I can’t believe it but I am thrilled to say that…

I can’t believe it but I am thrilled to say that The Nurse’s Longed-For Family won a CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice award )))) This is really exciting stuff as this book was my second sale.

Thanks to the wonderful people at CataRomance and to the great reviewers who spend the time and effort reading our books. Special thanks go to the reviewer who loved this book so much …you know who you are

I have always had a special spot for this story. It was soundingly rejected by Harlequin Mills and Boon in 1997. But I knew, buried deep in my inexperience there was a really emotional story waiting to be told. So 8 years later I hauled it out and started again.

It is fantastic to get validation like this, supporting my gut instinct that this story was worth telling.

Other Aussies who are Cata Winners are : Amy Andrews, Nicola Marsh, Ally Blake, Joan Kilby and Melanie Milburne.
Congratulations to all the winners!

I will be dancing through the rest of the day!

The Flying Doctors

Etched into Australia’s history is John Flynn’s vision to provide a ‘Mantle of Safety’ for those living in the outback. Today the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service (RFDS)is doing just that. They provide on- going medical care to isolated communities, fulfilling Flynn’s dream.

There is something romantic about doctors and nurses working in the outback, using a plane to get to their clinic which might be held on the veranda of a cattle station homestead or under canvas in a remote aboriginal community. I remember as a student nurse watching the TV show, ‘The Flying Doctors’ and thinking ‘how cool is that!’.

So once again I am writing an outback story involving the Flying Doctors. Wedding in Warragurra is the first of two stories set in Warragurra, a fictitious outback town in western NSW. It’s hot, it’s dusty and Kate and Baden are feeling mighty hot and bothered…and it’s not just the weather that’s raising the temperature:-)

Track down Pregnant on Arrival if you want to read my first Flying Doctor’s Book.

Want to know a bit more about the Flying Doctors? Click here

Cata Romance Reviewers’ Choice Nominees

Nicola Marsh just emailed to tell me that all three of my 2006 books have been nominated for Cata Romance Reviewers’ Choice Awards!

Pregnant on Arrival, The Nurse’s Longed-For Family and Her Miracle Baby all got a mention. I’m pretty excited about that!

I’m thrilled to say that the Harlequin Mills and Boon Medical Romance Line has made a steady showing in these nominations with elven books from seven authors being recognised.

The Nominations for Best Medical Romance are:
The Surgeon’s Meant-To-Be-Bride Amy Andrews Mills & Boon December 1, 2006
Their Christmas Dream Come True Kate Hardy Mills and Boon Medical Romance November 1, 2006
Her Miracle Baby Fiona Lowe Mills and Boon Medical Romance November 1, 2006

Caring For His Child Amy Andrews Mills & Boon September 1, 2006

The Doctor’s Christmas Proposal Laura Iding Mills & Boon Medical Romance November 1, 2006
The Italian Doctor’s Bride Margaret McDonagh Mills and Boon Medical Romance October 1, 2006

A Doctor Beyond Compare Melanie Milburne Mills & Boon September 1, 2006

The Nurse’s Longed For Family Fiona Lowe Mills and Boon September 1, 2006

Her Baby’s Secret Father Lynne Marshall Mills & Boon September 1, 2006

The Flight Doctor’s Engagement Laura Iding Mills & Boon Medical Romance August 1, 2006

Pregnant on Arrival Fiona Lowe Mills and Boon Medical Romance July 1, 2006

Congratulations to all the Medical authors! I’m glad I don’t have to make the final decision.

My mates Nicola Marsh, Annie West, Trish Morey and Ally Blake also have nominations in the Harlequin Romance Line and Presents Line so check out their blogs for their news!!

How is a girl supposed to concentrate on chapter two now?

Pretty in Pink

On Friday night, Harlequin Australia threw its annual Valentine’s Day Ball. This year it was held at the Australian Museum and we nibbled canapes next to dinosaurs and dined with a sperm whale above our heads!

The large, oval tables were lit with four pillar candles on tall wrought iron holders and the white table cloths were scattered with red rose petals. The men wore black tie and the women came in a rainbow of colours and sparkled in the candlelight.

I met all sorts of friendly people who are connected with Harlequin. The team who print the books, the women who stock the shelves, the great group of people from the Sydney Office who promote our books on the net, in store and keep the accounts.

As you can see by the photo I had a lot of fun and did a lot of talking!

And, I got to catch up with nine authors!
Here are some photos of the fun time we had. Thanks, Harlequin!(now apologies for the display of the photos. Anyone who can give me photo blogger lessons I will love forever. )

Presents Authors, Trish Morey and Annie West and me…I’m in the middle in the green.

From L-R Bronwyn Jameson, Melanie Milburne and Trish Morey

(from L-R) Amy Andrews,(Medical Romance) Melissa James (Romance) and Paula Roe (Desire)

The Perfect Tie for a Valentine’s Ball

Me (in green) with Robyn Grady, new Desire and Sexy Sensation author with her real life hero.

And Pretty in Pink! Harlequin gave us pink robes and at drinks after the ball we frocked up!

Paula Roe, Elizabeth Rolls, Amy Andrews, Robyn Grady, Me, Bronwyn Jameson, Annie West, a mystery hero and Trish Morey.

A Day Off

Hello from Sydney! I’m up here to attend the Harlequin Valentine’s Ball. The big night is tonight but as DH had to work in the office I’ve been having a bit of fun on my own.

It feels like a mini holiday ….I went to a 12 noon showing of Miss Potter. Going to a movie in the middle of the day and on my own….WOW I can’t remember the last time I did that Of course I should have been starting a book but movies bring inspiration, don’t they? I loved the film especially the scenes in the Lakes District. When I was there it poured rain for three days making it hard to see its true glory.

So now it’s time to go and frock up and get ready. I bought a dress in Vietnam so I’m really looking forward to stepping out in it. But most of all I am looking forward to catching up with other Aussie Harlequin authors. I’ll post photos next week.

HTML dummy

HI,

The reason I have posted up this picture is because I am trying to change the photo in my side bar. I have saved all Ally Blake’s wonderful tips and usually I just put the code in for the photo and bingo. But this time it won’t change. So I am hoping I can use the properties on blogger to get it to load.

Meanwhile enjoy the cover…it is out on line in the UK, on shelf in March in the UK and on shelf in Australia April 15th

Drowning, not Waving

Change sucks!

Like all women, I juggle a myriad of balls in the air trying to keep everything afloat. It works well until one thing changes and often that one change sends the balls cascading around my feet.

Last week was such a week.

The kids went back to school and new routine is a killer for about three weeks until it becomes familiar. DS1 started a new school and is leaving home at the time he used to get up last year! Unexpected things arise as part of settling into a new school. A friend’s father passed away. My copy edits for the Vietnam book took 5x longer than usual, my other job kicked back in after my holiday, the bucketing of water on the garden due to water restrictions takes up all the time I used to spend just maintaining it and the house imploded from sheer filth and disarray.

My editor is asking me about the synopsis I sent her in early January…I can’t even remember the name of my characters! So I am going to read it now and hopefully this will help me claw back the illusion of control.

This coming week is another short week but with a BIG cherry at the end of it…The Harlequin Valentine’s ball in Sydney. I’m really looking forward to it, that is, if I can get out the door. I have decided I need a wife!