RWA Conference 2008

Well I made it to San Francisco and other than a stinking cold I am doing well. I'll be blogging over at The Pink Heart Society this week along with some of the gang. I'll also try and keep this updated as well... but it could be patchy!!

Thank you

Thanks to all of your helpful comments on my flat refurbishment. It is now in its second week and the kitchen has been ripped out and the false ceiling are in the bedroom and the kitchen.
I have bought tiles for the bathroom and the kitchen floor, new taps, bath screen and shower attachment and have a lovely kitchen deisgn which I should be putting the deposit down for tomorrow. So the only thing left is a heated towel rail. Nothing big or complicated, just a heated towel rail. See! Not complicated...

You'd think this would be easy... but any that are in chrome and the right size seem to be OUT OF STOCK in the Greater London area. Sheesh!! I could buy something online but I am loathe to as I'd like to see how nice the chrome finish is, sometimes it looks cheap. Anyway I have one last place to look tonight on the way home, if I fail there I might have to fall on my builder and plead for him to find me something decent (and inexpensive).

In other news I have NOT finished my revisions. I can see myself NOT finishing my revisions all week. I still have to pack, wax, tidy up, work and go and see Dierks Bentley at the Borderline.

Dierks Bentley
By the way going to see Dierks *swoon* DOES count as work. The fact that there is some enjoyment involved, some auditory and visual pleasure, just goes to show that one of my jobs is satisfying!
I am hoping a ten hour flight will make a dent in the revisions, it will be that or I will catch up on the sleep I have been missing!!

Tiles, Kitchens, Bathrooms and Paint... ARGHHHHHH!!!

Why did I think it was a good idea to refurbish my flat? And why did I decide to give myself three weeks to make all the decision on tiles, paint, bathrooms and kitchens? Because I am a fool that is why!!!

I am dreaming about tiles. Kitchen tiles. Bathroom tiles. Wall tiles. Floor tiles. Lots of squares and oblongs tessellating there way through my dreams.

Oh and did I mention I was born without the interior design gene??? I am NOT interested in this sort of thing. I don't look at house magazines and lust over furniture (unless it is a day bed or shelving... one day I'll have a library goddamnit!)

I have to make all the decisions before I head off next Thursday... *sob* I just want it to be over!

Late As Usual: RNA Conference, Good News and Publicists

Yes I know it has almost taken a week for me to post about the RNA weekend but I have been in recovery! Oh and I was too excited from events that happened over the weekend and also that it turns out I am on Keith Urban's publicist's email list!! This meant I had my Keith Urban/Nicole Kidman at the same time as all the rest of the media! I felt very... erm... very something.

And so to the conference which was amazing. It was as if every seminar/workshop I went to was specifically chosen because I needed it. NOW! It was also fantastic because I got to spend time with my favourite sort of people in the world... romance writers.

So a quick summary of the high points. I had my chat with the M&B editor, basically I need to 'alphatize' Jack from Dream Date and make either Jo or Lucas less angsty in The Artist and The Ugly Duckling. Hmmm this has led to me rethinking ALL my revisions for Dream Date. Luckily the lovely Fiona Harper was on hand to give me the new motivation I needed for Jack that would 'alphatize' him! YAY! So I have started on that... it seems to be working.

I went to 'Grabbing The Editors Attention' workshop. A few issues were had with the comments on synopses but I had good feedback on the first two sentences of 'The Artist and The Ugly Duckling' and also on the story. As you can imagine I was already in a 'Go Me!' mood.

I didn't get the chance to see Anna Louise Lucia's workshop but I hear it was good (I was her tech support during setting up).

Many many great workshops but my mind is now blank! Julie Cohen came up for dinner on the Saturday which was great as it meant both she and Anna were there when a very nice thing happened. And as they were instrumental in this very nice thing that was good!

You see I entered the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy this year, I blogged about working on the entry awhile ago. I loved writing it, so much fun. Anna and Julie very kindly critiqued it (and Julie fixed my punctuation! Supposedly I am improving.) Anyway near the end of dinner on Saturday, Catherine Jones announced the shortlist of six. All I could hope for was being one of those six. I had my fingers crossed and when 'Bah Humbug!' and my name was said at shortlist number five I was over the moon! I stood up grinning... who cares about the rest... I made the shortlist!!

A few minutes later the three finalists were announced (Catherine later told me with only a mark difference between the three of us!) and I was third!! I do believe I might have squealed and started saying 'I can write! I can write!' OK yes I had had a tad too much wine. Then the second place was announced (name escapes me but she was very happy) and then Imogen Howson, who was at the end of my table, won!! She was crying when she got up there and it was her first conference! It was lovely.

I then spent the rest of the night... ok weekend... ok all week... being unbearably happy! Much champagne was consumed and I had a lovely chat with Anne Ashurst (who judged it with Catherine) who has given me a plan for what to do with it. All I can say is watch this space.

Sunday was a day for recovery and more great workshops including Julie Cohen's on pacing. I missed Katie Fforde's and Kate Harrison's workshops (curses) as I had to get back. Grrrrr.

So next year it will be Penrith again. I can't wait. Maybe just maybe I'll have some good news and announcement to make when I'm there.

NEWS FLASH!!!

Just got a bulletin:

"Nicole and Keith Urban are delighted to announce that Nicole Kidman gavebirth to a baby girl on Monday morning, July 7, 2008 in Nashville. SUNDAY ROSE KIDMAN URBAN weighed 6 pounds, 7 1Z2 ounces. Husband Keith was by Nicole¹s side and mother and baby are very well."

Conferences and PHS Blogs

So this weekend I am a busy busy girlie!! Friday I will be heading to Chichester for the RNA Conference!! YAY!! I get to see all my favourite people and talk writing until I am blue in the face.

AND on Saturday... I am blogging over at The Pink Heart Society for another addition of A Book with Biddy! I know you can't wait to find out all about it!