tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50155847361125733782024-03-05T09:13:30.573+00:00Rachael Thomas - Romance WriterRachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-76174829831287777372021-01-29T09:00:00.010+00:002021-01-29T09:00:02.420+00:00A New Chapter<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">In 2020 I began
a new chapter in my writing career and today I’m excited to say, it’s
publication Day!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8qxKuFaQ_YT7GVwUL90F-GkJztsIGKEZxYxf821SgCbgCBjoRi_lF7YrXlgBXNHT39pGysxA4jqsohXQXyS_dzRAKAoZ1W9R0MVFuBJKz1FMp9d9VJ4mCh36ihalxsHz7OqFWcLLijc/s940/Out+Now-TGOMD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8qxKuFaQ_YT7GVwUL90F-GkJztsIGKEZxYxf821SgCbgCBjoRi_lF7YrXlgBXNHT39pGysxA4jqsohXQXyS_dzRAKAoZ1W9R0MVFuBJKz1FMp9d9VJ4mCh36ihalxsHz7OqFWcLLijc/w400-h335/Out+Now-TGOMD.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">After a year of
being on a massive learning curve, my first self-published title, under the
banner of <a href="https://fabrianbooks.com/" target="_blank">Fabrian Books</a>, is out today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">The Greek’s Outrageous
Marriage Deal is the story of Kostas and Athena’s journey back to one another
and wedded bliss and is available now on <a href="http://smarturl.it/greeksmarriagedeal" target="_blank">Amazon</a> in ebook or print. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">A deal to reclaim his wife…</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">
Becomes so much more!</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When Athena returns to their marital home in
Crete, billionaire Kostas Kyriakou seizes the opportunity to reunite with his
wife and have an heir for the empire he has created from nothing. It’s the only
deal he’s prepared to consider. After all, heady passion and hot desire had
never been lacking in their short marriage.</span></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Athena has promised her father, who is again
battling illness, that she will return to Athens with her estranged husband.
Seeing the man she’d loved so completely, and hearing his outrageous demands to
have his child, forces her to face all the pain and heartache of losing her
mother as a young girl.</span></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white;">Time together, acting out a marriage
reunited, brings back all that explosive passion, but can they truly share who
they are this time and mend the marriage for real?</span></i></span></p><p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3pUhqo8ticQDkP4U5rEZ7gxqMPRnR67sWadQ-mEIYkFHtusftPQFv5NUf_DGBUsTImhwnUDfO7Io1dV8sFEysNiiqRy4TOqsAd3_Gi8LyQgg3gohyjy9h2J-29SAimlWDqcLRRdZON8/s1500/1611777372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3pUhqo8ticQDkP4U5rEZ7gxqMPRnR67sWadQ-mEIYkFHtusftPQFv5NUf_DGBUsTImhwnUDfO7Io1dV8sFEysNiiqRy4TOqsAd3_Gi8LyQgg3gohyjy9h2J-29SAimlWDqcLRRdZON8/s320/1611777372.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">I’ve learned so
much, not least about myself, on the journey to this achievement. I’m happy to
say my next book, due out in the summer, is with my editor and I’ve started
work on a Christmas romance. So do follow me on Amazon or check out my <a href="https://rachaelthomas.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank">website</a> to keep up with my progress.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUa02OAXVAQDsMmnAxitb75_aHVuFwaQaErujWG085uj6m_igiqQgE6gwA1kQhIL7gUtN-fklttYJP9YihNNAQpJGzFy9Xirjf2h9pEe0hyphenhyphenhUmNtIF9igu5VVX5ClN3SVcuw2vsBAdc0/s1920/thank-you-362164_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUa02OAXVAQDsMmnAxitb75_aHVuFwaQaErujWG085uj6m_igiqQgE6gwA1kQhIL7gUtN-fklttYJP9YihNNAQpJGzFy9Xirjf2h9pEe0hyphenhyphenhUmNtIF9igu5VVX5ClN3SVcuw2vsBAdc0/s320/thank-you-362164_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">I’d also like to
thank my fellow members of <a href="https://thewriteromantics.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Write Romantic’s</a> and everyone who’s been there
for me as I’ve transitioned from traditionally published to self-published.<o:p></o:p></p><br /></div><p></p>Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597332.641282833569328 -38.592223 78.114819166430664 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-80921829227830076952020-09-16T12:05:00.003+01:002020-09-16T12:05:53.087+01:00Tools For Success<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJWFjgTO8G4QC1cYXVKDeTaqKfgev8i3d4dm2CIYiiuAbCvx0v2Z-orF93sbiUTbGUjhbyD9u7TmTQG5_vY3m3Jh7vdxKgsFAn8Iqi4VZALoHl9Fl3IR7JUqphLKZx-EDHHBznfxhAPc/s1754/Rachael%2527s+Writing+Tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJWFjgTO8G4QC1cYXVKDeTaqKfgev8i3d4dm2CIYiiuAbCvx0v2Z-orF93sbiUTbGUjhbyD9u7TmTQG5_vY3m3Jh7vdxKgsFAn8Iqi4VZALoHl9Fl3IR7JUqphLKZx-EDHHBznfxhAPc/s320/Rachael%2527s+Writing+Tips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0cm;">Writing requires discipline,
commitment, energy, and above all, self-belief. So how do you manage to keep all
those elements positive, which in turn will keep you moving forward with your
writing?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Connect</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Keep connected
with other authors, who are, after all, like-minded people who understand! It
could be a simple as a chat on social media or as in-depth as brainstorming
plot ideas. Just connecting with other authors will fuel your positivity and belief
in yourself as a writer. As well as your enthusiasm. The act of writing entails
hours sat alone, in front of your screen or notebook, and being alone when you
hit a sticky patch in your writing can be soul-destroying.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Go Out</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">This might seem
strange but get away from your screen or notebook. Take time to allow thoughts
and ideas to percolate. After all, you don’t have to be putting words on a page to
be writing. Thinking time is as important as writing time. If I get stuck, I
find a good walk with the dog can unblock things. When that happens, dictate
into your phone so you can retrieve that breakthrough when you get back to your
desk.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhgHhJcKQNcATJNT5iOBOBuzqzVgX9elmQfPaR7xk2HW5dSKOv9oOSN84E1sv1eTZPJFPKA3bdAp-xuMfxyg95b3tBRHTM61YD9UjVA1xccEvSJ0L9ezud9BaJkEHLnKDH56UYwqE8I0/s2048/IMG_1973%2528Edited%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhgHhJcKQNcATJNT5iOBOBuzqzVgX9elmQfPaR7xk2HW5dSKOv9oOSN84E1sv1eTZPJFPKA3bdAp-xuMfxyg95b3tBRHTM61YD9UjVA1xccEvSJ0L9ezud9BaJkEHLnKDH56UYwqE8I0/s320/IMG_1973%2528Edited%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Create Goals</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Set achievable
goals that fit in with your everyday life and commitments. If you can only
manage one afternoon a week to work on your novel because of your work and
family commitments that is perfectly fine. As is daily writing. Whatever you set
as your goal make sure it is achievable otherwise you are setting yourself up
for failure and misery. It’s so much more satisfying to surpass a goal!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">I set myself a
weekly goal and then break it down into smaller daily ones. Sometimes I don’t
meet the daily one, but an achievable weekly goal helps to lessen the impact on
my confidence of a day when the words didn’t come or couldn’t be written because
daily life got in the way. And that means I usually hit my weekly goal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Get Help</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Work with a professional
to get the most out of you, the writer. Don’t wait until you get that agent or
publishing deal. You and your writing deserve the best right
now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">During lockdown,
I worked with <a href="https://www.joannemgrant.com/" target="_blank">Joanne Grant Editorial Coach</a>, who has a fantastic new Facebook group
Motivation for Writers! to join as well as a weekly newsletter to subscribe to. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Over the last few years, life has hurled quite
a few curve balls my way, and my confidence and belief in myself as a writer was
at an all-time low. Working with Joanne got me back on track and was the best
investment in myself as a writer I have ever made and I’m writing in a more
productive and positive way than I have done for some time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Read and Watch</span><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrcCoo5iGjqUUd3lRdRXzY_LmCgOs_jMxEKSXnnLayv_iKyFSf8Sip75cQdWB_j6hD0_8N4NggWhU1rZE_K5EJWaU2RoRQ1tf3e0bRsKmyB3lm1W88qtuUnyKLEuUh8onKnVSAeVElaQ/s1920/girl-1423501_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrcCoo5iGjqUUd3lRdRXzY_LmCgOs_jMxEKSXnnLayv_iKyFSf8Sip75cQdWB_j6hD0_8N4NggWhU1rZE_K5EJWaU2RoRQ1tf3e0bRsKmyB3lm1W88qtuUnyKLEuUh8onKnVSAeVElaQ/s320/girl-1423501_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image - <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/pezibear-526143/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1423501" target="_blank">Pezibear</a> Pixabay</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Reading is as important
as writing. If you aren’t comfortable with reading the genre you are currently
working on, then try something new. It’s a great way of discovering authors new
to you as well as sparking your imagination.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">I also find
movies or a binge-watch of a series a great go-to when I need to stir up my
creative juices too. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Happy Writing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Rachael<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">xx</span><o:p></o:p></p>Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-54931951651982557972020-09-04T13:14:00.000+01:002020-09-04T13:14:16.655+01:00Beyond the Happy Ever After<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Today my husband
and I are celebrating twenty-seven years of marriage. As confetti was thrown at
me after our wedding in the local chapel, it was definitely my happy ever after moment. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2bhHb9_oQA58t6ToHhmyUpCO-Z5XvnwILufKqafBQCJAYDfr0Q-4OjQIycUZfEqHTXmiUWxzvUGUfhazGLWO1DI8_wUlkazxxnM185iFBFWjJ4gOggxbeaaf6AwrdFJCWA_T67PV6U0/s640/IMG_2263.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2bhHb9_oQA58t6ToHhmyUpCO-Z5XvnwILufKqafBQCJAYDfr0Q-4OjQIycUZfEqHTXmiUWxzvUGUfhazGLWO1DI8_wUlkazxxnM185iFBFWjJ4gOggxbeaaf6AwrdFJCWA_T67PV6U0/s320/IMG_2263.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">But the story continues...</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Which got me thinking, how would
life be for the characters of my stories twenty-seven years on?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">So, I delved
back into one of my favourite books to write, Di Marcello’s Secret Son.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><i>Italian tycoon Antonio Di Marcello relishes a challenge –
but running into Sadie Parker while working undercover as a mechanic rocks him
to the core. Four years after their fevered fling stripped away his iron guard,
he’s confronted with the shocking consequences…<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;"><i>Sadie has given up hope in her desperate attempts to
contact Antonio. Now she has to face the day she’d both dreaded and longed for!
And Antonio’s claim over her and her son is hard to resist – especially as he’ll
use a sensual onslaught to get what he wants!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Twenty-seven
years later…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘You look as
beautiful as your mother did on our wedding day.’ Antonio held his emotions in
check as he danced with his daughter, now married to Dante Carvella. She might
be twenty-six, but to him, Mia was still his baby girl.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">She laughed, her
eyes sparkling with happiness. At least her road to true love hadn’t been blighted
by all he and Sadie had gone through. It still broke his heart to think of missing
those first four years of Leo’s life – and that time with the Sadie. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘And if Dante and
I are as happy and in love as you and Mamma, then that will be a dream come
true.’ Mia said, blushing prettily. ‘You two are my inspiration.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Antonio glanced around
the magnificence of the ballroom as he danced, searching for the woman who’d captured
his heart from the very first moment he’d set eyes on her. It was an honour to
be dancing with his daughter in all her bridal finery, but it was Sadie he
wanted in his arms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Mind if I cut
in.’ Leo’s deep voice halted their practiced steps. ‘I want a dance with my
little sister on her wedding day.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Antonio stepped
back and allowed his son to whisk Mia away. If someone had told him the day he’d
gone undercover as part of Sebastien’s challenge that it would change his life
forever – and in the most unexpected way – he’d never have believed them. But
Sebastien was a wise man. He’d known exactly what he’d been doing the night he’d
laid down the gauntlet to Stavros, Alejandro, and himself to go two weeks without
their wealth and family names to support them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">For Antonio,
accepting that challenge had been a turning point. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">It had changed
him forever. Brought Sadie back into his life as well as love and happiness.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Penny for your
thoughts,’ Sadie’s soft voice broke through the memories.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘I was just
remembering those two weeks when I worked at Centro Auto Barzetti. Who’d have
thought being a mechanic would change my life forever.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Sadie blushed,
looking as gorgeous as she’d done that weekend they’d first met. The weekend
that had resulted in their son, Leo. Antonio pushed back the anger that his
mother’s pride and need to keep up appearances within Milan’s society had
prevented him from ever being told about his son. <i>Dio</i>, he’d found out by
chance. Because of the challenge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘But you don’t
regret it, do you.’ Sadie’s voice was a purr as she moved into his embrace,
that sexy and very suggestive look twinkling in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Never.’ He
brushed his lips lightly over hers. ‘Twenty-seven years of marriage and two
children later, there is only one thing I’d change. That it was four years
longer.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Don’t go there
Antonio,’ Sadie said as they began to dance. ‘We agreed never to look back. Especially
as we are still enjoying our happy ever after.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Always the wise
one,’ he teased her with a smile. ‘What would I do without you.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Probably still
be doing wild and reckless things with Alejandro and Stavros.’ Sadie laughed
as he guided them towards the open doors and onto the terrace. ‘What are you doing?’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">He moved them
into the shadows of the evening and drew her tight against him. ‘What I’ve done
for the last twenty-seven years.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Oh?’ The husky question stirred up his senses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">‘Doing wild and
reckless things with the woman I love.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">She wrapped her arms
around his neck, lifting herself onto her tiptoes and reaching up to whisper
against his lips. ‘Then I don’t want it ever to stop.'</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;">Antonio brushed a stray lock of hair from Sadie's face, love overflowing inside him. 'I'm never going to stop enjoying our happy ever after. <i>Ti amo, mia bella. Ti amo.</i>'</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8FelEDNZ3_hQ-ybIE4Ke-lHW-clB9FeaGAq9TvbIg9ThFFy9RrNKpS7OOHUmpWmYzbykYFyWdnJUEoIe10f6h0BTcOSI3g0H2lEA8iOKLldeOiN3j6rQmbmCZUC2XgVJCcslUhTB6Bw/s500/Di+Marcello%2527s+Secret+Son-UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8FelEDNZ3_hQ-ybIE4Ke-lHW-clB9FeaGAq9TvbIg9ThFFy9RrNKpS7OOHUmpWmYzbykYFyWdnJUEoIe10f6h0BTcOSI3g0H2lEA8iOKLldeOiN3j6rQmbmCZUC2XgVJCcslUhTB6Bw/s320/Di+Marcello%2527s+Secret+Son-UK.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><b>Di Marcello's Secret Son</b>, the first in the Secret Billionaires trilogy with Dani Collins and Jennifer Hayward, is available on Amazon right now for 99p. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcellos-Secret-Mills-Modern-Billionaires-ebook/dp/B01N3KP7FV/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2J1GK5WWVX18F&dchild=1&keywords=rachael+thomas&qid=1599149604&sprefix=rachael+thomas%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Get your copy here!</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p>Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-42151245491842810952020-02-05T11:48:00.000+00:002020-02-05T11:48:20.348+00:00Her Exotic Prince<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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About thirteen
years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Liz Fielding when she attended an
afternoon at my local writing group to talk about writing romance. I’d known
since I was nine years old, that I wanted to write and the discovery of Mills
and Boon in my local library when I was a teenager made sure that whatever I
wrote would be romance. So, I hung on every word Liz said, desperate to find the
key to writing a romance novel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Inspired and determined
to write more than yet another false beginning, I set myself a deadline a year
ahead and started to write. That book has not been published, nor will it ever
be! But it does form part of the long road and the many words written, as for
many years, I chased the dream of becoming published.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, seeing my
name on the cover of a book, with Liz Fielding is a bit special. This three in
one book, Her Exotic Prince, also featuring a great read by Tessa Radley, will
be available on 6<sup>th</sup> February and you can order your copy <a href="http://smarturl.it/exoticprince">here</a>. It <span style="text-indent: 0cm;">features one of my favourite books to write, The Sheikh’s Last Mistress.</span></div>
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If you are
wanting to write romance, then Liz’s <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fieldings-Little-Book-Writing-Romance-ebook/dp/B006YQCE5I/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=little+book+of+romance+liz+fielding&qid=1580903041&sr=8-1">Little Book of Romance</a> is full of great
advice and my copy is always on my desk!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi9kPzKHPZ4MHazt_NuJz9YKT8FXAhiu18js_ftuoEPLr6PnQ6xrVfWfYkZTdmibtncAjb8RcPZ95rVIxVfv59EXjQ2zz83FS9OxLwbYJbdAXAS2AU4K_RGpx030jzrwIRgexC9PovQw/s1600/IMG_1663%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi9kPzKHPZ4MHazt_NuJz9YKT8FXAhiu18js_ftuoEPLr6PnQ6xrVfWfYkZTdmibtncAjb8RcPZ95rVIxVfv59EXjQ2zz83FS9OxLwbYJbdAXAS2AU4K_RGpx030jzrwIRgexC9PovQw/s320/IMG_1663%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy reading and
writing!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Rachael<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Xx</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-10173454291979858602019-12-31T11:23:00.001+00:002019-12-31T12:00:23.625+00:00From One Decade to AnotherIt's another New Year's Eve and it is as much a time of reflection, as one of excitement and looking forward. Only this year, it's a chance to look back over a decade and welcome another. A whole new set of pages!<br />
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As 2009 clicked over to 2010, I was still dreaming of becoming a published author and had just embarked on a road of discovery that took me to wonderful places, like Tuscany, and brought me many friendships. In January 2014 my dream came true when I got 'the call' from Mills and Boon and later that year, my first book, A Deal Before the Altar, was in my hands and on the shelves!<br />
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I'm taking the opportunity now to remind myself of that dream as 2019 has been a challenging year on many fronts, which forced my creativity into hiding and gave me limited time to do the one thing I love doing - writing.<br />
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However, I am not prepared to let go of my dream. I love writing and still have many characters and their stories, either scribbled down in notebooks or racing through my mind, and my latest book, <a href="https://smarturl.it/shocking">A Shocking Proposal in Sicily</a>, is out in all formats in January 2020.<br />
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So, whatever your dreams are for the next decade, big or small, I wish you every happiness and success as you reach for them!<br />
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<span style="color: red;">COMPETITION!</span><br />
Leave a comment, sharing your dreams for the next decade, to be in with a chance to win copies of <i>A Shocking Proposal in Sicily</i> and tell me your preference for either the US or UK cover.<br />
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Closing Date: 5pm GMT Sunday 5th January 2020<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><i>Happy New Year</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><i>Rachael</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><i>xx</i></span><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-84181417429087581602019-01-30T13:04:00.000+00:002019-01-30T13:04:27.980+00:00From Rachael's Desk - Characters<br />
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<b>Creating Characters You and Your Readers
Will Love</b><o:p></o:p><br />
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This post is later than I had anticipated
because I was buried deep in revisions on my latest book. Actually, I was buried deep
in rewrites because my characters didn’t leap off the page. The didn’t bring
their story to life. The reason why. I couldn’t envisage them as real people.
They weren’t alive in my mind, so how were they going to be anything other than
cardboard cut-outs or just silhouettes in your story?<o:p></o:p></div>
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This post is all about creating your
characters. Characters you love. So that your readers can love them too, go on
a journey with them and more importantly, believe in them, empathise with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>How to get to know your characters</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The best way I’ve found to do this,
is to ask them questions by completing an interview. You could even design your
own character sheets with all the questions you think you will need to ask and all
those you’d love to know the answer to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a method I returned to during the rewrite
and I discovered some astonishing things about my characters. These are the
sorts of questions you should be answering. Here's a photo of the many sheets I used for the rewrite.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b> Know the basics</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Find an image of
your character, something you can focus on as you write. Then fill in the
basics of what your character looks like. I find Pinterest really useful for
this, as well as good fun! This is from my board - complete with its working title - for the book I've just sent into my editor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You also need other
information, like birthday and star sign. Find out what their hobbies are what
music they love to listen to, what type of food they absolutely love or hate.
Do they have a pet? What is the most precious thing they own and why? Some very
leading questions there. A fabulous book from which to learn more about
creating a character questionnaire, among other things, is Kate Walker’s <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walkers-Point-Guide-Writing-Romance-ebook/dp/B07FCPVG6R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548850934&sr=8-1&keywords=kate+walker%27s+12+point+guide+to+writing+romance">12Point Guide to Writing Romance</a>. A constant on my desk!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> <b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt;"> </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Know your characters’ likes and dislikes</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Once you’ve got the
basics filled in, it’s time to delve deeper into your new character and find
out what makes them tick. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not
need to put in the story the fact that that your heroine is a country girl at
heart, but you will certainly know how she will react when faced with the buzz
of a big city and confident alpha male who is so unlike any man in her hometown.
Ask as many questions as you can, even if they seem incidental at the time.
Treat your characters as a new friend you want to find out more about.<o:p></o:p><br />
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It’s also important
to know how your character reacts to situations. What do they do if they are
stressed? What makes them laugh? How they deal with bad news? What makes them
angry and how they handle that? The list is endless!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;">Know their back story</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is what will
give your story emotional depth and is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing their back story in detail will create
characters that are true to themselves. Every character will come to the blank
page of a new book with a past that has unresolved issues and personal
conflicts to overcome. You as the writer need to know these from the beginning,
even if the reader doesn’t discover this until much later in the story.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Finally the most
important question you can ask your characters as they tell you what has
happened to them prior to your story starting is ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why?’</i> For instance if your hero lets you know he will never be able
to go to a certain part of the city, you want to know why not. What happened to
him? When? How does it affect him now? What would he do if a situation forced
him to do just that?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Know what they want in the story and why</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Your characters
must have inner conflicts to resolve and problems to deal with as they progress
through your story. At the start of the story you need to know what your
characters want and where they want or need to be both physically and
emotionally as the story ends. It may be that the hero wants one thing, when
really, deep down he wants something completely different and through the
course of the story and interaction with the heroine, he will discover what it
is he really wants – and needs.<o:p></o:p><br />
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It is vital to get
to know your characters even before you start writing chapter one, as you will
then have characters that are alive and living in your story from the very
first paragraph. This is the type of character you, the writer, can connect
with as well as the reader who will be transported into the world of your
story. It’s also great fun meeting new characters and part of the writing
process I’m definitely making sure I do this as I begin my new book!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy Writing</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">Rachael</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">xx</i></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Images from Pixabay</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-66920657770596903442018-12-04T10:47:00.002+00:002018-12-04T10:47:55.702+00:00From Rachael's Desk - After the First Draft<br />
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Welcome to my brand new monthly post <i>From Rachael's Desk</i>! This month it's all about what to do once you've written your first draft.</div>
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Congratulations! You’ve written a
book and added those magical words ‘the end’ and that achievement alone
deserves celebration. Whether you have just taken part in NaNoWriMo or have
been writing for many months, the fact that you have finished the first draft
is amazing. </div>
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So, go celebrate. Then come back – because even though you’ve
written ‘the end’ you’re not finished yet! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Before I became published, this
is something it took me a long time to accept. That, and the fact that first
drafts are not perfect. I would tie myself in knots, deleting words I’d typed
because they were not good enough instead of moving forward with the story. I was
convinced I was a rubbish writer because I couldn’t create the perfect
paragraph, let alone the perfect story, first time. My first drafts were a
garbled mess. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now I know better. I know and accept
that first drafts aren’t meant to brilliantly crafted pieces of writing. They
are simply the process of getting everything from within you, the writer, onto
the page. The first draft is merely an assembly of words with which you will
create your story later, during the editing and revising process ahead of
submission.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once you’ve accepted that a first
draft is not carved in stone, that the words within it can be changed, deleted,
added to or moved, it’s time to look at how to deal with that jumble of
ramblings which make up your first draft. Here are my tips for turning that
first draft into a submission ready piece of writing. All of them apply to
whatever genre you write and no matter how long or short.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The first thing you need to do is to step away
from the manuscript. Yes, that’s right. Step away. Walk away and don’t look at
it. I would suggest at least two weeks, more if you have the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why? Doing this gives you space from the story, from the
words that are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">drafted</i> on you page. It
will give you thinking time. When you return to your first draft your mind will
be refreshed and the story will appear either new to you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The time you have given yourself to create distance from
the jumble of words that poured on the page will also allow you to see those
glaring plot holes you happily skipped over in the first draft.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whatever you think of it now, good or bad, you must
remind yourself it’s still a first draft, or a dirty draft as it’s sometimes
called.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Once you’ve taken time away from your story, print
out the manuscript. This is something I find really useful as reading the story
on the computer screen is so very different to reading it on a printed page. It’s
amazing how you can read something on the screen, yet it appears completely
different when it’s on a piece of paper. For me it also allows anything from
silly spelling mistakes to massive continuity issues to show up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For best results ensure your printed copy is double
spaced so there is plenty of room for notes. It’s also a good idea to have a
note book for exploring things you will need to include in the story. If you
are anything like me, that note book will have to meet specific criteria! If
you have made notes whilst writing your first draft, like time lines, character
studies, gather these up. Arm yourself with coloured pens, sticky notes and
anything else which will help you pull together the threads within the first
draft. This is a time when my desk becomes strewn, even very messy, with
colourful sticky notes and pens! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Armed with your printed copy, start reading.
Read the full manuscript, jotting down any issues you stumble across either in
your notebook or in the margin of the manuscript. Once this is done you can go
back and read scene by scene, chapter by chapter, using your earlier notes as
reference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are some of the things you need to ask yourself.
Does each scene move the story forward? Do your characters achieve their goal?
Are there any glaring plot holes – major inconsistency in the story which is totally
out of place? Is it possible that you have not made the most of a scene or even
missed it out completely? Are there moments when you’ve told the story, now
shown it to the reader?<o:p></o:p></div>
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All of these are things to consider when you are reading
the manuscript and a notebook comes in very useful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->All those notes made, either on the manuscript
or in a notebook will now offer you all the prompts you need as you begin to
work on that manuscript. Take it a scene at a time. Ensure that scene counts
and above all, moves the story forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Do this stage as many times as you feel necessary.
Starting each time with a revised print out of the manuscript. There isn’t a
right or wrong number of times required to do this. It will depend on you and your story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Once you are happy you have made the necessary
revisions to the manuscript it’s time to read it again. For this stage I find
it useful to send the manuscript to my kindle, offering me a new reading
experience for the story. Whilst reading it I will check for smaller
inconsistencies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;">
Inconsistencies such as your character suddenly having a
change of eye colour. Or a minor character finding themselves with a new name.
They sound silly things, but they are so easy to do when you are in the throes
of creating your first draft!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;">
Also look again for spelling and grammar errors. They
really are the hardest things to find!<o:p></o:p></div>
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One final thing to watch for as you read the end of this
reading session, is that all minor threads are stitched up neatly. For
instance, the reader will want to know what happened to that minor character
which flitted into one of your scenes. You know, the one you had completely forgotten
about by the time you reached the end of your story!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Now it’s time to send your manuscript to your
critique partner or beta reader if you are lucky enough to have one. Collate
your reader’s notes so that you can make any final changes as you once more
revise the manuscript.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
By now, you will have a
well-polished story. A submission that is ready to go to land on an editor’s
desk. An editor’s job is to be that magical fresh pair of eyes who will help
you make your words into the very best story they can be – which means yet more
revisions! This isn’t bad at all. If you are striving for publication and get
any kind of feedback from an editor, it is like striking gold. And if you are
published, it’s the invaluable advice to ensure your readers will enjoy your
new book as much, or even more, than the last book.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
It’s also worth remembering that
there is not a right or wrong way to revise your first draft, just as there is
not a correct number of times to do it. Each writer is different and certain
techniques work for some and not for others. This is the way I approach turning
my first draft into a manuscript ready for submission, but I always love to
hear how other do it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
I’ll be back early in January with another
post <i>From Rachael’s Desk</i>, so if there is a writing craft you want advice on,
let me in the comments and I will schedule it for 2019.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rachael</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><b>xx</b></span></i></div>
<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-807566043604948462017-11-03T10:22:00.001+00:002017-11-03T10:22:14.398+00:00Walking The WallThis time two weeks ago I was walking - make that slipping and sliding down the Great Wall of China for the final time. And at the end of it we were all presented with a medal.<br />
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The whole week was amazing from start to finish. My fellow trekkers were brilliant and we had such fun getting to know one another as we took on the Great Wall. The trek was run by <a href="https://www.charitychallenge.com/?refid=QTMAw&sr=BP1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwp_DPBRCZARIsAGOZYBT6Rnyix0Qwr9ZNdN63tlzMteZC15H41pF2aqxmubrMoa3LaOnTVqgaAideEALw_wcB">Charity Challenge</a> and the both the UK team members and the local guides made the week, ensuring we were challenged but safe.<br />
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Here we all are - full of laughter on the first morning and that laughter continued all week!<br />
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We trekked along overgrown sections of the wall that had us battling to stay on our feet as we went down hill.<br />
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Climbed endless and very steep steps up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2c9z7dFjDF8i_7diYx_XsQV2ahsDBI3rM4l13BbXRt5UW5_7_8c684cjko4KJN5W0Is5qnLa06ktiZI7yWMNnNyYlkoW6pUKFFhGLZ1dB98qduAYwy-qE0a4LXNnHBKuGpYfGGrLdgY/s1600/38055563866_d1a781366a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2c9z7dFjDF8i_7diYx_XsQV2ahsDBI3rM4l13BbXRt5UW5_7_8c684cjko4KJN5W0Is5qnLa06ktiZI7yWMNnNyYlkoW6pUKFFhGLZ1dB98qduAYwy-qE0a4LXNnHBKuGpYfGGrLdgY/s320/38055563866_d1a781366a_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Negotiated tricky parts which tested anyone's fear of heights.<br />
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Took on the Stairway to Heaven and it's notoriously steep steps which was shrouded in mist - probably a good thing!<br />
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Enjoyed fantastic views.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9EDf0-KpXJjDnK3l9zKU-YXKWGKAXFskk16RwDim_vWE8jsL_OIa7WnMEfMsvR-xOZFVbXuyFIhpI2dhsT3RwK7DSMfFz664KWJOkQaorLulJN9xm_8u9q_4Hs01zmtcwx-xM6telvI/s1600/26332609389_f6032084ac_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="640" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9EDf0-KpXJjDnK3l9zKU-YXKWGKAXFskk16RwDim_vWE8jsL_OIa7WnMEfMsvR-xOZFVbXuyFIhpI2dhsT3RwK7DSMfFz664KWJOkQaorLulJN9xm_8u9q_4Hs01zmtcwx-xM6telvI/s320/26332609389_f6032084ac_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even being on the wall as the sun began to set.<br />
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But most important of all, as a group of twenty eight we raised over £52,000 for <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwp_DPBRCZARIsAGOZYBSrb-vQipJzhR4RMtH2Hc0rNUXWk-sJGMgwIalptpfGXmtTM5uSjZgaAlQyEALw_wcB">British Heart Foundation</a> and I made some fantastic new friends. If only we could do it all over again!<br />
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There's still time to support our efforts on my <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rachaelwalkingthewall">Just Giving</a> page.<br />
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Now I'm back to reality and at my desk working on revisions.<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Rachael</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">xx</span></i><br />
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<i>Thanks to British Heart Foundation's Flicker page of the trip and the use of the photos.</i><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-18941754404757399572017-10-13T18:15:00.000+01:002017-10-13T18:15:11.417+01:00Cover LoveOne of the fun things about being a Harlequin Mills and Boon author is all the translated copies of my books that are available and seeing the variations of the covers always makes me smile. Here are some to them.<br />
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These are my latest deliveries of author copies.<br />
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These Manga copies of A Deal Before the Altar are just fabulous!<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i>Rachael</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i>xx</i></span>Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-86882632260987720262017-08-30T10:36:00.000+01:002017-08-30T10:36:00.043+01:00Pen Y FanLast weekend, my daughter and I did something different. We headed for the <a href="http://www.breconbeacons.org/explore/things_to_do/walking/where_to_walk/longer_walks/penyfan_cribyn_cwmgwdi">Brecon Beacons National Park</a> to walk to the peak of Pen Y Fan, which at 886m is the highest peak in South Wales and Southern England.<br />
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We began the long climb up of our 8km walk and I couldn't resist stopping to take photographs - well that's my excuse!<br />
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The stone path stretches into the distance as we come to the brow of the first hill but there is still a long way to go.<br />
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A rock pile that walkers added to as they passed gave another photo opportunity and a chance to catch my breath.<br />
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Another chance to pause and and look at the stunning view.<br />
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Finally we can see the characteristic flat top of our destination - Pen Y Fan.<br />
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And the proof that I made it to the top.<br />
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After a sit down and time to take in the stunning views we started our way back down.<br />
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We had just walked up the hard route to Pen Y Fan and the path we chose to go back down would have been easier, but as I am in training for a trek on The Great Wall of China in aid of the British Heart Foundation it was the obvious choice.<br />
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Almost back and time to take in the waterfall.<br />
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Finally we reached the car park and were relieved to see an ice-cream van and as we enjoyed a refreshing ice lolly we watched other walkers on the path we'd just come down.<br />
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If you would like to sponsor me on my trek in October you can do so <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rachaelwalkingthewall">here</a>. Thank you!<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Rachael</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">xx</span></i><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-37072288936747085622017-07-18T17:08:00.002+01:002017-07-18T17:08:25.472+01:00Conference Time Again!<br />
It's July, which means my annual visit to Romantic Novelists' Association's conference. This year it was home from home for me as it was held at Harper Adams University near Telford, which is an agricultural university. So what did I seek out other than fabulous writing friends and books. Cows of course!<br />
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The conference was as usual a weekend full of useful sessions and lots of writing friends, although this year I arrived a day early to take advantage of an event at Wellington Library where authors Nicola Cornick, Sarah Morgan, Kate Walker, Freda Lightfoot and Bernadine Kennedy talked of their writing and books.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Authors from Right to left Kate Walker, Bernadine Kennedy, Freda Lightfoot, Sarah Morgan and Nicola Cornick</td></tr>
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Before I left, I had a look in the Mills and Boon section and found my first book, A Deal Before the Altar - and had to have my photo taken with it!</div>
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The most useful sessions I attended during the conference were Nicola Cornick and Sarah Morgan's social media session, Fiona Harper's Building Characters from the inside out and of course, Mills and Boon's session, this year on creating the perfect heroine for a selection of heroes, which in turn created great stories. Now I just need to keep in mind all the useful tips from all these sessions.</div>
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All too soon it was time to go home and for me that meant returning to my cows and calves which gives me another opportunity to post a farm photo!</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Rachael</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">xx</span></b></div>
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Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-46798569515447786212017-06-28T17:29:00.000+01:002017-06-28T17:29:09.630+01:00November 2017 - Cover RevealSeeing my new cover for the first time is always exciting and my next book, Valdez's Bartered Bride, to be released in November 2017 doesn't disappoint. It's just as I imagined when writing the book.<br />
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And the all important back cover blurb ..</div>
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Blackmailed into marriage... by Christmas!</div>
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Genealogist Lydia Carter-Wilson is horrified by the debts her father has run up in her name. Then magnate Raul Valdez approaches her with an outrageous proposition. If she helps him claim his inheritance, he'll pay off her debts and save her tarnished reputations. But there's a catch. If she fails, she will marry Raul on Christmas Eve!</div>
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No matter their instant and electrifying attraction, Lydia knows Raul's proposal amounts to blackmail. Yer faced with an impossible choice - risking ruin or becoming Raul's bartered bride - Lydia finds she cannot resist her desire to make a deal with the dark-hearted billionaire!</div>
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You can pre-order your copy <a href="http://hyperurl.co/valdezsbarteredbride">here</a>.</div>
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rachael</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>xx</b></span></i></div>
<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-37603492385883932432017-06-26T06:34:00.000+01:002017-06-26T06:34:00.023+01:00London Again!At the beginning of last week I was heading to London again. This time to meet up with <a href="http://nas-dean.blogspot.co.uk/">Nas Dean</a> who does a wonderful job promoting mine and many other authors books.<br />
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One of my last blog posts for her was on travelling to <a href="http://nastravelworld.com/travel-to-pisa-italy-with-rachael-thomas/">Pisa in Italy</a>, which was one of the destinations on Nas's travels.<br />
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Nas lives in Fiji and has been travelling around Europe and has been to so many destinations I haven't been able to keep up with her! I did arrange one special trip whilst she was in London and that was to the Mills and Boon offices.</div>
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Here we are with Flo Nicoll and Joanne Grant.</div>
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The next morning, I took an early morning walk around Hyde Park and had fun posting the images to Instagram as I went. You can see more of my Instagram photos at rachaelthomasromanceauthor</div>
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All too soon it was time to make the long train journey home during which I began working on my next book. I was in the fun situation of being on the train heading to Wales <i>and</i> on a Greek Island at the same time! I also indulged in a bit of longhand writing. I love going back to pencil and paper.</div>
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When I returned home, I completed revisions for my latest sheikh story and returned them to my editor. Now I'm back at my desk typing up all those pages I scribbled over on the train!<br />
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If you have a long journey to make, how do you pass the time?<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Rachael</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">xx</span></i></b><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-12209951578641497872017-05-24T18:29:00.004+01:002017-05-24T18:34:28.192+01:00At Mills and BoonAt 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 <a href="http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/news/entry/joan_hessayon_award_winner_kate_field_triumphs_with_debut_novel_the_magic_o">Joan Hessayon</a> award, which this year was won by Kate Field with her debut novel The Magic of Ramblings.<br />
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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.<br />
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Whilst there, I took part in a live Ask the Author session which can be watched again on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/millsandboon/videos/vb.7769505101/10155216904955102/?type=2&theater">Mills and Boon Facebook page</a>. If you have any other questions you'd like to ask, leave a comment for me there!<br />
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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!<br />
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There seemed to be an abundance of ducks, geese and swans with their little families. Too good a photo opportunity to miss.<br />
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I'm now back at my desk working on the revisions of my latest book - and, of course, thinking about the next story!<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Rachael</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">xx</span></i><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-59481013922915690042017-05-16T07:10:00.003+01:002017-05-16T07:10:50.787+01:00Ask the AuthorDo you have a burning question you'd like to ask me about writing or my books? Now is your chance!<br />
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Join me on Friday 19th May at 2.30pm BST<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>Rachael</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>xx</b></span></i><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-22062434510481795882017-04-09T12:22:00.000+01:002017-04-09T12:22:03.539+01:00The Secret BillionairesI'm really excited to see my next book, <a href="http://hyperurl.co/dimarcellosecretson">Di Marcello's Secret Son</a>, out in store. It's the first book in the Secret Billionaires series which <a href="http://danicollins.com/">Dani Collins</a>, <a href="http://www.jenniferhaywardromance.com/">Jennifer Hayward</a> and I created.<br />
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Antonio Di Marcello thrives on challenges and accepts the latest challenge laid down by his friend and along with Stavros Xenikis and Alejandro Salazar he prepares to put aside his wealth and go under cover to live the life of an ordinary guy. Antonio is sent to a motor garage in Milan, the city his estranged parents live in. At first he believes his handpicked challenge is to mend bridges with his parents - until he see's Sadie Parker.<br />
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Sadie is unnerved by the uncanny resemblance new mechanic Toni has to the man she gave her heart to four years ago when he arrives at the motor garage she works at in accounts. He unlocks the flood of memories of a passionate weekend fling with billionaire Antonio Di Marcello, the father of her young son! What she has dreaded yet wished for finally happens, when Antonio himself comes to claim his heir.<br />
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The release of this book is doubly exciting as it's my tenth book. I can hardly believe I am living the dream of writing Presents, but I am absolutely loving it! I'd just like to say a big thank you to all my readers for making it happen. <div>
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Right now there is a giveaway on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/228824-di-marcello-s-secret-son">Goodreads</a> to win one of four signed copies. Entry closes on 14th April 2017.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i>Rachael</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i>xx</i></span></div>
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Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-34181860062450089832017-03-09T10:59:00.000+00:002017-03-09T10:59:13.592+00:00In TrainingI have signed up for a challenge to raise money for <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/">British Heart Foundation</a>. In October I will be trekking along parts of the The Great Wall of China.<br />
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I now have a pair of walking boots and am breaking them in, but intend to spend time walking along the <a href="http://www.ceredigioncoastpath.org.uk/">Ceredigion Coastal Path</a> in an attempt to get fitter and prepare myself for the many steps I am going to encounter.<div>
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I'm doing the challenge as several members of my family are living with heart conditions and my daughter is working hard at university to have a career as a Cardiac Physiologist. Also for friends who have lost loved ones to heart problems or who have family suffering right now.</div>
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I am funding the cost of my trip myself, so every penny I raise will go to British Heart Foundation and I will have the experience of a lifetime doing it.</div>
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I'd love it if you could support me on my <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rachaelwalkingthewall">Just Giving</a> page and don't forget to stop by again and keep up to date with my training progress. After the trip, I will post lots of photos and accounts of what I encountered along the way.</div>
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Thanks,</div>
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Rachael</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">xx</span></i></div>
Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-6972386237209631182017-02-09T10:54:00.000+00:002017-02-09T10:54:06.907+00:00Secret Valentine GiveawayValentine's Day is fast approaching and I have a Goodreads Giveaway of A Child Claimed by Gold together with a secret giveaway!<br />
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To be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of A Child Claimed by Gold and a Secret Valentine, which is a copy of a romance I have read and enjoyed, click <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/222470-a-child-claimed-by-gold">HERE</a></span> and enter before 15th February 2017.Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-11750836867028109512017-01-10T07:11:00.001+00:002017-01-10T07:11:14.416+00:00Inspiration for A Child Claimed by GoldI like to relax watching television programs I have recorded and in the summer of 2015 one such program was Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Railway Journey. It was while watching her in Russia that the idea for A Child Claimed by Gold began to form.<br />
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I was completely captivated by the part of the journey which saw her travelling through Russia. A country I have never been to although I have always had a yearning to see the beautifully-coloured domes of Red Square.<br />
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So how did this program spark of ideas for A Child Claimed by Gold? The first part that captivated me was when Joanna met a Russian Oligarch's son and the second was a visit to a ballet school where young dancers from all around the world studied. These two scenes fired up my imagination.<br />
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It was Nikolai who arrived in my mind first. Tall, handsome and doing anything to avoid the dark secrets of his family's past from escaping. A past that had haunted him so much, he no longer lived in his childhood home in Russia, but had made a new and very successful life in New York.<br />
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Soon after, Emma arrived on the scene, a photographer desperate for a big break in her career and the chance to visit Russia, where her younger sister was studying ballet. The Petrushov family were telling all to World in Photographs and her images in this publication could launch her career.<br />
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The remainder of the story came from Nikolai and Emma themselves as they met, resisted the instant attraction and both wrestled with their past. But you'll have to read the book to find out what happened!<br />
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<a href="http://hyperurl.co/AChildClaimedByGold">A Child Claimed by Gold</a></div>
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I really enjoy travelling around the world from the comfort of my sofa, with my golden retriever curled up next to me and a cup of coffee in hand. At the moment such viewing is taking me to the amazing Yellowstone National Park. I wonder where I will go next and what ideas will be sparked?<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Rachael</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>xx</i></b></span></span><br />
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-60317426066399370482016-12-22T17:48:00.001+00:002016-12-22T17:48:19.030+00:00Merry Christmas!I can't believe it's just days until Christmas. <br />
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Since I last posted, I've been busy finishing my latest book and preparing for the festive season....<br />
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making Christmas puddings</div>
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and a cake</div>
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going to quite a few Christmas Fairs</div>
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Christmas shopping in London where I met the bears at Harrods</div>
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Putting up the Christmas tree and trying to keep Poppy away from it</div>
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and seeing my latest book, A Child Claimed by Gold on the shelves in my local store.</div>
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Now, I am just about ready for the festive season and would like to wish you all </div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A Very Merry Christmas</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Rachael</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">xx</span></i></div>
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Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-2721312356088271792016-11-01T08:45:00.000+00:002016-11-01T08:47:15.962+00:00Brides for BillionairesToday is the official release day of my latest book. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Married-Italians-Heir-Brides-Billionaires/dp/0263916618/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1477941741&sr=8-4&keywords=rachael+thomas">Married for the Italian's Heir </a>is the second book in the Brides for Billionaires quartet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlshHynIKgKit8ibj7IJb-GSALoW3ds6d4TdPMACPjfCUU79XbuMmFHagaqIWVuzQMFfr1vrwx_pSMNRAiTIG7edRXgGvr_rBaqEJTI-FaEyQBxsv6CwwV6EkYntDlvdd-gK0N8l5TSI/s1600/MFIH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlshHynIKgKit8ibj7IJb-GSALoW3ds6d4TdPMACPjfCUU79XbuMmFHagaqIWVuzQMFfr1vrwx_pSMNRAiTIG7edRXgGvr_rBaqEJTI-FaEyQBxsv6CwwV6EkYntDlvdd-gK0N8l5TSI/s400/MFIH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>After a shocking media expose reveals that the compelling stranger she lost her virginity to is debauched bachelor Dante Mancini, Piper Riley is stunned! Their unexpected but exquisite night has left them inextricably bound.</i><br />
<i>When Dante learns that Piper is pregnant, the heartless playboy sees the perfect opportunity to restore his business reputation - by making Piper his wife! But Piper won't settle for anything less than happy-ever-after. Dante must overcome his past to prove to Piper - and the world - that this is more than a convenient match.</i><br />
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The first book by Abby Green <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Married-Tycoons-Empire-Brides-Billionaires/dp/0263916510/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1477939682&sr=8-1">Married for the Tycoon's Empire</a> was out last month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-_2G0wlYoVOsElsjVYuhwdZ4OlXl3wNlVSRZ4nOL5JCCaL-ad5eR5mAfe7htt3XC1M7Wf1e2j4zFg7S_A-ZMnfkXD-7b5BdeFy5E9XIQtAkOb2vwtzTJrnG6nwvaAbQveaLL9gFOTqo/s1600/Abby+Green++Brides+for+Billionaires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-_2G0wlYoVOsElsjVYuhwdZ4OlXl3wNlVSRZ4nOL5JCCaL-ad5eR5mAfe7htt3XC1M7Wf1e2j4zFg7S_A-ZMnfkXD-7b5BdeFy5E9XIQtAkOb2vwtzTJrnG6nwvaAbQveaLL9gFOTqo/s320/Abby+Green++Brides+for+Billionaires.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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Next month the third book, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Married-Sheikhs-Brides-Billionaires-Modern/dp/0263916693/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1477942465&sr=8-3&keywords=tara+pammi">Married for the Sheikh's Duty</a> by Tara Pammi is released.</div>
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The series ends with <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Married-Greeks-Convenience-Brides-Billionaires/dp/0263923878/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1477942527&sr=8-1">Married for the Greek's Convenience</a> by Michelle Smart.</div>
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And here's my book on the shelves in my local town.</div>
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Happy Reading!<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>Rachael</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>xx</i></span>Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-8771030236586919452016-10-18T14:20:00.001+01:002016-10-18T14:20:07.501+01:00Poppy's First BirthdayHi #writingpuppy fans. I've had a busy summer, but today it's a special day. It's my first birthday.<br />
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I love living here on the farm. There is always lots of exciting things to do, like carry big sticks on my walk.<br />
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Going on long walks along country lanes - especially nice on a sunny morning!<br />
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There is so much to explore</div>
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And I'm pleased to say, the only thing I have puppy trashed is by bed - three of them!<br />
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Sadly, I have grown too big for my favourite place under the coffee table.<br />
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Anyway, it's time to find a sunny spot and sleep.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><i>Poppy</i></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><i>xx</i></span>Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-66242293290935203592016-09-28T16:17:00.000+01:002016-09-28T16:17:11.298+01:00Llanstephan CastleI've often taken the train from my local town, along the Towy estuary and looked at the castle opposite, standing rugged and proud over the ever changing waters. Over time, it's gone from the fortress it was intended to be to ragged ruins which hold the secrets of the past<br />
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I've just finished reading <a href="http://www.barbara-erskine.co.uk/index.htm">Barbara Erskine's</a> Lady of Hay, 30th anniversary edition, a story set partly in rural Wales in 1200's and the images she created of the castles of Wales then, some only just being built, meant I just had to go and explore one. So, I chose <a href="http://www.castlewales.com/llanstef.html">Llansteffan Castle</a> and instead of looking and wondering from the train, I took myself, armed with my camera, for a closer look.<br />
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I was on the opposite side of the water, looking out from the stones laid many years ago and luckily it was a nice day. The exposed position of the castle wouldn't make for a pleasant visit on a windy and wet day!<br />
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I always wonder about the people who made such a place home and try and imagine how it would have once been living within the castle walls.<br />
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I'm sure it would have been much better than being on the outside looking up.<br />
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Now that I've satisfied my curiosity and seen the castle, it's time to get back to some writing.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Rachael</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>xx</b></i></span></div>
<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-37164024356437643322016-09-19T11:57:00.003+01:002016-09-28T16:14:54.072+01:00The Fun and Glamour of London.I am back home on the farm after a few days away in London. I love being there, but it's even more fun when it's the annual Mills and Boon author's lunch, followed by Mills and Boon's Series Party.<br />
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I treated myself to a few days in London - all in the name of research of course! The first morning dawned bright and beautiful so I set off for a walk as the sun was coming up over St James's Park, which was busy with dog walkers and joggers.<br />
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I had a look at Buckingham Palace before the crowds arrived. I love being out and about before it gets busy.<br />
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After that, I met up with <a href="http://www.chantelleshaw.com/">Chantelle Shaw</a> and we stepped back in time to the court of Henry VIII when we visited<a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/#gs.ug5foH4"> Hampton Court Palace</a>.<br />
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We toured the Tudor kitchens.<br />
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Through Anne Boleyn's Gateway</div>
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Then into the Great Hall</div>
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After that, we got ourselves a bit lost in the famous maze! At least we got back to London and were able to meet up with<span id="goog_2133579334"></span> <a href="http://www.kate-walker.com/">Kate Walker</a><span id="goog_2133579335"></span> and <a href="http://www.harlequin.com/author.html?authorid=3779">Lara Temple</a> for the evening.<br />
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On Friday was the main reason for my trip to London, the Mills and Boon author lunch and then the Mills and Boon series party at their offices, near The Shard, with stunning views over London.<br />
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Here's a photo of Chantelle and I at the Mills and Boon series party.</div>
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As usual, all good things come to an end and by Saturday afternoon, I was back in my overalls and wellies milking the cows!</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><i>Rachael</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><i>xx</i></b></span></div>
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015584736112573378.post-56786783098168194562016-09-10T13:50:00.000+01:002016-09-10T13:50:31.317+01:00Exciting New CoversI love the anticipation of seeing my next cover. Will the hero and heroine look as I imagined them? What will the North American cover look like and what about the blue UK covers I know so well be like? All these questions go through my mind as I wait.<br />
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During the last few weeks I've seen several gorgeous covers for my books. So here they are in all their stunning glory.<br />
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In Spain - The Sheikh's Last Mistress<br />
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Here in the UK, my November 2016 release - Married for the Italian's Heir</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXKnRbLUmhhcma5u-NQwIJpfb0sce3iWX9IUqg9NSwYItYbNK7Tvfw2LS36ARoB6a5nwmjCGE-KaWwqeaflKzCaa9kmBr-vebYT0NSUysVQf9cmJrWLL-gGfXo_Zedz9HjCNVfrkG2BA/s1600/Married+for+the+Italian%2527s+Heir-UK+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXKnRbLUmhhcma5u-NQwIJpfb0sce3iWX9IUqg9NSwYItYbNK7Tvfw2LS36ARoB6a5nwmjCGE-KaWwqeaflKzCaa9kmBr-vebYT0NSUysVQf9cmJrWLL-gGfXo_Zedz9HjCNVfrkG2BA/s320/Married+for+the+Italian%2527s+Heir-UK+cover.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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In North America, my January 2017 release - A Child Claimed by Gold</div>
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I can never decide which covers I like best!</div>
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My website has a brand new look, so do stop by and find out more about me and my books.</div>
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www.rachaelthomas.co.uk</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Rachael</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>xx</i></span></span></div>
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<br />Rachael Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12848406521940836271noreply@blogger.com0