My week of ups and downs.

So this past week has been a bit of a whirlwind. Firstly, I had the virus from hell, which is typical as I was due to meet Pip and Nell for coffee and cake (fantastic morning by the way). By Tuesday I had been asked to play stand-in husband for Nell Dixon at the RNA awards lunch in London. By Thursday I felt awful with the previously mentioned virus and was stuffing vitamin C down my throat by the hour.

Thankfully by Friday morning I felt somewhere near human and determined to support a very nervous Nell, who went through a similar experience last year with the New Writers’ award. The RNA events can be a little overwhelming and leave you feeling like a rabbit trapped in the headlights of a large 4x4.

The journey went without a hitch and soon Nell and I walked into a beautiful reception room at the Savoy Hotel filled with tables designated to each of the publishing houses involved with the event. Oh, and champagne. Lots of it.
Nell started to grow red at this point, so I offered her some booze to calm her nerves. She refused. I kept her moving and took photographs. People started arriving, we smiled, said hello. Nell grew redder. She still refused booze.

Then finally we saw faces we knew. Fiona Harper and Liz Fenwick. Liz offered us a drink, I accepted (I owe you one, Liz). Nell refused.

Eventually some of the HM&B editor’s arrived and I managed to propel Nell towards Maddie Rowe who’s just asked Nell for revisions on her Medical romance (which you’re doing now aren’t you, Nell?).

The lunch was fantastic and the ballroom surroundings sumptuous. The ladies on our table were really sociable and all very glamorous. Then it was time for the awards. The main award was presented first and then the Romance Prize.

At this point Helen’s face went even redder.

As most of your know now, Nell wonthe 2007 RNA Romance Prize. But when her name was announced, she didn’t move. She just stared at the dinner table in disbelief and shock. Thankfully, after being urged from her chair by Michelle Styles (who was also nominated and had forced Nell to enter the competition in the first place)she moved.

All of the nominees are fabulously talented writers and I would have hated to chose any of them to win, but Nell was such a gracious winner I know she impressed many of those attending. I, along with many of her friends present was just darn proud of her.

I think it took about four hours for the enormity of what had happened to sink in to Nell. Her smile got wider and her hands finally stopped shaking. On the train home we were both exhausted, but it was lovely to see her husband and daughters arriving at the station to give their prize winning mommy a well deserved hug.