If you thought I looked smug after my graduation, you should have seen me on July 31st … and in fact, you can, because here’s a picture of me after hearing that I’d won the Rita award for best traditional romance. It’s a bit blurry, but that’s because we’d already been through a couple of bottles of champagne before remembering to record the occasion. I’d finished revisions on my manuscript at midnight on July 30th, and was due to set off on holiday at midday on the 31st. The phone rang at 8.00 that morning, and it was Kim, ringing from Reno with the news that I’d won. As you can probably imagine, it was a huge thrill and I found it very hard to concentrate on my packing after that, but it was the best possible start to our holiday. And when I came back from Turkey, I found so many generous messages of congratulation, especially from my fellow authors, that I got to have the excitement all over again. My family and friends are now thoroughly sick of being made to drink bottles of champagne and have decided that I have had quite enough attention for a while, which I probably have. I do love a bit of fuss, though. I don’t think I can be quite such an introvert as I think I am ….

While I’m scanning pictures, here’s one of me hard at work in Turkey. Those of you who are not writers may think this looks as if I’m sleeping, but I am sure experienced colleagues (and the Inland Revenue) will recognize the signs of intensive research. Behind the closed lids, I was feverishly plotting, honest. Turkey was our annual girls’ beach holiday with my best friend, Diana, whose wardrobe features largely in Contracted: Corporate Wife, and her two daughters. In fact, Lou, the heroine of Contracted: Corporate Wife owes a lot to Diana, and the book is dedicated to her. I think it’s my best so far, and wish I could write another one like it!

Turkey was about sun and turquoise sea and drinks on the balcony while we did our nails … oh, yes, and all that researching of course. I then had ten rather different days in Scotland with the boys, which was also great, although there were not a lot of manicures – or sun and turquoise sea, come to that. And now I am home in York, feeling so relaxed after all those holidays and celebrations that I am having a hard job focusing on getting down to work again. I am alarming short of a plot for the next book and badly need to whip myself up into a frenzy about deadlines to give me a bit of adrenalin/inspiration. I do have the glimmer of an idea, using a character from a book I wrote earlier in the year, but need a hero/conflict/motivation etc etc … Time for a stiff gin in the bath. That usually works. Somehow I’ll have had to come up with something before I update the website again, so check back in a month and see if the next book is on its way.