say it ain't so!!!

Joaquin Phoenix has announced he's retiring from acting. I'm shocked, dismayed and most of all saddened. I adore the guy to bits. His quirky, dark good looks, his desperately sad past, his intense and truly inspired acting ability... He's a doll.


He was the best thing about Gladiator, he was disarming and poignant in the wonderful Quills, he was phenomenal in Walk the Line, he took Signs from being a nice mystery movie into a funny, delightful, warm, vibrant film I've seen over thirty times.


When I was 15, I was going to marry River Phoenix. There was no doubt in my mind. I still remember the exact moment I realised that I might have breathed in air that he ahd breathed out...on the other side of the world.


River was something. Joaqhin is something. Here's hoping the bug is too strong and he comes on back. Otherwise I guess Signs will be in my DVD player on a weekly basis for the rest of time!

we write romance

Over at We Write Romance it's Harlequin Presents month and today I'm nattering about being a wide-eyed, sparkly, fresh Presents newbie.

So come on over, say "hi" and check out the month of posts by my fellow Harlequin Presents authors talking about why they love the line so very much.

so you wanna write a romance novel?

I'm having too much fun today getting my notes and show and tell bits and pieces ready to take a full day course at the Victorian Writers Centre Saturday.

Entitled "So You Wanna Write a Romance Novel" I'll be blathering about everything a newbie needs to know from naming characters to writing synopses and I may even have several nice pictures of handsome men to bring along with me just to help inspire romantic words from the participants.

To the right is one of those pictures of one Brad Pitt who is my current hero inspiration in the book I am working on at the mo. Well not right now as I'm getting my notes together and... you know what I mean!

The faaaabulous Anne Gracie will be taking them through her take on things all day Sunday, so after I talk their ears off, they can hear from a legend.

You can find out more about the unbelievable range of courses available through the VWC here.

hiya shia!

Come on over to the Pink Heart Society where I am chatting about our newest inductee into the PHS Hall of Fame, the fabulous Shia Labeouf!

hocus pocus...

Today I'm blogging at the Tote Bag, a fun place populated by many and varied category romance writers with lots of fab things to say.

The hopefully fab things that I will be talking about are the magic ingredients that I think make a category romance a keeper. If you could pick three things what would they be?

Head on over to the Tote Bag and see if we're on the same page...so to speak ;).

spotlight in six

With my HIRED: THE BOSS'S BRIDE hitting bookshelves in the UK and North America all through October, I'm over at the Harlequin Romance Authors blog under the bright spotlight. Six questions about writing and the like were slung my way and I did my best to sling them right on back.

So come on over and say "hi" and check out more about all the Harlequin Romance books on sale this month!

come say "hi"!

Come say hi at Liz Fielding's blog where I am helping her celebrate the release of her 50th book!

I love Liz. Apart from being the first wonderful woman to ask me to design a website for them, she is also a hell of a writer. The Best Man and the Bridesmaid is truly one of the most delightful, fresh, unique, fun romps I've ever read. And that's just one of the 50 fab novels she's penned.

On her blog I'm nattering about writing with a split personality, especially with books in two lines, Romance and Modern Heat out in the UK this month, it sure feels that way!

Maybe I should get two different hats; for for when I am representing each line. Heck for when I'm writing for each line. A have a beautiful white folaral garland I wore when writing my first ever Harlequin Romance (yes I actually wore it - only once or twice did I forget and answer the door as such!) But what to wear for Modern Heat? Maybe a big, red, exotic, sassy feather sticking out of my ponytail.

Okay, time to stop listening to me now as I am obviously going bonkers. Head on over to Liz's blog where things are much more sophisticated and lovely and cool.

double whammy

This month sees the release of two brand new books in the United Kingdom, and one in North America!

"HIRED: THE BOSS'S BRIDE"

Harlequin Romance, North America and United Kingdom

Auctioneer Veronica Bing has left the glitz and glamour and year long sunshine of the Gold Coast to come home to Melbourne, a city that harbours sad memories she'd rather have left behind. But that's what a girl has to do when she has a touchy feely boss, car payments up the wazoo and a job opportunity of a lifetime...

Mitch Hanover is willing to give Hanover House, the venerable art and antique auction house his parents started years before, one last chance to tow the line or the Hanover Enterprises business he has since built into an empire is going to have to let it go. Finding a new auctioneer to run what may well be the last show the crumbling old building ever sees is his last throw of the dice.

When a hot pink corvette rumbles up to the kerb outside and out steps a brunette bombshell in knee-high boots and a Rolling Stones t-shirt, he wonders what he's let himself in for...

Romantic Times gave her 4&1/2 stars saying "Hired: The Boss's Bride is as breezy, sexy and warm hearted as its remarkable heroine, and its hero is pretty special too."

Read more about the book here. Buy online from the UK, or North America.

"A NIGHT WITH THE SOCIETY PLAYBOY"

Mills and Boon Modern Heat, United Kingdom

As society playboy Caleb Gilchrist stands up as best man to his best friend he wonders if the whole world has gone mad. Is he the only one not running off to get married and live happily ever after?

Then within the mass of frippery and finery in the wedding chapel crowd he sees Ava Halliburton. The girl who a decade before had left him standing in a crowded airport with his heart in ashes at his feet. A woman who it seems can make his heart race more than any before or since. The one that got away. The groom's sister.

If only he wasn't the only one in the room who didn't believe in happy endings...

If you loved THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL, then revisit Damien, Chelsea, kensey and best of all bad bad Caleb... And he'll be hitting North American shores next month!

Read more about the book here. Buy online from the UK or North America.