Start of the school holidays

I have all three belles home for the six week hols. They all have differing plans. Eldest is tied up with driving lessons and card making workshops. Middle belle is involved with Everybody Dance Now, the big millenium festival of dance and drama in Wolverhampton. Youngest belle always has plans, most of which revolve around her hectic social calendar.
I'm counting down the days to my holiday - ten days in Devon coming up in the next few weeks. Before then though I seem to have landed myself with a load of work. I have four submissions out there, edits coming this week on Renovation, Renovation, Renovation, a deadline galloping towards me for the next contracted book and in the midst of this my brain thinks it would be a good time for me to write a childrens story.
I don't write children's stories. The only other one was Bertie the Christmas Beetle which I wrote for my neice in December - yet now I have a 1k fairytale called the Emperor's Gold Fish. I have no idea if they are any good or even what on earth I could do with them.

Guest Blogger - Phillipa Ashley

Phillipa is a good friend of mine and a fabulous writer. A while ago, just around December, at one of our coffee crew meetings, Check out our blog she mentioned she had this manuscript lying in a drawer. When she let us read it, we couldn't believe she'd left it to play with the dust bunnies for so long. Now it's out for everyone to read - hurrah! It's a wonderful warm, sexy, read with a lovely heroine and one of Phillipa's trademark to-die-for heros.
Here's the blurb:
The road to heartbreak is paved with honorable intentions…

After a year dealing with her mum’s health scare and the end of a bad relationship, Keira Grayson was looking forward to kicking up her heels at her best friend’s wedding. Until she kicks off her (spare) knickers in front of the trifecta of perfection. Tom Carew. Son of an earl, honorable doctor and possibly the hottest man on the planet.

One look at Keira’s delightful embarrassment, and Tom’s hormone meter spins off the charts. Trouble is, his bags are already packed to return to the jungles of Papua New Guinea. He has patients waiting—and amends to make for a terrible choice that left devastation in its wake.

They both reason that indulging in a one-time dinner date won’t hurt…until their inhibitions melt away in the heat of their lethal sexual chemistry. Leaving Keira wondering if a sizzling fling is just what the doctor ordered, or another prescription for relationship disaster. And Tom fighting a battle against inner demons that could shatter both their hearts.

Warning: This book contains a hot aristocratic doctor, sparky heroine, new uses for a chaise longue, a steamy shower scene and a knicker-ripping encounter in a four-poster bed.
Don't you love the disclaimer!!!
Available from all good etailers including Samhain Publishing and Amazon
And for those of you who still love print - a print version will be available in a few months time!

Be My Hero audiobook - out tomorrow

Be My Hero – available as an audiobook July 19th from AUDIOLARK

Nathalie Mayer is thirty-four. On the surface she is an attractive, happy, single, successful woman running her own bridal business. Despite her line of work and her obvious delight in other people’s weddings, including that of her twin brother, Nate. Nathalie has always declared that a settled relationship is not for her. There has only ever been one man whom Nathalie felt she could love.
Evan Davies is back in town after a six year absence. Last time he was here, he and Nathalie had tentatively begun to take their friendship to a different level. Now he’s home again and has the reason for his sudden departure from six years ago with him – his daughter, Polly.

The shop bell jangled again and a delivery man came in with an enormous basket of dark red roses.
“Oh, aren’t those gorgeous!” Gemma and Karen exclaimed together.
“Delivery for a Miss Nathalie Mayer?” The man read from a clipboard he carried in his other hand.
“Tali, they’re for you,” Gemma breathed.
“Wow, you must have an admirer?” Karen’s face was alive with curiosity.
Nathalie quickly took the basket from the man. “Thank you.” She moved away and rested the flowers on the counter. Karen and Gemma crowded around as the delivery man left.
“Open the card,” Gemma urged.
“Who are they from?” Karen asked.
Nathalie’s hand trembled as she slid the small white card from the envelope, even though she already knew who they must be from.
“Evan!” Karen announced in a triumphant voice before Nathalie had a chance to hide the card from view.
Nathalie pushed the card into the pocket of her jacket. “Can you take these through into the back of the shop please, Gemma?”
Gemma looked puzzled. “I’ll put them in your office.”
“Just friends, hmm?” Karen queried.
“The flowers were a thank-you for something I’d given his daughter,” Nathalie fibbed. She didn’t want Karen to spread her private life all over town. Unfortunately, she had a feeling it might already be too late. Karen had drawn her own conclusions.
“Are you bringing him to my rehearsal dinner?” Karen asked.
“I told you, no. We aren’t on those kinds of terms.” Nathalie felt herself flush.
“Well, those flowers look to me like the kind a man sends to a woman when he wants to be on those sorts of terms.” Karen picked up her handbag ready to leave. “Dark red roses? Please. Those are the flowers a woman gets the morning after a night well-spent with a man.” She nudged Nathalie’s arm. “And you look as if you didn’t get much sleep last night.” She swept off out of the shop.
©Nell Dixon 2011
http://www.nelldixon.com
Romance with Heart

Here, there and everywhere

The audiobook version of Be My Hero is being released on July 19th by the fabulous AUDIOLARK This is an early release so caught me a little on the hop. Normally at this time of year I'd be at the RNA conference but it's so crazy here at the moment I wasn't able to go. My youngest belle left for Germany at midnight last night. My middle daughter is at a full day dress rehearsal for her upcoming play and then I need to get her case ready as on Monday morning she's off on an arts week residential doing drama for the week. I've prepped and edited then submitted two books to two different publishers this weekend and now need to crack on with my contracted book before my edits for Myrmidon hit and my critiquing work picks up for the summer.
I suppose somewhere I need to find time to clean my house too.

Pushing on

I'm pushing on with the edits for Passionate Harvest this weekend so I can get it out the door to the editor. Fingers crossed for a sale - although it will depend on it being right for them. I have some other houses that I think it could work for if not but I have a lovely opportunity to work with people I've wanted to work with for ages so I just hope I've got it right.
I just got the audio proof for be My hero so I'm looking forward to hearing that. Audiolark did such a wonderful job with The Cinderella Substitute. Check them out if you like audiobooks!
Then it's on with my other contracted book and the secret project.
The belles have a packed weekend. My youngest is off to Germany at midnight on Saturday and my middle daughter has a full day costume rehearsal Sunday for her upcoming play and then she's off for the week to her residential drama course.
For the first time in years I'm missing the RNA conference, which makes me very sad, but finances this year are too tight and the belles have so much on I really couldn't swing it. I'll be there next year though as I think I'll probably be giving a workshop.
I'll really miss seeing everyone and hearing all the gossip and news.

Sale!

Making Waves and Dangerous to Know are on sale! Yay! Only 71p for Making Waves - wow!
Dangerous to Know – Available NOW from Astraea Press Amazon and all good online book stores! http://www.astraeapress.com
ON SALE http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-To-Know-ebook/dp/B004W82K04/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1309788328&sr=1-8 only $2.30 ! Hurry!
Jerome Mayer is tall, dark and dangerous to know. Normally Gemma would run a mile, but with a freshly broken heart maybe it’s time for this good girl to take a walk on the wild side. However the danger to them both turns out to be more than just emotional when someone objects to their attempts to uncover a corrupt land deal.
“Dangerous to know.”
Nathalie’s words about her elder brother, Jerome, resonated in Gemma’s mind.
“Strawberries taste better when they’re dipped in chocolate.” Jerome suggested and dangled one near her mouth.
Gemma licked her lips, a gesture that was purely automatic. It felt very warm inside Nathalie’s sitting room and she struggled to draw enough air into her lungs.
Why had she decided the best way to get over being dumped yet again was to boost her confidence by flirting with Jerome? The corners of his deep blue eyes crinkled and she knew he found her naïve attempts at flirtation amusing.
Gemma leaned forward and took the fruit from his fingers with her teeth. She chewed and swallowed as Jerome’s pupils darkened in the soft light from a nearby lamp.
“You’re right. It makes all the difference.” Even to her own ears her voice sounded husky.
He smiled and her heart skipped a beat. “Well, there’s more if you want some.” His fingertips were coated in melted chocolate from the fountain that stood in the centre of the platter of fresh fruit.
His words held the unmistakable note of challenge. Gemma sucked in air. This was not a good idea. She was in too deep. She tried not to stare at his fingers or imagine the taste of his skin. Phew, she felt hot…
“Gemma, Tali says could you come and be on the photo she’s taking?”
Gemma blinked and tore her eyes away from Jerome. Polly, Nathalie’s little stepdaughter, stood waiting in her pink party dress.
“Of course, where is she?”
“She’s in the hall. She said to get you as well, Uncle Jerome.”
“Lead the way then, princess.” Jerome wiped his hands on a napkin and leaned forward to murmur, “Later,” in Gemma’s ear. His words fell soft and intimate on her hot face and her heart rate quickened.
© Nell Dixon 2011

‘This story had me going from the very start. I was curious to find out what was going to happen to them and if Gemma would finally realize all she needed to do to feel better was be true to herself. I like the way Gemma figures things out even though it takes a while. I also like Jerome being so careful about things. He is a sweetie. I enjoyed this book a lot and eagerly anticipate the next one by this author.’ 4 Coffee cups – from Coffeetime Romance reviews
http://www.nelldixon.com Romance with Heart to read the first chapter and to join my quarterly subscribers newsletter!

It seemed like a good idea at the time

Most of you know I've been writing like a mad woman to finish my novella, Passionate Harvest. Well I made it for my deadline and had the opportunity to pitch to a publishing house I really, really would like to work with. I'm thrilled to say one of the editors there has asked to see it. So, guess who's writing/aditing like a mad woman again to make it all shiny beautiful? Sigh. I also discovered that I hadn't written the synopsis for it. I was sure I had. So yep, I know. I do this to myself all the time.
The other so-called good idea is Mr Nell has bought a wii fit. The way it says ouch every time I get on is doing nothing for my ego. In a rash moment I agreed to be a diet buddy to my eldest dd who wants to tone up now she's able to do physical exercise again after her foot surgery last year. Apparently I'm okay at yoga. Well, the easy peasy bits anyway. I'm building up slowly into the harder stuff. Every day this week now I've been doing 30 mins of exercise. Hopefully it will help my posture and stave off the hip replacement for a bit longer. My mobility has deteriorated this year. If I don't post for a while I'm either aditing or the wii fit has killed me. Either way, send biscuits!

This month's catch up!

This year is zooming by much too fast. I have lots of lovely things coming up. Be My Hero is out in audiobook in August, Animal Instincts is released in German in September, Brief Encounters will be in print in September and, best of all, Renovation, Renovation, Renovation will be out as an e book in September and March 5th as a print book!I'm so excited.
Writingwise at the moment I'm pushing on with the novella as I really want to get it done and start shopping it over the summer. I'm into the final third of my next book for Myrmidon, and I've now got a synopsis and a couple of chapters on the project I'm totally not supposed to be working on at all.
So it's pretty busy right now. I'll be sharing a few tid-bits from Renovation, Renovation, Renovation over the next few months and I've some fabulous guest bloggers lined up for you too.

Blog Hop Party Winners!

Many Thanks to everyone who stopped by this week to share their drink favourites and their hero favourites. Once again there were so many of you I'm giving out some extra prizes, so the winners are:

Stina6891
Bellcolella
and Michelle Aurict
Stop by again soon for more giveaways and tasters

PARTY 'TIL YOUR HEELS FLY OFF: MEGA AUTHOR BLOG HOP TOUR (JUNE 13-20)

Tour Rules
1) HAVE FUN!!!
2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, June 13, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, June 20, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
Winners will be drawn and posted June 21st! ***
4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW PARTY DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!
5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW EVERY AUTHOR SOME LOVE!
6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

***Authors have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Bring a dish party!
Hmm, since this is a romance writers blog and it is a party after all. Heres a recipe! Recipe provided by Better Homes and Gardens

Nothing says 'celebration' like champagne, and a traditional champagne cocktail is perhaps the height of celebratory drinks. Its pretty color makes it ideal for Christmas entertaining, and its two-ingredient composition makes it beyond easy to make. Serve this cocktail as an aperitif before a formal dinner or at a cocktail party along with appetizers and desserts. If using cranberry juice instead of pomegranate, float a couple of cranberries in each flute as a garnish.
And for my other bring a dish - here is one of the pics from my hero inspiration file!
I'm offering a prize of a free PDF download of Brief encounters to be drawn from the comments at the end of the blog hop - why not leave me a drink recipe or tell me who your party dish is to be in with a chance to win?
Available now! Brief Encounters is a sparkling new anthology of six romantic short stories. Sweet and sexy, contemporary and historical - the collection has something for everyone and is written by three top romantic authors Phillipa Ashley, Nell Dixon and Elizabeth Hanbury.
‘I loved these stories. A fabulous literary box of chocolates with something for everyone. Dip in and enjoy!’ Christina Jones.
Excerpt from Plus One Guest © Nell Dixon 2011
“You have to be kidding?” Diana eyed Lucy with suspicion as Lucy moved her office chair away from her desk and replaced it with a large, blue inflatable exercise ball.
“Nope, I need to lose these last two pounds by Saturday and desperate times call for desperate measures.” Lucy sat precariously on the ball, adjusting her position until she could reach her keyboard.
“You’ve finally flipped.” Diana grinned, and shook her head in mock despair.
“It’s supposed to tone your tum and bum whilst burning calories and improving your posture.”
“Blimey, does it work?”
Lucy smiled back. “No idea, but I have to do something so that I can get in my dress for the wedding.”
“Have you done anything about finding someone to go with you? The invitation is for ‘plus one guest’.”
Lucy knew what Diana meant. Since her dear, conniving, boyfriend-stealing cousin Shannon was actually marrying Lucy’s unfaithful, rat-bastard, ex-boyfriend, finding a suitable man to accompany her to the wedding had been at the top of Lucy’s to-do list. So far all her options had failed.
Available from Amazon and all good e –tailers.



Your next hop destination is Nichelle Gregory's Chocolate Party Have Fun!

Review for Brief Encounters!

Bookishly Attentive Brief Encounters just got a review! The reviewer, Angie says 'Brief Encounters is a must read, and its size makes it the perfect evening getaway. Be sure to download this as quickly as you can! It can be found at all online bookstores, and according to author blogs, the print version will be out in September. Well done, ladies!'

Ban the bear

Click at your own risk!Surely it's not just me that finds the Birds eye bear creepy and disturbing? It's getting so I don't want to open my freezer just in case. Janice should get an injunction.

A little something

I thought you might like to see a snippet of one of the things I'm working on. Here's a tiny taster from the novella - currently called Sour Grapes. Hope you enjoy it!

She stared at the padlocked barrier with a sinking heart. Gym had always been her least favourite subject at school and the combo of tight jeans, achey legs and general clumsiness meant tackling the gate wouldn’t be a piece of cake.
Dominic stood waiting for her on the other side. “Do you need a hand to get over?”
Her body heated as his level gaze took in her muddy clothes and dishevelled appearance.
“I think I can manage.” She grasped the wooden post at the top of the gate and began to climb up to the point where she would be able to swing her leg over the top. The tightness of the denim combining with fatigue made it a struggle and she teetered on the crossbar trying to summon enough energy to adjust her position.
“Lucy!” Dominic moved forward just as she lost her balance.
“Oof!”
She lay sprawled on the wet turf on top of Dominic with his dog attempting to lick her face. Temporarily winded from her fall she was horrified to see he had his eyes shut and a pained grimace on his face.

Guest Blogger Gemma Halliday!

I'm thrilled to introduce my guest blogger and fellow Romance diva - Gemma Halliday.
Gemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew
up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear
importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a
temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally
selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to
be a writer.

Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the
recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice
award and three RITA nominations.

Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is
hard at work on her next book.
Her latest release is the fabulous Hollywood Confessions.
Here's the blurb!
Allie Quick has high aspirations - much higher than reporting on the
latest celebrity gossip for the L.A. Informer, Hollywood's most
notorious tabloid. But if she's going to join the ranks of the real
reporters, she's going to need a headline worthy story under her belt.
Which is just what she gets when the producer of the trashiest reality
shows on TV winds up murdered, and Allie convinces her editor, Felix
Dunn, that this story has her name written all over it. Between an
aging dance-off judge, a family with sextuplets and triplets, and the
star of a little person dating show, Allie has no shortage of reality
stars to question. But when she finds herself falling for her prime
suspect, Allie's relationship with her editor is suddenly on the
rocks, and her life is in danger. This is one deadline Allie can't
afford to miss!

Special FREE download of the first two books in the series – Hollywood
Scandals (book #1) and Hollywood Secrets (book #2)! Just go to
Smashwords.com and type in the following promo codes at checkout:

For HOLLYWOOD SCANDALS: JZ89Y
For HOLLYWOOD SECRETS: HV54W
You can get a copy of Hollywood Confessions from any of these places.
Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/3621092
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Confessions-Headlines-ebook/dp/B0052U9GQC
Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hollywood-Confessions/Gemma-Halliday/e/2940012613325/
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62229

Taking time

It's been so nice these last few days not to have to be anywhere for a set time. I've been writing - adding words to all three books and enjoying the process. I've finally got around to making a proper author page for FACEBOOK I suppose now I'll have to behave like a proper author. I've been busy booking some fabby guest bloggers to visit here over the next few months. I met up with Elizabeth Hanbury and Phillipa Ashley my fellow coffee crew authors for one of our working, okay, gossiping lunches. As always it's so inspirational and I always come away fired up and ready to write. Look out for Phillipa's book Wish You were here btw if you're in the US as it's released tomorrow by Sourcebooks. (It's one of my favourite reads of Phillipa's) I've been pottering around the house catching up on laundry, cleaning the insides of the windows - it's not foggy out there, who knew? And generally annoying the belles with requests to tidy up, put things away etc. To make my week even better I'm off soon to one of my favourite places. A tiny town on the Welsh border just for a couple of days. The fish and house sitters are organised so hopefully I can spend a few days in lovely countryside with a notepad and pen adding a few more words to my wips.

A bit of a catch up!

I've been a bit of a bad blogger lately. My excuse is that time seems to be whizzing past and I have been horrendously busy. Things are moving swiftly with Renovation, Renovation, Renovation - edits are due anytime soon and yesterday I saw some of the cover concepts - all of which are gorgeous and different and lovely. As soon as I get the official release dates I'll be shouting about them on here. I'm halfway through writing the second contracted book for Myrmidon so I'm having to pick my way through the various complicated plot threads at the minute to make sure i don't end up with holes.
I'm also still writing Sour Grapes, my shorter novella. I have the next week off from the day job so I may do some more on that then. That's also half done. Then there's my secret, not supposed to be writing it at all book. All I'll tell you is that it's Jane Austen inspired contemporary rom com.
The belles have been busy too with my eldest dd sitting her AS level exams, and the two younger ones taking part in the annual dance show, plus my middle dd working with her theatre group ready for the summer festival.
I'm really looking forward to a week just puttering about, tinkering with my wips and tidying up the house. It'll be so nice not to have to rush around everywhere.

Winners from the round the world blog hop

A huge big thank you to everyone who stopped by. I so enjoyed reading your stories. There were so many of you I'm going to give away three downloads of Making Waves.
The winners are:
landS'sMom
Leanne109
JuneM
Congratulations - your prize will be in your inbox soon!

Trip Around the World: Mega Author Blog Hop: Ticket to Paradise!

TOUR RULES:
1) Have fun!
2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, May 16, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, May 23, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!
5) 5) PARTICIPATION AT EVERY BLOG IS RECOMMENDED. BUT REMEMBER: THE MORE YOU HOP THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE TO WIN EVERY AUTHOR IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW EVERY AUTHOR SOME LOVE!
6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GO!



Welcome to those of you who've hopped here from Tricia Schneider's blog. Shake off the jet lag from the fast ride from Germany and welcome to Cornwall. Home of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table at mystical Tintagel. Did I mention it was the home of Daphne Du Maurier? We also boast world class surfing beaches along with fabulous food like clotted cream, Rick Steins seafood restaurant at St Ives and even a a mystical beast haunting the wild moors of Bodmin. Not to mention smugglers and if you were a Poldark fan... well need I say more?
That's why I couldn't resist setting Making Waves there.
Making Waves by Nell Dixon Astraea Press
Also available from Amazon in Kindle format, Smashwords, B&N and other reputable e-tailers.
Cassidy Jones needs a holiday and her friend's cottage in New Bay sounds perfect. The beach could heal the bruises from losing her job and her fiancé. Perfect for some time alone to gather her thoughts and heal her broken heart.
Josh Parker is also looking forward to a much needed break after eighteen months of non-stop work. His out of town friend offers her cottage and Josh thinks it would be just right for some time to let his hair down and revive his social life with his old surf buddies.
One cottage, two unsuspecting occupants, a recipe for romance or disaster?

An outside table stood empty in the far corner near the seawall under the shade of a gaily striped umbrella. Cassidy took a seat and pulled off her hat, dropping it on the table. She ruffled her hair with her hands in an attempt to restore some bounce to her smooth auburn bob.
The pretty blonde waitress was busy taking an order from a group of surfers crowded together on a couple of tables near the outdoor service hatch. Cassidy sat back in the shade to wait her turn.
The male surfers were all wearing black or blue wetsuits, unzippered and rolled down to the waist. Pretty girls in tiny bikinis laughed and chatted as the group placed their orders.
One of the guys with his back toward her seemed strangely familiar. It was something about his stance and the untidy mop of dark brown hair. Cassidy sat up straight, willing him to turn around so she could see his face. Her heart thumped in a mix of fear and anticipation as she watched him chatting to the girls.
The waitress came toward her with a pad and pen in hand. Cassidy ordered a fruit juice, her attention still focused on the man with his back to her. Then, just as the waitress left to take Cassidy’s drink order inside the café, he turned around.
“Cassidy? Cassidy Jones?”
Her heart sank. It looked as if she had been wrong about not meeting anyone who knew her here in New Bay. Of all the people she hadn’t wanted to bump into,
“Hello, Josh, what a surprise to see you.” Josh Parker was definitely one of them.
He crossed the paved area between the tables to come and stand at her table, a bewildered expression on his face. “What brings you here? I thought you and Ethan were supposed to be headed for the Seychelles.” He looked around as if he expected Ethan to suddenly materialize beside her.
Cassidy bit her lip. It looked as if her famously work-obsessed boss hadn’t heard the news.
“I didn’t get married.” She tried not to sound terse. In her head she’d practised how she would tell people and explain to them what had happened. Now, confronted in the last place on earth she had expected to see someone she knew, all her carefully chosen phrases deserted her. “Ethan dumped me.”
Josh looked confused. “So, you’re not married?”
Cassidy clenched her teeth. “No.”
“Oh.”
She did a mental eye-roll. For a supposedly intelligent man who’d built up a thriving dotcom marketing business, Josh could be mystifyingly dense. “Are you here on holiday?” She prayed he’d say no, that he was just a day tripper. He hadn’t taken a holiday to her knowledge for over a year.
“I’m here for three weeks. I’m staying in a friend’s cottage.” He made a vague gesture in the direction of the cliffs.
Cassidy’s heart sank. Not only was he staying in New Bay, but her cottage was on the cliffs overlooking the sea, too.
© Nell Dixon 2010
http://www.nelldixon.com
Romance with Heart
Look out for Dangerous to Know and explore the English Lake District – also from Astraea Press
To be in with a chance to win a download of Making Waves - leave me a comment telling me about your favourite holiday memory and I'll draw a winner. Enjoy your next stop on the blog hop in the Roman Forums of the 1880's.Elizabeth Amber

Brief Encounters

It's out!
You can get your copy HERE also available in other reputable digital outlets. Check out the Brief Encounters site for a contest running this week to win a copy - starting tomorrow.

A day trip to the US embassy

Today I finally got round to doing something I should have done a while ago. I finally applied for my itin number so I can get an exemption from paying tax on my US earnings in the US. I'd reached a point where it had to be done otherwise everything I earn in the US gets taxed at 30% there and then again here at 20%.
If you're wondering why I hadn't sorted it out before it's because it's a real pain in the bum. It involves getting a letter from my publisher/s taking my passport, and a form to the US embassy in London in person and having them verify all the documents, copy them, they send them to Dallas and then all being well 12 weeks later you get sent your number so you can then fill out another form and pass it on to the publisher.
If I lived near London it wouldn't be such a big deal but with trying to balance family life, the day job and find the money for train fares it becomes a big deal.
Luckily today I had Phillipa Ashley to keep me company so we met up at Euston and went together. Mr Nell had been a bit antsy as Mr Bin Laden's recent demise may have caused problems but it worked in our favour as there wasn't a queue for the IRS dept. We dutifully surrendered our phones and car keys to the nice security people and Phillipa drank some of her water to prove it wasn't going to blow them all sky high and then we went through to the dept.
The man in the dept wasn't exactly Mr Cheerful but he was very helpful and made sure we had everything filled in correctly.
Even so we were quite glad to get out, reclaim our property and tazz off for lunch and a quick shufty around Marks and Sparks before getting the train home.
Definitely one of mine and Phillipa's stranger adventures but we had a lovely lunch and a good gossip. Now fingers crossed we get our numbers through okay!