... I love them. I have left Zach in the lap of the Gods (or editors as they're known colloquially). I am such a novice at this whole thing and I honestly, honestly have no idea if its going to be ok or not. I've tried. And tried again. And hopefully it can be rescued with some revisions. I dunno.
SO, let's forget about it (because who knows how long we have to wait - they're busy people, the Gods).
Happily I have another book to get on with; I'm judging some entries in the Great Beginnings competition run by RWNZ; and I've got some reading to do for my fab CP.
So that should be plenty to keep my mind off the fact that I'm really, really, shit scared.
Meanwhile, THANK YOU all for entering our May competition - I am liasing with Michelle and Donna and we'll be in touch with you all soon re winners!
Monday, 30 April 2007
Friday, 27 April 2007
A reminder....
While I'm away BASHING this darn book into shape (more of an effort than I'd first thought) let me just remind you its nearly the end of April and almost time for us to draw the winner of the May Debut competition!!!
Entries have been coming in from all over the show (Hi Egypt! Finland!) but if you haven't enter NOW.
Remember: Donna's book is a Romance - 'Hired by the Cowboy' and Michelle's is a Historical - 'Her Irish Warrior'. Mine is racy.
To get your hands on signed copies of all three books all you have to do this:
Go to Donna's website or blog and Michelle's website or blog and find out the name of the hero in their books.
And mine too of course!
Then email any one of us with the names of all three heroes to be in to win. We'll draw the prizewinners at the end of April.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive not only all three books but a selection of goodies from our home countries - Canada, USA and New Zealand - chocolate, pamper products and fun stuff. And there's be a ruuner up who gets the books.
Email me: natalie@natalie-anderson.com
Groovy. Meanwhile, back to the HARD work!
Entries have been coming in from all over the show (Hi Egypt! Finland!) but if you haven't enter NOW.
Remember: Donna's book is a Romance - 'Hired by the Cowboy' and Michelle's is a Historical - 'Her Irish Warrior'. Mine is racy.
To get your hands on signed copies of all three books all you have to do this:
Go to Donna's website or blog and Michelle's website or blog and find out the name of the hero in their books.
And mine too of course!
Then email any one of us with the names of all three heroes to be in to win. We'll draw the prizewinners at the end of April.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive not only all three books but a selection of goodies from our home countries - Canada, USA and New Zealand - chocolate, pamper products and fun stuff. And there's be a ruuner up who gets the books.
Email me: natalie@natalie-anderson.com
Groovy. Meanwhile, back to the HARD work!
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
In last weekend's Scotland on Sunday...
Scotland on Sunday 22 Apr 2007
Barfly (Business Section)
Page 4
Added mystery and intrigue in lust-filled tale of Mr Big
SCOTTISH tycoons of the male variety may want to place a discreet order for a Mills & Boon romance which is due to be published next month. All Night With The Boss is written by Natalie Anderson, a former Bank of Scotland researcher who is married to a former Scotsman business newseditor, and the lead character is rumoured to be based on a Scottish business leader.
The blurb looks promising: "Lissa Coleman doesn't do office affairs. Hurt in the past, she keeps up her guard by being witty and sarcastic. But one look at Rory Baxter, her tall, dark and incredibly sexy new boss, tests her powers of resistance to the limit! Working closelytogether doesn't help - Lissa's body responds to Rory's every move, and goes into hyper overdrive when he says he wants her!"
But Anderson refuses to say who the hero is based on, and assures us it is certainly not Sir Angus Grossart, the financier who was recently exposed as the chairman of Richard Desmond's Portland adult TV group.
- he he he.
No, it's definitely not Serene Goose.
Barfly (Business Section)
Page 4
Added mystery and intrigue in lust-filled tale of Mr Big
SCOTTISH tycoons of the male variety may want to place a discreet order for a Mills & Boon romance which is due to be published next month. All Night With The Boss is written by Natalie Anderson, a former Bank of Scotland researcher who is married to a former Scotsman business newseditor, and the lead character is rumoured to be based on a Scottish business leader.
The blurb looks promising: "Lissa Coleman doesn't do office affairs. Hurt in the past, she keeps up her guard by being witty and sarcastic. But one look at Rory Baxter, her tall, dark and incredibly sexy new boss, tests her powers of resistance to the limit! Working closelytogether doesn't help - Lissa's body responds to Rory's every move, and goes into hyper overdrive when he says he wants her!"
But Anderson refuses to say who the hero is based on, and assures us it is certainly not Sir Angus Grossart, the financier who was recently exposed as the chairman of Richard Desmond's Portland adult TV group.
- he he he.
No, it's definitely not Serene Goose.
Saturday, 21 April 2007
Delightful day...
... every Saturday morning I take the two 'big kids' for a swim in an indoor pool in the centre of town. Its nice. Warm and fun. We go early and its usually pretty quiet.
Today, as we floated our way around the 'lazy river' a number of big brawny men appeared. They stripped off. Very big. Very brawny. Everywhere I looked there were muscles, muscles, muscles.
It had to be a team. Rugby. Of course, being TV free (and not really THAT interested) - I didn't know which team. Well, I knew it wasn't my home team because I do know them (and Ritchie, Ritchie, Ritchie). Happily I caught the insignia on one of their shorts (I had to look at the shorts to find out you understand). Hurricanes (from Wellington - location of current book). The whole team. And so, they stripped, and then me and my two preschoolers and an entire rugby team floated round the lazy river.
It was lots of fun.
I was pathetically giggly (on the inside).
Oh my. Muscles. Everywhere I turned there were more - I didn't know where to look (well I did but I didn't want to be TOO obvious).
Sure, tell me off for being shallow and objectifying them - but HEY - they were the ones lining up along the floor to ceiling glass window and drying leisurely, pulling their shirts back on after (or just 'casually' knotting towels around waists). They LOVE it.
Oh. Yes. Abs like those might have to appear in next book...
Lovely way to start the day don't you think?
Perfect for a raunchy romance writer anyway...
Today, as we floated our way around the 'lazy river' a number of big brawny men appeared. They stripped off. Very big. Very brawny. Everywhere I looked there were muscles, muscles, muscles.
It had to be a team. Rugby. Of course, being TV free (and not really THAT interested) - I didn't know which team. Well, I knew it wasn't my home team because I do know them (and Ritchie, Ritchie, Ritchie). Happily I caught the insignia on one of their shorts (I had to look at the shorts to find out you understand). Hurricanes (from Wellington - location of current book). The whole team. And so, they stripped, and then me and my two preschoolers and an entire rugby team floated round the lazy river.
It was lots of fun.
I was pathetically giggly (on the inside).
Oh my. Muscles. Everywhere I turned there were more - I didn't know where to look (well I did but I didn't want to be TOO obvious).
Sure, tell me off for being shallow and objectifying them - but HEY - they were the ones lining up along the floor to ceiling glass window and drying leisurely, pulling their shirts back on after (or just 'casually' knotting towels around waists). They LOVE it.
Oh. Yes. Abs like those might have to appear in next book...
Lovely way to start the day don't you think?
Perfect for a raunchy romance writer anyway...
Thursday, 19 April 2007
People I am so sorry! Baby is FINE!!! I'd never have been anywhere near a computer (despite my keyboard addiction) if she hadn't been. She just had the rash - no fever etc etc but they were worried cos there were other factors complicating things... and its all too much to go into here and its OVER now.
Yippee. Collective sigh of relief.
I'm trying to fix the last third of the book. Needing inspiration. Back to the 80s I go. Remember Slash's stance outside the church in November Rain? He got nothing on this guy...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vkR4Ay7s51Q
- I'm sorry I can't figure the widget wotsit so you can just click and watch it here... but please, PLEASE, go check the hair... and the T-R-ousers!
Yippee. Collective sigh of relief.
I'm trying to fix the last third of the book. Needing inspiration. Back to the 80s I go. Remember Slash's stance outside the church in November Rain? He got nothing on this guy...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vkR4Ay7s51Q
- I'm sorry I can't figure the widget wotsit so you can just click and watch it here... but please, PLEASE, go check the hair... and the T-R-ousers!
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Those not very good moments...
Sometimes in life we have those moments that really, really suck and to be honest, most of the time I choose not to think about them. Unless of course, I happen to be stuck in the middle of another really bad moment. Then I tend to think about all the bad moments, all in a row, in the wee small hours, and feel pretty rotten.
Had a bad moment (well many actually) last night when my youngest (by three minutes) was sent to hospital for observation in the Children's Acute Assessment Unit - she had a very worrysome rash - one that could mean Meningitis. Meningitis has a bit of a hold in NZ and all us parents are told to be on the constant look out for it. Her leg went funny just at bath time and we took her to the After Hours clinic and the doctor there insisted we take her straight to hospital. He phoned ahead and was so kind as to not even make us wait to pay. So we went into a little isolation room and for the next 15 hours poor babe was closely monitored, probed and prodded with little circles of pen around particularly worrysome spots etc etc. And so I was in the little foldout camp bed thing next to her not sleeping (no surprise) and thinknig about the last time I was in hospital and having the same surreal scary moment - which was when I was on the operating table and the anaesthatist told me the babies had been born but I couldn't hear anything - they weren't crying, weren't doing a lot as it turned out - and it was all quiet despite the room being full of people and then the babies were gone (and my husband with them) and I was lying there feeling really lonely.
Those are the moments I really like to forget. And I remind myself of some of the wee scraps that were in the Neo Natal ICU and think how lucky we were in that it could have been so much worse. And I think about those parents who have a terminally ill child and think how awful that must be and how lucky we were just to have a scare.
Then I got to thinking that I tend to work out those feelings in my writing - I can make my characters feel really, really awful. But the best thing is I get to write them a happy ending. I get to make it all better. Nice because in real life you can't always do that.
And of course, even in the middle of my own personal Dark Moments - I get silly sparks of ideas for books - its the escapist thing in me, otherwise its all a bit much.
Everytime I enter a hospital I itch to write a Medical (altho I couldn't handle all the research) - all those gorgeous young registrars! And our Paediatric Consultant this trip - a bona fide M&B hero. For sure.
Real life hero too in a totally different way.
If all the above reads as the deranged ramblings of an overtired, post-frantically worried mum - well hey, ya got me.
Had a bad moment (well many actually) last night when my youngest (by three minutes) was sent to hospital for observation in the Children's Acute Assessment Unit - she had a very worrysome rash - one that could mean Meningitis. Meningitis has a bit of a hold in NZ and all us parents are told to be on the constant look out for it. Her leg went funny just at bath time and we took her to the After Hours clinic and the doctor there insisted we take her straight to hospital. He phoned ahead and was so kind as to not even make us wait to pay. So we went into a little isolation room and for the next 15 hours poor babe was closely monitored, probed and prodded with little circles of pen around particularly worrysome spots etc etc. And so I was in the little foldout camp bed thing next to her not sleeping (no surprise) and thinknig about the last time I was in hospital and having the same surreal scary moment - which was when I was on the operating table and the anaesthatist told me the babies had been born but I couldn't hear anything - they weren't crying, weren't doing a lot as it turned out - and it was all quiet despite the room being full of people and then the babies were gone (and my husband with them) and I was lying there feeling really lonely.
Those are the moments I really like to forget. And I remind myself of some of the wee scraps that were in the Neo Natal ICU and think how lucky we were in that it could have been so much worse. And I think about those parents who have a terminally ill child and think how awful that must be and how lucky we were just to have a scare.
Then I got to thinking that I tend to work out those feelings in my writing - I can make my characters feel really, really awful. But the best thing is I get to write them a happy ending. I get to make it all better. Nice because in real life you can't always do that.
And of course, even in the middle of my own personal Dark Moments - I get silly sparks of ideas for books - its the escapist thing in me, otherwise its all a bit much.
Everytime I enter a hospital I itch to write a Medical (altho I couldn't handle all the research) - all those gorgeous young registrars! And our Paediatric Consultant this trip - a bona fide M&B hero. For sure.
Real life hero too in a totally different way.
If all the above reads as the deranged ramblings of an overtired, post-frantically worried mum - well hey, ya got me.
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Back into it!
Ooooooh Scarlett! I do hope you enjoy it! I think you're about the fifth person I actually know to read it... and of course because they're all nearest and dearest they've had nothing but nice to say... feel free to continue the trend! ;)
LOL
Seriously, I hope you enjoy it.
SG - I've missed your acerbic wit. Sheik books are VERY big - didn't you know?! Oh that's right, you only read Booker/Pulizer/Orange prize nominees... you snob you... he he he.
Well, back on board tonight and ploughing through the edits - FINALLY. Am enjoying it thus far (I'll be hating it by the end of the week when I realise I can't get any further without outside help). About to hit big, sticky, muddy, boggy, rough patch in the middle tho... so I'll just save that joy for tomorrow night!
LOL
Seriously, I hope you enjoy it.
SG - I've missed your acerbic wit. Sheik books are VERY big - didn't you know?! Oh that's right, you only read Booker/Pulizer/Orange prize nominees... you snob you... he he he.
Well, back on board tonight and ploughing through the edits - FINALLY. Am enjoying it thus far (I'll be hating it by the end of the week when I realise I can't get any further without outside help). About to hit big, sticky, muddy, boggy, rough patch in the middle tho... so I'll just save that joy for tomorrow night!
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Supermarket amusement...
I went to the supermarket with all four kids yesterday - had the twins in one of those twin trolleys and they were lying in the little seat things and the other two 'big' kids were in the body of the trolley. I had to carry a basket for the actual shopping. EVERY single middle aged woman (or older) looked, stopped and said either 'you're busy' or 'you're very brave coming into a supermarket with all them'
LOL.
I went to the supermarket again late last night ALL ON MY OWN. Just had a basket and I bought ready meal stuff that only 'serves two' and gourmet ice-cream rather than a family value pack - feeling like a young thing in my early twenties with no kids and disposable income...
LOL.
I went to the supermarket again late last night ALL ON MY OWN. Just had a basket and I bought ready meal stuff that only 'serves two' and gourmet ice-cream rather than a family value pack - feeling like a young thing in my early twenties with no kids and disposable income...
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
AWOL....
Apologies - been hit hard with domestic drama this week - sickness and more sickness. And I'm just finishing an article on finishing for the NZ Romance Writers monthly mag. Ironic when all I want to do is finish my WIP. Yes I know the draft is done but now I really need to wade in and sort the fella out.
He he he.
But the time away has been good because my wee brain is raring to go at it. Now if only I could find the time.
Scarlett you're scaring me - yes, I believe "All Night with the Boss" is well in circulation now which is pretty terrifying and exciting all at the same time. Funny feeling. I never expected things to happen quite as fast as they have - in June it will be two years since I first started writing Romance. And my first book is onsale on the shelves just before that anniversary. One day - many days from now - I'll be able to sit back and really take the time to think on that.
Right now I have a baby to feed!
;)
He he he.
But the time away has been good because my wee brain is raring to go at it. Now if only I could find the time.
Scarlett you're scaring me - yes, I believe "All Night with the Boss" is well in circulation now which is pretty terrifying and exciting all at the same time. Funny feeling. I never expected things to happen quite as fast as they have - in June it will be two years since I first started writing Romance. And my first book is onsale on the shelves just before that anniversary. One day - many days from now - I'll be able to sit back and really take the time to think on that.
Right now I have a baby to feed!
;)
Monday, 9 April 2007
Will someone pinch me...
...am I dreaming?!?!?! Michelle W (THANK YOU) just sent me this link:
Times Article
- All Night with the Boss is going to be available as a book you can download to your mobile phone!?! (In Britain).
Unbelievable!!!!
How cool is that?!?!?!?!?
And I'm in THE TIMES. With EMMA DARCY. SHARON KENDRICK. CATHERINE SPENCER.
How am I going to get to sleep now?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Times Article
- All Night with the Boss is going to be available as a book you can download to your mobile phone!?! (In Britain).
Unbelievable!!!!
How cool is that?!?!?!?!?
And I'm in THE TIMES. With EMMA DARCY. SHARON KENDRICK. CATHERINE SPENCER.
How am I going to get to sleep now?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Friday, 6 April 2007
Yay!!!
I've just finished the DRAFT! Phew! About 800 words under but I always add a few thousand in edits so this is not a problem - infact I'll probably have to cut scenes in the edits but hey, that's all good. Now I get to print it out and attack the monster with pens and highlighters and post-it notes and anything else I can find (...matches??!!!)
Meanwhile, keep those contest entries coming! Such fun!!!
AND I've got a title for my second book which is to be released in the UK in November this year:
Meanwhile, keep those contest entries coming! Such fun!!!
AND I've got a title for my second book which is to be released in the UK in November this year:
BEDDED BY ARRANGEMENT
- doesn't that sound like fun?!
(Actually, it is fun).
And my author profile and interview are up on the Mills & Boon website!
My babies were 6 months old yesterday - amazing to think 6 months have passed since that night when things happened a little early and a little scarily for our liking... and then to wake up the next day to that revisions request from M&B in London... since then I've gotten 'The Call', written and sold book two, and now just finished the draft of book three (which will hopefully be ok after some serious effort put into it). Meanwhile and much more importantly the babies are thriving, contented (apart from those darn teeth coming through) and utterly gorgeous.
Here's to the next 6 months!
I hope everyone has a fabulous Easter.
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
WIN! WIN!! WIN!!!
While I'm off finishing this draft here's something fun for you guys - an opportunity to win not only a copy of my book but also two other debut authors - Donna Alward and Michelle Willingham.
Donna's book is a Romance - 'Hired by the Cowboy' and Michelle's is a Historical - 'Her Irish Warrior'.
To get your hands on signed copies of all three books all you have to do this:
Go to Donna's website or blog and Michelle's website or blog and find out the name of the hero in their books.
And mine too of course!
Then email any one of us with the names of all three heroes to be in to win. We'll draw the prizewinners at the end of April.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive not only all three books but a selection of goodies from our home countries - Canada, USA and New Zealand - chocolate, pamper products and fun stuff. And there's be a ruuner up who gets the books.
Email me: natalie@natalie-anderson.com
Cool huh?
Meanwhile, my book is now up for sale at millsandboon.co.uk !!!
Donna's book is a Romance - 'Hired by the Cowboy' and Michelle's is a Historical - 'Her Irish Warrior'.
To get your hands on signed copies of all three books all you have to do this:
Go to Donna's website or blog and Michelle's website or blog and find out the name of the hero in their books.
And mine too of course!
Then email any one of us with the names of all three heroes to be in to win. We'll draw the prizewinners at the end of April.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive not only all three books but a selection of goodies from our home countries - Canada, USA and New Zealand - chocolate, pamper products and fun stuff. And there's be a ruuner up who gets the books.
Email me: natalie@natalie-anderson.com
Cool huh?
Meanwhile, my book is now up for sale at millsandboon.co.uk !!!
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