Natasha Oakley - British Romance Author

Writer of tug-at-the-heartstrings, feel-good romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Disappearing ...

I'm about to vanish into the ether for a few days. It's very needful or I wouldn't be doing it.

Currently I'm experiencing a moment of smugness because I have just achieved the impossible. Having had limited access to my internet connection I have managed to tiptoe my way across much debris and have successfully organised a Tesco shop to be delivered to the address I'll be staying at. I think I lost the blasted thing twice. No idea how I did that. But, hey, it's done now and if I can just shoehorn my children into the car tomorrow morning I will be able to escape the chaos of my home.

I am in a more than usual state of muddle btw.

It all started a couple of years ago when we decided to add an extension to our home. Unfortunately the bamboo floor we laid throughout the downstairs was a disaster. It's a long story but the upshot of it all was we needed to take the floorer to court only I got distracted when my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and my husband's cancer returned. Even now I honestly don't have the emotional energy to take anyone to court. So .......... we've decided to just 'bite the bullet' and sort it out. It's costing thousands! And it's MESSY. Really really messy. I'm currently sitting in rubble.

Fortunately we've been loaned a house. It doesn't have a telephone which means I'll have no distractions and can get on with my book. The downside is that I won't be online to find out what's happening at the RWA conference.

But the prospect of returning to a level concrete floor is sustaining me. I can feel the pressure lifting just knowing I will be able to draw a line and move on. And
Trish has promised to text me if I do happen to win a RITA. For that I'm more than happy to be woken up in the middle of the night!

See you soon ...

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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

WOW!

Guess what happened to me today???

There was I feeling slightly smug because I've just sold my version of 'El Sodh' - a phrase coined by the wonderful Sophie Weston for a sheikh book that is more than usually tricky to write - when the phone rang.

'The Tycoon's Princess Bride' has finalled for a RITA in the Contemporary Series category. How brilliant is that!

What's more I so nearly didn't enter. Remember the truly horrendous year I've had? Well, during all of that I allowed my RWA membership to lapse without realising. So I had to enter at the non-member rate at the last possible minute.

Besides which, I'd decided not to do competitions this year.

Now I'm busy wondering whether I really *ought* to make the trip to the RWA conference. It's not that I don't want to it's just that it's kinda the wrong side of the States for me. :)

Apparently this kind of good news comes at a cost. There was I ready to celebrate. I'd even decided to stuff the diet when Trish says I've got to blog - and went on saying it.

I discovered long since there's no point fighting.

'The Tycoon's Princess Bride' is book 4 of a fabulous continuity I was asked to write for. The premise was fun:

The Mediterranean island of Niroli has prospered for centuries under the Fierezza men. But now, as the King’s health declines, and his 2 sons have been tragically killed, the crown is in jeopardy. Who will rule?


In practise writing it felt a little like being given a jigsaw puzzle with no picture guide.

My hero - Domenic Vincini, a man scarred inside and out.
My heroine - Isabella Fierezza, beautiful and keen to promote tourism on Niroli.

That was it. And off I went.

Carol Marinelli and I became friends through it. She's a real sweetheart and I borrowed her Luca and loaned her my Isabella.

All eight books of the series are still available.

Book 1: The Future King's Pregnant Mistress - Penny Jordan
Book 2: Surgeon Prince ... Ordinary Wife - Melanie Milburne
Book 3: Bought By the Billionaire Prince - Carol Marinelli
Book 4: The Tycoon's Princess Bride - Natasha Oakley
Book 5: Expecting His Royal Baby - Susan Stephens
Book 6: the Prince's Forbidden Virgin - Robyn Donald
Book 7: Bride By Royal Apointment - Raye Morgan
Book 8: A Royal Bride At The Shiekh's Command - Penny Jordan

UK and North America

Am I allowed to drink wine now???



Fun, isn't it!

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