Blind as a bat

Yep, that's me. I had my annual eyetest yesterday and I knew my eyes had deteriorated but even my orthoptist was surprised by how much. So, I now need new reading glasses and some for distance/driving. The lady in Boots seemed to have trouble understanding that adult glasses just don't fit me. She was so worried that I should take advantage of the two for one offer she didn't notice that the arms of the glasses were sticking out the back of my head like TV ariels or that the glasses kept sliding off my face where they were too wide.
I finally got to try on the kids glasses and as usual they were a perfect fit. The nice lady was mollified when she realised that the price of two pairs of kid frames and the lenses was about the same as I would have paid for the two for one offer on the designer frames.
A few weeks ago I won the arc of my good friend Amanda's new book - You Had Me At Halo
I've been wanting to read it for ages and this weekend I finally did. The book is just so Amanda and so great! I think it's out in September and you all have to rush and get your copy as soon as it's out. Trust me - it's a really good read.

Lazy Sunday

I wish - today is La's birthday. Miss, now 9 years old, had us all up early to open her presents. She then dragged her Dad off to Merry Hell to spend her money on a DS Lite. We go on holiday Friday with friends so this weekend has been a whirl of cleaning, sorting out stuff, birthday and paperwork.
Blue Remembered Heels is still going really well but I need to do a little research before I can finish my current chapter. The agent emailed me Friday to say she had my package - so more nail-biting. I know it's going to kill me if I don't hear from M&B this week as once we're away my email access will be very limited and I'm one of those few people who doesn't use a mobile phone. I do have one but it's never turned on and only about five people have the number. Oh well, I suppose news keeps - good or bad.
I'm looking forward to my holiday, we're off to Wales to Keeston, which is a small village between Haverfordwest and St Davids. The Belles are really excited as our friends daughters are going too. Yes, this is the girlfest holiday. So beach, shopping, barbecues and castles here we come. Can't wait!

A Taste of Summer...

is due for release today!
This is a beach read duet - two summery seaside stories ideal for vacation reading or for that lazy afternoon in the shade with a cool drink. It's extra special that my duet partner is Jessica Raymond, my cp. It's a real buzz to see a cover with both our names on the front and to celebrate we're holding a contest!
Drop by our websites http://www.jessica-raymond.com and http://www.nelldixon.com and enter. The prize is great - a summer themed goodie basket with a signed (by me) copy of Fall in Love and a signed by both of us copy of A Taste of Summer. Suncream, beach ball, fudge, a frisbee and a ton of other goodies.
A Taste of Summer will be available from http://www.moonlitromance.com later today.
Here's the blurb:

MAKING WAVES by Nell Dixon
Cassidy Jones needs a holiday and her friend, Tammy’s cottage in New Bay sounds perfect. The beach could heal the bruises from losing her job and her fiancé.
Josh Parker is also looking forward to a much needed break after eighteen months of non-stop work. His friend Tammy’s cottage would be just right for some time alone. Or would it...

ONE SHORE THING by Jessica Raymond
Desperate to escape London, Carrie Vaughan heads for the Cornish coastal town of New Bay.Noah Trevanion needs an assistant in his deli shop. He is delighted when Carrie walks through the door.Soon, their relationship becomes something special. But even in New Bay, where the sun shines and the sea whispers, could Carrie's past catch up with her?

Write on

I'm cracking on with Blue Remembered Heels. Still no news from M&B but I know Maddie is really, really busy so I just try not to think about it. Today I'm mailing a copy of Marrying Max, Things To Do and the partial of Blue Remembered Heels to an agent who requested them by phone last week.
Galleys are proofed for A Taste of Summer which releases on Friday!!!!! Yay!
Galleys are due from Samhain soon for Marrying Max e book version. Then I'm clear of edits till November as Dangerous to Know is a December release.
I've left my medical partials until I hear about Charlie Darling. I've loads of ideas for medicals but it's such a limited market if Charlie doesn't get taken up by M&B, and there are no guarentees, I can't afford to invest time in them. Of course if Charlie does sell then I'll be sooo happy to get going again.

Wet, wet, wet

No, not the group - the weather. We all got pretty soaked today hitching up the caravan to come home from our weekend at the seaside. Luckily the motorway was quiet as there was a lot of surface water and the rain was torrential.
We had a near miss when we were almost home when some moron in an orange car decided to cut us up on the island. Mr Nell thought he'd hit us as the orange car appeared to sport a large dent but Baby appeared undamaged - not that Mr Orangecar moron stopped to see. He pretended he was going to pull over then sped off. The belles were shaken up but are okay now. We stopped off at the policestation and reported him.
We went to Burnham for the weekend as a prebirthday treat for La as she'll be 9 next weekend. We had dinner at La Vela, our favourite restaurant on the Friday night then spent Saturday shopping at Street. I spent some of my romance prize money on a new bag for my laptop. Not just any bag though and I know Kate Hardy will like this - a Radley laptop bag. There's a Tula outlet shop and I have the most gorgeous laptop bag for a bargain price.
La bought a new top, converser shoes in blue polka dots and more Sylvanian family stuff so she was very happy.We had lunch at a nice pub then hit the heady arcades of Burnham to win stuff on the 2p fall machines followed by a barbecue and eurovision party.
How did Serbia win?! The Ukraine was robbed!
The perfect birthday treat weekend as far as La was concerned.

N.B to Ocado

Dear Ocado,
Please can you ensure that we have the cute young driver to deliver our groceries next time? I know this is a strange request but my eldest daughter is wasting valuable lipgloss and hair products only to be disappointed when someone else delivers.
It also means that her enthusiasm to help me put away the groceries diminishes considerably when the driver is not the 'hot' guy.
Yours sincerely, Harrassed mother of three.

Eeeny-meeny-miny-Tag!

I wanted to gloat about the concert but I've been tagged by Meg and Amelia to do this 8 things meme. So, guess what my eight things are gong to be about? hehehehe. Plus I want an excuse to post another pic of Bryan on my blog.

This is my screen saver.

Eight Things about Bryan Adams.

1. Whenever you see him in concert he always gives the impression that he really loves what he does. I've been to a lot of gigs and some just give the impression that they really don't want to be there. Bryan really goes out of his way to make every part of the audience feel as if they are involved in the show.

2. He is a very sexy guy. No, he's not conventionally good looking but the sexiest men often aren't. He's very confident about his music and that in itself is sexy.

3. His music is excellent, he can rock and do the big power soft rock ballards. He writes songs and plays guitar and he's never been afraid to try new styles of music.

4. His voice is just incredible. I don't think there would be a woman at that show who didn't feel that when he sang 'Have you ever really loved a woman' or 'lets make love' that he was singing that just for her and her alone.

5. There aren't any gimmicks. What you see is what you get. One guy in jeans and a plain tee shirt with a few other guys, making music. No flashy lights, costume changes, smoke effects, nothing. Just Bryan for two hours. He used two stages and often strolls out among the audience.

6. He does a lot of work for various groups, Born Free, Friends of the Earth etc. Born Free were there last night collecting and signing people up. He actively campaigns for the causes he believes in and isn't just a 'face' the way some celebrities are.

7. He's a talented photographer. He shot some pics recently for M&S of Bryan Ferry which were used in their ad campaign.

8. He's incredibly honest and straightforward. he was on Chris Evans radio show a while ago doing some stupid quiz thing where the celebs played to win seconds to promote themselves. Chris Eans offered him the chance to cheat when he didn't do too well and he refused saying a few seconds was fine. When he got his few seconds he just said he was playing a gig at wherever it was if anyone fancied coming along. It drove Chris Evans nuts, he couldn't understand why Bryan wasn't plugging an album or the tour or why he simply wouldn't cheat to have more time.

I think I'm supposed to tag someone but I can't remember who I tagged for this before so if you read it and want to play consider yourself tagged!

Guess where I'm going tomorrow?

Oh yes! I'm going to see Bryan in concert. (wipes drool from keyboard) My eldest daughter and Mr Nell are going too. I'm so excited. It's a standing joke that I would leave my dh for Bryan if he came calling. In fairness Mr Nell says he would leave me should Linda Lusadi ever make him a similar offer.

My eldest dd feels we are both deeply embarressing.

Hearts and Flowers

Over the weekend I recieved a huge and very beautiful bouquet. It arrived while we were at Boscobel House so my neighbour took it in for me. I got back to find a card through the door saying it was at Tracey's, who of course had gone out. So I spent the evening wondering who would have sent me flowers - it was mine and Mr Nell's 22nd wedding anniversary on the Friday so I didn't know if it was anything to do with that.
Eventually the mystery was solved - The flowers were from the lovely people at The People's Friend!
They completely fill one of my large crystal vases and are absolutely gorgeous and such a wonderful, wonderful surprise!
Yesterday I saw the sample of the cover for mine and Jessica's upcoming release - A Taste Of Summer and it's gorgeous! I can't wait to share it with you, it looks so lovely and beachy.
I finished my second round edits for Samhain, so now just final edits/proof to go and second/proof edits for Moonlit. I'm hoping to finish another chapter of Blue Remembered Heels today so I can send that to Jessica, then I need to read my devotional chapter entries and get that finished too.

What I did today

Today we visited Boscobel House.

This was the place where Charles II fled to escape Cromwell's troops. It has a descendant of the legendary oak tree where Charles hid while the soldiers searched for him. We had a tour of the house and saw the priest holes where he hid. The gardens and tea rooms are quite lovely and we had a wonderful time.

Catching my breath

Maddie emailed me on Monday to say she has my revisions and will get to them asap. The photographer just left for the Dudley News. They are putting an article in the paper next week. She took the photo in the garden so my wisteria should look very pretty in the background. The rosebowl is still in London at the moment while they sort out the tiny little dink the engraver put in it. I swear it wasn't me!
I'm working on figuring out a schedule for what I need to be writing. I have two med partials started and my single title to work on. I also should have two lots of second round edits due - one from Moonlit and one from Samhain.
A Taste of Summer - the beach read duet will be out later this month - I can't wait to see the cover. Moonlit and By Grace do the most gorgeous covers.
Today is polling day here in the UK for the local council elections - GO VOTE!!

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who's stopped by, left messages, emailed me or called. I'm overwhelmed. I've sent off my revisions to Maddie at M&B so Michelle can put down her whip.

For everyone who has asked about getting hold of Marrying Max. It's available from Amazon in large print. You may be able to order a copy from People's Friend, it's issue 555. Also it's coming out as an e book from Samhain on June 19th.

Here's a pic

Many thanks to Fiona Harper and Allison Littlehales for the pictures.

Wow!

Marrying Max has won the Romance Prize 2007. Typing it still doesn't seem to make it any more real. Yesterday was one of the most amazing and surreal experiences of my life.
Allison and I met as planned at the station and had a nice journey into London, talking about our books and who we hoped to see at the lunch. We took a taxi to the Savoy and got there just a little early. This turned out to be a good thing as it's a very large place and it took us a while to find our bearings. Fortunately we were spotted by Roger (med author Gill Sanderson) and Jan Jones who rescued us and pointed us in the direction of the cloakroom and the bar.
I was too nervous to risk alcohol and I'm not much of a drinker anyway, so Allison and I stood with our glasses of water in this very large and impressive room trying not to be overwhelmed by the whole thing.
I had a lovely chat with Maddie Rowe about the revisions she'd asked for on Charlie and fortunately we seem to be in complete accord about the improvements. Then we were called through to the luncheon by the toastmist
ress.
The River room is beautiful, all cream and gold ornate plasterwork and the tables looked gorgeous with silver candleabra on mirrored plates. Allison and I didn't really know anyone very well on or table but we were fortunate to be seated with some very lovely people and we soon broke the ice.
The lunch was delicious, I mean really wonderful. Then it was time for the awards. The main award - The Romantic Novel of the year was first. This was won by Rosie Thomas for her book Iris and Ruby. She gave a superb speech.
Dame Tani Grey-Thomson presented the award and she was also a very moving speaker and her love of books really shone through.
Then it was the Romance Prize. The books short-listed were all so good as the chair of the judges talked about each one I just thought wow - that one will win. Then she said they had shortlisted them to three and Marrying Max was mentioned.
The lady next to me was smiling at me and I thought, no way do I stand a chance. Then I vaguely remember hearing my name and lots of excitement in the room.
I couldn't move. Allison was urging me to stand up and Michelle Styles came over and pushed me out of my seat to go up to collect the Betty Neels rosebowl.
I don't know how I walked across that room and onto that stage.
Then, horror, I was expected to make a speech -
I have no clue what I said.
I know it was short.
I hope I remembered to thank everyone.
After that it all went a bit crazy. I had the rosebowl on the table and I said to Allison -'how are we going to get this home on the train?'
She was grinning like a cheshire cat and said 'I've got a rucksack.'
The agent, Darley Anderson, came over to give me his card and asked me to send him something.
All my friends at Mills and Boon came over to the table and it was just crazy!
The next few hours just flew by. I had to call my husband and my mother and Jessica, my cp.
It felt so unreal - heaven knows what the photos people took of me will be like as I was still in shock.
It wasn't till Allison and I got out of the taxi back at Euston that it started to sink in and I remember saying to Allison - 'I won, didn't I?'
She just gave me a hug and steered me towards the train.I really do need a keeper when I'm out.

All set...

My hair is tamed and hi-lighted, Charlotte at Cheryl's Tan 'n' Talons has worked minor miracles on my nails. I've lost another half a pound at weightwatchers, my bag is packed with the tickets, my phone is on charge and a small present for the Fecklet has found it's way into my bag. (I love buying for babies), so I'm all set.
I've re-read Charlie through and made myself some notes ready to tackle the revisions. It'll be nice to say hello to Maddie tomorrow. Cross your fingers that Virgin trains will run to time, I can stay upright on my shoes, not drop my lunch down my suit or otherwise show myself up.
I'll be back with a full report after the event!

Cue the spooky music again...

About five or six posts back you might remember I said I'd had one of my premonition dreams. I dreamt I saw a revision letter from M&B for Charlie Darling. It asked for four points, two minor and two more major. I also saw email which I interpreted as needing to email them back.
Today I got an email from Maddie Rowe, the editor at M&B who has Charlie. Attached was the letter for revisions, set out as I 'saw' it with four revision points. Two minor and two involving more work.
Sometimes I scare myself.

Confuse and look

The marvels of the NHS under labour. The Choose and book system, except there is no choice and they cancel the booking and just send you an appointment anyway. Today Boo should have seen a paediatrician for one of her ongoing medical issues (the joys of being prem) Except her appointment, the one it took four phonecalls and twenty minutes on line to book, was cancelled at the last minute. It took thirty minutes on hold to various departments to try and rearrange it - they failed. They then had to make two calls back to me in order to rebook it.
I finished my first round of edits for Samhain, so now I have to wait for second round edits. Edits are also due anytime from Moonlit. I caught up on some of my other admin stuff for my publishers, now just the new author spotlight to post on my blog and a new contest to sort out.
I'm writing my new med partial and Blue Remembered Heels.
Still panicking over the Savoy. At least all this is helping to distract me.

Life and Lemon Meringue

I met Allison Littlehales and Phillipa Ashley for lunch today at the tea rooms. It's always a pleasure to meet up and we really should try and do it more often. As usual we talked non stop about writing, books, and our current projects. I have a lovely good luck card from Phillipa with a picture of Jane Austen's house on it and she and Allison have managed to calm my nerves a little about Friday.
I still don't know if Dave will be able to come with me to the Savoy. He's just started a new job (today) and his manager won't be in till Monday. They've had all the dates for our holidays and things but until he sees them he doesn't know if he can get the time off. This is not helping so the lemon meringue assisted beautifully today in calming my angst. I'm trying not to think how many points it is on the weightwatcher thing. I lost three pounds on Thursday and I'd love to lose another two by the Savoy date as this would mean I'd lost a stone.

It's getting closer...

The Savoy date is looming closer. Today I'm guestblogging with Jessica Hart at http://pinkheartsociety.blogspot.com If you visit here regularly you'll know that when I grow up I want to be Jessica Hart or Jenny Crusie so you can guess how excited I am.We're talking about contemporary heroes and we'd love some thoughts over there.
Yesterday I had another post over at the eharlequin, look who's blogging RNA thread about the preparations for the big day.
Tonight is weightwatchers - I'm hoping for a weightloss, preferably more than the pound I acquired during my holidays, then later I'm practising walking in my Savoy shoes. This is harder than it sounds. I haven't worn heels since I had my eldest daughter so I've lost the knack from my pre-baby catwalk days. I don't have much luck with shoes, in fact, if I could have plastic surgery anywhere on my body it would be my feet. Unlike the rest of me they are long and skinny. They are also pointy-shaped. Now you can get long shoes, you can get wide shoes, you can get long wide shoes. You can't get long skinny shoes with pointy toes.
My Savoy shoes need an insole to take up some width but they are very cute turquoise suede with a button over strap and skinny heels. Very lovely - but I look like an elephant on eggshells at the moment - more practise is dafinitely called for.

Marrying Max - The new cover!!!!

I love this cover - Vanessa Hawthorne at Samhain has done a fabulous job. The release date is now set for June 19th - so for all my overseas readers who couldn't get Max when it came out in the UK, here it is in e book. Every lovely award nominated bit of it!

I know, I'm boasting - well if I can't, who can? lol

Time flies..

I'm still home feeling crappy. My voice is returning much to my daughters' dismay and I'm still dosed up on meds. While I was away I got the plot in my head for a new medical so I've had to jot down the scenes in my head. I'm also ready to get on with chapter three of my new single title. The devotional chapter is done and just needs polishing and Samhain and Moonlit are getting ready to send me edits. Samhain for Marrying Max and Moonlit for Making Waves for the A Taste of Summer duet.
The Savoy date is drawing closer and my nerves are getting worse. Luckily Phillipa and Allison are meeting me for coffee on Saturday at the tearooms so that will help enormously.

Holiday postcards continued...

We also visited Branscombe, the pretty picture postcard village that was on the UK news a few weeks ago due to the sinking of the Napoli. The Napoli can be viewed from the beach and still seems to have some containers on board. Branscombe beach has only recently re-opened to the public after the village was swamped by salvagers looting from the containers that had washed up on shore. In the news this week the Isle of Wight had also started getting goods from the Napoli washing up there now too. It must have been horrendous for the villagers as the roads down to the bay are tiny and not at all suitable for the volume of traffic the wreck generated. The beach is pretty well clear again now and we walked for about a mile on a cool and bracing day.

Spring fever

Or in my case, tree pollen. I'm dosed to the eyeballs with antihisitimines and have lost my voice. The girls think this is hilarious as it means I can't nag at them. Michelle emailed methis morning to say my blog post was up at eharlequin, look whose blogging RNA thread. It served to remind me that the Savoy is less than two weeks away now - eek!
I'd put a pound on when I went to weight watchers this week after the holiday but I swear it's all the crap in my nostrils from the trees.
I spent yesterday at work cleaning out cupboards. It was a bit like cleaning out the attic of an eccentric great aunt. Dusty, spidery and full of mysterious objects that no-one knew who they belonged to, how they'd got there or what they were for.
The officeswap is virtually complete, and to be honest, I really don't see that it was worth it for anyone. The other team are still cramped. We have to keep going to another room to get our equipment all the time, the nurses are disgruntled because we booted out their stuff to make room for ours and the cleaners seem to have cornered the market in yellow bags. The main hall is full now of rubbish that needs to be tipped and the gents loo is full of stuff to be sent to store or redistributed.
I have no nails as I broke them cleaning so combined with my red eyes, stuffy nose, croaky voice and general fluffiness I'm going to be the pictre of glamour at the Savoy.

Powderham Castle

We spent Easter Sunday here.

This is Powderham Castle, home of the Earl of Devon. We toured the house which was great fun. The last time I came here I was on honeymoon so it had been a few years!

The girls enjoyed decorating eggs and rolling eggs. We did two treasure hunts and toured the secret garden. The picture of the kitchen is especially for Michelle. It's a genuine victorian kitchen with a lead sink so when a plate was dropped whilst being washed hopefully the china wouldn't break.

Back!!!

Well, I'm back from my holiday. Lovely weather and beautiful scenary. The hottest day was good Friday, which we spent at the beach at Charmouth. La and Boo spent most of the day in the sea.
I had one of my premonition dreams while I was away. I 'saw' a letter from M&B asking for revisions on Charlie. 2 minor ones and 2 more major ones and a request to email the changes back asap. Nothing in the post yet though.
I did get an email from the cover art dept at Samhain though and I've seen a preview of the cover for Marrying Max (the e book) It looks gorgeous. While I was away we went to Dawlish yesterday afternoon. On the green there were a number of stalls selling things to raise money for charity. One of them had a copy of Marrying Max (the People's Friend version) Somehow I ended up signing the copy and leaving them with some of my bookmark cards. I hope they'll raise lots of extra money with it. We certainly drew more people to the stall.
I'll post more about the trip and try and get some photo's on here for the next few days.

I'm off on holiday tomorrow until April 10th. I'm not sure how much net access I'll have while I'm away. I may manage to post but it depends on where we are. We're heading to Devon, near Sidmouth, and I must admit I can't wait. I am so tired at the moment the break will be fantastic. C2 of Blue Remembered Heels is done and with Jess, I'm hoping to do some more while I'm away. I also want to do my devotional chapter while I'm gone for By Grace.

Best of all though, I have new books calling my name - Adopting Alyssia by Denise Patrick has been on my list for ages. I also have Her L.A. Knight by Lynne Marshall and Margaret McDonagh's A Doctor Worth Waiting For sitting on my pile.

Pearly whites

Took the girls to the dentist yesterday. Yes, this is the hunky dentist who looks like Vin Diesel -happy sigh. La was praised for her great teeth cleaning. He tugged out a longtime wobbly tooth for Boo. She never batted an eyelash and says it didn't hurt at all. Now she's waiting for the tooth fairy. Eldest dd was asked if she'd consider having braces fit. To do this they would need to refer her to have some teeth out and she'd need to wear it for about two years. Of course she promptly burst into tears. I'm sure the moment wasn't helped by Boo skipping around with a cotton wool plug in her mouth singing 'it didn't hurt a bit, you're just a baby.'
Sisterly love is a wonderful thing.
Tonight is Boo and La's report night so I get to go and see their teachers. It's always interesting, especially La's report,my budding criminal genius.
Almost finished c2 of Blue Remembered Heels, just 500 words or so to go. Not sure this version will stay when I've written more, it may need juggling but we'll see. It's great fun to write.

Author spotlight

There is a great interview over on my Myspace blog with M&B historical author Michelle Styles. Michelle is a good friend of mine and a very talented writer. Her book, Gladiators Honour is also shortlisted for The Romance Prize 2007
http://blog.myspace.com/nelldixon

Be still my beating heart

I had a card through the door on Wednesday saying the postman had tried to deliver a package but it was too big for the letter box so I needed to take a trip to collect it. I didn't think anything of it as I was expecting my eldest dd's cd that I'd ordered for her. My post is very vague sometimes so it wouldn't be the first time something as small as a cd had been left at the depot.
I planned to go this morning as they are only open for a few hours a day, then the post this morning delivered the cd. Mmm...
I ran through the other possibilities, a ms to critique for the NWS, some tee shirts I'd ordered for my holidays, Charlie Darling rejected from M&B.
You can guess which one my mind immediately fixated on - so then I couldn't rest till I got up there and collected it. All the way there I was trying to remember if I'd asked them to shred Charlie if they didn't like it.
I dashed in clutching my drivers license and the card, the postlady disappeared and I heard rustling. By this time I was convinced it was Charlie and I was ready to cry all over the poor woman.
But no, it turned out to be the tee shirts after all.
My legs were like jelly when I got back to the car, I don't think I've recovered yet. lol

welcome

to all the folks that dropped by. I hope some of you will stick around and drop back.
In other news, getting priorities straight, I lost another three pounds at weight watchers last night. This makes nine and a half in four weeks - I think I'll need to retry my Savoy outfit on again soon to see if the trousers need adjusting.
Today is my in-laws golden wedding anniversary. 50 years - we have a special present arranged for them and tonight they are taking us out for a meal to celebrate. Everything is a bit hectic this upcoming week, dental appts for the girls, the car servicing, packing for the holiday, sorting out work.
Work is still as bad as ever. The date is set for the office swaps - Friday 13th April. Yeah, I know, isn't that appropriate? We have no manager at the moment either, in the grand scheme of re appointing all the bosses to different jobs paying more money they appear to be ignoring our bit of the county.

Blue Remembered Heels - heroine

This is an actress called Yancy, I think she's pretty perfect as Abigail (Abbey) the heroine in Blue Remembered Heels. I'm almost halfway through c2. Jessica has looked at the synopsis and Lis has read chapter one so it all looks good for entering the contest.

Did you see what I did?

Well, did you spot it? Yes, I finally managed to put a photo on here! Yay, me. In my mission to improve my terrible skills I've been practising html stuff over the weekend. I'm still rubbish at it but I did manage to do a few more things.
I also did my one page synopsis for Blue Remembered Heels and sent it to Jessica. I did a chat at The Story Board and Lis has kindly agreed to read the first chapter of Blue Remembered Heels for me to give me some reader feedback.
I made some pages at the Author's Den and I worked on my Myspace.
Wow!
After all the playtime, I need to get writing again - time to refocus on my projects.

Mothering Sunday

It's mother's day here in the UK for the benefit of my US and Canadian visitors who might think I've gone a little crazy. Well, crazier than usual at any rate. My youngest daughter has presented me with a lovely brooch which I suspect she has fleeced from someone. I expect I'll hear the full story later. My middle daughter has made a lovely card. Boo and Shaggy, my eldest dd,have also given me a huge wicker sarcophagus full of plants. They love it and if you like plants I'm sure it's really beautiful.
This was a lovely thought but I hate houseplants. I'm not good with them, they seem to sense my animosity at having something else to care for and promptly shrivel up and die. This thing is huge- there must be at least twelve plants in it, one of which is a kind of dark purple leaved thing that reminds me of dead butterflies and gives me the creeps. I know I'm an ungrateful recipient but my punishment is that I have to care for this thing and look at it forever as it occupies my favourite table top and I worry about water stains on the mahoghany.
I appreciate the sentiment behind the gift but if any of you ever, at any point, and for whatever reason become possessed of a desire to buy me a houseplant - pease don't. The deaths of a hundred African violets are already on my concience.
I love cut flowers, especially daffodils which are my favourites. Fresh flowers are so cheerful and always lift the spirits. Guess I'll have to go buy my own.

Weekend whirl

I lost another half a pound at weightwatchers on Thursday. Not bad considering I'd been ill. Yesterday was comic relief aka rednose day here in the UK. I personally hate this event. I know lots of people love it but I find it unfunny, patronising and pointless. There are much better more effective ways of giving to people who need money than comic relief.
Today apparantly is St Patrick's day. Another day that for some reason is starting to become very irritating. If you're Irish then fabulous, have a great time but if you're not then why pretend to be just so you can go and have too much to drink. I'm not irish, not even a bit irish I have no desire to be irish even though I know some lovely irish folks so I don't want to fake being irish - aaagggghhhhhh. (Sorry)
Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday - so I'm about to whizz off to collect flowers for my Mom and MIL and find a card and present for my friends birthday on Monday - Happy Birthday Susanne if you're reading this. It's also supposed to snow tomorrow - really snow - so that'll be interesting.
Writing wise I haven't done much for two days. Well, that's not strictly true. I've been thinking a lot and juggling stuff in my head about plots and storylines, so hopefully I'll be back on form in the next few days again.

Techno - know how

Most of you have figured out by now that me and computers aren't exactly a match made in heaven. But I'm starting to find that my lack of computer saviness is hindering me in ways I hadn't anticipated. One of my goals this year was to figure out my promotions and marketing so I've been trying to learn the ropes from some experts in the field.
One of whom is the wonderful Dorothy Thompson from http://pumpupyouronlinebookpromotion.blogspot.com

I asked her some questions about Technorati and how it worked and she has a great step-by-step instruction post on there, so I'm going to give this a try.
I've also been trying to get my Myspace more user friendly - now that's a challenge on it's own.


Technorati Profile

Quarterly News

My quarterly newsletter was mailed out yesterday to all my subscribers. To register just go to my website and follow the instructions. http://www.nelldixon.com There is always an exclusive contest just for members so if you join now, let me know and I'll make sure you get this quarters news. (Contest runs till April 2nd)
I'm feeling a bit better today, the bruised feeling seems to have gone from my lower back so I'm hoping this is the end of it. I'm not good at being ill, I'm the worlds worst patient so I'll be so glad to feel normal again.
I must do some tidying up on here too. If you visit me reguarly and you aren't listed in my sidebar leave me your link so I can add you. I also have a Myspace page so if any of you want to drop by there or friend me go to http://www.myspace.com/nelldixon
Jessica has sent me the crit for Blue Remembered Heels so the first chapter is all tidied up now and I'm working on a short synopsis. Once that's out of the way I can enter it in the contest and get back to Places To Go while I wait for the verdict on Charlie Darling.

What a surprise!

I hauled myself off the sofa and pulled on my tracksuit last night to go to weightwatchers. Guess how much I lost? Four pounds, four whole pounds. That's six pounds in a fortnight. Yay!!! Still feeling crappy today but I think the antibiotics are kicking in now.
Blue Remembered Heels is going like a train at the moment. I've almost finished the first chapter thanks to the writing challenges at Romance Diva's. The plot is almost there in my head so I can tackle the synopsis soon. I don't know what kind of reaction this is going to get though. If I try to explain it as it stands at the moment it'll sound a bit off the wall - which it is, but hopefuly in a good way. This story really excites me so I'm hoping for good things with it. I've done a bit more on Places To Go but I think I'll get Blue Remembered Heels ready and entered in the Waterstones Chick lit contest then focus on Places To Go - barring anything exciting happening from M&B of course.
La, my eight year old informed me this morning that she could see I'd lost weight. "Because before your tummy was all round and out there and now it isn't." She said as she helpfully patted my tee shirt down. I think it was a compliment.

Holding out for a hero.

I had my crit of chapter three of my medical back from Jess so that's all polished up now just in case M&B are interested. Still no news on Charlie, this is the point where I get really antsy so I'm in full distraction mode.

Part of my distraction is my plotting for Blue Remembered Heels. I've been giving some thought to my hero for this and by chance I spotted a face on TV that fit the bill. I know - that's really unusual for me as I haven't a clue usually about actors or films. However they helpfully printed his name on screen so I could look him up. So here's Alec Baldwin.

Yay

Be My Hero is now available in print. http://www.moonlitromance.com

I also recieved a signed copy of Jessica Hart's Barefoot Bride. Guess what I'll be reading as a reward once I finally finish this medical partial? I just have a couple of hundred words to add and it'll be on it's way to Jessica for her opinion.

Tonight is weigh in night at weightwatchers - place your bets as to how much I've lost.

Counting points

My friend dropped by yesterday and double-checked my point counting. I am being very virtuous but don't see anything happening in the fluffiness department yet. I can't believe one small fillet of smoked mackerel is 10 points - who knew?
I've rejigged my new medical synopsis again and feel a little better about it now. Almost completed the partial just over 1k to go and it's really starting to come together more now I think. Once I've done that I plan to dive back into Places To Go and get another 10k or so done on that. I'm also tinkering with another project that I might enter in a contest if I can get the first chapter finished in time for the deadline. It's another single title that I've been mulling over for a while. Unlike the medical it has a proper title - Blue Remembered Heels. I must get myself a title for the new med, I seem to have been calling it that forever.

Bounty bars and other happy coincidences

Bounty bars are the perfect shape and size to eat in two bites. Hence ideal for the car when I'm sprinting between visits. Sadly, Bounty bars are not good for the fluffiness issue so I only ever have one when I'm a) buying diesel, b)stressed, c)haven't had any lunch. Today I was all of those so my Bounty Bar really was a taste of paradise.
I had a nice message left for me today at Myspace, a lovely lady told me she'd gone to Barnes and Noble to buy Things To Do but the staff told her it had sold out so she ordered it. I had a little buzz of excitement when I read that - it would be so lovely to see it on a bookshelf in a shop. A few people have told me they've asked their local library to order it for them which is fantastic.
This week is hard as I'm on my own at work, lots of new babies which is nice, oh, and a clients dog has eaten the cable to my neonatal hearing screening equipment. I needed that Bounty lol
Tomorrow I get to go to weightwatchers with my friend, Susanne. Since I was banned from Rosemary Conley a few years ago I haven't really done the group thing so this should be interesting.

Shopping

I spent yesterday morning at Merry Hell, aka Merry Hill. I don't like shopping for me, it's no fun when you're fluffy, but, the new spring stuff is in and I needed to find something for the Savoy. It's no good me leaving it till nearer the time as I haven't anytime to shop as the belles have a dance show coming up and we have a holiday before then too.
I managed to melt a serious amount of plastic on a new suit, top, shoes, bag, scarf, make-up and a nice John Rocha tunic top that was in the sale at Debenhams. My friend is dragging me to Weight Watchers with her on Thursday. That'll be fun - she's promised to help me with the math. So will I become less fluffy? will pigs fly? watch this space!

Stunned!!!

Things To Do has been nominated for the Ecataromance Reviewers' Choice Award. Wow!

Love at the library part 2

Well, I'm back. It was an interesting morning and I chatted with some really nice people. I'm holding the draw later for people who took a free ticket to win a prize parcel of some goodies and a copy of Things To Do.
It was very heartening to see how popular romances are with book borrowers. I always knew they were but it was still good to see the proof with my own eyes. Lots of RNA members books being taken out.
I finished c2 of the medical partial and sent it to Jess, I've started in on c3. I also put down a little bit of a new project as I saw this great competition mentioned that I thought might suit this idea I've had buzzing around in my brain for a while now. Now if someone would just invent a few extra hours in my day I'll be just fine!

Love at the library

Tomorrow is the meet the author, love at the library event. Since it's half term and as usual the local press are too busy taking photo's of primary school children picking up litter, if I see anyone other than a couple of retired folks, some kids who are out for a giggle and a dog I'll be happy.
I get very nervous about meeting people and talking about my writing. I wish I had someone else to hide behind. As it is I've dragooned eldest dd into coming as my assistant to persuade people to take raffle tickets for the free draw to win a copy of Things To Do and I've a supply of pens and postcards.
My wonderful friends at Wombourne writers have promised to drop by and so have some of my walk for health group (they are also supporting me in my quest to become less fluffy) So, if you happen to be in the vicinity of Wombourne Library tomorrow between 10 and 12 don't be shy - come and say hello - there's a free pen in it for you ;)

The Savoy and being 'fluffy'

Fluffy is a batcave term for carrying a few extra pounds. Or in my case, quite a few extra pounds. As the Savoy tickets arrived yesterday and I just booked our train I decided I needed to tackle my added fluffiness a little more severely. I don't over eat so a diet is tricky. I've cut down where I can and the fluffiness remains. (This is where Polycystic ovaries don't help in the fluffiness battle.)
I know that my problem is lack of exercise. Eldest dd and I went to a local health club today to try out the facilities and to see if I could justify the expense of joining. She, of course, loved it. My eldest is very keen on sport of any kind so it was her idea of heaven. I liked the pool, it was warm, had swim lanes and the hairdyers worked in the changing rooms. I can't see myself becoming a gym bunny however, to be honest, the gym scared me. It was so noisy with music playing and televisions everywhere, the machines all had to be set with numbers to program them - my idea of hell.
My GP has forbidden any kind of aerobic activity as my hip is not good so my other choices were limited. I'm too old, unco-ordinated and fluffy to trampoline so apart from the pool I'm thinking I probably wouldn't use the other facilities much.
Sigh - Eldest child and I discussed it at length and we decided to get the local leisure centre programme instead. If we can make at least two sessions a week there for six weeks I'll look at the posh club again.
In the meantime it's back to my trusty pedometer.

Snow and birthdays

Today is my birthday and the schools are closed because of the snow, which means my birthday meal out is looking a bit shaky. I should have gone out on Tuesday with my friend but she had to bail because she's buried under work, so I don't think socialising is in the stars for me this week. The kids are outside making a snowman. I give La about fifteen minutes before she comes back in wet through and dithering telling me she doesn't like snow.
My presents were interesting from the girls. My dh had coerced them into buying me a bottle of Happy, my favourite perfume but the two little ones decided to present me with a gift of their own choosing too. La gave me a tiny snowglobe which she informed me she'd meant to give me last year but forgot. Boo gave me a small teapot. I don't drink tea. She then went on to say she'd won it at the school summer fair and not to worry about the damaged box lid as that was where she'd torn the raffle ticket off.
I love birthdays!

I hate cleaning...

I'm not a natural Mrs housewife type person. I love the house to look clean and tidy but with a husband who thinks the floor is a suitable place to store his stuff and three very messy daughters, I'm on a hiding to nothing. I spent most of this weekend digging out my middle daughters room and I'm nowhere near done. I think she has the market cornered in odd socks, handbags and Bratz doll bits.
I treated myself to Liz Fielding's latest book, The Valentine Bride yesterday whilst I was at Asda. I'd like to get Natasha Oakleys latest too but I bought the dvd of Muriel's Wedding and The Runaway Bride to watch with my eldest dd instead. I'll have to check my bank balance for next weekend and see if I can manage it then instead.

5 Things

Robin tagged me to blog five things people don't know about me. Since I've already done this twice I thought I'd make this five secret or not so secret things about my books.

1. One scene in The Cinderella Substitute was sparked by a phrase one of my Asda collegue's used in a story she was telling me one day during her break. The scene was the one where Jenni's mum is wandering the street.

2. Marrying Max was inspired by Jessica Hart's wonderful fake engagement stories. I longed to write one to see if I could create a believable situation.

3. Cue Me In was my first attempt at a spooky story, it's very much tongue in cheek and the castle in the story is loosely based on Corfe castle.

4. Fall in Love features Cornwall and surfers. We spend a lot of time in Cornwall and Devon. New Bay is fictional but has elements of lots of the seaside towns we stayed at. Check out our upcoming beach duet, coming out in May. Jessica Raymond and I have two new stories set in New Bay. You may recognise some of the characters.

5. The yacht in Things To Do meant I interviewed a yacht broker and had a personal tour of a million pound yacht.

If you want to do this, consider yourself tagged!

Press releases and promo

I suck at both of them. At least I think I do at the moment. One of my goals for this year was to make more effort at both. I hadn't bargained on my cable company crashing my net access without warning seemingly everytime I have a chat booked.
Thank you to everyone who has emailed me since the announcement of the romance prize shortlist. I'm overwhelmed and a little stunned still. I need to book my tickets now for the Savoy and for the conference.
Writing wise, I'm onto chapter two of my new medical and I think I can see where it's going better now thanks to Jess's inciteful critique. So I'm planning to push on with that as my task for this week.

It's official

The announcement of the shortlist for the Romance prize has been posted.
http://www.rna-uk.org click on RNA romance prize 2007
The Nominees are:

Accepting The Boss's Proposal - Natasha Oakley
An Improper Companion - Anne Herries
Her Ready-Made Family - Jessica Hart
Lord Greville's Captive - Nicola Cornick
The Gladiator's Honour - Michelle Styles
The Millionaire's Runaway Bride - Catherine George

and Marrying Max by me!!

I can't believe my book is there with all those fabulous authors. I've read all of the books except Anne and Catherine's and I know how fabulous they are. To even be considered in the same line as Jessica Hart makes me feel faint - those of you who read here regularly know how much I admire her work and how excited I was to meet her last year.
Congratulations to all the authors!

Agents and other stuff

I had an offer of representation yesterday from the agent who was looking at Charlie Darling. After a lot of research and thought I decided not to go with the offer. No doubt I'll kick myself at some point in the future about this decision but at the moment it feels right.
I finished the first chapter of my new medical and sent it to Jessica. Hopefully I've got the tone right but I'll see what she thinks.
My next step is to finish the chapter of Places To Go and send her that, then tackle chapter two of the medical. No news yet from M&B but I had two lovely emails, one from Shirley who was my editor at Peoples Friend for Marrying Max. It was so nice to hear from her as she was excited about the shortlisting. The other one was from Angela James at Samhain. Samhain have taken up the e book rights for Marrying Max so they are very thrilled too.

Ccccoooolllldddd

I hate being cold. It's freezing here and we didn't get the snow they promised. I want a snow day - chance to stay home in the warm. I heard from a friend on the Samhain boards that I've been quoted in the RWR magazine for this month. Just wish I could remember what it was about, I have vague recall of doing something for someone a few months ago about hints and tips. I don't get the magazine so if anyone here spots it, please let me know.
I heard from the agent that has Charlie and he told me he's reading. I'm doing my research to see if he's a good fit for me. No news from M&B which is okay as I'd like to be further in with my new story first. I'm almost done with the first chapter - I think the rest will be faster to write but this one is a challenge to get the tone right.
I'm also working on Places To Go - I'm hoping to have a new chapter done on that soon too. The March edition of The Romantic Times will be out soon and I'm on tenterhooks to see my advert and read the review for Things To Do. Exciting stuff happening so far this year!

I've been nominated.

I just had a phonecall from a lovely lady from The Romantic Novelist's Association. Marrying Max has made the shortlist for category romance novel of the year. I need to send more copies for the next round of judging. The winner is announced at a lunch at the Savoy hotel on Friday 27th April in London.
I am so excited - I would never have entered Max if my lovely friend and fellow writer Michelle Styles hadn't suggested I send copies. She has also made the shortlist with her fabulous book - Gladiators Honour. Whoo hoo! The official announcement should be made soon, but WOW!!!

Today is the launch of Be My Hero - the second book of the Cinderella series. I love this cover. The original one wasn't at all me but this one is great - The book should be available by tonight UK time and sometime in the day US time at http://www.moonlitromance.com/ and will be available at fictionwise shortly too. I'll give you all a shout when it goes up there.

Here's the excerpt I promised -

Polly knelt on a chair at the kitchen table with her colouring pencils.
‘That’s a nice picture.’ He admired her handiwork. The picture was of a man and a woman holding hands with crowns on their heads. A drawing of a little girl with yellow hair, also wearing a crown, was next to them.
‘That’s you and Nathalie getting married,’ Polly explained. ‘I’m in my princess dress because I’m the bridesmaid.’
Evan swallowed. ‘Um - Poll, sweetheart, Nathalie and I are just friends. We aren’t getting married.’ Even as he said the words out loud, he knew he wanted to marry Nathalie, had always wanted to marry Nathalie. The revelation quickened his pulse as it hit home like a thunderbolt.
‘I saw you kiss her - I peeped round the door when she said goodnight. That means you’ll marry her,’ Polly declared confidently as she began to colour in Nathalie’s hair in the picture with a black fibre-tip pen.
‘Poll, it’s not that simple, okay?’
His daughter silenced him with a look and a shrug of her shoulders. At least he should be grateful that Polly didn’t want him to remarry Laurel.
He toyed with the idea of calling Nathalie but he felt the initiative needed to come from her. If he pushed too hard at the moment, he could make everything worse. He rubbed his hand through his hair in frustration. The cases he dealt with in court weren’t as tricky to handle as Nathalie and his feelings for her.
The house phone rang and he rushed to answer it, hoping it would be her.

(C) Nell Dixon 2007

Things To Do

Is up on Amazon UK - I just found it by accident! whoo hoo! This has totally made my day.

Be My Hero

Be My Hero is due for release tomorrow. I'm kind of nervous about this book because it touches on something that's a difficult issue for many women. Infertility and the choices we sometimes are forced to make. It's something I have considerable firsthand experience of and I didn't want to write a schmaltzy story. Nathalie's story ends happily as all good romances should (at least the ones I like to read) but I hope I've done her justice.
The book has a special dedication - it's dedicated to all the staff and consultants at the unit for assisted fertility at Birmingham's womens hospital. Without them and my wonderful consultants, Mr Jordan and the Mr Afnan, I wouldn't have my family.
I'll post an excerpt for you tomorrow and the cover!
I'm guestblogging today at Sweeter Romantic Notions author blog - talking about the internet. Don't forget to go here http://blog.myspace.com/nelldixon and read Meg Allison's interview.

Launching My author spotlights

http://blog.myspace.com/nelldixon Drop by here to read more about multi-pubbed writer Meg Allison. I'll be posting regular spotlight interviews with guest authors over at my Myspace blog. If you write sweet/sensual or YA and would like an interview then please drop me a line.

ps Meg is a lovely person as well as a super talented author so please check her out.

Premature Back-ulation

Yes, cable is down again. I'm typing this from work just so you all don't think I've fallen off the edge of the planet, which I might do in a minute. I'm doing the book a day giveaway tomorrow Jan 16th over at The Romance Studio so if you fancy winning a copy of Things To Do hop over and enter the draw. If I ever get to access my emails ever again and you win I'll send you a copy.
To say I'm a bit pizzled off is the understatement of the year. I think we'll be changing provider because this is just ridiculous.
On the writing front - I managed some more on Places to Go yesterday and rewrote most of my medical as I'm still tinkering to get the tone right. It's very different from Charlie Darling.

Catching myself up

Now I finally can access the net again I've been catching up like a crazy woman. First 1000 words done on my medical now only 49k to go. I feel so much better for having got started, I probably wrote 5k before I was reasonably happy with the start. I'm sure it will change again though.
Places to Go is also moving along again, which is great as it's so much fun to write.
The weather here has been wet and wild for the last few days and my poor garden looks extremely battered. My dwarf conifer in my front rock garden looks to have bitten the dust and my DH is making noises about attaching ropes to my towbar to yank it out. The corkscrew hazel is budding up nicely although with the wild weather our squirrel has gone into hiding.

I'm baack!

Yay! Cable appears to be working again - at last. We've compensation for all the disruption in reduced bills and free calls for the next six months but what a nightmare!
I've started my new medical and managed a chapter on Places to Go - wow, really pleased with that. I also have a very rough almost completed synopsis for the new medical.
Things To Do is finally listed on Amazon.com!!! Now once I'm caught up again I plan to have a new contest so please keep your eyes peeled and I'll be announcing that shortly here and over at my website. I'll also be emailing the first of my guest authors their interview questions for my My space blog spotlights.
Oh, it's so good to be back.

Progress Report

Making Waves is done and sent to Laura at Moonlit to sit alongside Dangerous to know and my line edited version of Be My Hero which is due out on the eighteenth of this month.
Charlie Darling is with Maddie Rowe and with the agent - both of those outcomes are out of my control now so I'm trying to push them out of my head.
All I can do is continue with my other projects to get as much done on them as I possibly can. So, I'm starting my new medical today and I'm writing Places To Go as I've neglected it for far too long.
At work I have a health visitor student for the week for her alternative placement - Hi Liz! On Thursday my eldest belle will become a teenager - I am too young to be the mother of a teenager. (Stop sniggering)

Uh-oh I did it again

This time last year I queried a few agents about Things To Do and had some good results but no cigar. My friend, Allison Littlehales, told me a while ago about a really good agent who she thought was looking for medical romance writers amongst other things. Over our usual coffeee and cakes I promised her that if M&B showed any interest in Charlie darling I'd follow it up.
Guess what, I finally got my courage up and did it last night while the net was co-operating. This morning I woke up to a request to see the full ms and a 3-5 page synopsis.
So my goals have shifted a tinsy bit to allow for this new development. I need to rewrite the synopsis as I only usually write 2 page ones and the one for Charlie is woeful to say the least. Then I must finish Making Waves, I've only a little bit left to do. My plans are more or less firmed up for my new medical so I need to draft a rough synopsis for that too. Looks like a busy week.

Just sometimes...

My internet server provider is up to it's tricks again. I'm hoping this will stay on long enough to let me post. If you've emailed me and I haven't responded it's because I can't. I can recieve but not send - well certainly nothing more than a one line sentence if the wind is in the right direction.
I've recieved my confirmation from M&B so Charlie is sitting there waiting. Making Waves is almost complete and I have lots of things firming up for my new medical.
Be My Hero is due out in just over two weeks time and my edits after much cussing over the lack of email send facility should now be with Laura.
Cable tell me they should have this fixed next week - I won't hold my breath.

Welcome to the New Year

I'm guestblogging again today at Sweeter romantic notions again if you want to pop over. I was talking about setting goals to achieve your targets. I don't like resolutions too much, I prefer to set goals.
My goals are only set for a month at a time, this gives me chance to review them and make changes as circumstances alter. So for January my goals are:
To lose some weight - I've started this already - check out the (Pink Heart society)
To finish Making Waves, edit it and send it off - (2K to go and major editing)
To have a synopsis and the first three chapters done of a new medical (This one may be a tough push as I have final line edits for Be My Hero to complete as it's released at the end of this month and all the promoting to do)
So - three goals - what about you?

Year's end

2007 is beckoning just around the corner. 2006 has been so good to me writing-wise it's hard to believe that this New Year can be better. Yet I know it can. I have so many plans and hopes for the coming year. Mills and Boon have the full ms of Charlie Darling, Moonlit Romance has the full ms of Dangerous to Know.
Books are scheduled for release:
Be My Hero - Moonlit Romance on the 20th of Jan
Marrying Max (large print) - 1st of March
Making Waves - Moonlit Romance - May 07
Marrying Max - ebook - Samhain publishing June 07
I have other stories started and planned, a new medical partial to write, Places to Go to finish plus a little file full of ideas for new stories.
2007 will see my first review in the Romantic Times - scary! and like an idiot I entered Marrying Max for category romance of the year, so in Feb I should know if it made the shortlist or not.
I wish I could be as optimistic about my other job - things can't get any worse there than they are now. I have meetings planned in Jan to discuss how the caseloads can be managed but something needs to be done and fast.
I hope my parents and the rest of my family stay well in the coming year and my lovely cp has her own happy event to look forward to in the summer with the birth of her first baby.
Happy New year to all of you, may the next twelve months find you well, happy and fulfilled.

Good way to end the year

Yesterday I got a box from Lightning Source with my author copies of Things To Do. Wow! I have to admit I cried when I took the top one out of the box. It looks fantastic, so shiny and glossy and just downright gorgeous.
I also got two fabulous reviews -
Fall in Love was reviewed by Gray at Romance Reviewed and September Song (My surfer story aka Yo Dude) Got five roses! http://romancereviewed.blogspot.com to read the rest of the review and Jess's wonderful reviews on there too for Little shop of Dreams and Haunted Hearts.
From Darkness was reviewed by The Romance Studio and scored four hearts. My story, Cue Me In, was mentioned as the scariest! http://www.theromancestudio.com and go to reviews to read more.
I'm guestblogging today too at http://www.srnauthors.blogspot.com if anyone wants to drop by. This is a great resource site for sweet and sensual writers.

Eek!

I'm typing this on the new computer after 6 hours of transferring files, addresses and favorite stuff. I also appear to be on the new version of Blogger -sigh. I held out as long as possible but got forced into changing today.
Charlie Darling is off to Richmond and I've 3.5k to go now on Making Waves. I've also done a load of editing on Be My Hero ready for when Laura sends the tweaks through.
One more day at work and then I have the weekend off - whoohoo. I'm looking forward to pottering around the house tidying up and having a break.

Ready or not...

I finished checking Charlie Darling today. Did the last of my tweaks and printed it out. Now it's all parcelled up and ready for the post office, requested material written on the outside and my treasured compliment request slip nestled on the inside. Just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best now.
I've 4k left to write on Making Waves and I really want to finish that as soon as I can so I can prepare my next medical partial. My dh has finished preparing my new laptop so I can start to transfer all my favourites and adresses and 'stuff' from this one to the nice shiny new one for the new year.
Still waiting for Things To Do to go up on Amazon but I got a kick out of finding Marrying Max in large print for preorder at Waterstones. Next excitement will be the release in January of Be My Hero from http://www.moonlitromance.com

Aftermath

How was your Christmas?
I'm back at work tomorrow and my house looks like Santa stampeded through it. The belles loved the gifts the guy in the red suit left for them. My prezzies were pretty good too. My dh has bought me a new laptop. This one is worn out, there are no letters left on the keys, the battery won't hold any charge, the hinge on the lid doesn't latch properly and the screen fritzes out every now and again. He bought me this older one just under three years ago for my fortieth birthday saying he was investing in my writing career.
He says this new one is to help me sell to M&B and get on the NYT bestseller list - (with or without talking parrots).
Jessica gave me some yummy chocs and the M&B Christmas annual - which I'd been looking to buy but hadn't seen anywhere.
My friends gave me Bailey's, books and white wine. The belle's gave me socks and cute stuff. My parents and in-laws gave me money toward my RNA fee's and towards my website upkeep.
Fantastic!

Almost Christmas...

The presents are wrapped, the last few cards will be exchanges at the Christingle service tomorrow. The veg rack is groaning under the weight of the food and my kitchen counter is loaded with bread.
The really nice thing is not having to go anywhere now other than Chapel tomorrow. I've re read Charlie for the millionth time and I'm almost ready to do the print out ready to hit the post office after the big day. I still have just a couple of bits I want to tweak but they're tiny little things.
Making Waves will hopefully get finished before New Year - I've just four and a half k to go.
The nicest news is that my friend Julie Cohen has had her baby, a bouncing baby boy! How fabulous is that!
Merry Christmas to everyone, eat too much, drink too much and have a generally wonderful time.

Things To Do is out in print - you can order from Barnes and Noble or buy from http://www.samhainpublishing.com  

Why I never ask...

...my dh to help with plotting.
I was staring vacantly at my computer testerday thinking about conflicts for my new medical and he asked what I was doing. So I told him - big mistake. Ususally his first question is 'is there a dog in it?' and he then outlines the plot for Lassie come home. Yesterday the conversation took a different tack.
'Is there a parrot in it?' dh
'It's a medical romance.' me
'you could have a talking parrot in it.' dh
'why?' me
'well, they could go to a house and somebody dies and one of them could inherit a talking parrot.' dh
'what happens then?' me
'I dunno, you're the writer.'


p.s for the record I don't think my new med will feature talking parrots

Tag - I'm it!

Four things
Michelle Styles tagged me with the four things meme
Four jobs I've had:
1.Shoe sale girl
2. Hand model
3. Checkout girl
4 writer (Plus loads of other jobs but I figured you all knew about the medical ones)
Four places I've lived:
1. The Black Country
2 Um, haven't lived anywhere else
3
4
Four favorite foods:
1 Steak
2 cheese
3. moussaka
4. fish (Is coffee classed as food? Cos you know it would be in there!)
Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Seven Brides for Seven brothers
2. Houseboat
3. Cat on a hot tin roof
4 The St Trinian films
Four TV shows I enjoy:
1. X Factor
2. Big Brother
3. I'm a Celebrity get me out of here
4.My Family - (Hey, I never claimed to be deep!)
Four places I've traveled:
1. Paris
2. Jersey
3 Corfu
4. Spain
Four places I'd like to visit:
1. Boston
2. New York
3. New Zealand
4 Pompeii
Four websites I go to daily:
1. e-harlequin
2 The Pink Heart Society
3. Miss Snark
4. various friends' blogs
Four people tagged:
1. Jessica Raymond
2. Liz Fenwick
3. Fiona Harper
4. Phillipa Ashley

Sale at Samhain!

Things to Do is on sale at Samhain. $4.68 for the e book! Bargain - so if you've been holding off give yourself an early Christmas present ahead of the print release on the 19th December!
http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/product_info.php?products_id=198

My early present.

I got a request for the full manuscript of Charlie Darling today, my medical partial. Maddie Rowe, who I would love to work with, has asked to see it. I am so excited. I met Maddie at the RNA conference in the summer and she is so lovely. She's also the editor of some of my friends and I've never heard anything but good things about her.
I'm going to be reading, re-reading and polishing yet again ready to send. I love this story so I just hope Maddie will love it too!

Launch!!

http://www.srnauthors.blogspot.com

is launched today. Go visit, read and post, great prizes to be won and some fabulous authors taking part. Plus - it's a home for sweet and sensual writing so you can send a link to your gran, your mum, the church, your daughter, grandaughter without worrying that they might stumble on something that might give offense.
Tell everyone, add it to your bookmarks and come and enjoy some sweeter moments.

I'm almost done

with the wrapping and writing. I need to pack up another couple of parcels and stick stamps on my envelopes then that will hopefully be my last trip to the post office before Christmas, unless of course I get a request for Charlie - but I'm not holding my breath.
Things To Do still hasn't listed yet on Amazon but hey, it gives me something new to obsess over. I'm still trying to work out a good and cheap way of marketing Things To Do since most promo tips include 'call in your local bookstore and introduce yourself as a local author, offer to sign their stock'
Um, that one might prove tricky. Oh well, guess I'll have to rely on what my middle daughter calls word of earmouth. But if any of you knows a good promo tip, feel free to share.

Busy, busy...

This week is so hectic. Tomorrow morning is our Christmas brunch at work. It sounds posh but basically it means we meet for a bacon sarnie. Then tomorrow night is our local writers group Christmas meal, so you can see me waddling by Thursday morning.
Thursday night is Boo and La's school nativity play. Then Saturday we've a party to go to. Phew! Normally I never get to go anywhere much.
This all means I probably won't get much writing done this week, but I'm on schedule for what I need to get done by Christmas. No news from M&B or Moonlit yet on my submissions. Things to Do is due to make it's print debut in 2 weeks time - eek! Still not listed on Amazon although my Samhain friend, Kim Rees, another UK based writer has found hers there. My other writing buddy, Donna Alward, who also has a release at the same time isn't listed either yet.
I've had so many people contact me to tell me I'm listed at Tesco.com it's really great. First Tesco and then the world!!!!! Bwahahahaha

Ready to post?

I'm halfway done. Tomorrow I'll go to the post with my overseas cards and parcels. I've nearly written the rest of my cards and they'll go at the end of the week. I love Christmas cards. I love choosing them and writing them out trying to match them to the person, some people get a little newsletter from us if they haven't seen us all year. I love recieving them too, especially if there's a snippet of news or a picture inside them.
The cards get more valuable to me as I get older. I love keeping in touch with my friends and extended family. It seems to be fashionable now to sponsor things instead of sending cards and that's very worthy but it doesn't touch the heart the way a card does and how do you know someones sponsored a goat on your behalf?
I buy a lot of charity cards because that for me meets both the requirements and I sponsor a star at the local hospice every year as our family donation.
What do you think?

In surprising places

Sometimes things crop up in the most unlikely places. My latest game seems to be finding Marrying Max in places I never expected. Tonight I discovered him at Tesco.com in large print as coming soon. Once I'd picked myself up from the floor I got quite excited.
I loved writing Marrying Max and I'm thrilled so many people will have the opportunity to read it. For readers in the US that opportunity will arise in the summer when Samhain release the 'e' book version.
I'm halfway through writing Making Waves and loving this story. It's bringing back so many happy memories of sunshine and summer.
My tbr pile is on the verge of teetering over at the moment though as I haven't had chance to read much the last few weeks. I'll have a lovely time working my way through them over Christmas. I've lots of goodies in there and I'm itching to get stuck in.
My village had it's annual light switch on tonight. Now most places have celebrities to turn on their Christmas lights. The bigger the place the betterknown the celebrity.
The celebrity for my village is a shire horse. Yes, a horse performs our big switch on and then gives rides to the kids. It's kind of sweet.

Good things happen...

...to nice people. My friend Lis, has won a crit by Dierdre Knight! How cool is that? Romance Diva's held a little draw and Lis's name came out top for a three chapter crit.
No news on either of my submissions but Making Waves is going well. I'm really having fun with it and I think Cassidy and Josh will be a really good couple once she stops being uptight and he stops being too laid-back.
My edits are due anytime for Be My Hero, my January release from Moonlit Romance. It'll feel wierd working on it again as I finished it in March and haven't touched it since. Nathalie's story was so emotional for me, I'm hoping the time it's spent resting will let me see it with fresh eyes and Laura is wonderful at picking out where I need to tweak.
I can't wait to see my cover. If you haven't checked out the Moonlit site then go look at the covers there. They are so beautiful. Patti and Joann have a wonderful one again for their December release, Goody-two-shoes and the Grinch. Go and see, Sheila does such a great job with them. http://www.moonlitromance.com
Today was unusual as my student was with colleagues and I was on my own for the first time in a while. I had to go to Kinver this morning and it was so lovely driving through the woods this morning in the sunshine. Pools of gold lit up foliage with that glorious bronzy-pink colour that only happens in Autumn. The Silver Birch shimmered against the fir trees like ghosts and squirrels played on the grass verges. The sky was blue but with a misty quality that made the folds of the hills seem crisper in a landscape fresh from the hands of God.

Sweet Sunday

A little while ago I joined a group called Sweeter romantic notions. It's a wonderful group for readers and writers who love non-erotic fiction. We welcome erotic writers as members but it is for those of us who love sweet and sensual romance. There have been a lot of interesting points raised there lately about making the voices of sweeter writers stand out more. Hopefully there are some interesting developments in the pipeline that I'll fill you all in on as things get off the ground.
I polished and sent Dangerous to Know to Laura, my Moonlit editor so when I get any news I'll let you know. I also just sent chapter 2 of Making Waves to Jessica. I guess those couple of days break did me good.
I spent my days of completing tasks from my Christmas list. I have a few more things to arrange then I think I'm sorted. Just the wrapping and writing etc to complete, although I've done about half of my cards already. I signed up for the Romantic Times bookmark exchange though so now that's an extra bundle to write and post.

Spending time

I booked this Friday and Monday off from work. I really need the break and it's chance to clean the house ready for Christmas and do my big preparation shop. I'm working down my lists of what needs to be done and so far I'm on track and hopefully on budget.
I've had a couple of days break from writing just to let my brain percolate and so I can do some research for a couple of things I'm planning.
I've also been doing some thinking about where my writing is headed and what I'd like to achieve next year. It's quite scary but exciting at the same time.

Reasons to be thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my U.S friends and readers, have a wonderful day.
I have many reasons to be thankful this year:
My mother's cancer is in remission.
I have my children and my husband, a loving extended family and wonderful friends.
I have my writing - this year has been the most incredible adventure of my life and I am so grateful everyday to all my publishers for taking my books, my readers who have sent lovely e mails and notes and my writer friends without whom I wouldn't be published.
My brilliant cp, Jessica and Lis who gives me so much support. Allison who is so close to being published, Pip, who always makes me smile. Kate Walker and Liz Fielding who have given me so much support and good advice. The witches, who I love to bits and wished they were a bit nearer!! Michelle Styles, Olivia Gates and Julie Cohen, Anna Lucia and Biddy. The ladies from subcare, the med romance girls and my friends at The Pink heart society, The romance diva's and the wonderful bats at the batcave.
I'm grateful to be well after years of not being well.

5 more things

Grace has tagged me to do five more things you don't know about me. (Well some of you might)
1. I had nine pregnancies to have my three girls.
2. I can speed read.
3. I'm scared of heights and once froze on a rope bridge on an assault course and had to be rescued.
4. I once drove a Sinclair C5 and crashed it into a tree.
5. As well as being allergic to tinsel and other stuff I'm allergic to adhesives.

P.S I finished the first chapter of Making Waves tonight and sent that to Jess too.

The end

Dangerous to Know is finally finished. I sent the last two chapters to Jessica, now I need to let the whole book sit for a while before I give it a thorough polish and edit. Once I'm happy with that I'll send it over to Laura and keep my fingers crossed that she'll like it.
Now I can focus on Making Waves, unless of course I hear from M&B on Charlie Darling. I've ideas for several medicals but I don't want to go down that route unless I know I stand a chance. So, my plan now is to complete Making Waves before Christmas and send that in, then I've a little holiday project called The Twelveth Knight, which I want to do over the Christmas break.
In the new year, I've Places to Go to finish and a secret project I'm researching at the moment.
Marrying Max (large print) is up for pre-order on Amazon already! eeeekkkk! Things To Do should also be listed there soon, as it's out on December nineteenth in print!!

Broken glass and happiness

We went out for a meal last night with friends. We don't manage this kind of thing often enough and we were really looking forward to it. Our friends parked their car on the road at the top of our drive. We live on a tiny estate of aprox 100 houses on the arse end of nowhere. We left to walk to the pub which is a few hundred yards away at 8.30 we walked back at 10.40 and sat in our lounge which face the street drinking coffee and chatting. The lights were all on, the curtains open. At just after 12 our friends went to leave and some one had smashed the passenger window and stolen the sat nav from the glove box.
We can't believe none of us heard anything or saw anything or that the car alarm didn't go off. The car is a company one as is the sat nav and no one was hurt but it spoiled what had been a really lovely and much needed break for all of us.

Happiness came in the form of a postcard this morning from my large print publishers telling me that Marrying Max will make its large print debut in March 2007 with the isbn 978.184617.680.7

Roll on the weekend!

Less than 1k to go on Dangerous to Know, then I can let it rest while I write some of Making Waves. Once I've left it alone for a while I'll give it a thorough edit and send it off to my lovely Moonlit editor who's waiting patiently for it to arrive.
Just for a laugh I think I'll share the following converation from earlier this evening.

La 'Mom, I'm not going to do maths after this year. I don't like it.' - She's 8.

Me 'You don't have a choice, the school says you can't not do it. Besides you'll need it when you're older.'

La 'No I won't. I don't want a job where you have to work a till. I want to groom dogs and you don't need maths for that.'

Me 'But you'll need to know how much to charge for grooming the dogs. Besides, you really don't have a choice.'

La 'Can I stop when I'm in year 6?'

Me 'No, you have to do math till you finish school and take an exam.'

La 'That is so unfair, no wonder they have Children in Need.' - (said with a heavy sigh.)

Clearly, I've passed on my love of things numerical to my children.

Back from no-net land

My net provider has been experiencing difficulties over the last four days. It's been like trying to track the invisible man. It would go off for hours then spring into life for ten minutes or so and I would grab some emails then it'd be off again. So I wasn't ignoring anyone - just couldn't get on here, or anywhere, for that matter.
In the meantime c9 of Dangerous to know is done and hopefully with Jessica. I'm 1k into tha last chapter, just 2k to go and the book is done - well, except for a major polish and edit. I'm 1k into Making Waves and having fun with that.
Still nothing on Charlie - although Jessica has a vibe that I'll hear something soon. I do hope so. My lovely friend Pat has a book out called Prescription for Happiness. It's a Peoples Friend Story collection book so call into WH Smiths and grab a copy while it's on the shelf!
My big news is that From Darkness is out at Fictionwise - yay! That gives me three titles on there. If you missed the taster first time around here it is!

“There’s the castle.”
Fae braked at Flash’s words. They stared into the darkness at the building before them. Half of the castle was clearly uninhabitable. Fragmented stones stood like jagged broken teeth along the broken battlement. Mist twisted around the surviving tower and range of buildings. A couple of the windows cast yellow light in to the blackness and Fae breathed a sigh of relief. There was someone home.
“Right, let’s get this show on the road.” Fae eased the car into the courtyard of the castle. As she cut the engine, an eerie baying sound echoed around the stone walls.
“Wow, a welcome committee.” Flash leaned forward into the gap between the front seats, his dark head next to Fae’s.
“I expect living alone up here, miles from anywhere, they keep dogs,” Izzy snapped as she picked up her bag from the footwell.
Fae swallowed hard. She hoped Rhodri Morgan would be the kind of man who was susceptible to feminine charm. In her mind she’d pictured a stooped, elderly antiquarian who, on meeting her, would instantly change his mind and grant her free access to film the castle and its secrets.
The baying grew louder when Fae opened the car door. The next thing she knew, she was pinned to the side of the Mini by the biggest dog she’d ever seen in her life. A large paw was planted on each side of her shoulders as the dog breathed stale meat-breath in her face.
She twisted her head to the side and saw an archway of light appear on the far side of the courtyard.
“Help!”
Izzy and Flash remained in the car, round-eyed and open-mouthed with shock.
“Nice doggy.”
The hound responded with a lick down her face, covering her with drool. She heard the sound of footsteps crunching across the yard in the darkness.
“Down, Fang.” A firm male voice with a hint of accent came out of the mist. A shape loomed out of the darkness illuminated by a storm lantern. A large man’s shape.

© Copyright Nell Dixon 2006 From Darkness anthology
available from http://www.bygracepublishing.com
and http://www.fictionwise.com

Party hardy

I promised Boo, my almost 10 year old I'd take her and a couple of friends to the pictures and then to Pizza Hut for her birthday next Sunday. Now on paper this seemed a great plan, what could be simpler? Loads of films out for kids, right?
Er, well no. There are films out now but they all finish on the 13th or the 16th. The Christmassy films don't start till December. Result - complete absence of kid friendly films over her birthday - sigh.
So we went today and saw Hoodwinked - which was very funny - and ate our body weight in pizza.
The net has been rubbish now for a week, very slow and then not up at all. Writing wise I have 1k to go on c9 then it's the last chapter of Dangerous to Know. I'm running behind but it's been a busy week.
I heard from a researcher too this week, apparantly she read on here about my tinsel allergy. At least she didn't crack tinsel jokes lol.

Thurzzzday

5K to go on Dangerous to know, I fully intended to write tonight but I'm struggling to stay awake. Work is still being a PITA but I won't bore you all with a whinge.
Instead I'll tell you about my ebay experience. Last year I won a vacuum cleaner in a raffle at my daughters dance school. I've never used it as it's really meant for a workshop or car valet type work. So I decided after falling over the box yet again that I'd put it on ebay. Now as you all know I am so pushed for time and so plain knackered I didn't want to post it - it's a big box - so I put local collection only.
Simple, huh? Except apparantly - No.
I have been asked to post it to Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the one which really stumped me - Norway!!!!

And the winner is....

Drumroll please...

Making Waves - thanks to everyone who came up with ideas. It really helped and it was so nice to hear from everyone. Bamabelle, please drop me an email to helen@nelldixon.com with your snail addy and I'll sort out something nice to send you :)
I finished c8 of Dangerous to Know and I'm onto chapter 9. I'm also 500 words into Making Waves (formerly LOTR ggg) Cassidy and Josh are about to get a big surprise!

Work is still being a PITA but I've decided my boss gets paid way more than me so I'm just going to smile sweetly, say no and give out her name and phone number when all these people try giving me more stuff to do that really isn't my field. I am not a social worker, I am not a doctor, I am not a paediatric nurse, geriatric nurse or psychologist.
I am also not superwoman - I know I shattered a few illusions there, but trust me, I'm really not, and if things don't get dealt with then I'm going to be ill and my health isn't terrific at the best of times.
I feel bad that some of my clients are not going to get a service but I can't run such a big caseload over such a big area without making cuts. So to ensure the most vulnerable get care I've had to bite the bullet.

Any More?

Last chance today to come up with a title for my beach read, (scroll down to see the earlier post) Some good suggestions so far but none that feel quite right. I will give out a prize for the best suggestion though.

This weekend has been taken up with fireworks and dance exams. La has tap and ballet exams and the other two belles have ballet exams. Naturally they are all at different times, so by the time they'd done lessons yesterday and I'm done schlepping them around today my writing time will have been eroded.

I'm halfway through chapter 8 of Dangerous to Know and I've done a little bit more on the waiting for a better named beach read.