Since completing the third manuscript in the Allegra Fairweather series, I’ve been catching up on my reading. I’ve tried some authors I’d never read before, and revisited some old favourites. Here are a few of the books I’ve loved.

Unspoken by Sam Hayes. Wow, what an amazing thriller! Different and beautifully written. I had the best time reading this. Gotta get more by this author. Now!

Who wouldn’t want to spend A Weekend with Mr Darcy?  This delightful book by Victoria Connelly is set at a Jane Austen conference. Lots of references to Austen and her books plus not one but two romances.  Great fun!

Secrets of the Tudor Court by Darcey Bonnette. Sure it covers tried and true historical ground, but the voice is great and the story just zips along. Thoroughly enjoyable.

More secrets. This time Secret of the Sands by Sara Sheridan. This historical was a little bit different. Set in Arabia in the nineteenth century, it took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting. I had an absolute ball. Can’t wait to get a hold of more of this author’s books .

And now for an old favourite. I love Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey novels and The Dark Enquiry didn’t disappoint. I had such a great time hanging out with Lady J, Brisbane and the rest of their family.

So, dear blog reader, what have you been reading? Anything you can recommend?

I’m exhausted. Duh! But what a way to go. I had the best time. Bob Mayer’s workshop was terrific – so much interesting information. The highlight was the pics of those gorgeous labs.

The Harlequin dinner and lunch with Carina Press were wonderful. So great to meet all those fab people.

I also met some lovely newbies who were attending their very first conference. On ya ladies. Hope you had a ball.

That all sounds so rosy and wonderful, I should probably quit while I’m ahead and ride into the sunset. However, in the interests of total honesty, I’ll go on…

I actually suck at social interaction (let’s not call it intercourse). If there’s something dumb to be said, I’ll say it. If there’s something to trip over, I’ll trip over it. If I smile, there’ll be something green stuck in my teeth.

I suck at talking to editors, which is why I’ve never done a face-to-face pitch. I’ll either clam up or be so effusive they’ll run screaming from the room. Do not – I repeat do not – speak to editors after 4 glasses of champagne.

But…

I’m trying to improve. At the next conference, I aim to say one less dumb thing. I aim to look where I’m going. (Yeah, good luck with that one.) And the thing stuck in my teeth won’t be green,  but a tasteful shade of beige.

This week I’m off to the Romance Writers of Australia’s conference. It’s in Melbourne this year, which is a city I don’t know very well. Let me out of the hotel and I won’t find my way back for weeks. Just as well there won’t be time for me to wander too far. I have a pretty packed schedule of workshops to attend from the published author day to Bob Mayer’s workshop to catching up with old friends and making new ones.

I’m always up for a glass of champagne and the cocktail party never disappoints. This year the party’s theme is 1920′s so I’m packing a pink feather boa and beads. Then there’s the awards dinner – last year two people from my crit group won major awards. 

This is the first time I’ve been invited to the Harlequin dinner and I’m totally blown away. Bet I’ll be so excited I wont’ be able to eat a thing.

Okay, now I’m off to start packing.

The third Allegra Fairweather manuscript is finally written and submitted. Unfortunately, I now have to catch up on my housework…ew. For the next week I’ll be cleaning bathrooms, vaccuuming and polishing furniture (if I can find it under the dust). Hopefully, in a far corner of my brain, the plot for the fourth book will be percolating.

I’ve had some lovely emails from readers. Many thanks to everyone who’s contacted me. Although I tried to answer all the emails, unfortunately, sometimes my replies bounced back. Apologies to anyone who hasn’t received a reply.