Welcome
to Adrienne Vaughan who has popped along today to tell us about The New
Romantics Press. What an enterprising group of ladies they are!
Firstly, thank you so much for
inviting us onto the RNA blog, Elaine, it’s an absolute honour and we’re
thrilled to be here. Here’s our story so far …
Three years and a couple of
months ago the New Romantics Press (NRP) – Adrienne Vaughan, Lizzie Lamb, Mags
Cullingford and June Kearns ‒ was born. Huddled together in the backroom of a
village
pub in the wilds of rural Leicestershire, trembling with fear and
trepidation, four fledgling authors – having met through the RNA and all on the
New Writers’ Scheme ‒ launched themselves on the world.
Dozens of book launches, blogs,
newspaper reports, radio interviews and videos later, we’ve embraced each and
every element of what being an author in today’s multi-media environment
entails; standing shoulder-to-shoulder, through drafts, edits, rewrites and
great big gaping holes of self-confidence. And still, what remains at the very
essence is our passion to tell our stories our way.
Ten acclaimed novels ‒ hundreds
of reviews, award nominations and a best seller ‒ later, the dream is a reality
and the greatest reward is still when someone says. “I loved your book, when is
the next one coming out?”
Here’s a quick update as we hunker down into 2016 …
Lizzie Lamb
her third novel, Scotch
on the Rocks last July, there was ‘no rest for the wicked’ as it rocketed
up the Amazon charts to reach No 1 in Scottish
Romance! So it was head down as Lizzie ‘got busy’ with novel number four, This Highland Magic.
Born
in Scotland, with Brazilian and Irish blood in her veins, it’s no surprise
Lizzie’s novels feature feisty heroines and gorgeous heroes, and having enjoyed
a successful career in education, sprinkles her books with fascinating
historical facts, face-fanning sex and laugh out loud dialogue.
Earning
something of a reputation as a ‘go-to’ speaker on the art of self-publishing,
Lizzie gives lectures to creative writing students at De Montfort University,
has hosted numerous literary lunches in some of the county’s top hotels and
will be speaking at Leicester Writer’s Club next month. She – together with
June ‒ also organises the RNA Leicester Chapter, The Belmont Belles and keeps
the NRP in check, inspiring us all to ‘keep at it’.
 |
| Lizzie & Adrienne |
“I’m dreaming about hitting the road in 2016 with our caravan, computer,
parrot and husband to research number four, so Highlands of Scotland, here I
come. Our travels have become part of the writing process for me and I love the
adventure, laughter and shared experiences of our trips, keeping us buoyed and
enthused throughout the long winter months. I just know 2016 is going to be one
of our best years ever!” Says Lizzie.
Lizzie's Links:
website
twitter: @lizzie_lamb
Scotch on the Rocks
Boot Camp Bride
Tall, Dark and Kilted
Lizzie's Links:
website
twitter: @lizzie_lamb
Scotch on the Rocks
Boot Camp Bride
Tall, Dark and Kilted
Mags Cullingford
Mags’s
first two novels, Last Bite of the Cherry
and Twins of a Gazelle are definitely romance with edge and she will be the
first to admit her writing errs on the darker side, with an undercurrent of
tense, psychological drama heightening emotions.
She is
currently completing and polishing her, as yet, untitled third novel which features threatening
letters, a fatal car accident and a private investigator and, knowing Mags, some
deep, dark romance too.
Mags
says, “I must confess although I love
writing, I’m absolutely rubbish at marketing and promoting and it’s my readers
reaction to my books – as well as my NRP comrades, chums in the RNA and my
writer friends in general – who inspire me to keep going. My resolution for
2016 is to get to grips and improve on these necessary skills, at least once
January is over. It’s not that I’m procrastinating but I do like to take a leaf
out of our cat Tina’s book and for me January is the time for hibernating.”
June Kearns
Guide to the Cowboy and The 20’s Girl, both acclaimed as
eloquent and stylish with clever twists and turns, and nods to fashion and
music, two of June’s passions.
Now working hard on novel No 3 June admits to be a
little awry with her New Year resolutions.
“So far I
haven’t started reading War and Peace nor stayed away from the choc-and-nuts – but
I have been working on my third book, so that’s something!
 |
| June in the swinging sixties |
Set in
the early 1960s, it’s gathering pace and coming along nicely. I’m trying to pin
down recollections of the time by trawling through old photographs (I had a
waist!), tramping London streets and visiting our son in San Francisco last
year (my story is set in both places). It’s all bringing back lots of lovely
memories and inspiration. Fingers crossed, I’m hoping to publish at the end of
this year.”
And finally me – Adrienne
Vaughan
“I write romantic suspense and
having trained as a journalist I love lifting the veil of celebrity to
reveal
what lies beneath the glitz. I set my characters against the elements and each
other, taking readers to wild, romantic locations where literally anything can
happen and it usually does!
My first three novels – never
thought I’d be saying that - were well received, my debut The Hollow Heart shortlisted
for a Reader Award at the Festival of Romantic Fiction, as was the follow-up A
Change of Heart and then last November I was absolutely thrilled to learn
Secrets of the Heart was shortlisted for a Love Reading Award, amazing!
But no resting on laurels
here, so last year saw me interviewing a friend’s daughter who dresses members
of the cast of Downton Abbey and Strictly Come Dancing; poking around in
military
reference books and studying reports on plots to murder the Pope, as I
started working on, Scandal of the Seahorse Hotel. I aim to have it completed
by the end of January before sending to my fabulous mentor, June Tate – a dear
friend who I met through the RNA – and who helps me edit and polish ahead of
launching to the ‘waiting world’ (okay I made that last bit up!).
Having been Long Listed for the Elizabeth Goudge Award for A
Most Deadly Affair, a historical novel about a beautiful Irish socialite who
inherits the family business – an undertakers – in the 1950’s, it looks like
that’s next on my list, in between editing Romance Matters, hosting a charity
luncheon at a five star country house hotel with
Lizzie next month, oh and the day job, but most of you know what
 |
| Is it Spring yet? |
that’s like!”
So 2016 looks as exciting as ever
and it simply remains for us to thank you all for your continued support – we
could NOT have done it with you and the amazing organisation which is the RNA.
Hoping to see you all soon …
Hocus Pocus '14 - a collection of spooky short stories
Adrienne’s
Links:
Website: www.adriennevaughan.com
Twitter: @adrienneauthor
Lizzie and Adrienne have also contributed
to a short story anthology, see below.
Hocus Pocus '14 - a collection of spooky short stories
Here are
the links to our Amazon pages . . .
Thank
you, Adrienne, and good luck with your venture ladies. So many wonderful books!
The RNA Blog is brought to you by
Elaine
Everest & Natalie Kleinman
If you
would like to write for the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com
21 comments:
Lovely to be hosted here!
Thanks again to Elaine and Natalie and RNA friends for all your great support.
Lovely post and a delight to learn more about these fabulous four ladies. I'm a big fan of their writing and their blog. An inspiration! :) X
Ah, thank you Jan - for always being there to cheer us on!
Many thanks Elaine and Natalie for hosting us. I doubt the four of us would be where we are as published writers if we hadn't met through the auspices of the RNA. Thank you too, Jan for your kind comments. And finally, all I can say it's the 29th today, and January is almost over. Hooray!! [Mags Cullingford - I suspect I shall only be allowed to post as Anonymous]
What a lovely post, and thank you for keeping us updated on your plans!
I am a great fan of the New Romantics 4, and they are a daily inspiration to me!
Thank you Isabella, for all the great support!
Your avatar thingy always goes wrong Mags. Doh,
Always supportive and always there for us Isa, thank you,
Although we were already Facebook friends, Jan, it was at an RNA summer party that we finally eyeballed each other and the Spartacus joke first took root. You are such a good friend.
Thanks to Adrienne for writing the blog and to Elaine and Natalie for posting it . Writing can be a very lonely occupation but New Romantics Press know that help is just a phone call away. When we started out on this journey we thought that all you had to do was write a book and then another. Yes, that's true; but it's only part of the story. We have learnt so much be bring RNA members and I hope we have given something back, too. Speaking for myself, I'm glad to be an independent member and to free up space up for an aspiring writer to join the NWS. Onwards and upwards !!
What a fantastic post! Very happy to know and love all of these ladies! :-)
Thank you, Sue. You've been with us since we took those first steps!
A very enjoyable post!
Thank you for popping in to comment, Marilyn!
Sue, you are so inspiring, it's great having you in our chapter. We watch and learn from you.
Thank you Marilyn. I'm waiting to download YOUR book one of these days!
How fabulous to have so many kind and supportive comments from authors and indeed readers who have been with us every step of the way!
An incredible journey and firm friendships forged, I could not have imagined or believed how much my - already packed to bursting life - has been enhanced by the RNA and it's incredible membership.
Thank you Sue, Isabella, Marilyn, Elaine and Natalie ... and of course my 'shipmates' Lizzie, June and Mags, loving the journey.
PS and just written 'The End' of novel number 4!
What Lizzie says. - Mags Cullingford aka Anonymous
Great to hear you've written 'The End', Ade, and on schedule. Yes, we are lucky to have had such encouragement and support from RNA fellow writers. And thank you Isabella, Sue and Marilyn for your comments. - Mags Cullingford aka Anonymous
Fab post, wishing you all continued success! Your lunches sound wonderful :-)
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