The Frock Has Landed...

Okay, I've finally cracked it. Dragged my poor teenage son to Covent Garden this Saturday (who says there's a recession on the way? the place was heaving) and finally found my posh frock in Hobbs on Long Acre. Narrowed it down to a sleek black silky cocktail dress and a lipstick red taffeta type confection with a swirly skirt and plunging cleavage — neither of them strapless of course as I totally chickened out on that one.

So my choice was, should I go to the RITAs as a buxom Audrey from Breakfast at Tiffany's or a slutty Marilyn from The Seven Year Itch. No contest really, had to be Marilyn the slut. Although I won't be attempting the skirt flying-up thing she did in that movie - I feel my magic knickers might ruin the magic there a tad....

Have to say the saleswoman was a total pro, not only did she flog me the dress she also persuaded me to buy a black silk wrap-jacket thingy and gorgeous winkle-picker black-suede sandals — I stood firm at the clutch purse though. Enough is enough, right? After all I've already spent more money on this little jaunt than I've earned on all my books put together so far... Still, it's an investment for the future. Who knows when they'll remake The Seven Year Itch and need a woman of a certain age with more cleavage than sense to star in it... 

A Rising Star? Moi!

Met up with my fellow Mod Hot author — and RITA nominee — Kelly Hunter at the Globe Theatre bar on London's South Bank as she's making a flying visit to London this week from her home in Oz.

Neither of us remembered to bring our cameras (I am so going to have to remember to take mine to Frisco!) so I've bunged in a piccie of the Globe to give you the general idea. Of course, it looks much nicer in this picture as it wasn't pissing with rain and freezing cold when they took it (what the heck happened to the British Summer anyway? Was last Tuesday it?). We enjoyed a few glasses of Pinot (at an exorbitant cost) and had a very lively chat about writing for Mod Hot, the direction of the line, Paris, London, small towns in Oz, Posh Frocks and the like (Kelly's already got hers sorted and it sounds fab so we didn't stay on that topic too long I can tell you — alright, I admit it, I'm starting to get a complex about this now). Really lovely to meet her and we're looking forward to seeing each other again in Frisco.

Got home to discover two new fabulous reviews for The Tycoon's Personal Assistant on The Pink Heart Society and Cataromance. Oooh, I love the good review days, makes all the angst and agony worthwhile. Here are a few snippets while I blush with pleasure in the background...

Cataromance gave it Four Stars and said:

'Sexy, flirty, feel-good and emotional, Heidi Rice has written another wonderful contemporary romance that is bound to delight her growing legion of fans. Fast-paced, moving and totally compelling, let Heidi Rice sweep you off to a world of passion, glamour and sizzling seduction with her latest Modern Heat, The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant!
If you like your romances hot, steamy, intense and absorbing, then pick up a copy of The Tycoon’s Personal Assistant – you certainly will not regret it!' Read the rest.

Mmm, I love that 'growing legion of fans' bit, does that mean it's not just my mum now and my best mate Catri??

And The Pink Heart Society gave it five hearts and said:

'The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant is a terrific Modern Heat from one of the imprint’s most-talented writers. Witty, sexy, funny and absolutely unputdownable, The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant is another fabulous read from a wonderful writer whose star is rising fast: Heidi Rice!' Read the rest of the review.

One of the imprints most-talented writers?? Rising Star?? Moi! I'm thoroughly chuffed, especially as I know how fantastic all my fellow writers are at Modern Heat.

Posh Frocks and Synopses

So, I'm still busy searching for that elusive posh frock for the RITAs. I thought I'd narrowed it down to the strapless brown number at Monsoon opposite but I'm still prevaricating about the whole chicken-wings scenario. My 15-year-old son and fashion consultant insists I should get out of my comfort zone, but I'm not so sure as the words 'mutton' and 'lamb' keep reverberating in my head everytime I think of the support underwear I'll need to wear it!!!

Anyhow, watch this space on that one.

So while I was busy panicking about my chuck wings I was also banging out an outline for my new ed on the new WIP. Now, this is something I've always avoided in the past, believing that I was a complete pantser and the writing of an outline would dry up my creative juices quicker that you could say writer's block. But after being hit over the head not once but twice with monster revisions on my last two books I've decided to bite the bullet and give it a go. Maybe getting all those glitches out at the planning stage wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. Well, I did the outline, had a long, brain-storming chat with Suzy and, by George, I think I've got it. A workable synopsis that hasn't killed my creativity but has actually given me loads more ideas, I have scenes and dialogue literally popping out into my head at the moment.

One slight problem, I'm working in an office for the next two weeks, not to mention organising my hubby's 50th birthday party and I've got no time to write any of it down. Arrrghhh. This really is sod's law. Either you don't know what the heck you're going to write or you do and you've got no time to write it.... Still I'd rather be in the second pickle than the first any day.