I've had two short stories published in the last two weeks, which got me to thinking about the nature of short stories and why I like to read and write them.

         Regardless of the length, all story telling needs characters, plot, setting, conflict and resolution. In a novel, you have thousands of words to establish all this. My novels are about 90,000 words. Those huge, house-brick sized novels can be two or three times that. In a short story, you have hundreds - at best perhaps two or three thousand - words to accomplish the same goal.

         So... how to do it?

         Do you like to cook? I do. Think about all those recipes that say 'simmer over a low heat until reduced by one third'. What we are doing is removing the water and leaving behind the concentrated flavour. That's what a short story should do - take away anything that adds bulk but doesn't also add flavour.

         Which brings me to Cinderella.

         Fairy tales are short stories and should be considered among the most successful of their genre because we all know them. But think for a minute about what we know.

         We know that Cinders was badly treated by her stepmother and that she went to the ball wearing glass slippers, courtesy of her Fairy Godmother. We don't know if she preferred cats or dogs. We don't know her favourite food, or colour. We don't even know the colour of her eyes or her age. We do know she was kind and generous and in the end was rewarded with the Prince's love.

         Do we need to know if she liked cats? No we don't.

         I think the trick to writing a good short story is to know exactly what the story is about. Cinderella is about oppression and good people getting their just rewards. We need to know that Cinderella is good of heart, but we don't need to know the colour of her eyes.

         In the various films and picture books that tell the story, the artist or film-maker has filled in the details. Mostly Cinderella is blonde with blue eyes. But sometimes not. Sometime the prince is blond and sometimes dark. The dress may be blue or pink... or yellow. The point is that the film makers and artists have made the story fit their world.

         That's what the readers of a short story will do. I can say 'she sat by the fireplace peeling potatoes.' I don't have to describe the fireplace or say how many potatoes. The details of the image are filled in by the reader's own imagination and experience. I need to put just enough description to be certain the reader understands that she's cold and hungry and sad.

         There are other tricks to writing short stories -styles of phrasing and sentence structure that use fewer words. But I think the most important thing is to understand the heart of the story - and write that!

         So, to begin...

         Once upon a time...

         I spent yesterday chatting to fans of western romance at Wildflower Junction.   Thanks for having me, Ladies.

         I was surprised by how many of them were fans of The Man From Snowy River - the film of the Australian poem by Banjo Paterson.

         That got me thinking about what makes a memorable hero. The man from Snowy River is strong and competent. A man with a sense of justice, who is willing to go the extra mile to do what is right. He's a hard worker and steadfast in his love.

         Of course, putting him on a horse against the spectacular mountain backdrop didn't harm his hero potential.

         The other Aussie outback hero who came up in conversation was Hugh Jackman in Australia.

         Again, he's strong and tough, but at the same time gentle. He is willing to fight for those unable to defend themselves, and stand up against injustice - all good hero stuff.

         Of course - in Hugh Jackman's case... there might be other reasons as well...

         I am guest blogging today on www.petticoatsandpistols.com if anyone wants to stop by. It's an Amercian historical authors' site. That means westerns - and it's also the place to go if you've a penchant for heroes with broad brimmed hats and riding boots. With my Australian outback background - it works for me. There are always book giveaways as well.

         On Saturday, I was at Castelnau Library in Barnes - with the girls from Let's Talk About Love.

         One of the ladies told me there had been talk about closing the library some time ago - but it had been saved. Well done all the people who fought to keep it for themselves, their children - and for writers like us - who just love meeting readers.

         We enjoyed a good cup of tea as well - thanks to the staff for the refreshments - and the lovely gift. Two flowers in two weeks. It must be the Valentine's Day vibe still working!

         The other present I got this week was a copy of Your Cat magazine - which has one of my short stories in it. The story is a prequel to The Bachelor and Spinster Ball - and features - you guessed it - the black and white stray called Cat.

         I've got another story coming out in a couple of weeks - in My Weekly magazine. This one is my first venture into science fiction - but there's a bit of a love story as well, never fear.

         I've just had the most amazing review for The Bachelor and Spinster Ball on singletitles.com

         Reviewer Julie Bonello called it 'a wonderful treat for fans of romantic fiction everywhere!'

         Then she went on to say...

         Janet Gover expertly balances the light-hearted with the serious and the dramatic and will have you laughing out loud and reaching for the tissues in equal measures. Well-written, wonderfully rendered and simply terrific, The Bachelor and Spinster Ball boasts realistic characters who come instantly to life, touching romances, tear-jerking scenes, hilarious banter and exquisitely vivid descriptions of small-town Australian life which are guaranteed to enchant, delight and entertain readers looking for smart, believable and captivating contemporary romantic fiction!

         Wow!

         That's my book she's talking about.

         I guess I did good.

         I did a radio interview on Friday - with a chat show host asking the question - Is Valentine's Day Evil? Evil? Where did that come from - apart from the desire to start a row?

         He seemed disappointed that he couldn't get me to agree. What did he expect? I'm a romantic novelist - believing in happy ever after is part of the job description.

         I don't know if it is the Valentine's Day good vibrations spreading - but it's been a fun week.

         First - I received my large print edition of The Farmer Needs A Wife - it has such a pretty cover.

         Then, on Friday, with the gals from Let's Talk About Love, I was at Waterstone's in Windsor for an evening of books and chocolate.

         With convenience of online book sellers, it's too easy to forget how wonderful it is to be in a shop, surrounded by books, talking to people who are passionate about reading. Something magical happens on nights like those.

         Not only that, but the lovely David, who organised the event, gave us all a long stemmed red rose and yummy chocolate hearts.

         Next week, Let's Talk About Love is at Castlenau Library from 3 - 4.30 on Saturday afternoon.

         In the meantime - it's Valentine's Day - and there is absolutely nothing evil about it at all. Enjoy!

         This popped into my inbox today... it’s the gorgeous cover for my next LBD book - Girl Racers.

         Isn’t it just Fab-u-lous, darling!!!

         When I decided I wanted to write a book set around a car rally, people looked at me strangely. It's not the most girly of topics.

         But what's not to like about a sexy red sports car, with a girl at the wheel and a hero in hot pursuit!

         The bad news is - you're going to have to wait until it's released in July to read it.

         A huge thank-you to the team at LBD for giving me such a lovely cover.

         The word this week is bite - spelled two ways.

         I've been working with bits and bytes for the past few weeks - as part of the team building the Romantic Novelists' Association website, ready for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

         It was a big job - but fun. Imagine trying to decide - gold hearts or red satin in the banner? Hey - let's have both!

         I discovered there's a font based on Jane Austen's handwriting - how cool is that! (No-one would ever make a font based in my handwriting - it would be impossible to read.)

         The site went 'live' this weekend. Do drop by and have a look.

         The other bites this week will be made of chocolate... and they are free!

         With my Let's Talk About Love friends - I'll be at Waterstone's at Windsor on Friday the 12th, talking about writing romance.

         What could be better, with Valentine's Day just around the corner? The answer to that question is chocolate. The lovely people from Hotel Chocolat will be dropping buy with fabulous free nibbles for everyone. How good is that!  The event starts at 7.00.

         You can pre-book tickets by calling 01753 856456. Tickets are £3.00 - but you get that discounted off the price of a book.

         I hope to see you there.

         I was at a folk club last night, listening to the wonderful Roy Bailey. He was talking about singers he's met during his long career... saying some had wonderful voices but he didn't call them good singers because they didn't get the storytelling part of the song right. Other people with average voices could be better singers - because they understood the stories.

         I think he's right - and not just about singers...

         Sometimes when I read a book I find myself loving the writing, but not liking the book. The writing might have great use of words, good sentence structure and imagery, but if the story isn't there the book doesn't hold me.

         Then there are books where the writing isn't outstanding. I might find the occasional clumsy sentence, or a badly used word. As writers, we all have little habits of structure or word usage or even punctuation - I over-use dots and dashes. These habits can be annoying, but if the story is there and the characters touch my heart I'll enjoy the book.

         Then there are those magical moments when both things come together. Then the words dance on the pages and the story sings in my head and touches my heart. Those are the books I go back to again and again because each page is a joy. That is storytelling at its very best - the sort of storytelling that makes you smile or brings a tear to the eye.

         Just like listening to Roy Bailey sing.

         This week, I've been indulging on one of my favourite things... No, not chocolate (well - only a bit). I'm referring to time spent in the company of fellow writers. This week I've been to two Romantic Novelists' Association meetings in London, and I've met a few people who have just joined as new (unpublished) writers.

         I got to thinking...

         I joined the RNA in 2003, under the New Writers' Scheme. At that time, I'd had just one short story published. I was so nervous when I went to that first RNA event. What was I thinking? They were real writers - and I was just ... well, nothing really. I didn't belong there. That just goes to show how wrong you can be.

         I found support and friendship, professional advice, craft tips and look at me now.... I'm a 'real' writer.

         When I went to that first RNA event, one of the 'real' writers came up to me - standing alone in the doorway, feeling a little overwhelmed. She introduced herself and welcomed me. This week, I tried to do the same... to say to the new members, as she did to me, that published or unpublished we are all writers, and that's the best thing in the world.

         The RNA is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year - here's a toast to 50 more!

         I built a ship last week. Really - I did.

         Her name is Cape Adare and she's about 13,000 tonnes. She has 112 cabins and is capable of carrying more than 200 people across an ocean in great luxury.

         The ship is, of course, for a book, and exists only in my head - and some drawings I did.

         One of my pet hates when I'm reading is inconsistency. You know the sort of thing: in chapter six, the heroine turns left from her front door to go the shop - when in chapter two she turned right. That sort of thing. To keep myself on the straight and narrow when I'm writing, I draw plans and maps of the places in my books, and I try to make them as real as possible.

         In December, I went on a cruise - and photos of that ship are my basis for designing the Cape Adare.

         Of course - I moved the sauna so I could put in a sexy scene between my heroine and the mysterious passenger in cabin 642. I've also enlarged his suite - gave him far more luxury than I had in my cabin (and made it tidier too). The bar is bigger, and the library smaller - far more cosy and intimate.

         One of the great things about writing fiction is that I can go anywhere, do and be anything I want - or rather, my characters can. But my books are set in the real world and while I might bend a few things for the sake of the book - if I bend my world too far, it will break. And so will the book.

         I was NOT going to blog about snow. Everyone has been blogging about snow... and the news is full of it.

         The problem is - snow is cool. No - not cold - cool as in COOL.

         In the part of Australia where I grew up - we sweat a lot and snow is what happens to other people and in movies.

         When I first came to the UK - I ran outside the when it snowed, trying to catch the flakes on my tongue. So what if I was a grown up - I never got to do it as a kid.

         I've seen snow a few times now - walked around in it, made snowballs and taken photographs of it to send back to my antipodean friends and relatives.

         I still like snow... but I don't wander around in it in just a wooly jumper any more.  I can watch it for hours from inside my nice warm office with the fire blazing away. And this time - there's an added bonus. The book I'm writing is set in a very, very cold part of the world. If I need inspiration, I can just step outside and listen to the snow crunching under foot.

         There's always hot chocolate when I come back inside.

         Stay warm everyone.

         1) Stop jumping up and down and making high pitched girlie noises whenever I see my books in a bookshop.

         2) Give the new Dr Who a chance - he might be as good as David Tennant. (Hmmm... not sure about that.)

         3) Stop falling in love with vampires, not matter how sexy they are.  (Hmmm - also not sure about that one.)

         4) Stop buying shoes...

         OK - let's get honest here...

         1) Read more books (as if there was even any doubt about that).

         2) Write more books (ditto).

         ... Those I CAN do.

         Happy 2010 to everyone.

         The cover fairies have been good to me. I saw this today for the first time. It's the cover for the large print edition of The Farmer Needs A Wife - which is coming out in February.

         Isn't it pretty? I just love the colours - and I think it really does have an Australian feel.

         What a fabulous way to end a pretty momentous year.

         I'd like to wish everyone a really joyous Christmas and may 2010 be a very good year for all.

         I know I've talked (complained?) before about how long it takes for things to happen in the authorial world. Many months to write a book. Many more months until I see the cover and then a few more months until it's in the bookshops. But just occasionally, things happen in a rush.

         My editor at LBD has read my newest book - and she just LOVES it. Woo Hoo! I'm always terribly nervous when I hand in a new book... thinking maybe this time I got it wrong. But - according to my editor - I got it just right. There are a few little bits to polish, but not much at all. It's on track to be released in July next year!

         Then - along came the cover of the German edition of The Farmer Needs A Wife - or Bauer Auf Brautschau. My first thought - he looks like Noel Gallagher dressed to play a role in Oklahoma! (That would be worth seeing.) It's coming out in April.

         The large print English edition is coming out in February. I should see that any day now. I'll post the cover here when I do.

         The mass market paperback of Loves Me, Loves Me Not is also out in February. The trade paperback edition which came out while ago is doing really, really well!

         And to top it all off, Jean Fullerton, my good friend and fellow member of Lets Talk About Love, has just had her second book - A Glimpse at Happiness - long listed for the RNA's Romantic Novel of the Year Award. I have read the book and it's very good - and definitely deserves the nomination. Good luck Jean.

         As a dedicated writer, I will go to the ends of the earth for my art - almost literally.

         Last week, webmaster John and I headed north. We flew to Norway - to the town of Tromsø, which is just north of the Arctic Circle. Then we climbed aboard a ship and headed even further north into the Arctic night.

         We cruised around the top of Norway, stopping to climb the northernmost tip of Europe, and then on almost to the Russian border.

         I discovered some important things...

         Reindeer have funny feet.

         It's easiest to let the huskies just run. They know what they are doing.

         The Northern Lights are stunning, but hard to photograph.

         And what has all this got to do with writing a book? Lots. But as it will take nine months to write the book, then another nine months until it's published, you're going to have to wait a while for the detail. Sorry.

         I've just got my first review of The Bachelor and Spinster Ball...  and Wow!

         I really, really liked this book when I wrote it. My editor at LBD loved it. Webmaster John loved it. But that's not the same as a 'real' person loving it (if you know what a mean).

         I just saw the review from Donna, on the Bookishly Attentive website.

         She totally got what I was trying to do with the book... she understood the characters and the town and the relationships...

         She said...

         "Fast paced and well-written, The Bachelor and Spinster Ball provides a glimpse into everyday life in the remote Australian outback... I really enjoyed the characters - and how, just like in any small town, they really do care for each other. "

         Then she said...

         "Highly recommended"

         And THEN she said...

         "The Bachelor and Spinster Ball is yet another winner from Janet Gover and Little Black Dress."

         Wow! Right now, I'm about ten feet tall (really I'm about five foot three, but you know what I mean).

         Libraries are among my favourite places in the world - even better than shoe shops.

         Why? Well, the books are part of it. Hundreds and hundreds of books - and you can read them for free. It's such a great place to go to discover a new author. I can lose myself in a library for hours at a time.

         The other great thing about libraries is the people you find there - people who love books.

         Librarians have the second best job in the world. They get to read books and talk to people about books. How good is that? The only thing better is writing books.

         As for readers - they are the reason people like me spend untold hours staring at words on a computer screen, and wondering how to make them better.

         I think there are three parts to storytelling. First, there is the person telling the story. The second part is the story itself. Then there is the person who reads the story.  Without them, the story has no purpose.

         Last Thursday, I met a group who love books at Yateley Library in Hampshire. What a friendly welcome I had. The plan was that I would talk for 45 minutes, then take a few questions. A few..?  There were so many questions that I think we might have gone on past curfew... and that is just great! I love sharing this passion I have for books, and reading and writing.

         Thanks to everyone for making it such a lovely evening.

         As I'm just starting a new book - I thought I'd share its progress with you over the next months... but don't worry - there'll still be plenty of room for the shoe blog.

         I've spent most of this week struggling with names for my characters.

         Names are so important. Would we have fallen in love with Professor Jones if his first name had been Fred, not Indiana? Would Luke Brown have become the same Jedi hero? 

         It's surprising how many characters there are in a book. There might be six or eight or ten major characters, but when you add in everyone who speaks, that quickly becomes twenty or thirty or more... eeek!

         Even if they only appear briefly, I think everyone who speaks needs a name. In my head, if not on the page. It makes them real. A barmaid who appears in only one scene might only have a first name, but she still deserves a name.

         For the new book, I've already met about fifteen people who are going to have speaking parts, and I've only been working on it for a couple of weeks.

         Names must suit the character - their age, their personality and their nationality.

         Where would I be without a book of baby names? You know the ones I mean - 7,000 baby names and their meanings. I'm also a frequent visitor to websites that list the most popular baby names for each year. Then there's that fabulous resource - the phone book.

         Sometimes it's easy. The moment I found the name Eudora in the name book, I knew it was perfect for the school teacher in The Bachelor and Spinster Ball. Other names are harder.

         My new book has a character who appeared in my mind as 'the mysterious passenger in cabin 67'.  He's tall and dark and...  In this case, I am happy to leave him without a name for a while. Why spoil the fun?

         On Wednesday night, Romantic Novelists' Association launched Loves Me, Loves Me Not, its fabulous 50th anniversary anthology. The celebration was at the Cavalry and Guards Club on Piccadilly - a suitably glamorous setting.

         Don't we all look rather wonderful! I had a great time as a contributor to the book.

         The very next night was the RNA Winter Party. Two RNA parties in two nights can only mean one thing... shoes! There is no single blog award this time - there were just too many to choose from...

         Elizabeth Chadwick's were red...

         Carole Matthews' were amazing...

         Guess which shoes do NOT belong to a romantic novelist?

         And if you want to know the great lengths I go to for the shoe blog - see me caught in action by Victoria Connelly.

         Writers talk about the 'second book blues'. The second book is the toughest to write. The first gets written in the hope of finding a publisher, but no real expectations. The second is written with a deadline looming, and an editor who isn't looking over your shoulder, but it sometimes feels like she is. Whatever it was you did right in the first book - you have to do it again. It's the first 'professional' book - and pretty scary.

         Writing The Bachelor and Spinster Ball wasn't easy. I got half way through, had a crisis of confidence, went back and started again. Well - all that stress and hard work was worth it. The Bachelor and Spinster Ball hit the bookshops this week. Yea!

         I spent Thursday evening in East London - with my writer pals from Lets Talk About Love - signing books in Waterstone's Bookshop, at Romford. The staff and shoppers there were very friendly and it was a great way to launch the book.

         We were chatting about our heroes a lot - now there's a surprise! We've put some writing tips from that discussion up on our joint blog.

         I've also made a guest appearance on the Romantic Novelists' Association blog this week. I'm talking about language - and how to translate from Australian to English. There's a couple of photos from my research into The Bachelor and Spinster Ball.

         Next - the Loves Me, Loves Me Not launch and cocktail party. I have always thought writing was just THE best job - but some weeks are particularly fine!

         I accidentally started writing my new book this week.

         I didn't mean to. The plan was to have a bit of time off. Relax. Read some books and launch The Bachelor and Spinster Ball. Then I was going to start some gentle research for book 4.

         It didn't work out that way.

         I was in the middle of sending an e-mail to a friend, when I had a stray thought about the new book. That's not bad, I thought. I'll write that down before I forget.

         I started what was supposed to be a quick note. It ended up being a quick scene and now that I've started, I won't stop.

         Not that I'm complaining. I love this part of writing - all the excitement and unlimited possibilities of writing a new book.

         I will still be taking time out to launch The Bachelor and Spinster Ball.

         Along with two fellow writers, I'll be at Waterstone's in Romford on Thursday, signing books, from 5.00-6.30. For details check the Lets Talk About Love blog. There's the good chance of a small celebration afterwards.

         I sent the manuscript for my next book to my editor this week. Woo Hoo!

         I've been working on it for eight months - and now there's nothing to do but wait until I hear back from her.

         Today I plan to curl up on the sofa - read a book and watch Strictly Come Dancing. I've earned a day off.

         While I'm watching TV, I'll also be making small bow ties out of a black plastic bin liner - and stitching pink feathers to a strip of silver elastic. "Why?" I hear you ask.  Well... it's got a lot to do with the upcoming launch of The Bachelor and Spinster Ball.

         Stay tuned.

         It doesn't happen often - but last night I was rendered speechless. By a box of chocolate.

         Through Facebook, I've become friends with another Janet Gover - who lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We got to chatting about chocolate, as you do. We were joined by another friend here in the UK, Kelvin - a C of E Vicar and fellow chocolate lover.

         It turned out that US Janet's father has a connection with Hershey's chocolate.

         A couple of weeks later, a huge parcel of chocolate arrived on Kelvin's doorstep - half of which has now been delivered to me.

         How great is that? BUT - it gets better.

         US Janet's father had included a special treat just for me... a personalised chocolate computer - something every writer needs.

         It's just wonderful! I smile every time I look at it - and am starting to wonder if I'll ever be able to eat it. It's just too cool.

         Thanks US Janet and Mr Gover - you made my day.

         It came!

         It's beautiful.

         It's in the bookshops in just 23 days.

         Woo Hoo!

         I'm going to out myself - I watch Strictly Come Dancing.

         I love it - the dresses, the drama, the tears and the romance.

         I hadn't realised this before, but just like books and songs, dance tells a story too. There's Cinderella. Or Romeo and Juliet.

         I love it when bad boy Brendan stormed off during the judging so partner Jo wouldn't have to hear Craig's cruel jokes.

         I love the sequins and lace; Ricky with his shirt open; Ian's red trousers; the flash of a silver shoe; the energy and sex appeal.

         I don't have a favourite couple. Well, not just one. I love watching Ricki dance - what female doesn't. Zoe and James just sizzle. Jade and Ian... wow! Then there's...

         I wonder if, in the weeks ahead, I'm going to be the only viewer reaching for a tissue during the dance off.

         Very nearly there.

         The Bachelor and Spinster Ball went up on the LBD forthcoming releases page today.

         http://www.littleblackdressbooks.com/new-releases.html

         Hoorah! It looks just great.

         Only 30 days to go...

         Any day now, the postman will knock on the door with my preview copy. I shall be very cool, and not jump up and down and make high pitched girlie squealing noises - well, not until after I've shut the door.

         Yesterday, I was at Waterstone's at Uxbridge for Lets Talk About Love - an event with fellow authors Jean Fullerton, Victoria Connelly and Juliet Archer.

         We talked about books and writing - and somehow two hours flew past. It was such fun.

         We've been friends and talked about our work for years, but we never stop learning new things about our craft - and never miss a chance to share these thoughts with other writers and readers.

         Jean and Victoria both do chapter outlines. They start each book by writing the numbers 1 - 20 down a page. These are the chapters and then, next to each, they writes a line or two about what will happen in that chapter. Suddenly, there is a plot. It may change, and as it does, they write that down too. They might write more chapters. Or fewer. But the list is there as a guide throughout the many, many months it takes to write a book.

         I'm more a 'seat of the pants' kinda girl. I know how the book starts and finishes, but the middle is a bit of a mystery until I write it. And when it's done - it's a mystery to me how I did it.

         We'll be talking again at Waterstone's in Romford on November 12th. That will be a special occasion, as both Jean and I will be signing our new books for the first time.

         Next Saturday - I'm going to be at Waterstone's Bookshop at Uxbridge - talking about books, romance and heroes.

         There'll be four romance writers there - and we'll all be signing copies of our books.

         We each write slightly different styles of romance - from romantic comedy to family sagas and Jane Austen tributes. I think there'll be a lot to talk about.

         It's going to be a lot of fun, so if you're anywhere near Uxbridge - drop in and say "Hi".

         We'll be at Waterstone's in The Chimes Shopping Centre - from 2 PM until 4 PM.

         Over dinner the other night, I talked about books with a couple of friends - for about three hours. And it occurred to me that I don't talk here about the books I am reading. Well, let's change that...

         It's not uncommon for me to be reading more than one book at a time - there's the reading in bed book, the train book and the reading in the bath on a Sunday afternoon book.

         I'm currently reading two collections of short stories. There's the fabulous Loves Me, Loves Me Not, a collection of stories by members of the RNA. And Just After Sunset by Stephen King. You might think they are a strange mix - but I don't think so. King is one of the great storytellers of our time, and his short fiction is a master class in the art. He hasn't published many short stories recently - and I'm loving this selection.

         Yes, some of his monsters are scary - and some of his monsters are just human. He has an incredible ability to tap into our emotions. And for a man, he's very, very good at getting inside a woman's head - be she his character or his reader. But most of all - he spins a great yarn.

         I'm commuting to London all this week, so am in need of one or two train books. I'll be taking an older Jeffrey Deaver (I'm partial to a bit of crime) and Jodi Picoult. Let's just hope I remember to get off at the right stop.

         I finished the first draft at my new book this week - Hoorah! It felt so good to type THE END.

         Then I sat at looked at it for a minute. What did I mean - the end? The end of what?

         It's not the end of Alex and Kier's story. They've got a whole life ahead of them.

         It's not the end of my work. I've got re-writes and polishing to do - not to mention spell checking and there's all that punctuation to look at...

         And it's certainly not the end for the book itself. I think a book's life hasn't actually begun until someone other than the author has read it.

         So - it's not really the end of anything yet. Is it?

         I deleted THE END. That can go back in later.

         I usually don't write on the weekends. The weekends are my days off.

         This weekend, I attended an RNA chapter meeting in London, which was great fun as always.

         I am also testing exercise machines I might want to buy and looking up an Arctic cruise that I could take in December (which will not be a holiday; it's book research - honestly!).  There's also the matter of doing something about the broken front gate. And a huge pile of ironing, and...

         It's all displacement activity - because I'm now within about 6,000 words of finishing the first draft of the new book. When I'm that close to the end, I get totally caught up in that world. There's also the not inconsiderable matter of the next book which is starting to take shape at the back of my mind.

         I wonder if this makes me difficult to live with... It might explain why webmaster John and the cat are both avoiding me.

         Ideas happen in the strangest places.

         Last night, while cleaning up after dinner, I was thinking about the book I'm almost finished writing. I've been unsure about just how the closing chapters should fit together.

         Then suddenly, it was all in my head. I could see the final scenes - it was like watching a movie. It was heartbreaking. And joyful. I almost cried.

         I raced into the office to write down the key points, before continuing with the drying up.

         Tomorrow I'll start writing those closing chapters. I'll keep a box of tissues handy - just in case. I needed them during the final scenes of The Bachelor and Spinster Ball. That's either a good sign - or a sign that I really am a little bit crazy.

         I'm having a wonderful time talking about settings on my friend Janice Curran's Facebook page today. It's the first time I've done a Q & A session via Facebook - and it's fun.

         I've posted some thoughts about settings on Janice's wall. Her friends are joining in with questions.

         We are talking about how to use settings to develop characters and plot. How to make sure you get enough description in - without going overboard.

         It's still early in the US - where they all are. I'm expecting some more questions when her friends start getting home from work. I shall stay up late to answer them... well, I may have to answer one or two of them tomorrow morning, my time.

         If you'd like to join in, get in touch with Janice on Facebook (she's the Janice with the chain saw, carving ice) and tell her you want to join the chat. She'll add you.

         On Wednesday, I'm doing an online Facebook guest appearance for a US writer friend - Janice Curran. The topic: Settings.

         A lot of authors say that settings are unimportant, and should be kept to a minimum on the page. I totally disagree.

         Settings can contribute so much to a book.

         Yesterday, I was looking for a new book to read, and picked up 'Dangerous Lies' written by my friend Anna Louise Lucia and read the first line.

         The sun was a beast, a curse.

         Wow! How good is that? It throws the reader straight in to an adventure set around Morocco and the Sahara Desert. It throws you right into the sizzling attraction between our hero and heroine - and the gripping suspense of the plot.

         All done by setting the first scene.

         If you want to join in our chat about settings, come find me or Janice on Facebook and we'll add/invite you.

         The postman bought it this morning.

         It's just gorgeous. I've already re-read my story. And one (well - maybe two) others. There are so many more to read, it's possible I won't get much work done today.

         The Anthology has its own blog and facebook page - please join us.

         Being a writer is not a job for the impatient. Nothing happens quickly. In fact, some things happen so slowly, I just want to scream.

         Different writers work at different speeds - but for me, it's nine months per book - roughly. That's not counting the weeks, months (maybe even years) the idea has been floating around the back of my mind before I start writing it.

         Once it's finished, I have to wait for it to be published. It takes a long time for a book to be edited, proofed and cover art done etc etc etc...

         I'm not complaining - honestly. Well - not much. I would rather be a writer than anything else in the world! But I'm not the world's most patient person.

         In 2007, I wrote a short story that won the RNA's Elizabeth Goudge Award. At that time, the RNA was talking about compiling an anthology of short stories to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010. I offered the story to them (knowing that I'd have to wait a long time to see it in print) - and was very proud to be included with some of the great writers in that book. Two years later, 'Loves Me, loves Me Not' is done and it looks wonderful. I've ordered a copy from an online book distributor. I ordered it almost a week ago, and it's still not here.

         Aargghh!!!

         Did I say the waiting was killing me? I may just murder my postman if the book doesn't arrive soon.

         I'm back from my trip to Tunis. It was fun, but hard work and I was pretty tired when I got back. I only had a day at home, before I headed off to a music festival for the weekend. It was great - but didn't do much for the level of exhaustion.

         I'm back at my desk now - and realize I am a bit behind where I need to be on book three. I've done 56,000 words, but my deadline for the finished book is the end of October.

         Eeek!

         Time to really focus now.

         I've just noticed that my lovely cover for The Bachelor and Spinster Ball is now up on Amazon. It looks great! Exactly what I need to inspire me.

         It took the Romans 100 years and three wars to conquer the Punic city of Carthage. I did it in a morning - but, unlike the Romans I had a taxi driver to help me get about.

         Byrsa Hill was the heart of the ancient Punic city - and then the Roman's built their temples there.

         Runs of both civilisations remain - perhaps not the most spectacular ruins I've ever seen - but awesome in their setting overlooking the brilliant blue of the Gulf of Tunis.

         The colours - white marble, blue sea and sky, and the brilliant wildflowers were really something.

         The site is littered with bits of Roman statuary - its like rubble. Some was used to build a wall... and other bits to decorate what I can only assume (from the smell) was the groundsmen's toilet.

         These days the hill is dominated by a French cathedral built in 1884. It's been deconsecrated and now acts as an art space - and tourist draw.

         Most of Carthage is now expensive suburbia - the Tunisian Presidential Palace is there - but wherever there is no housing - there seems to be some ruins.

         When the heat started to get to me, I retired to Sidi Bou Said. This town sits on top of the next hill - its white buildings and blue shutters giving it an almost Greek appearance (but I wouldn't say that to the locals).  It's a nice place to relax after stomping around the ruins...

         And I made a friend.

         Tomorrow - back to work. Sigh!

         I had a day off from work - and headed straight for the Bardo Museum - the main museum in Tunis. I love museums - and this one was quite amazing.

         Even without its contents - the building is fabulous. Once the palace of the Husseinite Beys who ruled the city, it's fallen on hard times. The paint is peeling. The roof appears to leak, but that does nothing to diminish the place - with its marble halls and spectacular ceilings.

         There are extensive renovations currently underway. This means some of the exhibits are not on display - but oh... what you can see...

         The Bardo houses possibly the world best collection of roman mosaics - all from the cities Rome founded here in North Africa.

         I could have stared at them for hours.

         There was so much expression in the faces on the walls... and on the statues.

         And the animals seemed almost alive...

         Next stop - the ruins of ancient Carthage.

         I'm in Tunis - once one of the great trading cities of the Mediterranean region.

         In keeping with the spirit of times past, this evening I went to the medina (the old city) and the souks.

         The Tunis Medina is a World Heritage Site.

         It was fascinating - a mix of French and Islamic architecture... old narrow alleys and of course the glittering souks.

         What a great place for people watching.

         My favourite place was the street (well, alley) of spice sellers - or maybe herb sellers.

         The shops were filled with dusty bundles of what looked like dried twigs and grass... but I'm sure they were something really interesting.

         If only I spoke Arabic, or French, I could have found out more.

         I am about to visit ancient Carthage - and possibly the home of Luke Skywalker. I'm talking about Tunisia. I'm off on Monday for a week working there - but if I get some free time (and I'm going to make sure I do) - there's so much to see and do.

         Tunis is the site of ancient Carthage - home of Hannibal and his elephants. For about a century, the Carthaginians fought wars with Rome. They lost and Carthage was obliterated. The Romans however, built some lovely cities there, as they did everywhere and there are now some fabulous ruins to explore.

         The south of the country is desert - part of the Sahara. There is a town called Tataouine. Yep - Star Wars was filmed there - or at least large parts of Star Wars. There are sets still standing... Luke Skywalker's underground home is now a hotel.

         So - here's my dilemma... If I get just one day off - do I do Roman ruins - or Star Wars?

         Either way - there'll be photos here shortly.

         This week, I got a wonderful review of The Farmer Needs A Wife from Donna at Bookishly Attentive.

         All writers love good reviews.

         One of my first pieces of published fiction was a story about an elderly man who played a lovely theatre organ (you can read it here). When it was published, I received a letter from a reader who said the character had reminded her of her late husband - and the story had brought a tear to her eye. Wow! I was somewhat awed to think that my words had touched this woman's heart like that. That was probably the best review I have ever received.

         The Farmer Needs A Wife is now also on the web as a forth coming release in large print. It will be out in February from Ulverscroft.

         Now I'm waiting to see the new cover. New covers are always exciting - so far the cover fairies have been very good to me and my covers have been lovely. I'm sure this one will be too.

         It's taken me the best part of a week to recover from the RNA conference in Penrith. It was such a busy three days - so many people to talk to and lectures to attend, not to mention the light nights in the kitchen. Then, there was the long trip home on a train that was terribly crowded with music festival fans returning from Scotland.

         Books were to focus again on Thursday evening at Waterstone's in Notting Hill - where my friends Victoria Connelly and Judy Astley were speaking on a Summer Fiction panel, chaired by the lovely Jane Wenham-Jones.

         I'm diving back into the Work In Progress first thing Monday morning - renewed and refreshed by a week totally devoted to books and writing.

         But, in case you think I'd forgotten... shoes.

         The conference dinner saw some great shoes on display in friendly competition...

         But the blog shoe award goes to Anna Louise Lucia and Cat Marsters for their delightful combination of shoes and dresses - creating the very essence of romance.

         This is the FAB cover for my new book...

Isn't it just beautiful?

         AND - it's got a cat on it.

         His name is Cat - and he does have a speaking part in the book. Well, more of a meowing part.

         I really really loved the little blue tractor on the cover of The Farmer Needs A Wife and I didn't think the next one could be anywhere near as great - I was wrong. A cover with a cat is just the bestest cover ever.

         There's more about The Bachelor and Spinster Ball on the Book Page. It's scheduled for release on November - that's 122 sleeps. I am just going to die waiting.

What do you call a gathering of more than 100 Romantic Novelists... apart from noisy?

         If it's a murder of crows, perhaps it's a passion of RNA members. Or a heartbeat? Or a flutter?

         One thing for sure - it's fun.  I'm at the RNA conference in Penrith - with a large group of like minded writers... having a wonderful time talking about books - writing them and reading them.

         The conference kicked off with a lovely session at the Penrith Library - and we are now hard at work (honestly) at the University Campus.

         We have had some great speakers - full of humour and sage advice.. and its only Saturday.

         Tonight is the gala dinner - there will be shoes!!!

         And tomorrow - more talking about writing and reading books.

         But we still don't have a collective noun for Romantic Novelists. Any ideas out there?

         One thing writers do as much as they write - they talk. And when it's romance writers... well, they talk about love.

         I've joined forces with three friends from the London RNA chapter to form Lets Talk About Love - new voices in romantic fiction.

         Individually, or as a group, we'll be out and about talking about our books and the romance genre that we love so much. We'll be popping up in libraries and bookshops - mostly in London, although we can be tempted further afield.

         We've even got a new blog - where you can find out about those appearances. I'll mention them here as well. Why don't you pop over to the blog and meet my good friends Jean, Juliet and Victoria.

         Speaking of appearances... Jean, Victoria and I will be talking at Penrith Library on Friday afternoon, alongside other RNA members. Love in The Library is being staged in conjunction with the RNA conference. I'm heading towards the lakes tomorrow, so stay tuned for news of romantic novelists at play!!

         And - an exciting discovery today - my short stories are being used as examples on a teaching site - http://teachmetonight.blogspot.com.

         I was very chuffed! I wish I could show it to the teachers who didn't like the way I day-dreamed my way through school. There is a lot to be said for Dragons, Fairy Tales and Romance.

         One of the great things about being a writer is that I get to hang around with other writers. We talk about books and writing and shoes. We even occasionally quaff champagne.

         This week's champagne was for my friend Nina Harrington - whose first romance novel is published this month.

         Nina is writing for Mills and Boon - and her novel "Always the Bridesmaid" has a great opening line...  "Amy Edler had three problems.  All female."

         It's gone straight to the top of my To Be Read pile.

         And speaking of TBR piles - they are soon to feature on the Romantic Novelists' Association's new blog - http://romanticnovelistsassociationblog.blogspot.com/ - which went live this week. The blog will be THE place to hang out for news of all things romantic - including the RNA conference next weekend at Penrith.

         There'll be lots of talk about books and writing and shoes. And as for the champagne...

         It will take me several hours on the train to get there. What a perfect time to start reading a new novel!

         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.