Six degrees of separation...

Actually, that title is not right. I'm not talking about separation in this blog, but connections.

One of my lovely "Team Liz" members who received an ARC of The Sheikh's Unsuitable Bride had spotted a number of characters who had appeared in other books. She wrote and asked me if one of the other characters had also had a book of her own. She didn't, but the fact that she was "real" enough to give the feeling that might have was very pleasing. It meant that even though she appeared briefly, in a phone call, she had a three-dimensional quality that I hope to give to even the walk-on parts.

I love revisitng my characters and all my sheikhs are linked, either through family or close ties.

Sheikh Fayad and his lovely Princess Violet, who play an important part of this story, first appeared in Chosen as the Sheikh's Wife (with a guest appearance from my very first sheikh, Prince Hassan - His Desert Rose). I needed a country where the exiled Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ansari could make his home and where better than Ramal Hamrah? Fayad is his cousin. The fort had been his maternal grandmother's home. Perfect.

Sheikh Zahir gets a passing mention. He first appeared in The Sheikh's Guarded Heart, then got his own story in The Sheikh's Unsuitable Bride.

His unsuitable bride was Diana, who worked for Sadie, (first appearance in The Baby Plan) who is the step-daughter of Amanda Garland (first appearnace Dating Her Boss), who also makes an appearance in The Sheikh's Convenient Princess.  Are you still with me? :)

When you have created the world's finest staff agency, why would you need to invent another one?

Amanda is one of those very useful women who will put in appearance whenever I need her. Her brother was the hero of Dating Her Boss; she was a bit edgy, very self-contained and I couldn't resist blowing her world apart in The Baby Plan.

Another character who gets a mention in The Sheikh's Convenient Princess is Jude Radcliffe, who met and married the adorable Talie in The Temp and the Tycoon (reported in the Daily Telegraph as one of the most downloaded books on Amazon UK when it was first published). That's the retro cover Mills and Boon used when they reprinted it for their 100th anniversary.

Are there any characters in my books that you wish had a story of their own? There are one or two who I think deserve a story of their own but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

In other news, I'm expanding Team Liz. The duties are not onerous. You have to be signed up to my newsletter (there's a link on the sidebar), "like" my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter. More importantly you have to love my books because you will receive an advance copy, in return for which you will be asked to leave a honest review on Goodreads and Amazon. If you hate it, I'd rather you emailed me and told me what bothered you - actually that goes for everyone. I will be putting an invitation on my newsletter in February with details of how to come on board.

There will be another new Liz Fielding Harlequin Romance/Cherish, Her Pregnancy Bombshell, in June 2017. And one other book this year. Maybe a short story if I can keep sufficiently focussed and everything runs smoothly at Fielding Towers.

Here are the links for The Sheikh's Convenient Princess.

Harlequin

Ibooks  Barnes & Noble

Kobo
 Amazon US
Amazon UK

Reading: An ARC of The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller; great so far. I know there's going to be a twist. I'm trying to work out what it's going to be.
Listening: Dolly Parton
Watching: Kingdom

GIVING AWAY BOOKS


I've been giving away a ton of my books this week. French, Greek, Spanish and a whole hussle of various language translations to a library.

The request for an Indonesian one was frustrating -- I have editions out there, my latest royalty statement showed some new ones, but I haven't had my copies. They may turn up. I've kept a note.

And that's not all. Every month I give away a book at The Romance Studio in their Book a Day giveaway. This month it was The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella which is on its way to Mildred this week.

Someone is giving away a book every day, there so do drop by and take part at Book a Day.

Next month I'll be giving away a copy of my first ever sheikh romance, HIS DESERT ROSE, so look out for that one.

And don't forget that I draw a name from my list of Newsletter subscribers each month and the lucky winner gets the book of her choice from my backlist.

And if you're already downloaded The Bride's Baby for free and wondered if there was a backstory for architect Mark Hilliard, the answer is yes. His story is The Perfect Proposal -- a marriage of convenience that doesn't turn out quite the way he expected. As his new bride puts it, far from peace and tranquility, he'd got Bob the dog, mud all over the kitchen. And no dinner.

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY TWENTY-ONE

DECEMBER 21st


I've spent today wrestling with the internet, which seems intent on swallowing up the photographs and copy for my website update which will go online a little early this month because my webmistress is off on her holidays. Frustrating. Infuriating. At this rate I'll be short several handfuls of hair.

Let's hope the last lot managed to break through the cyber-space barrier.

The answer to the question on Day Nineteen was 25 years old -- lucky thing Jan added, and I have to say I agree. Old enough to be in control. Still young enough to enjoy it. :) You all got it right -- of course you did -- and Joy in Arizona won the copy of HIS DESERT ROSE.

Today, behind the door, is a copy of the winne of the RNA Romance Prize -- and Betty Neels Rosebowl pictured right, A FAMILY OF HIS OWN.


Some books just title themselves, The Bridesmaid's Reward, The Bachelor's Baby, The Best Man & the Bridesmaid. Some seem to defy you to find them a title that will say to the reader "pick me"...

A FAMILY OF HIS OWN came into the latter category. Editorial -- and it took the entire office -- finally came up with The Family He Deserves; I threw a rare authorial tantrum and they had another think! It won the RNA Prize, RT Best Harlequin Romance and was shortlisted for a RITA. It's the story of a haunted man and a young woman who is ready to pay forward the kindness she's received, even at the risk of her own heart. Oh, and there's gardening, too.

If you want a chance to win a signed copy, then email me at liz @lizfielding.com with Day Twenty One in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the email and the year A FAMILY OF HIS OWN won the RNA prize.

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY NINETEEN

December 19th

Diana and Zahir have a lot to think about so I'm leaving them in peace for a while. But here's another picture of Zahir because we all need something good to look at!

The award I was thinking of for day seventeen, was the RNA Betty Neels Trophy (there's a picture of me with it on my biography page on the website), but you all found a load of other stuff, the CAPA, a couple of RT awards amongst them and they were fine, too. The name out of the hat for GENTLEMEN PREFER ... BRUNETTES was Tammy in Utah and the book is on it's way. I seem to be keeping the post office going single-handedly in my neck of the woods!


Today's book is another sheikh. My first, HIS DESERT ROSE. Prince Hassan al Rashid, a rebel, an outsider, a man who would do anything to keep his country in safe hands. Even if that means kidnapping international journalist Rose Fenton to stop her being used by a corrupt government. But Rose isn't your average woman; she's exactly where she wants to be and Hassan quickly finds his hands full in more ways than one.

If you want a chance to win a copy of HIS DESERT ROSE, sent me an email at liz @lizfielding.com, with Day Nineteen in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the mail and the answer to this question: How old is Sophie Harrington? You'll find the answer in the excerpt link to Bride for Christmas on my website.

And on Wednesday, we're having a post party at eHarlequin with a chance to win copies of Harlequin "Romance" novels. Just click here.

Finally, the long list for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award has just been announced and there are some great names it. Check it out here.