CREATIVE WRITING IN A SUBLIME SETTING

Just back from one of my favourite places on earth....the Watermill at Posara.
(And here I am camping up the Italian aspect like mad!)

Against a verdant backdrop of soaring green mountains and to the sound of running water and church bells - you can learn how to craft a romantic novel. You will also laugh (I promise) and eat some of the best food you've ever tasted.

And if you're anything like me - you'll be dazzled by what looks like unseasonal snow at the top of the mountain. (Except that it's Carrara marble - the kind which Michelangelo used to fashion his stunning David)....duh!


Here (along with Kerstin and Bill) are the latest amazing bunch of women who took part in the course. The lovely Lesa is behind the camera.

So thank you (from left to right) Amanda, Helene, Jen, Louise, Alison, Jo, Rachael, Pippa, Sue and et moi.

Ladies: you rock!

DELICIOUS ACACIA BLOSSOMS....

are currently inspiring me. (I'll try to post a photo of them tomorrow).

My book THE FORBIDDEN WIFE is out in North America right now.

Oh, and I'm writing a short story for an English magazine....

This may explain why my presence here has been so erratic!

So what have you been doing?

ALL TOGETHER NOW......AHHHHH!

Today, a flag-filled land came to a complete halt to watch the wedding of one of its favourite sons.....

Wasn't it lovely?

(But look at the bridesmaid's face!)

PRESSED FOR TIME

This week I've given two royal romance workshops in the fabulous Yumchaa tea-shop in Camden. They were attended by a lively and inspirational bunch of participants, which meant that the sessions were fun and (I hope) - helpful to all.

There was also a lone male journalist present, who wrote about his experience for the Evening Standard - and you can read a short version here

The workshop was filmed by the BBC for the popular ONE SHOW - but I have no idea how to include the video on this site.

I love the hyper-hyper feeling of losing touch with reality which being on telly produces - and it's quite gratifying when your mates are telling you that they've seen you in the paper.

But it's all rather time-consuming and I've suddenly realised that I have a book to write before I head off to Tuscany for my annual creative writing course.

So while I think about Hassan and Ella - why don't you tell me what you've been doing in your corner of the world?

FANCY WRITING A ROYAL ROMANCE?

Then make your way down to Camden Town on Monday, 18th April - where I'll be giving a workshop which will tell you exactly how to do that.

It'll be in the gorgeous Yumchaa Tea Rooms - where you may remember that I did an interview recently.

You'll be able to drink a delicious cup of royal tea..... Yum! (Chaa!)

And you'll get the chance to craft the outline for your own royal love story.

What's the difference between a normal romance and a Royal Romance, I hear you asking? (You mean apart from jewels which aren't fake, oodles of tradition and all the attendant protocol?).

Well, I think it's because it takes the Cinderella story about as far as it can go - and that's one of the reasons why the books are so popular. It is, if you like - the ultimate love-story.

The tricky bit is making sure that your hero and heroine really and truly love one another - that he cares about her enough not to bother about the fact that she hails from a council house with an outside loo. And that she loves him for who he is, and not because he's got a title and a palace.

So come along and learn lots and join in the fun.

THE RUSSIAN IS COMING!

Just back from Lanzarote - completely knackered, and looking a sort of streaky walnut colour - to discover that the book featuring my FIRST EVER RUSSIAN HERO is at No. 1 on the Mills & Boon chart!

Wooh!

And again.......

Wooh!

Here's the jacket photo of TOO PROUD TO BE BOUGHT.

Lovely, isn't it?

I'll post some Canarian photos later (I seem to have taken a lot of close-ups of pigeons) - after I have given my Sheikh another tweak.

Meanwhile, where have YOU been this week?

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

Occasionally, amid all the deadline anxiety, the characters who simply will not obey and the logical loopholes which comprise every book - there comes a reminder that basically, I am in the entertainment industry. And what fun it can be.

Yesterday was just such a day, when I did newspaper interview in a groovy tea-shop in Camden Town, called Yumchaa

Linda Harrison, the journalist (in spotty dress) actually turned up with a stylist

AND a make-up artist!


(I could definitely get used to this!)


Here you can see the back of Daniel, the photographer. Like me, he is of Irish stock and so we spent some time discussing how, as children - we had eaten (if you are squeamish, you may wish to look away now) - stuffed hearts!


We sat in the window overlooking Camden's Parkway, while I told Linda how to write a Mills & Boon romance (she will be submitting a chapter to me for professional feedback). I'll let you know how she does.

Rich carrot and lemon drizzle cakes were on the menu (but not for the PR representative who had given up yeast for Lent!). And we sipped some "Royal Tea" - a blend which has been designed especially to coincide with some famous forthcoming nuptuals. The Kenyan black tea contains rose petals and blackberry leaves, silver candy balls and red candy hearts. It looks like potpourri and tastes absolutely delicious!

All in all, it felt like time out of a normal life - in the way that a day-trip to the seaside sometimes can.

Have you done anything abnormal recently?