I'm delighted to have just received my advanced copied of Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife - here's the cover (I want Libby's gorgeous gold dress!). Check out my books page to find out more about this story and peek at some fresh under the cover secrets.  It's due for release in the UK at the beginning of May and in the US at the beginning of June - which is particularly exciting for me as I'm travelling to Boston, New York and Washington DC in early June and should be able to catch a glimpse of it on the shelves there!

To celebrate its release, I'm holding a new contest.  Three winners will win a signed copy, and one lucky winner will get the book plus a gorgeous bag that I defy any romance-lover not to fall in love with! Check out my contests page and you'll see what I mean.

For those of you who check this page from time to time, you may have noticed that I haven't been back with any news for a while.  The reason is that after several years of writing long hours and trying to hold down my day job at the same time, I decided to take some time out to reassess my priorities. I did, and the conclusion I reached is that in order to be able to spend time with my family as well as continue working, I need to have a complete break from writing, which means that sadly, Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife is in fact my last book for the foreseeable future. Since I got the call in 2008 it's been such an incredible journey, and I'm really going to miss sharing my head with drop-dead gorgeous heroes and their glamorous heroines, but I'm afraid that until things change in my own life (or I find an extra 12 hours in the day!) it has to be au revoir for now.

I'd therefore just like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who was a part of my amazing journey - all the team at Harlequin Mills and Boon - in particular my editor Joanne Grant - for making my dream into a reality, to all the other authors who welcomed me so warmly as one of their own, and finally to my readers, who made all the hard work worthwhile - I hope you enjoy my final book.

Prince of Montéz, Pregnant Mistress is now on the shelves in the UK!  I’m delighted to report that it’s been receiving some lovely reviews – check out my Books page for details.

This month I’ve been chatting at the Romantic Novelists’ Association blog about writing on straight onto screen vs. good old fashioned pen and paper, and if you fancy checking out my perfect Presents hero inspiration – I was over at The Pink Heart Society on the 17th November with a scorching Male on Monday slot!

Meanwhile it seems as if the festive season has come round all of a sudden!  But I’m not complaining – even taking into account the dark nights and my ten-foot to-do list aside, it’s without a doubt my favourite time of year.  There’s just something so romantic about frosty evenings and warm open fires, fairy lights and mistletoe… The perfect time to snuggle up with your loved one – or a good book!

So however you’re spending your festive period, I wish you lots of love and lots of laughter - Merry Christmas!

Last time I dropped in with some news I was just about to head off to the annual Association of Mills and Boon Authors' lunch in London, and I’m happy to report that it was fabulous fun! I caught up with lots of great authors I first met at the same event last year, and some that I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting before including Chantelle Shaw, Penny Jordan, Susan Stephens,  Jacqui Baird  and Lucy King (who won the Harlequin Feel The Heat competition last year and whose first Modern Heat book has just hit the shelves – congratulations again Lucy!)  We ate, we drank, we chatted about books and sexy men and many of us stayed in a glam hotel in the city – what could be better?

The following week I flew off on holiday to Fuerteventura where the weather was just incredible and the scenery amazing.  My husband and I took a trip over to the neighbouring island of Lanzarote to see the volcano which was fascinating, and great inspiration as I'm thinking of making the heroine of my next book a geologist.

I’m now gearing up for the release of my third book, Prince of Montéz, Pregnant Mistress, which will be released in the UK in November and North America in January.  You can check out some under the cover secrets on my Books page, and you can read the first chapter for free here!

Goodness, September already!  I was full of good intentions to post some August news towards the end of the month, but my fourth hero and heroine ended up needing a bit more work, so August turned out to be a busy month.  However, I’m delighted to report that Orion and Libby's story is now a goer, and Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife will be released next year (date tbc).  I’ve also been contracted to write another two Modern/Presents books so that’s hugely exciting.

August saw the release of The Desert King’s Bejewelled Bride in the US, and I’ve had some lovely comments from readers which I’m absolutely thrilled about, particularly as I found it so nerve-wracking to write at the time, a topic I blogged about here on the 20th of August.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of this month for several reasons. Firstly, the annual Association of Mills and Boon Authors (AMBA) lunch has come round again.  This year it's being held at Tuttons in Covent Garden, and I can't wait to get glammed up and catch up with lots of fellow romance writers.  Following that, I’m off on holiday to Fuerteventura  in the Canaries for a week of relaxation with my own hero!  Although not technically a desert kingdom, the scenery looks like it could be, and since I plan on writing another sheikh story next, I’m sure I’ll return in October fully inspired!

I’m delighted to report that my fourth hero and heroine finally got themselves together and are now with my editor awaiting a verdict - phew!  Whilst I’ve got lots of new ideas for my next story, before I pick up my pen again I’m pouring myself a glass of Pimms and heading outside to enjoy some summer and re-charge my creative batteries!

Meanwhile, The Desert King’s Bejewelled Bride is now on the shelves here in the UK, and is already available for US readers on eHarlequin, where I’m delighted to say it’s been in the top ten best-sellers for a couple of weeks, even reaching number 2! So a big thank you to everyone who has bought a copy already.

As part of Harlequin’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the Series Spotlight for July is on Presents, so there’s lots going on to celebrate the line over on the eHarlequin forums, as well as almost daily blogs from all the authors on iheartpresents where I’ll be talking about my favourite part of reading Presents on the 29th.  Do pop over and say hi!

This month also sees the launch of a new Harlequin Presents Writing Competition which is a fabulous opportunity for anyone whose every dreamed of writing for the line, so do check it out if you’re an aspiring author.

In the meantime, here’s to us all kicking back, enjoying the balmy days of summer and escaping in a new story – your own or someone else’s!

This month I was thrilled to be approached to run a course on breaking into writing romance. Having recently gone from the slush pile to the shelves myself, I jumped at the opportunity to be able to share what I’ve learned so far about crafting and selling! So, if you’re an aspiring author, want to hear my tips and can make it to this beautiful venue (left) in Southampton UK on the 5th December, then do take a look at the details.

I’m now gearing up for the UK July release of The Desert King’s Bejewelled Bride (already available to order at Mills and Boon and Amazon). I was over the moon to discover that Romantic Times has given it 4 stars, and I have lots of guest blogs lined up to celebrate. On the 27th June I’ll be talking about fictional settings at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs, and on the 14th July I’ll be waxing lyrical about sheikhs on Kate Walker’s blog as part of a fabulous new contest she’s running to win a whole heap of classic Presents books, including my desert king.

Meanwhile, since returning from a gorgeous, sun-shiny anniversary trip to Bath, things have really been hotting up with my current Greek hero, who should be safely delivered to my editor by the time I’m back with my July news towards the end of the month. Here’s just hoping he behaves himself between now and then!

And don’t forget that until the 30th June you can still enter the joint competition I’m holding with Kate Hewitt – see my contests page for details of how to enter if you haven’t already!

On the 13th of this month I went to the Romantic Novelists’ Association Summer Party held in the Library of the ImechE near Westminster.  It was a great evening – wine, canapes and lots of gossip with fellow romance authors and editors!  In particular, it was great to catch up Modern Heat’s fabulous Heidi Rice, Romance star Fiona Harper, and sparkling new Romance author Nina Harrington.

In anticipation of the UK release of The Desert King’s Bejewelled Bride in July, I’ve just launched a new competition with fellow Modern/Presents author Kate Hewitt who also has a delectable Sheikh on the shelves that month, so do check out my updated contests page to enter.

Meanwhile I’ve been buried under notes and word files galore as I continue with my fourth book, due on my editor’s desk mid-July.  I’ve roughly drafted the whole story now so I’m busy tying up plot threads, re-working and polishing.  Believe it or not that always takes me longer than actually writing a draft but it’s also my favourite part because now I know my hero and heroine inside out!

However I’ll be coming out of my writing cave at the end of the month to spend a few days in the historic city of Bath (see left) with my husband to celebrate our first wedding anniversary…bliss!

This month I joined the growing online phenomenon which is Twitter. If you would like to follow my occasional, random musings then
Follow Me. Talking of online social networks, this month Harlequin Mills and Boon launched their own UK community, which is fabulous fun, come and join in. 

Here on my own website I’ve updated my books page with some brand new under the cover secrets in anticipation of the summer release of The Desert King’s Bejewelled Bride.  Meanwhile I’m hard at work on the first draft of my sexy Greek, with my daily word count much improved by the discovery of this fun website lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html which yells at me if my fingers leave the keyboard for too long!  It’s the perfect anti-procrastination tool, whether you’re an aspiring author or want to get that memo/letter/report written so you can be home to those piles of Easter eggs (and how about a glass of wine and a romantic read too?) that little bit earlier…!

This month sees the release of Valenti's One-Month Mistress in America and it's really exciting for me to think of readers sitting down with a copy on the other side of the Atlantic, and to see my name on the Walden Bestseller's list, last spotted just inside the top 10 – what a buzz!  I was delighted to be invited back to iheartpresents to celebrate – check out this link for my blog on alpha heroes at home.  I was also reviewed and interviewed by the lovely ladies at Cataromance!

My favourite part of this month though had to be the arrival of early hardback editions of my second book, The Desert King's Bejewelled Bride (sneak preview left!)  I absolutely loved writing this story, possibly because I can't resist a sheikh hero, or possibly because marriage is a central theme of the book and I was writing it whilst planning my own wedding last Spring.  It's a July release in the UK and it's going to be released in North America as a Presents Extra in the 'Royal and Ruthless' mini series (can't wait to get my hands on the others!)

In the not-to distant future I'll be holding a contest with fellow Modern/Presents author Kate Hewitt who also has a UK July release 'The Sheikh's Love-Child' (which is part of the fab International Billionaires series, combining romance and rugby), so stay posted for your chance to win copies and more….

Valenti’s One Month Mistress is finally on the shelves in the UK!  Head over to I Heart Presents to see my blog to celebrate.  On the 23rd February I’ll also be blogging over at the Pink Heart Society, and I’ll be giving away a signed copy of my book as part of the fun – do pop over to say hi and check out who I’ve chosen to be my Male on Monday!

I’m going to be interviewed by BBC radio Manchester on the afternoon of Tuesday 11th February, and Southern Counties radio in the morning of Friday 13th February so that’s all very exciting, as was drawing my very first competition winner!  Maureen from Pennsylvania was the first entrant out of the hat; she chose her husband as her fantasy dinner date and wins a copy of my book and a delicious box of chocolates – congratulations Maureen!  Many thanks to everyone who entered, quite a few people chose their partners as their ideal date (what a romantic lot you are!), but there were also some delectable suggestions that I might just have to add to my hero inspiration folder – Daniel Craig, Clive Owen, Richard Armitage – to name but a few!

Meanwhile, I’ve just had the lovely news that my third book has been accepted for publication and will be appearing on the shelves in November 09 (UK, US date to be confirmed).  It’s going to be called Prince of Montez, Pregnant Mistress.

And now, in-between negotiating the heavy snow that has hit the UK, I’m busy planning out my next story, and this time my hero is going to be a gorgeous Greek. 

Phew!  Which just leaves me to wish you a very romantic Valentine’s Day…enjoy!

Happy New Year!

This month is literally one of new beginnings for me, because I’ve just finished my third book, and as I await my editor’s verdict, I’m thinking about starting on my fourth.  It’s a feeling of going full circle – from the final polish right back to the ideas stage and a blank page again, which is always both daunting and fabulously exciting!

It’s not the only thing which has gone full circle, because this time last year I was just finishing my debut, Valenti’s One-Month Mistress, and now after all the bits which come in between -  proofs, cover art etc – it’s now available at www.millsandboon.co.uk!  To celebrate I’m giving away a signed copy and some delicious chocs, so check out my contests page for details.  All you have to do to enter is email me and tell me who your ideal dinner date would be, so have fun daydreaming and drop me a line!

As you will know if you've already visited my contests page, this month you can win an early copy of Valenti's One-Month Mistress alongside lots of other great titles over on Kate Walker's blog as part of her great Christmas stocking competition.  Thanks to Kate for inviting me to be a part of it and good luck everyone!

On the 11th of this month I was delighted to be invited to take part in eHarlequin's Open House Post Party, which is a great annual event over on www.eharlequin.com.  For one day wherever you are in the world, writers and readers can post and chat in special rooms.  If you missed it, there's still lots of great discussions on their year-round chat pages, and I can often be found hanging out in the Passion: Presents Style forum (find the 'talk' link on the home page to find that and a whole host of other forums).

Meanwhile on the writing front, I've been frantically working to finish off my current book ready to send to my editor in January, which is exhilarating and exhausting all at once.  I certainly seem to find it harder during the cold dark winter months than during the long, bright summer days (even if the weather was appalling in the UK this summer!)  However, I also find this time of year hugely inspiring – the frosty landscapes, the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers, mulled wine around a log fire, and not to mention mistletoe!  My next hero and heroine for book number four are just starting to form in my mind and I know that come the New Year I'll be itching to start on their story.

It's overwhelming for me to think that this time last year I was sat at my keyboard writing my very first book with no idea whether it would ever be published, and here I am a year later about to see that it on the shelves, with my second set to be released in the summer.  I can't wait to see what next year has in store!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, and may all your dreams come true in 2009…..

I kicked off November by tuning into the BBC Mills and Boon specials – Time Shift Series 8: How to Write a Mills and Boon, and Consuming Passions: 100 years of Mills and Boon, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The first, in which Stella Duffy visited Sharon Kendrick’s fabulous writing course in Tuscany, brought back happy memories of when I did the course in 2006 (at the time in Scotland).  It was lovely to be reminded of Sharon’s enthusiasm and wealth of expertise, to see other students so passionate about writing romance, and to hear one of my favourite authors Jennie Lucas speaking eloquently too.  The second programme, creatively interweaving an interpretation of the story of Mary Boon, a fictitious author around the middle of the century, and a modern-day university lecturer teaching Mills and Boon, was compulsive viewing.  Based around the central theme that women need romance in their lives, I thought it was not only hugely entertaining but captured the spirit of the genre very well.

My husband and I were then fortunate enough to have a short holiday in Las Vegas, which was fabulous fun and very inspiring in terms of the luxury element of Modern/Presents.  Not, I’m sad to say because we won my fortune on the tables and took a private jet home, but because of the incredible hotels!  My favourite was the Bellagio (here I am about to watch the magnificent fountain display to the emotive tune of Andreas Bochelli and Sarah Brightman’s Time To Say Goodbye on my last evening there).  Incredible grounds, architecture, décor, just beautiful.  And don’t even get me started on the crystal chandelier reception in The Paris – just breathtaking!

This month has seen the early hardback release of Valenti’s One-Month Mistress (it doesn’t hit the shops, but it is produced for libraries and therefore available on Amazon.com) which means keen members of family and friends have already had a read.  Hearing their enthusiastic comments has made me realise how lucky I am to not only be writing, but to be doing a job which keeps giving after all the hard work.  It certainly inspired me to knuckle down after my trip and continue with number three…

This month I’ve been busy working on my third book and I'm currently on target to have my drop-dead gorgeous French Prince nicely settled with his heroine and off to my editor by the New Year.  The inspiration for my hero is Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Check out the pic on the left to see whether he leaves you feeling equally inspired!

I’ve also had the pleasure of guest blogging over at iheartpresents.com about the universal appeal of Harlequin Presents and at wewriteromance.com about the ‘recipe’ for Presents – check out my links page if you’d like to read the articles.  October has been ‘Presents’ month over at We Write Romance so there’s lots of great posts from other authors which are definitely worth a look.

On the 17th I attended a talk on romantic fiction as part of The Book Festival in my home town of Guildford – the speakers were Katie Fforde, Matt Dunn, Roger ‘Gill’ Sanderson and the lovely Kate Walker in conversation with Jane Wenham-Jones which was a great celebration of Mills and Boon’s centenary as well as romantic fiction in general.  What a treat!

The most exciting moment of this month for me was seeing my debut book 'in the flesh' for the very first time.  Check out the UK cover of Valenti’s One-Month Mistress on my books page!  Not long now until it hits the UK shelves in February…

This month has been another exciting one for me. On the 4th I got the news that my second book has been accepted for publication without changes (beginner's luck!). It is rather deliciously entitled The Desert King's Bejewelled Bride, and is due for release in the UK in July 2009. I am now hard at work on a sexy French Prince and a feisty art-restoring heroine called Cally who actually both make a short appearance in the Sheikh story I’ve just completed. It's wonderful to give secondary characters I've already fallen in love with a story of their own – and certainly a fresh challenge!

On the 18th of this month I had the honour of attending my first Association of Mills and Boon Authors (AMBA) lunch, followed by a drinks reception hosted by the M&B editorial team at Brown's in Covent Garden. It was a real pleasure to have the chance to meet so many talented authors (too numerous to mention them all!), and humbling to be welcomed myself.

I also had a really special evening up in London the night before, when Kate Walker kindly invited me to have dinner with Modern/Presents authors Michelle Reid, Trish Morey, Jennie Lucas (all the way over from New Zealand and the States respectively!), India Grey, Christina Hollis, Natalie Rivers and Abby Green. It was wonderful to meet the faces behind the books that inspired me to put pen to paper, to get some inside tips from those who have been writing so successfully for years, and of course to chat about our shared passion for romance!

Welcome to my website and thank you for visiting!

Since selling my first book to Harlequin Mills and Boon in March, it’s been a rollercoaster few months.

In May I got married! And after a fabulously romantic wedding day my husband and I spent ten glorious days on honeymoon in Zanzibar.

I returned thoroughly inspired to continue with my second book; a deliciously sexy sheikh story which continues to be great fun to write (particularly as I’ve always had a thing for sheikhs!).

Whilst I was lying under the African sun the idea for a third book conveniently popped into my head. I can’t wait to get started – hopefully this autumn.

Earlier in May I had a fabulous time meeting my editor Joanne Carr, and I got to see where it all happens at the Harlequin Mills and Boon offices in Richmond.

At the beginning of this month I was also lucky enough to attend one day of the Romantic Novelists Association Conference which was held in Chichester, where I had the pleasure of meeting lots of fabulous romance authors including Fiona Harper, Natalie Rivers and Kate Walker.