Lovely book bargain!

The Temp & the Tycoon was published in this lovely retro cover as part of Mills and Boon's 100th Anniversary and was one of the most downloaded romances on Amazon - I'm quoting the Daily Telegraph here! - when it went online.

It's available at the moment for a crazy 59p, so if you haven't read it before, now is your chance.

"After a disastrous first day Talie Calhoun is sure her sexy new boss, Jude Radcliffe, will hate her forever – they’re complete opposites! Jude is married to his work, while Talie believes life is for living. Her real job will be to persuade Jude to live life to the full – with her!"

Here's a link to Amazon UK

HOW TO WRITE A MILLS AND BOON...

The Mills & Boon Centenary year is nearly over -- I hope you all managed to catch "Consuming Passion" on the BBC last night! You can log into the BBC website and watch it online here It's 85 minutes.
(about 80 minutes)

There was also "How to Write a Mills and Boon Romance", with Sharon Kendrick and Stella Duffy, which you'll find here

AND A CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

There's still time to order the complete set of 24 Centenary novellas, with fabulous retro covers, to pop in someone's stocking. It's a steal at £18.40, plus £2 p&p or £4 international.

Great stories by Penny Jordan, Lynne Graham, Lucy Gordon, Betty Neels, Sandra Marton and a host of other favourites. And you'll find it here

ANNIVERSARIES...

A huge thank you to Abby for taking time out from her Easter break to drop by and take part in the celebrations -- and to all of you for doing the same. I hope you all were suitably rewarded with chocolate bunnies! When she's home, Abby will pick her winner and I'll post the name then.

I might be celebrating my 50th book, but as many of you know, this year Mills & Boon are celebrating their centenary. We've had loads of coverage in the press -- largely positive, although those journalists do find it hard not to slip in the lazy buzz-words that betray they've either never read one, or at least not in the present century. Television and radio have also done us proud, raising the profile of what is, undoubtedly, a publishing phenomenon.

They are also producing some great commemorative stuff. Specially commissioned stories (see the cover of 100 Arabian Nights in the sidebar), a reprint of 24 novellas in those retro covers -- you can buy the entire set now in a special at the Mills & Boon website -- £25 including postage (there's a link on the sidebar. And there's this fabulous jigsaw made up of old covers and I'm offering one as a prize in a special competition.

Above (courtesy of Philippa Gedge Photography) is a picture of the authors who gathered to join in the celebrations last month at the Wallace Collection (I'm on the left, rather a long way back in the spectacles) and for a chance to win the jigsaw, I want you to send me your suggestions for an apt, amusing or just plain outrageous collective noun for a group of romantic novelists at liz @lizfielding.com with Jigsaw in the subject line and your suggestion, along with your name and address in the body. I'll pick a winner on 1st April!

In the meantime, if you can't wait, or you want to send one to a romance lover your know, it's available here at Amazon

Finally, Ally Blake is having a fuzzy moment and can't remember whether she heard from Jill, the winner of her signed book when she was a guest here earlier in the month. Jill, if you haven't sent your address to either Ally or me, or if you have and haven't had a response (my email is new system and I'm still finding out about its quirks), do contact me at liz @lizfielding.com with all the relevant information.

PURE PASSION...

Last year, the north-west libary region ran a wonderful promotion for romance books of all genres. Fantasy, historical, gay, category, romcom. I listed all the books and authors here if you want to check out all the books and authors and was thrilled to have been chosen to represent the category section with Reunited: Marriage in a Million.

The library asked readers to vote for their favourite and at a ceremony in the impressive Manchester Town Hall last week, Christina Jones -- of whom I've been a long-time fan and once described as having a real H. E Bates(wearing his Darling Buds of May hat) touch to her writing -- was named the winner with her book, LOVE POTIONS.



Christina writes the most joyous books, full of wonderful characters. It's a brilliant choice.

... and the RITA

Every year a get a parcel of books from Romance Writers of America to judge for the RITA. I can't judge in my own category (and I can't tell you the books I'm reading) but I welcome this annual opportunity to step outside my own "comfort" reading box to try new authors, new genres.

I'd never read a vampire book, until this month. Well, obviously Dracula, but that's a classic so it doesn't really count (duh !) Interestingly there was a play on the Beeb yesterday afternoon (ironing time) recounting D's voyage to Whitby and what happened to the crew. Fascinating stuff.

Now for other competition news -- you still have until 29th February to enter the HERE COMES THE GROOMS! competition. Click on the link for all the details.


And as a little extra, something just for UK readers, I'm afraid. I have a book of money-off coupons for all kinds of Mills & Boon series (only redeemable in the UK), together with a brass bookmark commemorating Mills & Boon's Centenary and a calender with some fabulous old covers.

To win, tell me what books you've read lately that have taken you out of your comfort zone. Or any great new authors you've found.

Since everyone wants to know about great books, leave your comments on the blog, but send me an email at liz @lizfielding.com with Coupons in the subject line and your name and address in the body so that I can send it off straight away to the winner.

I'll make the draw on St David's Day -- 1st March.

And on Thursday I'll have Jenny Haddon's prize winner and a new guest -- Anne McAllister.

IT'S BEEN A HUNDRED YEARS...

It was quite a party...

Flaming torches and "flamingoes" on stilts greeted us at the entrance to the Walker Collection in Manchester Square, London on Thursday night.

This wonderful art gallery was the most beautiful setting for Mills & Boon Centenary party, at which editors -- past and present -- guests from Harlequin in the US, and the truly yummy Alan Titchmarsh were present to celebrate this amazing anniversary. Alan made a charming speech in which he said very nice things about Mills & Boon.

Then there were the "Butlers in the Buff"... Not stripped to the waist as they are for less refined parties, but looking for all the world like those sexy guys on the covers of our books. Bow ties pulled loose, shirts unbuttoned. And this one was handing out roses to the authors.




There was an opera singer to serenade us, delicious canapes, chocolate dipped strawberries, ice cream cones -- and after an hour or so, we needed them! -- and Bellinis, pink champagne.

So what did we do?

We talked, of course.






Here is Carol Townend, Donna Hayes (President and Publisher of Harlequin) and Michelle Styles.






Here is Natasha Oakley and Fiona Harper.












Here is one of the very hot "butlers".














Here I am with Jessica Hart.

And here I am with both hands full of more of those gorgeous guys.








Whew! (Pause to fan myself...)







Oh, and before I forget, Jackie won the signed copy of ENGLISH LORD, ORDINARY LADY from Fiona Harper.

And you've still time to enter the HERE COME THE GROOMS competition and win copies of books from Kate Walker, Anne McAllister and my own The Bride's Baby.

HERE COME THE GROOMS...

For full details you'll have to scroll down the page, but here are all three questions again -- you'll find the answers on our websites and if you send all three answers to each of us, you'll have three chances to win all three books.

My addy is liz @ lizfielding.com (no gaps); you'll find contact details of Kate and Anne's blogs.

The books are:

Anne McAllister's ONE NIGHT LOVE CHILD

Flynn's Question: What story did he come to Montana to cover when he met Sara in the first place?

Kate Walker's SPANISH BILLIONAIRE, INNOCENT WIFE

Raul's Question: What are the full names of the hero and heroine of Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife

And my own THE BRIDE'S BABY.

Tom's Question: What colour silk did he become intimately acquainted with?

IT'S HERE!

My 50th book, THE SHEIKH'S UNSUITABLE BRIDE, hit the UK shelves on Friday.

Next week it will be retail in the US and in February in Australia. Of course it's available online and as an eBook download at Harlequin sites already.

I've had lots of amazing reviews for the book already.

"...oodles of sizzle...Pure magic from beginning to end." 4.5 stars from Romantic Times

"Sublimely entertaining." Romance Readers at Heart

"Fielding writes characters that matter." Coffee Time Romance

and then, yesterday this went online -

"Sparkling, enchanting, feel-good and wonderfully romantic, The Sheikh's Unsuitable Bride is sheer perfection!" at Cataromance

As if all that wasn't enough to makes a writer's head dizzy, this month is a double release in the UK, with the re-release of THE BILLIONAIRE TAKES A BRIDE in a Mills & Boon "By Request" 3-in-1, BRIDE FOR A BILLIONAIRE along with fabulous books by Carol Marinelli and Robyn Donald.

And let's not forget that I'm not the only one celebrating a very special anniversary.

Mills & Boon are celebrating their Centenary this year so keep an eye on their website. Also look out for 24 collectable titles in retro covers at £1.49. My contribution, THE TEMP & TYCOON will be available in June -- you can reserve a copy now at Amazon. The cover is in the sidebar.




So, I hear you asking, what is Liz being doing to celebrate this amazing event. Is she out partying? Having a champagne fuelled booklaunch? Actually, no. I've been burning the midnight oil on a short story over the New Year and now the dh and I are wallpapering the hall.

We thought it would be a piece of cake. The bottom half is oak panelled, we reasoned, so it's only short lengths. Pause for hollow laughter, here .

Day One involved moving all the stuff that seems to gather in the hall. The coat rack, four bookshelves, three tables, an armchair, lamp, clock, mirror, pictures. Then we stripped the walls. And thought we were so smart because it was done and dusted by lunchtime and we even had time to do the weekly shop. Such hubris is always going to be punished...

Day Two is when we discovered the first piece of paper we put up had a mark in it and I remember why I HATE DIY!!!! Nevertheless we didn't kill one another (intentionally or otherwise), and fell asleep in front of the television before crawling to bed every joint complaining. Yesterday I pasted and the dh did the wallpapering. Today it's the tricky bit over the platerack and I'm up the ladder.

Oh, and I have to start a new book on Monday as well doing my best not to think of the two sets of revisions that are now hanging over me.

But I haven't forgotten that GOLDEN celebrations are in order. From next week, friends and colleagues will be dropping by on a regular basis to help me enjoy this special moment. You'll a guest blog each Thursday, with an author chatting about writing, their books and of course giving away a signed copoy. First up on January 10th, will be Presents author, Annie West. I know you'll give her a warm welcome.

By the way, you may have noticed that the US cover for THE SHEIKH'S UNSUITABLE BRIDE has a special heart cover flash "Special Treat", well Harlequin have put together a special Valentine Day website with free online reads, games, e-cards just for your, so check it out at Harlequin Special Treat

And finally, do take a moment to pop over to the Harlequin Romance Authors blog, which has a Spotlight on Melissa James this month. And Melissa is giving away a copy of her January HR, MOTHER IN A MILLION to one lucky reader.