Finalist!

I've got some good news to share.

IMPOSSIBLY PREGNANT, my HOLT finalist, has also finalled in the Best Traditional category of the Booksellers' Best Award. Yay!!!!

I loved writing this book with its quirky chapter headings, Keely the website designer with weight issues and Lachlan the oh-so-sexy radio psychologist. It was already my favourite out of all my Harlequin Romances and now doubly so!

Comfort writing

People who love to write, who find it's in their blood, will understand this. Everyone else will think I'm nuts!
In times of stress, some people comfort eat, some try retail therapy (okay, I admit it, I've done a bit of that this week too) but I write.
Writing is part of who I am. It makes me feel secure, grounded, in touch and when life gets tough, I know my characters can distract me.
So, for the past three nights, I've buried myself in my work. Sure, I'm happy with the 8500 words I've written but it's so much more than that.
I'm starting to feel okay again and that's more important than how many words or what I've written. I'm comforted.
A special thanks to my friends who have got me through this traumatic week; you know who you are.

Words adding up...

At last, a productive week.
After not being able to write a thing for ages, I managed almost 10 000 words this week (and darn proud of it!)
And to make me feel even more chuffed, I'm exactly half way through my current Romance when earlier this week, it felt like I'd never finish the thing!
My prince is gorgeous, Natasha is filled with angst yet falling for him anyway and the story is flowing. Gotta love that.
Now, I'm off to watch the ultimate hero Hugh Jackman in Kate and Leopold. Saw it when first released but you can never get too much of Hugh

Every word counts

I finally managed to write last night. 9 pages. 2250 words.
For the first time in weeks, the words flowed, my characters talked and I felt half-way human again!
It's tough when you've got other things on your mind and family life intrudes but I swear, I experienced the same euphoria last night after finishing 9 pages that I usually get after completing a whole book.
Getting back into writing after a break, enforced or not, is hard. Really hard.
You always wonder 'can I still do it? Is this story any good? Am I stuck?'
Today, I have 9 more pages than I did yesterday and it feels great!
Every word counts...

The hardest job in the world.

Yesterday was Mother's Day, a special day when kids (and dads!) get to spoil their mums for doing the hardest job in the world: raising the little munchkins!
For every sleepless night, there is a rewarding hug.
For every fever, a smoochy kiss.
For every second of worry, a cherubic smile which lights up your life.
Yeah, motherhood is the hardest job in the world but it's also a fabulous journey of discovery and unconditional love.
I had a lovely relaxing day. I hope all the supermums out there did too!

Spooky...

Okay, talk about coincidence...I just had an email from an author who'd read my current 'Author of the Month' feature on the eharl Aussie site, informing me that my fictitious town where my current release, WIFE AND MOTHER WANTED, is set isn't so fictitious.
It's actually a real place! And it's 2 hours north of Sydney (in the book, I'm sure I mention that Stockton is a few hours north of Sydney, a figure I totally made up.)
How bizarre is that!
I've never been to the place, never heard of the place and plucked the name out of my head (actually, I think it was the surname of a girl I used to know.)
So there you go.
Now about to rush off and make sure my fictitious island for my sexy prince isn't an actual principality!

A step back in time.

Still winding down from revisions earlier in the week (and frankly, not in the mood to write) so last night, curled up on the couch and watched Flashdance.
Now, I'm a child of the eighties. I love the music, the memories, though I can leave the fashion (especially those ugly leg warmers for if you're a shorty like me, they really didn't do much for you!)
The amazing thing, I've never seen Flashdance in its entirety. Sure, the movie is dated but I loved it! The whole 'girl from the wrong side of the tracks doing it tough to achieve her dream', inspiring stuff! Found myself humming 'What a Feeling' for an hour afterwards...and blogging about it today.
Long live the eighties!