So after much rewriting and editing, I finally pinged off the first chapter of my Christmas (for next year) book to my ed. I know, I've been working on that damn first chapter forever, but am hoping that if I start this thing in the right place it should save work further down the line. At least, that's the plan. Anyway, to try and invigorate myself for the long haul, I decided to do a little location scouting round London's West End for locales and such for the rest of the book.
After checking out the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with its fairground rides, ice rink and all round Christmas bling (can definitely see some fun to be had there), I needed a luxury hotel for my couples romantic tryst (well, several romantic trysts) so I popped into the Dorchester on Park Lane to be inspired... And boy, is that one beautiful hotel, all Art Deco glamour and vintage class. And the Christmas decorations add that festive shimmer of fairy dust (see, I'm waxing all lyrical already!!).
Then I trooped up to Oxford Street and snapped some pics of Selfridges fabulously funky window displays. Check out that handsome fella sitting next to the Barbie Christmas tree and all those lovely sparkles inside the store. To finish the afternoon I hopped on a bus to have lunch with my true love in this wonderful little cafe tucked away on a back street in Clerkenwell near where he's working at the moment.
Love Clerkenwell, it's all cosy and Dickensian but with the arty crowd of designers and architects and journalists to make it uber trendy too. Have decided to make my hero a web designer instead of a Broadway producer... Cos I saw these three very handsome chaps on the table opposite us looking all intense and brooding and artistic while tucking into their homemade Chicken and Sweet Potato soup. Perfect.
Should also let you know I'll be crashing the Harlequin Post Party on 15th December talking hunky heroes with some of my favourite Presents authors, such as the wonderful Kate Hardy, Maisey Yates and Kate Walker as well as a host of other Harlequin names.
So be there, or be a Christmas turkey!
