Um, Animal Instincts won Love Story of the Year!

My agent, Darley Anderson celebrating with Love Story of the Year and Romantic Comedy of the Year!

Janet Gover, Liz Fenwick and me

With the Betty Neels Rosebowl and the award.

Mr Nell and Me

My editor Claire Baldwin, Me and my agent Maddie Buston
To say I was and still am stunned is putting it mildly. The other shortlisted authors were all so good, I honestly didn't think for a moment that I stood a chance.
We had to keep our speeches very short on the day and I was trying so hard not to cry I don't think I could have said much then, anyway.
So, bear with me because I'm going to make up for it now. I want to thank the RNA and all the organisers, especially Janet Gover my fellow LBD author for a wonderful, wonderful day. It was a day I'll always remember.
I want to thank my support teams, Mr Nell and the Belles who have to live with me. Phillipa Ashley and Elizabeth Hanbury, the coffee crew. My editor extraordinaire - Claire Baldwin, who works such magic on my books, and all the Headline team who give me fabulous covers and great support. My agent's Darley Anderson and Maddie Buston who are generous, kind and brilliant. My wonderful fellow romance authors who give me so much support and keep me going when the crows of doubt start to peck. And the biggest thank you goes to someone who I wish could have been there yesterday to enjoy the day with me - my fabulous cp and friend, Jessica Foote. Animal Instincts owes so much to her wonderful support.
I wish every one of the shortlisted authors could have won - they all wrote fantastic, beautiful books.
And now I've indulged myself - here are some pics!

Looking Forward

Now Just Look at me Now is on my lovely editors desk, I've lots of things I'm looking forward to. The RNA lunch on the 16th - meeting my editor and agent and all my RNA friends. I am so excited to be going and even more excited that I'm shortlisted! All the books on the final lists are wonderful reads and so different that I'm heartily glad that I'm not a judge.
I'm looking forward to exploring what to write next and enjoying working on Me, You and Him, my speculative project in the meanwhile. I can't wait to take the caravan to Denham so we'll have a home from home to escape to away from the madness that is London. I'd love to try and fit in a visit to Cliveden while we're away as I understand it's not too far away. I'm also going to have lunch with two of my favourite writerly friends before the end of the month.
In the day job I've the UKPHA conference at Bournemouth to enjoy. My jobshare and I are going for both days and our abstract was accepted for presentation so we're going to be presenting too - yippee!
What is everyone else looking forward to this month?

The secret's out!

I am thrilled to bits to announce that Animal Instincts has been shortlisted for RNA's Love Story of the Year!

The Love Story of the Year is for a shorter romance where there is a strong emphasis on the developing central relationship.

A shortlist of six is again chosen by the reading public, with the winner selected by three judges.

The shortlist is:

The Notorious Mr. Hurst – Louise Allen (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

Animal Instincts – Nell Dixon (Little Black Dress)

Always the Bridesmaid – Nina Harrington (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

Fair Deception – Jan Jones (Robert Hale)

The Wedding Party – Sophie King (Hodder)

Claimed for the Italian’s Revenge – Natalie Rivers (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

The award used to be called the Romance Prize which I won in 2007 with Marrying Max. I suppose a little bit of me was always convinced that had been some kind of fluke so to be shortlisted again is just so absolutely brilliant.
There are some terrific books on the shortlist so I feel even more stunned that my book, which my cp, the incredibly talented Jessica Raymond and I, dubbed the two gay donkeys, swearing parrot story has been chosen by readers.
I'm floating around in a little blissful cloud at the moment and hoping I can find a miracle to lose three stones by March in time for the award ceremony. Squee!!!!!!!!!