PASSION: Presents Style (3)

Is this the new room?

I hope I'm in the right place. I' ve been so busy I have't had a chance to call in and chat properly for ages so I'm following the trail Wayne left to reach the current Passion: Presents Style room  and I hope I've found it.

I recognise Betty -Hi Betty!  and welcome Jessiecue

 Hope everyone else will join us soon

Kate

Didn't even know there was a new space for us. I just found this by accident. I'll have to go and check the old site to see what people have been up to.

Wayne, no I haven't read any of Carol's historicals. That's a treat for the future.

News from not so sunny Australia... I'm not long back from both the Australian and New Zealand romance writers conferences. Both were faaantastic! I've put a few photos of writers you'll know up on my website so do check them out. (And there's a new contest there to win free new release books as well!) I caught up with Trish Morey and Susan Napier, Robyn Donald and Daphne Clair and Carol Marinelli, just to name some Presents girls. Lots of other terrific authors too. It was so very hard to come back to the real world after such fun.

Also, I've just had official confirmation that my 11th book for Harlequin has been accepted. SCANDAL: HIS MAJESTY'S LOVE-CHILD will be a 2010 release in a 4 book sheikh continuity with books by Trish and Carol and Jennie Lucas. Yay! I'm so excited. I can't wait to read all the books in the series after hearing so much about them. There are some seriously sexy desert kings coming up...

And, just to make my month complete, I've seen my SAVAKIS MISTRESS in the shop here in Australia. It's such a thrill to see it on the shelf and hear from people who've read it.

Other than that I'm behind with my email, struggling to get into the next story with so many distractions around and I'm looking forward to hearing what everyone else is up to. Kate, you're starting a new book too, aren't you? Anyone else? Anyone reading anything particularly good?

Annie

Wayne thanks for setting up the new room - have to catch up too. Well done to Trish Morey, the queen of romance! Hope the celebrations are still going on down under. Annie that's great news about your latest! Can't wait to get my hands on that. Wayne, I love Carole's books and I have her first historical to read, if they're half as good as her Moderns then they're going to be brilliant, and hot!

I'm waiting to hear about my own number 12 ms, it's with my Ed at the moment so hopefully there won't be too many revisions. And then I'm working on my first Seikh book, which is very exciting, although a bit daunting when I have to follow people like Kate Walker and Jane Porter and Sandra Marton who do the Sheikh's so well. Gulp.

Hope everyone is well and keeping busy, xx Abby G 

Hi Kate.  I am anxiously awaiting your October book. 

Annie - Glad to see you have one coming in Dec.

Daisy, it is good to see you posting again. 

 Wayne - What are you writing now? 

It was a perfect rainy day here with gentle rains that were perfect for reading and writing.  I got lots of both done, so all in all a very successful day.

Wayne - Good luck on completing the book.  I love series books and will mark my calendar.  I think reading posts is a nice break between tasks.

Great to see the new room starting to buzz again after a quiet time. I expect that everyone has been away on holiday and at conferences and such and now we're all back home - and at the desk - and able to come and chat a little more.

Betty I hope you enjoy the October book when it's out. Of course this one is in the second strand of  the publishing schedule - in  the Presents Extra  line up this time. And Wayne thank you for saying that you're looking forward to Kept For Her Baby too.  I hope you enjoy it. Good luck with meeting that deadline.  Your series sounds interesting. I shall have to look for that. 

 Special wave to our lovely award winning Trish. Congratulations again! Annie congratulations on your latest book.  You're no longer such a 'newbie' writer any more - nor is Daisy. It's wonderful to see you such an established part of the Presents family.

 And Daisy good luck with that sheikh book - it's always a very different experience writing one of those.  I haven't looked at a sheikh in ages  - in a book of course! And it doesn't look as if I will be doing one for a while yet as I've been asked  to work on this special upcoming mini series based on the reek myths. There are just four authors doing this one and it's an interesting challenge.

So it's a Greek hero for the current book  and then the Sicilian I had to put on 'hold'  when I was asked to do this one. That should keep me going for a while!

Well I'd better get back to work. I'm going  out in a little while -into town where hopefully I'll get my first glimpse of the UK M&B Modern editons of Kept For Her Baby  on the bookshop shelves - that's a thrill that just never goes away.

Kate 

This room is buzzing!!!

Good luck with your Sheikh Daisy, I'm amazed by both yours and Annies output. It seems like not that long ago I read your first books, but I'm delighted you both keep them coming as they're fab. 

Kate I agree with Daisy, your greek mythology concept sounds brilliant.

I am very excited as I'm going on a three day writing course run by Julie Cohen in two weeks time. It's more based around single title so it's been a great catalyst to start working on an idea I've had for ages. I'm looking forward to guidance on how to progress it.

 On the Presents front I sumbitted ten chapters for my NWS critique. Time didn't allow for me to finish it properly and I wasn't going to rush something like I've made the grave mistake of doing before. I also have my first chapter of a half finished ms ready for the next competition and another critique I'm waiting on. LOL, after not submitting to M&B for over three years, I'm soon going to be hitting them with loads of what I hope is much better work. 

Waving to Betty, Trish and the newcomers.

Ooh hello everyone!  How fab to have a buzzing new room, thanks Wayne.  I've been AWOL for ages too, good to be back and see lots of people here. Just had my fourth book accepted, hooray!  It's called Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife and will be out in the UK next May.  It was definitely my most challenging book to write to date, probably because I tried to do something different and write a hero who is a politician!  A sexy one, of course, but will be interesting to hear whether people take to him when he hits the shelves.

Which means I'm starting a new book too, and am also embarking on a sheikh!  My Desert King August release was my favourite hero to date, so I can't wait.  I know sheikhs are an acquired taste but personally I can't get enough of them!  Daisy I'm so glad you've decided to try one, I know he'll be fab :)

I'm also looking forward to catching up with all the authors who are able to come to London for AMBA next week, particularly as I didn't make it to any of the conferences this year.  The following week I'm flying off to The Canaries for my hols - can't wait! I've had an exhausting year so far and really need a break, so it's great to have a more relaxing September!  I'm staying on Fuerteventura which apparently is v.desert-like in landscape, so can't wait to come back all inspired :)

Happy writing everyone, enjoy your course Carol!  It was great to meet you earlier in the year.

Sabrina xx

Betty, your rainy day of writing and reading sounds fantastic. I love the sound of gentle rain (when I'm in out of it!)

Sabrina, huge congratulations on your fourth acceptance! It's great when you try something different and it works! What fun that both you and Daisy are writing sheikhs next!

Kate, yes, I suppose Daisy and I aren't so new to this any more. Some days it feels like it's what I've always done. Others I feel like an absolute beginner. Hope you enjoy your Greek challenge!

Carol, I hope you get great feedback from the NWS. I've heard such marvellous things about it. Plus a 3 day writing course - you'll be raring to go. I'm jealous of your ability to see the V&A exhibition of the maharajah's treasures. It sounds luscious.

Hope AMBA is terrific and those of you attending have a ball. I wouldn't expect anything less. Trish, is it greedy of me to wish I could attend when I've just got back from 2 fantastic conferences?

Must go. I've sneaked to the computer but need to do the taxi run then see about taking our English visitors out for the day - maybe the vineyards. Life's hard...

Annie

Congratulations Sabrina!  Wonderful news.

Waving to Annie!

Welcome Marilyn - This is the place to be, that and the I heart presents web site.  I check both every day.  And there is a contest going on if you like to write.

CarolC - I think it is awesome you are learning about your heritage.  When I was a kid growing up, we had a different last name from everyone, one that was not too common.  Once they build a lake, we had tourists come out our road on their way to the lodge.  We had a group stop one day and insist we were Armenian because our name ended in "ian".  We always assured everyone one side was German and the other Pennsylvania Dutch/Irish.  It wasn't until my oldest brother did some geneology that we learned 400 years ago, some of our ansestors did live in that region of the world.  So you never know what you will learn!

A storm is staring so I got to go....

Sabrina and Daisy::  Can't wait for your sheikh books.  Sabrina I loved yours and when Daisy told me she was going to write one, I was thrilled!  Actually, I began reading Susan Mallery's Desert Rogue Series and then Sandra Marton, Kate Walker, Lucy Monroe and Jane Porter's. Then Kate Hewitt entered the genre.....wonderful book.  Silhouette Desire author Olivia Gates, hers are incredible.

 Because I love writing reviews, I started posting my sheikh reviews on The Sheikhs and Desert Love and then she had so many problems with spam, all of my work went away.  That's how my blog, Romancing The Deswert - Sheikh Books was born.

My Presents, HQN and Desire authors now have a special place where the sheikh genre can have a home.  I hope many of you will stop by as I hold a monthly contest and I'm please to say there have been over 7,000 visitors to the site.

 The sheikh genre is not for everyone but I love a strong alpha and who better than a sheikh!

Hi there - Sabrina congrats on number 4, that's brilliant news. You're doing so fab. And I loved your first Sheikh book - so evocative. Yet another pair of shoes to try and fill..! At the moment though my Sheikh is the last thing on my mind as I'm meant to be working on revisions and not getting very far.

Carol, you would do an amazing Indian hero. And that exhibition sounds really interesting. I backapcked in India too for about 5 weeks many years ago and loved it, although it was challenging to say the least. A baptism of fire!

Can't wait to catch up with everyone in London next week and inhale all that buzziness. Hopefully my revisions will be well in at that stage so I can relax...

 Annie hope all good with you down under, am jealous that you're heading into your summer. Feel like we never got one even though there's a bit of an Indian one now - funnily enough, mentioning India!

x Daisy/Abby

CarolC - Your trip brought a smile to my face and brought up a great memory.  When I was in High School way back in the 1970's, I worked part time at an insurance agency. Every time the owner's husband went for two weeks of military reserve duty, she felt compelled to go and have "fun" because she thought he was out having fun.  I drove the lady as she was not comfortable driving out of town.

I drove her all the way to Columbus Ohio to a Tom Jones Concert.  That was the first time I ever attended such an event and I was shocked.  There were all these women chearing and chanting "grind".  When he did a hip action movement, they all started throwing underwear onto the stage.  I was stunned when my boss rushed the stage and threw something.  She kept telling me to lightenup and go with the crowd.  I kept reminding her she was a grandmother and that her grandchildren would be appalled by her actions.

Her reply of "Get over it honey, every generation thinks they invent sex.  At my age, you go with the flow!"

I must say I never forgot the crowd chanting and stampeeding the stage and could not believe the items thrown on the stage. Sometimes he would wipe the sweat off his face with one of the garments and throw it back into the crowd, which caused a frenzy on the floor.

I think it was driving home when I realized sex just might be all it is hyped to be! Of course since then I figured it out.

Thanks for jogging the memory!

Thank you Sabrina.  Have you ever noticed the man does not seem to age?  And I still marvel at the way people carry on at this concerts.  The people watching is almost as good as the Tom watching! I'll have to read your book.

Well no wonder the other room was so quiet!  Took me a while to figure this out, I gotta tell you. :)

Congrats on your 4th acceptance, Sabrina!  I'm working on #4 now. I would love to do a sheikh someday!  But right now it's an Argentinian. :)  Oh, and I LOVE Tom Jones, y'all!  I would so go and see him in a concert.  The man can sing so beautifully.

Can't wait for your sheikh book, Daisy!  And Kate, the Greek myths sound totally cool.

Great to see everyone! Wish I could have made AMBA. Maybe next year!

Lynn

Do you really live on a tropical island? Want to swap. I live on the east coast of Ireland. At the moment the mountains are covered in low hanging clouds of grey. The ocean is foaming and roaring up against the cliffs trying to  reach me. The rain is making rainbows but i sure would love some sunshine. We are never satisfied are we?

Having recently discovered this site and the M&B english site my life has opened up to new possibilities. Its wonderful but nerve racking.

Can't wait for the editors chat.

I do apologise - I've been busy wrestling the new wip and missing the goings on. (no excuse given our Wayne is here every tick of the clock - Wayne, I salute you!)

While I do poke my head up, I'd love to say a huge thanks to Marilyn for her knowledgable and superlative services to romance authors and to the readers who want to know about the books they buy. Thanks Marilyn!

And hi to Gemma from Ireland, one place I plan to get to one day. It's cold and foggy and trying to be spring here in the hills of South Australia, but the fog keeps coming and dthe rain we've finally had fall this year keeps falling, so who am I to complain after years of drought? And the Hills are beautiful whatever the weather, so I can live with that Sounds just fabulous where you are, Gemma, with the crashing foam against the cliffs. I have to put up with cherry blossom and koalas. It's a tough gig

Great to hear of everyone's successes. Congrats to Sabrina for acceptance #4. Gosh. When do you ever get used to them? It's always such a treat and worth celebrating. Hope you celebrated in style!

Best to all!

Trish