Age old tale

I now understand the hype behind Twilight.

I've read the book, watched the movie, and enjoyed both a lot more than I expected to.

I'd heard so many reviews, most of them not good, that I suppose I'd lowered my expectations so was pleasantly surprised.

For me, it's not about the writing.
Not about the plot.
Not about the paranormal stuff that I don't usually read.

The catch for me is the age old love story between star-crossed lovers.

Whatever happens in the plot, I want to keep reading to follow the relationship between Bella and Edward. I'm hooked on their romance. Simple as that.

And yes, I went out and bought New Moon the day after finishing Twilight. It has moved to top of my towering TBR pile.

Romantic Times Top Pick!

I've received a lovely early Christmas present!

My current release in the UK, MARRIAGE: FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?, out in the States in Feb, has received 4 and a half stars and Top Pick from Romantic Times!

Here's what they had to say:
It's been 10 years since Brittany Lloyd left New Zealand after bad boy Nick Mancini refused to go with her. Now she's on the cusp of a major career breakthrough but needs his help. She's in for a surprise -- he's now the multimillionaire owner of an international hotel chain. While the attraction is still there, so are the memories of how things ended. Nick says he'll help her if she'll help him -- by marrying him so his business associates will take him seriously. But how long will the marriage stay in name only?

This lovers-reunited tale is awash in passion, sensuality and plenty of sparks. The terrific characters immediately capture your attention, and from there, the pages go flying by.

Hot on the heels of A TRIP WITH THE TYCOON scoring an award nomination for Best Harlequin Romance, I love the fab folks at RT!

(An aside on the review...the book is set in Noosa, Australia, a fave holiday spot of mine.)

Manga magic

Much excitement when I brought in the post yesterday...I received a Manga copy of THE DESERT PRINCE'S PROPOSAL.

I was so enthused, I scoured it several times cover to cover, and ended up accidentally leaving the book at my folks, hence I can't scan it for you.

I get super excited by manga editions of my books, for the simple fact I can follow every scene through pictures! It doesn't matter that I can't read Japanese, the book is laid out beautifully.
I particularly love finding key scenes and how they are portrayed.

I think this is my 4th Manga translation, yet the only copy I've had to date is this one, for THE WEDDING CONTRACT.

I was never a cartoon fan as a kid but discovering my books laid out in picture form makes me a convert!

RT Award nomination!

I'm thrilled to announce A TRIP WITH THE TYCOON is a Best Harlequin Romance 2009 finalist in the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards.

You all know how much I adore this book, it is a favourite, so to be nominated for this award (my first RT nomination!) I'm absolutely thrilled!

Fellow Romance finalists are Fiona Harper (Invitation to the Boss's Ball was released in the UK in the same book as my Tycoon, so if you want to read 2 finalists for the price for one, go grab it via the BookDepository, free delivery worldwide!)

Jessica Hart

Myrna Mackenzie

Melissa McClone

Fellow fab Mod Heat authors Kate Hardy (who delivered the exciting news to me!) and Trish Wylie are finalists for Best Presents.

Smiles all round!

Special release!

This month, my May 09 release, THE BILLIONAIRE'S BABY, is available in a special pack, alongside my buddy Fiona Lowe, and Aussie icons Margaret Way and Meredith Webber.

RRP is $30, but you can buy it here for AU$22.40. Bargain!

Would make a great Chrissie present!

THE WRITE WHISPER: Dreaming

I've mentioned on several occasions that I get many of my ideas/titles/first lines/characters in that half drowsy/half awake state just before dropping off to sleep.

In fact, if I need to ponder a plot point or a conflict that isn't quite working, I'll take to bed, close my eyes and let my mind wander.

It's a great technique and often works. (Drifting off to nap is a bonus!)

Imagine my surprise when I recently discovered there's a technical term for this.

There is a naturally occurring sleep state called the HYPNOLOGIC STATE.

As I've already described, it is the phase of sleep right before you drift off and right before you wake up, and is a state of altered consciousness.

Apparently it's a highly fertile time for creative people!

The trick is to utilise this phase.

Ask yourself a question before you lie down. eg. What is the main obstacle keeping my characters apart?

Close your eyes.

Let your mind drift...doze...

But you must remember what happens in this state.

I've heard a recommendation to hold one arm up in the air, as the tension required to hold the arm up will keep you on the verge of that sleep/awake state, and as the ideas/concepts/connections come, you immediately write them down.

For me, I close my eyes, let the ideas flow, and jot them as soon as they arrive.

It's a tried and trusty plotting method for me.

Writers out there, have you tried it?

Does it work for you?

THE WRITE WHISPER: Sprinting

You know about me and exercise...so no, I'm not talking about sprints of the running variety.

Lately, I've been seeing the term sprinting springing up everywhere in relation to writing.

I happened to be on Twitter 2 weeks ago on a Friday night, about to start writing, when I noticed RWAus and a few Aussie authors were doing a 15 minute sprint.

Basically, it involves writing as fast as you can in that time frame, non stop.

Similar to pacing yourself against an egg timer, I'd say, which I heard recommended by Stephanie Bond once.

The interesting thing is, I've been doing natural sprints for the last fortnight.

I have a short deadline.

I have loads of words to write.

So I write: early morning, toddler nap time, late at night.

The result?

Huge increase in productivity. Not just from the actual time spent writing, but sprinting increases your speed. Truly!

Go ahead, try it.

I've written 14000 words last week, over 10000 the week before.

It has been a long time since I've done that, because I'd slowed my writing, aiming for 4-8 pages a day. Now, I'm doing 6-8 in one sitting.

Along with faster fingers, I think your mind loosens, gets in tune with your story, knowing you need to pour the words out to meet your self-imposed time limit.

Practice your sprinting.

You'll be pleased with the results.

New digital publisher

In case you haven't heard the news, Harlequin has entered the digital publishing arena with a new company, CARINA PRESS.

Carina Press are actively taking submissions so check them out here.

The move has resulted in loads of discussion from both new and established authors.

Personally, I love their catch cry: WHERE NO GREAT STORY GOES UNTOLD.

Cool!

From across the ocean

It's always lovely to meet people you've heard about, especially fellow writers, so it was great for me to have lunch with author Kaye Kelly last Sunday.

Kaye hails from across the ocean, in New Zealand, and has published 2 books with Random House over there. Love the sound of this one.

(And before you say anything...no, I'm not jaundiced, just the sun reflecting off the paint. And yes, my face is rounder than usual.

15kg rounder to be precise.

Courtesy of the bung foot and operation this year, I've stacked on the weight. Never been this big. Don't like it. Haven't had to diet before. Not too keen now.

Any miraculous ways to shift the kilos? Apart from the obvious like exercise & don't eat chocolate?)

Single titles

I use the fabulous CataRomance for reviews and now, one of their sites has had a facelift.

SingleTitles.com has a whole new look.

They have hundreds of book reviews, interviews, and lots of great excerpts.
Plus, they’re now featuring thrillers and mysteries.

Check them out at http://www.singletitles.com

THE WRITE WHISPER: Stellar settings

Last month, I wrote an article for RWAustralia's monthly journal, 'Hearts Talk', on Stellar Settings.

The article is now live on my website so if you want to make your next setting come alive, go check it out here!

Taking advantage?

Halloween isn't celebrated much in Australia.
Very rarely when I was growing up.
Then we've had a few 'trick or treater's knock on our door the last few years.

Now this.

Went grocery shopping earlier this week and was absolutely amazed at the range of Halloween paraphernalia on sale. Front and centre store displays. Aisles of the stuff.

First time ever I've seen that here...shops taking advantage of an increasing commercial angle to a festival we Aussies know little about?

I could google Halloween to discover its true meaning, but am very busy, so going to be lazy and hand over to all of you.

What is Halloween all about?
Why should we celebrate it?
Any special traditions associated with it?

Guess the cynic is me is a little creeped out by the fact we spend so much time instilling 'stranger danger' into our kids, and the dangers of taking lollies from strangers, yet this festival involves sending kids out to doorknock strangers asking for lollies?

Maybe I'm the Halloween grinch?
Please enlighten me. :)

Putting in some serious overtime

The excerpt for OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED (May 2010) won't be up on my website until next week, so thought I'd give you a little preview here.

The bronze god was naked.
Gloriously, eye-poppingly naked, every muscle flexing and bunching and glistening as he carried a tray laden with cocktails and champagne flutes through the crowd.
“You can close your jaw now, before it hits the floor.”
Starr Merriday blinked once, twice, the spell broken as she tore her reluctant gaze away from the waiter and frowned at her best friend Kit.
“It’s your fault. You brought me to this den of inequity.”
Kit wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, her chuckles positively wicked. “Yeah, and you’re loving every minute of it.”
“It does have its benefits.”
Starr’s gaze strayed to the ripped waiter again, lingered on his pecs, the light smattering of dark hair across his broad chest, dipped to his navel, at the arrowing of hair beneath it…
“Jeez, what does a girl have to do to get a drink in this place?”
Kit smirked. “Bit hot under the collar?”
“More like hot all over,” she muttered, thankful the waiters were clothed from the waist down, beyond thankful Kit had chosen one of her entrepreneurial mother’s infamous cocktail parties for her farewell.
Nothing like a roomful of semi-naked guys to get a girl’s mind off the fact she was jobless, homeless and penniless.
“Don’t look now but I think he’s checking me out.”
Kit’s subtle head jerk towards Mr. Pecs had her darting a quick glance in his direction, in time to see him stumble, the tray skating on his palms like a penguin on ice, sloshing cocktails everywhere, the bulk of it landing on the guy next to him.
Sympathy warred with mirth as she watched the waiter try to mop up his mess, the guy in the suit waving him away with a frown.
The cocktail-wearing-recipient looked out of place, suited and buttoned up in a roomful of semi-naked guys and she grinned as he fiddled with the knot on his tie, straightening it, aiming for cool despite having several Mojitos and a magnum of champagne dumped on his Armani duds.
“Yeah, he was definitely checking me out. Just one look and the guy does that. Back soon, hun. Off to mingle, find me a less clumsy one.”
Kit headed for the bar—and a tempting conglomeration of buffed waiters—while she found her gaze drawn back to the suit.
She’d been too busy ogling the waiters to notice the other guys in the room but now she had…slick guys in suits weren’t her thing but there was something about this guy…the way he stood, tall, proud, indomitable despite a cocktail dousing, his class obvious, his imperious gaze scanning the crowd…clashing with hers.
Startled, she dropped her gaze, surprised by the lick of heat lapping her skin after their momentary eye lock.
The smart thing to do would be to quickstep out of here. Considering the shambles her life was at the moment, she hadn’t done the smart thing in ages.

I love the dance theme woven throughout this book. I had an absolute ball writing it!

New blog

Seems like this week is Harlequin week with all the plugs I'm giving, so here's another one.

Harlequin have just launched a brand spanking new blog!

Donna Hayes, CEO, has posted first, with a chance to win books if you leave a comment.

Go check it out here!

Do blondes have more fun?

That's an interesting question, considering Britt, my heroine in MARRIAGE: FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE? has undergone a radical hair dye job for the US cover (out in Feb 2010.)

In the book, Britt is quite clearly a redhead. Nick, the hero, has nicknamed her Red since they were teenagers. And that is clearly depicted on the UK cover.


Now don't get me wrong, I love this US cover, it's gorgeous!

But why the hair colour change?

Hmm...guess it must be true. In the States, blondes do have more fun. :)

Diary of a multi-tasker

My week has been crazy but lovely with the extra anthology deadline.

Now add some more craziness to the mix.

Remember the last book I revised and handed in a month ago, THE TYCOON'S LIVE-IN LOVE?
Well, heard from my lovely ed requesting a final tweak, which is fine...except the book is scheduled for May 2010 and needs to be at the copyeditors ASAP!
So this needs to a be a priority.

Thus yesterday looked like this:

5.45am. Roll out of bed, stumble to computer, scan emails, write 1000 words on Rom Com.

6.45am. Shower, rouse the troups, brekkie, make school lunch, peak hour drive to school.

8.45am. Indulge stressed self in favourite brekkie at fave cafe, shop for 2 hours for birthday presents, grab a Max Brenner Italian milk hot chocolate to go.

11am. Warm up PC to start work when toddler naps. See email from editor, requesting urgent tweaks. Eeek! Swoon, have mini panic attack before printing out email and knuckling down.

Midday. Toddler naps. I work for an hour before falling into bed for more 'plotting' time (see yesterday's post.)

2.00pm. Rise and shine, get cracking for next school run.

4pm. Boys playing at my feet, I speed write short story for as long as they let me. 1000 words done.

5-8pm. Dinner rush starts. Cook, eat, clean, make hubby's lunch for tomorrow, bath time, read books.

8-10.30 pm. Start work, tweaks on last book, 60 pages in, eyes closing...

I'll need to follow this diary for the next week.
Nothing like 3 short deadlines to get the creative juices flowing!

When opportunity knocks

I could've put this post under the 'Write Whisper' series for maintaining a current, professional website...but I'm too excited and just want to blab so here goes!

Was checking inbox at 6am yesterday when a very interesting email lobbed in, from an editor asking if I'd be interested in contributing to this.

THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SPECIAL OPS ROMANCE.

Considering I'd be included among award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors for this short story anthology, you bet I was interested!

This all came about via my Navy SEAL in PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE, and the editor checking out my website/excerpts (hence the importance of always having a current site).

I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of it!

The downside?

A very short deadline.

2 weeks! Eeek!

Minimum word count is 6500, so doable, right?

Luckily doc gave me antibiotics for my tonsillitis yesterday.

With two tight deadlines, I'm going to need all the health I can get!

Resolving issues

Chapter 6 of ONE INDIAN SUMMER, my weekly online read at eharlequin is now live!

Truths are being revealed.
Plans are being made.
The black moment is upon Harrison and Khushi.

Khushi can't leave India.
Harrison must return to Australia.

I wonder what happens next...

Don't be an ostrich

October is Breast Cancer month in Australia.

Rather timely considering what I've just been through.

Yes, I had a rough week, with an odd, tender spot in right breast. As soon as I felt it, I worried for a few days before making a doctor's appointment. She immediately sent me for an ultrasound, which I had on the weekend.

The young guy who did it asked me how often I did breast checks, then tried to scare me by mentioning I was having the ultrasound to check for cancer.
Well duh!

Though he hummed and ahhed a bit, I got the general gist that everything was okay. Have no idea what the problem is, but it isn't anything 'nasty.'

I walked out numb, relieved, but numb. Made me think of all those women who aren't so lucky.

I, for one, will be more vigilant in checking from now on.

So ladies, please, please do regular breast checks. Better to catch something early.

For more information, visit here.

Switching POV

Another interesting tip while revising your manuscript: switching point of view can make all the difference.

During the black moment of THE TYCOON'S LIVE-IN LOVE, I had Starr seeing red and losing her cool with Callum.

In the revised version, I need Callum to push her away so rather than slashing the scene, I changed POV.

Amazing how powerful it can still remain with just a few tweaks, adding new dialogue, changing things around a bit.

So before you cut that scene you love completely, see if it works in an alternate POV. You may be surprised with the results.