Tag: RNA

Happy News Year!

2025

Happy news to share

Happy New Year to you all. We’ve had gales, rain, snow and sun and we’re nine days in only. I’m looking forward to getting back into my writing theatre, on which I’ll post another time, but for now, I’ll keep writing from the warmth of our home.

I say writing. At the moment it’s all about revising, editing, and learning how to be an indie author.

The Writing Theatre

Change of direction

I’m extremely lucky to have a fantastic support system from my family and friends to my writing family and friends. The Romantic Novelists’ Association continues to provide excellent guidance, advice and opportunities for writers of romantic fiction (which is a broad genre), and its members are kind, wise and generous with their help and offers of expertise. Without this support, the decision to self-publish wouldn’t have been an option for me, but I’m excited and raring to go.

Three years ago, the publisher of my first trio of books, Choc Lit, kindly reverted those books rights to me, bar a few outstanding licenses. It wasn’t just the physical book – it was the audio, digital, foreign and large print rights too. This month sees the final right reverted.

With this deadline on the horizon, and with novel number four, currently titled, Make Your Own Kind of Music (MYOKOM), written, edited and revised to the point I can no longer see the proverbial wood for the trees, and with the added consideration of chronic health conditions and disabilities management, it was the perfect time to rethink my career.

How it’s going

Self-publishing is not the easy route, but the more I research, the more I feel it is a good fit. As a person who manages her spoons (the Spoon Theory), indie authorship will allow me autonomy and the grace of flexibility. Publishers have deadlines, printing schedules and contracts, and I happily signed up to all that ten years ago, but I’m less energetic these days, and struggle more with fatigue. Going at my own pace will reduce the chances of letting people down. Perhaps this is a naïve perspective, as I know how hard my indie author/hybrid friends work, but I have good people behind me (family and friends cheerleading), trusted experts on board and a small, but perfectly-formed team of beta readers waiting for their first look at MYOKOM.

In the meantime, I am updating the previously published novels, starting with Follow Me Follow You, which was my second women’s fiction, but my first paperback. I love this story for so many reasons – the fun my daughter and I had inventing the social media site, EweSpeak, Victoria Noble and her journey in trying to understand her son, Seth, little Seth himself, beautiful Chris Frampton and his unconditional love for his family, and the setting of Chesil Beach and Portland, Dorset. Also, in theory, this book shouldn’t take too long to revise …

My third novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, will be my second release. My debut, Truth or Dare? will take longer. If I had written it today, ten/twelve years on from when I set out to ‘write a novel’, it would have a different feel. A different voice. A rewrite might be involved.

Got it covered

Image I used to promote Follow Me Follow You when it was first published. This was a photograph taken of our son when he was four. I adapted it using an app called Watercolour. To this day, I adore this photograph and it will be forever linked to little Seth, Victoria Noble’s (the main character) son.

Follow Me Follow You will be retitled Follow Me, which was its original name. The exciting news with this is I have received the cover design visuals and they are gorgeous. I have spent the day looking through the different versions, as they all bring something unique to the book, but I have chosen the one with which I would like to proceed.

Once it’s agreed and finalised, I will do the reveal here.

Follow me (see what I did there?) on this blog if you’d like to be one of the first to see the fresh, new cover.

Comms

If you’d like to receive updates in the form of a newsletter, drop me a comment below. Currently, I do not run a newsletter, but I’m interested to hear your thoughts as readers as to how you prefer authors to send out communications.

What’s next?

Right now I’m off to email my talented and clever cover designer, and then maybe have eggs on toast for lunch. Then it will be back to the revisions.

Catch you all soon.

Laura xx

Last Dance in Havana – Rosanna Ley

Last Dance in Havana – Rosanna Ley

Laura & Rosanna
Laura & Rosanna

 

On Saturday 1st October 2016, I had the immense pleasure of chatting with bestselling author, Rosanna Ley. Originally, I was planning on attending the event as a member of the audience, but when I popped into my local library to add my name to the list of those going, I was asked by our lovely librarian if I would like to pose Rosanna a few questions on the day. I’m rarely short of questions and having read and thoroughly enjoyed Rosanna’s latest novel, Last Dance in Havana, I was delighted to have this opportunity to chat and learn more about Rosanna’s writing processes, including research, and how she captures the sights, sounds and feel of the settings used in the novel.

I have not visited Cuba in real life, but nearly two weeks on from reading the novel, I can still picture the scenes set by Rosanna – I was transported there. I could feel the sultry heat, hear the music, and experience the everyday lives of the town’s residents. Members of the audience who have been to Havana agreed that Rosanna has portrayed the town, the people and the atmosphere perfectly.

The conversation went on to explore the importance of research, particularly when referencing historical events, the inspiration behind Rosanna’s novels, and the themes within Last Dance in Havana.

With a reading from Rosanna and an introduction to the next book due 2017, which sounds wonderful, the afternoon drew to a close.

My job was made easy. Rosanna is a joy to interview and the fab audience was fully involved and asking their own questions.

If you get the chance to attend one of Rosanna’s events, I urge you to do so. The same goes for reading Rosanna’s books. I was so engaged with Last Dance in Havana, I read it in double-quick time, shutting myself away in our conservatory, telling my family it was work.

I love my work.

Take care,

Laura x

rosanna-ley-ldihLast Dance in Havana.

Cuba, 1958. Elisa is only sixteen years old when she meets Duardo and she knows he’s the love of her life from the moment they first dance the rumba together in downtown Havana. But Duardo is a rebel, determined to fight in Castro’s army, and Elisa is forced to leave behind her homeland and rebuild her life in distant England. But how can she stop longing for the warmth of Havana, when the music of the rumba still calls to her?

England, 2012. Grace has a troubled relationship with her father, whom she blames for her beloved mother’s untimely death. And this year more than ever she could do with a shoulderto cry on – Grace’s career is in flux, she isn’t sure she wants the baby her husband is so desperate to have and, worst of all, she’s begun to develop feelings for their best friend Theo. Theo is a Cuban born magician but even he can’t make Grace’s problems disappear. Is the passion Grace feels for Theo enough to risk her family’s happiness?

From bestselling author Rosanna Ley comes an exotic tale of love, family and friendship set between England and Cuba.

In Recovery

In Recovery

Lancaster Uni Campus
Lancaster Uni Campus

I have almost recovered from the whirl that was the 2016 RNA conference. Held in Lancaster, a seven hundred miles round trip, I left Dorset at 02:45 on the Saturday morning, 9th July, and arrived at the university at 08:30, just in time to help with The Romaniacs Sparkle Spotlight interviews, all of which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqfWTBjiNvdZ67625p2kwA

Pens, Pals & Pompoms
Pens, Pals & Pompoms panel

Pens, Pals & Pompoms Crowd
Pens, Pals & Pompoms pals

The following day I was a member on The Romaniacs panel – Pens, Pals and Pompoms – which was a high energy discussion on the highs and lows of writing, with a few cheerleading moments thrown in to celebrate the successes of everyone in the room.

Over the two days I attended workshops and panels all of which were informative, interesting, enlightening and fun. The journey home was shared with my good friend and fellow Romaniac, Catherine Miller, whose company always makes long journeys appear brief.

An excellent weekend of socialising, laughter, information, friendships, pens, pals and pompoms.

Catherine & Lucie
Catherine Miller & Lucie Wheeler

Now it’s head down and on with book four.

Take care.

Laura x

Celebrate Good Times! Presenting the Award-winning Romaniacs!

Celebrate Good Times! Presenting the Award-winning Romaniacs!

The Media Star Award 2015 goes to ... The Romaniacs!
The Media Star Award 2015 goes to … The Romaniacs!

It’s been a busy week in the James household, preparing for next week’s launch of my third novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, working on the book trailer, and attending the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Winter Party.

The big news is that my writing sisters, The Romaniacs, won an industry award!

Both the RNA and The Bookseller reported on the awards. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up, who gave brilliant and heartfelt speeches.

Six of the eight Romaniacs - Sue Fortin, Catherine Miller, Jan Brigden, Laura James, Debbie Fuller-White & Vanessa Savage. Celia J Anderson & Lucie White couldn't be at the award ceremony, but were most definitely with us in spirit.
Six of the eight Romaniacs – Sue Fortin, Catherine Miller, Jan Brigden, Laura James, Debbie Fuller-White & Vanessa Savage. Celia J Anderson & Lucie Wheeler couldn’t be at the award ceremony, but were most definitely with us in spirit.

Please click here to go to the Romaniacs page to find out what we would have said on Wednesday evening, having been presented with our certificate and star, had we not lost the power of speech … :D.

Finally, thank you to my wonderful, always supportive local radio station, Wessex FM who not only shared the story online, but aired it in the six o’clock news last night. Thank you so much, Wessex FM.

We (The Romaniacs) are working on the logistics of sharing the beautiful glass star between eight of us, but it will be on show at our upcoming Sparkle weekend, when we will be getting together to plan for the year ahead.

Have a great weekend and take care.

Laura x

Truly Madly Deeply Into 2015

Truly Madly Deeply Into 2015Author Pic 4

 

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 started on a positive note for you, and continues in the same way.

My year has begun with the determination to hit my March deadline for book 3, which means a daily word count of 2000, plus a rewrite. I’m not a fast first draft writer, often agonising over every word, but this does mean the second draft is usually less painful and less time consuming.

In the meantime and at the time of writing this post … the RNA anthology, Truly, Madly, Deeply is currently 59p only, as a download from Amazon. My short story, Bitter Sweet, is in this extended addition, along with 34 stories written by romantic novelists. It’s a varied, interesting and wonderful collection of stories, showcasing the many types of romance and romance writing.

TMD Blue

Right – back to the work-in-progress.

See you the other side.

Take care.

Laura x

 

 

My Name is Laura James and I Write Romantic Fiction.

My name is Laura James and I write romantic fiction. The romantic fiction I write is published in novel, short story and flash fiction form.

This isn’t a secret. Nor is it a brag. This is me standing up, taking aim and shooting out arrows of positivity. Whoosh!

During the 11th to the 14th July 2014, I attended my third Romantic Novelists’ Association conference.

Lisa Eveleigh, Gillian Green, Lyn Vernham and Matt Bates: The role of booksellers, publishers & agents in a new book buying age.
Lisa Eveleigh, Gillian Green, Lyn Vernham and Matt Bates: The role of booksellers, publishers & agents in a new book buying age.

It was fabulous – a concoction of workshops, discussion panels, friends, food and wine. I never fail to learn at these events. My friend and fellow Romaniac, Sue Fortin has posted a wonderful round-up of the weekend here. The RNA has a great post here.

At one point of the proceedings, there was an interesting, unscheduled chat about how comfortable we feel saying we write romantic fiction.

In my early days … okay, two years ago … I was slightly ill at ease telling people I was a writer. It had nothing to do with the genre – I am incredibly happy to be reading and writing romantic fiction – it was more that I had nothing solid to show for my efforts. In April 2012, when my 1500 word story, Bitter Sweet, achieved the runner-up position in Choc Lit’s short story competition, I had my first writing credit, and it was a little easier to speak the words, albeit it quietly, ‘I am a writer.’

Conference Room
Penrith 2012

Later that year, at the RNA conference in Penrith, the lovely Miranda Dickinson presented a workshop and everything I’d experienced, she too had been through, but she was a writer, and the more she said it, the easier it became to repeat and believe.

I left that presentation motivated and inspired, and still have the postcards Miranda gave out that day, asserting ‘I write, therefore I am a writer.’

Things have progressed for me since then, with Bitter Sweet finding a home in the RNA’s Truly, Madly, Deeply anthology, stories in Romaniac Shorts, publication in Choc Lit’s Love Match, with a second anthology from them out soon, my debut novel, Truth or Dare? digitally published last October and my first paperback, Follow Me, Follow You due out this September. All my stories are romantic fiction.

I’m hoping you’re reading this and picturing me talking about it to you, my eyes wide with excitement, my speech a little too fast for clarity, because I love what I do. I love writing.

And I love writing romantic fiction.Author Pic 4

I believe in self-fulfilling prophecies and affirmations. I believe that by saying something often enough, that dream, that hope, will happen. Whether caught up in the enthusiasm or reacting to the broken record, others start to believe too, and things happen.

Yes, we make our own luck, seek out the opportunities, put ourselves forward, but we need to believe in ourselves and in what we do to have the energy to pursue the dream. And that energy and belief will draw people in.

Negative energy will repel.

My name is Laura James, and I write romantic fiction.

It’s a fabulous genre.

Take care.

Laura x

 

 

 

Nikki Moore’s Crazy, Undercover, Love

Nikki Moore’s Blog Hit

New Release – Crazy, Undercover, Love

Nikki Moore Header

The day has finally arrived!! Nikki Moore’s debut novel with HarperImpulse – Crazy, Undercover, Love – is released as an ebook today, 24th April 2014.

If you like pacy, sexy romance and fancy a long weekend in Barcelona with a smoking hot guy this one’s for you!  Want to know more…?

When uber-feisty career girl Charley Caswell-Wright takes on the assignment as PA to the gorgeous Alex Demetrio, CEO of Demetrio International, she’s there under entirely false pretences; to get her life back on track. Having lost the job she worked so hard to earn, she’s determined not to give it up so easily, especially when she didn’t deserve to lose it in the first place.

Mr Dreamy CEO is her only chance of clawing back her career – and her reputation. So she has to keep things strictly professional… boy, is she in trouble!

To buy Crazy, Undercover, Love as an ebook:-

Amazon – http://amzn.to./1gdpOxbNikki Moore Crazy Undercover Love Cover

Google Play – http://bit.ly/1rTMrQw

iTunes – http://bit.ly/1mkzpHP

Kobo – bit.ly/QlpKpC

Sainsbury’s – Here.

Or to buy it as a paperback on pre-order, released on 26th June:-

Amazon – Here.

 

What people are saying about Nikki’s other stories… 

The Love Letter and A Day in the Life… HarperImpulse short story collection Be My Valentine, with Teresa F Morgan and Brigid Coady, attracting 4 and 5 star reviews.

‘I loved all 5 stories and will look out for more books by each author.’ CometBabesBooks, Amazon

‘Whilst I enjoyed all of the stories, I particularly liked Nikki Moore’s … her voice as an author really resonated with me and I can’t wait to read more of her work.’  Kate Beeden, Goodreads

Nikki’s short story A Night to Remember in the Mills & Boon/Romantic Novelists Association anthology Truly, Madly, Deeply which has also attracted 4 and 5 star reviews.

‘My favourite story was A Night To Remember. I think what drew me to this … was its resonance with real life. I’m not going to spoil the story but I could feel the emotions spilling out of the page – it was beautiful.’  Beckie, http://www.beckiesbookmix.blogspot.co.uk/

‘A Night to Remember – Beautiful, devastatingly so.’ Cheryl M-M, Goodreads & http://mmcheryl.wordpress.com/ 

 

Nikki Moore Author Pic 1Nikki Moore lives in beautiful Dorset and writes short stories and sexy, pacy romances. A finalist in several writing competitions including Novelicious Undiscovered 2012, she graduated from the Romantic Novelists Association New Writers’ Scheme after four years and and has contributed to their magazine Romance Matters. She has far too much fun attending the annual RNA conference and has previously chaired a panel and taken part in a workshop at the Festival of Romance.

She blogs about some of her favourite things – Writing, Work and Wine – at http://www.nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com/ and believes in supporting other writers as part of a friendly, talented and diverse community.

You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMooreAuthor or on Twitter @NikkiMoore_Auth and she invites you to pop in for chats about love, life, reading or writing!

Truly, Madly, Deeply – The RNA Anthology

TMD_eBook cover

I am thrilled to announce the release of the Romantic Novelists’ Association new anthology, Truly, Madly, Deeply, available in paperback, containing 24 new stories, and in an extended digital version with an additional 11 stories.

Truly, Madly, Deeply, published 21st February 2014, by Mills & Boon, in association with the Romantic Novelists’ Association, is packed with brand new stories from the UK’s best-loved writers.

Bitter Sweet, my short story, is part of the extended digital version, and it is a great honour and privilege to be part of such a great book, alongside such fabulous authors.

RRP £7.99

The blurb:

24 specially-selected stories from bestselling authors including Adele Parks, Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews, Miranda Dickinson and many more. From wedding days to special anniversaries, steamy one night encounters to everlasting loves, Truly, Madly, Deeply takes you on an exciting romantic adventure where love really is all you need. Plus, eBook edition includes 11 additional stories!

It’s a must-have!

Truly, Madly, Deeply, available in paperback and eBook, is the ultimate collection of romantic shorts, making it a perfect indulgent treat this Mother’s Day.
Mills & Boon will also be publishing the stories in Truly, Madly, Deeply as eBook bundles. These will comprise three to four stories each and will include an additional eleven exclusive stories. Available from spring 2014 at Millsandboon.co.uk and all good eBook retailers, they make the perfect bite-sized romantic treat.
Truly, Madly, Deeply, is available in all good paperback and eBook retailers RRP £7.99, and at http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/

About the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Since its launch in 1960, the RNA has given prizes to (and nurtured in its New Writers Scheme) many emerging genresin contemporary women’s romantic fiction. Today, the RNA counts the leading lights of commercial romantic fiction among its members including Adele Parks, Carole Matthews, Elizabeth Chadwick, Rowan Coleman and Miranda Dickinson.

Mills & Boon:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/millsandboon

Twitter – https://twitter.com/MillsandBoon

 

Mills & Boon:

http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/truly-madly-deeply

Amazon:

Paperback – http://amzn.to/1e3zwBo

eBook – Amazon.co.uk

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1f9D4YW

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1fdIMaH

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1gemlAe

Romaniac Shorts Interview with Vanessa Savage

Romaniac Shorts Interview with Vanessa Savage

Vanessa Savage

Not only is Vanessa Savage one of the loveliest and kindest people I know, she is an incredibly talented writer, and an amazingly gifted artist ‒ designer of the Romaniacs Shorts eye-catching, and characterful cover.

Vanessa – tell me about art in your life.

I dithered in school when it came to college choices between art and English. I chose art college, spent four years in Doc Marten boots, with a pierced nose and hennaed hair, studying textile design, graphic design and illustration. After a side step into arts marketing, I started my own graphic design company with two other designers. One of our clients is the Telegraph Hay Literature Festival and working with them means I get to combine my loves of design and literature!

How closely linked are art and writing?

I often get inspired by art – I see an image and a story forms in my mind. Imagery and scenery are very important to me when I’m writing a book and I use a lot of visual reference material when I’m planning.

When you’re writing, do you have a clear image of the scene? Do you think having an artistic eye helps with scene setting in stories?

Every scene I write runs like a film in my head – sometimes I get frustrated when I can’t capture in words the mood of a scene in my head! I always start with character and place when I start a new writing project.

You have three entries in Romaniac Shorts ‒ 100 Ways to Love, The Hand That Romaniac Shorts CoverHolds The Knife, and Dog Days. As a successful short story and flash fiction writer, how did you choose which three to include?

A lot of the stories I write tend to be quite dark, but I wanted a mix for Romaniac Shorts, so 100 Ways to Love is a love story – first love and the love between mother and daughter, The Hand That Holds The Knife is much darker, and Dog Days is a comedy.

The success doesn’t stop at the shorts. Please do tell me about the Harry Bowling Prize!

I’m unbelievably thrilled to be on the shortlist for the 2014 Harry Bowling Prize for New Writing for my book The History of You which went through the RNA’s new writer’s scheme last year.  It’s such a prestigious award and getting the phone call to tell me I made the shortlist was the highlight of my January!

Are you able to give a sneaky peek in to your latest work?

The working title of my latest work-in-progress is Hunting the Light. I’m always fascinated by what goes on behind closed doors – the real truth behind the framed picture of the perfect family on the wall … so Hunting the Light is about family, the ways we hide from each other, the lies we can live with and the secrets we can’t.

What’s next for Vanessa Savage?

I’ve set myself the challenge of entering at least one short story / flash fiction competition a month in 2014, as well as finishing Hunting the Light. Plus I woke up in the middle of the night last week with the idea for my next book…

Quick Fire Round:

Red or white? Red

Singing or dancing? Dancing – I would love to sing but no one else would love to hear it!

Leeks or red onions? Red Onion

Opera or classical? Classical

Cropped trousers or denim cut-offs? I wish I had the legs for denim cut-offs, but sadly I’m cropped trousers all the way 🙂

Dr Who or Torchwood? Dr Who

Comedy or weepy? Can I have both?

Vanessa ‒ you have created a wonderful cover for our first ever anthology. You’ve captured the spirit the Romaniacs in eight pairs of freshly washed shorts. And have I mentioned what an incredibly talented writer you are?

Wishing you every success, and cheering you on in our traditional, Romaniac pom-pom waving way.

Laura x

Vanessa’s Biography:

Vanessa lives by the sea in South Wales with her husband, two daughters and an accident-prone cat. She is a graphic designer and illustrator, and has previously worked in arts marketing for theatres and a dance company. She is a member of the RNA’s New Writer’s Scheme and has had short stories published in Writing Magazine, a short story anthology produced by Words With Jam, Writer’s Forum and broadcast on radio as a highly commended winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

She is represented by Juliet Mushens at The Agency Group and her work has been longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition, shortlisted twice for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance and her current novel is on this year’s shortlist for the Harry Bowling Prize.