At Mills and Boon

At the end of last week I was in London for the Romantic Novelists' Association's summer party and the announcement of the winner of the Joan Hessayon award, which this year was won by Kate Field with her debut novel The Magic of Ramblings.

This time my trip to London held much more excitement than catching up with friends at the Summer Party as I visited Mills and Boon's offices.

Whilst there, I took part in a live Ask the Author session which can be watched again on the Mills and Boon Facebook page. If you have any other questions you'd like to ask, leave a comment for me there!

Sadly it was soon time to head back to Wales but there was just time to enjoy a walk in Hyde Park and make the most of the sunshine!

There seemed to be an abundance of ducks, geese and swans with their little families. Too good a photo opportunity to miss.

I'm now back at my desk working on the revisions of my latest book - and, of course, thinking about the next story!

Rachael
xx

Living the High Life - for a day or two!

Thursday last week was the Romantic Novelists' Association Summer Party in London and the annual award of the Joan Hessayon Award, for which several of my friends were nominated, but as usual I was too busy catching up with friends to take photographs.

I left home early on Thursday and after a quick walk along Aberystwyth sea front, caught the train to London. Quite a few hours later, I emerged from London's underground to the bustle of a city I love visiting.

Quite a contrast from the town I left behind, but there is so much to see and do in London that I never quite know where to start first.

My stories are full of glamour and London always gives me the opportunity of seeing a glamorous city in action. From chauffeur driven cars to the gorgeous shops, it's all very different from rural Wales. This time myself and a few friends had afternoon tea before the summer party -  yet more research!


On Friday morning I set off for a walk in St James's Park before heading back home on the train. At first it was peaceful and quiet and I enjoyed watching the pelican's on the lake.

Then everything changed as the Queen's Guards made their way to Queen's Guard Parade to the sound of their band.

All the excitement made me wish I was staying in London a little longer. Maybe next time!

Rachael
xx

Fun Filled Days in London

Last Thursday I travelled to London for the RNA's summer party.

What made it more exciting this year was meeting up with some of the members of The Write Romantics for afternoon tea in The Wolseley, where we had a celebrity spotting moment having noticed Annie Lennox!
Afterwards we headed to the party where Write Romantic, Lynne Pardoe was a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award. As usual there was a fabulous line up of newly published writers who'd come through the RNA's New Writer's Scheme. You can see all the official RNA Summer Party photos here.

The Award Line Up

On Friday, I woke up to a sunny rooftop view of London and the knowledge I had the whole day to

Kew Palace

myself. After a leisurely breakfast in Covent Garden I made my way to Kew Gardens, a place I've always wanted to visit. I walked so far that day, but really enjoyed it. I wandered around Kew Palace, but my favourite was Queen Charlotte's cottage, nestled in woodland.

Queen Charlotte's Cottage

After all that walking I settled down by the lake for a spot of reading and very quickly found I had a captive audience of ducks. They were somewhat disappointed I didn't have anything for them to eat and soon waddled off.

It was a great few days away and I'm looking forward to the RNA Conference in July. Another chance to catch up with friends.