I've spent the past few days camped in a cow paddock in Somerset with 150,000 other people, stomping up hill and down dale... getting muddy, sunburnt and exhausted.

         Glastonbury Festival is one of the greatest places in the world for people watching... and the music isn't bad either.

         Bruce Springsteen was just awesome. Two and half hours of solid rock and roll from an artist just dripping charisma and sex appeal.

         A pleasant surprise - Tom Jones. The Welsh sex bomb brought about 80,000 people to their feet on the hill to sing "Why, why, why, Delilah?"  Not bad for someone who turns 70 (eeek!) next year.

         On the fashion front - pink was THE colour for girls - pink clothes, tutus, wellies and hair. For men, it was lime green - for face paint, tights and only one (thank goodness) Borat swimsuit.

         Unusually the wedding dresses were mostly worn by women, although there were a suitable number of men in frocks.

         I'm exhausted, my feet have blisters, my face is red from the sun and I think I could sleep for a week. I'm getting too old for this... but then, I said the same thing this time last year.

         Earlier this year, I was in Australia promoting my first book, and doing research for my next. I did a book signing in Toowoomba, in Queensland, where I grew up and went to school. The local TV station sent a news crew to do a story on me.

         After nearly twenty years as a television reporter, standing behind the microphone, it felt very strange to be in front of it. I really was a bit nervous.

         They ran the story that night on the main news. My Dad was very proud!

         A friend of mine has posted the video here if you want to have a look.

         http://vids.eu.org/view-id-4659379.html

         I was thinking the other day about the first book I wrote.

         It was all about a girl and her pony. The pony was called Sunbeam, and so was the book. I must have been about ten or eleven when I wrote it.

         I published it too... just like a 'proper' book.

         My mother had a small portable typewriter, and I carefully typed up each page. I bought a piece of light white cardboard from the stationery shop to make the cover. Then I carefully traced and coloured a picture of a girl and her pony onto that cover. I can still see that drawing. It wasn't very good.

         The book title was in red and blue in a fancy font taken from a school copy book. Then I stapled the whole thing together.

         My very first book - the first (and only) edition of "Sunbeam".

         My Dad used to have it in a box of old bits and pieces somewhere. I wonder if he still does?

         It would be nice to read it again.

         I've needed a new phone for ages - not only is my old one a fashion nightmare - it is also not working very well. I've been putting it off - too busy, can't be bothered, too hard.

         Until I saw this...

         This is a friend's phone - with my book on it. The entire book!

         You can buy the book from www.GoSpoken.com

         It's sooo cool!

         Point me at a phone shop now.

         Last week, I saw the world's tallest man-made structure; soon to be the world's tallest building - but destined never to be the world's tallest tower.

         The building in question is the Burj Dubai. When finished, it will be over 800 meters tall - which is pretty amazing.

         Apparently, there is some dispute among the people who decide these things as to how to define the world tallest... whatever.

         Should the radio masts on the top be included? Does it count as a building is it's not yet officially opened (the Burj opens in September)? How much habitable space does it need to be a building rather than a tower? And what about buildings rising out of the water - do they get to count the underwater bits?

         However you settle the argument - I imagine the view from the top of this one is going to be spectacular. The desert on one side. The blue waters of the Persian Gulf on the other. And at its base, probably looking like a shoe box - would you believe - the world's biggest shopping mall.

         I am working in Dubai this week - and found time to visit the Kinokuniya bookshop - which was huge and wonderful!

         They had a really big romance section - featuring lots and lots of fab LBD books.. including mine.

         On the subject of writing, while I'm here, I've found out how to write my name in Arabic - this is what it looks like.

         I think Arabic text is really beautiful - calligraphy has long been an art form here- much like it is in China.

         Thanks Nadia and Noor for teaching me.

         Last night's RNA Summer party was the greatest fun. Writers spend most of their time alone with their computers - they don't let us out much. But when we do get going...

         The library of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers has a lovely atmosphere. There's not much romance on shelves of books about metal stress limits and pump design, but the crowd on the floor more than made up for it...

         The highlight of the night was the announcement of the winner of the Joan Hessayon New Writers' Award. You've heard the expression about herding cats? That not half as hard as herding romantic novelists into some sort of photo shoot line-up, but they got us there in the end...

         Congrats to Allie Spencer (3rd from left), a fellow LBD writer, for winning with her soon to be released book Tug of Love. I can't wait to read it...

         A wonderful surprise was a sneak preview of the RNA's 50th Anniversary anthology Loves Me, Loves Me Not. Well, it was a mockup - but the cover is real and looks wonderful. Sue has done a fabulous job of getting this together, and last night gave me a copy of the paperback cover - which will be framed and on my wall shortly...

         Of course, I kept my eyes downcast...

         Biddy's boots were fab!

         Cat Marsters and I were both sporting suede - loved her pink heels...

         But the blog's shoe award goes to Julie Cohen for these uttterly wonderful sparklers... with bonus points to the anonymous woman with the green toenails, who had the courage to do what most of us were desperate to do by the end of the evening...

         On Wednesday the RNA is holding it's summer party - at which they'll present The Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award.

         This is for the best novel that has been helped on its road to publication by the new writers' scheme. I'm one of seven people on the award shortlist.

         So - I have a new outfit, new shoes of course and on Tuesday I'm getting new hair - having just discovered that my hairdresser has me listed on her website as a 'celebrity client'. I don't think I've been called a celebrity before (she says with a very big grin).

         On Thursday I'll come crashing back to earth - I have to go to the dentist (boo hiss).

         But I'll post news and photos of the party on Thursday too. Expect spectacular shoes!

         Are you sitting comfortably? Let Merlin cast his spell. The Moody Blues sang that in their 1969 album On The Threshold of A Dream... linking forever in my mind a comfortable seat and the magic of storytelling.

         But - I am not sitting comfortably any more. My old office chair has passed its use-by date. Time for a new one. You wouldn't think that would be so difficult. It shouldn't take as much time as, for example, as buying a new handbag.

         Wrong.

         I have sat on, bounced in, raised, lowered, swivelled and generally poked and prodded dozens of office chairs. In the best Goldilocks fashion - not one of them is just right.

         Except - possibly the ones guaranteed in the sales catalogue to be perfectly comfortable for twenty-four hour use. I'm not sure if that means 24 hours straight sitting - or those 2 AM moments when I just can't go to bed because I have to write.

         Either way, I asked the salesman if I could sit in one to test it. No, was the answer. They don't keep any samples of that range in the store.

         Do they really think I'm going to spend over £300 on a chair that I have not tried out?

         I could, the salesman said, buy it and return it later if I didn't like it. I don't think so.

         The chair I want has lots of knobs and levers to adjust height and back and seat and arms - and I'm not handing over my credit card until I've played with every single one of them.

         In the meantime - the old chair is still holding on, and I'll keep using it... just as soon as I move the cat.

         I spent a day walking the streets of New York - and I met an angel in Central Park.

         The Bethesda Fountain is an iconic image. The "Angel of the Waters" statue was unveiled in 1873 - to celebrate the clean water brought to the growing city by the Croton Aqueduct.

         She's just beautiful - a symbol of the purity of the water, and the benefits it brought to the city...

         But I see something different when I look at her.

         Before the arrival of fresh water, the city was plagued by disease. Fires raged out of control through the wooden buildings - because there was no water to fight them with. People died in their thousands.

         The aqueduct water supply solved those problems - and gave the city the chance to grow into what we see today.

         When I look at the angel, I see a memory of the terrible past. She holds a lily in one hand - but in my mind's eye a see a sword in the other.

         I went shopping last night - armed with a 25% discount card for a huge department store.

         The shoe department was hell, but I found my way through the madness to relative calm of ladies fashion - and there they were.... Ralph and Calvin... waiting for me with their sale signs hanging out.

         Some time later, laden with shopping bags, I was walking back to my hotel when I stumbled into a movie shoot.... starring...

         That blur in the back of the car is Nicolas Cage.

         I didn't get as close as I wanted - security men have no romance in their souls. However, I do have to say that in the flesh he is very appealing!

         I am starting to like New York.

         I went to Saks's fifth avenue. It's HUGE and full of the most amazing stuff! It was also very crowded and while trying to find my way around, I spotted this...

         Now that's a store that understands women's shopping habits.

         And the shoes!!!!

         But OMG - the prices...

         I went up the road to a bookshop and bought books.

         I finished writing chapter four of the new book today... Yeah Me!

         So now I can think about my trip to New York. It's mostly work, unfortunately, but I do have one day free...

         Museum or Macy's?

         Art Gallery or Bloomingdales?

         The Statue of Liberty or Sak's Fifth Avenue?

         Memo to self - take a half empty suitcase.

         I was browsing Amazon today - and suddenly discovered that my second book is now listed as an upcoming title.

         I guess I can now confess that it's called The Bachelor and Spinster Ball.

         This is what it says about the book...

         Another gripping romance set against the fabulous backdrop of the Australian outback, from one of LBD's fastest rising stars.

         Sexy Nick, feisty Bec and dreamy Hailey all grew up together in the tiny, one-horse town of Farwell Creek. In fact, Nick and Bec were the town's teen-dream couple, until Bec made a break for it and shook the small-town dust off her heels for the big-city lights. Now she's back - but Nick doesn't have romantic feelings for her any more ... does he?

         Sweet, idealistic Hailey is caught between her old friends, but has too many problems of her own to be able to worry about theirs. Devastated at the loss of her parents, who died in a crash a year earlier, she's too wrapped up in her own thoughts to even think about leaving town or finding love.

         It will take a devastating bush-fire, a black-tie ball under the stars, and a road-trip to help all three friends work out who and what they want - and what they need.

         Wow! I want to read it again - and I already know how it ends.

         The new book was going brilliantly last week - but came to a screaming (almost literally) halt in mid chapter four. I had just begun writing the first scene with a new major character - and I couldn't find her in my head. I knew who she was and what she wanted to say, but I couldn't hear her voice.

         Then I spent the weekend at the Gosport & Fareham Easter Music Festival.

         I tapped my feet to jigs and reels, sang protest songs and traditional ballads. Somewhere along the way, as a fair maiden tunefully lamented her lost love, my character started speaking to me. I could hear her voice as plainly as I could hear the music around me. Well - almost. Very few of my characters speak loudly enough to drown out an enthusiastic Irish fiddle player.

         The important thing is - I found her.

         Chapter four here I come...

         I just got a call from my lovely editor at LBD. I sent my second book to her in January and had been waiting since then to hear what she thought...

         I had a terrible case of second book blues. I decided the book was rubbish and that my editor would just tell me to do the whole thing all over again. I even shed a tear or two.

         I was so wrong!

         She just loves it. She said the nicest things - and was so excited and enthusiastic. She said it was absolutely fantastic!

         I confess - I shed another tear or two, but for a very different reason this time.

         Wow - this is just the best feeling in the world!

         I've just returned from ten days in Dubai. It was a work trip, but also gave me a chance to catch up with my friend and fellow writer Liz Fenwick. We spent several enjoyable hours talking about books, and writing.

         It rained almost every day - pretty unusual for a desert. The rain plus the sand disturbed by the wind made for some unusual lighting around the new skyscrapers on the city skyline.

         My journey home was - well, remarkable I guess.

         I was working- really involved and excited about what I was writing when the battery on my laptop went flat. There's no way to recharge in economy. Cursing, I put it away. I am normally grumpy and quiet on planes, but most unusually for me, I was drawn into a conversation with the two very cheerful people sitting next to me. When I mentioned how disappointed I was about being forced to stop writing, they immediately starting thinking about how they could help. One realised her lap top was the same as mine, and immediately gave me her battery to use for the last couple of hours of the flight.

         What a kind and thoughtful thing to do. Thank you Lorna and Aden for a rather special trip.

         So impressed was I by such generosity, that a character who appeared for the first time while I was writing on the plane is now called Lorna.

         I just heard that there is to be a large print editon of The Farmer Needs A Wife. How great is that? The large print editions mostly go into libraries. Having spent so many happy hours over the years browsing in libraries, and reading books from libraries,  it will be a real treat to see my book on the shelves of one. Well - hopefully more than one.

         This also means I'll probably get a new cover design. My LBD cover is so fabulous, I wonder this one will be like...

         Farmer is also now available in electronic format as a download designed for phones. I have never read a book on my phone. It's too old and basic for that. This might just be the excuse I need to buy a flash new one.

         I woke up this morning at 04:15, and for a change it wasn't the cat who woke me. I woke up because it was time to start the new book.

         Being careful not to wake webmaster John, the cat and I crept downstairs and turned on the PC.

         My notes and research photos were waiting for me. More importantly, my heroine was waiting for me. I created a new folder called Version 1 - and a new document called Chapter One. Then I started telling her story.

         Half an hour later, as I was showing no signs of feeding him, the cat went back to bed.

         The first thing I saw through my heroine's eyes was the boy she fell in love with when she was fifteen. So I wrote about him too.

         1,036 words later, I had to go and get a cup of tea and some toast. I probably won't do any more today, but that doesn't matter. I've started and it feels just great!

         Only 88,064 words to go.

         I love travelling... Well, all right, sitting on an aeroplane for more than 20 hours isn't much fun, but the rest of the travelling experience is great. I love going to new places, meeting new people, seeing old friends.

         Australia is such a long way to go, that each time I plan a trip I say - we have to stay for at least four weeks. I'm not going all that way (paying all that money) just for a few days.

         But...

         A month is a long time to be away from home. By the end, I am always desperate to get back. To sit in my comfortable old chair. Drink my brand of tea out of my favourite mug. Sleep in my own bed. And then there's the cat...

         Aahh... Home is great!

         The Australian trip is over and we are heading back to London.

         It's been great fun - and ended with an exciting few days in Toowoomba, and around the area where I grew up.

         On Tuesday, I was at Radio 4GR to do an interview with Graham Healy - a very well-known radio show host. He was very nice and we had a great chat. I left a couple of signed books for the station to give away to their listeners.

         I also dropped into Warrego Wines. A visit there two years ago gave me the idea for the diamante-studded wine glasses Leigh has in The Farmer Needs A Wife. I thanked Kevin for the idea and gave him a book. He gave me a bottle of wine. What a deal!

         Thursday was a book signing at Dymocks - which gave me a chance to chat to some local people. Thanks very much everyone who came along and made it a success. The highlight was the arrival of a film crew from the local WIN TV station - who shot a story for that night's news.

         After so many years as an interviewer myself, if felt a bit strange to be on the other side of the mic, but it was fun.

         There won't be much fun for the next 24 hours - on a long flight back to London. Still - I am taking back some really good memories.

         My friend and fellow LBD author Nell Dixon is having an on-line party, to celebrate the launch of her new book Animal Instincts. She has invited me to join the fun, with an excerpt from The Farmer Needs A wife.

         Other LBD Authors have also joined the party, and there are books to be won!

         Go have a look at http://nelldixonrw.blogspot.com/.

         The last day of the research road trip took us from Gundagai to Goulburn.

         The countryside along the way was very different from the mountains, and it was desperately dry. The paddocks were bare. I had to wonder just what the sheep were eating. I guess they are being hand fed.

         We stopped for lunch at Cootamundra. The great Australian Cricket legend Donald Bradman was born there, and the town has taken all things cricket to its heart. 'The Don' and other Australian cricket captains past and present joined us for lunch in a local park.

         Then it was on to Goulburn - where the road trip ended at the feet of the Big Marino. For many many years it was said that Australia rides on the sheep's back - a reference to the importance of the wool industry for most of the 20th century. Riding this sheep's back looked a bit too dangerous.

         The trip was great - fabulous landscape to see and great people to meet. The next bit is even better - now I start writing the book!

         The research road trip has made it as far as Gundagai..

         The Alpine regions were spectacular. The scenery was breathtaking. It rained a bit, but that didn't matter in the slightest.

         Coming into Gundagai, I was photographed for the Daily Advertiser newspaper.

         The dog is an Australian Icon. It's a legend from the pioneering days about a bullock team driver having a really bad day. The statue came later - as did the song.

         The photo was a follow up to an interview the newspaper's journalist did with me earlier in the week. That story ran in Tuesday's paper... which I was having trouble finding.

         In a small store, a very kind young man dived into the wheelie bins trying to find a paper among the layers of old newspapers and folded cardboard. He worked his way down through the strata without success.

         Finally a copy was located inside the store - it hadn't yet made it to the bin.

         Thanks Tim Cotter and Amy Burgess - I shall keep the paper as a souvenir of the kindness I've met all along this road.

         This week, I'm on the road in a campervan. Webmaster John and I are exploring the Canberra - Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales. I'm about to start writing a new book that will be set in this region.

         I have just been interviewed by the editor of the Cooma-Monaro Express about this research trip - which was rather fun. They are going to give away a copy of Farmer Needs A Wife to one of their readers.

         Our trip started in Canberra, which is a lovely city. It was planned to be a showcase national capital. There are wide boulevards with sweeping views of grand monuments and government buildings, tree lined suburban streets and a huge lake right at its centre.

         Parliament house is particularly fab!

         After Canberra we headed off down the Monaro Highway towards the mountains. It's heartbreakingly dry here in the middle of a long drought. Despite that - or maybe because of it - the landscape is spectacular.

         Next stop - Jindabyne and the Snowy Mountains. The ski fields should be lovely this time of year... warm too.

         I'm having such a good time in Australia!

         The Farmer Needs a Wife goes on sale here on Monday. It's exciting to have my book on sale back in my old home town. I'm having a book signing at Dymocks in Gardentown Shopping Centre, Toowoomba on Thursday the 12th at midday - if anyone out there is in the area, please drop by. I'm also going to be talking on a radio show, which should be the greatest fun! More on that when I get all the details.

         In the meantime, webmaster John and I are leaving Sydney on Saturday and heading into the Snowy Mountains. I am so looking forward to camping on the edge of a moutain lake, and enjoying the scenery and fresh air. It's all in the name of research, of course. My next book is going to be set there.

         In Sydney, I've been visiting my favourite places, some of which feature in The Farmer Needs A Wife. Here's the view from the place Helen and Matt go for their late night picnic.

         The photo should give you an idea of where I am.

         Need another hint ? I got sunburned taking these photos.

         It feels good to be so far away from the snow!

         I love coming back to Australia. I get to see family and friends, and I also get a trip down memory lane. Yesterday I went to visit the tiny town where I grew up. It's been a long time since I was there - but not much has changed.

         It really is a holiday - except for one small thing.

         My books are all set in Australia and every time I come back, my mind starts buzzing with ideas for the next book. And the one after that. By the time I get home to London, my notebooks will be full. Then it will be time to start some serious writing.

         The Romance Novellists Association has released its "Sexiest Thing on Two Legs" list for Valentine's Day - and as I was reading it, I realised that my first entry in this blog was last year's list. The blog is a year old. And what a year is has been, with the publication of my first book, my selection for the RNA anthology as the highlights.

         Here's this year's sexiest men list -

         1.         Richard Armitage

         2.         Johnny Depp

         3.         Hugh Jackman

         4.         George Clooney

         5.         Daniel Craig

         6.         Sean Bean

         7.         Alan Rickman

         8.         David Tennant

         9.         Pierce Brosnan

         10.       Gerard Butler

         Richard Armitage has overtaken Johnny Depp and Hugh Jackman - a controversial result. I may have to get out a few DVDs and think carefully about this.

         The newcomer is Gerard Butler, who played King Leonidas in '300' - and Gerry in 'PS I Love You'. Nice to see new face - but sad that the lovely Colin Firth has been displaced. Goodbye, Mr Darcy.

         Last week, we celebrated the launch of my friend Victoria Connelly's new book - Molly's Millions.

         Victoria made a cake covered with pink icing and white flowers to match the cover.

         I have just finished reading it and I loved it. It was a delightful read, and the heroine was such fun. Well done Victoria!

         I finally did it - I sent the manuscript of my new book to my editor this week.  It's really, really hard sometimes to let it go.  The next bit is also pretty hard - waiting to hear what she thinks.

         On Saturday, I joined my friend Victoria Connelly in celebrating the launch of her book Molly's Millions. This is my first chance to read one of Victoria's books - as up until now they've all been published in German.  One has just been made into a film.  We watched the DVD - which didn't have English subtitles. Luckily one of our friends speaks German.

         Speaking of which, The Farmer Needs A Wife looks like having a German edition too - which is very exciting. It is quite strange to think of people reading my book in a language I don't speak...

         Webmaster John and I buy a lot of music CDs. We are a marketing manager's dream. We always buy the excessively over-packaged CD, the one with the bonus disc. These bonus discs usually have such interesting stuff - out-takes, previously unreleased songs, live versions of favourite tracks. The sort of stuff sad fans (that's us) really like.

         We decided to do the same for The Farmer Needs A Wife. The Book Bonus shows you some of the places which I used as inspiration for the book, and hopefully will add a little more flavour to your reading. Of course, looking at the Book Bonus most definitely does NOT mean that you're sad.

         In the meantime - almost is the word of the week..

         - almost finished book two, which has to go to my editor by Friday.

         - almost on holidays - we leave in the second week of February.

         - almost due back at the day job after three months of writing.

         I'm also almost certain I'm getting a review of The Farmer Needs A Wife soon on an internet romance novel review site. That's exciting. More on that when I know more.

         My life is slowly getting back to something approaching normal - or what passes for normal around here.

         I'm almost finished the final polish on book 2 - and hopefully by the next time I blog, it will be on its way to my editor at Little Black Dress.

         Fellow LBD author Nell Dixon interviewed me for her blog, which was great fun.

         I have trouble trying to view this on Internet Explorer - but it looks OK on Firefox. The vagaries of computers!!

         Another friend has posted a lot of photos of the launch of The Farmer Needs A Wife. They are fab and really capture the mood of the moment.

         Webmaster John and I are currently planning our trip to Australia in February. I am so looking forward to being warm again!

         I've just learned that one of my short stories is to be included in an anthology - alongside some authors I have read and admired for years - authors like Eileen Ramsay, Joanna Trollope, Katie Fforde, Judy Astley, Elizabeth Chadwick - the list goes on... and on. All fabulous writers.

         I burst into tears when I read the e-mail. To be included in the same book as writers like these is beyond my wildest dreams.

         The anthology is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Romantic Novelists' Association. The story to be included is "Waiting for A Wish", which won the RNAs Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2007.

         The anthology will be called "Loves Me, Loves Me Not" and will be out towards the end of this year.

         And it's got the most fabulous cover!

         Just when I thought the start of 2009 could not get any better...

         It's been big such a big week...

         First my own book launch, which was great - thanks to everyone who came or sent me congrats.

         The very next night I was off to the East End of London for the launch of "No Cure For Love" - the first saga by my friend Jean Fullerton. I forgot to take my camera (sorry), but London turned on a lovely murky fog which made the evening very atmospheric.

         Then Saturday was the London chapter of the Romantic Novelists Association meeting - with a character workshop led by my fellow LBD writer Julie Cohen. Julie's aim was to get us all back into the swing of writing after the holiday madness.

         It worked.

         When you achieve a dream, it's supposed to feel good. Last night wasn't just good - it was the most wonderful, amazing, stupendous night - as I launched my first novel The Farmer Needs A Wife.

         This is the culmination of so much hard work ... and it feels just GREAT!!!

         So many friends and family and fellow writers were on hand to share the celebration with me - as well as my lovely editor from Little Black Dress.

         On the table while I was signing books ... MY books ... was the cutest little blue tractor - just the like the one the cover. It was a celebratory gift from Webmaster John.

         Two of my colleagues from work turned up with Janet Gover Fan Club T-shirts! They were a total hoot! As they are such tall, handsome men, they attracted a fair bit of interest from the romance writers present.

         Thanks to everybody for sharing the day with me... and thanks to everyone who supported me during my journey.

         Now - on with book two. But first, I might just have to walk past a bookshop or two to see my book sitting on the shelves...

         The glasses are ready. I've bought some bottles of Australian Wine. There are nuts.

         On Monday I plan to ransack my wardrobe - and probably try on everything I own. I may have to allow two days to make a decision.

         On Wednesday I have an appointment with my hair dresser.

         You guessed it - it's almost book day.

         On Wednesday evening, The Farmer Needs A Wife will be launched at my local Bookshop.

         How excited am I?

         I promise to have photos for you on Thursday - but not too early. I image the celebrations may last quite some time on Wednesday night.

         Christmas was a venture into the unknown for me.

         I hosted lunch for seven people, and for the first time cooked a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Don't get me wrong - I have enjoyed my fair share of Christmas dinners, but being Australian, I am more used to prawns, salads and swimming on Christmas day.

         Having decided to go all out, I discovered the joys of cooking chestnuts, parsnips, turkey and Christmas pudding. I did, however, draw the line at bread sauce! My failure to understand bread sauce is legendary - and the subject of at least one short story.

         Not surprisingly, the gift giving around my table involved a lot of books - everything from romance to fashion design, from history to the wit and wisdom of great thinkers. You can never have too many books!

         It's very cold outside now. I have the fire going and my thoughts are drawn back to Australia, which means back to my books.

         "The Farmer Needs A Wife" is released in just over a week.

         I have finished the first draft of the next book, and am at the point of reading it through, polishing the text before submitting it to my editor.

         And in the back of my mind, I can see a little red sports car and two girls with their hair blowing in the breeze. That's book three calling. I'd better get to work...

         There's a portal to another dimension in my back garden... near the top of the biggest tree, to be exact.

         Whenever I am in the garden, this doorway opens and a princess from another world comes down to talk to me.

         Of course, in this dimension, she takes the form of a very sweet silver tabby cat called Habibe, but in her own world, I'm sure she must be a princess.

         I think she's a bit keen on my handsome NicNak. I do hope he doesn't follow her back to her world. I would miss him.

         I got a book in the mail this morning. My book. With my words in it. Lots and lots of my words.

         The cover looks absolutely fab! The whole thing is just beautiful.

         After all that hard work, and a wait that seemed to take forever, it's such a great feeling to actually hold it in my hand.

         Only 26 days to go until it's released.

         And... by Monday I will have finished the first draft of the new book, and the whole thing starts all over again. I just love being a writer.

         I'm feeling quite sad after learning that Oliver Postgate has passed away.

         Growing up when I did in the Australian bush, we didn't have much in the way of television, so as a child I didn't get to meet any of Oliver's creations.

         A few years ago, wandering around a London bookshop, webmaster John pointed out a middle aged man signing things at a small desk. That, he told me with some awe in his voice, was the great Oliver Postgate.

         Who?

         We immediately purchased the complete Clangers on DVD. I met some small pink people and fell in love.

         One of my recent short stories featured Clangers. I wanted to evoke a sense of innocence and delight, and Clangers seemed perfect.

         It was published a few weeks ago. I shall post it on my Stories page this weekend - with thanks to Oliver Postgate.

         It's not just an excuse to shop. It's not just the lights and the window displays. One of the best things about this time of the year are the Christmas parties that give me a chance to catch up with people I see far to seldom during the rest of the year.

         Yesterday it was the London and S-E Chapter of the RNA. We had a lovely lunch and chatted about books and reading and writing, with the occasional sidebar into clothes movies and... all right, books.

         The festive season is also a much needed distractions from counting the days until the launch of The Farmer Needs A Wife (32), worrying about the deadline for my next book (January 31st) and getting stressed about how many more words I still have to write (about 25,000).  Eek!

         I need another Christmas party.

         Last night I was at another RNA function - this time with friends from the Reading chapter.

         Special guests at the party were a reporter and photographer from Berkshire Life magazine - who came to find out all about us and what we do. We're getting a double page spread in February or March. Very Cool!

         So - romantic novelists...   glossy magazine... What else would that lead to but SHOES!

         Ray-Anne Lutener gets the blog's award this week - with fabulous dots (or are they spots?)

         But fellow LBD writer Julie Cohen and Jan Sprenger are close second - with the sort of shoes you can wear to walk all over a pile of money!

         It was a late night talkfest - which had me running for the last train home.

         I sprinted out the door surrounded by offers of a bed for the night if I missed it - that's romance writers for you! Thanks ladies.

         I made it with a couple of minutes to spare.

         I've just had my Goth phase. It started about nine o'clock last night and lasted for roughly two hours.

         I'm not new to Gothic novels. I grew up loving Victoria Holt's dark threatening mansions and dark sexy heroes. Steven King and Peter Straub take up significant space on my bookshelves. And as for movies... I love 'From Dusk Till Dawn' (George Clooney with tats) and 'Van Helsing' (Hugh Jackman with a hat tipped over one eye) and 'Constantine' (Keanu Reeves in a wet shirt)... I guess there is a pattern developing here. Which brings me back to last night.

         I was in a glorious Art Deco theatre in East London to see Aussie Goth Rocker Nick Cave. This wasn't black lace and velvet Goth. Nor was it wild makeup and black leather Goth. This was murder and blood, tortured souls and doomed love, all set to a driving rock beat. That sort of thing is not normally my cup of tea. Nick Cave is a tall skinny man with a receding hairline, a bad moustache and a tendency to trip over his mic. cable. BUT... he performs with such passion and talent and is so involved in his music that he is mesmerizing on stage. Hmmm... There's that pattern again.

         Next week's concert is different ... folk music. Protest songs performed with such passion and belief that it's easy to forget the singer is an aging Essex lad with a receding hairline...

         Last night, the Romantic Novelists took on the world in fine style at the Coleman Getty PEN Quiz.

         The quiz is all about raising funds for PEN's work promoting literature and defending freedom of expression around the world. It's also about good company and friendly competition, and when you have romantic novelists involved involved, there is glamour as well.

         Team Captain Liz Harris bravely boned up on Booker Prize winners. As it's the 40th anniversary this year, we were sure there'd be some questions - sadly, not a one. But she did save us with Schubert's unfinished symphony.

         The team featured Liz Bailey, Catherine King, Phillipa Ashley and Louise Allen. Literature is obviously our forte - and after the first two rounds, we were in 8th place out of 30 teams... which was cause for celebration. Perhaps that was our downfall.

         Sarah Duncan shone in the picture round. I got the Led Zeppelin question right - but the Star Trek question wrong (to my everlasting shame). Audrey Willsher and Pia Tapper-Fenton kept us focussed - but we began to slip backwards, despite Katie Fforde's brilliant Fred Astaire answer.

         We didn't come last. We had a fabulous time, and all in a good cause.The bonus came during the raffle - Katie won a wonderful holiday in an 18th century Devon Longhouse.

         After the event, we retired to the hotel where the out-of-towners were staying. The night porter was more than willing to provide copious quantites of tea to lubricate our throats as we talked into the wee small hours.

         The blog's shoe award goes to Pia - for tartan and black patent leather - with matching handbag.

         Roll on next year!

         Mechanical engineering and romance don't immediately seem to go hand in hand.... but last night the RNA held their winter party in the library of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in Westminster. It's a lovely venue, even if the books on the shelves were more high tension cables than sexual tension.

         Noise levels were pretty high too...

         We were all met at the door by Jan Jones and Roger Sanderson who do such a great job of organising our RNA functions...

         Roger's gorgeous tie, by the way, comes from San Louis Obispo which is half way between LA and San Francisco. We should have guessed that by just looking at it.

         It was great to catch up with friends from near and far - including Liz Fenwick, who regularly flies in from Dubai for RNA events...

         The London chapter was well represented...

         RNA Chair Catherine Jones predicted a cheery future for romantic fiction as we raised a glass to the holiday season.

         As always - glamour was the order of the evening. These killer heels score Cat Marsters a second shoe appearance on this blog.

         While all this was going on, webmaster John was handing out "Farmer Needs a Wife" bookmarks in the mosh pit of a heavy metal concert. Romance knows no bounds!

         I was shopping in Windsor, when the police closed the road in front of the castle to allow for a parade of castle guards. Despite many, many shopping trips to Windsor, I've never seen the changing of the guard, so I thought I'd watch.  Nothing like men in red uniforms with gold braid and bear skin hats to cheer a girl on a gloomy day.

         With a flourish of trumpets they emerged from the gate... The leader was resplendent in gold braid and the rest were wearing... long grey overcoats.

         It wasn't raining and it wasn't that cold - surely these elite servicemen could manage without the overcoats, just for the pleasure of watching romantic novelists! It was a bit of a disappointment.

         The high heeled black boots I bought a few minutes later, however, are not a disappointment.

         I have another 61 days until The Farmer Needs A Wife is released.  I'm going mad with anticipation... that's on top of the going crazy working so hard on the new book.

         A touch of sanity crept in this week when I joined some friends and fellow writers at the Reading chapter of the RNA for a good chat. We talked about the books we are writing and reading, the US election - and I seem to remember some mention of party clothes for the festive season.

         The next day - a box arrived on my doorstep, filled with goodies. There were bookmarks with my gorgeous new cover on them - and likewise my new business cards. They look great!

         I got 1,000 bookmarks made - here's hoping there are that many people out there who'll want one.

         I was (note the past tense) 50,000 words into my new novel, and thinking it was going all right.

         A fellow writer who is a good friend, a great writer and an equally great teacher and critic read the first four chapters last week - and found it to be... well... not the best thing I have done.

         Aaaaggghhh!

         I re-read it and instantly saw the flaws. She was right - and now I'm busy re-writing. It's working too. I have tossed a gorgeous rogue into my heroine's path, burned down the school teacher's house and added a dark secret into another character's past. And that's just in the first three chapters. This is so much fun!

         My deadline for this book is January - so I'm going to have to work pretty hard for the next few weeks - but this time it really is going very well.

         I need to keep focused as the release date for The Farmer Needs A Wife draws closer.

         The cover of my first book for Little Black Dress has arrived. It's fabulous.

         The tractor is so cute. It looks just like one I used to drive when I was growing up in Australia. On the back of the book, it says...

         "Helen Woodley, editor of Australia's top magazine, had no idea how successful her new column would be. Who knew that if the country's lovelorn farmers were profiled each week, readers would queue up to date them?

         Get ready to meet:

         The Artistic farmer: Greg, who'd rather be doing something creative with his time.

         The Confused Farmer: Peter, expecting a nanny for his twins, not a pretty girl wanting romance!

         The Unsuspecting Farmer: Matt, who has no idea his photo's been published... yet.

         And finally, Leigh, the beautiful wine grower, who deserves a new chance at romance.

         It's not all haystacks and pitchforks, girls - get ready for a scorching outback read."

         Wow. I just love what LBD have done with my book. And there's only 75 days to go till it's out there.

         I can hardly wait.

         I finished my project in Leeuwarden this week.

         I've been working with a team at Omrop Fryslân - the Frisian language broadcaster.

         What a great way to end the project.

         Thanks everyone for all your help and hard work.

         I'm home now - settling down for some writing time. The characters in my new book are calling me to get on with their stories.

         I am finishing off my project in Leeuwarden.

         On Thursday evening, determined to have a bit of a break, I picked up a book, put down my mobile phone, and went for a long slow meal. After some fine food, a glass of wine and a couple of chapters of Kathy Reichs, I went back to my room to find four missed calls from my editor at Little Black Dress ... and a long voice mail message about last minute checks.

         There was an even longer e-mail.

         It was after 9 PM local time, and she needed an answer the next day.

         I want The Farmer Needs A Wife to be the best book it can possibly be - so I sat down for some late night spell checking. I'm so glad there are online dictionaries, because I didn't have one with me.

         By midnight I was done, and my e-mail was winging its way back to the Headline offices in London.

         I confess that on Friday, I dozed off during the three hour train journey from Leeuwarden back to Amsterdam airport for my flight home.

         I've got another week in Leeuwarden... then I have several weeks at home, just writing. What fun that will be. Writing... and trying not to count days (88).

         I have sent the copy edits for "The Farmer Needs A Wife" to my editor. There's nothing left for me to do now. My part in the book is done - from here, it’s in the hands of the publisher and printer.

         I've been working on this for such a long time, it's a bit hard to let it go, but I've had book two on hold while I did the edits - and it's calling me back.

         I'm still waiting with breath bated to see the cover for "The Farmer Needs A Wife".

         In the meantime my friend Nell Dixon has just got her new LBD cover... have a look.

         It's just lovely. The parrot's name is Dave.

         I'm suffering from hyphen-related-anxiety.

         I've spent this week going through the page proofs of The Farmer Needs A Wife.

         A very patient copy editor has been through it line by line, checking my punctuation and spelling - and we disagree on the subject of hyphens.

         Here's a sneak preview of the novel...  There's a character, young and handsome of course, who lives and works on - you guessed it - a farm. He grows sugarcane. Or maybe sugar-cane. Or possibly even sugar cane.

         So - is he a sugar cane grower? A sugar-cane grower? A sugar-cane-grower? Or a canegrower?

         What do you think?

         Whatever I end up doing with the hyphens - Greg is kind and gorgeous and falling in love - and that's the most important thing.

         I'm still waiting to see the cover art... but my friend and fellow LBD author Julie Cohen has just got the cover art for her new book. Go and have a look at it - it's just great.

         As soon as I get my cover - you'll see it here.

         I'm back from Galway. The journey took forever - knowing what was waiting for me when I got home.

         I confess - I did shed a happy tear or two. It's starting to feel like a real book now.

         I'm spending my evenings now checking it.

         Next step - the cover art!

         Hi, John the webmaster here - Janet is still in Galway.

         This came in the post this morning...

         I'm still in Ireland - and its looking lovely now.

         I found a tiny cemetery overlooking the water.

         Many of the crosses were carved with celtic design.

         It was a truly beautiful place.

         I'm in Galway on the west coast of Ireland. It's beautiful. Wild and rugged. Impossibly green fields with grey stone walls and white cottages overlooking rugged rocky shorelines.

         Each day I drive for an hour along the shores of Galway Bay to get to where I'm working. On my first day here, it was a lovely sunny day, and I decided I had to take some photos. I didn't have my camera.  Never mind, I thought, I'll do it tomorrow. Or the next day.

         It hasn't stopped raining since.

         The locals tell me one sunny day a week is about the best I can hope for. I'm here for another week - so I might get lucky.

         In the meantime, rain or no rain, I'll have to go looking for a newsagent later in the week. I don't know if People's Friend is sold over here - but it would be nice to see one of my stories on sale while I am still here.

         After my rant yesterday about how long I have to wait for the release of "The Farmer Needs A Wife", the pre-publication copy of one of my short stories dropped onto the mat with the mail today.

         For those with a long memory, or a passion for cult children's TV - "Close Encounters" features Clangers.

         It is in the issue of People's Friend dated September 20th - and should be on sale a couple of days before that.

         And now there are only 122 days to go...

         A year is a very long time- and this year is proving a lot longer than most.

         In late January this year, I got THE call - that Little Black Dress wanted to publish my first novel.

         It will be released in early January next year - 351 days later.

         At first, I was busy. I had to finish the book and do some re-writes. Then I handed it over to my editor at LBD - now all I can do is wait.

         That's the hard part. I'm sure each week has eight or nine days. Each month has at least six weeks, and 2009 will never get here.

         In the meantime, I am having a fab time writing the next book - tentatively titled "The Bachelor and Spinster Ball".

         You can see it's going well - compare the number of Post-It notes around the screen now with when I started!

         BUT, there are still 123 days to go...

         Sigh.

         I had four days to write this week - I did 8,375 words of the new book.

         Some of them were pretty good words too... I think.

         It really is the greatest job in the world!!!

         Janet

         Heading for breakfast, in the hotel foyer I bumped into (well - almost) an elderly couple who had their dog staying with them in the hotel.

         It was small and cute and well behaved - and had brought its own bed.

         I suppose you just have to ask for - one room, non-smoking, dog friendly.

         When we go on holidays, Nic Nak the cat stays at a cattery - which he really doesn't like.

         He'd much rather be indulging his new-found love of climbing the biggest tree in the garden.

         Janet

         I love shopping in a new country. New shops. New brands. New STUFF!

         I'm working in the Netherlands, and yesterday I indulged one of my favourite pastimes.

         There are a lot of names that appear everywhere you go - not just McDonalds, but other international companies - and the clothes and make-up and shoes on sale are the same everywhere.  But in a new country, there are also shops and brands that I've never seen before - and I love it.

         Leeurwarden has a really pretty city centre, with a canal running down the middle. There was an old fashioned organ on the back of a small lorry driving around playing music. I thought it was pretty cool - but I imagine for the shop keepers must get very sick of hearing the same tunes over and over again.

         Cafes line the canal. When I stopped for lunch, I couldn't resist the cranberry beer (I love cranberry juice). What can I say except - I didn't have a second.

         As for the shopping - well, a shopping trip isn't a success without at least one small purchase. However, there were no shoes involved. I did have some trouble with my English credit card - but there's always a way around that when there's a pair of fab black pants in the balance!

         I really won't need to buy an extra suitcase to come home - at least, I don't think I will.

         Janet

         I've had a busy few days!

         First - to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see David Tennant (Dr Who) and Patrick Stewart (Cpt. Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise) in the RSC's production of Hamlet. Two of my favourite actors on stage together - it was mesmerizing!

         Then it was off to Norfolk for a touch of touristing. I went underground in Grimes Graves - actually a neolithic flint mine, with lichen that gave it a lovely Borg-green glow.

         Then to Castle Acre Priory - one of the religious orders dissolved and destroyed by Henry VIII. I'll say this - Henry left us with some facinating ruins. On the ceiling of the private rooms of one of the priors, you can still see the painted roses of the houses of York and Lancaster, which Henry united as the Tudor rose.

         And finally - a few days sitting in the rain listening to music at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival. Something I witnessed at Cropredy 2006 inspired me to write a short story - which has recently been published. It's here if you'd like to read it.

         The highlight of this year's festival, for me, was the moving tribute to Sandy Denny - with her music performed by those who worked with her before her tragic death 30 years ago. Sandy was the only woman ever to sing on a Led Zeppelin record - not bad for a folk singer. Zep's Robert Plant was the surprise guest for the night, where he sang "The Battle of Evermore" - the track he sang with Sandy. Wow! He still sounds great.

         Now - back to work.

         Janet

         We are heading up to Statford upon Avon next week - for a little Shakespeare.

         We have tickets for Hamlet - starring the gorgeous David Tennent - otherwise known as Dr Who.

         The bard made an appearance in an old TV series I am currently watching on DVD. Beauty and the Beast is based on the fairy tale - but is set in modern New York. Well, I should say the New York of the 1980s, when it was made. One of the key writers was George R. R. Martin; I think he is one of THE greatest fantasy writers - ever. I'd pay to read his shopping list!

         In an episode I recently watched, one of the characters is given the line - "Shakespeare knew everything."

         George - I think you're right.

         Janet

         Some of my friends think my writing life is easy. That I just sit at the computer and words somehow magically find their way onto the page. They are almost right.  There is magic in writing, but there's also a lot of hard work - mostly to make sure the words on that page are all good words.

         It takes a long time to write a book. At best, a few months. Sometimes a year or more. Then the exhausted writer sends it off to her editor - waiting for her to reply that it is wonderful, and exciting and funny and the readers will love it.

         When I sent The Farmer Needs a Wife to my editor at Little Black Dress - she said all those things. BUT... (Why is there always a BUT?)...

         The editor's job is to spot the things a writer never sees, because she is too close to her work. It's called the revision letter - pointing out where the writer may have gone a little off track. We all get them - and our books are all the better because of them.

         I've sent my revised manuscript off to my editor, and am now waiting for her reply - which hopefully this time won't have a BUT...

         In the meantime, she tells me the designers are working on the cover of the book. It might take them a few weeks to get to just right - no BUTS this time.

         As soon as I can, I'll post it here to show you.

         Janet

         I hate airports. I know I'm not the first person to say this - but I REALLY hate airports.

         There's something about them that turns normally polite and happy people into psychotic demons. Maybe it's fear of flying - or suddenly not flying any more. Maybe it's fear of who might be sitting next to you talking at you for the next three hours.

         On Friday evening, I was flying home from Dublin. I made it to the airport with plenty of time for my 7.50 flight. But through a combination of broken airport radar, broken aeroplanes and bad weather - my flight was delayed.. and delayed... and delayed again.

         I could feel myself turning into the Wicked Witch of the West on a bad hair day - so I headed for the DVD shop, where - joy of joys - I found a three-disc set of Julia Roberts chick flicks for just 10 Euro.

         I settled into a chair, inserted "America's Sweethearts" into my laptop and plugged in the headphones from my ipod. The best part of two hours passed pleasantly enough. The movie finished just as they called for passengers to head for the boarding gate.

         I finally got back to London a bit after midnight - better than some of my fellow travellers who didn't get home at all that night. I do hope they had a DVD in their bags.

         Janet

         I've just returned from the Romantic Novelists' Association's annual conference - held this year at Chichester University.

         The conference is one of the most important - and enjoyable - weekends of the year. More than 100 novelists gather to talk about writing, our books, other people's books and the publishing industry in general. Any suggestion that there is merrymaking, drinking and even possibly some late night singing is entirely true.

         Some of those attending are best selling writers, with a long list of successful novels. Others are just starting out - including those who are not yet published. The important thing is we all love  what we do - and we all support each other.  We share tips and experiences, commiserate when things go wrong and celebrate when they go well.

         The undoubted highlight of the conference were the shoes worn by Cat Marsters for Saturday night's dinner...

         Now that's romance!

         Janet