How many dreams can you have come true?

 It took me a very long time to make it as a published author. When I finally did, my debut novel won the RNA Joan Hessayon Award for newly published authors graduating from the New Writers' Scheme. It was a dream come true and one I'd almost given up on ever achieving. 

More books - and life - happened. I'm six books in now, although it could be more, except that those life events, and a little thing called a PhD intervened. The PhD was another dream, one that I signed on for when I thought I was never going to make it as a writer - well, you can guess what happened ...

The doctorate was something that I could control, with hard work and application - although it took a lot longer than it was supposed to - life again.  But once I was published, I moved on to another dream. I dreamed about becoming a finalist in the Romantic Novelists' Association RONA Awards. Another one that seemed almost unobtainable. But if you don't have dreams then life is very blank - and you have to have something to aim for ...

Then this happened.

I've had this secret since the middle of January, but yesterday it was announced - I am a finalist for the RNA Joan Collins Romantic Thriller Award. 

Will I win? Who knows? I'm in competition with some fabulous authors.

I do know this - even if I don't win, it is a thrill and an honour just to be nominated.

Dreams do come true more than once. 

Romantic Wales

Everyone knows that St Valentine is the patron saint of lovers, but you don't have to wait until 14th February to make a romantic gesture. If you have connections to Wales, or even if you don't, there's a chance for romance on 25th January, which is St Dwynwen's Day.

St Dwynwen is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. Her shrine is on the Isle of Anglesey. You can find out more about the saint and the legend on the Visit Wales site, which is HERE

How do you celebrate St Dwywen's Day? Exactly the same way as the more famous St Valentine's Day - cards, flowers, a romantic meal, gifts, maybe even a proposal? 

The Cariad Chapter of the Romantic Novelists' Association is marking the day as a celebration of Wales and romance and highlighting romance writers who live in Wales, or have Welsh connections, and/or set their books in Wales. There will be greetings and blog posts. There is romance in the hills and in the valleys and on the coast and these writers are out to prove it. 

The Cariad Chapter - the name means love, but is also used as an endearment, like darling - covers South and West Wales and has members who are still working towards publication as well as those who are multi published in a variety of genres. Published novelists in the chapter cover everything from war time sagas to romantic thrillers, contemporary romantic comedy, sweet romance, M/M romance, historical romance - it's all romance. Some are set in Wales, some in other locations, even imaginary ones. There's something for everyone, whatever their taste in  romantic reading matter, all with a love story and most with a happy ending. 

Watch out on Monday 25th January on social media to see members of the Chapter wishing you  Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus - Happy Saint Dwynwen's Day. 

And how about surprising the one you love with a greeting on this special Welsh day?  

On the road

Last week was a busy week, and a lot of fun. To London for the RNA Summer Party, at which the 2017 Joan Hessayon winner was announced - sadly not one of the 3 Choc-lit debut authors who were in the line up - but a win for a Welsh publisher! Kate Field was awarded the trophy for The Magic of Ramblings published by Accent.

It was a fab party, I got to stroke the trophy - all the past winners come over a bit 'precious' when in it's presence - it's hard to believe that it is 5 years since I won it!!!

I renewed my card for the British Library - looking forward to spending some time there later in the year, and did a bit of research, book related, not for the day job, but more of that next week.

The lovely Lusana from Choc-lit, sizing up
the room for the best layout 

Then it was down to Southampton for the second Choc lit road-show. An afternoon of talking, quizzes, chocolate and  a lot of laughter at Southampton Library, in the company of an enthusiastic audience of readers and a few hopeful writers who had the chance to pitch a book to Choc-lit as part of the proceedings. And all the attendees got a goodie bag to take away. I did manage to snaffle a bag, but not the contents - and I did sneak some of the chocolates, so that was probably a win:)

Goodie bags and book stall, waiting for the audience. 

I had a lovely time with Jan Brigden, Liv, who is one half of Isabella Conner, and Laura E James. Luckily the audience seemed to enjoy themselves too, so it was was worth the trip. The next show will be up north, Stockton on Tees, as part of their literature festival, and there is a whisper about a date in London in the autumn, If there is, I hope I'll be there. I took a few pictures, so you can get the idea of how it all went.

My fellow panelists

The chance to talk about yourself and your books - what's not to like? And it was good to start doing some book related things again and to tell people about the new summer book that is in the pipeline. coming soon, I hope.

Giving the trophy back ...

It's a rather sad time for me this week. My reign as winner of the Joan Hessayon Award is coming to an end and I have to return the trophy at the Romantic Novelists' Association  Summer Party, so that it can be passed on to this year's winner.

The trophy

Now where did that year go?

Admittedly I didn't get to take the prize home until the RNA conference in July, after it had been engraved, but it seems to have been a very short space since then. I've enjoyed it so much. I don't really want to give the trophy back, but needs must. There are nine potential winners this time, it's a strong field and if I have to hand the silverware back, I wish it could be to all of them. There can only be one named winner, but they are all winners as they have achieved the coveted status of being a published author.

At the party last year, with my mum and author Anna Jacobs.

So (sigh) if I must part with my favourite toy, I know it will be going to a good home, where it will be cherished and admired as much as it has during its stay with me.

I do get to make a speech, before I part with it.

And it will always have my name on it, among the winners ...

An Interview with the Romantic Novelists' Association

I do know it's Monday, not Wednesday - but I'm sharing my excitement at featuring on the RNA blog today.

I think I'm fairly safe in making a sweeping generalisation, and saying that all the participants in the New Writers' Scheme, which is run by the Romantic Novelists' Association, share a big ambition - to be a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award. Nominees for the award are all graduates from the New Writers' Scheme who have made it into publication. This year there are eight - and I'm one of them!

As part of the run up to the Award, which will be presented at the RNA Summer Party in May, contenders are being interviewed on the RNA blog.

Today it is my turn. So - if you want to know more about me, Never Coming Home, or a distinctly dubious recipe for making sausages, courtesy of the Glamorgan Archive, the link is t.co/CbEzymrc