As usual, time is running away with me and I am making very slow progress on my current book, in spite of regularly scaring myself by counting up the ever-decreasing number of days left before the deadline.  I’ve been preoccupied on other fronts, not least of which is the preparation for the party I’m having this Saturday to celebrate 50 books … and that will be absolutely and positively the last celebration, I promise!   I have been buying cases of champagne (well, sparkling wine) and candles and making delicious little cheesy biscuits in the shape of hearts but putting off the less exciting aspects of getting ready, like cleaning the house, in the hope that they’ll seem less important in the last minute frenzy.  And really, who is going to be running their fingers along the mantelpiece when they’ve got a champagne cocktail in one hand and cheese heart in the other?   Not being able to see much is another big bonus of candlelight now I come to think of it … yes, housework can go right back down to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list. 

Now, before I forget, I need to announce the results of the Pick Your Own romance survey.  I feel as if I should be doing a countdown in a sonorous voice here,  but in the absence of a drum roll and microphone, I’ll just have to tell you that WOMAN AT WILLAGONG CREEK turned out to be your favourite book – let’s hear it for Guy and Olivia!  This was only my third book, so I’m trying not to think that the next 47 didn’t quite live up to expectations (glass half empty, or what??)!  Marriage of convenience was your favourite hook, and the city your preferred setting (so, not like Woman at Willagong Creek, then!  Still, I didn’t specify that you had to be logical)  Your favourite hero is charming, laid-back and humorous, while your favourite heroine is sensible and practical.  I must admit, I was a little surprised by these two, but on the whole can’t complain about the elements I’ll now have to include in my next book as promised. 

I did promise to hold a contest with a dedication of the book as a prize, but I have decided that I’d really like to dedicate it to Nikki with thanks for all her hard work on the website this year.  However, if you’ve always fancied having a character in a book named after you, now is your chance! Here’s a final contest for the year.  Email me your suggestions for names for the charming, laid-back, humorous hero and the sensible and practical heroine, and I’ll do a lucky dip from the entries to see who gets a name check in the book.  If I like your suggestions for the hero or heroine’s names, I’ll make sure a character is named after you, too, so avoid names I’ve already used (which you’ll be able to check in Find A Book) and you’ll be in with double the chance of winning. 

I’ll be blogging at the Pink Heart Society on Saturday so check out the Weekend Wind Down there on 18 October  - I had a wonderful time imagining a party with all 50 heroes and 50 heroines – and think of me mixing up the champagne cocktails at the same time.  I’ll be back when I’ve recovered!