Sunday, June 20, 2004
Harpercollins Party & Other
Went to the Harpercollins Summer party on Thursday evening. The 'do' was held in two gorgeous - well it would be an insult to them to describe them as mere marquees!- these were Maharishi style pavilions designed originally I think for the hugely posh Serpentine Gallery party held on the previous evening and hosted by the somewhat bling bling designer Roberto Cavelli.
Unlike Mr.Cavelli's clothes though the 'tents' were simple and restrained - white muslin type fabric, with a border embroidered with gold elephants. There was some low silk cushioned seating in bright rich colours, and prettilly coloured candle lanterns for when it got dark. Sensibly outside gas patio type heaters had also been provided and were on - it was a very cold evening.
One tent had a dance floor and a stage the other a sort of seagrass type flooring.
On arrival we were all given name badges - red for authors, blue for agents and green for Harper staff. Press did not wear badges!
I don't know who provided the catering but suspect it must have been some outfit very of the moment - we were welcomed with champagne cocktails - either rhubarb(?) (which had a peppery taste) or peach bellini. The champagne flowed extremely generously - I stopped having my glass filled when I discovered that my lips had quite unacocuntably gone numb! (brain had turned numb several drinks earlier)
The food was yummy and served charmingly & professionally by the young waiters and waitresses - again chef must have been someone v. trendy as the the chocolate covered icecream lollipops were filled with pepper flavoured icecream.
(am just realising that sound frighteningly like elderly person who used to write Jennifer's Diary! and it gets worse!)
Everyone was extremely suitably and smartly dressed - not a bare torso or piece of denim in sight!
Didn't see anyone famous other than Jon Snow (and only from a distance as there were so very many people there)
Did have a chat with fellow RNA author Anne Bennett though.
Met Harper UK's CEO who went round introducing herself to everyone - in her speech she mentioned the fact that Harper's American CEO was there along with Lachlan Murdoch who had arrived unexpectedly Made me wonder if LM had attended the Serpentive Gallery do the night before. CEO also made a joke about some famous harper authors not being able to attend (David Beckham et al)
Must admit I felt a little bit lost at first as the only people I knew where my ed and her Senior Ed. In many ways it was very similar to the Harlequin parties I have attended - the attention to detail, the excellent food and drink - the care taken by the CEO to meet the authors, but in others it was very different, and I did miss the warmth and family atmosphere of being with my fellow M &^ B authors. Of course that could just be because I have been with Harlequin for so very long and know so many people.
All in all a very enjoyable and glamorous evening!
New Contracts & work
I had been rather nervous pre the party as I was due to meet with my Ed and the Senior Ed to discuss my new contract. I'm used to working closely with my editors and was relieved whenn the Senior Ed wanted to go through what she was looking for for the new contract. This has now given me a definite frame to work within and one which I feel comfortable with.
I'm now in the fortunate position of knowing exactly where I am going with my next 3 short series books for M & B, next year's MIRA book for Harlequin and now my next 4 books for Harper.
Discussing new work always leaves me feeling very drained though, and this is the time when I miss my late husband Steve so very much. I always used to go through with him what was said, what was going to happen, how I felt about it, etc. etc.
I can't speak for other authors but for me the insecurity of worrying about my work is always there. Both Harper eds though were very kind about my work and that gave me a real boost.
One of the reasons I haven't posted here earlier is because I am busily typing out brief outlines for the new contract.
By happy chance a fellow author was also in London, so we managed to meet up and have coffee together in Harvey Nicks . We hadn't met before although we have exchanged many emails and we were both a little bit nervous - however all went well. I had mentioned on one of the email loops that I was considering trying to start 'teaching' and she had brought me a small book - brown paper cover decorated with a shiny red apple - containing quotes from people about their teachers.
Maths never was my strongest subject which is no doubt why I can never understand why I return from any stay away from home having gained at least 2lbs of weight per day - how does that happen?
Family
Ominously when I telephoned my mother from London on Friday morning and told her that I would be going to see her and my father on Sunday, she told me that she hadn't expected me to do so and moreover that she thought it would be too much for me what with me just getting back from London... I am not my mother's daughter for nothing - Alarm bells started to ring! What was she trying to hide?
Sure enough when i arrived at my parents' house this morning it was to discover that my mother has a huge scab on her forehead and another on her nose (my parents who are in their mid eighties still run a small garden centre having refused to give in to the combined pleas of me, my brother and my sister to retire gracefully)
Mother had slipped on a paving slab!
Brother was also at parents and had a lovely photo of his first grandchild - this litte boy was born with a hare lip and has just had his second operation - he has the most beautiful smile now and won't need another until he is nine.
Had been concerned when I left home as Sheba had to have new dogsitters this time and whilst I liked Betty and Brian I felt that Betty was a bit nervous with Sheba.
Returned home to find Betty and Brian wreathed in smiles, and full of praise for Sheba - Brian wanted to take her home with them and Betty commented on what a loving dog she is. (So she didnt eat the postman then as I warned them she might!)
Shepherd and sheepdog
Harold the shepherd who trains his sheep dog in my small paddock is a natural storyteller, and | could listen to him for hours. I am anxious for a happy ending for the current saga though - Harold has just been given his six month all clear from cancer - when he was first diagnosed he decided to rehome his two collie dog puppies from his working bitch Jess.
Jess is now seven and he considers her too old to have more pups - she has some arthritis and is a lovely and obviously much loved dog. However now that Harold is so much better he wants to get back into trial work. He has on loan a new young dog - Jack - and Jack's future is still not decided!
Jack has improved from his first mad rushing about behind the sheep to a more quiet thinking manner but Harold just has a feeling about him that something maybe wrong with him physically (a weak hip maybe) I feel so anxious for Jack who has obviously bonded with Harold - poor dog - what will hapen to him? Haven't seen Harold since I got home but I think this week is decision week so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Also returned home to find huge sign at the end of the road (The Scarecrows are coming - 4th July"
Mmmmmm!!!!!!!
Home
Put first coat of specially chosen and mixed Farrow and Ball paint on spare bedroom wall tonight and it is ..........hideous!!!!!!!
This house faces south west and the light coming in through the windows has a strong effect on colour - my main sitting room walls had ten coats of paint in three different shades of cream before I finally gave up and decided that well yes pale yellow was what i wanted! And I can still see the original lilac through the cream paint on my bedroom walls!
Off now to do some more work for new contract.
Unlike Mr.Cavelli's clothes though the 'tents' were simple and restrained - white muslin type fabric, with a border embroidered with gold elephants. There was some low silk cushioned seating in bright rich colours, and prettilly coloured candle lanterns for when it got dark. Sensibly outside gas patio type heaters had also been provided and were on - it was a very cold evening.
One tent had a dance floor and a stage the other a sort of seagrass type flooring.
On arrival we were all given name badges - red for authors, blue for agents and green for Harper staff. Press did not wear badges!
I don't know who provided the catering but suspect it must have been some outfit very of the moment - we were welcomed with champagne cocktails - either rhubarb(?) (which had a peppery taste) or peach bellini. The champagne flowed extremely generously - I stopped having my glass filled when I discovered that my lips had quite unacocuntably gone numb! (brain had turned numb several drinks earlier)
The food was yummy and served charmingly & professionally by the young waiters and waitresses - again chef must have been someone v. trendy as the the chocolate covered icecream lollipops were filled with pepper flavoured icecream.
(am just realising that sound frighteningly like elderly person who used to write Jennifer's Diary! and it gets worse!)
Everyone was extremely suitably and smartly dressed - not a bare torso or piece of denim in sight!
Didn't see anyone famous other than Jon Snow (and only from a distance as there were so very many people there)
Did have a chat with fellow RNA author Anne Bennett though.
Met Harper UK's CEO who went round introducing herself to everyone - in her speech she mentioned the fact that Harper's American CEO was there along with Lachlan Murdoch who had arrived unexpectedly Made me wonder if LM had attended the Serpentive Gallery do the night before. CEO also made a joke about some famous harper authors not being able to attend (David Beckham et al)
Must admit I felt a little bit lost at first as the only people I knew where my ed and her Senior Ed. In many ways it was very similar to the Harlequin parties I have attended - the attention to detail, the excellent food and drink - the care taken by the CEO to meet the authors, but in others it was very different, and I did miss the warmth and family atmosphere of being with my fellow M &^ B authors. Of course that could just be because I have been with Harlequin for so very long and know so many people.
All in all a very enjoyable and glamorous evening!
New Contracts & work
I had been rather nervous pre the party as I was due to meet with my Ed and the Senior Ed to discuss my new contract. I'm used to working closely with my editors and was relieved whenn the Senior Ed wanted to go through what she was looking for for the new contract. This has now given me a definite frame to work within and one which I feel comfortable with.
I'm now in the fortunate position of knowing exactly where I am going with my next 3 short series books for M & B, next year's MIRA book for Harlequin and now my next 4 books for Harper.
Discussing new work always leaves me feeling very drained though, and this is the time when I miss my late husband Steve so very much. I always used to go through with him what was said, what was going to happen, how I felt about it, etc. etc.
I can't speak for other authors but for me the insecurity of worrying about my work is always there. Both Harper eds though were very kind about my work and that gave me a real boost.
One of the reasons I haven't posted here earlier is because I am busily typing out brief outlines for the new contract.
By happy chance a fellow author was also in London, so we managed to meet up and have coffee together in Harvey Nicks . We hadn't met before although we have exchanged many emails and we were both a little bit nervous - however all went well. I had mentioned on one of the email loops that I was considering trying to start 'teaching' and she had brought me a small book - brown paper cover decorated with a shiny red apple - containing quotes from people about their teachers.
Maths never was my strongest subject which is no doubt why I can never understand why I return from any stay away from home having gained at least 2lbs of weight per day - how does that happen?
Family
Ominously when I telephoned my mother from London on Friday morning and told her that I would be going to see her and my father on Sunday, she told me that she hadn't expected me to do so and moreover that she thought it would be too much for me what with me just getting back from London... I am not my mother's daughter for nothing - Alarm bells started to ring! What was she trying to hide?
Sure enough when i arrived at my parents' house this morning it was to discover that my mother has a huge scab on her forehead and another on her nose (my parents who are in their mid eighties still run a small garden centre having refused to give in to the combined pleas of me, my brother and my sister to retire gracefully)
Mother had slipped on a paving slab!
Brother was also at parents and had a lovely photo of his first grandchild - this litte boy was born with a hare lip and has just had his second operation - he has the most beautiful smile now and won't need another until he is nine.
Had been concerned when I left home as Sheba had to have new dogsitters this time and whilst I liked Betty and Brian I felt that Betty was a bit nervous with Sheba.
Returned home to find Betty and Brian wreathed in smiles, and full of praise for Sheba - Brian wanted to take her home with them and Betty commented on what a loving dog she is. (So she didnt eat the postman then as I warned them she might!)
Shepherd and sheepdog
Harold the shepherd who trains his sheep dog in my small paddock is a natural storyteller, and | could listen to him for hours. I am anxious for a happy ending for the current saga though - Harold has just been given his six month all clear from cancer - when he was first diagnosed he decided to rehome his two collie dog puppies from his working bitch Jess.
Jess is now seven and he considers her too old to have more pups - she has some arthritis and is a lovely and obviously much loved dog. However now that Harold is so much better he wants to get back into trial work. He has on loan a new young dog - Jack - and Jack's future is still not decided!
Jack has improved from his first mad rushing about behind the sheep to a more quiet thinking manner but Harold just has a feeling about him that something maybe wrong with him physically (a weak hip maybe) I feel so anxious for Jack who has obviously bonded with Harold - poor dog - what will hapen to him? Haven't seen Harold since I got home but I think this week is decision week so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Also returned home to find huge sign at the end of the road (The Scarecrows are coming - 4th July"
Mmmmmm!!!!!!!
Home
Put first coat of specially chosen and mixed Farrow and Ball paint on spare bedroom wall tonight and it is ..........hideous!!!!!!!
This house faces south west and the light coming in through the windows has a strong effect on colour - my main sitting room walls had ten coats of paint in three different shades of cream before I finally gave up and decided that well yes pale yellow was what i wanted! And I can still see the original lilac through the cream paint on my bedroom walls!
Off now to do some more work for new contract.
