What does a romantic novelist look like?

Hmmm interesting question and one that has caused quite a flurry among the writers of the Romantic Novelists Association. The reason? At the latest London get together of the RNA a Daily Mail journalist was present to do an article along with a photographer. What she came up with, sadly, was the standard, cliched lazy-journalism old tosh about bodice rippers. How many times have we heard that phrase until we are sick to the back teeth with it? Her line was pretty scathing, very silly and talked about those present having blue rinses and twinsets and pearls. You can read the article here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1389272/The-Blue-Rinse-Bodice-Rippers-In-twin-sets-pearls-meet-ladies-Britains-steamiest-novels.html

Well I've been to enough RNA do's to know that there is a range of ages, styles of dress, personalities, characters etc etc and not one of them looks remotely blue rinsed or like Barbara Cartland who, let's face it left the scene decades ago! the best thing about the whole episode is that one of the bright young things, Kate Johnson, sent the Daily Mail a letter which they published together with her holding a copy of one of her books.

I only hope it increases her sales and helps to dispel some of the myths that stick like mud to a blanket! And here is a picture of the lovely Kate.....

Hitting the send button

So, at last I have had the courage to hit the 'send' button. Let me explain. On 31 March I received back from Mills and Boon feedback on the submission I sent them with a sheikh hero. There were some valuable suggestions and an offer to re-submit if I fancied reworking it. Did I? You bet. But, for writers that can be a terrifying thing. To take apart and unpick the thing you have done, to look at it critically and perhaps ditch reams of writing and rework is heavy going. Then to admit finally that you have polished, amended, improved, rethought, rejigged, and re-everythinged your precious chapters into a form that you think is the best it can be can be can really make you shudder. Even more daunting is to demonstrate a commitment to what you've done by finally whizzing it back off to an editor because this of course, invites a response. So much hope, so many fears, so much work and they may well not like it! I sometimes wonder why we keep on torturing ourselves in this way. But we do and now I am waiting yet again. But, not twiddling my thumbs. I have a serial half written and an idea for a RIVA Mills and Boon which I'd love to try. The greatest cure for that obsessive checking the e-mail inbox disease that we all get when we have a submission 'out there' is to start something new. Which is always a lovely feeling.......