They think it's all over... It is now!!

Okay, after England's glorious defeat against Germany yesterday afternoon... I mean 4-1!! All right it should have been 4-2 but for the blind linesman, but honestly let's not let it be said that the Lions don't know how to crash out in style!! The worst ever defeat in England's World Cup history. Fabulous... Fabio-lous even..

But the good news is there shall be no World Cup nonsense on this blog from now on... With or without the benefit of visual aids. I am now back on the straight and narrow writing Cal and Ruby's story.

And, with that in mind, wanted to flag up a very interesting discussion on Jackie Ashenden's blog about not forgetting to put those essential little moments of romance into your WIP... Got me to thinking that after two chapters of a flaming argument between my hero and heroine - she's done something rash and impulsive and interfered in his personal life (which he finds unforgiveable) and he's making her pay for it - I've suddenly realised that yes, I do need to lighten the mood. The thing about arguing is, it can ramp up the tension but while it can bring out the worst in your hero and heroine (illustrating some of the issues they are going to have to work out to make their relationship work) it can also bring out the best in them... When you figure out how they are going to find their way out of said argument.

So thanks Jackie for getting me thinking about that!

Some Very Nice Male Torsos... 300 To Be Precise

My Must-Watch Friday topic this month at the Pink Heart Society is the delirious sight of lots of extremely buff naked male torso... Sorry, I meant to say the brutal, bloody Ancient Greek battle epic 300.

Yes, it's a bit of a departure for the Pink Hearts, but worth the effort if you can stomach all the bloodshed (and there is a lot of it). Check out what I had to say about it here and, yes, I'll admit there may be the odd reference to men, and chests, and six-packs and the like, but all in the best possible taste. I promise. Oh and Gerard Butler's in it too... without his shirt on, or much else frankly. All right I'll shut up now.

Heidi hits Romance Minxes this Wednesday

I'm spreading the love this Wednesday as the spotlighted author on the Minxes of Romance blog. And giving away a copy of Unfinished Business with the Duke while I'm at it.

So go check it out here as I reveal all about the most romantic moment of my life so far. And whether I find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy... Among other things.

In other news I have been enjoying the World Cup in South Africa over the last week... Well, apart form the England game (sigh)... For a variety of reasons, and not all of them to do with all the extremely fit male bodies on display.

Who's your favourite Bad Boy?

Enquiring minds want to know... Is your favourite bad boy Josh Holloway's sexy Sawyer in Lost? Or Jon Hamm's deliciously bad Don Draper in Mad Men? Or are you drawn to the classic bad boys of old such as Marlon Brando, or Steve McQueen or Jimmy Dean?

I'm over on The Pink Heart Society in a coveted Male on Monday slot talking at considerable length about some pretty life-altering stuff... So pop over and join me and tell me if I've missed out a great movie - or TV - bad boy... Am always keen to induct a new name into The Heidi Rice Bad Boy Hall of Fame!

In other news my ed has given the go-ahead for Ruby and Cal's story. Remember, that's the one about the free-spirited and flirty Camden Town cupcake entrepeneur (formally known as Suky!) and the deliciously brooding and sexy barrister, who wasn't a bad boy... Until his swanky Italian sports car rear-ended Ruby's fire-engine red VW bug one hot August afternoon...

I'm getting stuck into the story and have already quizzed a very chatty barrister about what they do (the word advocacy was used a lot, until I plucked up the courage to ask what that is, exactly: answer: arguing in court!). And I've located a cupcake entrepeneur who has kindly invited me to one of her cupcake decorating classes.... Oh dear, can see myself slipping off the diet wagon. Again! Still one must sacrifice one's hips for the sake of one's art. Right?

Mills and Boon Writing Comp and Workshops

Just got wind of a great new M&B event being planned in conjunction with the National Trust here in the UK this month.

The NT have some stunning stately homes where they'll be running M&B writing workshops in June with some of my favourite authors including Kate Hardy at Blickling Hall in Norfolk (pictured on the right, pretty inspiring eh!) and India Grey in Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire.

And the National Trust is also running a short story competition, and the winning entry will be published in the very up-market The Lady magazine. Definitely worth a look if you're in the UK this June and fancy being an M&B author.

Check out the details here.

In other news I got some German copies of my third book The Tycoon's Very Personal Assistant... Was a bit surprised to see my hero Zack's name had been changed to Nicolas.... Until my friend Kate Hardy pointed out that Zack means Ball in German...

Hmmm, can see why they changed it now. am thinking Ball Boudreaux's not the greatest name for a hero!

Heidi hogs the limelight! Again!

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm becoming a bit of a limelight junkie! Yesterday I had a wonderful time getting my picture taken by the lovely Anne Mortensen, a talented photographer who's working on a book about writers and writing. It's going to be a great coffee-table read with some stunning photographs and interviews with authors such as Minette Walters and Lee Child and.... Moi!

I know, not really sure what I'm doing in that company either, but I enjoyed every minute of it anyway. Anne very kindly sent me through a couple of the pictures she took and, given that I am about the most unphotogenic person on the planet and she made me look incredibly good, I think we can all tell how considerably talented she is!

Check these out... Gwyneth Paltrow eat your heart out!
 copyright: Anne Mortensen