Well, the last thing I won was probably a gymkhana when I was eight – so to be awarded the Romantic Novel of the Year 2008 for Pillow Talk was an awesome moment in my life. It was going to be a lovely day, whatever the outcome, as it was Georgia’s 5 th birthday and also publication day for the paperback edition of Pillow Talk. I was still in my slummy-mummy uniform of old jeans and jumper half an hour before the taxi arrived but as my lovely friend Jeanette always says: “you do scrub up well, love.”! It was such a thrill being short-listed in January – the first time it has happened for me. I shared the short-list with fellow authors Jojo Moyes, Adele Parks, Catrin Collier, Catherine King and Maureen Lee.

On February 4 th, we all turned up mid morning at the Royal Garden Hotel in London’s Kensington for non-stop interviews and photos. Then we had to somehow force lunch on top of the butterflies in our stomachs, and sit still during the speeches before the envelope was opened. I couldn’t believe it – even though my publishers and agent were jumping for joy around me. I just sat at the table and thought “she said WHAT?!” before my editor said, “go on – up you go”. Helen Lederer was wonderful, she put her arm around my shoulders and lead me this way and that, whispering ‘smile for that camera’ or ‘grin at them’ before saying ‘right, go over there and say something’. It was nerve-wracking, but I took a moment or two to compose myself (and compose what to say!) I thanked all the right people and grinned like an idiot. Most lovely of all was being able to dedicate the award to my late friend Liz and to donate the prize money to Cancer Research UK in her memory.

I’ll work backwards in this journal entry…

Christmas was fun, in London and Yorkshire as usual. Felix and Georgia were opening their stockings at 4.30 in the morning – but their Dad and I had purposefully used rolls and rolls of selotape so it took the kids a good long while to unwrap everything! It was great that the weather was chilly enough for a roaring fire (in front of which we all fell asleep). In Yorkshire a couple of days later, we were almost swept away by the rain – we wanted to go to the waterfall, High Force but the road was flooding before our very eyes and we managed to turn around just in time (we could see in the rear-view-mirror the car behind was stuck!).
New Years Eve was quite a low-key affair at our local – the rather fabulous Maid of Muswell pub.
One very sad piece of news was saying good bye to Martha our lovely, soppy old tortiseshell cat who had been a constant friend to me for over 16 years (as well as a very comfy pillow for Georgia)
November saw me turning 40, which still makes me giggle as I remember my Mum turning 30 and she was far more ‘grown-up’ at that age than I am at this!

Autumn was spent settling Georgia into Big School (which she now loves – and what an earnest little student she is) as well as trying to settle down to my new novel, trying to keep Nathan the horse fit and happy, trying to find after-school childcare, starting Tai Chi classes…the usual!
We fitted in a trip to Spain just before my birthday, which was lovely, having spent the summer on and off out there. The kids’ swimming is amazing – they’re pretty much self-taught and their confidence in the water is a joy to behold. Georgia still prioritizes showing off her collection of swimwear before she leaps in…

August saw the launch of Pillow Talk – on the roof terrace at Soho House. The Tanzanite Foundation had leant me the most beautiful jewellery to wear – and I splashed out on the most gorgeous Repetto shoes, which were half price in the Liberty sale (however, I doubt I could have resisted them full price anyway!) They are silver Mary-Janes and, even better, give me an extra 3 inches in height!

In July I did a week long Parelli Level 3 course (natural horsemanship) with the wonderful Jackie Chant who’d come over from New Zealand. It was incredibly challenging – there were tears from me and tantrums from Nathan – but all in all it was an incredible experience. Pat and Linda Parelli came over from the USA with their horses and I had an amazing time (along with everyone else) at the conference in August at the NEC Birmingham. Natural horsemanship hasn’t just enhanced my life – I feel (and I’ve been with horses since the age of 7) that only now am I inching closer to being the owner/rider my horse wants me to be. Bareback and bridleless – nothing compares!
I also took a research trip up to the North East as part of the new book is set in the seaside town of Saltburn. As many of you know, the new hero is a bridge builder – so I went to see the Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough. It was early one Sunday morning and who should happen to be there watering the hanging baskets? The Bridge Master. He invited me up his bridge…and invitation I really couldn’t turn down, despite being scared of heights. It was incredibly nerve-wracking walking over what was basically a grill 180 meters over the River Tees. A big thank you to Bridge Master Alan Murray! There’ll be a cameo in the new book, I can assure you!

At the mo’, I’m beavering away on this book which I hope (need) to have finished by early summer – keep your title suggestions coming in. The themes are ‘building bridges’, running away, facing your demons, a sense of place, and home not being where the heart is but how a house can provide a home for that heart.

I hope you enjoy the new pictures – and feel free to enter the competition – a signed copy of Pillow Talk is up for grabs. I’ll write again later in the Spring – but for the time being, all my focus will be channelled into the new novel. Keep in touch – your emails are wonderful to receive.

Tags | Parelli, Pillow Talk, Romantic Novel of the Year Award, Saltburn, Tanzanite