Writers Guidlines

As some of you may be aware, writing for Harlequin Presents/Mills and Boon Modern was something I was actively writing towards for at least eight years before I got that magic call and became one of their authors.

The dream to be a published romance author goes back much further than that. As a teenager I would spend most Saturdays in my local library getting my latest fix of Mills and Boon. The only books at home were men’s thrillers, so borrowing my mum’s or grandmother’s romance books wasn’t an option, so the library became my favourite place and I would go home with my borrowed treasures only to return a few weeks later for more!

During June and July, some libraries across the UK are hosting Fall in Love at your Library with Mills and Boon. #LoveAtTheLibrary  Because that is exactly what I did as a teenager, I will be visiting one of the participating libraries in Wales. On 25^th July I will be in Brecon library, so if you are in the area, do come along and join in the fun.

Just to prove my love affair with Mills and Boon and my desire to write for them goes back a very long way, here’s a photo of something I stumbled upon over the weekend when I was having a bit of a clear out. It’s the writers’ guidelines I requested around twenty five years ago.

There are details for writing for the historical line, then Masquerade, the line I was at that time wanting to write for and a tape recording of what they were looking for. The fact that I've had these for so long is quite scary!

What treasures or memories have you unearthed during a clear out?

Rachael

xx

  

My Seven Day Nature Challenge

I was recently nominated on Facebook to take part in a seven day nature challenge where I had to post a nature photo - past or present, each day. So I thought I'd share them here.

Day One was blooms in my garden on a lovely sunny morning.

Day Two was the lane along which Poppy and I walk each morning and afternoon, but the morning photo was so very different from the one I took in the afternoon I just had to share them both.

Day three was a photo of a Chaffinch I took last summer.

Day Four was a photo of my favourite flower. I always treat myself to Tulips when I can.

Day Five was again taken on a morning walk.

Day Six was taken in the National Trust garden of Llanerchaeron.

Day Seven was of my chickens enjoying the long grass of summer.

I hope you've enjoyed my photographs.

Rachael

xx

Inspiration - its all around us

It's been a busy week on the farm, with silage being harvested in preparation for winter and this means lots of workers to feed and time spent away from my writing desk.

I like to write every day, even if it's only a few hundred words, but sometimes even that isn't possible and I usually find it can be difficult to get back into the rhythm of writing. Procrastination, or faffing as I prefer to call it, usually strikes and as much as I want to get back into my current work in progress it sometimes doesn't happen. The last few days have been like that, so armed with a magazine I decided to give myself a bit of time out over a coffee and almond croissant in my local coffee shop.

As always, I was drawn by the cover and indulged in the lovely photographs of Eva Longoria's and Pepe Baston's wedding. In the article it stated they'd married in their home because they wanted something intimate and private. 

Instantly my mind began working. In the book I'm currently writing, my hero Antonio and his bride-to-be Sadie also want a small and private wedding. From this similarity, ideas began to form in my mind but Antonio's apartment in Rome might not be suitable for their wedding, but being a billionaire, he could buy a beautiful villa that would be perfect!

So now that I've had my little light bulb moment, I can get back to finishing Antonio and Sadie's story. Next time you are feeling a little distracted from what you need or want to do, give yourself some time out. Even the smallest amount of time can help.

Rachael

xx