In which I blog about not blogging ...

Forgive me reader, for I have sinned. It has been at least eight weeks (oh heck, has it really?) since my last blog post. So, what have I been doing?

Writing, mainly! Trust Me I Lie is coming along and I'm also working on Something Wicked, for which I have commissioned a cover.

My website has been revamped with new content, including the story behind the inspiration for my most recent novel, Nemesis, and there are now longer extracts from all my books.

Last month I attended Juliet Greenwood's launch for her latest novel, We That Are Left and I wrote a blog post for Novelistas Ink on the joys of Pinterest. Next I shall be attending Trisha Ashley's launch of her new eBook, Finding Mr Rochester.

Juliet Greenwood at the launch
for We That Are Left

So as you can see, I've been working really hard - it's not all social networking and coffee and cake with the Novelistas you know!

Ah ...

Here Comes Summer

I always seem to end up writing summer stories in the most appalling weather. My story for the original Sunlounger anthology was written in a snowstorm, with me bundled up in at least 3 sweaters. I wrote the one for Sunlounger 2 in a terrific electrical storm, with thunder crashing overhead and the power going off and on every few minutes. Perfect inspiration for horror, but romantic comedy? Not so much!

Each time Belinda Jones asked me to contribute to her brilliant Sunlounger anthologies I thought, "Great, I'll write a steamy romance set on a beach" but it never quite worked out that way. The Indecent Proposal was set in Sorrento (Italy) which, although gorgeous, doesn't have much of a beach. Instead it has huge old hotels set right into the cliffs and elevators down to jetties where the guests can sunbathe or swim. My second story, The Accidental Proposal, isn't set on a beach either but in New Orleans, a city which has always fascinated me. I did so much research for that story - but all my characters wanted to do was go on a bar crawl.

That's the last time I take them on a free holiday!



Sorrento, Italy

If you'd like to know more about the Sunlounger anthologies, check out the brilliant website.

You can find out more about my Sunlounger stories here and here.

And if you'd like to learn more about the locations I used, take a look at my Pinterest boards:

An Indecent Proposal (Sorrento, Italy)

An Accidental Proposal (New Orleans, USA)

Roll on summer!

Marley's Marvellous Mincepies

Yes, I can I cook! Are you surprised? My family don't much care for Christmas pudding or Christmas cake, but they do like mince pies! Now, most people either buy mince pies or, if they do make their own, at least buy the mincemeat. I do it the other way around! So here's my recipe for mincemeat. It makes 3lb (1.5kg) of mincemeat and takes about half an hour in total to cook.

 

** If you don't intend to use the mincemeat right away, you'll need to freeze it as there is not enough sugar in the recipe to preserve it! **

Ingredients:

 

1lb (450g) cooking apples

4 tbs dry sherry

1 tsp ground cinnamon

A pinch of ground allspice

14oz (350g) mixed dried fruit (to include raisins, sultanas, currants and dried chopped peel)

2oz (50g) soft brown sugar

Method:

 

Peel, core and dice apples. Put them in a large casserole dish with the sherry, 5tbs of water, cinnamon and allspice. Stir, cover with lid and cook in a microwave for 5 minutes on high power (800w microwave).

 

Stir, add the dried fruit and sugar, and cook on high power for another 4 minutes. Stir again and cook for a further 3 to 4 minutes. The apples should be cooked and the fruit should have soaked up most of the liquid without being too soggy. Allow to cool before using.

 

Enjoy!