In Memory of Penny Jordan - Best Selling Romantic Novelist

Penny Jordan died on 31st of December 2011. 

Penny Jordan was a global star of Mills & Boon, not only in Category Romance, but an international best seller when they first ventured into single title, under the Worldwide imprint, with her stunning revenge novel Silver (1989). She loved and continued to write category romance, but latterly she had added novels for Harper Collins -- wartime romances under the pen name Annie Groves, which she loved writing, drawing on family history for some of her inspiration, and also big family sagas like Silk and Scandal, under her own name.

She was phenomenally hard working but could always find time to support other writers, especially those still aspiring to be published. She was generous and the success of authors she had advised was an on-going delight to her. 

In March 2011 Penny Jordan received a lifetime achievement award from the RNA.

We miss her and here are some of the comments from her fellow writers....

The sadness and love expressed by so many of us say a lot about Penny
herself.

Not only is she a talented storyteller - she is a kind and generous soul -
who always has words of encouragement for others.

She has always been a wonderful ambassador for our work and our association.
She been an inspiration to me in more ways than I can say.

Like so many others I am deeply saddened to hear of her illness - and my
thoughts are with her and those closest to her.
                                                                                        [Janet Gover]

We've had a few chats at various "dos" and she is always so friendly.  A very talented lady, who never flaunts her bestseller status. [Gail Mallin]

  

She is a a real RNA stalwart and a true star. [Jenny Harper]

 She's a true inspiration for all of us, so incredibly hard-working and always kind and generous with advice. Long before I came to England and joined the RNA, I had heard of her and seen her books in many different countries, but although I was in awe the first time I met her, she soon put me at ease. Am thinking of her. [Pia Fenton writing as Christina Courtenay]

She is such a wonderful and generous person - a role model for us all. [Katie Fforde]

She is always so self-effacing and generous to others. [Jan Jones]

Like so many I'm in shock and unbelievably sad. Penny was a friend and a
mentor. I cherish memories of shopping for handbags with her in Dubai and
comparing shoes at RNA events. Her glamour.... a goal to try an reach....

She is a writing pro who never stopped growing as writer - never happy with
just good enough and as other have said has encouraged many of us on our
way...

My prayers are with her.  [Liz Fenwick]

This is sad news indeed. Penny Jordan is a name I've known since I was a young girl, with many of her books lying about the house, and my mother an ardent fan, of course. My thoughts are with her and her family. [Jane Holland, daughter of Charlotte Lamb]

I wouldn't presume to say I knew her well but having chatted to her on many
occasions in the past nine years I have always found her unfailingly kind
and very modest.

I know she was genuinely interested in helping and guiding aspiring authors
and that over the years, she has mentored several unpublished members of the
RNA.

I can completely understand why she wanted to keep her illness private as
people, even talented, vibrant people like Penny, who have a terminal
diagnosis often become defined by that rather than the person they truly
are.

But as a true storyteller she will leave a wonderful legacy for her family,
friends and fans alike; over 200 well-crafted and page-turning romances.

[Jean Fullerton]

Like everyone else, I am devastated by this terrible news. Penny was a huge support to me when I was getting published and encouraged me during the many times I wanted to give up.She is a truly special person and the world will be a poorer place without her. [Julia Moffatt]

I'm greatly saddened to hear the news about Penny, a highly successful author, who was never too busy to offer advice to others trying to get on to the ladder of publishing success.  I was one such beneficiary.

I shall always remember her with affection  - her generous nature, her warmth as a person and her enviable instinct for glamour. [Liz Harris]


I never met Penny but corresponded via e-mail from time
to time. She was so generous in her support and praise for all new and
inexperienced writers- as I was six years ago. [Fenella Miller]

Penny is an inspirational woman. So hard-working and dedicated to her craft. And, on a more superficial note, always so elegant. [Gilli Allan]

My thoughts and prayers are with her family. She spoke at the first RNA meeting I first went to in Circencester. She was an inspiration and as a result I joined the RNA. God bless her.  [Sheila Johnson]

I met her first at the Cheshire RNA chapter, where she was
incredibly kind to this newbie author who only had one book out with a tiny
publisher. [Lynne Connolly]

How shocked I am at the news about Penny. I have many, many Penny Jordan books. They are keepers. [Vonnie Hughes]

On The Eighth Day of Christmas - Julie Cohen's Own 'Faberge Egg'

On the eight day of Christmas Julie Cohen adds her favourite ornament to the RNA tree...

My favourite ornament

My mother is both artistic and deft and can create beautiful things for her family and friends to enjoy. The walls of the house where we grew up are decorated with her framed embroidery; she made me Hallowe'en costumes and beautiful beloved rag dolls when I was growing up. She used to decorate wedding cakes with delicate hand-made sugar flowers and she has made her home both comfortable and elegant. 

When I was about seven years old, she went through a phase of making Christmas ornaments out of egg-shaped styrofoam balls, covered with velvet ribbon, jewelled pins and sequins. They were things of baroque beauty, every one different and marvellous. Every year I would set them out carefully in a row to savour the differences. My personal favourite was made of pink velvet and crusted with rhinestones, topped with an elaborate pink bow. Later, when I saw my first photograph of a Faberge egg, I would think of that ornament. When we decorated the Christmas tree, I always put that pink velvet ornament in pride of place, right in the front of the tree at eye level, where it would catch the light and sparkle.

I tried to make one myself. While I'm reasonably artistic, I've never been gifted in crafts, like my mother; when I made my ornament, the ribbon wouldn't stick to the egg, the pins were all wonky, the bow was bedraggled. You could see white styrofoam peeking through the decorations. Mom wouldn't let me throw it away. Ashamed, I hung it right at the back of the tree, where no one would see it. But mysteriously, it kept on migrating to the front of the tree. In pride of place. 

I know now that my mother moved it. It was her favourite.

My latest book: The Summer of Living Dangerously: 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Living-Dangerously-Julie-Cohen/dp/0755350634/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

I have a free Christmas-themed read up on my website, to read or download: 
http://www.julie-cohen.com/books/the-black-sheep/

January Releases

JoJo Moyes ME BEFORE YOU
Michael Joseph
£7.99
5th January
Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

Judy Astley THE LOOK OF LOVE
Black Swan
Paperback
£6.99
5th January

When a makeover turns into a nightmare...

Benita Brown I'LL BE SEEING YOU
Headline
05 Jan 2012
£18.99 Hardback

As the tragedy and uncertainty of the Second World War takes hold, a young woman must learn to let go of the past in this enthralling, romantic and heartbreaking novel.

www.benitabrown.com

Essie Fox SOMNAMBULIST
Orion
5th January
£7.99
'Some secrets are better left buried...' When seventeen-year-old Phoebe Turner visits Wilton's Music Hall to watch her Aunt Cissy performing on stage, she risks the wrath of her mother Maud who marches with the Hallelujah Army, campaigning for all London theatres to close. While there, Phoebe is drawn to a stranger, the enigmatic Nathaniel Samuels, who heralds dramatic changes in the lives of all three women. When offered the position of companion to Nathaniel's reclusive wife, Phoebe leaves her life in London's East End for Dinwood Court in Herefordshire - a house that may well be haunted and which holds the darkest of truths...

Leah Fleming THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER
Simon and Schuster
Hardback
19th January

Two women meet in a lifeboat as the Titanic sinks. May and her family were outward bound for Idaho but her husband and baby are lost in the sinking. Wealthy Celeste, returning from her mother's funeral in Lichfield to her son and abusing husband, befriends this third class passenger. Then the Captain rescues a child and May clings on to her with relief. As dawn comes and the Carpathia rescues the survivors, a friendship destined to last a lifetime is forged despite social differences but then May makes a startling discovery. Her split second decision  changes all their lives for ever.

From the streets of New York where Angelo waits in vain for his Italian wife and baby, to Lichfield's Cathedral Close, via Tuscany's rolling hills, the unfolding story spans fifty years, two continents and the secret of that fateful night reverberates through three generations of these survivors.

Victoria Connelly DREAMING OF MR DARCY

Sourcebooks

Paperback

$14.99

When a new version of Jane Austen's Persuasion starts filming in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Austen fan Kay Ashton can't believe her luck especially when she catches the eye of the handsome actor playing Captain Wentworth.  But is he really the perfect hero?

www.victoriaconnelly.com

Benita Brown writing as Clare Benedict SOPHIE’S WEDDING
Ulverscroft/Magna
Large Print
Hardcover
£20.99
01 Jan 2012

As they gather for their best friend’s wedding three friends find themselves at turning points in their lives. Alison wonders if she can find happiness again; Francine must decide between an old love and a new opportunity; Carol asks herself if her own marriage is worth saving. One thing is certain-change is in the air!

www.benitabrown.com

Charlie Cochrane ALL LESSONS LEARNED

Samhain Publishing

ebook

The Great War is over. Back at St. Bride’s College, Orlando Coppersmith is discovering what those years have cost. All he holds dear—including his beloved Jonty Stewart, lost in combat. A commission to investigate a young officer’s disappearance gives Orlando new direction…temporarily. The deceptively simple case becomes a maze of conflicting stories—is Daniel McNeil a deserter, or a hero? As he hovers on the brink of despair, a chance encounter in France brings new hope and unexpected joy. But the crushing aftereffects of war could destroy his second chance, leaving him more lost and alone than ever…

Janet Woods ROMANTIC INTERLUDES
Belgrave House
Electronic download
USD $5.00
A collection of fourteen contemporary romance stories from a prize-winning novelist.
http://www.belgravehouse.com

Janet Woods TALL POPPIES
Severn House Hardcover
$19.99
Two men hold the key to Livia's heart and happiness, both WW1 heroes. Through no fault of his own - one of them nearly breaks it.
http://www.janet-woods.com

Margaret Mounsdon - THE MATTER OF THE HEART

People's Friend 696 -

Pocket Novel

£1.99

When Dominic Talbot award winning screenwriter leaves his briefcase in the back of one of Georgia Jones's mini cabs it sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever

www.margaretmounsdon.co.uk

Margaret Mounsdon - SECOND TIME AROUND

My Weekly

Pocket Novel

£1.99

Widowed Elise Trent thought no one could replace her beloved husband Peter in her affections, until she met policeman Mark Hampson 

www.margaretmounsdon.co.uk

Vanessa Devereaux CATER TO ME

Cobblestone Press www.cobblestone-press.com

99 cents

e-book-short story

January 4th

Sometimes doing something wrong is heavenly

Vanessa Devereaux HOW I MET MY LOVER

Evernight Publishing  www.evernightpublishing.com

e-book-novella

January 20th

The last thing Emily expected to do when she returned to Seattle was run into her old school buddy, Mia. Mia was always quite the girl so Emily isn’t too surprised to hear she’s an escort. Emily against her better judgment decides to give it a try and meets the man of her dreams.

Matt’s been a career bachelor and a tough undercover cop so you’d think posing as a client for an escort would be a piece of cake. What he didn’t count on was Emily opening the door to him and his heart.

Vanessa Devereaux FORBIDDEN

Total E Bound www.total-e-bound.com

e-book

January 23rd

When Maggie falls for Dr. Jon Gunderson she not only loses her best friend’s trust but her life takes an unexpected turn.

Julie was Maggie’s mentor and has been her best friend for as long as she can remember.

When she finally gets a change to visit her on the island of Majorca, she falls for Julie’s son, Jon, and the two enjoy a week of sexual bliss.

When Julie finds out about their affair, she can never forgive Maggie.

However, Maggie carries a secret that will have life-altering changes not only for herself but for Jon too.

Portia Da Costa FAR FROM PERFECT
Samhain Publishing
Trade Paperback
$14.00
Enduring passion, turbulent emotions, and an engagement of convenience... can Nick and Anna be together without reliving a painful conflict from their past?
http://www.portiadacosta.com/farfromperfect.html

Angela Britnell OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Desert Breeze Publishing

Available in ebook format

$5.99

Why can no one believe Holly and Brett are content with their single lives? Certainly their interfering parents don't and they decide to take action. The 'Opposites Attract' dating agency has the theory if normal matchmaking hasn't worked they'll turn it upside down. The uptight British policewoman and the laid-back Southern writer are complete opposites and so will make the perfect mismatch. A weekend in Paris turns magical but secrets, lies and sheer stubbornness threaten this romance before it hardly gets off the ground. Holly and Brett will fight love all the way and it's a question of who'll give in first. 

www.angelabritnellromance.com

On The Seventh Day of Christmas - Kate Lord Brown Shares a Camel

On the seventh day of Christmas Kate Lord Brown hangs a camel on the RNA tree...

Here is our cross eyed camel :) He's not the loveliest decoration on the tree, but means a lot as he was given to us at a clandestine live Nativity on a remote farm here last year (live camels, donkey, baby etc!), our first Christmas in the desert. 


Kate xx












You can follow Kate on Twitter here.

New Year's Eve, 1940: Evie Chase, the beautiful debutante daughter of a rich and adoring RAF commander, listens wistfully to the swing music drifting out from the ballroom, unable to join in the fun. With bombs falling nightly in London, she is determined that the coming year will bring a lot more than dances, picnics and tennis matches. She is determined to make a difference to the war effort. 5th January, 1941: Evie curses her fashionable heels as they skid on the frozen ground of her local airfield. She is here to join the ATA, the civilian pilots who ferry Tiger Moths and Spitfires to bases across war-torn Britain. Two other women wait nervously to join up: Stella Grainger, a forlorn young mother who has returned from Singapore without her baby boy and Megan Jones, an idealistic teenager who has never left her Welsh village. Billeted together in a tiny cottage in a sleepy country village, Evie, Stella and Megan must learn to live and work together. Brave, beautiful and fiercely independent, these women soon move beyond their different backgrounds as they find romance, confront loss, and forge friendships that will last a lifetime.

The Sixth Day of Christmas - A Butterfly from Kate Johnson

On the sixth day of Christmas a butterfly graces the RNA Tree courtesy of Kate Johnson...

To be honest, the butterfly is only a year old. I bought it at a Christmas market last year, where they had a whole upside down tree covered in brightly coloured gossamer butterflies. It was spectacular; but unfortunately my budget only ran to one pretty butterfly, who now has pride of place on top of the tree. We used to have a gold star, but that kept falling off and had to be lashed in place with a load of ribbons. Before that was an angel, which I believe I made fresh every year out of an old loo roll inner and a ping pong ball. On balance, I think the butterfly is more elegant, yes?
























You can follow Kate on Twitter here.

The portal to an alternate world was the start of all her troubles
– or was it?

When Eve Carpenter lands with a splash in the Thames, it’s not the London or England she’s used to. No one has a telephone or knows what a computer is. England’s a third world country and Princess Di is still alive. But worst of all, everyone thinks Eve’s a spy.

Including Major Harker who has his own problems. His sworn enemy is looking for a promotion. The general wants him to undertake some ridiculous mission to capture a computer, which Harker vaguely envisions running wild somewhere in Yorkshire. Turns out the best person to help him is Eve.

She claims to be a popstar. Harker doesn’t know what a popstar is, although he suspects it’s a fancy foreign word for ‘spy’. Eve knows all about computers, and electricity. Eve is dangerous. There’s every possibility she’s mad.

And Harker is falling in love with her.

On The Fifth Day of Christmas - A Pink Porcelain Heart From Chrissie Manby

On this fifth day of Christmas Chrissie Manby brings another ornament for the RNA tree...

My favourite Christmas ornament was made for me by my nephews, Harrison and Lukas. It's an avant-garde sort of bauble - a pink porcelain heart decorated with my initial in blue (my favourite colour) and a generous splash of thick blood-red into which Lukas has carved the word 'love'. The boys were seven and four when they made my heart in one of those ‘paint your own pottery’ shops in South London. Every time I look at it I remember how much fun we had that afternoon. My sister and I drank tea and gossiped while the boys got to work on a veritable production line of gifts for their grannies, their dad, their other auntie and me.  I can still picture their bright blond heads bent low over the painting table as they concentrated hard on making each bauble special and different.

Christmas seems to arrive about every three months these days and my nephews are growing up quickly. Harrison no longer believes in Father Christmas and even Lukas (six) wants to see solid evidence. Still, their excitement as the big day approaches is contagious and I am thrilled to be spending it with them again.  I can’t wait to see Lukas’s rendition of the Holy story (he’s a keen actor) and see Harrison’s Christmas cartoons (he’s a budding artist).  I’ve no children of my own so I feel incredibly lucky to be able to witness such magical moments in their young lives.  I shall treasure their bauble for all my Christmasses to come.

Chrissie Manby is the author of fifteen romantic comedies including Kate’s Wedding, Getting Over Mr Right and Seven Sunny Days.  They are all published by Hodder.  More details can be found on her website: www.chrissiemanby.co.uk. You can follow Chrissie on Twitter here.

 

On The Fourth Day of Christmas - Liz Fenwick Brings Her Grandmother's Ornament

On the the Fourth day of Christmas Liz Fenwick brings us an old glass bauble for the RNA tree...

Our tree is filled with so many memories that it's hard to choose...the wooden bear from Calgary days, the elephant from Indonesia, the camel from Dubai, The cowboy boot from Houston, the onion dome churches from Russia, painted seashells that children have done, silk China Men from our trip to Beijing, and the list could go on. But for me each year it's the careful unwrapping of the last remaining glass baubles that were my grandmothers. She died long before I was born so each year these fragile pieces connect me to her and to the past.

I remember those childhood days watching the snow falling outside and hours spent dreaming of Christmas lost in the reflections caught in the glass....

I'm now hoping that everyone had a magical Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year...

You can follow Liz on Twitter here.

Her début novel, THE CORNISH HOUSE, comes out on 24th May 2012...

When artist Maddie inherits a house in Cornwall shortly after the death of her husband, she hopes it will be the fresh start she and her step-daughter Hannah desperately need. 
Trevenen is beautiful but neglected, a rambling house steeped in history. Maddie is enchanted by it and determined to learn as much as she can about its past. As she discovers the stories of generations of women who've lived there before, Maddie begins to feel her life is somehow intertwined within its walls. 
But Maddie's dream of a calm life in the countryside is far from the reality she faces. Still struggling with her grief and battling with Hannah, Maddie is unable to find inspiration for her painting and realises she may face the prospect of having to sell Trevenen, just as she is coming to love it. 
And as Maddie and Hannah pull at the seams of Trevenen's past, the house reveals secrets that have lain hidden for generations. 

On The Third Day of Christmas - Jane Odiwe Bring Us a Jane Austen Bauble

On the third day of Christmas Jane Odiwe shares a Jane Austin ornament for our RNA tree...

I love my Christmas tree, and decorating it in my family is the highlight of Christmas. I’ve collected many baubles over the years and choosing whether to have a colour scheme or go for all over vintage colours always causes great debate in our house. This year we’ve chosen silver, gold, and a pale blush pink with clear glass.

I’ve been collecting baubles and ornaments for many years now - some of my favourites include some fragile white porcelain figures, which I bought when my children were tiny. They consist of angels, teddy bears, toy soldiers, toy trains and kittens, amongst others. I love vintage-style glass birds with feathers, and have used some of those on the mantlepiece in a green swag with faux and real roses. Like a lot of RNA members who love shoes, they feature too – I have some tiny shoe ornaments, period designs, ballet shoes, and skating boots. 

It’s very hard to choose a favourite ornament because I have so many that I love, but this year to my family’s great amusement I bought a Jane Austen bauble for my tree. It’s very pretty with a hand-painted silhouette of Jane and strips of Pride and Prejudice can be read through the glass. It really glitters in the light, and is a beautiful new addition to the tree!
 
Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year!

You can follow Jane on Twitter here.

Here latest book...

One dark secret can completely ruin a bright future…

After capturing the heart of the most eligible bachelor in England, Elizabeth Bennet believes her happiness is complete—until the day she unearths a stash of anonymous, passionate love letters that may be Darcy’s, and she realizes just how little she knows about the guarded, mysterious man she married…

On The Second Day of Christmas - An Angel from Jill Mansell

On the second day of Christmas Jill Mansell adorns our RNA tree with an angel...

Here's our favourite ornament, the angel currently touching the living room ceiling as she perches on top of our tree. Years ago when the children were very small, my book sales were nose-diving and my publisher had been forced to let me go. Money was extremely tight and we had none to spare for Christmas decorations. So I drew the angel with ballpoint pen on a square of rubbery foam  bought for ten pence from a craft shop. I cut her out, stapled her together at the back and my daughter painted her with glue and sprinkled her with glitter.

She's been the star of our tree every year since - Christmas just wouldn't be the same without her.


A very happy Christmas to all!!!


To find out more about Jill you can follow her on Twitter here.


Here's her latest book....

When Ellie Kendall loses her husband Jamie in an accident she feels her world has come to an end. But life has to go on and eventually she’s ready for a new start – at work, that is. She definitely doesn’t need a new man, not while she has a certain secret visitor to keep her company... 

Entrepreneur Zack McLaren seems to have it all, but the girl he can’t stop thinking about won’t give him a second glance. Why can’t she pay him the kind of attention she lavishes on Elmo, his time-share dog? 

Having moved to an exclusive flat in North London, Ellie becomes friendly with neighbour Roo who’s harbouring a secret of her own. Between them, can both girls sort out their lives? Guilt is a powerful emotion. 

But a lot can happen in a year in Primrose Hill...

On The First Day of Christmas - A Venetian Ornament from Juliet Greenwood

 The first ornament on our RNA Christmas tree comes from Juliet Greenwood...

This little gondola is my favourite Christmas ornament. 

 
My family bought it when we went to Venice in the 1960s, when I was about eight. My parents had escaped backgrounds of utter poverty in the 1920s and 30s to become teachers, and so loved travelling. They would pack me and my brother into a clapped-out camper van (Volkswagen, of course) and take us all over Europe for six weeks each summer. We would break down regularly and camp in the wilds, getting caught in forest fires, and every now and again, woken in the middle of the night by suspicious soldiers with guns. That year, we spent a day in Venice, complete with a ride on a gondola. 
 
Ever since then, the little gondola came out each Christmas to have pride of place on the windowsill as the entire extended family packed into a little cottage in the Welsh hills. When the lights finally broke, we wound new fairy lights to light up the little lanterns so it could continue to be part of the Christmas spirit. 
 
I love this little gondola because it holds so many memories. It’s very frail, but it still comes out each Christmas to sit in state. It should be a slightly tacky souvenir, but it’s the associations that make it beautiful. It’s inspired at least one story, and I’m sure it will many more. 
 
And yes, that is Mr Darcy standing next to the gondola. A friend made it as a Christmas card, and it also comes out each year. The beginning of a new memory, perhaps? 

To find out more about Juliet visit her here.

Merry Christmas from the RNA - Liz Harris Shares A Stocking for Christmas..

I still give my sons - now 31 and 32 - a Christmas stocking.

Last year, my younger son’s partner, Angie, came to stay for Christmas.  Naturally, Angie, too, had to have a stocking, and I had great fun filling a stocking for a girl – a first for me.

For obvious reasons, ‘Father Christmas’ decided not to creep into the bedrooms to put their stockings at the end of the beds, but to leave them beneath the Christmas tree.

After breakfast, we all went into the sitting room, and lo, we found the stockings.  But there were four stockings, not three.  The fourth stocking was for me.

And this was a very special stocking.  Not just because it was my first from my sons.  Not just because everything in it showed a great deal of thought.  It was very special because the stocking itself had been made by my non practical older son!

Luke had bought the satin, fur and beads and, guided by his creative partner, Sophie, had cut out and sewn the stocking together. Then he had sewn on every bead individually.  He had not allowed Sophie to do so much as one stitch.

Happily, the first three stockings contained Kleenex, and this was put to good use as I saw the thought and care that had gone into making my stocking.

The stocking adorned the sitting room for the whole of the Christmas period.  I've attached a photo of it - I think it looks pretty good. 

Follow Liz on Twitter here.

Coming out in the New Year...

‘Dark Deception’, a People’s Friend Pocket Novel, is due out on March 22^nd, 2012

‘The Road Back’, published by Choc Lit, is due out early in 2013

Please come back on Boxing Day to see how the RNA is decorated on the first day of Christmas....