THE MAGAZINE OF THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS’ ASSOCIATION | AUTUMN/WINTER 2017

PACKED WITH THE LATEST NEWS, VIEWS AND EVENTS! WELCOME

PRESIDENT Katie Fforde Welcome to Romance Matters CHAIRMAN Nicola Cornick [email protected] Welcome to another ‘packed to the rafters’ edition of Romance Matters, which I hope finds you on top of all your VICE CHAIRMAN Alison May RNAVicechair@romanticnovelistsassociation. deadlines/edits, sparkling on the home front – not a stray org leaf in sight – and about there organising the world and his wife for Christmas! HON SECRETARY & MINUTES SECRETARY Julie Vince Not quite? Good, the more I know of authors, the more [email protected] I appreciate how miraculous it is we fit in any writing at all, HON TREASURER Sally Calder which is why my interview – page 29 – with Prue Leith is so [email protected] refreshing. She describes writing as addictive, a habit she cannot break, confirming what I’ve always suspected – it’s not our fault! HON DEPUTY TREASURER Anna Scamans RNADepTreas@ And of course, reading is as breathing to us, which is why in the midst of romanticnovelistsassociation.org all the madness, you need to grab a moment and savour some of the fascinating HON MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY features, advice and ideas herein. I recently read that the new ‘thing’ is UpLit – multi- Gill Stewart generational uplifting literature. Well, if you want a little lift read Jan Jones’s gorgeous [email protected] tribute to Roger Sanderson – page 11 – he still shines, always will. RoNA ORGANISER Celia Anderson I hope you enjoy this brief sanctuary in a busy writer’s life and please get in touch, RONAAwards@romanticnovelistsassociation. let me know what you think, drop me a line … don’t kick the habit whatever you do! org

RNA SOCIAL MEDIA Julie Stock [email protected] Adrienne x RoNA SCOREKEEPER Alison Knight RONArecords@romanticnovelistsassociation. Adrienne Vaughan, Editor, Julie Stock, Deputy Editor, Immi Howson & Natalie Keene, Copy Editors org

NEW WRITERS’ SCHEME Immi Howson [email protected]

PARTY ORGANISER Anne Graham [email protected]

ROMANCE MATTERS HON NEWS EDITOR Adrienne Vaughan, Wychwood, The Gravel, Burton Overy, Leicestershire LE8 9DS, 07966 400370, RomanceMatters@ romanticnovelistsassociation.org

DESIGN Resolve Creative, [email protected]

LIBRARIES LIAISON Katherine Garbera librariesliaison@romanticnovelistsassociation. org 14 19 RNA CONFERENCE ADMIN Jan Jones [email protected]

WEBSITE Janet Gover 4 YORK TEA 20 SHORT STORY WINNER [email protected] 14-19 CONFERENCE 24 TOP TIPS FOR INDIES RNA PRESS OFFICER Jules Wake HIGHLIGHTS [email protected]

ENQUIRIES: PLEASE GO TO THE RIGHT PERSON. CHANGE OF DEADLINES AND DELIVERY FOR ROMANCE MATTERS ADDRESS AND NON-RECEIPT OF MAGAZINE TO MEMBERSHIP Issue Deadline for copy Inserts by Delivery SECRETARY PLEASE New Year 2018 8 December 8 December Jan 2018 Romance Matters is the official magazine of Spring 2018 10 February 10 March beg April the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The views Summer 2018 11 May 8 June mid July and opinions expressed in this magazine are Autumn 2018 25 October 8 November mid Nov solely those of the attributed authors and not Please note that all inserts can be downloaded from our website and you can check diary dates, necessarily those of the association as an entity. details about the shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award and the RoNA Rose Award Romance Matters is printed on paper from and much, much more on our website at www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org sustainable sources.

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The write place at the right time? Win a place on these fabulous workshops! Diversity REPORT BY LIAM LIVINGS and Real People Write Books have run three anniversary of our partnership thanks to the successful and entertaining writing lovely RNA, we’d like to offer the chance to inclusion workshops in 2017. We have covered win one free place to a fellow RNA member. a variety of techniques to stimulate To enter, simply tell us the hardest REPORT BY your muse, including helping to create thing you find about writing and why IMMI HOWSON memorable characters, ways of conveying in no more than 100 words. We will The RNA aims to be an inclusive internal conflict, dealing with the ‘soggy use all entries to help inform our and welcoming organisation, but middle’, ending your story with a flourish future workshop content. we are aware that our current and writing sparkling dialogue. Our Entries to be submitted to membership doesn’t reflect either workshops are activity-led and suitable for Romance Matters editor, Adrienne the diversity of society in general, all. There is no hierarchy between published Vaughan at RomanceMatters@ or of writers in particular, and we and unpublished, we are all writers and we romanticnovelistsassociation.org who would like to consider how we can make delegates discuss, write and work will ensure they are anonymous before improve this. because we believe that like other practical passing onto Virginia Heath and Liam Livings With this aim in view, we would skills, writing is best learned through doing. to judge. Closing date for entries is midnight like to set up a sub-committee to We also believe in a jargon-free approach on 31 December. look at the different ways in which because we’ve found that often quite simple On 7 April there will be two workshops. In we can increase diversity and concepts can be over-complicated when the morning there is Hook Line & Don’t Sink minority representation within the discussing writing and because you are which explores where and how to start your RNA (whether that be related to doing – rather than being lectured to – your story and that same afternoon is Let Them race, sexuality, gender, physical and own fabulous imaginations come to the Speak Then Shut Them Up a workshop mental disabilities, neurodiversity, fore. We want you to leave our workshops specifically on dialogue. Each session costs religion, social class, age, income bursting with new ideas and have been £25 without lunch, or BOTH workshops can level etc.). delighted to hear that is indeed the case. be purchased for £45 including a hot buffet One possibility to be discussed Our next workshop is on 7th April 2018 at lunch. is funding for specifically targeted the popular venue of the Sir John Balcombe, Visit www.realpeoplewritebooks.com to scholarships (similar to the Carole London, where the London and South book your space. Blake Open Doors Project: http:// East RNA chapter meets (conveniently The winner of the competition will win a blakefriedmann.co.uk/carole-blake- located next to both Marylebone and Baker place at both workshops and a hot buffet open-doors-project/). Street stations), and to celebrate the first lunch. Good luck! If you would like to be involved in this, please contact one of the current sub-committee members: Rhoda Baxter, rhodabaxter@gmail. com; Sally Calder, slitherysal@ icloud.com; Jean Fullerton, jean@ jeanfullerton.com and/or Immi Howson, [email protected] We will particularly welcome involvement from anyone for whom these issues have direct relevance.

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Tea for Two? And so many more... Special Funds REPORT BY SHARON BOOTH

So, there we were, Julie Available Heslington — aka Jessica Redland — and me, – please standing outside The Royal York Hotel, all ready to go inside and brave our first apply! ‘proper’ Romantic Novelists’ Association event, the York The Elizabeth Harrison Tea. A gathering of well- Bursary is a contingency known, well-established fund for members romance writers, who experiencing financial would wonder who on issues. The grants were earth we were, and how endowed by a RNA founder we dared to darken the member and author who doorstep of this place and knew that the writing life rub shoulders with the elite has its ups and downs! of romantic fiction. Sharon Booth and Lizzie Lamb. They are managed in strict Well, that’s what we confidence. thought, anyway, in our This year we have darkest moments. “On the other hand,” we speech that made me laugh, but also the funds to award two decided brightly, “they might be nice. We moved me to tears at various points. It was conference places and pay have to try, at least.” worth all the anxiety and stress the thought for membership fees for What did we find? A room full of super of attending this event had caused me, just two members, either Full, friendly people, who were willing to chat, to see and hear Milly in action. Independent or NWS. exchange information and advice, and As Julie and I reluctantly headed home, banter about subjects as diverse as clothes we agreed the event had been amazing, IF YOU WOULD shops, the state of publishing, and whether and we’re both looking forward to the next LIKE TO APPLY FOR it’s pronounced scones or sconns. Don’t get one. A GRANT FROM THE me started … But it’s still scones! ELIZABETH HARRISON I soon discovered that all my worries BURSARY OR IF YOU were unfounded. As I spent a happy KNOW OF ANOTHER afternoon chatting to lovely Lizzie Lamb, MEMBER YOU WOULD Anne Williams, Ellie Gray, Rhoda Baxter, LIKE TO NOMINATE, Jenni Fletcher, Janice Preston, Dorinda Cass CONTACT NICOLA and her fabulous sister, Rowena, and many CORNICK: RNACHAIR@ more, I realised I was having a fantastic ROMANTICNOVELISTS time. ASSOCIATION.ORG When Milly Johnson was introduced, my day was made. She gave a wonderful

“When Milly Johnson was introduced, my day was made. She gave a wonderful speech that made me laugh, but also moved me to tears at various points.” SHARON BOOTH

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Planning your own ‘York Tea’? HERE’S WHAT’S WHAT BY LYNDA STACEY

hen Jane Lovering and I first decided to organise an Wafternoon tea in York, we knew it would be a massive undertaking. Because of work commitments, neither of us could get to all the London parties, and we quickly came to the conclusion that if we wanted a party ‘UP NORTH’, then with the committee’s permission, we’d be the ones to organise one. The first thing we had to do was find a suitable venue, one that didn’t cost too much and one that would be in a good location that everyone could easily find. The food had to be good and we unselfishly had to go and test it all out before the event. Lynda Stacey with Nicola Cornick. In 2015, we hired the Guildhall. A beautiful hall with a massive history, but for which we had to use external caterers “The first thing we had to do was find a suitable venue, one and where we had to set up and decorate that didn’t cost too much and one that would be in a good the hall beforehand; this took us hours. We location that everyone could easily find. The food had to be literally had to build the tables and make good and we unselfishly had to go and test it all out before the table centres. Which is why in 2017, we the event.” went to The Principal York, a hotel where everything was done for us and all we had hence why we set the ticket price at £34 what? I’d advise anyone to do this ... go on, to do was turn up with the name badges. for RNA Members and £36 for non- give it a go, organise your own afternoon Our main priority was looking at the members. tea in your own home town! costs; this was a bit tricky because not Then, all we had to do was sell the The only other advice I’d give is to only did we have to take the cost of the tickets... We had no choice but to sell a ensure you know all the costs and the food into consideration, we also had to minimum of 75 tickets, so right now I’ll amount of people you need to make the build in the cost of the prosecco and the apologise for all the adverts, the Facebook event successful before you book it. And cost that we were being charged for the posts, the emails and the constant be realistic. If you live in the far south, or room, a massive £500 and the cost of any (nagging) reminders that I posted. But, the far north ... your numbers may be less extras, which can include anything from as you see... the pressure was on and the than if you’re in the Midlands or London. microphones to chair covers. On top of all costs just had to be covered! Oh, and please get the RNA committee’s of this we had to dig through the contract But saying all of that, the whole day permission. (You never know, they might all (every hotel issues one when you book a was fantastic. It was rewarding, full of want to be there). Once again... thank you! room). The contract for the Principal York fun, smiles and we had a room full of stated that we had to pay for a minimum like-minded people who all seemed to STOP PRESS: SAVE THE of 75 guests, even if only 20 people turned have a great time. We also had the added DATE... SATURDAY 8TH up ... and I must admit, this did give me one attraction of the amazing and very funny SEPTEMBER 2018. WE’RE DOING or two sleepless nights. Milly Johnson as guest speaker. (If all else IT ALL AGAIN IN YORK AND Once all the costs were added together fails, throw in a speaker that everyone NEXT YEAR WE’LL HAVE THE and divided by 75 (minimum) guests, the wants to hear). BEAUTIFUL MERCHANT TAYLORS cost per person worked out at £33.66... The day was hard work, but do you know HALL AS OUR VENUE.

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DORSET CHAPTER The Inaugural Meeting of the Dorset Chapter REPORT BY GEORGIA HILL

One of the many wonderful things the RNA does is especially with romance writers in desperate need of bring people together. It’s often been stated that bookish talk. And cake. writing can be a lonely business. Writing romance Eventually, after a few hiccoughs, we agreed to can be even lonelier as, inexplicably, romance is still meet in Dorchester. As it was once the home of seen by a few misguided souls as something not Thomas Hardy, it seemed appropriate. It’s also to be taken seriously. (They’ve obviously not come Dorset’s county town and reasonably central. In across many RNA members!) November we held our inaugural meeting in a pub, Thank goodness, then, for the local RNA chapters. named after one of Hardy’s books and not far from It’s incredibly useful to meet up with other writers Max Gate, where the great man used to live. With who write in the same genre. auspices like that we couldn’t fail. When I moved to Dorset, one of my main regrets Six of us met up. All in varying stages of writing was leaving behind my beloved Marcher Chapter. careers, with a wide variety of experiences and Although there’s an Exeter-based chapter not too far knowledge – and, more importantly, the generosity away, other commitments often mean I can’t make of spirit to share that expertise. I think we’ve got the the mid-week meetings. beginnings of a really great group. A chance encounter in a kitchen at this year’s conference between Choc Lit writer Laura James WE NEXT MEET AT THE BEGINNING and NWS member Eleanor Small began an idea: OF JANUARY AND THEN EVERY what about starting up a Dorset Chapter? (We all OTHER MONTH AFTER THAT. IF YOU know the most important stuff happens in the WANT TO JOIN US, CONTACT ELEANOR kitchens at conferences!) They took the initiative SMALL ON: ELEANORSAUTHOR@ and set up a Facebook group for interested parties. HOTMAIL.COM YOU’LL BE ASSURED OF It soon became clear there might be a few obstacles, A WELCOME AS WARM AS A SLICE OF geography being one. I teeter at the very edge of DORSET APPLE CAKE. WITH CLOTTED … for anyone in the area, the county, several others are at least 50 miles in CREAM, NATCH. a warm welcome awaits! the other direction. Where could we meet “When I moved to Dorset, one of my main regrets was leaving behind my beloved Marcher Chapter. Although there’s an Exeter-based chapter not too far away, other commitments often mean I can’t make the mid- week meetings.” that was convenient and central? And free! What day would suit everyone? What format would the group take? And were there enough people to make it worthwhile? But where there’s a will, there’s a way,

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Katie Ellisdon, Caroline Bell Foster, Clare Harvey and Marcia Holah at the Nottingham Chapter meeting.

NOTTINGHAM CHAPTER

New Nottingham BEDS & BUCKS Chapter takes off! CHAPTER REPORT BY MARCIA HOLAH Starters’ The new RNA Nottingham Chapter who love their craft and enjoy getting meets on the third Friday of the month together once a month with like- at 2pm at Lady Jayne’s Tearoom at the minded writers. orders! Toton Lane tram stop in Nottingham After introductions, we delved into The latest RNA Chapter, Beds & Bucks, for a cuppa and a chat. each other’s writing history; genres, has recently had its inaugural meeting Members are invited to join a published work and work in progress. and will soon announce a regular time dedicated WhatsApp group. It’s amazing how we writers tend to and meeting place. In the meantime, Here’s Marcia Holah’s account of suffer from similar insecurities; self- anyone interested in getting involved their first meeting. doubt, writer’s block, despair. please contact [email protected] As we sat chatting, three ladies sat I Live in Hope down at the table next to us. One I have written two new chapters into of them was carrying one of Clare’s my life this year. books. We nudged each other and At the beginning of the year, I was grinned. Katie leaned over to the accepted into the NWS – a wonderful women and told them the author was post-Xmas surprise! sitting at our table. SCOTTISH CHAPTER The second was discovering that a They were delighted and wanted new chapter of the RNA had recently Clare to sign their book and allow opened in Nottingham, started by them to take photos. What a fantastic Get in touch! Clare Harvey and Katie Ellisdon. They acknowledgement and appreciation At present the Scottish Chapter does not have meet once a month at the very quaint for your writing. I live in hope that one regular meetings but will be planning another get Lady Jayne’s Tearoom located near the day that will be me. together in the not too distant future. The two Japanese Water Gardens. contacts are Rosemary Gemmell: ros_gemmell@ I attended my first meeting in FOR MORE DETAILS hotmail.com and Rae Cowie: raecowie@ October and was made very welcome CONTACT: CLARE btinternet.com. There is also a Scottish Chapter by Clare Harvey, Caroline Bell Foster HARVEY CLAREHARVEY13@ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/ and Katie Ellisdon. AOL.COM OR TWEET/DM @ groups/1724477174473875/ – so please get in touch. They are all serious, published writers CLAREHARVEYAUTH www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 7 11CHAPTERS11

LEICESTER CHAPTER VIP Visitors at the Belmont Belles

REPORT BY JUNE KEARNS

The Belmont Belles (Leicester Chapter) Right: Pen pals – Adrienne were pleased to welcome champion Vaughan and Madalyn Morgan. blogger Anne Williams of ‘Being Anne’ as their guest to the October meeting. A warm welcome was also extended to Jan Brigden who has been a friend of the Chapter for as far back as anyone “Any RNA member, can remember. It was a great meeting blogger or writer and, as usual, there was much to is welcome to join celebrate and be grateful for. us at any of our Any RNA member, blogger or meetings. We are writer is welcome to join us at any of only five minutes our meetings. We are only five minutes from Leicester from Leicester Railway station and can meet and greet you if you are uncertain Railway station of the way. Our Christmas party and can meet and arrangements are well under way and greet you if you are we hope that 2018 is a bumper year for uncertain of the all RNA members. way.”

Below: Authors, (back row) Mags Cullingford, Celia Anderson and star blogger Anne Williams with (front row) Jean Chapman, Cathy Mansell, Kathy Garbera and special guest author Jan Brigden.

Above: Chapter organiser Lizzie Lamb (2nd from left) with more members of the vibrant Leicester group.

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LONDON & SOUTH EAST CHAPTER Putting Chapters All groups welcome new members. For details contact the the group organiser. Chapter liaison: Jean Fullerton, MAN in [email protected] Bath/Wiltshire For venue contact Rachel Northern (Flying Ducks) Helene Wiggin, Brimble 01729 822550 RoMANce [email protected] North Devon Sheila Daglish, 01271 Beds & Bucks Jean Fullerton jean@ 850006, REPORT BY JULIET jeanfullerton.com [email protected] ARCHER Beverley meets on the last Tuesday of North West Freda Lightfoot, freda@ At our last meeting, R.J. Gould gave every month at 7pm, Kings Head, Saturday fredalightfoot.co.uk and a fascinating talk about the man in Market, Beverley. Anyone interested Val Williamson, [email protected] roMANce. He observed that, at this year’s in joining can contact me at this email Northumberland Border Reivers RNA Conference, he was one of only a address: elliegrayauthor.com. We also have Anna Scamans, [email protected] handful of men. This underlines the fact a Beverley Chapter Facebook page. 01697 322749 that, although as a society we are moving Birmingham Bernadette O’Dwyer Nottingham Clare Harvey clareharvey13@ away from ‘caricatures’ of the sexes [email protected] aol.com or tweet/DM @ClareHarveyauth. towards greater gender equality, the Border Reivers Jen Black, jen.black11@ Oxford Liz Harris, 01491 612492, romance genre is still heavily dominated btopenworld.com [email protected] by women – in terms of both readers and If you would like to join the Border Reivers Reading Julie Roberts, [email protected] authors. He explored different theories group please contact me on this email Scottish Rosemary Gemmell: for this: is it because women apparently address. [email protected] and Rae respond more ‘experientially’ than men Cambridge Judith Lennox, judith@ Cowie: [email protected]. There to what they read – or is the fictional judithlennox.com or is also a Scottish Chapter Facebook world one where they can control events Jan Jones, 01638 730786, jan@jan-jones. group: https://www.facebook.com/ more effectively than in the real world? co.uk groups/1724477174473875/ And are gender differences still valid in Chelmsford Meeting Dates: We meet Southern Steve Mogg, s.mogg853@ our Western society today? on the last Thursday of every month for btinternet.com This led on to his own experiences of lunch at Baroosh, Chelmsford. Carrie Elks, South and West Wales Michaela Weaver writing and publishing, where his focus [email protected] [email protected] is on relationships – a subject that, Dorset Eleanor Small, West Yorks Jean Fullerton, jean@ in theory, should appeal as much to [email protected] jeanfullerton.com men as to women. Yet factors such as Exeter/South Devon New contact/ Wirral Anyone in the Wirral area book covers play an important part in organiser Lin Treadgold email interested in meeting to talk/share writing directing a book’s appeal. Ironically, the [email protected] ideas, please contact jacqueline.farrell50@ first romance author was male: Samuel Irish Ruth Long, [email protected] gmail.com Richardson, with Pamela – which he Leicester (Belmont Belles) Lizzie Lamb, The Yorkshire Terriers meet every third wrote from the female point of view, 0116 2217468, [email protected] Thursday of the month at the Old Angel frequently consulting his wife and or June Kearns, 07817677056, pub in Doncaster. For further info contact her best friend. Do female authors do [email protected] Vasiliki Scurfield on 07963981040 or anything similar when crafting our male London South East Juliet Archer, juliet@ Leanne Bibby on 07894631929. characters? julietarcher.com ROMNA Kate Johnson, As you can imagine, this was a talk Manchester Lynne Connolly, lynne. [email protected] Internet that provoked lots of discussion! [email protected] Chapter, closed group. Messages can be Our venue is the Cellar Bar (downstairs Marcher Ann Ankers, annankers@ individual or daily digest. room) of the Sir John Balcombe pub, hotmail.com or 01952 582177; mobile web: www.romanticnovelistsassociation. between Marylebone and Baker Street 07747723456 org, email stations – we usually start arriving any Norfolk Melanie Hilton, [email protected] time from 12.15 and buy our own lunch [email protected] (if required), with the meeting running from about 13.30 to 15.00.

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RNA AT THE SoA At the final event of the year, members of Authors North – part of the Society Pacing: or how to of Authors – gathered at the Manchester Art Gallery to glean hints and tips from experts in the field of business keep ’em turning negotiation, tax, digital marketing and independent publishing. The theme for the event was how to maximise your income as a writer, and sessions also the pages offered hard-won advice, perspective and solutions from writers carving out a Julie Cohen’s talk at the RNA September meeting career today. RNA author Rhoda Baxter hosted a stand on the association’s behalf, REPORT BY CELIA ANDERSON chatting to people and answering lots of interesting questions – another great way t says a lot about Julie’s sterling reputation as a speaker that this of spreading the word. Thanks Rhoda. RNA ticket-only event didn’t have a spare seat in the room. Julie began with a much-needed message for those moments when we doubt ourselves and feel that the search for representation and Ipublication is never-ending: We all have the power to create – it’s in our hands. Agents and publishers are in awe of our talent. From then on, the theme of pace was quickly developed through various tactics, such as the use of conflict (otherwise known as ‘making your characters’ lives hell’) and deciding on the specific function of every scene to make sure that each one moves the story on effectively. Julie showed us how we can learn pacing from Shakespeare’s expert handling of contrasts and sub-plots and gave tips on using dramatic events, sudden happenings, secrets and emotional highpoints as tools to engage and keep the reader. She demonstrated how to vary the text through shorter/longer blocks, change of mood and topic and style, reminding us to begin and end with a hook wherever possible. The final message was succinct – R.U E. Resist the urge to explain. This was an inspirational session, much appreciated by all who attended.

“We all have the power to create – it’s in our hands. Flying the RNA flag … Rhoda Baxter, John Jackson and Terese Straker. Agents and publishers are in awe of our talent.” JULIE COHEN

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REMEMBERING A Rock that Glitters – our Roger BY JAN JONES

he author and long-time member of the RNA Roger SandersonT (1937-2017) was born in Rotherham and lived for most of his early life in Yorkshire before graduating from Hull University and embarking on a teaching career across the Pennines in Liverpool. He had a zest and enthusiasm for life that often led him blithely into situations without a thought of how to extricate himself, or even that extrication might be necessary. This was highlighted early on when he cheerfully added ‘piano playing’ to one teaching job application and was horrified to be told on his second day in the post that he was now on duty for the morning hymn as the regular music teacher was away for a fortnight. Continued on page 12

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It was, he said, a salutary lesson in not ‘puffing “Coming from characters. He moved on to the Star romantic up’ your more tenuous skills. an army family, comics and then to full length books for Hale Roger started to and Mills & Boon which he published as Gill An inveterate people watcher write the scripts Sanderson. He was delighted when his forty-five He found his niche as an English Literature for Commando medical romances later found a new audience lecturer in a further education college, comic stories and an extended lease of life with Accent Press. becoming involved in organising external and eventually college activities such as the climbing club They’d better bloody not! had over and various excursions designed to enrich the He loved writing – even more so once he students’ understanding of the wider world. eighty of them retired and could devote himself to it full time – One of these trips was to France. An inveterate accepted, and never had the slightest problem coming up people watcher, Roger watched in fascination gaining great with plots to include in his stories. He wasn’t the cultural clash of British engineering kudos for his so keen on editing, but would knuckle down students determined to drink as long as they children by valiantly. His medical romances were always were being served and a French bartender including all planned out in detail, expanding from a long determined to serve as long as the students the names of chapter-by-chapter synopsis to a full length were drinking. Both sides apparently emerged their friends as book. When asked on one panel whether his with a healthy respect for the other. characters.” characters ever ran away with him, he famously Coming from an army family, Roger started answered that they’d better bloody not! to write the scripts for Commando comic However, he had latterly tried the ‘into the mist’ stories and eventually had over eighty of them approach with his longer, contemporary novels, accepted, gaining great kudos for his children selling several to Desert Breeze in the US. His by including all the names of their friends as verdict was that this was a liberating way to write,

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but not if you have a deadline or a rates bill to viewed interaction with technology very much as “Roger was pay! His last medical romance was The Lakeland a game of chance, but he was fascinated by trees, Doctor’s Decision and his final contemporary novel great company, revelled in his daily walk, loved water and lakes was Across Difficult Ground. always willing and sea and used to spend a good proportion of to listen and his time based at his caravan in the Lake District, Never Stop Learning talk, a fund of where he would intersperse writing with striding Roger discovered the RNA whilst writing unexpected for miles across the hills and more often than not, medical romances for M&B, and very soon knowledge finishing up with a pint. volunteered for the committee. He enjoyed and a good networking and, as befits an educator, was a friend. After Always great company firm believer that writing was a craft that could one conference, He was also a family man, immensely proud of be taught and that you never – even after well Jenny Haddon all his children (and mining them shamelessly over fifty books – stopped learning. He was called him a for research purposes) and his many involved with the annual conference from its star – a rock grandchildren, especially the youngest who inception, always being on hand to help with lived with him and who he was enjoying seeing that twinkles. the slightest problem, and it remained one of grow from babyhood to a lively, enquiring the highlights of his year. His last RNA event You can’t have toddler. was the 2017 conference at Harper Adams, a a better epithet Roger was great company, always willing favourite venue of his for the friendliness of the than that.” to listen and talk, a fund of unexpected staff and the excellent food. knowledge and a good friend. After one As all who knew him will testify, Roger conference, Jenny Haddon called him a star – was fond of good food, red wine and plenty a rock that twinkles. You can’t have a better of conversation. He also had a seemingly epithet than that. inexhaustible supply of jokes. His thoughtful He will be very much missed. silence during a speech or discussion was as likely to be due to the careful construction of a relevant pun as an appreciation of the speaker’s FORMER RNA CHAIRMAN DIANE subject matter. It made sitting next to him PEARSON WILL BE REMEMBERED during earnest panel exchanges or lectures a IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF ROMANCE slightly hazardous occupation. MATTERS. Essentially a blackboard-and-chalk man, he

www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 13 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Conference Don’t miss Highlights 2017 Leeds he fabulous venue for this managed to co-ordinate, cajole and year’s RNA Conference was control two hundred and fifty of 2018! Harper Adams University us, whilst managing to orchestrate near Telford in Shropshire. beautifully what has to be one of ext year’s RNA OnceT again, this wonderful location the best conferences we’ve ever had. CONFERENCE threw open welcoming arms to Thank you Jan and all the committee will take place at hundreds of romantic novelists, involved in this superb event. N Leeds Trinity University, writers, authors, agents, publishers, Here are just a few highlights from Brownberrie Lane, bloggers et al and we embraced it the ‘packed to the rafters’ programme. Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5HD right back! If you have any highlights you from 13th to 15th July 2018. Huge thanks to the whole would like to share, please do As always, it will be team at Harper Adams and to get in touch: RomanceMatters@ a mix of talks, panels the indefatigable Jan Jones who romanticnovelistsassociation.org “As always, it will be a mix of talks, panels and workshops aimed at published Plotter vs. Pantser? and unpublished REPORT BY DENISE BARNES alike.”

t was a lively discussion between count the greatest number of ticks and workshops aimed at Bella Osborne, committed plotter, against each one. Woe betide anyone published and unpublished and Alison May, enthusiastic who had one tick evenly spread against I alike. There will be pantser. They were at totally opposite every number. They promised to get opportunities to talk to ends of the scale, Alison cringing when that person into therapy without delay! editors and agents in booked Bella spoke of her method of making I glanced down at my answers and yes, slots, as well as informal a detailed plan of the novel before she I had done exactly that! networking throughout the even touched the keyboard, and Bella There is obviously no ‘right’ answer – weekend. shaking her head when Alison laughed it’s what works best for you. But is any Accommodation is in and said she simply tapped out the time saved by planning? Apparently single ensuite student rooms words with little thought or idea of not, because while the plotter is arranged in flats of 5-9 rooms where the story would take her. Alison planning, the pantser is actually sharing one kitchen, or you thought she was being spontaneous writing. And even though the pantser can book your own local and creative: Bella thought Alison was can write herself into a corner, she has accommodation and come taking huge risks in having to delete a knack of instantly following another to the conference as a day chunks of her story that would never fit idea which pops into her head. visitor. in, not to mention getting writer’s block. I’m rather proud to tell other writers The main conference runs Bella thought she was saving significant I’m a pantser and incredibly creative from 2pm Friday to 2pm amounts of time by sticking to her plan, as I type away, but if I glance to the Sunday, with extensions and Alison thought Bella would be left of my cabin wall there hangs a either side. bored stiff before she got to the end of large memory map of my latest saga. Booking queries (including her novel as there’d be no surprises. Because it’s visual I can see where the option to pay in The two women provided us with the characters fit in and how they are instalments or by direct a short survey so we could see where linked, though almost nothing that transfer) should be sent to we were on the scale, explaining most happens to them. [email protected] people leaned towards one way or the other but not entirely so. We had to Maybe I’ve found the answer to the answer 5 questions and afterwards best of both worlds.

14 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

How Can I Help? RNA First Panel discussion with Alison May, Debbie Johnston, Julia Silk Conference and Julia Williams. REPORT BY ANNETTE HANNAH REPORT BY SARAH WAIGHTS (AKA ROSIE HOWARD) My First Time hey say you always remember your first time Tand I know I’ll never forget mine. I almost didn’t go through with it as the nervousness and feeling of trepidation came over me but after much encouragement from romantic novelists I’d met I decided to just go for it and I’m so glad I did. Alison May, Julia Silk, Debbie Johnston and Julia Williams. In case you didn’t realise I’m talking about the Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference which this year was held in Telford. his was an unmissable discussion only decided not to take them on she As a first timer I felt my hand was between a blogger, an agent and seriously doubted anyone else would. held from beginning to end. Immi an editor – led by a writer – on “It was a career-killing incident,” she T Howson, Kate Thompson and Jan how an author can help her professional said. “It was that bad.” Jones co-ordinated the first few team. The session was packed with We have been warned. emails which introduced all the excellent advice. There were some newbies so we were able to meet up universal themes – and yet they needed The Panel: and share taxis wherever possible. saying apparently! For example, all on Leader: Alison May is currently Vice- On arrival at the campus I the panel agreed that writers should: Chair of the RNA. She writes romantic bumped into quite a few lovely • Be polite comedies and commercial women’s author friends that I’d met through • Be professional fiction. Her next book, All That Was my blogging adventures and was • Trust your team (but share your Lost, will be published by Legend Press very quickly made to feel at home. views) in spring 2018. Find Alison at: www. The lectures and workshops were • Communicate alison-may.co.uk @MsAlisonMay interesting and plentiful and there • Say ‘thank you’ Editor: Julia Williams has been a lover was something for newcomers Debbie (blogger) added: of romantic fiction for more years than as well as very well-established • Give lots of notice she cares to mention and is – luckily authors. • Follow and share enough – a Harlequin Mills& Boon The gala dinner was amazing and Julia (agent) added: editor. the kitchen parties were lots of fun • Don’t stalk. Agent: Julia Silk was an editor for and I was honoured to be a guest … and possibly the best piece of 15 years, most recently with Orion, of the lovely Milly Johnson. As advice of all came from a member of before becoming an agent working in much as the weekend was a literary the audience, warning ALL writers association with MBA Literary Agency. approaching professionals: “They Find Julia at: www.juliasilk.com @ Continued on page 23 Google for ‘crazy’.” juliasreading If a quick online search of your name Blogger: Debbie Johnston runs the brings up some past indiscretion, a popular blog Brook Cottage Books. foolish comment, an unwise affiliation Debbie also regularly reviews books for or even a seriously bad Facebook www.lovereading.co.uk Find Debbie at reveal of poor behaviour, your career http://brookcottagebooks.blogspot.co.uk could be dead in the water. When Julia Silk checked out a writer who The Homecoming, the new novel by had approached her for representation Sarah Waights, writing as Rosie Howard, she unveiled a Twitter storm, started will be published by Allison & Busby in off by a remark they had made, which February 2018, contact rosiehoward.com@ was so heinous and appalling she not RosieHowardBook for details. Annette Hannah and Debbie Johnston. www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 15 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Mandy’s Stitching a Quilt Marvellous for Carole Medicine Blake (or, her path to publication) REPORT BY ANNE

REPORT BY LIZZIE LAMB Author Mandy Baggott. STYLES was Facebook friends with n one of the most impressive, Carole Blake for a couple of frank and entertaining sessions years, though we never actually I’ve ever enjoyed at conference, I I met face to face. I always looked Mandy Baggott’s talk was excellent landed a contract with Ebury. Her forward to her erudite and amusing as she revealed her path to latest novel One Christmas Kiss in take on life and particularly her vividly publication with ‘warts and all’ Notting Hill (fabulous cover, BTW, expressed likes and dislikes. So when honesty. Mandy) is due to hit the shelves in late last year she died so suddenly, I Mandy started writing short time for Christmas. felt I had lost a close acquaintance, one stories while her baby slept and whom I wanted to commemorate. So, then swapped nappy changes for Mandy’s Mantras being a quilter and an embroiderer, as novel writing, escaping to the • “hard work, works” well as a published author, I decided to Greek islands between feeds. After • “luck helps” make a quilt to reflect her life. receiving polite but encouraging • “have a vision” In reading her posts, I realised I rejections, she signed up with • “think outside the box” knew quite a lot about her. She loved YouWriteOn.com, received honest • “find your readership” her travels, her books, her authors, her feedback, honed her craft and clothes and jewellery, her dolls’ houses published Excess All Areas via Tips for finding your readership and food. So I sketched out her loves as FeedARead. Three more novels Use social media to get word of your a bookcase quilt. followed, their covers tweaked by book ‘out there’ and find which First, colours had to be shades of Jane Dixon-Smith to engage a wider covers sell – bare-chested men purple. Who can forget her delight audience, then seem to have over the purple coat she had had made Mandy signed “Self-publishing success universal appeal and sadly had hardly any chance to with Harper (!) Approach gave her the confidence wear? I added pinks and gold for the Impulse. But she travel agents, to contact and sign up warmth she brought to her exchanges knew something magazines, local with agent Kate Nash, with on-line friends and blues for ‘else’ was required radio and TV write Truly Madly Greekly her sometimes sharp observations. if she was to win shows to talk and pitch it to Bookouture And added her famous black pearls a contract with about your books, (now part of Hachette).” and the flowers with which she often one of the top five expect some mentioned decorating her flat for fun. publishers and rejections but The whole quilt took a couple of get her books into supermarkets and remember, she who dares, wins. months to make. I machined together airports – an agent. If you haven’t got Twitter/ some sections, and added a lot of hand Self-publishing success gave her Instagram accounts, Facebook author embroidery to bring out the telling the confidence to contact and sign page or blog, get one. Take your details before quilting it by hand to up with agent Kate Nash, write social networking to the next level hold it all together. Truly Madly Greekly and pitch it to by recruiting readers/friends/writers The little flowers in the vase are made Bookouture (now part of Hachette). to form a ‘street team’. Twerk your by cutting tiny circles of fabric and Several novels later and with Lorella tweets, using keywords, hashtags gathering them tightly before adding Belli handling her foreign rights, and appealing graphics; don’t forget beads for the centres and stitching Mandy was truly, madly, Greekly on to support your old books, too. them on separately. I bought the metal her way. After winning numerous Above all, keep on writing, it necklace fragment many years ago awards and through sheer hard takes years to become an overnight when I was a costume designer on a work and determination, Mandy success. Continued on page 23

16 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Write Unforgettable Sex Scenes TALK GIVEN BY LUCY FELTHOUSE. REPORT BY JANICE PRESTON

1 Don’t Be Shy clash, heads bump, people fall off the Be brave and seize the dirty words. bed. Some characters lend themselves Use all of the character’s senses – but to humour better than others, e.g. not all at once. Weave them in subtly flirty, sarcastic. and gently and take your reader on a journey by describing how it feels, not 4 You Don’t Have to be Graphic kinds just what happens. Don’t shoehorn in dirty words for the of sex (e.g. sake of it. Do what’s natural for the angry, making up, in the rain). 2 Cheat (Why Not Make tone of your story – let your characters Have fun throwing characters Things Easy?) lead you and draw the reader in. into different situations Cast your characters to help you get and making it sexy. into the scene and the mood. Using Examples of hot reads that aren’t too someone you find attractive makes it graphic: Further advice in response easier to write sexy. Put yourself in the • Hiding in Plain Sight – Lucy Felthouse to questions: shoes of the opposite character. What • J R Ward Keep euphemisms simple would you be doing? What would you • Diana Gabaldon Don’t let the use of condoms get in be looking at? • Sarah Maas the way of sexiness. Keep it simple • After the Night – Linda Howard (e.g., he sheathed himself; he made 3 Humour sure she was protected) but keep it Don’t be afraid to include humour if it 5 Think Outside the Box true to life – e.g. they should always fits the tone of your story. Sex can be This must still fit in with your story – be used if writing about a one night awkward at times. Real life isn’t perfect go outside the bedroom (e.g. shower stand or anal sex. Also condoms must and things can go wrong, e.g. teeth scene, outside) and think of different be included for the American market.

RNA Conference newbie REPORT BY ANNA BELFRAGE here was a sparkly flower on my name card. Mine The venue for the conference was the Harper Adams was nice and pink. Others had golden flowers University. When I told one of my English friends (who Tor purple or blue. Those of us with flowers were also lives in Sweden) where I was going he lit up and special. We were newbies, first-time attendants to the told me he’d been there several times for bee-keeping RNA annual conference. Having a flower meant people conferences (It takes all sorts, I imagine. I much prefer stopped in their tracks and said “Oh, is this your first romantic stories to insects…) and just loved the food. time? I hope you have a fabulous time!” The food was good. The facilities were great. The talks I Those sparkly flowers and the multiple welcoming attended were, on the whole, informative and inspiring. words were, to me, the defining characteristics of the Some were also somewhat exhausting – after listening to RNA conference. People cared. They wanted you to have Sarah Morgan and Nicola Cornick discuss social media a good time. An entire conference filled with people my to-do list expanded with like 30 items. It was pretty who embodied pink and fluffy – in a good way. An long to begin with. entire conference with people who listened, encouraged But most of all, it was the attendees who made this and congratulated. I returned to Sweden all abuzz and conference special. Adrienne Vaughan and Lizzie Lamb determined that this RNA Conference would be the pulled together a little meet & greet for indie authors and I Continued on page 23 first of many. Continued on page 23

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<— Let the Gala Dinner commence!

The Carole Blake quilt was created by Anne Styles.

Miles of smiles! Immi sparkles!

Nicola and Alison – a dream Jan Jones – conference organiser team. extraordinaire.

18 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Gala Dinner Picture Board The RNA Conference Gala Dinner is always a wonderful event. A chance for everyone to get together, dressed in summer party finery, to sip wine and have a good old catch up. Here’s a snapshot of some of this year’s attendees – pictures courtesy John Jackson – looking divine and having fun. For all those who entered the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy short story competition, Nicola Cornick reported that the standard was incredibly high and was pleased to call upon the assistance of her vice chairman Alison May to reach the final choice, which was awarded to Immi Howson, for Ready to Party! her moving and exquisitely written story Flight When Katie Fforde suggested we publish it in the. magazine, everyone else said, why have we never thought of doing that before?!!! And so, you will find Immi’s gorgeous read on page 20 … the start of a new tradition methinks. Ed.

Cheers Ladies!

Great to catch up with everyone.

<— Dressed to impress!

www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 19 SHORT STORY

FlightBY IMOGEN HOWSON

lthough they had named her Quill, when her wings began to grow, her father ordered them cut off. It was a disappointment to him. She was his only child, and withoutA wings she could not follow him as ruler. But there was nothing to be done. For the princess to be wingless was a disappointment, but for her to grow the wrong kind of wings was an aberration that had not been permitted in a thousand years. So her wings were removed: the soft, developing cartilage clipped off, the stumps cauterized and sealed with tar to inhibit years afterwards, a shut smiling mouth and a regrowth. pair of shears. Quill was not yet two, too young to Quill woke sick and bruised, with a throbbing understand what was happening, and the ache like poison on either side of her spine, and surgeon operated under an anaesthetic, so all another ache inside her, as if the amputated she remembered was feeling sore and sleepy wings had been rooted somewhere deeper than and a little sick. simply behind her shoulder blades. But when, at ten, her wings began They didn’t grow again. The incisions slowly unexpectedly to regrow, in needles of pain healed, raw flesh becoming patches of tight, stabbing through the scar tissue, this time she itchy skin, at first bright red, then fading to pale, understood what they were. She understood shiny scars. that they were the wrong shape and she didn’t Quill turned twelve, then fourteen, then care. She wanted them, and she fought. sixteen. She saw others her own age, late But she was only ten. A well-grown ten, a very developers who had thought they, too, were angry, very frightened ten who, when they came wingless, finally fledge—into feathers that were for her, screamed and clawed and kicked, spitting soft and speckled grey, or fluffy black, or the out the sedative in the surgeon’s face, flinging muddy slate-colour that with maturity would herself sideways off the operating table—but still become a magnificent, iridescent peacock blue. no match for them. Her father, her grandmother, They were beautiful, but she didn’t want them. the surgeon. Three adults, as determined to rid What she wanted was the wings still others her of her wings as she was to keep them. grew. Wings that unfolded like spindly, crooked The surgeon had big hands, long, strong tree branches, looking so fragile it seemed fingers that appeared in her nightmares for a touch would break them. Wings covered not with feathers but with skin, that would become as tough as leather but that began as “The surgeon had big hands, long, strong fingers that thin as parchment, patterned with veins like appeared in her nightmares for years afterwards, a gold embroidery, bright with the ichor that ran shut smiling mouth and a pair of shears.” within them.

20 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org SHORT STORY

Boys’ wings. Men’s wings. Emmeline came further into the room, her Wings like hers would have been. wings – a flurry of buttercup-yellow feathers, ridiculously soft-looking for something so When Quill was seventeen, her grandmother powerful – flowing behind her. The back and told her a betrothal had been arranged for her: shoulders of her knife-proof leather vest were to a prince from the country that lay beyond the shaped around them, and she wore her flying western borders of her father’s lands. gloves and short calf-boots. Quill’s grandmother’s eyes fixed on her as “Aren’t you supposed to be out on patrol?” she talked, an intent look that missed nothing. Quill’s voice came out sounding harsh, the Hardness edged her voice, as if she were already words like a reprimand. She couldn’t help it. If preparing for Quill to argue and resist. she let her voice relax, she was afraid of what would happen to it. “But Quill had come a long way from the child who “I heard you’d been to your grandmother. I had fought and screamed to keep her forbidden wings. called in a favour.” She had learned that some battles could not be won.” Quill looked out at the dark vault of the sky, the first few coldly distant stars. “You shouldn’t But Quill had come a long way from the child have. People might think—” who had fought and screamed to keep her “People will think I’m your personal forbidden wings. She had learned that some bodyguard, and your friend. Nothing else.” battles could not be won. She listened with quiet Quill didn’t turn away from the window, courtesy as her grandmother talked, she asked but she heard Emmeline’s soft footstep on the one or two respectful questions, and when she stone floor and knew when the other girl was was given leave to go, she made her customary standing behind her. curtsey as deeply as ever before. “Quill.” She left her grandmother’s rooms, walked The stars swam and blurred, as if they were away along the corridor, climbed the long, dissolving into the darkness. When Quill shut narrow flight of stairs that led to her own her eyes, refusing to see, the insides of her quarters, went into her bedroom and shut the eyelids burned. door. Emmeline’s hand closed over hers. She’d Then she snatched up a pillow, buried her pulled off her glove, and her skin was warm face in it, and shrieked until she could shriek no against Quill’s cold fingers. “Quill,” she said longer. again. “It’s all right. I know you have to go.” When she was done she flung the pillow down Quill let herself move closer for a moment, and marched, every footstep an explosion of feeling Emmeline’s warmth through the leather rage, across to the wide window that looked out of her flying clothes, smelling the combination across the castle gardens to the high trees of the of icy air and warm leather, the faint sweat of pine forest stretching to the horizon. Above it exercise, the electric, nose-tickling scent of her all, the sky was far off and colourless, filled with wings, before the cautious habit of months made high, swift-moving shreds of grey-white cloud. her draw away. They could never touch for long, Quill clenched her hands on the chill, hard- not at this hour. edged stone of the windowsill, her knuckles “I’m going to go north,” she said. whitening to the colour of bone, watching the Emmeline flinched, almost undetectably, just sky as the daylight died. the tiniest twitch at the corners of her eyes. As the last light bled away into the horizon, a “I know,” said Quill, answering what tap came on her door. A tap made with just two Emmeline hadn’t said. “But in nearly a year of fingers, soft enough that Quill could ignore it if trying to think of something better—” she chose. She turned. “Come in.” “The stars swam and blurred, as if they were Emmeline, tall and straight-backed, wearing dissolving into the darkness. When Quill shut her eyes, her bodyguard’s knives crossed at her belt and her flat bodyguard’s expression on her face, refusing to see, the insides of her eyelids burned.” sketched a bow before she let the door click shut behind her. “We haven’t. I know.” Emmeline put her She looked across the room at Quill. Her correct, ungloved hand up to rub the side of her own formal stance didn’t change. Only her eyes. face. “It’s happened?” They’d talked about it before, over and over. For a moment Quill couldn’t speak. She spread There was no way they could both disappear at her hands. once without betraying that they’d fled together,

www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 21 SHORT STORY

and rousing exactly the sort of suspicion that “Quill put her arms around her. Emmeline gave one would put not only Emmeline, but Emmeline’s quivering breath, a concession to emotion that, with family, in grave danger. anyone else, would have been a sob.” The best plan they’d come up with was that Emmeline would wait until she was next given leave to visit her home, and at that point—if it seemed safe—she would go to find Quill. “I’ll do what we talked about,” Quill said. “I’ll The scent of the ground came up to Quill get across the northern border. I’ll find…some before she reached it: damp earth, the astringent kind of work.” fragrance of the thyme that grew amongst the What work it would be, for someone who had grass. Her every nerve went liquid with relief. been trained as a figurehead and little else, she The climb down the outside of the castle wall, did not like to think. She could ride and use a fingers and bare toes searching for hold after tiny crossbow, though, and Emmeline had taught her hold, had been an endless fight against panic, some knife skills. against the dangerous instinct to move Emmeline looked down at her, and her mouth too fast. She’d slipped twice, and once the hardened. “Ah gods, Quill, when I think— If they ancient masonry had crumbled as she put hadn’t—” her weight on a decaying ledge, leaving her Quill threw up a hand. “Don’t.” pressed, shaking and sweating, against the cold, It was the one thing they never spoke about. gritty stone, waiting for her heartbeat to slow, The one thing that, even after seven years, Quill waiting until she could breathe and think and could not speak about at all. As wingless heir, move once more. she was good for little but breeding. If things had Now, with the ground so near, she had to force been otherwise, though, she would have been her herself not to speed up—falling even as little as country’s future ruler. And a ruler could choose her own height could be enough to kill her. her own consort. She moved downwards, one foot, one hand at a Emmeline said nothing more. She helped Quill time, slow and slow and careful. pack some coins, the food she’d saved over the last Her right foot touched grass. She was down. few months, a few clothes. Quill could take little: For a moment, Quill could move no further. most of her clothes were so fine they would betray Nausea swelled inside her. her background, something she could not afford. In her memory, once again her foot slipped, When the pack was full, its strings drawn tight, crumbs of stone sliding and rattling away, down there was nothing else to do. and down and down. Unbidden, her imagination “You should go,” said Quill. took her further, showed her fingers, too, losing “You’re not going to try to leave yet?” their hold. Showed her falling. Emmeline’s voice was sharp. “The moon’s still Slowly, the nausea ebbed. She put her up—you’ll be seen—” other foot to the ground. The thyme, crushed “I know. Don’t worry. I’ll wait.” Quill tried a by her weight, sent its sharp green fragrance reassuring smile, but it wavered and broke. “You rising in clouds. need to be somewhere else, though. All night, Quill wiped dusty, sweat-damp hands and got Em—you need to be seen elsewhere. They need her boots out of her pack. to know you couldn’t have helped me.” As she reached to put them on, a twinge of pain Tension sharpened all the angles of Emmeline’s stabbed between her shoulder blades. The climb face. “You’re going to get out how you said you had strained muscles she normally didn’t use so would?” Then, as Quill nodded: “For the gods’ intensively or for so long. She loosened the straps sakes, go carefully. You have to take it slowly, of her pack a little, grimacing as the pain shot remember? Even if it takes an hour. Even if—” through her again, bad enough to bring her out “Em.” in sharp prickles of goose flesh. Emmeline stopped. Her lips made a hard line, Focused on the moment, on the need to get closing over all the other words she might have moving as fast as possible, on the journey ahead said. of her, she didn’t pause to notice that the pain Quill put her arms around her. Emmeline gave was oddly familiar. She didn’t remember that it one quivering breath, a concession to emotion was where the scars tightened her skin, where that, with anyone else, would have been a sob. the surgeon had cut. She had put hope behind Her arms came around Quill in a hug so tight it her a long time ago, and she did not think to let hurt, and her face went down against Quill’s hair. it wake. “Be safe,” she said. She set out for the long walk north.

22 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS (CONT.)

Stitching a Quilt for Carole Blake. Continued from page 16 production for Westward TV of a musical called Doubting Conference Newbie. Continued from page 17 Thomas and was worn by Stephanie Lawrence who came away with a number of new acquaintances. played Mary Magdalene. The Venetian mask is one I Kate Thornton took us confused and sparkly newbies bought for a ball. under her wing and offered fizzy stuff and nibbles The gin bottle and glass took the longest time to find in on the Friday. Come evening, I ended up in the several trips to fabric shops, as I had nothing in my stash kitchen with a bunch of new friends, talking about that was right. It is a fabric called crystal organza and I used everything from the appropriateness of happily ever two layers to show a level of liquid in the bottle and the glass after in YA romances – after all, one hopes young – and added a slice of lemon in machine embroidery, just people will fall in love at least more than once – to because Carole would never have drunk gin without a slice! the ground-breaking impact of safe contraceptives on Jan Jones and I discussed the quilt, which I really wanted the life of women. Somewhere in there we also went to serve some purpose that Carole would have approved and really deep and talked about God and faith and love enjoyed. So we decided that the best use of it was to raffle and the human condition in general. it at the RNA Conference 2017 and I was delighted that All in all, the RNA Conference 17 was quite the the committee agreed. The money would be used to give a feel-good experience. Thank you to Jan Jones, Nicola conference place to an RNA member who otherwise could Cornick and the rest of the organising committee not afford to go. for giving me a weekend in which to recharge my Thank you to everyone at the conference who bought a batteries and make so many new friends. I have ticket. One lovely thing someone said to me about it was you already blocked the 13th and 14th of July 2018. Leeds, could read the lady from the quilt. We raised enough to send here I come! two people to the 2018 RNA Conference in Leeds! Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have RNA First Conference. Continued from page 15 become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing whirlwind I felt very inspired and excited with what I’d interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the learned. I’ve met some wonderful and very funny new friends acclaimed time-slip series The Graham Saga, winner that I can’t wait to see again and the best thing is we all have of multiple awards. Her ongoing series is set in the writing and laughing in common. 1320s and features Adam de Guirande, his wife Kit, I already can’t wait for next year’s conference and would and their adventures during Roger Mortimer’s rise to urge anyone who isn’t sure to just go for it, it’s an experience power. Find out more on www.annabelfrage.com you won’t want to miss. I would like to say a huge thank you to the organisers for a brilliant job well done. See you next year in Leeds. Membership Update MEMBERSHIP UPDATE FROM GILL STEWART (RNA MEMEBERSHIP SECRETARY)

Note that the time is coming round to renew your membership for 2018. The renewal form is included in this issue of Romance Matters. IMPORTANT Membership fees are being held at the 2017 level until 28th February 2018. If you pay before that date you will pay existing fees. Note – if you pay by standing order, you don’t need to do anything as your payment will be made automatically. However, please send in a membership form if any of your details have changed. Since the last edition of Romance Matters, I’m pleased to say we have had the following new members joining us. A huge welcome to you all!

New Full Members Michelle Roberts Sue McDonagh Ailsa Abraham Susan Roebuck Awen Thornber Helen Barrell Ruth Saberton Tracy Buchanan Georgina Slater NWS to IA Jane Bwye Carol Thomas Julie Stock Liz Chantree Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang Nadine Dorries Lucie Wheeler New Associate Members Tanya Fisher Lisa Milton Silvia Forrester NWS to Full New Independent Authors Judy Leigh Mick Arnold Lynn Dawson Shari Low Hannah Begbie Ellen Frazer-Jameson Natalie Normann Zoe Efstathiou Charlotte Owens Angela Petch Suzanne Luxford Marion Snuggs-Thomas

www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 23 11FEATURE11

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING PART 3 Top Tips for OF 3 self-published, indie and hybrid authors

WRITTEN AND COLLATED BY JULIE STOCK

A Suitable Young Man’s publication, who may even go on to buy your Marketing Tips provoking preliminary interest. Later, backlist. (HJR) Post-publication, eh? Hopefully he published a glowing review in his • The most important thing for an writers have drawn up their newsletter, particularly mentioning indie is building an email list. Cross- marketing plan well before this! the social history of the book. Result: promotions with other authors are (AM) particularly good sales over a few the in-thing right now and there • Organise a blog tour (or pay weeks! It’s worked with other are plenty of organisations who someone to do that for you). You contacts too, many of them leading create them. You pay and offer a don’t necessarily have to provide to author talks and, once, to a local giveaway, but you get people added unique content for all the stops, radio interview. (AH) to your list. Instafreebie is one, although running a competition • I think it’s really important to interact which I personally don’t use though throughout the tour is always a good with readers whenever you can. If I have joined. I’ve used Book Hub, idea to generate interest. Not sure someone makes the effort to tweet AuthorXP, Booksweeps. Lots of of which sites to contact? Why not about your book, or they have you groups are doing this on Facebook research where successful books in as a guest on their blog, or do a too. Using cross-promos I have built the same genre have been promoted Facebook post, then take the time my list from around 30 to 2300 in the and start with those places? (CC) to thank them properly and make last year alone. People subscribe and • Utilise any existing contacts. In my sure you share and comment. A unsubscribe, but gradually it builds own case, because I was already readership is something that builds up to a core group of loyal fans. (LB) known in family history circles, up slowly over time, but I think these • My top tip for marketing an indie I contacted someone who sends steps can help to build a good profile. book would be to put it on NetGalley out a genealogy newsletter to over Then, hopefully with each book you for at least four weeks if you possibly 90,000 members. He posted news of release, you will gain more readers can, and if you can afford it, do a

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“I think it’s really important to interact with readers whenever you can. If someone makes the effort to tweet about your book, or they have you as a guest on their blog, or do a Facebook post, then take the time to thank them properly and make sure you share and comment.”

own as an indie. Jane very kindly did some research on our behalf. Their cheapest package for authors is priced at $450 or $699 to include a newsletter slot. However there is a $199 price for a 3 month listing through the US Independent Book Publishers’ Association and as authors can join for $129 this seems to be the cheapest route. They also offer discounts on platforms like Bookbaby, IngramSpark and Lightning Source to name but a few. There is nothing on their website which restricts their membership to writers based in the US. Jane also wondered whether, if there was enough interest from RNA members, we could broker a special deal with NetGalley too? This would of course depend on how many members we have who publish independently and whether their marketing budgets extend to cash rather than time!

• For best ROI, my top tip would be securing a Bookbub slot. I’ve managed to secure two in twelve months. The first one (April 2016) was Millie’s Game Plan (FREE) for five days. The Bookbub slot did NOT include USA, and cost $35. I spent a further $45 with BOOKTASTIK, AWESOME GANG and FKBT. I had nearly 15,000 downloads, and, in addition, 500+ sales over the following four weeks, 97 of those in the US. The second one promotion there as well. Make sure (May 2017) was Chloe’s Rescue Mission all your blogger and review contacts NOTE: Jane did this as part of her (FREE) for five days. This time I did know it’s there by using the widget Matador publishing package. If you a worldwide promotion, which cost they provide. NetGalley should not publish through them, their basic $135. I spent a further $80 with ENT, only kickstart your all-important ebook marketing package includes People Reads, Awesome Romance reviews but bring your book to 3 weeks on NetGalley and their Novels and FKBT. This time there the attention of librarians and management of the whole process. were over 27,000 downloads, but only booksellers. (JC) NetGalley is expensive to do on your Continued on page 26

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“Start building your newsletter list early. This is how all the guest blog posts and lots of social successful indie authors manage to sell large amounts of media posts to drive people to your books that put them on the best-seller lists on Amazon.” newsletter. (LRI) • Keep up the momentum after publication: Amazon gives you 90 36 additional sales in the following front of as many people as possible days of ‘love’ after your publication four weeks, only 6 in the US. I don’t – it’s a numbers game. Obviously date, so this is the key time to know what conclusions to draw from they have to be the right kind of continue getting reviews from that, other than – perhaps – doing the people (romance readers) else your bloggers and spreading the word cheaper promo (not inc US) raised marketing will fall on deaf ears. If about your book. Be ready to spend the profile enough to get it noticed you don’t have the stomach for this, some time on social media. Watch in the US. The beauty of a Bookbub self-publishing may not be for you. I carefully who is reviewing, liking, promotion is that there tends to be a find it really hard work and given the sharing your book and thank them halo effect – with KENPs and sales choice, I’d rather go the traditional individually. Keep it social but don’t increasing immediately afterwards, route, but nowadays even that way, be shy about mentioning your new with a two-three month tail off. you need to do most of your own book now and again. Then draw up There’s a lot of good advice on this marketing to maximise sales, so a list of new bloggers to contact. It’s site: www.enovelauthors.com/ (RD) it’s worth diving in head first. Start ongoing! Aim to approach 3-4 each NOTE: Rosie told Jackie Weger, of with interested friends and family, week in the next few months. (AM) eNovel Authors at Work, that she had ask them to forward to people they • Here’s my tip on marketing: I’ve mentioned her site for indie info. She know who may be interested, put recently started using Amazon replied saying if any indies wanted a call out on your social media Marketing Services to create ads for questions answered, or wanted her to platforms about your newsletter. To my books. I’ve found these ads an write a blog post on a particular indie get people to join, offer an incentive, excellent and relatively inexpensive topic (which is not already on her site) like free books, but it should be a way of getting my book in front of to drop her a line – enovaaw@gmail. good incentive as so many people are people. (HF) com. doing this now. Get into the habit • Go local. Use any connections with of writing a monthly newsletter. • Start building your newsletter list Sign up to some successful indie early. This is how all the successful author newsletters to see how indie authors manage to sell large they do it. Use a newsletter amounts of books that put them on client like Webmonkey, which is the best-seller lists on Amazon. It free and easy to use. Consider is the single most important thing Facebook ads to drive people you can do as an indie author. Once to your newsletter, if you you’re in the top 100, Amazon have the budget. I markets for you. It’s all about getting found this very those initial sales when you launch. expensive. Write I will say it’s hard work. You have to really hustle to get your book out there. You can’t be camera shy and you can’t worry about bombarding people. You have to get your book in

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the local press, radio, and other local fairs and also to giving talks. I have when setting up your KDP account outlets, especially if you’re hoping to attended book fairs where I’ve been and review them regularly. (LL) sell physical books. It seems to me able to find them but also craft fairs, • Make the most of your Amazon that a digital media presence is best and been pleasantly surprised at Author page by joining Author for selling ebooks, while traditional how interested people have been in Central. This is slightly different for media are more likely to get you into my books and my writing. I have the UK and the US but do set up bookshops and libraries. Once you’re also given talks at local libraries, both. You have to claim your books in local bookstores, of course, you can which I hope to do more of, and as your own – Amazon don’t do it for become more ambitious and use this I’ve just auditioned to be added you. (RD) as a lever to go wider. (CCo) to the WI directory of available • A successful indie author needs speakers in my area. After joining Your career. to make friends, both readers and The Society of Authors earlier this • Write another book, and another. writers. The astute indie author year, I also got involved with the It takes about five novels to be uses a variety of social media inaugural Literary Festival in one respected in the indie world. (LL) tools to keep in touch with those of my nearby towns, which led to • Don’t expect to make a fortune ‘friends’, who will hopefully become lots of other opportunities. For all overnight. There were a couple of ‘readers’. I do this via Facebook of these events, I have had books years when self-published authors (readers) and Twitter (writers). printed to take with me and sell, all were making a lot of money. Once Another fun way of keeping in of which raises awareness of you as the mainstream publishers realised touch is to post on Instagram – an author. (JS) they were missing out, they quickly one promotional post to three caught up and are putting up out- personal/general ones. Then slide Book Awards of-print backlists as fast as they across the ‘share’ button so that • Be selective about entering your can. They have also learned from you can post simultaneously on book for awards. Some awards self-published authors to use special Facebook and Twitter, thus creating aimed at self-published authors have offers to boost sales. The result is a a dialogue between you and your high entry fees, use high-pressure very crowded market. (LF) potential readership. But, as ever, techniques to get more entries, and • What I would say is that self- keep it all in proportion and don’t give out meaningless awards. (CCo) publishing is often a slow burn so sicken people with you, and your my top tip would be to stay patient. posts. (LL) Review your KDP account regularly. It’s really hard at first but if you • I have branched out into attending • Refine your hashtags/categories etc. commit to it and keep writing stories that readers love, you will build on your success with each book. (HJR) • Apart from the covers, I’ve “Be selective about entering your book for awards. Some produced both my books completely awards aimed at self-published authors have high entry fees, on my own and best of all, doing use high-pressure techniques to get more entries, and give so has enabled me to become an out meaningless awards.” independent member of the RNA! (AH) Contributors Melanie Hilton (writing as Louise Allen) (MH); AnneMarie Brear (AB); Lizzie Lamb (LL); Alison Morton (AM); Sheila Norton (SN); Liz Fielding (LF); Helen J. Rolfe (HJR); Margaret Kaine (MK); Helena Fairfax (HF); Liz Bailey (LB); Jane Cable (JC); Julie Stock (JS); Charlie Cochrane (CC); Louise Rose-Innes (LRI); Carol Cooper (CCo); Anne Harvey (AH); Linda Chamberlain (LC); Rosie Dean (RD).

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The Empowerment of Romance BY CHRISTIE BARLOW

’m often asked what’s my inspiration behind wanting to be a romantic novelist? The response, two words – Jane Eyre. I read in many different genres but the Ibook that I’ve re-read more times than any other is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. A literary classic, of course. If you’ve read it you’ll know that Jane Eyre has a rather unique persona. A persona which, in my eyes, has laid the foundations for female empowerment since the mid-1800s due to the rebellious nature of Jane Eyre herself. As a child she was orphaned, unloved, and extremely alone. As she grew up she became “Most of my female lead characters rebellious, fiery, and fiercely independent. If anyone deceived her, or treated her unkindly, are written with Jane Eyre and Jane became her own personal voice of reason Emmeline Pankhurst in mind, as I as she point blank refused to accept the want to prove to my readers that nasty and unkind comments throughout her being independent isn’t a bad thing.” life, as the truth. Why should she? Women have a voice too, and, thanks to Charlotte Bronte and other significant women, such as Emmeline Pankhurst – one of the leaders of the Suffragette movement in the 1900s – Christie’s much loved copy women gained confidence and became of Jane Eyre. empowered. However, romance novels aren’t just about independence that being independent isn’t a bad thing. In or strong willed women, fact, knowing your own mind is essential. they’re about being I find it crazy – although utterly brilliant – determined to follow how much women writers from ‘back in the your heart and having the day’ continue to influence women in 2017; confidence to do so. But, including myself. Influential women such you can’t follow your heart as Jane Austen, the Brontes and Louisa May unless you know your own Alcott – to name a few – whose influence is mind. You can’t fall in love unbreakable even to this day. with another person unless To be inspired by literary and historical you love yourself. You can’t figures is one thing but to be able to play a part write about love, unless you in continuing such a powerful legacy, whilst believe in love yourself. also creating independent women protagonists Most of my female lead to inspire women of this generation, is characters are written with empowering in itself. Jane Eyre and Emmeline Jane Eyre inspired me to write from my own Pankhurst in mind, as I heart, straight into the hearts of my readers and want to prove to my readers I’ll be forever grateful for that.

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That special ingredient! Prue Leith talks to Romance Matters’ Adrienne Vaughan rue Leith CBE had just been named successor to ‘National Treasure’ Mary Berry, on the hugely popular TV show The Great British Bake Off, when we met Pto talk books in an elegant Westminster hotel. Clearly delighted with the news and enthusiastic about the direction this exciting new role would take her – as both cook and writer – “Lots of things changed for me during that time. “The most and having just launched her extremely well- I sold the Leith’s School of Food, which I had received seventh novel The Prodigal Daughter, the successful owned for nearly twenty years, founded the stage was set for a brand new phase of Prue’s plays, operas, Prue Leith’s Chefs Academy in South Africa impressive lifelong career. novels are all and had written lots and lots of cookery books. I Prue is more than highly qualified for the new about love. wrote columns and articles too, but I had always job having been a cook, restaurateur, caterer, Nobody calls wanted to write a novel, I thought if I don’t do television presenter and broadcaster, journalist, Shakespeare it now I never will. So I sold the business and food writer and of course, novelist. And could or Jane Austen wrote the novel.” not have been half these things without romantic also being an excellent businesswoman and novelists.” RM: Prue’s list of achievements is exhaustive extremely hard worker – who’s showing no sign (check out her Wikipedia entry) and indeed of slowing down anytime soon. exhausting, yet for a woman in her seventies However, of all these roles the only one she her energy is palpable, her enthusiasm describes as addictive is writing, saying it’s a infectious and her unapologetic feminism habit she just can’t break … refreshing. What’s the secret? “I think a lot of it is to do with being happy and RM: How would you describe yourself as a healthy – I recently married my partner John and novelist, ‘International’ rather like your love we’re really happy, I’m very lucky.” of food? “I was born in South Africa, leaving at eighteen RM: And the feminism? Prue has long been a to attend the Sorbonne in Paris, where I realised campaigner for women’s rights. I really wanted to train as a cook. I moved to “I really do get fed up with the inherent London in 1960 and I like to think I write novels snobbery we experience in publishing. If male with International appeal. My first novel Leaving authors who wrote about love were called Patrick starts in India and my second novel romantic novelists, then the genre – in which Sisters was influenced by my mother – I don’t I write and heartily approve – would not have have a sister – she was a South African actress such a soppy connotation or bad reputation. who couldn’t cook for toffee but loved throwing It’s just wrong and completely unjustified. The parties. I like to read about places like Paris most successful plays, operas, novels are all and New York, so I guess I like to write about about love. Nobody calls Shakespeare or Jane them too.” Austen romantic novelists, but that’s what they wrote about, and both Sebastian Faulks and Ian RM: Your first novel was published when you McEwan write wonderful stories about love and were fifty-five, why was that such a pivotal relationships but you’ll never find them on the time in your life? Continued on page 30

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Continued from page 29 romance shelf. And don’t get me started about issues. And it’s such a wonderful escape, we all “The Prodigal ‘Literary Fiction’! For example, why is Joanna need it. We all need wonderful writers too…” Trollope NOT literary and Julian Barnes IS? Daughter is set Why?!” in the sixties RM: This brought us on to discussing some and seventies of our favourites and talking about the RM: With all that’s going on, what of your and echoes my legendary Jilly Cooper, Prue told me they writing career now, will you have to put things career.” were good friends – describing them both on hold? as hippies – although Jilly rarely made it to a “Not a bit of it, The Prodigal Daughter is set in the lunch appointment because she was ALWAYS sixties and seventies and echoes my career. It’s the on a deadline. second in the series, while the first book, The Food Suddenly it was time to say goodbye, and I of Love is set in WW2. I’d love to have the trilogy watched in admiration as this vibrant, enigmatic turned into a nine-o’clock Sunday night TV drama female took her leave and I could see a hint of with Joanna Lumley playing the main character, that timeless hippy, dangling love heart earrings, Laura, as an older woman and I’d love the soft outfit in mixed wonderful Stephen Fry to play pompous Donald.” berry colours and a jangle of bracelets on RM: I burst out laughing, Loving the fact Prue her arm. I rarely use does exactly what we all do when dreaming the word icon, but I about our books being adapted for the screen. think I just met one. So it’s onwards and upwards then? “Our lives are so complicated these days, which THE is interesting for a writer because people are able PRODIGAL to cope with so much more and our stories can DAUGHTER BY be complex, bringing together lots of different PRUE LEITH, types of people and situations. I really believe QUERCUS, IS OUT good fiction helps readers deal with real life NOW.

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REMEMBERING Lucilla Andrews BY IAN SKILLICORN, CORAZON BOOKS

ucilla Andrews was hailed the “brand leader in hospital fiction” by The Guardian and “arguably the best of all writers of hospital fiction” by NursingL Times. Despite this, her bestselling and much loved novels have been out of print for some time, and certain second-hand titles can fetch over £100. Happily, Corazon Books is now reissuing “Lucilla’s hospital stories were influenced by her own Lucilla’s novels both in paperback, and as experience. She trained as a Nightingale nurse at St Ebooks for the first time, and I have spent Thomas’s Hospital in London, and carried out her the past year finding out more about this duties throughout the Blitz.” fascinating author. Lucilla Andrews was born in Egypt and, at in terms of hospital fiction. As described in just three years old, was sent to boarding school Fabulous at Fifty (published to celebrate 50 years in England. It was here she wrote her first of the RNA), she was also “... probably the novel, about a Spanish count. Lucilla was rather youngest and certainly the prettiest founder of pleased with it, but when her headmistress the Romantic Novelists’ Association”. Towards found the story, she tore it up, because it was the end of her life, the RNA presented her with NOT NICE! a Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition Fortunately, Lucilla was undeterred. While of her significant contribution to romantic working as a nurse and bringing up her young fiction, and to the RNA. daughter, she sold a romantic short story to My favourite Lucilla Andrews anecdote is Good Housekeeping. It was an auspicious start from her friend Frances Duncan, who told to a literary career producing 33 novels, an me: “I remember bumping into Lucilla as she autobiography, and countless short stories. Her was making her way to the local bank. She books were published in 11 languages and sold was looking very elegant. She told me that she close to 3 million copies. needed to borrow some money. ‘A tip for the Lucilla’s hospital stories were influenced future, darling. When asking for money, look as by her own experience. She trained as a though it’s the last thing you need.’ “ Nightingale nurse at St Thomas’s Hospital in From speaking to friends and colleagues it is London, and carried out her duties throughout clear that she was very much admired, respected the Blitz. Perhaps this is why her books don’t and loved. I am sure these sentiments are shy away from the gritty side of life. Alongside shared by her many readers. romance, readers will also find blood, tears and death. Her dedication to realism meant that Lucilla followed Jane Austen’s example of not YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE including dialogue between men when women ABOUT LUCILLA ANDREWS AND weren’t present, because she didn’t have the THE NEW PAPERBACK AND EBOOK personal experience to write it. REISSUES OF HER NOVELS AT: WWW. Lucilla Andrews wasn’t only a groundbreaker LUCILLAANDREWS.COM

www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 31 OFF THE SHELF

Off the Shelf ‘Off the Shelf’ advertisements cost only £25 each and offer a fantastic opportunity to advertise your new title to the best niche audience there is! To book your slot for this and all advertisements, simply get in touch with Romance Matters editor, Adrienne Vaughan (see page 2 for contact details). Email no more than 50 words including title, publisher, ISBN and price to Adrienne at [email protected] Remember to include a JPEG of the cover. Then send your cheque made out to RNA to Adrienne Vaughan, Wychwood, The Gravel, Burton Overy, Leicestershire, LE8 9DS.

PLEASE NOTE: AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE RNA OF ANY SERVICE OR PRODUCT. THE BETRAYAL- THE GUERNSEY NOVELS (6) BY ANNE ALLEN. SARNIA A SUITABLE CASE FOR LOVE, PRESS EBOOK £2.99 PAPERBACK £7.99 PUBLISHED BY ENDEAVOUR PRESS, ISBN: 9780992711252 £6.99 EBOOK £2.99, PRINT ISBN 978- Treachery and theft lead to death – and 1-54970-329-4 love.A dual-time story linking Leo’s betrayal to Jenny Goodwin works at a London Bank, where the Germans in Occupied Guernsey and the she meets, and falls in love with, the charismatic, mysterious find of a Renoir in a basement 60 but mysterious, Marcus Berenger. A crisis at the years later by twins Nigel and Fiona. Nigel’s bank, and his disappearance, leads to Jenny sudden death starts Fiona on a frantic journey for having to resign. She finds a new career and tries to the truth. forget Marcus. What happens next will surprise you.

FLOWERS OF RESISTANCE BY ROS A SCOTTISH DESTINY BY GWEN RENDLE, E-BOOK: £2.99 ASIN: KIRKWOOD, PUBLISHED BY B074ZHB7KW, PAPERBACK: £6.99 ROMAUNCE, PRINT £10.00 EBOOK ISBN: 9 781788 086264 £2.50, PRINT ISBN 978-1-86151-846-0, Vichy France in 1940. This is a love story and a EBOOK ISBN 978-1-86151-848-4 thriller set during turbulent times. It is a ‘stand- When Marie travelled to Scotland in 1920, she alone’ novel but is third in the award winning was looking to rest. But she is forced to take on a ‘Strong Sisters series’. “All of her usual expressive far greater role in the lives of her family. And who writing is present…” “Great characters in an is Mark Blackwood, estate owner? A gripping tale of exacting period of history…” love in a heart-warming climate.

I AM ENGLAND BY PATRICIA WRIGHT, PUBLISHED BY ROMAUNCE, PRINT LAND GIRLS: THE HOMECOMING £10.00 EBOOK £2.50, PRINT ISBN BY ROLAND MOORE, 978-1-86151-551-3, EBOOK ISBN 978-1- ISBN: 9780008204433, PB: £7.99 86151-553-7 (OCTOBER 19TH 2017), EBOOK: WINNER OF THE 1987 GEORGETTE HEYER £1.99 (OUT NOW) AWARD Based on the award-winning BBC1 series, An epic novel of passion, hardship and bravery Connie Carter seems to have the happy through 1500 years of English history. Sweeping ending she’s always dreamt of: married to a through fifteen centuries, this epic novel records dashing young vicar and attempting to fit in the lives of the ordinary people of Britain from the end of the Roman with village life. But a dark shadow from her troubled past is about occupation through to the late 16th century. to return which will test Connie’s love...

LOVESONG BY GERALDINE PERKIN BY LESLEY J NICKELL, MCCAUGHREAN, PUBLISHED BY PUBLISHED BY ROMAUNCE, PRINT ROMAUNCE, PRINT £10.00 EBOOK £10.00 EBOOK £2.50, PRINT ISBN £2.50, PRINT ISBN 978-1-86151-578-0, 978-1-86151-842-2, EBOOK ISBN 978- EBOOK ISBN 978-1-86151-580-3 1-86151-844-6 “McCaughrean is well on her way to becoming Perkin Warbeck appeared from nowhere, one of the few great novelists to adorn our age.” claiming to be Richard Duke of York, the MAIL ON SUNDAY. “Probably the best historical younger son of one of the ‘Princes in the novel I have ever read.” – Phillipa Gregory. Follow Tower’. Perkin saw himself coming to rescue troubadour Peter Oriole and his daughter, on the downtrodden English from a tyrant usurper. But was he their journey from France to the Holy Land. Discover one man’s wreck real? Only one woman knows. on the sea of passion – and his daughter’s stormy voyage in his wake.

32 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org OFF THE SHELF

CAROLS AT WOOLWORTHS BY ELAINE EVEREST, PUBLISHED BY CHRISTMAS AT WOOLWORTHS BY PAN, EBOOK £0.98P ELAINE EVEREST, PUBLISHED BY Carols at Woolworths is a heartwarming PAN, EBOOK £3.32, PAPERBACK £3.49 E-book novella, and the prequel to Christmas at As the year draws to a close, and Christmas Woolworths. approaches, the girls must rely on each other to Betty, Freda and Sarah are determined to make navigate the dark days that lie ahead ... the Woolworths Christmas party as jolly as With so much change, can their friendship ever. But the war is never far away . . . Will it survive the war? Christmas at Woolworths is be a merry Christmas after all for the girls of the sequel to Elaine’s bestselling debut The Woolworths Girls. Woolworths? Available in paperback from supermarkets and all good booksellers. eBook and audio format also available for download.

THE SWORD OF HACHIMAN BY LYNN THE HOUSE AT LADYWELL BY NICOLA GUEST, PUBLISHED BY ROMAUNCE, SLADE, CROOKED CAT BOOKS, PRINT £10.00 EBOOK £2.50, PRINT ISBN 9781976203244, EBOOK £1.99, ISBN 978-1-86151-563-6, EBOOK ISBN PAPERBACK £6.99 978-1-86151-565-0 In an ancient house full of secrets and echoes and At the dawn of the Shogun era two mighty warrior haunted by the scent of ghostly flowers, Freya clans struggle for power under the Cloistered finds a hare carved in stone and a letter telling her Emperor. With striking colour and authenticity, to ‘restore the balance’ of The Lady’s Well. Can her Guest unfolds the story of one of the most inheritance help her leave the past behind and find happiness? celebrated heroes of Japanese history and legend – Yoshitsune and the sword of Hachiman.

POSTMAN’S KNOCK BY ELAINE ELLIS, PUBLISHED BY ROMAUNCE, SUCCESSFULLY SINGLE BY SARAH PRINT £10.00 EBOOK £2.50, PRINT PURDUE, EBOOK ASIN BO74W7L5KH ISBN 978-1-86151-836-1, EBOOK ISBN £2.99 978-1-86151-838-5 Amelia Brown has made a name for herself When Charlotte receives a letter from her best through her blog ‘successfully single’, and has friend Libby, her life is about to change forever. earned a publishing contract. There’s only Libby and James, Charlie’s husband, have been one catch – she has to stay single for a year. having an affair. But if Libby and James thought When the universe seems to have other that Charlie was ready to be a victim, they were ideas, Amelia embarks on a madcap scheme wrong… to have it all!

FUR COAT & NO KNICKERS BY THEORY OF MIND BY SANJIDA ADRIENNE VAUGHAN, PUBLISHED O’CONNELL, PUBLISHED BY BY NEW ROMANTICS PRESS, ROMAUNCE, PRINT £10.00 EBOOK PRINT £4.99 EBOOK £0.99P, ASIN: £2.50, PRINT ISBN 978-1-86151-548- B01MQPIXQ4 3, EBOOK ISBN 978-1-86151-550-6 “Manages to capture, with concise and in Part love story, part thriller, this is the depth prose a series of well-crafted and multi- compelling and disturbing story of a young layered storylines in just a few pages. Each woman’s attempt to discover what goes on one exploring the nuances of human nature inside the minds of chimpanzees, mankind’s and behaviour. All the stories very cleverly nearest living relatives. Richly observed and powerfully written, incorporate a twist and/or message. Moving, poignant and funny – an this extraordinary first novel reveals a compelling new talent. absolute delight!” Amazon reviewer.

A SUMMER’S CHILD BY ELAINE ELLIS, PUBLISHED BY ROMAUNCE, PRINT £10.00 EBOOK £2.50, PRINT ISBN 978-1-86151-833-0, EBOOK ISBN 978-1- Let Brook Cottage Books coordinate your virtual book 86151-835-4 tour while you get on with the important job of writing. Lara seems to have it all. But one part of her life A trusted, no hassle, stress-free service that you can rely on to promote your book. And, at Brook Cottage Books leaves an ache – a daughter she gave away at returning authors are rewarded with a 10% discount. nineteen after a chance encounter in Portugal. www.brookcottagebooks.blogspot.co.uk She finds herself wanting to peek into the life of Email: [email protected] the girl she left behind. Should she? www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 33 11NEWS11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Romance Matters that spooky experience inspire Spooky Inspiration another book? It wasn’t the first On the way to Kent to stay with our son, my husband and I visited time such a thing had happened. Winston Churchill’s family home of Chartwell. A fascinating place, I’d a similar vision many years we were soon engaging with the National Trust stewards and found previously at Morwellham Quay, ourselves absorbing details of the Churchills’ private lives, including the Victorian copper port and the tragic loss of their little daughter, Marigold. now living history museum, in It was, however, in the library that I’d one of the weirdest moments Devon, which had led to my of my life. I was standing behind the desk and suddenly Winston début novel in 2004. Could my Churchill appeared to me in a vision. I was a young maid carrying a tray encounter with ‘The Greatest of refreshments. He turned to smile over his shoulder and said in his Briton’ lead to a new series? stentorian voice, “Thank you, my dear. And my favourite biscuits, too.” Well, it has! A mini-series of As we moved on, I retreated into my own little world, utterly two, anyway. The story has stunned. It wasn’t until we were outside again, that I told my husband undergone many changes what had happened. “Perhaps you should write a book about it,” he since its inception. It’s answered, jokingly. set at an imaginary grand Well, that’s just the wrong thing to say to an author who bases her residence, Robin Hill House, novels on real-life historical situations! At that time, I was working and the characters are entirely on a series of Dartmoor stories, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my fictitious but it’s most definitely head. Who was the young maid? What was her story and why did inspired by that uncanny moment! Churchill appear to have a fondness for her? Was there a connection I’d love to know if anyone else’s spooky experiences have inspired a between her and their lost child? novel? Contact me via www.tania-crosse.co.uk I kept pondering these questions while I finished the series. Should Tania Crosse

34 | ROMANCE MATTERS | Autumn/Winter 2017 www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org NEWS

SNIPPETS OF MEMBERS’ LATEST NEWS... Soundings has acquired the first two novels of Victoria Diary Cornwall’s Cornish Tales series for audio, The Thief’s Daughter and The Captain’s Daughter. Release date to be confirmed. Celia Anderson is delighted to announce she is now represented by Laura Macdougall (United Agency), 2018 GENERAL MEETING Date Saturday 10th February 2018 one of The Bookseller’s recent Rising Stars. Her latest novel 3pm 59 Memory Lane – described as Magical Realism/Up-Lit – Venue Royal Over-Seas League, is currently going through the editing process with Laura Park Place, London, SW1A 1LR prior to submission to publishers. Linn Halton – writing Speakers Matt Bates, WHSmith Travel, and Sophia Bennett, winner of the 2017 Goldsboro under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – has just signed Books Romantic Novel of the Year Award a four-book deal with Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus). The first This meeting includes the presentation novel will be published in February 2018. Liz Fenwick is of the Katie Fforde Bursary. moving from Orion to HQ, HarperCollins having signed a 2018 RONA AWARDS six-figure, three-book deal. The first novel under her new Date Monday 5th March 2018 contract with HQ is The Path to the Sea and will be released 6.30pm – 9.30pm in 2019. Liz said, “I’m hugely excited to be joining the team Venue The Gladstone Library, One Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2EJ at HQ and looking forward to the terrific new opportunities 2018 RoNA Awards Reception including ahead.” Margaret Kaine is delighted to announce that presentation of the Goldsboro Books she has signed a contract with Allison & Busby, who will be Romantic Novel of the Year Award. publishing The Black Silk Purse, her new Edwardian novel Tickets available on Eventbrite. in April 2018 – hardback and digital – with the paperback 2018 SUMMER PARTY & AGM edition to follow later. Elaine Everest has signed her fourth Date Thursday 17th May 2018 contract with Pan Macmillan for another two sagas to be 5pm (AGM), 6.30pm-9.30pm (Summer Party) published November 2018 and May 2019. One at least will Venue Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH be another in the Woolworths series. And to finish all this AGM (members only) followed by summer party lovely, good news … Nobody’s Girl by Tania Crosse will including presentation of the Joan Hessayon New be published by Aria Fiction on 1st May 2018. Its sequel, A Writers’ Award. Tickets available on Eventbrite. Place to Call Home, will follow later in the year. Adrienne 2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Vaughan and Catherine Kullman were thrilled to be Date Friday 13th July – Sunday 15th July 2018 shortlisted for the CAP Awards for Independent Authors Venue Leeds Trinity University held at a glittering event in Dublin recently. Adrienne was 2018 GENERAL MEETING shortlisted for Best Anthology Date Thursday 13th September 2018 for her collection of short Venue Royal Over-Seas League, stories and poetry, Fur Coat & Park Place, London, SW1A 1LR No Knickers, and Catherine for Speakers Adele Parks and Adrienne Vaughan “Building Your Brand” Best Novel with her book set in Regency England, The Murmur 2018 WINTER PARY AND of Masks. Adrienne (left) and RNA INDUSTRY AWARDS Date Wednesday 14th November 2018 Catherine (right) pictured Venue TBA here with awards founder, Tickets available on Eventbrite. Carolann Copland. The awards support the charity Aware and is now recognised as a major event on the Irish literary scene. www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org Autumn/Winter 2017 | ROMANCE MATTERS | 35 New home for all Writers’ Holiday events – book now!

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