INSPIRATION & DAVID WILMOT

Sometimes you see a film or a play which lingers in the mind because it's so bloody brilliant - and one such film was SHADOW DANCER which I liked so much that I saw it twice in one week!  One of the reasons it was so good was down to the superb acting of the entire cast - exemplified by actor David Wilmot, who deserves an Oscar for his brooding and menacing performance.  Watch the trailer here and you'll see exactly what I mean.  (He's the one threatening the heroine).

Imagine my surprise when fellow author Abby Green arrived in London with a signed photo of said actor, which she'd brought all the way from Dublin's fair city.  What a gal!
And thanks to our lovely senior editor Joanne Grant who took this picture of me posing with it at our annual author party where much merriment and inspiration was to be had by all.

Has anything inspired you recently?

LEARN HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE....

If you live, or are within travelling distance of central London, then why not sashay on down to Victoria Library on Friday, 21st September where I'll be running a writing workshop.  The course runs between 5.30 - 6.45 and you can find details here

I'll be covering everything you need to know about writing romance - but the "rules" are the same for writing any kind of fiction.  We'll be discovering what makes your characters leap off the page and what makes the reader care what happens to them.  We'll learn about the importance of narrative and what keeps dialogue fresh and real.

Oh, and we'll be having a laugh - that, I promise.

And while you're in the vicinity - you could do no better than having a stroll around the glorious St. James's Park which is the oldest park in London and is surrounded by three palaces.

Gorgeous!

I'm also running a course in Mayfair - posh! - on 25th September and I'll  let you have details of that within the next couple of days.

SFOGLIATELLE e THE MAGIC OF NAPLES

Today I'm over at http://www.iheartpresents.com talking about my latest USA release, entitled: A TAINTED BEAUTY.

It's the story of a man with unrealistic expectations and a woman who longs to match them.....

In the blog, I talk about the magic of Naples and you can hear the most wonderful and evocative Neapolitan music.....

THE SUMMER SCHOOL AT SWANWICK

This is the beautiful lake at the Swanwick Summer Writing School, which happens to be the longest-running writing school IN THE WORLD!  It's been running for sixty-four years (which is why all you Twitter followers can find it under the hashtag #Swanwick64).  It's in glorious Derbyshire - a county I know well from childhood holidays, when I used to go and stay with my cousin in a place called Dronfield.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I agreed to be an evening speaker and to give two workshops  - and I certainly got a surprise when I walked into a packed hall of around 250 people.  Swanwick writers are very passionate about their craft!  Likewise, my workshops were also filled with interesting and interested participants.  We brain-stormed a romantic novel in two hours flat (and gave each other plenty of new ideas).

I ate delicious food, slept like a log and met some wonderful people.  If you're looking for a creative, encouraging and great-value environment in which to practice and learn - then you might think about giving Swanwick a try.

Meanwhile, here's the church from the nearby village (it was locked, of course) - which has rather a strange but rather beautiful spire.....

Have you seen anything beautiful but unusual recently?

SWANWICK WRITERS' SUMMER SCHOOL

is believed to be the oldest established writers' conference in the world....and I'm going to be there next week on August 14th, giving a talk entitled SEXY SHEIKHS AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM.
I'll also be giving two workshops the following day.
Hope to see you there!

SEXY GREEK NEEDS TAMING

Zak Constantinides is one of those men who gets women to fall in love with him without even  having to try. That is, until he meets Emma Geary - who is everything he most despises in the opposite sex.  Even worse - she has her scheming and predatory hooks into his beloved baby brother. 

Emma must be stopped in a way which also comes easily to Zak - by manipulation and control!  But for the first time in his life, the powerful billionaire discovers someone who won't just lie back and let him walk all over her.

PLAYING THE GREEK'S GAME is out in North America now - and you can find out what happens when Emma fights back.....

HOW I (nearly) MET DAVID GANDY!

Funny, isn't it - the way life sometimes throws you a curve-ball?
Picture the scene:  a friend was attending a posh, black-tie dinner and he asked me to go along.  I'd get to stay in a luxury hotel.  I'd have unlimited use of the spa the next morning.  There was to be a lunch the following day and we would be chauffeured  to and from this event in a Mercedes!  Oh, and there were to be various celebs at this feast, including a man called David Gandy.
"That's with a 'y'," my friend said.
"Are you sure?" I questioned.  "It's usually spelt with an 'i' - and it's probably a member of the Indian political dynasty."
'Whatever.  Do you want to come?'
'Tempting, but I'm tired.  I'm writing a book - so I'll say no.'


Reader, I honestly didn't twig!


The man was indeed David Gandy - the man much loved by fellow romantic novelists and readers alike.  The man who makes them salivate daily over provocative photos and who inspires many a steamy scene.


So I looked online and found this picture.

I must say, he has a BIZARRE taste in clothing!  Dunno about you - but that hat doesn't really do it for me....