I haven't...

forgotten about you!

My computer is sick and won't let me stay on line for very long before it drops out.

Things will be back to normal soon-I hope!

Onwards and upwards!

The decision from Richmond was no. Kiss wasn’t quite what they were looking for.
But, the good news is that The Editor wants to see more from me and she gave me some fantastic constructive criticism.
Stuff like that is invaluable, just like the beautiful compliment slip she sent in her letter.

So, I know now what my strengths and weaknesses are. I have something to work for.

Onwards and upwards!

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.

Congratulations, Nell!

From hill to flat

I love where I live, the countryside is breathtaking,unspoilt and diverse, but sometimes living on the side of a hill sucks. Ever tried teaching your children to cycle down a mountain? Well, let me tell you, it's not pretty. Plasters and Valium are a must. Even something simple like putting a table and chairs outside to sit and soak up the sun requires cramp-ons.
Well, not anymore.

For the past few weeks I have let my husband loose in the garden with a digger in an effort to create a level area where we can install some play equipment for the children and put in a BBQ. It's not finished, the grass seed needs to germinate and the flower beds require oodles of plants to make them look pretty, but when you live on the side of a hill, this picture is heaven.

In other news, the WIP is coming along well and with the kids going back to school tomorrow things should shift into a higher gear. I feel happier with this ms, I'm on chapter seven and I know exactly what's happening and where my characters need to be. Hallelujah!
I am hoping to finish this first draft by the middle of May.

Look what I got...

I consider myself a fairly level headed person, but sometimes I just liquefy into a big pile of mush. Today was one of those days.
Today I received a copy of Michelle Willingham's book and read the dedication.
There are times when you wish you lived closer to those you respect as friends and peers, to just give them a big hug and say thanks and well done.

Boing, boing, boing!

Spring has definitely sprung and last week we started lambing. Now, normally sheep don’t do it for me. On the plate with mint sauce, yes, but as animals, well, there’s no give in them. I’ve never found they have much character. Lambs on the other hand are very different.
Here’s a picture of this year’s contenders for cutest lamb.

Which one gets your vote?

Okay, so where did March go?

Sorry I’ve been AWOL, but things have been busy in Littlehales land.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the cuteness of my nephew. Alexander is doing very well and taking every opportunity to exercise his vocal cords.He’s just darling.

Every year the Upper Onny Wildlife Group survey the local area to get firm numbers on the Curlew and Lapwing population. Both of these species are disappearing from the Shropshire Hills because of predation and changes to agricultural practices. I won’t bore you with the exact details, but things will be getting even busier over the summer as I’ll be monitoring Barn Owl nest boxes too. I’m really exited about this as I love Owls and it means I'll be helping to increase the wild population by knowing where to put up more nestboxes in the future (Barn Owls are very site faithful and the young will nest nearby when their time comes). I lost my captive bred Barn Owl five years ago through old age and I’m very keen to get involved with falconry again, so this is a good compromise at the moment. I’ll keep you posted on how things go.

I still haven’t heard anything from M&B about Kiss, but at this stage no news is good news. I’ve got two other manuscripts finished, which admittedly need lots of revision, but I need fresh eyes to do that as there are problems that need fixing (i.e I need to delete vast swaths on both of them but it hurts too much at the moment to do it). So, I’m now starting on my third manuscript, which I am endeavoring to write without making the mistakes I made with the previous two which are:
Over complicating the plot.
Putting in too much historical jargon.
Not enough emotion.
Me leading the story and not the characters.
This of course sounds very easy, but as I have discovered, it's hard to get right. But I am determined to do it.
I also had an agent rejection for Kiss, which is sad, but not the end of the world. It’s still out with other agents. I just need one to say yes.

In May my crit partner Michelle Willingham’s book Her Irish Warrior goes on sale in the US. Here’s her book trailer http://www.michellewillingham.com/images/HIWMovie.swf. I can’t see it myself as I’m on dial-up (booooo). But I believe it’s faboo.

I have a nephew!

May I introduce Alex Frederick Morris Littlehales, born 22.02.07 weighing 7Lb 4OZ.
He's cute, he's gorgeous and I'm so darn proud of Paul and Julie for bringing him into the world. Well done guys!

Ten things....

1) I was captain of school.
2) I know how to drive a traction engine and a steam roller.
3) I met my husband whilst covered in coal dust and oil (at least I know he loved me for more than looks.)
4) I never went full term in either of my pregnancies.
5) I am the secretary of the Upper Onny Wildlife group and during the spring and summer I can often be seen out surveying Curlew and Lapwing, both of which will be extinct in my area within 5-10 years.
6) I love birds of prey and dream of the day I have enough time and money to take up falconry again.
7) I love travelling, but at heart I’m a home girl and like nothing better than the view from my front window.
8) Similarly, I adore socialising, but I’d also be more than content marooned in my own cottage in the middle of nowhere. ON MY OWN.
9) I am currently writing a historical romance set in Rome, but I’d love to write a romance during the Reformation.
10) I have so far set all my stories around an actual historical event.

Both the kidlets are off school at the moment with a stinking cold, poor things. Olivia hasn't eaten a thing today and this is the girl who eats three Weetabix for breakfast. I hate seeing them so ill.
At the weekend I went to London with my husband for my Birthday treat and visited the British Museum. Man I love that place. There are not enough hours in the day to see everything but I saw some great Roman jewellery, mosaics, silverware and Samian pottery. I drooled at the Sutton Hoo display and the Viking and Anglo-Saxon weaponry. *Sigh* I will post pictures but I fear the flash reflected off the glass rendering them useless.

No news from M&B, but I'm up to chp 8 on The Charioteer. Yay!I seem to work better if I write a rough draft then leave it and work on something else. That enables me to go back with fresh eyes and see my work as a whole not random scenes. I also realised I need to print my first draft out before I step into the abyss of revision. What about you? Can you write a ms straight through or do you need time apart?

Snow!

We don't normally get snow, and certainly not nine inches! This picture is from our bedroom window shortly after I returned home from driving the school bus. The road is the white bit between the wall and the gate posts. Thankfully everyone got home safely. The mini-bus stayed at the bottom of the drive.

January's over...let February commence!

Life has been hectic of late, but here’s an update:

Olivia has astounded me and started school without a backward glance. After months of fretting and worrying about setting foot in the big bad world of full time learning (not to mention giving her mommy plenty of sleepless nights) it’s now mommy who has to reel her in and remind her to give me a kiss and say bye-bye. Already there are tales of gangs, hairstyles and parties, not to mention the thousand and one after school clubs she just has to attend because so-and-so goes. God help me when she starts secondary school.

This past month my Nan died which has been an immense loss to the whole family. Even though at 93 she had been frail, she still had all her marbles and amazing mobility. I just thank God she died peacefully in her sleep and not hooked up to all the bleeps and whistles in a hospital. God bless and keep her.

On a happier note, the weight loss is going well. Five pounds down and another five to go. With Livy at school my evenings are free and so I have managed two classes of aqua aerobics and one class of yoga a week. Go me!

Three of my friends have been nominated for the prestigious Romance Prize 2007 run by the RNA (they’re the same people who read Kiss and then sent it to M&B with a letter of recommendation and are the U.K equivalent of RWA) so big, huge, enormous congratulations to Nicola Cornick, Nell Dixon and Michelle Styles! I would really hate having to pick any one of the short listed titles, they’re all fantastic reads. It’s interesting to note that three out of the six short listed nominees are historical romances and it’s great to see the genre doing so well. I know a few people in the industry have been murmuring that editors are now actively looking for them, so fingers crossed for anyone out there writing one. This is the time to get submitting!

Work for me has been hard, but you know, you’ve just got to keep chugging along. No news from M&B, but I have e-mailed them just to make sure it’s still under consideration and the ‘R’ hasn’t gotten lost in the post. I’ve finished the second draft of The Barbarian’s Desire and I’m going to let that rest for a little while. There’s a few things that need fixing, the least being a total lack of romantic focus, but at the moment I’m too close to revise it objectively. So, it’s back to The Charioteer and the sand and leather of the Circus Maximus, wish me luck!

Still here..

..and still blowing bubbles in the current ms. At the moment it feels I'm writing a big pile of steaming poo which no editor in their right mind would want to buy. So to cheer myself up I'm posting a picture of what my hero might look like.

Bad blogger

I am alive, just face down in my current ms. No news on the work front, but I keep telling myself that having five agents and one editor looking at it must mean something. *please God*

But It's all about the next manuscript and making it better. Must. Concentrate. On. Next. Book.

Oh, but before I go I must say congratulations to Michelle Willingham for selling two more books to Harlequin Historicals and Nell Dixon for getting her medical romance requested by an agent. Ah, to know such greatness.

Anyway, here's a picture of the Birthday boy on Coniston water. If you think he looks happy here, you should have seen him last night when he discovered he'd got a loose tooth.

First day at school

She went. She saw. She conquered.

A happy New Year.

Christmas is finally winding down and most of us are looking forward to the New Year, more alcohol, food and eventually weight loss. This is a very special time of year for me,It’s my DS birthday on New Year’s Eve and as promised we are off to Keswick to celebrate his 6th birthday and bring in 2007.
Also, my youngest is starting school January 3rd. This is something I am not looking forward to *sniff*. But, there is nothing I can do to stop it as its all part of growing up and I know Olivia will love school (at least until the novelty wears off!). So I am enjoying this holiday and staying away from the W.I.P. Times like this put my priorities in order and makes me sit back and think of all the fantastic things I have achieved this year. Things like passing my PCV licence to drive a mini-bus, completing my first historical romance and then submitting it. In 2006 my aim was to have a full manuscript requested by an editor and luckily this has happened, if I sell ABK or not, I am darn proud of that fact.
What do I want for 2007? I’m not going to say published because ultimately that’s out of my control. What I want is to continue to grow as a writer and strengthen my craft, submitting manuscripts that are strong, with great writing and characters that make you laugh and cry and take you with them on their journey to their own happy ever after. I know the line I’m targeting, I know what that line should deliver to its readers and there is an editor that thinks I have potential.
The rest is desire and determination.
I also hope Edward has a great birthday and Olivia enjoys her first day at school.

Merry Christmas!

I have so much to be thankful for this year, both family and Friends who are very dear to me have achieved their dreams. Nell Dixon has sold more books to more publishers, Anna Lucia has sold her first book. Julie Cohen is about to start on possibly the most exciting and tiring time of her life, Michelle Styles has sold both Viking and Victorian romances to HM&B and finally, my crit partner, Michelle Willingham has sold her first book. Proud. That's what I am and honoured to know so many gracious and talented people.

So, here's hoping everyone has a merry Christmas and an even better 2007!

Four things...

Okay, no one tagged me but I thought I’d give it a go anyway!

Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Veterinary Nurse
2. Sales representative for Pedigree Masterfoods
3. Slimming World consultant
4. Falconer (well, that one wasn’t paid)

Four places I’ve lived:
1. Bridgnorth, Shropshire
2. Rodbaston, Staffordshire
3. Craven Arms, Shropshire
4. Ratlinghope, Shropshire (so, I’ve lived a sheltered life…)

Four favourite foods:
1. Lobster
2. Steak
3. Chocolate
4. Ice Cream, really, really good Ice Cream

Four movies I could watch over and over again:
1. LoTR
2. Last of the Mohicans (Daniel Day Lewis…sigh)
3. The Green Mile
4. Pretty Woman

Four TV shows I enjoy:
1. America’s Next Top Model
2. Rome
3. Any Period Drama
4. The Secret Millionaire

Four places I’ve travelled:
1. Florida
2. Barbados
3. Germany
4. Paris

Four places I’d like to visit:
1. New Zealand (If I could live anywhere in the world it would be here, even though I’ve never been there!)
2. Canada
3. South America
4. Africa (I have a lot of travelling to do!)

Four websites I go to daily:
1. eharlequin.com
2. Romance Writers Unlimited (my crit group)
3. Pink Heart Society
4. Blogs (far too many)

More research....

Sometimes just a picture is enough to transport you back in time. This is true of many of the books published by www.ospreypublishing.com But it’s not simply the evocative illustrations in this series of books that recommended them, it’s the sheer volume of items covered, everything from World War II to the ancient world, combat aircraft to Iron Age ring forts. Concise and detailed, these books definitely have the thumbs up from me.
Currently I have Rome’s Enemies (2) Gallic and British Celts.

Another fantastic resource, if you can find them, are diaries or letters written in that time period. They give you a taste of how people thought of the world around them. Very interesting. Have you found any interesting primary sources?

In other news, my fantastic coffee-mate and friend, Nell www.nelldixon.com has just had HM&B ask for the full of her medical romance, so go and congratulate her. She deserves it. She should have sold to them years ago…but that’s another story. I just need to remind her of a certain promise to query a certain agent…..

R...is for ready or not here's my first research book!

Research is always important, whether you write historical romance or not. The wrong description of a city or road name can pull you out of a story just as quickly as writing a 1st century Roman cavalryman used stirrups. So, you need to be accurate, but shouldn’t obsess over things so much that it overshadows the story you are trying to tell. One valuable piece of information I learnt is that you should never, ever information dump. It kills tension and pace. What you see in your finished draft should just be the tip of the iceberg, enough to give your readers a flavour of the period.

*Allison rubs her hands together* sooooo, research books. One of the first research books for the Roman period I brought was Roman clothing and fashion by A.T Croome.

It’s very easy to read and the illustrations give you a great sense of how the clothes worked and what they did. It also covers the issue of colours used for dying and clothes worn at weddings and funerals. It’s published by http://www.tempus-publishing.com/
The books on the site are expensive but a great investment, I think.

Still no news on the agent or publisher front. I’m gearing up to send out a few more agent queries in January. As I might have said before, on the agent side, I’m not stressing too much. A full manuscript can take ages to be read by those busy agents and I don’t need an agent to submit to Harlequin, indeed I’d already had the full manuscript of A Barbarian’s Kiss requested by HMB before I embarked on the agent hunt. But contracts and clauses send my head into a flat spin and long term, I know I’ll need one.
I want one that’s with me for the long haul, not one book.