Friday, August 29th, 2008
And very nice it is to be home, says I, as I hug my husband.
I did have the most fabulous time, which is pretty cool when I’ve been planning this trip since 2003, but you know - I am looking forward to completing the third book in my Lyrebird Lake Trilogy – so I really must be a writer.
The first Lyrebird Lake book, THE MIDWIFE’S LITTLE MIRACLE, comes out in January and I can’t wait, but more on that next month.
But first the trip. We started in Honolulu to
shorten the flight and isn’t Honolulu the most beautiful place.
The best thing in Hawaii is everyone is friendly and helpful, smiling and enjoying life. Those toes are mine and the gorgeous beach babe is Alsion Roberts. <G>
It wouldn’t be the same without the orchids. Me, Trish Morey (Presents) and Alison Roberts (Medical Romance) all looking pretty pleased to be in Honolulu.
Even the dolphins have fun. Swimming with dolphins was Alison’s dream and as you can tell by our smiles it was amazing.
San Francisco and the RWAmerica Conference was awesome, as I’d expected, the booksigning was huge and I slipped away to have a book signed by Nora Roberts – how cool is that – and the next day at the Harlequin Giveaway signing I think I signed more than a hundred books. It was such a thrill to talk to people who read Medical Romance and wanted more.
The other side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Then I met up with my dear friend, Medical Author, Jennifer Taylor who shared a memorable three days with me sightseeing around Paris. What a beautiful city.
We dined at the Eiffel Tower, sunset cruised on the Seine and even ventured to the Moulin Rouge after midnight. I can’t believe I’ve actually seen the original Mona Lisa and the Louvre. Fabulous, but a little tricky to get used to so many more people in one place. Not what I’m used to in my country town. <G>
In London I met up again with the dancing Alison Roberts (she’d been to Barcelona for Ceroc !!) and we caught the train down to the Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh Festival. Now that was amazing against the backdrop of a floodlit Edinburgh Castle. A highlight was a visit to the fairytale Argyle Castle with friends before leaving beautiful Scotland, a place I could return to time and again.
Then another quick stop in London for a ride on the London Eye in a rainstorm and tea at the Ritz. This has been a one off wish that I’d always said I’d do, so we did!
Then home to Australia for the RWAustralia conference in Melbourne on the Flying Kangaroo. Another fabulous conference weekend was enjoyed by all. I have to say “Hats Off” to the heroic conference organisers in Melbourne and in San Francisco. They do an enormous job and don’t get to enjoy the fruits of their labour like we do. Not fair!
So that’s it. Finished. 500 photos and lots of experiences that will pop up in my books forever. So watch out for that bagpipe playing, dolphin loving, Hawaiin hero in Paris because he’s in there somewhere.
Lots of love Fiona
PS To comment just press the Comment link at the top of the page.xx
Just in – a fab review from Coffee Time Romance for THE MIDWIFE’S BABY available on-line now
This story is one of desperation and the unconditional love we have for our children; a love that drives us to protect them no matter the cost. Ms. McArthur nails that feeling perfectly. Her characters are heartwarming and really endear themselves to the reader. I absolutely adore Max’s character. He is witty, fun, and a real hero to Georgia and Elsa. This is a lovely read, and well worth your time.
Lototy – 4 cups from Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
For the rest of the review see my book link to THE MIDWIFE’S BABY or www.coffeetimeromance.com
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Well here I am on the night before departure. I can’t believe the time has flown so fast and so busily, and I’ve been packing and sorting since dawn this morning and retrying all those clothes that I thought would work and not sure of now. I should not have eaten that chocolate.
The problem is the fact that I’m away from home for 29 nights. 29! As my husband says. You can’t pack that many clothes. But I’m gonna have fun.
Yep. Honolulu with Bronwyn Jameson (Desire), and Alison Roberts (Medical ), Trish Morey (Presents)and Kelly Hunter (Modern Extra). We should be met at the airport with a limo and champagne and a tour of the island before we check into our beachfront hotel. Or that’s what the brochure says. We’ll see. No housework anyway.
Dolphin swimming with Alison the next day, should be awesome, and then the day after we fly off to San Francisco and the Romance Writers of America Conference at the Marriot Hotel for five nights. Huge events, The Rita’s and some Aussies to cheer for. Have bought the black dress to die for (photos next blog). A cross between Cruella DeVille and a mermaid. I LOVE IT!
Then onto Paris where I’m meeting my dear friend Jennifer Taylor, who is great fun, and armed with her superior knowledge we are going to paint the town red. Well, see Moulon Rouge, dine at the Eiffel Tower and see the city of lights as we cruise the Seine. Jennifer has threatened to walk my shoes off so that should help the previous overindulgence.
Then London, where I’m having lunch with my editor in Richmond, a visit to my favourite aunt in Ipswich and a brief holiday at Southwold, and then I’m taking myself to Bath to read Georgette Heyer and soak up the history. I love Bath.
Then down to Scotland on the sleeper train with Alison Roberts again and we are off to the Edinburgh Tattoo and a couple of nights in Edinburgh, then Benmore to some lovely people and a place very dear to my late mother’s heart, and then back to London where Alison and I are going to have High Tea at the Ritz. This one was on my list. I booked a month ago and only just managed to secure a table. Will let you know how fab it was.
Then to Melbourne for the Romance Writers of Australia conference at the wonderful Langham. I’m presenting a workshop on
How To Love The Shrek Side Of Writing By Princess Fiona.
So 29 nights before I blog again as I can’t possibly fit my computer in with my clothes. Have slipped in a little Eeepc so I can write on the flights.
Next blog will be talking about the Lyrebird Lake Series which I’m so excited about.
And congratulations to Sara Ball from Texas who won a copy of my The Midwife’s Baby at the end of June. Hope you enjoy the book, Sara. New comp when I come back.
Keep well, keep happy and enjoy.
Love Fiona
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
I can’t believe it’s the middle of the year already.
I’ve just had my statements from Harlequin Mills and Boon and this time of year reminds me of books that I wrote and haven’t thought about for a while and all the people who do me the honour of buying my books and spend their time reading them.
One day I sat and added up all the copies of all of my books that had been sold, and for a lover of romance, a country midwife who loves her job, a mother and wife who loves to share that in her books, it comes to around 900,000 sold books. Not counting those borrowed from the library, or borrowed from a friend, and it’s a pretty humbling number. Of course that’s nowhere near the number out there for someone like Lillian Darcy or Marion Lennox
I guess that’s why you can’t just dash off a book. That’s why you have to live what those people in your books are living and feeling and that’s why you can’t take for granted the readers who share my journey with me. If every person who reads one of my books, smiles once, that’s 900,000 smiles. How cool is that!
Last month I showed the UK cover of THE MIDWIFE’S BABY which is out now in the UK and on-line in Australia and this month I’d to share the Australian cover with you because I think it’s beautiful too.
I’m so excited my North American version will be out for July on eharlequin.com. which makes it available at the RWAm Conference in San Francisco and RWAus in Melbourne.
I wanted to share another sunset which you can see at the top. I’m so into sunsets. I’m thinking of adding a page to the site because I have all these different sunsets from back door and they always make me feel so glad to be alive. I’d love to share them with you. Must talk to Penny, my webmistress <G> My mum was the same. She had albums of them. Must be hereditary.
We live above a swamp, sometimes a paddock for cows to graze, sometimes a lake that stretches to the hills. Last week I kayaked over the paddocks with a friend and it was truly magical. With these two photos below, the left photo is the back fence a way from the house and the right is the front of my kayak as I’m paddling through the woods.
This view will be so different next month when I fly out to San Francisco to the Romance Writers Of America conference in August. I can’t believe the trip has come around so soon.
I’ve finished Misty and Ben’s story, Ben was such a different hero for me, and now I’ve started the third book of the Lyrebird Lake series. Already Mia has knocked Angus for six. This book is going to be such fun. I love series books because it’s really wonderful to peek at how married life goes with previous heroes and heroines. I’m off to write my Blog for the medicalromance.blogspot.com, LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE, so I’ll catch you again before I jet out on my trip. More on that next month.
Don’t forget to enter my Competition for a copy of The Midwife’s Secret on the comps page. Good luck. It’s drawn on the 30th June
Warmest regards and happy reading
Fi
