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 

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

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

THE MIDWIFE’S BABY is out in the UK and available online at millsandboon.co.uk. NOW!

So many people have written to say they missed out on my previous book, Their Special Care Baby, I thought I’d better post the news. <G> Georgia and Max’s story comes out in NA and Aus in July and will be available from eharlequin.com and eharlequin.com.au respectively as well. I love this book and hope you do too. It’s been such a fun premise because my heroine, Georgia, the bridesmaid, has her baby on the hero’s wedding day. Typical of a midwife to think of it but babies will come at the most inopportune, or was that opportune, time? This is my Maytone book, dreamed up at my first ever writers retreat and is dedicated unreservedly to my inspiring writer friends.

I’m really excited THE MIDWIFE’S BABY will be out before the Romance Writers Of America conference in August so I will have copies at the Readers For Life Literacy Autographing event on July 30th at the San Francisco Marriott from 5.30 till 7.30 pm. This is such a worthwhile cause. I remember this huge event from New York in 2003 and apparently there are 450 authors at the signing this year. Wow! Don’t be surprised if I dash off for a few minutes every now and then to see my favourite authors <G> but maybe you will forgive me as I’ll be bringing chocolate TIM TAM’s and Caramelo Koalas to share.

I’m almost finished the second of the linked ‘Midwives as Mother’s’ books from Lyrebird Lake with Misty and Ben, and up to the best part now as they struggle to surmount the reasons they should never be together. Ben’s going to have to come up with something special to make up to her. I’m soon to start Mia’s story which is percolating nicely and have found her the most scrumptious damaged hero to save. Actually I can’t wait to round out the three books with Mia’s exploits but I know I will miss them all when the end comes.

To finish I’ve included a few pictures from life at home; we had two days at gorgeous Hat Head during the school holidays with the grandgirls and my boys; been to Bathurst for Rohan’s graduation from Uni, and Ian and I have driven over the mountains to the country music capital of Tamworth to catch up with Rory for my Mother’s Day pancakes.

This weekend I’m off to Advanced Life Support Obstetrics in Coffs Harbour to catch up with old friends and meet new ones as doctors and midwives discuss the optimum responses to those moments in medicine we need to be ready for. That’s all for now, keep well, keep happy and don’t forget to enter my new competition.

warmest regards

Fiona

Finally. It may have taken me a while to load the cover but I think it’s worth waiting for. What do you think?

I had such fun writing this book. The Midwife’s Baby is my Maytone book, conceived at my first ever writer’s retreat, and I’ve dedicated it to the Maytone Girls, friends indeed, who inspire me. I really hope you enjoy it too!

The blurb says it all…

“Eight months pregnant and a bridesmaid, isn’t midwife Georgia Winton’s ideal situation - and it’s just got worse! When her contractions begin during the ceremony, the only person who can save her and her baby is the groom - gorgeous and dedicated consultant Max Beresford. Together they save the life of little baby Elsa, and neither could be more thrilled. What will Max do now?”

See the books page for the rest and the except.
As I said - it was fun.

I’ve had a busy month preparing for two midwifery trips away to lovely Grafton, famous for the beautiful Jacaranda trees that line the streets in purple flowers in October and November. The B&B we stayed at was absolutely gorgeous and right on the river but the people we met were also fascinating. I love conferences.

But I am writing as well. I’m having a wonderful time with the second book in the Lyrebird Lake Series. Montana’s book comes out in January and now Misty has to show Ben that there is a whole world of women having babies without “an obstetrician” anywhere in sight. More fun! It’s amazing how life provides new learning opportunities that snuggle into my books magically.

Don’t forget to enter the competition to win a copy of The Midwife’s Baby.
Just a note to congratulate Lynne Welch of Ohio, who said she had a lovely start to her Monday when she found out she’d won a copy of Their Special Care Baby. I really hope you enjoy the book, Lynne.

I’ve had some lovely feedback from readers of Their Special Care Baby, especially from those who have experienced a prem baby of their own. Thank you again for that because your comments mean a lot.

warmest regards

Fiona.

The first leaves have turned on the Liquid Amber tree outside my bedroom window and my next book has arrived at my door.

I never cease to be thrilled to hold a new book baby in my hand. THE MIDWIFE’S BABY hardcover is here, and I can’t wait to see the new paperbacks when they arrive. THE MIDWIFE’S BABY comes out in the UK in June and North America in July. That will be just in time for the Romance Writers of America conference in San Franscisco early August which I’m so excited about attending.

I’ll have to keep you in suspense showing off my new cover, as my scanner is AWOL at the moment, and instead I’ll show you a photo of this midwife’s baby. The photos are of me at work, and a gorgeous baby I was fortunate enough to meet on her birthday. Being a midwife is wonderfully complimented by being a writer and I’m so lucky to be able to do two jobs I love.

Please don’t forget to enter the competition to win a copy of Their Special Care Baby on the comps page as it ends in a few days.

Happy Autumn to all those on my side of the world and happy Spring on the other. I hear it’s snowing in London and I went for a swim yesterday. It’s a wonderful world.
warmest regards

Fiona

It is difficult to believe the year is moving towards winter with the weather as beautiful as it is.

Here is a photo of Rory giving the fish a kiss, before he let it go, out on the beach near Smokey Cape Lighthouse. We took the 4×4 out for a run on the sand and that background is in the opening scene from my new book. Nobody is going to kiss a fish though. But then again, maybe they could!

The ocean is wonderful to swim in and the wallabies

 are out under the trees at Arakoon.

I’m off for a few days writing and will say hello next weekend. Don’t forget to enter my competition to be drawn at the end of this month. Have a great week

warmest regards

Fiona

This morning after my walk the sun came out and a beautiful rainbow stretched across the paddock. I thought I’d share it with you. I knew it was going to be a wonderful day.

Valentine’s Day’s been an gone but I’ll leave Simone here for a while yet. Go, Nana.

What better reason to celebrate than the fact that love makes the world go around.

So this little Valentine Angel is Simone, our granddaughter, born thirteen weeks premature and the namesake in my latest book THEIR SPECIAL CARE BABY. While I’m very happy to see the SOLD OUT on eharlequin.com, I hope those who would like a copy can find one.

This moment of unusual interest makes it doubly lucky that this book is available at Waldenbooks and Walmart in NAas well as Direct sales for this month on a Medical Romance TM promotion.

Whew! Still available at harlequin.com.au and millsandboon.co.uk and amazon.com

I wish you all a happy and romantic 2008

warmest regards

Fiona

PS If you’d like to say hello use my contact form or make a comment on any book or update. I’d love to hear from you.

Hi there and I am so happy to be here. Welcome to my new web page. It’s wonderful to have a fresh face on my site for a fresh year.Please bear with me while my poor webmistress educates me on Blogging and uploading pictures. I’m so looking forward to this.

It’s great to be back with readers and writers of medical romance and finally I have a new book on the shelves - THEIR SPECIAL CARE BABY. Keep an eye out for it on your department store shelf or order it online at eHarlequin.com.au. It’s even available in Waldenbooks in North America, which is a first as usually my medical Romances are only available Direct subscription or online at eharlequin or amazon.com in the US.

The last eighteen months have been a time of great change for me with my mum passing away from breast cancer and the end of the special time we had together. I consider myself so fortunate to have been able to share her last months thanks to my wonderful husband taking on the rest of the family. He has certainly inspired me to adore my heroes in my books even more.

With my youngest son, Rory, away at boarding school suddenly I have an empty nest and time on my hands to not only write but catch up and finally read all those fabulous books I have on my To Be Read pile. (See Rory’s picture when he played cricket for PSSA NSW.)

On my Valentine’s page you’ll see my Granddaughter Simone’s picture. She’s the inspiration for my latest book out.  THEIR SPECIAL CARE BABY (out now)

Speaking of books, I have to mention SIZZLE, SEDUCE AND SIMMER. An anthology of Australian/New Zealand authors filled with short stories and recipes. I’m no cook but Rory adores the Aggie’s Jelly recipe. I LOVE this book. If you get a chance, click on the link or pick one up from the Mira shelf in your department store, and have a wonderful time reading snippets from the friendship quilt of marvelously diverse romance authors from downunder.

As 2008 thunders along I already know it is going to be a big year. Romance Writers of America Conference in San Francisco in July and I’m hoping to meet as many readers and writers of romance as possible. I had such a wonderful time in New York, is it five years ago, that I know San Francisco is going to be amazing. Then Romance Writers of Australia Conference in Melbourne in August, a fabulous conference every year and I haven’t missed one yet.

So look out for my new books that are finally back on the shelves. MY SPECIAL CARE BABY out now. THE MIDWIFE’S BABY due out in June 08 and my new trilogy set in the Lyrebird Lake Midwifery Centre with Montana, Misty and Mia with THE MIDWIFE’S LITTLE MIRACLE, the first book available late 2008.

Warmest regards and happy reading
2008 is going to be amazing.

a re-energised
Fiona

I’m really excited about THEIR SPECIAL CARE BABY which came out in January UK and February in North America and Australia, as part of the Top Notch Docs series. Dedicated to my mum, it’s wonderful to have a book published as part of the Mills and Boons Centenary Celebrations.

This story is also special to me because you may remember my own granddaughter, Simone, now a bouncing two year-old, was born thirteen weeks premature. This is the book I needed to write after her wonderful journey.

Stewart is the caring paediatrician and Amanda is the woman who comes through everything stronger and more determined to do the right thing by her baby. Their story was a joy to write and I hope you love it as much as I do.

Highlights in Writing

That touch of my first REAL book baby, DELIVERING LOVE, was the ultimate highlight and after my husband and family, I had to share it with my friends and workmates, the midwives at Kempsey Hospital.

Being a midwife is such a huge part of who I am and what I write. The network of friendship and support over the years from the wonderful midwives and staff at Kempsey Hospital, and in fact so many people in my country town that have offered support for my success as a writer, have all made my writing journey very special.

One of my very lovely writing friends, Carol Marinelli, began the now annual Pink Breakfast held every year at The Romance Writers Of Australia Conference. The conferences are held either in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.  I get to don my ‘Well-Women’s Nurse’ hat and encourage women and men to be breast savvy and be aware of changes in their breasts. This event is such a womanfuzzy (thanks, Ally) morning, if you get a chance then do come along because it’s a highlight of everyone’s conference.

Having lost my own wonderful mother to breast cancer at the end of 2006, this disease affects so many familes, any help for the cause is dear to my heart. Carol does an awesome job and last year the Pink Breakfast  raised $5440. Woohoo, Carol. Here’s a photo of Carol and another of our lovely Medical author’s, Alison Roberts, still setting up for the Pink Breakfast.

Being a part of the Harlequin Mills and Boon family of authors means fun times in fab places. This photo is mum and I at the Harlequin 25th Birthday Celebrations in Sydney in 2005. 

Other fab times include a night out at the Ritz after the 2003 RWAmerica Conference in New York. If I never go again I’ll be able to say I danced in black velvet, at the Ritz, to the sound of a six piece band playing New York, New York. How cool is that. The walk home afterwards along glam shop windows with a band of happy Australian authors, hotdog vendors on the street corner, steam coming out of the grates in the middle of the road like a scene out of ghostbusters. All in all an amazing highlight I’ll never forget.

On the way home from that trip I detoured to the UK to see my editor in London. Being an Aussie we all know that England to Scotland isn’t a big drive so scooted down to Edinburgh to visit rels. I even met a cousin with an Ultralight and who could resist a little flight over the Scottish countryside in a bicycle with wings. This photo is my head squashed into the helmet. I must admit it took a while for my fingers to loosen enough from the bar in front of me to take this photo at the end of my arm. How cool is the view in the distance, though.

The Surgeon’s Special Gift, was an exciting publication event to me not only because it was the book that made my round dozen but my breakout ‘kidney’ book, a brief but exciting journey away from midwifery, where I learnt so much about kidney disease, end-stage renal failure and transplants.

It all started at the Harlequin Valentine’s Ball in 2005 year where I met Colleen Gilbey, a wonderful woman who donated her kidney to her brother and inspired me to write this book. During my research I came face to face with the hardships experienced by people of all ages and walks of life with kidney failure and other diseases and discovered how organ donation can so dramatically change their lives. ‘You can’t take your organs to heaven’ finally made sense to me and I hope my book can help others to understand how much a signature on a driver’s license can change so many people’s lives.

To my delight, from each copy of The Surgeon’s Special Gift sold in Australia, $1 was donated by Harlequin to Kidney Health Australia as well as an easy donation slip made available in the back of the book. This was incredibly generous of Harlequin and such a wonderful bonus for Kidney Health Australia. I am very proud to be associated with such a worthwhile cause.

I’ve lived my dream and driven a red convertible Mustang in the desert outside Las Vegas, had the most incredible time sightseeing in New York, sailed on the Thames in London, and explored Edinburgh’s glorious castles and grand houses as well as venturing under the Royal Mile in a buried street to hear about the years of the plague.But the Romance Writers of America conference in New York was the most amazing.

Thousands of women, the glorious RITAs, fabulous speakers and best of all, meeting loads of readers, authors, editors and agents as we all shared our love of the genre.

Have to admit to feeling a little weary when I was welcomed back into the arms of my family bit it only lasted a day. Viva la travel and I can’t wait to pour some of my adventures into my books.