And ...

Ally Blake has just returned from a short break away to discover she's also finalled in the HOLT with her lovely 'Meant-To-Be Mother'.

A nice showing for the Pink Heart Society girls!

Here's the complete list of finalists in the Traditional category:

Meant-To-Be Mother by Ally Blake
Here With Me by Holly Jacobs
Rescued by Mr. Right by Shirley Jump
Accepting the Boss's Proposal by Natasha Oakley
Project: Parenthood by Trish Wylie

Now back to work. I've got steam coming out of my ears ....

Yipidee Do Dah!

It's been a long time since I did this. I'm nearly back. Promise. Just the small matter of a book to finish before I'm allowed to! (Editors are sooo demanding.)

Meanwhile, I've had some good news.

I came home yesterday to find a message on my answerphone saying that 'Accepting The Boss's Proposal' is a finalist for the Holt Medallion Award.

Such a nice message to come home to!! And I've not deleted it yet so can play it over and over. I know the English accent does all kinds of funny things to American ears but it's entirely mutual. How *do* you make 'category' take that long to say????

'Accepting The Boss's Proposal' is turning out to be a very 'lucky' book as it's also finalled in the Romantic Novelists' Association Romance Prize. On the whole I'd say my first year of competition entering is going quite well!

Writing buddy Trish Wylie has also finalled in the HOLT with her wonderful 'Project: Parenthood'. BTW do pop over to her revamped and beautifully shiny website. She's between books and has been very ... er ... helpfully putting together a hero database. Not that I'm looking, of course, I've got a book to finish ....

Oh and do go read all about the preparations for the Romantic Novelists' Association Award Lunch at the Savoy over at eHarlequin. I'm blogging there soon but have really got to keep my nose to the grindstone and catch up on my writing proper.

I'll be back as soon as I've written this hero of mine into shape!