cataromance award!

I've just found out that THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL has won a Cataromance Reviewers' Choice Award as "one of the best books" of the last year. How cool is that!!!

This book was my first Waldenbooks bestseller, and gave me my first Top Pick from Romantic Times, so it has been some ride. And here is part of the fabulous review the lovelies over at Cataromance gave the book.

"Flirty and totally funny The Magnate’s Indecent Proposal will leave readers smiling and thoroughly entertained by its characters. Ms. Blake has penned an extraordinary story."

Awww... Check out the other fab winners here.

You can read more about the book here, or grab a copy from Amazon.

"CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC" by Sophie Kinsella

This month I've somehow found the time to read more than books than I've read in the last year, and so many of them I've enjoyed immensiely! In the spirit of sharing I'll be doing little shout outs this year about books I've loved.

First up: CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC by Sophie Kinsella. I know, I now I'm sooo behind the times, but give me a break. I'm a writer and I have a toddler. The minute and a half before I fall into a deep slumber when my head hits the pillow of a night is the only reading time I have.

Anyhoo, I loooved this book. It had me cracking up laughing all over the shop. Especially the littany of letters from the banks telling our poor heroine Rebecca Bloomwood of her dismal credit. But it also was a book that gave me shivers. I'm a shopper. I enjoy packing Boo into the car on a hot day and sucking up the air-con, browsing through the kidswear shops, Borders, Officeworks, department stores. And I rarely come home without buying something. Even if it's just one little thing. A sale t-shirt in Boo's next size. And even though she's the worst version of myself, the way she could talk herself into spending money still gave me pause.

Fab book. Great fun. Romance included. And it's coming out as a film starring the gorgeous Isla Fisher and directed by heavenly PJ Hogan (of 'Muriel's Wedding' and 'My Best Friend's Wedding' fame).

Happy reading!

a blast from the past

A couple of days back I had the most wonderful email.

I am on Facebook, privately as well as writingly (I know that ain't a word but it fits for this purpose!!!). And guess who contacted me??? My penpal Myrthe from the Netherlands who I had when I was 12 years old!!!

We haven't spoken since I was about 16, but I still have all of her letters written in long hand on fine, sheer blue paper. And photos and postcards from the trips she took around Europe - boy did they make me envious sitting in my hot Brisbane bedroom looking at photos of her frolicking in the snow! And the lovely Christmas cards her gorgeous mum always sent.

So we've been madly catching up on half a lifetime's worth of news - trips taken, loves experienced, children had. Lovely, lovely, lovely stuff.

bright shiny spotlight

Head on over to the Australian Romance Readers' Convention blog today as I have a big old shiny spotlight glaring down on me!

Didn't you just always want to know which of my heroines I would most like to be? Or where in the world I would visit if given half a chance? Or who I would cast as a hero if any clever person one day made a movie of one of my books? (Ok, so that last one is perhaps a no-brainer for anyone who's ever read this blog ;)) Go here, to find out nevertheless...

The Australian Romance Readers Convention - the very first ever! - will be held in Melbourne from February 20-22. Check out the program, the line of of amazing international romance author guests and more fun stuff here.

37 degrees

And no, I'm not talking about 37 degrees of seperation from Kevin Bacon, which is a much more fun way to spend your time than sitting at home in few clothes, trying not to expend too much energy while chasing around a toddler. I'm talking 37 degree heat.

Anyhoo, being a proactive the todder and I are having none of it. We're off to soak up someone else's air con while shopping for a bit, then meeting some friends with mathcing toddlers for a play date in a ncie air conn'd play centre. And tomorrow my little Boo is off for her pre-first-swmming-lesson-pool-familiarsation play!

Why this always hits right when the Australian Open tennis is on I have no clue. Or perhaps the question should be, why on earth did the powers that be choose late January, a time when temps always hit near 40 in Melbourne, to schedule the tournament. Genius!

Or maybe I'm being hard on them when the heat means I get to see Marat Safin sans top every other day on the telly...

things to read

Did you know 2009 is the 60th Anniversary of Harlequin? Well it is!

And so with all the buzz surrounding it I've been interviewed for a bunch of cool magazines talking about romance in the real world, the everlasting popularity of romantic fiction, and all things romance related. Naturally with February being THE month of romance, you'll find these interviews in the February editons of these mags:

Notebook Magazine
February 2009 Edition
Q & A

* out now *

Style Magazine
February 2009 Edition
'Love' Issue - Cover Story

Writing Magazine
February 2009 Edition
'For love or Money'

grrrr... television execs!!!

I am so unhappy that the Golden Globes have not been played on Aussie TV this year!!! Don't they know that American movie award season is like a ritual for me???

I don't listen to the radio or watch telly all day so that I feel like I'm finding out the winners in real time. I wear spangly, sparkly, dangly earrings and boof my hair even though I usually stay in my PJs. I pick apart the dresses and always end up with a clear favourite and am then ready to argue - from my desk - with those in the know who comment later. And I keep an array of junk food on hand for those nervous waits between "And the winner is..." and the answer.

The only thing taking the edge off my current angst is Heath Ledger's win for Best Supporting Actor.

I was never a particular fan of his work ( tho I do love watching A Knight's Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You), but his perfomance in The Dark Knight was a revelation. Priceless. Unmatched. Any performance that can send me away from a Christian Bale movie thinking about anything other than CB must be pretty special.

My picks for Best Dressed?

Kyra Sedwick's hot red Oscar de La Renta, and Rumer Willis's deep purple. Yum to both.

How 'bout you?

places to go

Anyone living in the Melbourne area who's looking to find out how one girl goes about writing romance novels, who would like any of their Ally Blake books signed, or who is looking for a nice safe friendly place to keep out of the heat for a couple of hours ;), I'll be appearing across the city talking romance throughout February.

Chelsea Library Talk
Sat 14th February, 11:00am
Bookings: 1300 135 668

Coburg Library Talk
Tues 17th February, 7:30pm
Bookings: 9353 4000

Australian Romance Readers Convention

Romantic Comedy Author Panel
Sun 22nd February, 2:30pm
Register here

So come along and say hi!!!

sold!

My nineteenth book, GETTING RED-HOT WITH THE ROGUE will be a Modern Heat release in the UK this August. Woohoo!!!

Here are Wynnie and Dylan. Aren't they fab? I'm sure gonna miss writing about them. This was one of those rare, easy, pleasurable from day dot books to write. Starting with the image of my heroine handcuffed to a sculpture outside the hero's skyscraper how could I not have a ball?

My editor's glowing comments have left me very slightly blushing, and itching to really get stuck into Dylan's sister's story. Meg Kelly is a spitfire. And her hero Zach...sigh. I get the feeling he's going to be one of my favourites.

Check out my website for more about GETTING RED-HOT WITH THE ROGUE and the series of stories about the Kelly family of Brisbane. They're rich, they're powerful, they've always had everything they've ever wanted. Is there hope for them yet?

happy new year!

So here we are in 2009! Wow, where did the last decade go???

I'm a girl who loves nothing more than a new notebook. A fresh ream of A4. A clean unblemished calendar. A brand new, sharpened pencil. A blank Word file. I think it's all about the endless possibilities that are right there before you...before you stick pen to paper and mess everything up ;).

So as I take a deep breath and step into 2009 I'm feeling the very same way. What new stories will I write? What new people will I meet? Which new places will I visit? What great new books will I read? What new adorable things will my little girl do each and every day to crack me up? And what will my new little bub be like when we finally get to see their tiny, squishy, gorgeous face?

Who needs resolutions? There's too much wonder to look forward to, I for one would rather get there without a map.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope 2009 brings you more possibility than ever before!!!