LIZ FIELDING

DELIGHTS AND DISASTERS...

The new bed is amazing. It’s so HUGE – I’m thinking that maybe I should have settled on king-size rather than going to the superking, but the space is magic. As is the sheer comfort of the foot-thick mattress. I won’t mention the bruise where I caught my shin on one of the screws as we put the frame together…

No, honestly. Never has getting up in the morning been so difficult.

Just as well I made the effort on Friday. As I reached the kitchen there was a noise like torrential rain. Except it wasn’t rain, but you’d already guessed that hadn’t you? It was hot water pouring from the bottom of my washing machine and no, I hadn’t gone to bed leaving it running.

Experience has taught me that if a washing machine is going to stick, it will always stick on “fill”, never on “drain”. Just as well the little grey cells were sufficiently awake for me to grope for the switches under the sink and turn off the water. Luckily I’m completely up to date with the washing – if not the ironing – so a few days while it gets sorted out is not going to be a problem, but it looks as if the cheque for the last book arrived in the nick of time. I'm still waiting for my author copies of Bride for a Billionaire, though.

The new book is doing what new books always seem to do these days. Not a lot. I’ve got a hero and a heroine and a complication, but I keep running up against that little part of me that refuses to suspend belief and go with it; the one that keeps say “But…” And then, yesterday afternoon everything shifted sideways and I began to see a story emerge. And lying awake half the night with it going around in my head has shifted one of the niggles. With luck and a following wind, I might just get this done.

Fortunately, I’ve a couple of inspirational trips to London next week, dallying with colleagues and editors, first at the RNA Awards lunch, then at the Mills & Boon Centenary Cocktail Party; the stimulating conversation of fellow writers always acts like a whiff of oxygen to the brain, which reminds me, I’d better go and shake out my pink feather boa, but not before I've thanked Elizabeth Rolls for being such a star guest last week. It’s been a while since I read a Regency romance. Definitely time to reacquaint myself with their particular charms.

I'll post news of the winner of A Comprised Lady on Thursday.

There are a couple of other things I have to mention before I go. First Nicola Marsh is running a fabulous Valentine Quiz during February with books galore on offer. She’s got one of mine up for grabs on the 1st so make a note on your PC diary to drop by and join in the fun!

February 1st also sees the start of the annual Anne McAllister, Kate Walker, Liz Fielding competition. Last year it was Here Come the Brides. This year we’re going with HERE COME THE GROOMS.

Anne’s Theo has promised to put in an appearance, Max Valentine might just find time to drop by and I’m hoping that Kate will tempt Domenico into putting in an appearance to provide support for the three grooms being put through it by their brides this year. Whatever, you can be sure the males will be alpha, the brides will be spirited and that three winners will each win a signed copy of all three books being featured this year.

Finally, Fiona Harper – winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writer Award for her first book, double Rita nominee in her first year of publication and with two books on the shortlist for the RNA’s “Romance Prize” this year – will be my guest here on Thursday. Better get out the red carpet…

Fiona will be telling us about her February “Romance”, offering a signed copy to one lucky reader and, hopefully, telling us the secret of her success.

Not to be missed.