway
and had once been owned by the famous crime writer Agatha Christie. And there,
the idea for the story of a haunting old house on the riverside, once lived in
by a famous woman, was born – although in my version, the former owner was a
movie star and not a writer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>What else about your book
might pique the reader’s interest?</b><br />
</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">My heroine carries the scars of being a child carer
for her ailing father, and the guilt she feels after his death has brought her
to where she is now. Even with the seemingly ‘perfect’ husband and the life
everyone dreams of, she hasn’t been able to be happy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">And I tag the following people to take up the baton and talk about The Next Big Thing:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<a href="http://www.lizfenwick.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Liz Fenwick</span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Jessica Hart</span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ninaharrington.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Nina Harrington</span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">and brand-new author Jennifer Faye, who'll be giving her answers HERE next week! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-83975537396368527792012-11-01T20:25:00.000+00:002012-11-23T09:39:25.133+00:00Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe: Hero and HeroineI've been using all my words to work recently, but in the meantime, I'll leave you with a couple of pics.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is how I imagined Ben and Louise from <a href="http://www.fionaharper.com/page21.htm" target="_blank">Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe</a>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWMtJkdF2BJAb_V1heYPfbIX3PEg6ZYIcTFN92trW8m7J6Cr_sMOSKpXzhQJshDVIEGXka_rHxDEJ5l2Gebbq4L4lK0uUfbYbgBaDewnxfVSlXMjoYEMg-hA65qPOrqZANGwA/s1600/louise+alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWMtJkdF2BJAb_V1heYPfbIX3PEg6ZYIcTFN92trW8m7J6Cr_sMOSKpXzhQJshDVIEGXka_rHxDEJ5l2Gebbq4L4lK0uUfbYbgBaDewnxfVSlXMjoYEMg-hA65qPOrqZANGwA/s1600/louise+alone.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvvix2zRJ-qQYUJNI7c-voc3ySzplYdFz1HVIaMH7RGiINwcsfq-mzQbaIuob-7xn2wPT9zIryiU5qa-F-lj8tPgmD1PImSbkbA-h_XwKNPONsZu2vVVRe40VswxoZbDYTC4J/s1600/ben2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvvix2zRJ-qQYUJNI7c-voc3ySzplYdFz1HVIaMH7RGiINwcsfq-mzQbaIuob-7xn2wPT9zIryiU5qa-F-lj8tPgmD1PImSbkbA-h_XwKNPONsZu2vVVRe40VswxoZbDYTC4J/s320/ben2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-17162602127319998482012-08-11T00:00:00.000+01:002012-08-11T00:00:00.063+01:00RWA 2012 - part four: plans gone wrong and more food...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If anything, Saturday was even busier than Friday. I saw that Michael Hauge was doing another workshop, so decided to get another fix. Unfortunately, they had given him a room half the size of the one yesterday (which had been full), and people were lining the walls. I decided to sit on the floor at the front of the room.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNqK20BfmDi7x9a38Gayr45EE7z33ajoGn61DgVvOxzuttsE0ZBiYQ1Gef1LLlE_RjDjjurGVBcYAOAEUCMAHX2IXbwyY4vYtudFUpfwq0eDLmoVm8lB0y3KYD1iXD0tyBTH4/s1600/marriott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNqK20BfmDi7x9a38Gayr45EE7z33ajoGn61DgVvOxzuttsE0ZBiYQ1Gef1LLlE_RjDjjurGVBcYAOAEUCMAHX2IXbwyY4vYtudFUpfwq0eDLmoVm8lB0y3KYD1iXD0tyBTH4/s200/marriott.jpg" width="200" /></a> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was only after Michael started talking that I realised this was a repeat of the workshop I'd been to yesterday. Note to self: read programme properly before you plonk your bum down. And I was sitting right at the front, facing more than a hundred people. It was going to be really, really obvious if I left straight away. I decided to sit it out for a bit and then creep out after twenty minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bad plan. As the room started to fill, our illustrious speaker began to get worried about us all cramming in. He turned and asked me directly if I was okay sitting on the floor, especially as I wasn't leaning against the wall. I nodded fiercely and said I was fine, but a couple of minutes later when he said the wrong word, he said: "It's because I'm still worried about her..." and pointed over his shoulder at me. Flip, I thought. I can't leave now! The whole room is looking at me. I'm just going to have to wait a little bit longer...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now, there may be those of you who are wondering why I just didn't get up and walk calmly out. I asked myself the same question, and I have only one logical answer: <b>I'm BRITISH! </b>It's part of my genetic code to have a really low embarrassment threshold. Add in the fact that I'm a shy introvert at heart and there was only one thing to do - listen to more of the the workshop and hope the pins and needles didn't eat my legs alive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After forty minutes I was ready to go. Unfortunately, I suffered a bout of pins and needles so strong that it left my right leg totally numb. I could have stood up, but it was likely that I'd fall straight over again. Not the way to make a discreet exit! I just had to sit there a little longer and subtly try to get the blood to revisit my leg.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, I finally made it. But walking those steps to the door was like walking the green mile... ;-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thankfully, after the next seminar I could head out for lunch with some of the editors and gals who write for M&B RIVA. If you haven't heard already, Harlequin is launching a new line next year called KISS! It's basically the North American version of RIVA. Stories will have a range of sensuality levels but will be fun, sassy comtemporary books united by a similar tone and 'voice'. Books will be by authors either currently writing for Presents Extra or Harlequin Romance. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwQvd5XtIpQ8ib8TXqaPtjk2iX0BuRvRNJvMOZ5un0PEIiIl3_S1tGI-_l1h7d5wcxq3acPgyqr3nzA_q9nfJTbEht8N3dU6GhiUnf1JdLghbA_yHSuPUSGWAWFcJg9nWSwUu/s1600/kim+&+heidi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwQvd5XtIpQ8ib8TXqaPtjk2iX0BuRvRNJvMOZ5un0PEIiIl3_S1tGI-_l1h7d5wcxq3acPgyqr3nzA_q9nfJTbEht8N3dU6GhiUnf1JdLghbA_yHSuPUSGWAWFcJg9nWSwUu/s320/kim+&+heidi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIVA/KISS authors Kimberly Lang and Heidi Rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iQPS_VW-X_lmRe6ZMpsY-h2MHNPSDHG4W4VP59SoU2gBPWvSLkW9g1L5WKF_Msr0f4ZnrhrJMAIGOzzuY9OCzM3b7wV2yCzKhvZBWGuE0PNLhUMH9SylJAeFns6W3BlTUP8N/s1600/benihana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iQPS_VW-X_lmRe6ZMpsY-h2MHNPSDHG4W4VP59SoU2gBPWvSLkW9g1L5WKF_Msr0f4ZnrhrJMAIGOzzuY9OCzM3b7wV2yCzKhvZBWGuE0PNLhUMH9SylJAeFns6W3BlTUP8N/s200/benihana.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We went to <a href="http://www.benihana.co.uk/" target="_blank">Benihana</a> and sat round a hot plate while our chef cooked our food in front of us. First, he impressed us with his knife skills and then he started cooking our rice. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EBRjOQUuvDYduXog1e0pAQenzKuIcIjS5ItsiDar4tVBVMsS2Fu9BWgT4sz6voHZcnlLEu7cHC81RuoHMl1VzPPKA-I1qA9VlF1uwVAVgpIj3su9-52PClYLf4Ooowud0429/s1600/hear+rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EBRjOQUuvDYduXog1e0pAQenzKuIcIjS5ItsiDar4tVBVMsS2Fu9BWgT4sz6voHZcnlLEu7cHC81RuoHMl1VzPPKA-I1qA9VlF1uwVAVgpIj3su9-52PClYLf4Ooowud0429/s200/hear+rice.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Look, he even made a heart with our rice! I don't know if he knew that was significant or not, but I thought it was kinda cute.</span> I had scallops and steak and Oh My Goondess! Heaven. Do we have this restaurant in the UK? I have to find out. Too lovely. (Newsflash: Two branches in London! Yay.)</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwh8Wvfxz09MZT3ICVrdJ9cM-7iRFIMTLqCATvZuDPMTtXQScB4HQ3zL0f_WCFl0iDa9oiXY-3LZ6ktG2HPEfqP3l65Mx-jltOa86dYMcEJioQv7xeGtv29MnIPxQtPKCc51T/s1600/RIVA+KISS+authors.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwh8Wvfxz09MZT3ICVrdJ9cM-7iRFIMTLqCATvZuDPMTtXQScB4HQ3zL0f_WCFl0iDa9oiXY-3LZ6ktG2HPEfqP3l65Mx-jltOa86dYMcEJioQv7xeGtv29MnIPxQtPKCc51T/s400/RIVA+KISS+authors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Behind: Heidi Rice, Kimberly Lang, Aimee Carson, Exec Editor Tessa Shapcott & Susan Stephens</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Front: Senior editor Bryony Green, Fiona Harper & editor Lucy Gilmour</span></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-29734987502540878452012-08-09T15:56:00.003+01:002012-08-09T18:05:00.445+01:00RWA 2012 - part 3: Fan-girl moments and crazy dancing...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBEzaLKo1e45UsEgP-zBWkVphALIHg4PdRXaRgYXid86SglV9R6sPLqcaniqMiHphFQWLxVhMNx-eUXoRd6i3-rkg1hFsGlnK_6m4fXnd2GyVuEK5HRXHLovtuPfbtocHHjjY/s1600/mh+wkshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBEzaLKo1e45UsEgP-zBWkVphALIHg4PdRXaRgYXid86SglV9R6sPLqcaniqMiHphFQWLxVhMNx-eUXoRd6i3-rkg1hFsGlnK_6m4fXnd2GyVuEK5HRXHLovtuPfbtocHHjjY/s200/mh+wkshop.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Hauge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
By Friday things had shifted into high gear at the RWA
conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent Friday in two
double-length workshops given my screen writing guru Michael Hauge. If you
frequent this blog, you’ll know how I rave about his approach to storytelling.
I’d heard his workshop about internal conflict and romantic comedies before,
but I always get something new out of it. And in the afternoon I listened to
him give a breakdown of Pretty Woman, showing how it applied to his ideas –
something he’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> done before, so
it was really worth attending.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
At the end of the second session, I decided to buy Michael’s
book, Writing Screenplays That Sell, as I don’t have a copy yet, and I asked
him to sign it for me before I left. When I told him my name, he said: “Fiona?
Like the princess!” Consider me completely won over. (I don't care that she's green - the crown is all that matters!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
In between my day of workshops was the annual Awards
Luncheon with speaker Robyn Carr. Another inspiring and entertaining speech! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQfm7H2txbrZMNHLODNPK-QZhIFsRzSh79anqiGLYW3hwyvF_uX5KHGL5hW6rmwtlGxQ6LKvsOeBQSM_cZBspQ4tYanmH8Dhm9MO3nF3SU6aQhzBzo3g9KPzpPzzmZBS6HK_m/s1600/Robyn+carr+awards+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQfm7H2txbrZMNHLODNPK-QZhIFsRzSh79anqiGLYW3hwyvF_uX5KHGL5hW6rmwtlGxQ6LKvsOeBQSM_cZBspQ4tYanmH8Dhm9MO3nF3SU6aQhzBzo3g9KPzpPzzmZBS6HK_m/s400/Robyn+carr+awards+lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn Carr at the Awards Luncheon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEvtb69CGa9W4N_xJOZM_IsotfHq36RlVN0NImMCnPVX8RKEY0lbW7X2u-8puBtl_eM_RwfR7l_Z0a0eLuuCLayzuSKXNB2ez-1Jt0ic1ekvXlbAhBlWnp4vR-xK5jj4NBnLH/s1600/guest+of+honour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEvtb69CGa9W4N_xJOZM_IsotfHq36RlVN0NImMCnPVX8RKEY0lbW7X2u-8puBtl_eM_RwfR7l_Z0a0eLuuCLayzuSKXNB2ez-1Jt0ic1ekvXlbAhBlWnp4vR-xK5jj4NBnLH/s200/guest+of+honour.jpg" width="200" /></a>I had just enough time to nip back to my room and get ready
to go out to dinner before the Harlequin party. Donna and I joined Jennie
Lucas, Lynn Raye Harris and Jenette Kenney for dinner at the Hyatt to toast
Donna’s status as a “RITA princess”. The champagne was our unofficial sixth
guest, as it got a chair of its own at the table. Here we all are, looking
pretty and serene before a night of partying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgerxP5zi3O_13tkEDLhZzWHfor_XIcJGRa_-rcWUPl5hUXULPaKYZ3RVw2PVjw78T0RpIMe2G5lAXqtm0JTAgevKBM76oOM7tU4W-olhT5X7GppBLIYQ01UXxmN85I19Bg9aK/s1600/HQ+party+dinner+by+DW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgerxP5zi3O_13tkEDLhZzWHfor_XIcJGRa_-rcWUPl5hUXULPaKYZ3RVw2PVjw78T0RpIMe2G5lAXqtm0JTAgevKBM76oOM7tU4W-olhT5X7GppBLIYQ01UXxmN85I19Bg9aK/s320/HQ+party+dinner+by+DW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennie, me, Donna, Janette and Lynn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PqLwETLfimAMbxilLNJIqN_LgiggYcawdEtOw0nJ9pQH8jjL0hC9PXwopMfQAGelPnyZ0CyXbH6w4g534kHfSMttgHsdft3hEhnYByjB9WPNxR5P5eGEPx0g1c8DzAG2lf2-/s1600/HQ+party+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PqLwETLfimAMbxilLNJIqN_LgiggYcawdEtOw0nJ9pQH8jjL0hC9PXwopMfQAGelPnyZ0CyXbH6w4g534kHfSMttgHsdft3hEhnYByjB9WPNxR5P5eGEPx0g1c8DzAG2lf2-/s320/HQ+party+shoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for the RNA bods: Jennie and Lynn's shoes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
What can I say about the Harelquin party at RWA? It's simply the best night out ever. Let'a just say that <i>everybody </i>dances like there's no one looking. All night. Since a picture says a thousand words, I'm just going to post some of mine:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SMY4zcc_0BLP9q2eZNrfqePMpeOuM3K6F3ikewbssLTsz0L30q5ctvinW5sS2aF1y_pgXvcc7Ea3nxNrxhDAAhBPWVG86IC27Zv5zvWozHCxXU85ov7u4Iv0XuZvCRuN97k8/s1600/hyatt+ballroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SMY4zcc_0BLP9q2eZNrfqePMpeOuM3K6F3ikewbssLTsz0L30q5ctvinW5sS2aF1y_pgXvcc7Ea3nxNrxhDAAhBPWVG86IC27Zv5zvWozHCxXU85ov7u4Iv0XuZvCRuN97k8/s320/hyatt+ballroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyatt ballroom at start of the party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl2uNyWoQ9MH7f_GwA4pq7SQP0WpYlVXKOGadIOHBBhBANZ15bVroRbSaPyJYlWmqrW66aQ2tVlh4kcjowWwG15LQVUzBizHZauzDcxW4jep5bl4DD8H5tv6K97JJdgktgzm9/s1600/dessert+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl2uNyWoQ9MH7f_GwA4pq7SQP0WpYlVXKOGadIOHBBhBANZ15bVroRbSaPyJYlWmqrW66aQ2tVlh4kcjowWwG15LQVUzBizHZauzDcxW4jep5bl4DD8H5tv6K97JJdgktgzm9/s320/dessert+table.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cupcake dessert table - DIY decorations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRwPzFR5qciQui3PN-5ml90k4NN_RO22SUbXfmRZEOp7tDh3ImmcKTEEAIb6NhN__-_jRzWQlpumtmSWVfUsnQqwWr8nx8rYtAKxAXKCJDwuU6RRrXlsbYa79zLpAZHE8JP_T/s1600/caught+in+the+act.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRwPzFR5qciQui3PN-5ml90k4NN_RO22SUbXfmRZEOp7tDh3ImmcKTEEAIb6NhN__-_jRzWQlpumtmSWVfUsnQqwWr8nx8rYtAKxAXKCJDwuU6RRrXlsbYa79zLpAZHE8JP_T/s320/caught+in+the+act.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennie Lucas caught in the act with her cupcake!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgVEJFegGNa3VKlk2IMzpHnArKttxqWYZSacKkvDsN2n60F0ORnTYNkhrvUVH_z7-T1WaHMJnVML3fc01v20vLe6XuZaD3U_shede6XAytxIhvX5SgY9tFtpXdafTq7fQ_7WH/s1600/hq+party1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgVEJFegGNa3VKlk2IMzpHnArKttxqWYZSacKkvDsN2n60F0ORnTYNkhrvUVH_z7-T1WaHMJnVML3fc01v20vLe6XuZaD3U_shede6XAytxIhvX5SgY9tFtpXdafTq7fQ_7WH/s400/hq+party1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dance your hearts out, girls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAkJ8p_qaWeab2Cvp66XO_ujww4RiFPsjV1dIPZZzXtXdtI6lJ_WyY_koJx84u9cAB-vEu1UeXCJDJpe0Y3gG2gcWcQZeGIyNMIqxE6afkofnEBZt_87MGvODch7N2BlPuQyG/s1600/564652_10151114528073156_1056431653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAkJ8p_qaWeab2Cvp66XO_ujww4RiFPsjV1dIPZZzXtXdtI6lJ_WyY_koJx84u9cAB-vEu1UeXCJDJpe0Y3gG2gcWcQZeGIyNMIqxE6afkofnEBZt_87MGvODch7N2BlPuQyG/s320/564652_10151114528073156_1056431653_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donna Alward, me and my lovely editor Lucy Gilmour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfFc0kewYDPNEeRW9GaKN9rJwTGUxFoF052uYxfzeUOfXIg5kdz6pI_6YR_mgnLR6fwv6tZi8lLvr5nNhyphenhyphenq8YIFptLoewhsQXwEGu6CA970VGTBatUry6EIk-jeuQjYt72Snl/s1600/hq+party2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfFc0kewYDPNEeRW9GaKN9rJwTGUxFoF052uYxfzeUOfXIg5kdz6pI_6YR_mgnLR6fwv6tZi8lLvr5nNhyphenhyphenq8YIFptLoewhsQXwEGu6CA970VGTBatUry6EIk-jeuQjYt72Snl/s400/hq+party2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We're lost in music..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-56167676296171926082012-08-07T12:54:00.000+01:002012-08-07T12:54:01.344+01:00Three books out!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOVojS1Qdwvd7j2MrXquyDqRLPDniLqN8Usz7x6aQkad0pU-cdUr6hEKhEpfdXK262tsCZg8CNsedLZo1T6q-5GixecT3WJYATCsFZEft6r0v3HXs7paNU-L2hBRE-6SIV-AY/s1600/ATBM+US+cover.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOVojS1Qdwvd7j2MrXquyDqRLPDniLqN8Usz7x6aQkad0pU-cdUr6hEKhEpfdXK262tsCZg8CNsedLZo1T6q-5GixecT3WJYATCsFZEft6r0v3HXs7paNU-L2hBRE-6SIV-AY/s200/ATBM+US+cover.gif" width="127" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm pausing from my RWA re-cap to mention it's publication day for </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fionaharper.com/page20.htm" target="_blank">Always The Best Man</a></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> in the US! </span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i>Take one perfect best man, add a less-than-perfect, sassy bridesmaid and a borrowed honeymoon and you've got a recipe for romacne! </i> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
To read more about the book, you can check out my <a href="http://www.fionaharper.com/page20.htm" target="_blank">website</a>.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcBoi0ZXRuWguwQzYrCqF16RgqkZP9VxqO8_IFAac9TWEOGYTmWOY_bVRTJwlUj_HSKBKcSRqNGJuzhMdjUdIasQgDAJ06aiGBmA7jgF2wSTNZ_DRV6E_dBnmcpTi4fa04jtu/s1600/BDBcom+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcBoi0ZXRuWguwQzYrCqF16RgqkZP9VxqO8_IFAac9TWEOGYTmWOY_bVRTJwlUj_HSKBKcSRqNGJuzhMdjUdIasQgDAJ06aiGBmA7jgF2wSTNZ_DRV6E_dBnmcpTi4fa04jtu/s200/BDBcom+cover.jpg" width="125" /></a> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
But that's not all! <b><a href="http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/books/by-request/three-blind-date-brides.htm" target="_blank">Three Blind-Date Brides</a></b> is out at the M&B site, and will be on general release in September. A few years ago I did a trilogy of books with authors Jennie Adams and Melissa McClone about three friends who lived in different corners of the world, but had resorted to internet dating to solve their man troubles. All three stories have now been released in one vlume. If you want to know more about each of the books, you can check out the <b><a href="http://blinddatebrides.com/">BlindDateBrides.com</a></b> website!</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjFYFdhubiAFUhyxZlVNPqbdVNiiJCCZSWF1jytg6sdIvmtYsD4TCcr4HbdKkr91uyB_CF7t53rAbdk0aeuQoLgbzQZJ8vGMwz1PtpIU0uQVyTUEboR9K3AJyGQWzMmd9xvWE/s1600/Cinderella+housekeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjFYFdhubiAFUhyxZlVNPqbdVNiiJCCZSWF1jytg6sdIvmtYsD4TCcr4HbdKkr91uyB_CF7t53rAbdk0aeuQoLgbzQZJ8vGMwz1PtpIU0uQVyTUEboR9K3AJyGQWzMmd9xvWE/s200/Cinderella+housekeeper.jpg" width="120" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And finally, my RT Award nominated book, </span><a href="http://www.fionaharper.com/page15.htm" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b>Housekeeper's Happy-Ever-After</b></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, is in an anthology called </span><a href="http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/books/Special-Releases/At-His-Service-Cinderella-Housekeeper.htm" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">Cinderella Housekeepers</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.</span>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-30732276924091571362012-08-04T15:04:00.000+01:002012-08-04T15:05:15.810+01:00RWA 2012–part 2<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrfwG0tgKyyj6ar1noIyUCXOkdpaASd2McLGiKm6ZioZoi_QQMaxVE3KDMCQgKUiPrbhs5cjNOpe5faYi3moXQ1INuvMgzvu4QBNFUt2-auXDnGuvb0k2-Ig4JLOtL3gF1MF_/s1600-h/literacy%252520signing%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="literacy signing" border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1C_3A_QCWrO4VpBQ4bFLBkgqQoMRTB0UKvSklwdZmn243wEhwCTrZ8xo9Uk7Jysmr0tn-IRsUQHlhllqysQ_a1rnkjHGwjlQQe_e64cdk6PTgf4NcwAOrU2nYE7XN1HX52vr/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="literacy signing" width="240" /></a>After my adventures at Disneyland it was back to the hotel to get reader for the Readers for Life Literacy Signing. Each year RWA holds this charity event to raise money for literacy charities. Publishers and authors donate books for the event and all the money raised goes to the charity. If you ever wanted to wander through a room full of more than 400 authors, all happy to chat and meet readers and sign books, you really need to pop along if it ever happens in a city near you! This year RWA raised more than $50,000! Way to go! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat or buy a book! Here’s me sitting at my desk:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZV1ILkYd8-rYbIDDfpApmjWXKeUYIBizSOOuDyRiIqlk4RfmaxrMy9_c_gVfvG63ALCj_HL7gaymC4wWRVGcoUerBZMu02rwpAxe0jDVHjaoO8QWGVBhcJTsZEltqVx2yAvJv/s1600-h/me%252520%252540%252520signing%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="me @ signing" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue_uEk-qpEkcEZNCZCnGlPN-m_6hSbD3yPa1H11qfpMWbc9YR-DUA3tn7arZbDvD0TGGP1nivOPgnElyUzhgYzsvtiI0UvGp4iW1ypgbpnzQlCBebd5mD3eEPbEqnVYURomSu/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="me @ signing" width="189" /></a></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"><br />After the signing, it had become tradition for the Mills & Boon authors (Harlequin authors edited out of the London office) to meet up for a pizza party. This year was the busiest ever! Much wine was drunk. Much pizza was eaten. Much laughter was had. And for the first time I can ever remember, I was in a room with TWO other Fionas – Fiona Lowe and Fiona McArthur, both Aussie Medical Romance authors. I was all for hatching plans for world domination, since the Fionas were in the majority for once, but the other two managed to talk me down...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9tYTVVtrh4o5pmWjkc9jXorp3MPjX0GgZFMsxdIfTSb_pkz5bKVpIarqknavVR7OgN127J8a_h07ycJL18aaGAGQcfnWkQg9DJs9st9goX7FOiaQZDYG6SME3cSYA3f4i4Op/s1600-h/MBpizza%252520party%252520collage%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="MBpizza party collage" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAW4Lb7vduXvcNfGXLZc5db6iO4DfXH1l9mGEy8FIcu4LrUUQNUH4VrI1ooDZNtr7_7YkHpjchczFur_Y0IAGBVdLPQaGN0tjURjivNaM44BwXOtE_UiA9VEyNtWjHc1Edvm0p/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="MBpizza party collage" width="511" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienuppuDU0jrhMpugObuhyPiVtU9FAH65rG9Nvld1r29gVxOdfj9f8G5tw6XK6_Sj84b2fovNRvi5yQODlJSIHUSdftjikoji-3syxQkxZflomRQYSNsJUOSZPbworNvRl9UyW/s1600-h/P1060571%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="P1060571" border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtR1_xPw4xiye4CbXBjfnyvQ8_n89OV1Kg1BqQ3tM2Fwjp1t5thFbX4O7YHrG8LySkKAk5W6kgvX6HczQENSSZZH2abzT-RQsBvvC0wgyltOOuwRFTnlQQlXHo_RtVdMgBYqv/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1060571" width="290" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday the conference really got underway. Workshops started and we also had the Keynote luncheon, with speaker <a href="http://www.stephanielaurens.com/index.html" target="_blank">Stephanie Laurens</a>. Her speech was both thought-provoking and inspirational, and if you want to read why she thinks authors need not panic in the current publishing climate, you can read her address <a href="http://www.stephanielaurens.com/rwa12keynote.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNV5L6bsxlCjZ12gQQ2MNHiu3YQJO7jlPcQSMi1PRU5E3znZLzD-7vtm0LJ6GZq94v7BdSIzvTA19oKB9Cf9eLldxvoikXEmyXOXg1nH1Pqr9kSegIgq-azV2Pz9cUtxBtlyT/s1600-h/cheesecake%252520by%252520DA%252520sm%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="cheesecake by DA sm" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07ylmfKlJrLBiry2k_XaOzAx3g4bh9HAwsRU_RFXLK1HU2AMl_PYhKscCxILsnTuWVF1Q8x3EER0VVZs8k4-dW3XKOmH2vKq6VKEBjL4LSk3Dci1B86c4_Ghty5WbeYJInUjk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cheesecake by DA sm" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">However, the real highlight of my Thursday had to be the Harlequin Romance Authors’ tea at the Cheesecake factory in Anaheim, with authors Donna Alward, Barbara Wallace, Melissa McClone, Teresa Carpenter, Patricia Thayer, editors Bryony Green and Tessa Shapcott and VP of series Dianne Moggy. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
I LOVE cheesecake, but unfortunately my hubby does not, so I don’t get to eat it very often. We ordered eight pieces between ten of us. Surely we’d be able to defeat that many bits of cheesecake between us? The challenge was on! (I’ve borrowed Donna’s photo, because it shows more cheesecake than mine did!)</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
And just so you can see the depths of my cheesecake obsession, I am going to tell you exactly what we ordered:</div>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li>Red Velvet Cheesecake</li>
<li>Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake</li>
<li>Banana Cream Cheesecake</li>
<li>Dulce de Leche Caramel Cheesecake (OMG!)</li>
<li>Chocolate Tuxedo Cream Cheesecake</li>
<li>Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake</li>
<li>Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake</li>
<li>Dutch Apple Caramel Streusel (my choice!)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Top votes went to the Reese’s cheesecake and the Dulce de Leche, if I remember rightly. And did we defeat the cheesecake? Well, here’s your answer:</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQdfE_ETtwYZZD98jCzgRsmo4m1fqFYddU251ZWXaJFxTtFSIwr8VOkUUDIyMplZ9WpGLUc5DD9NeDUzVtQt33v7k_uvMyi9Cm-eRT36E8AB88IFKjNKjOAAHEmyWefKbLivy/s1600-h/cheesecake%252520devastation%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cheesecake devastation" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkCInAG7icDxVnwUqx6poG3i4ZkRrYqcRzhIjzDJQM28RjBQlDGm8i_qINrbyWgjAZrsNjlyFexJ1buh6JBg0TkHGhEndYsMNQFx1J0q1EXJP_G8FwPfFnXLpcts_IpruouFx/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cheesecake devastation" width="392" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
No we did not. And I think we should be thoroughly ashamed of ourselves.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFLLJmOBy1wifNN0g6Ss0fmGvaduxpM_0yLLbg1fdAR01WjyBi65E2q3N6xTOF65yZ8gNccr8TSvcqjZfogojLLCbWQ0IEcWHsfjpjFs4JnYGZ1OTxhlhf4rqxvOzY4uOZLIB/s1600-h/barb%252520%252526%252520me%252520palm%252520trees%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="barb & me palm trees" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN5IqJxIk501OEA425k4sw8WWKTOdG2ODFTbA1H4oWAccCkU-SziAa2Bk2s6rOVVkhjmZ4JsUpzPQKdupeE-T3Qwju9dBYe1K5swZ4A4FuV4uGCNAv0JhJfAjza-9zVUMOB5v/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="barb & me palm trees" width="177" /></a>Barbara, Donna and I decided to placate our consciences by walking back to the hotel instead of getting a cab. It was only about ten minutes away, and it was a lovely walk in the afternoon sunshine down avenues of palm trees.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
But Donna and I were back that way later in the evening, when we headed out to Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. for dinner. We even managed to impress our server with our Forrest Gump trivia knowledge when he gave us a quiz! The only one we really got stuck on was Bubba’s full name. I challenge you all to remember it (without Googling, you cheaters!) and see if you can get it right.<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Here’s Donna at Bubba Gump’s looking very happy she’s about to have fish and chips. Me, I gorged myself on shrimp. What else?<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDvGBryHKwRK2RBMFSPwg-G1VCNt6-RmhPAzZ3L5lg4KQvUrv0Bjix6fqEU6DHEGQ4KPm3KcxchpJA8sdKk-lS5cehkuAqHNL27s7IHYAK9B_M70HXRhRIkikIcnH5b6OurME/s1600-h/bubbas%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bubbas" border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxppTHF-EwKHcvi8uY4C5FX9kRqccWIuCUiliNxrizny9kZiwvljVM0czJIiPqAku3LG2mO8CXxbvNbZEfsdJ9csBmzIVqi-STfjyjDsxs2NQ0d7Sdk0wf42uFA5RbFuLULsD/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="bubbas" width="513" /> </a><br />
<i>Me and Donna go together like peas and carrots...</i><br />
<br /></div>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-84007889624605913592012-08-01T17:24:00.001+01:002012-08-01T20:52:49.008+01:00RWA 2012–part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I hadn’t planned on attending the RWA conference this year, much as I love the craziness of the whole event, but then my best writing buddy <a href="http://www.donnaalward.com/" target="_blank">Donna Alward</a> was shortlisted for a RITA I counted up my pennies and decided to go. How could I not be there to cheer her on? (Lest anyone think I am completely saintly, I did really want to go anyway.)</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><br />It’s a long old flight to LAX from London. Thankfully, fellow Harlequin/M&B author <a href="http://www.heidirice.com/" target="_blank">Heidi Rice</a> and I had organised to sit together and gossiping between watching films definitely made the 11 hours go more quickly. The flight itself was amazing. We had pretty clear weather and I saw the coast of Greenland, icebergs in Hudson Bay and then the casinos of Las Vegas and a vast desert all in the short space of a few hours.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8n7sR07id2PwU3c1XMvAZAbDJdCSIQJTMvkyD-1RITJUpsnfXU1lQETGBZn-WVtT0Ci1ye0-zzVus-B7D6NgZ3N8BwM7D-l1Ic0d_HIUvxycRn-7-ttocjNsq7h6AOfRN1-n/s1600/plane+pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8n7sR07id2PwU3c1XMvAZAbDJdCSIQJTMvkyD-1RITJUpsnfXU1lQETGBZn-WVtT0Ci1ye0-zzVus-B7D6NgZ3N8BwM7D-l1Ic0d_HIUvxycRn-7-ttocjNsq7h6AOfRN1-n/s400/plane+pics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />I don’t remember much of my first night in California, apart from being very, very happy to see Donna again and sitting down and eating dinner at what would have been 4 a.m. UK time.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had a choice of what to do on Tuesday. Either I could attend a mini women’s fiction conference – the sensible and professional option – or I could go to Disneyland. Yep. No prizes for guessing what I did! But seeing as I’ve never been to a Disney resort before in my life, how could I go within minutes of the gates and not visit? <br /><br />Thankfully, <a href="http://www.michellewillingham.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Willingham</a>, Historical Romance Author and trip-organiser extraordinaire had volunteered to wrangle a group of assorted authors and editors round the park with maximum efficiency. I had one plan for the day: don’t fall asleep and go where Michelle tells me. It worked out rather well! Here’s our party:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcLjjXD7Aizw0X1pAgpgaJHi_0zU_mmFY6cQqODBgBOEHMsQMWxUaFmAHYHaJtM0YdHsi-sUGyOjauLGp_wfzdRUSXAr78hyphenhyphenEu0B0AxeH7gjO5iRZu7tdJP9XvoENtIYKuz2o/s1600/authors&eds+at+disney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcLjjXD7Aizw0X1pAgpgaJHi_0zU_mmFY6cQqODBgBOEHMsQMWxUaFmAHYHaJtM0YdHsi-sUGyOjauLGp_wfzdRUSXAr78hyphenhyphenEu0B0AxeH7gjO5iRZu7tdJP9XvoENtIYKuz2o/s400/authors&eds+at+disney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From left to right: Jennie Lucas, Maisey Yates, Lucy Gilmour, Michelle Willingham, Katy Madison, Julia Justiss, Cara Elliott, Bryony Green, Blythe Gifford, me & Tessa Shapcott. (Pic taken with Michelle’s iPhone)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i> </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaL5jm1rI6oTubeRiazMz7HXV72EFjPwRawv4exBugKuvChae0C6UbXh6OwV2x-_MJ6CYzTGVLhQcOjxFjKcI_WnrID4n0opaCMZ2bu6FCY2kT_QfUWX5mmKNXpbnZrQJbpif/s1600/buzz+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaL5jm1rI6oTubeRiazMz7HXV72EFjPwRawv4exBugKuvChae0C6UbXh6OwV2x-_MJ6CYzTGVLhQcOjxFjKcI_WnrID4n0opaCMZ2bu6FCY2kT_QfUWX5mmKNXpbnZrQJbpif/s200/buzz+edited.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We started with the Matterhorn, which unfortunately triggered my motion sickness, but next was Buzz Lightyear and I discovered I’m quite a whiz with a laser gun! Pic, courtesy of Jennie Lucas (including me with alien eyes) to prove it.</span><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We also rode the jungle river ride, the Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World (a slightly psychedelic experience when you’re spaced out on jet lag!), the Haunted Mansion and a few other things my tired brain has probably eaten.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOGUfFtpDE2ZxY4mYCn1VgLcuVgeZLaroWQRddmpNH1d8dIZPo6nQxvDswYVadu3IaiDfdIUi-H9Q5wJOwnf5OKcv6CLPtIA4goTEGJO1hwk9Nt3RXfTltUdBFZnUscEP8JxG/s1600/disney+splash+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOGUfFtpDE2ZxY4mYCn1VgLcuVgeZLaroWQRddmpNH1d8dIZPo6nQxvDswYVadu3IaiDfdIUi-H9Q5wJOwnf5OKcv6CLPtIA4goTEGJO1hwk9Nt3RXfTltUdBFZnUscEP8JxG/s320/disney+splash+mountain.jpg" width="232" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Probably most fun was Splash Mountain. I thought I was clever sitting in the back of the boat until Jennie told me you get just as wet there. She wasn’t wrong. The water splashed those in the front then swooshed up over the sides at the back to get me. As you can see, I didn’t really care much. (That's me, smiling but hanging on at the back.)</span><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While some of our party had to leave, five of us stayed to have lunch at the Blue Bayou – a restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride that resembles a Mississippi swamp at night. I tried to take photos, but it was too dark too see much but the paper lanterns that hung from the ceiling. I did eat the nicest Jambalaya I’ve ever had there, though! Seriously good.</span><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then we did the Indiana Jones ride, which took over as my favourite, before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the more writerly events of the afternoon. Here are a few more of my favourite Disney pics:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-NsSduLyxy6AaB14A6tiGZV-KgSFKIn9U6iFlAGcEbgBn9dExrTEWcCR8GMzH8zAp1ETPvdivdx_njKni6a9KBrlSlpOQjOhuoB6apm1V7iGgklvmzQewyOYL22UsJuyYbUa/s1600/disney+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-NsSduLyxy6AaB14A6tiGZV-KgSFKIn9U6iFlAGcEbgBn9dExrTEWcCR8GMzH8zAp1ETPvdivdx_njKni6a9KBrlSlpOQjOhuoB6apm1V7iGgklvmzQewyOYL22UsJuyYbUa/s400/disney+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-22945753909155864172012-07-02T07:08:00.003+01:002012-07-02T07:08:40.785+01:00Having fun with sticksM&B have been running a romantic story featuring stick men and women on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/romancehq">Facebook page</a>. Such fun. Readers have been voting for their preferences for names, characters, locations and plot twists. I thought it was so cute I decided I'd have a go myself!<br />
<br />
So, this is what an author gets up to on a Sunday evening... Excuse the patchy colour, but it seems we have tons of felt tips in the house, but none of them actually have ink inside. Had to resort to colouring pencils in the end (sorted into rainbow colour order, of course).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfZL2SPMRY5FNoRlKTgcWXQuGzSk0vN2sR5a9b_x3MCi_Ec8GjOgI2y6Ff4pjT6wAo7-Pv1opMun61fgShLg7D7TiDuZ0XeM2mkdjkhPwgc8pY5Yzc0LUCQ9W-EeQXtCZ17jh/s1600/sticks0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfZL2SPMRY5FNoRlKTgcWXQuGzSk0vN2sR5a9b_x3MCi_Ec8GjOgI2y6Ff4pjT6wAo7-Pv1opMun61fgShLg7D7TiDuZ0XeM2mkdjkhPwgc8pY5Yzc0LUCQ9W-EeQXtCZ17jh/s400/sticks0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I want to do one for all my books now! probably better get on with writing the current book, though...<br />
<br />
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-46107030678169796412012-06-20T06:51:00.002+01:002012-06-20T06:51:53.636+01:00Stuck in the middle?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqjdJLfLfB9balZOnfB8gk-IOhDwShWnzK3mGf5n7uSuJCCuDyc8JmDiZ1vZS7O5EqMABzyN-mAyln0xexsDvoYNq1JKdXIl_Tv6UN_fXIRMHo-TYoUmd6Lon48hp4vIbb13u/s1600/dancing%2520mr.%2520pink%2520heart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqjdJLfLfB9balZOnfB8gk-IOhDwShWnzK3mGf5n7uSuJCCuDyc8JmDiZ1vZS7O5EqMABzyN-mAyln0xexsDvoYNq1JKdXIl_Tv6UN_fXIRMHo-TYoUmd6Lon48hp4vIbb13u/s1600/dancing%2520mr.%2520pink%2520heart.gif" /></a></div>
I'm a busy little bee at the moment. Revisions are in for my Valentine's story, and then I'm working on another book that has to be done and dusted by mid-July.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I'm blogging over at the <a href="http://pinkheartsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/fiona-harper-on-writing-scary-middle.html">Pink Heart Society</a> today, talking about story structure and character arc - especially that sticky middle point.<br />
<br />
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-9789210250504162372012-05-28T14:59:00.001+01:002012-05-28T15:05:50.390+01:00Almost there...I wrote the final scene of my current book (working title: The Valentine's Trap, part of a duet I'm doing with Nikki Logan) this morning.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jx_7ovYntLp5KD2ys313GInfz9Z0qkuh0RMmNywTIIvIkFdcH8yxiryjPvdemwSdVRdAoHkBhL6rtMkanCnNKfzKH26hjmmDTqcpixEAIuMdO3QvDOzQkU3WVhAfRcj2rEZB/s1600/waitrose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jx_7ovYntLp5KD2ys313GInfz9Z0qkuh0RMmNywTIIvIkFdcH8yxiryjPvdemwSdVRdAoHkBhL6rtMkanCnNKfzKH26hjmmDTqcpixEAIuMdO3QvDOzQkU3WVhAfRcj2rEZB/s320/waitrose1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard at work at my local Waitrose!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had the scene all planned out, but I couldn't get my head in the right place to put it down on paper. So what did I do? I went shopping. No, not shoe shopping - grocery shopping. Writing in cafes is my trick when I can't seem to settle to write at home. Nothing to distract me there, especially if I take pen and paper and don't have internet access.<br />
<br />
I can also then feel virtuous that I've crossed another chore off my list. Also, I use the hand held scanner to zap my shopping and leave my trolley outside the cafe while I buy a coffee and write. I know I don't have long before the chiller stuff in my cool bag starts to get warm, so I can't dally. And there we had it. 1200 words written in just under and hour and I left my hero and heroine arguing about who proposed to whom...<br />
<br />
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-8564041635090807212012-05-25T20:02:00.000+01:002012-05-25T20:02:02.589+01:00Brain dead and beautiful cover<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Am
finishing book. Words all used up. </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Told daughter my brain is like a
busy hardrive and there's only so much processing power left, so she has
to talk in monosyllables if she wants me to understand. And, oh yes,
that she needs to poke me if she wants an answer because the words are
all in my head and not coming out the hole in the front of my face.</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">In the meantime, until regular service resumes, I've got a new cover! Here's the US cover to <b style="color: #990000;">Always The Best Man</b>:</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRzTbSDuhp2m3RArMq-suBCfJ27VlFemWPuMYz0X5d5PiIcRugqKQCJGxAIG31OJSw62AlXDNhdBirf8Ljc3CJ4ylghJQW624YI2oWHkVAOVZRrv-QDDWRyuYwjUKLPyjdAVQ/s1600/ATBM+US+cover.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRzTbSDuhp2m3RArMq-suBCfJ27VlFemWPuMYz0X5d5PiIcRugqKQCJGxAIG31OJSw62AlXDNhdBirf8Ljc3CJ4ylghJQW624YI2oWHkVAOVZRrv-QDDWRyuYwjUKLPyjdAVQ/s1600/ATBM+US+cover.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> And here's the blurb:</span></span></h6>
<i><b>The best man...for the bridesmaid? </b></i><br /><br /><i>Standing at the altar, Damien is breathless as the woman he loves walks toward him-to marry another man. Knowing bridesmaid Zoe's watching him makes it harder still. The opposite of the bride, Zoe's too loud, too vibrant, too...everything! <br /><br />Zoe can't resist provoking him-just once, she'd like to see "Mr. Perfect" lose his cool. She can tell there are fireworks smoldering behind those pale blue eyes. <br /><br />But before the wedding night is over, their unexpected connection will threaten to undermine everything they both believe about themselves and each other....</i><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></i></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-59295277873029530102012-05-16T16:04:00.002+01:002012-05-16T16:04:43.636+01:00The road to nowhere...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPFIjLrli8WZLTPvaCiOdz4G-JKqZk9PgMKzgfLrPZ8Lb6Brkm9puVnExHq7YFfe8zPzuOiihZdhAC3GCsEQxp82B3UmO5nD3vTTzcK3c2zUptXKCBh1y59athlxKXYMhcIC1/s1600/dancing%2520mr.%2520pink%2520heart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPFIjLrli8WZLTPvaCiOdz4G-JKqZk9PgMKzgfLrPZ8Lb6Brkm9puVnExHq7YFfe8zPzuOiihZdhAC3GCsEQxp82B3UmO5nD3vTTzcK3c2zUptXKCBh1y59athlxKXYMhcIC1/s1600/dancing%2520mr.%2520pink%2520heart.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm over at the Pink Heart Society today. It's <a href="http://pinkheartsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/fiona-harper-on-writing-act-2-fun-games.html">part five</a> of my series on story structure and character arc and I'm talking fun and games with crickets and tumbleweed.Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-48876524955374126532012-05-15T17:45:00.000+01:002012-05-15T17:45:18.462+01:00Hello, Your Majesty...I haven't got any writing done today - yet. Mainly because I spent most of this morning freezing my behind off waiting to see the Queen with my youngest, who'd been given the morning off school for the privilige. Here's a couple of pics:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYnrgTNBe7R9jP3w9yBF0GzgJoURutc1jcmrPtznMUb476f9rC4EzrYuCsW2wWI9VNM3okQ2cAXSIKDui9bLHVaypMaijCFVUj81qqlPp9qz_91Uh-De1elC8HbOGfvgdkPxK/s1600/flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYnrgTNBe7R9jP3w9yBF0GzgJoURutc1jcmrPtznMUb476f9rC4EzrYuCsW2wWI9VNM3okQ2cAXSIKDui9bLHVaypMaijCFVUj81qqlPp9qz_91Uh-De1elC8HbOGfvgdkPxK/s400/flags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL_fbQmEOq8RLJDWMgxpgR0Tiod-4wY_ZgGIgTzNurSByyI_SgfB-z21PgoE_-2m-htl2dv_7EGoCgUKrhhgXyl2NnuvGV10WUrupPTUBs0e0ZAZxaiCaJjTMNdBfa1msIkcM/s1600/diamond+jubilee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL_fbQmEOq8RLJDWMgxpgR0Tiod-4wY_ZgGIgTzNurSByyI_SgfB-z21PgoE_-2m-htl2dv_7EGoCgUKrhhgXyl2NnuvGV10WUrupPTUBs0e0ZAZxaiCaJjTMNdBfa1msIkcM/s400/diamond+jubilee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-60629843875036272632012-05-12T12:32:00.000+01:002012-05-12T12:32:49.570+01:00Cover contestI'm proud to say that the North American edition of Swept Off Her Stilettos is up for the <a href="http://covercafe.com/contest/2011/thankyou.html">Cover Cafe's 2011 cover contest</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHY2wAUqVjv-aeCP5BoT4Z823bbOmXVLvHTgqftsvAA5CYcqbj1MN7qXFXJwPRs5P5R50Gt8CJmn6x-ZWDaWiZvYCv2MWghou5Lh5YazEqSUiRtr-SjCOI7NN-45Dm_LAmo_q/s1600/SOHScoverUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHY2wAUqVjv-aeCP5BoT4Z823bbOmXVLvHTgqftsvAA5CYcqbj1MN7qXFXJwPRs5P5R50Gt8CJmn6x-ZWDaWiZvYCv2MWghou5Lh5YazEqSUiRtr-SjCOI7NN-45Dm_LAmo_q/s320/SOHScoverUS.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Now, while I can't claim to have had anything to do with the design of the actual cover, it did straight from a description I filled into my Art Fact Sheet, and the artist interpreted it pretty faithfully. I really like it when my covers are recognisable as a scene from the book.<br />
<br />
If you want to vote, you can find the page <a href="http://www.covercafe.com/contest/2011/SE.html">here</a>. Be aware that you have to vote in three categories for your vote to count. I just went and had a look and picked my faves in each one. Once I'd got started I just couldn't stop.<br />
<br />
The '<a href="http://www.covercafe.com/contest/2011/WO.html">Worst Cover</a>' category is always a hoot. Lots of naked flesh. The titles are almost as good as the covers. <i>My Life As a White Trash Zombie</i>, anyone? There's German cover with a man and a strategically-placed Christmas tree. (Seriously? Someone's big-headed. Surely a pot plant would have been ample coverage...) There's a crazy-eyed bare-chested man that I almost voted for, but one was just so scrappily designed that it had to get the wink. What do you reckon?<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's the scene that my cover was from. A pretty good match, right?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Everything about dancing with Nicholas was perfect. His hand was warm and sure on my back as he
guided me round our impromptu dance floor.
He talked easily to me, all the while looking effortlessly drool-worthy
and smiling into my eyes. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was perfect. It
was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Only…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was reminded of those cakes in the coffee shop display case
that I always yearned for but never seemed to fit the bill. Finally I’d found one that matched what my
taste buds craved. It had all the right
ingredients, looked divine, but now I’d taken a bite I’d discovered that it
tasted all…wrong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dancing with Nicholas wasn’t a dream come true, it was an
effort. What surprised me most was that
I wasn’t bitterly disappointed. Instead
I had that horrible, warm scratchy feeling you get when you know there’s
somewhere else you need to be, something else you need to be doing. I was almost grateful to Louisa when the track
on the gramophone changed and she nabbed the opportunity to cut in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When I stepped out of Nicholas’s hold I <i>knew</i> Adam was standing behind me, waiting for me to turn around and
glide into his arms. And I couldn’t stop
myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">‘I didn’t know you could sing like that,’ he whispered into
my ear and a whole series of teeny-tiny fireworks detonated up the back of my
neck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I controlled the resulting quiver well enough to answer him. ‘You’re not the only one to have secrets, Conrad.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But I couldn’t keep the banter up. The air around us seemed too heavy for our
usual frivolity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Adam didn’t smile at me as we danced. He didn’t even talk. If he had, I might not have heard him. All I was aware of was his strong, capable
fingers holding mine, of his broad palm at the small of my back. I couldn’t hold his gaze. It was too intense, too full of things I was too
scared to label, so when the needle on the gramophone scratched its way onto a
slower song, I rested my temple against his cheek and closed my eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have no idea how long we swayed and turned like that. Eventually, though, I noticed the air on my
bare arms had become cooler, that the light behind my closed eyelids had dimmed
to almost nothing. I flickered my lashes
apart and opened my eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We were on the terrace.
In the moonlight. The warm yellow
glow of the drawing room was only feet away, but it felt as if we were in a
different world. The sheer curtains over
the doors fluttered and curled in the light breeze, beckoning us back. Silently, by mutual agreement and the meeting
of eyes, we ignored their call.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Had we stopped dancing?
I wasn’t sure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The way Adam looked at me…it brought tears to the backs of
my eyes. Such gentleness. Such openness. Such <i>acceptance</i>. I couldn’t breathe with the intensity of
it. Something deep down inside of me
turned over. It felt like a door being
opened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Adam brought his hand up to the side of my face and his
fingertips traced the line of my cheekbone then threaded up past my temple into
the soft waves of my hair. I knew what
was coming, and yet I didn’t know.
Couldn’t quite get myself to believe it was true, that it was Adam and I
standing here in the moonlight like this.
I stayed completely still.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He dipped his head forward and our lips touched, just for a
moment, and then he pulled back slightly so he was only millimetres away. I closed my eyes and let the weight of my
head rest in his hand, and then I waited, a well of longing rising up within
me. I didn’t tease or taunt or
dare. I surrendered. Maybe for the first time in my life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And, as a reward, I got what I’d truly been longing for,
because Adam really knew how to kiss.
His lips brushed over mine slowly, teasing me, and then he deepened the
kiss so swiftly I hardly knew what to do with myself. I felt as if I was falling and being caught
all at the same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I lost myself. Along
with the sense of time and gravity and reason.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And that’s why I had to put an end to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That’s why I had to push him away gently, my palms flattened
on his chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Even so, it was <i>my</i>
lips that clung as he drew away, my hands that bunched his shirt up into
wrinkles before the cotton slipped through my fingers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I blinked and looked at him.
‘What was that for?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Eyes of warm espresso with caramel running through
them. I didn’t have to look at his mouth
to know he was smiling ever so faintly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">‘You know why.’</span></div>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-61654640468830376012012-05-04T09:46:00.000+01:002012-05-04T09:46:35.134+01:00Good news!Wow. Just wow.<br />
<br />
I've just had an email to let me know that <i>both</i> books that I entered in the Golden Quill contest have made the final cut this year!<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr22eVMifddlprcX2hX-NLwz4cCuEk1URbDGVZar9lR8hhaOplP1EqxgouMb8x6aUX6_Oz5IDm7YnbqOObKrVE1-3DXpSCu79gBL99w4YMlXcpsVzyovkVw2ERgGuCbgNBdFk8/s1600/GQ2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr22eVMifddlprcX2hX-NLwz4cCuEk1URbDGVZar9lR8hhaOplP1EqxgouMb8x6aUX6_Oz5IDm7YnbqOObKrVE1-3DXpSCu79gBL99w4YMlXcpsVzyovkVw2ERgGuCbgNBdFk8/s400/GQ2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19626113.post-3689319318261990172012-04-24T08:29:00.003+01:002012-04-24T08:29:30.596+01:00Eek! and Ahhhhh...<b>Eek!</b><br />
Right. Have six weeks to write the next book. (gulp) That's only 34
writing days, cos I have one day a week off - necessary to stop brain
overheating. While 1500 words per day doesn't sound like a lot, it's
still going to be tight. <br />
It's not getting the words down on paper
that's the problem; it's doing all the behind the scenes work so I know
where I'm going with it. Once that's sorted, the word count is easy. Oh,
if only the story wrangling was as simple!<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Ahhhh...</b><b></b><br />
The upside is that I've not long got back from a lovely, once in a lifetime holiday in St Lucia. (Have decided I will buy a villa here when I write my blockbuster. lol) Sipping cocktails under a palm tree on the beach tends to bring a little much-needed rest to a mind. And the next story is bubbling away nicely in my head.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, here's a photo from my sun lounger to remind me to stay chilled and not to panic about the approaching deadline...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNQJa1SK4Bf-9xxaQF-fTWBy0uUiYmm46HTpCBcHqwnw7f_CgliqbpXNh8W_OPbdvjDUoxL5Hg62mag0zC3QQ0V_OTl7LP-EqnOcYT94UaZt4KXVbniNPf789Mitwqmsgdy5A/s1600/sunlounger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNQJa1SK4Bf-9xxaQF-fTWBy0uUiYmm46HTpCBcHqwnw7f_CgliqbpXNh8W_OPbdvjDUoxL5Hg62mag0zC3QQ0V_OTl7LP-EqnOcYT94UaZt4KXVbniNPf789Mitwqmsgdy5A/s320/sunlounger2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Little bit of book trivia here... The plant on the beach is sea purslane - which I researched for The Ballerina Bride/Dancing With Danger. It's edible, and during the book Allegra collects some to eat when she's cast away on a desert island with the luscious Finn.</i>Fiona Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12468352083675137996noreply@blogger.com0