Milly Johnson's Blog

What doesn't kill you...

2012-02-27T10:01:00.000Z

They say truth is stranger than fiction, and trust me - it is. I've been asked quite a few times to alter a plotline because it's not quite believable or relies too much on coincidence - and yet real life is full of them.

Take yesterday, for instance. There I was - celebrating the end of a rugby game in Wakefield (I say 'celebrating' - my son's team were hammered!) and by the coffee bar, I spotted one of those faces you just never forget, because it's burned on your brain for all the wrong reasons. It belongs to the guy on the left in the jeans. To say I felt a seismic rumble inside me is a slight understatement. The man in question was the biggest lying work bully I ever had the misfortune to meet. He was responsible for a lot of misery for a lot of people, drove decent, talented people out of their jobs and nearly caused me to have a nervous breakdown. In the end the company, who ignored all his hallmarks of bullying eventually got rid of him. Alas he ended up walking away with a nice pay-off rather than an ignominious boot up the backside, but I do hear that the building breathed a sigh of relief when he left it for the last time.

I confess that I've never ever wanted to draw back my fist and thump someone as much as I did yesterday - for so many of my friends who suffered under his 'regime', for the young designers he publicly humiliated - and for my kids, because he took food out of their mouths. I stood there, savouring the thought of seeing his jowls judder after a perfectly placed right-hook, of declaring to a room full of people just what a viper was in their midst.

And it would have been a magnificent scene in a book. We all love those moments in a story when justice is served out in a big fat portion. But, for every delicious thought of revenge came twenty quite different ones. I would know why I was striking out, but all my audience would see is a short deranged nutter attacking a man standing chatting with a coffee. And what if I missed and ended up hurtling past him and nutting myself on the wall? And if I did make contact, nothing surer I'd be arrested. In a book, I would be heralded as a hero, the judge would understand, the press would laud me and the arresting policeman would fall in love with me. In real life, I wouldn't be able to direct a thing. There would be no 'literary license' to ensure it all ended happily. He'd walk off the innocent in all this, smug and possibly with some injury money from my coffers.

So I had to press my nails into my hand and be satisfied with the fact that he spotted me and ran off outside as if his arse was on fire. At least I am left with my dignity intact, no criminal record and - as nothing is ever wasted when you're a writer - I have the memory of the biggest volcanic eruption inside me to tap into the next time one of my heroines bumps into someone that makes her blood boil.

Because of him I hit rock bottom seven years ago. But at least when you hit the bottom, you have something to either fall onto or use it to propel yourself up. I did the latter - which is why I'm just about to launch my seventh book and books three and four have a very true picture of office bullying in them. I was determined that I wouldn't be ground down. I read somewhere that the best revenge is success - and it is really. And you can't get ignominiously arrested for it and carted off in front of your children.

Writing is therapy. We are gods of our created worlds. Alas not of the real world, but at least us writers have a brilliant ability to wring more out of our life experiences than perhaps any other profession.

Mothers Day Book Signing - Sat March 10th Barnsley

2012-02-04T08:58:00.004Z

I keep getting asked if I'm going to be doing a signing in town in time for Mother's Day - so I've decided to. The venue will be BAILEYS COFFEE SHOP in Burlington Arcade - which is the tiny run of shops at the back of Thorntons - where Prince's fish restaurant, the gold shop and the sewing shop are - and Emma Bailey's cafe of course. It's a very sweet little place if you don't know it.

All books will be on a Mother's Day special price of £5 - I'll have some treats for any kids who are sneaking in to surprise their mums.

Sorry folks - White Wedding won't be out then but the other 6 will be available.

So that's Saturday March 10th at 11am - 12 (or until the queues die down - ho ho)

Oh and if you have any old sheets or towels,bring them with you as Emma collects them for a local animal rescue centre.

Hope to see some of you there :)

Oh and the Barnsley Library launches are filling up pretty fast so get in there quick.

And check out our novel writing afternoon in June below. We're just covering costs on it and - trust me - if you want a kick up the backside to get you writing, Victoria and I will give it to you that day.
Milly x

A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS

2012-01-31T15:36:00.001Z

First of all - Victoria Howard and I are running an afternoon 'crash course' in writing a book in Barnsley on Sunday 17th June 2pm -5pm

Both of us will give a presentation, there will be a half-time afternoon tea, plenty of time for Q & As and our latest books will be available to buy.

We've both done our course on a few occasions and they've gone down very well, so we're joining forces. Sometimes you just need a kick up the backside to get started - and this is what we hope to give you :)

We will also tell you:

'From idea to manuscript' - how to develop ideas and characters for your novel

How to make your novel flow

How to plot

How to approach an agent

What NOT to do

The importance of dialogue

The importance of male protagonists in Romantic Suspense Novels

...plus SO MUCH more. We intend to send you home with lots of pointers, some supporting literature and being raring to go.

The Holiday Inn does wonderful Sunday carveries and pub lunches so if you wanted to make a full afternoon of it - or night - stay for a meal or a drink too.

The afternoon will run - approximately - like this

1.30pm - arrive early if you want to catch us for an early book sale

2pm - I'll be talking for an hour with a powerpoint presentation

3.15pm - break for afternoon tea and cakes and a general mingle

3.45pm - Victoria Howard will present

4.45pm - Q & As

5.00pm - book signings

So hope you can join us. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. We won't be issuing tickets but you will be given a booking number.

Kindest

Milly & Victoria
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

AND my book launch of WHITE WEDDING will be taking place on Monday 30th of April and Wednesday 2nd May at 6.30pm in Barnsley library.
There will be the usual talk, refreshments and your chance to get the first released books.
Tickets are free but places are limited (and if have you cancel will you ring as someone can have your seat)
To book - please ring 01226 773921 or e mail JillCraven@barnsley.gov.uk
Tickets will not be distributed but your name will be listed.

Unaccustomed as I am to Public Speaking...well not any more, actually.

2012-01-22T16:45:00.001Z

Anyone who knows me knows also that I love to talk. After 6 weeks with a very croaky voice - and 2 weeks without one altogether - I am back at full volume. This occurs every Christmas and which is why I don't book any talks over the festive season.

Now I can start booking. I've been approached by a few agencies to go on their 'public speaking' lists, but I seem to be doing okay by myself. Quite so, that I've added it as a branch of the tree of 'what I do'. In short - I've got to take it seriously now because my diary gets quite full, my audiences are getting bigger and that is absolutely marvellous.

Yes, I am available for ladies luncheons and after-dinner speaking. I talk a lot about the road to publication, I also do a 'crash-course' in writing, with back-up literature to take home, do tongue-in-cheek talks about women, Yorkshire, 'Finding your own Happy Ending' motivational talk and tailor a speech to specific requirements given the topic.

I'm absolutely delighted that I'm being asked to do this more and more. It does mean that I can no longer do a lot of the smaller groups, but I'm a working mum and I can't turn down the bigger venues.

In this first instance, if you do require my services as an after-dinner speaker, please contact me on:
milly9-15@millyjohnson.co.uk

More on this later - thank you!

Milly x

WEBSITE and latest book news.

2012-01-21T18:31:00.001Z

(a teensy sneaky peak at a bit of my new cover...)

My website at www.millyjohnson.co.uk is currently having a redesign so I can't actually amend anything at the moment - apologies for that.

White Wedding has had its big edit and it's a MONSTER. It's the biggest book I've done so far and has half-killed me to write it... in the nicest way. So many threads to knot up.

I've already started on A WINTER FLAME which is my 8th book and the 4th book in the season series. It's very light-hearted and fun to write. A soldier would have been handy to help me write it, but you can't have everything.

Bit mad in the Johnson household as I'm preparing to move houses but normal service will be resumed asap. Bear with me. :)

Milly x

Only Stools and Torsos

2011-12-07T11:57:00.003Z

Well, that was an eye-opener! I thought the Clothes Show consisted of just models walking up and down on a stage. Never realised that there would be actual SHOPPING there.

(just a few of the samples I was given - always wanted the red glittery lip look! Carole Matthews looked at this pic and asked if I'd been to a drag queen convention :)
The Simon and Schuster stall looked fabulous!

And there were SHOES by Kandee

and they were all SIZE 3 - and guess what size I am? Yep a 3.

I had a major try-on session :)

I was signing books at the stall when we spotted the style goddess and original Ms Clothes Show - Caryn Franklin and I fell totally into giddy kipper mode when she came over and had piccys taken with us - what a lady she is!

AND Jezz Brazier was on the catwalk next to us and was a thoroughly lovely chap - posing by my bookshelf ;)

I managed to give out the YOUNG CREATIVE WRITER award and walk up a catwalk in heels without falling off and breaking my neck. The winner came from Wakefield and is a fabulously talented young lady called Stacey Dove - I'll be publishing her story here when I've cleared permission.

We had lunch in the VIP suite with some more competition winners then went off to see the most amazing models strutting and dancing and generally making me green with envy. They are like creatures from another planet!

Unfortunately a lot of the show consisted of men stripping off. However there was the consolation for that pain in the shape of the most handsome man in the world George Lamb

Oh and The Risk performed (and were bloody good) but I've just got a swanky new camera and by the time I'd found the on button they had retreated!

I had my lips glittered up for my talk on stage. Couldn't get up on the damned stool! There I was having survived the catwalk and had to suffer the ritual humiliation of forty-eight failed attempts to climb a bar stool so high it had clouds on the top of it. Even after the lovely Georgie tried to give me a hand up. Someone, bless them, ran on with two chairs. Honestly - it must be nice some times to have legs like a racehorse!
Oh and here are the gorgeous Mel and Dawn from St Moriz self-tan which is absolutely GORGEOUS stuff and is currently 'tanning the backsides' of other self-tanners in competitions. It's what the people of Geordie Shore love - great people, great company. They're 'modelling' my book - I'm 'modelling' their product - fair's fair :)

Then it was time for champagne and just winding down a little. I can honestly say that I have to go next year whether it's work or play. Yesterday was work - although it didn't really feel like it to be honest (very rarely does in my job). I was absolutely exhausted so the girls manning the stall - who have been there for a full week - must be running off adrenalin and will continue to do so until the weekend I don't doubt - then they will SLEEP FOR ENGLAND.

Fascinating just watching all the youngsters hoping to be spotted by modelling scouts (can't believe I wasn't approached - however, after the stool incident I have been approached by the Carry On team). Absolutely loved swanning around with my VIP badge, seeing some young brilliantly talented designers and writers and being in woman-heaven with all those freebies and bargains.

For the most part I'm sitting alone in my house and writing in this job but when a 'work-perk' turns up - boy is it usually a big one ;)

Milly x

3 BOTTLES OF AUTUMN RIESLING TO BE WON THIS WEEK!

2011-10-23T16:15:00.000+01:00

To celebrate the launch of An Autumn Crush, here’s a competition to win one of 3 beautiful bottles of Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling from Penfolds wine donated by the fabulous Slurp.co.uk. This full fragrant white wine is perfect for perking up your autumn with its spank of sunny citrus.
Slurp and Penfolds are my two favourite suppliers of ‘the grape’.

PENFOLDS has been producing remarkable Australian wines since 1844. With over 165 years of history, the heritage of the brand sets it apart from other new world wines, making it one of the most prestigious winemakers in the world. For more information on PENFOLDS, please visit www.penfoldskalimnaclub.co.uk
With over 7,000 products, Slurp.co.uk is the largest online retailer of wines, beers and spirits in the UK. An unbeatable range of 2,000 wines are available for next-day-delivery by the single bottle (oh they're quick!). Slurp is dedicated to bringing wine to consumers in the most innovative and contemporary ways - using social and multi-media to create excitement in and around wine, combined with regular email offers to subscribers packed full of award-winning wines and special promotions. Go to Slurp.co.uk for more information and to register

Just answer this one simple question (the answer can be found on the Slurp site
WHAT SALT AND PEPPERY SEA CREATURE DOES SLURP RECOMMEND TO EAT WITH THIS WINE?
Send your answer to

putting AUTUMN in the subject bar. All the correct entries will be picked out by a computer random generator.
The winner will be notified after the competition closes on midnight SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER.
Over 18s only, obviously. Enjoy and good luck.
Milly x

FREE HANDMADE CHOCS FROM WALKERS OF SKIPTON!

2011-10-16T14:19:00.001+01:00

Congratations to Jenny Woodall, Carole Houston and Nikki Clark who all won the Penfolds Red Wine thanks to lovely Slurp wines. There will be another gorgeous wine competition next week - but this week it's CHOCOLATES. 30 OF THEM - ALL HANDMADE. And because I'm such a lovely person, I've been personally testing them to make sure they made a worthy competition prize. They did.

Walkers Handmade Chocolates is a family business in Skipton, North Yorkshire, owned and run by Belgian trained chocolatier Robert Walker.

Just answer this one simple question (the answer can be found on the Walkers Chocolate site )
Name a chocolate collection from Walkers which is missing from this list?
The Heritage Collection, The Truffle Collection, The Connoisseur Collection, The Taster Collection
Send your answer to

putting CHOC in the subject bar. All the correct entries will be put in a hat and picked out by a third party. The winner will be notified after the competition closes on midnight SATURDAY 22nd OCTOBER.
GOOD LUCK
Milly x

WINE WINE ... AND YET ANOTHER WINE!

2011-10-09T00:45:00.004+01:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO JAMES BRUCE OF ESSEX - who has won the Walkers handmade chocolates competition (but don't worry - there will be another one next week :)

To celebrate the launch of An Autumn Crush, here’s a competition to win one of 3 beautiful bottles of yummy, plummy ‘Old Vine’ Penfolds wine, in association with Slurp.co.uk. This rich and fruity Penfolds Bin 138 Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre is just the thing to warm up your cockles on a chilly autumn evening.
Slurp and Penfolds are my two favourite suppliers of ‘the grape’.
PENFOLDS has been producing remarkable Australian wines since 1844. With over 165 years of history, the heritage of the brand sets it apart from other new world wines, making it one of the most prestigious winemakers in the world. For more information on PENFOLDS, please visit www.penfoldskalimnaclub.co.uk
With over 7,000 products, Slurp.co.uk is the largest online retailer of wines, beers and spirits in the UK. An unbeatable range of 2,000 wines are available for next-day-delivery by the single bottle. Slurp is dedicated to bringing wine to consumers in the most innovative and contemporary ways - using social and multi-media to create excitement in and around wine, combined with regular email offers to subscribers packed full of award-winning wines and special promotions. Go to Slurp.co.uk for more information and to register
Just answer this one simple question ( the answer can be found on the Slurp site OR the Penfolds site
WHAT YEAR WAS THE PENFOLD COMPANY FOUNDED?
Send your answer to

There won’t be a return receipt, but trust me they all get here. All the correct entries will be put in a hat and picked out by a third party. The 3 winners will be notified after the competition closes on midnight SATURDAY 15TH OCTOBER. Trust me - this is a really special wine and well worth winning!

WIN WALKERS HANDMADE CHOCOLATES THIS WEEK!

2011-09-30T21:20:00.012+01:00

To celebrate the launch of An Autumn Crush, here’s a competition to win a box of 30 delicious choccys from the very yummy Walkers Handmade Chocolates company. That’s one to cheer up every day in November (like you’re going to wait though!)
Walkers Handmade Chocolates is a family business in Skipton, North Yorkshire, owned and run by Belgian trained chocolatier Robert Walker.

Fuelled by a passion for traditional hand crafted skills and artisan foods, Walkers Handmade Chocolates use the finest ingredients, locally sourced where possible, to produce beautiful, fresh handmade chocolates, chocolate gifts and novelties. The collections are inspired by the best English and continental chocolate traditions and feature nostalgic heritage flavours, Swiss style truffles and a classic Signature range with alcoholic and non alcoholic selections. Beautifully boxed and made with love they are the perfect luxury gift.
Just answer this one simple question (the answer can be found on the Walkers Chocolate site www.walkershandmadechocolates.co.uk)
All the correct entries will be put in a hat and picked out by a third party.
What year did the English invent a process for making solid chocolate bars?
Send me your answer on my contact page. If you can't get through that way - email me on this number

There won't be a return receipt - but don't worry, they all get here safely. The winner will be notified after the competition closes on midnight SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER.

And the winners are....

2011-09-26T09:57:00.000+01:00

Lesley and Celebrity Monkey. I laughed that CM really had seen Vladimir Darq in the bus station and thought was Lesley said about Lou was very sweet.

If you both send me your addresses and whose name you want me to personalise the books to - if you do - I'll get those bundles out to you.

Thanks everyone. Please pop back as I have competitions running all through October for wine and handmade choccys.

Milly x

Launch Week - Buns, Books... and Bishops

2011-09-24T13:42:00.000+01:00

We had the official launch of An Autumn Crush at Barnsley library this week. They're always great fun but I have to do two launches as the room will only hold 100 people. However they are always great fun - although quite hard work too. Alas I don't have an official entourage who upload and unload stuff for me - it's the library staff who help, above and beyond the job description, and boy am I lucky that the library lot - and volunteers - in Barnsley are absolute STARS (thank you Jill Craven, Rachel, Linda, the lads and the gorgeous Phyllis.)

The car was full to brimming with books, my lovely book bags (from bagitdontbinit.com) and the worlds biggest supply of coffee and shortbread from the fabtabulous Douwe Egberts and Walkers Shortbread. A launch wouldn't be the same without them as their coffee and biscuits kept me propped up whilst I was writing The Yorkshire Pudding Club through the night.

There was a production line of us stuffing my book bags with coffee and shortbread, vouchers and my sons were making sure everyone had one.

...and the raffle prize tables needed to be set up

We had some brilliant prizes - Mother's Ruin, books from my lovely author friends, wine, a voucher from Bannatyne's Spa, Sunday lunch plus plonk at the Holiday Inn - chocolates, bookmarks, handmade cards, cuddly toys, vouchers from Picture Proud photography in Elsecar - cupcakes from the lovely Shelley - who was busy setting up the treats in the next room. All the cupcakes were autumn themed - and she'd had to source a lot of the ingredients from the States. They didn't just look good enough to eat, they were. And just the right amount of frosting too - not too overdone. And - bless her - she'd even made some diabetic ones for our lovely Phyllis to nosh on :)
Nice to have a cupcake named after you - Chocolate and peanut butter. A bit like me - a little goes a long way ;)

The little gingerbread men and pumpkins on the 'Pumpkin Pie' cakes were so cute and the leaves on the vanilla were stunningly detailed.
The French Toast ones were to die for...

The books were out on display.

The formidable Phyllis was leaping on everyone and anyone and 'persuading' them to buy raffle tickets - although they're a generous lot in Barnsley.
I took my mum with me - here are three generations of my family together in the library.

The room started to fill up, totally filled up and then I was off on my rant.

Some fabulous people turned out to support me - the lovely Mayor Cllr Karen Dyson, who I just think is ace -

Here we are with Sara Atkinson from Haworth Cat Rescue on the second night. And my lovely fellow novelist Victoria Howard

Then it was raffle drawing time, book signing...

Here I am with the gorgeous Mel Dyke who is a top Barnsley bird and has been both an inspiration and Godsend to me. I love her.

And here is the wonderful Phyllis who no raffle-holding should ever be without.

Thanks to her 'gentle coercion' the two nights brought in nearly £600 and I think everyone went away with a smile on their face. My son did - because he nabbed the last French Toasts for supper...

Mine went down very well with the couple of rewarding glasses of red waiting with my name on, sitting on the sofa next to the dog

And inbetween the two events - I was speaker at the Bishop's Breakfast, which was the nicest start to a morning I've had in ages. Bacon butties with the Bish is probably one of the best perks of the job - so nice to be treated like a lady. It doesn't happy very often.

The official publication date for the rest of Britain is this week so I've got a busy time coming up. Radio shows, judging at the Clothes Show (diet here I come - and Armani shop, here I come when I've done the first bit.) Have a 'research' trip in Paris, talking at various events, Sheffield Literary Festival, more talks in lovely Wigan - where I was made most welcome last time. So many gorgeous things coming up for me. And amongst them all I've got to finish off White Wedding

And my pictoral homage to wrestling in Barnsley. No rest for the wicked? Then I never want to be good :)

Thanks to everyone who has made this week SOOO special for me and raised a few bob for 'The Well' and Haworth Cat Rescue. Mwah.

Milly xxx

COMPETITION TIME

2011-09-19T13:27:00.001+01:00

To celebrate my launch of AN AUTUMN CRUSH I'm going to be giving away 2 Autumn Crush gift sets - a book, a bookbag and a gorgeous autumnal bookmark - one with a leaf, one with an acorn.

All you have to do it post on my blog a one sentence answer to this question: Which character in my books do you like the most - and why? The winners will be the ones that make me smile the most. Competition ends next Monday (26th) at midnight. Winners names will be posted on the blog for them to contact me with their postal details.

Good luck :)

It's Out!!!

2011-09-14T12:10:00.002+01:00

Well... three weeks early, the horse has broken out of the starting gate. Too late to stuff it back in so let it romp. Hopefully it will be a 'favourite', hopefully it won't unseat its rider. I am very excited about watching it run. I can't believe I have 6 published books out there to be honest - how did that happen?

Of course, the official launches are next Monday and Thursday in the library. It's bittersweet that they are attracting too many people to fit into even two evenings, so next year the launch of White Wedding will most likely be held in Brooklands (still using the old name - sorry). When I was writing my first book I was propped up through the night by Douwe Egberts Coffee and Walkers Shortbread - and they always send me some 'anniversary goodies' to giveaway. So all those who come to the launch will receive the customary coffee and biscuits and a book bag from me. There will be an evening fund-raising for 'The Well' which is a complementary therapy centre for sufferers of the awful 'C' and one for haworthcatrescue.org who take in a lot of cats whose owners are terminally ill and cannot look after them any more. It's a source of comfort for them to know that their beloved pets won't be put down and that a new home will be sought for them.

I have some fab raffle prizes to tempt raffle ticket buyers... a facial spa, signed books from Tara Hyland, Lucy Diamond, Miranda Dickinson, Cesca Martin, Debbie Viggiano, jewellery, dinner out, booze!

So what's the book about?
Love
...and how it won't go where it's pushed. How our hearts often beat for the bad boys and keep a steady rhythm for the nice guys. How love is a total minx but who'd want to live without it.
I also explore the world of internet dating. There are more and more genuine people on dating sites these days but it is still prey to those who are less than honest, or less than ready to go on there. Not forgetting the ones who are downright dangerous and shouldn't be in the dating game, they should be in solitary confinement. I've got quite a few friends who have met and married lovely guys on the net, so I do paint a full picture.
And for anyone who has experienced 'the disappearing lover', well, this book might strike a chord with you ;)

It's also a very respectful nod to the world of wrestling, of which I have always been inordinately fond as it's part of my history. My grandad was pursued to fight by the legend that is Burt Assirati, an absolute sadistic nutter in the ring - and for anyone who thinks that wrestling is fake, they should have got in with him!

It's also about the best fun I ever had in my life - copywriting for greetings cards. In the golden days it was wonderful - as you may see by the dedication. My fellow writers include the brilliantly talented Tony Husband and children and teen fiction writer Alec Sillifant - And if you think that the briefs that Floz receives are exaggerated - just let me tell you that I've underplayed them. I could tell you some stories...

So, my baby is out and doing its stuff. And I'm proud and as nervous as a new mum.

And I need some nosebag, so I'll be seeing you!

Milly x

Cupcakes and Carousels

2011-09-09T13:13:00.003+01:00

Oh boy.
I feel a bit like Cinderella did dancing at the ball and then having to come home and start sweeping the cellar again.
When I was invited to be part of 'The Carousel' evening, I wasn't that sure what to expect.

At least I knew there would be friendly faces I knew - Jane Costello, who is always a delight to see. And my agent Lizzy and the publishing team at S & S who are like my family after all this time (poor buggers). And always brill to meet up with my lovely friend Tara Hyland for our usual coffee in St Pank and catch up on gossip before.

The hotel - W - in Wardour Street, Leicester Square was like something out of a film of the future. I couldn't work out how the flaming heck to put the lights on. For the first hour, I couldn't find the loo. It turned out it was behind a mirrored panel which I presumed was fixed to the wall. Thank goodness all four of us authors were able to exchange stories of similar confusion - I thought it was just me being an old fart.

Did an interview with the Times ten minutes before I met the others in the bar - like you do.

I hadn't met Paige or Ali before - and I never want to again. Joke. They were so lovely and friendly and I think we were all united by our nervousness at what to expect.
You'll notice here that when the four of us are together, three of us look like prima ballerinas and one of us looks like the little dwarf Russian ballet teacher whose career was scuppered by a gammy leg.

When we arrived at the venue, there were a LOT of cupcakes.

All of them with our names on them - and not only that, we all had special cocktails. Mine was 'Purple Iced Tea' (blimey it was strong) and each of us had a themed room - again mine was purple.

Jane's was pink, Ali's blue and Paige's yellow.
The pic doesn't really do it justice. I even had a woman's portrait on the wall with a very purple tinge to her face. She hadn't been touched up for the purpose of the evening, but she did look as if she was decomposing before our eyes.

The idea was that we hosted a table of 10 people - buyers and journalists and people in the book buying/advertising industry - for one course, then they would all change to another room and we would entertain another set. And what a jolly lot of people they were as well. Totally out to enjoy the evening and courses of salmon, the nicest chicken I have ever tasted, pavlova and then enough cheese to make you grow whiskers.
Didn't manage to convince the lady from Cosmo that a feature with Johnny Depp and me would increase circulation of her mag. Not even after plying her with my Milly cocktail.
The champagne came out after midnight back at the hotel - always a lovely way to end an evening and yep, I stayed sober, I wanted to remember everything. Plus the swanky room was hard enough to negotiate when you hadn't had anything to drink!

I can't remember upstairs to bed though - think I floated.
Breakfast the next morning was something else...

Couldn't possibly have eaten everything but the egg and field mushrooms and the rosti were gorgeous. And it would have been rude to leave the black pudding - obviously. Freshly squeezed orange juice (and can't you taste the difference when it is), cwoffee and rye toast - which I ordered and was a cock up on my part. Ugh.
I waddled down to the taxi after that and off to HQ for a pow wow on how well my books are doing.

Well. Very well. Here and in Australia - thanks to the success of Come Dine With Me as a programme and my appearance on it. Supermarkets are buying up the backlist, all my books are in the top 25 e-books and everyone's happy, in short. And I now know the title of book 8 AND I've seen the cover for White Wedding - and it's absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to show it off.

More cupcakes

and a podcast with the DIVINE Alice and S-J, who are the beautiful brains behind Books and the City - which book lovers really should check out because it's fab and there are great competitions on it.
Talking of which, I'm heavily involved in the project to find the young creative writer of the year in conjunction with the Clothes Show - which you can read all about on the site. And I've been asked to join the judging panel of a wonderful new competition in Barnsley. PROUD OF BARNSLEY gives kids at 'big school' the chance to say why they are proud of the town - and the winner is in for a treat. The prize is fabulous.

So, I'm just gearing up now for the launch of Autumn Crush and living on a diet of fingernails until I see what the reviewers think of it. If I had any fingers left, I'd cross them.We shall be eating our own cupcakes from Cupcake Heaven - autumn flavours of Pumpkin Pie, French Toast and Gingerbread. I might even have a diva fit in the library if it isn't themed in my colours ;)

More to come...

Milly x

A WORKING LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE

2011-08-23T20:32:00.004+01:00

Okay, I admit it - as jobs go, this one was a bit of a beauty. Signing books and doing a couple of talks whilst travelling around the Eastern Med on P & O's Azura inbetween cocktails. Now I'm home and the house is like a Chinese laundry, but it's so lovely to look at the pictures and know that I truly painted a real portrait on life on board when I wrote Here Come The Girls. Strangely quite a few things happened that felt like I was in the book - our captain had a lovely gentle Irish accent for one. I wasn't expecting to hear dear Captain Nigel come to life.

Flawless bus journey down to Southampton on the Eavesway bus - with driver prattling on just like he did in my book about washing his bus. But by 1.30pm we were on our lovely ship feeling very much at home and heading for the Glasshouse. Have to christen the arrival with some lovely Canadian Peller Estates Icewine. 'Surprised it took you so long' came a flurry of texts from 'friends'.

Our lovely cabin steward was called Savio and night after night he made us animals and 'sculptures' out of towels which greeted us when we came back to our cabin at night - here's the candle. I tried to take a picture of the animals, but seeing as he'd used chocolates for eyes, by the time I'd got hold of my camera the kids had blinded them!

The people on our table were fab

- and one of the great surprises for us was spotting our old friend 'Ice Cream Jonathan', who is mentioned in my book. He was a waiter who was on our very first cruise and since then has been coincidentally on at least 7 others. He got his name because he used to be a waiter in the buffet and always sorted my kids out with their after-tea ice-cream. The kids were 2 and 3 then - and he's seen them grow (though he hasn't seen me grow... well, not upwards anyway). He's such a lovely boy, it was a great treat to see him again.

Evening dinner is one of the highlights of my cruise - and I've always been so lucky with the strangers they put on our table. Although another surprise was that one of the dinner guests was my sons' ex-headmistress from Barnsley. Luckily she's great fun and the kids were well behaved, so no detentions :)
Chocolates and little philosophies appeared on my pillow every night - including this one - which I used for the opening quote of my book because it was so apt - spooky!

Slept like a captain's log the first night and got up for lunch the next day. We always sleep soooo well on board. So much so that we slept through a freak force 11 gale the night before Cephalonia. I just thought I was in a giant cradle.
The sun never went out on the cruise during the day - just as it behaved in my book. We had a couple of sea days so lunched in our lovely Glass House with wines chosen by Olly Smith and a delish menu.
I had the Woodland Mushroom Risotto with Camembert - which is gorgeous.

Tez had the Bison Burger, which is HUGE but he shared it with his brother - and still they both had to leave some.

I had a visit to the spa to get a hot stones neck and shoulder massage as my neck was so crunchy it would have been told to shush in libraries. I had a rather handsome South African man de-knotting me. Sigh... Right - less of that and back to the cruise. Our first stop was Malaga - very very sunny Malaga, where we got off, walked around, my son bought some of his usual tourist rubbish and we sat by the cathedral under a fan that blew out a mist of cool water, and watched the world go by.

Next stop was Cephalonia. I'd booked a trip to the beach and the lads were moaning that it would be boring. Skip forward three hours and I couldn't get them out of the sea. Yep, sun, sea, sand and sunbeds and it was idyllic just riding the waves like human surfboards.

And here's the lovely view of the ship as we walked back to it :)

The entertainment was great in the evenings - wonderful shows, very funny comedians like Peter Piper and a blast from the past Aidan J Harvey. And the most amaaazing Freddy Mercury impersonator Steve Larkins. Sue Holderness, 'Marlene' from Only Fools and Horses did some fabulous talks - one really surprised me. It was about the Harrison Watch which Delboy's 'father in law' found and which changed their fortunes. Sounds fascinating - not - I know - but trust me it was brilliant. One of the highlights - very clever and jaw-droppingly inspiring.
Dubrovnik was the next stop - beautiful sunny gorgeous Dubrovnik which was ice-cream heaven for my son.

Here's the infamous Pile Gate where the girls get crushed - although they've put a rope up these days which strangely seems to do the trick because there were a lot of ships in.

And for all those people who asked - the water spout which appears in the book which I described as looking like Bruce Forsyth is here :)

The next stop was Venice - and you can't get more beautiful a sight than sailing in the Grand Canal in the early morning with just the merest hint of mist in the air.

We walked for ages in Venice, drank Peroni (well I did, the kids didn't) ate pasta and ice-cream, Tez bought souvenirs, I bought handbags, George ate more ice-cream.

We were knackered - blissfully so. Here I am smoking a bread-stick (obviously too much of that Peroni)

And then it was the turn of one of my favourite places - Korcula, a beautiful island where I sat in the taverna in which I imagined Vaughan and Frankie eating pizza and salad.

Gorgeous place. It's always lovely to go 'home' to the ship, but I could have stayed hours more on Korcula.
Then it was the time of lovely Corfu. I LOVE Corfu and we were looking forward to seeing our old friends of Restaurant Rex - the restaurant the girls go to in the book. The food is fabulous - the pasta and beef and Greek salads to die for. We sat there dining Al Fresco and walking the world go by for nearly 2 hours - bliss.

I worked a couple of afternoons on board doing talks about the reality of life as an author and a crash course in how to write a book. (Surprisingly I was advertised as 'not to be missed' - so lucky it was the Horizon and not the Police Marksmen's Gazette - ho ho). I was chuffed as buttons to find that both were packed out and I sold soooo many books that my arm nearly dropped off signing them. Plus lots of people had bought them before and brought them on board to sign. There was a fabulous response and I met some wonderful people on board. I even did a bit of stand up - what a rush!

I hope all the people who bought my books to take home as presents were happy and that I've been responsible for at least a few people taking the plunge and booking a cruise. I've converted a few friends over the years - and they've converted more. My friend ended up actually getting married on board after being bitten by the cruise bug.
The sea days were lovely and restful after a run of ports. The kids splashed in the pool, I read books and after boiling for a

bit in the sun, went to join them. Plus it was fabulous to sit and watch a film on the big sea-screen both during the day...

...and swaddled up in blankets at night (spot James Bond!)

The breeze was a gentle hot ruffle and was as gorgeous as Daniel Craig himself.

The lovely couple on our table had an anniversary so we had the 'choir' singing Congratulations and the balloons - but Geoff is a professional Tenor so we unplugged our ears and listened to a 'proper'serenade.

He even did a brilliant rendition of From Russia With Love on the final night at the 'X Factor' - what a voice, what a gift!

We managed a fabulous night away from the restaurant to take in Verona, the Italian restaurant on deck 15 where the steaks are served on molten hot lava stones which act as both plate and grill.

And you can get sizzling strawberries in Prosecco - yum!

Plenty of opportunity to dress up on the formal nights

And there was even a passenger choir which was so lovely to both hear and see.

I even had a visit to the casino on Black and White night when the ship was full of James Bonds and is my favourite night.
Vigo - our last stop - was great for handbags and purses and watches and the sun didn't stop burning for us until the late afternoon of the last day. That last sea day was marvellous for me as I drew open the curtains in the morning and saw a whale. I ran outside on the balcony and just watched it rising and blowing out a jet of water. I was shouting 'Look a whale' and it was shouting the same back to me - so it was time to go home and hit the yogurts.

As usual, I'm left with lovely memories of yet another belting P and O cruise and think of the last day of my holidays as the first day of counting down to my next one. Wonderful wonderful stuff - and I could have easily have written another book about it all :)
To all those people who have written to me asking if my book really is a true portrait of a cruise - yep it is. Go book one, and then tell me I'm lying. I bet you wouldn't be able to :)
Milly x

AUGUST BARGAIN!

2011-08-01T16:08:00.001+01:00

Just a quick one before I turn off the computer and have a summer break - for anyone who has a Kindle and would like a bargain, my first book The Yorkshire Pudding Club is being sold on Amazon for £1.99 throughout August. Here's the link for you.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Milly xx

Self-Publishing Continued

2011-07-30T12:24:00.000+01:00

As a post-script to my last blog, I'd be very interested to hear of any tried and tested self-publishing sites which you recommend.

I've every intention of giving it a go myself with a niche publication. My friend has used blurb.com and myphotobook.co.uk and the quality of these books is amazing.

I still think that if you are interested in a mainstream career there is no other way than the traditional route (for now). Yes, as someone pointed out, there are agents and publishers out there who aren't as supportive as maybe you would have liked - but I happen to be blessed in that area. Good luck to all those who are going it alone and getting out there under their own steam.

To Be Self-Published, or not Self-Published – That is the Question

2011-06-14T14:58:00.003+01:00

I was recently asked my opinion about self-published books. Would I ever contemplate it? Yes – in fact I’m actually self-publishing an anecdotal/photographic local history of wrestling in the autumn. The reason I’m doing it is that I know it’s a niche market and I have very little chance of getting it placed with a mainstream publisher. I’m doing it for charity – and this way I control all editorial and the profit will be bigger. There are some fabulous sites out there which suit photographic books especially – Blurb and Myphotobook come to mind. The results are very professional – these books make fabulous gifts and are ideal for someone playing to a small audience.
But – here’s the question – would I have self-published my first book if I couldn’t find an interested publisher? The answer is: no I wouldn’t. And here’s why.
1) Quite simply I want someone to pay me for writing a book, not me to pay them. I want a career, not a hobby. And, for their cut, which I am grateful to pay, an agent and publisher will market me and use their contacts to get me features in magazines etc that wouldn’t even contemplate me as a direct sales person. Why should they? They know that if my PR guru approaches them with a pitch they can trust him because he knows their readership, how they work, what they are looking for and he can supply it with ease. My agent liaises with foreign sub-agents who sell on my books to international publishing houses who translate my books and market them all over the world. It’s hardly likely I would get my book published in Italian if I can’t even get an English publishing house to take it on.
2) It might seem a small point but I hate the paper. A lot of these self-published books look as if they have been cobbled together from cheap scrap pads. The covers are often dodgy too – no raised artwork or cut out/metallic effects which help grab attention and talk quality. There are all sorts of tricks of the trade to get noticed when designing book covers which artists attached to publishing houses are savvy to. It’s not just a case of sticking a pretty picture on the front which the author likes. A book has to both look and feel right to be attractive to the masses.
Selling your book to Kindle will skip past the paper problem, of course, but ebooks still only command a very small part of the market compared to traditional books. It’s growing, but they will take years to make a major impact on printed books – if ever (remember virtual greetings cards vs traditionally printed ones?). And even then you are competing with professional authors who have their books ‘Kindle-ified’.
3) It’s hard enough to sell books which have the might of a publisher behind them these days. Yes there are success stories of self-publishing like Stephen Clarke and his ‘A Year in the Merde’. But for every one of these mavericks-made-good which are heralded in the press, there are thousands of flops which you don’t hear about. If you can’t say that you’ve got a publishing deal the traditional way - and this is the important part - then you can’t say that you have a representative of the market’s trust in you that you’ll sell. Local bookshops might give you a little order on a sale or return basis – but are you likely to woo the national Waterstones buyer? If he’ll even give you an appointment. Buyers know the self-publishing houses and that the books coming out of them are very unlikely to be viable options for their companies.
4) This one is the big one for me. When I think back to the submitted draft of my first book – which I thought was nigh on perfect – I cringe. Editing a book isn’t just about correcting the spelling mistakes, it’s a full team effort from a host of people in the publishing world who know what they are talking about and are in place to drive the story to its final polished edit. My story was seen by an editor – who suggested all sorts of changes – and 99% of those changes were the right suggestions and worked. Then it was looked at again – more tweaks suggested. Again, they worked. Then a copyeditor looked at it and suggested changes - which worked. Then it was typeset and checked again by another proof-reader, whose changes were spot on. This continual process of refinement is what moulds a story into a book that a publisher can put out there with confidence. I know that if I’d self-published it, it might have felt the best I could do, but it would have been shockingly lacking for the want of the input of a team of experts at my disposal.

My personal conclusion would be that if your main ambition is to see your name on a book, then go self publish. But if you want a career as a national/international successful author there is no real short cut and leaping to self-publication is not the ideal option it might appear. You need an agent to recognise your work is good enough to sell, then hook you up with a publisher. Then you need a team within the publishing house to propel you upwards and onwards into every possible outlet in Britain – and then onto the rest of the world. In a traditional publishing environment you are supported by professional cover designers, editors, a production team, a distributing team and a publicity department – and all are trained for their purposes. Can any author boast an equivalent expertise in all of these fields?

‘Everyone has a book inside them,’ is the saying. But the truth is that most of those books would bore the masses into a coma. And agents aren’t interested in taking on someone with just the ‘one book inside them’. This is a business – first and foremost. Agents look at the long game with potential new clients: ‘has this writer got at least ten books in them?’ they often ask before taking anyone on. Because, give or take the odd massive first advance story that hits the news – and it hits the news because it’s so rare - most authors have to build up fairly slowly to the sort of advances that allow them to give up the second – and mortgage supporting – day jobs.
It’s not easy to get a publishing deal. Most books you see on the shelves have been turned down over and over again: Harry Potter had been rejected so many times it was virtually on last chance saloon when it was submitted to Bloomsbury – who took it and ran with it. Twilight was turned down fourteen times, Stephen King’s Carrie had been rejected so many times he threw it in the bin, only for it to be retrieved by his wife. Super-best-selling author Jill Mansell wrote seven novels before getting published – ‘they live in a drawer’ she says. Authors clock up years of rejection but it’s all part of the refining process and why it is a true vocation and not just ‘a job’. We abandon rejected manuscripts and go to bed resolving to scrap everything and find a different career, then wake up with renewed vigour to begin fighting again to get that deal. We learn more with each rebuff. Determination and resilience is as vital to a writer’s make-up as talent. The road to publication truly is paved with blood, sweat, toil and tears and that’s why it’s worth everything when a deal comes through. The best things in life just don’t come easy – and to a writer, a publishing deal really is one of the best things in life.
And what becomes clear when you sign that first contract is that your work isn’t by any means done – rather it’s just begun, because then you have to STAY in the game. And that’s why you need to have developed a backbone of iron during your apprenticeship to this point.
In the words of Joe Konrath : ‘There's a word for a writer who never gives up . . . published.’ I really couldn’t have put it better myself.

ICE WINE WINNERS!

2011-06-03T09:09:00.000+01:00

The winners of the fabulous ICE WINE are... (drum roll).

Maggie Hill
Jennifer Campbell
Nikki Ann Trow

The grapes - as the website reveals - are grown in Canada.

Ice wine will be on its way to these lovely ladies very shortly - please let me know if you enjoyed it. Thanks everyone for joining in.

For all the many people who didn't win one - go and treat yourself to this gorgeous gorgeous wine at Slurp.co.uk. It's a lovely site for those who like to buy wine on-line and the fizzy Pellers ice wine is my discovery of last year.

Congratulations! More competitions coming up soon so do call in

Milly x

Dames, Diamonds, Mayors and Me :)

2011-05-23T11:21:00.003+01:00

Well, what a fabbo weekend I've had for a Barnsley bird. First of all I was guest after-dinner speaker for the mayor's inaugural banquet on Friday night. Given pride of place next to the mayor herself and opposite Dickie Bird (who is always lovely, gentle company). Gorgeous food. Just wish I could have taken a pic of the giant Yorkshire pudding starter - but I didn't have a wide enough angle lens on my camera. Fabulous. I had to come home early and miss the dancing - alas - as I had a long drive the next morning. So nice to be treated so well - I even had an escort out to my car carrying the huge display of flowers I'd been given. So much good feeling and laughter in one room - a wonderful start to the Mayor's year I so hope. She's such a great woman - raring to go, down to earth and a damned hard worker.

The next morning, my friend Traz and I set off for Southampton for the naming ceremony of the Adonia - the newest addition to P & O's fleet - a night away from our families for a bit of glitz. After a dull week weather-wise, the sun flared up, the roads cleared and it was the perfect journey down. The ship is an adult only one, small by the comparisons of the ones I go on with a stunningly intimate feel: a floating country hotel. There was just enough time to change from travelling jeans into full-on bling and go out onto a deck flooded with sunshine.

Champagne with Marco (in the background) Olly Smith, Richard Gaisford, Atul Kochhar - all looking bloody gorgeous in suits. Fabulous atmosphere on board, canapes to die for, dancers, singers - then Hugh Bonneville came onto the podium and introduced Dame Shirley Bassey - who looked about 20 - and welcomed us all onto 'her ship' :)!

She was quite honestly gorgeously stunning. She pressed a huge diamond and a magnum of champagne flew across our heads and smashed into the side of the ship wall. Then there was a huge explosion of silver glitter showering us - absolutely fantastic.

After catching up with a few old friends - and captains - we had a look around the ship, trying to find the best place to stowaway! Then it was time for bling number 2 outfit. Particularly pleased as I'd bought my friend some blue and diamond bling from Diva in the market and Dame Shirley asked her if it was real :) It was her birthday and Dame S couldn't have been sweeter to her - a real lady.

Champagne reception at 6.15 (more champagne - yawn... - ho ho) Then dinner at 7.15 - salmon platter, fillet steak and trio of chocolate desserts and coffee for me (diet starts today - oh my yes) with a lovely jolly table of people and Dame Shirl behind us.

Then onto the deck for the fireworks - even complimentary pashminas were given out (do these guys not think of anything?) Dame Shirley was to introduce them - and as she stood on the podium she just belted out Diamonds Are Forever, totally impromptu - it was fabulous - SHE was fabulous and everyone was wearing big daft beaming smiles.

The fireworks were magnificent - it was a clear, beautiful sky just waiting to be filled with sparkles. We stood watching them nursing glasses of port and cheering - it was faultless. Then went down to the Curzon to watch the brilliant Overtones - an a cappella group. Then up to the crows nest for champagne and dancing (though I was on fizzy water by this stage as I was driving the next day - bugger!)

When we got back to our cabin there was the most beautiful present awaiting everyone - one of the nicest souvenirs I've ever had... a diamond. Even bigger than my huge blingy heart shaped necklace!
Managed to sleep, despite being on such a high, and then it was time to wake, pack up - way too soon - and force a P & O breakfast down to fortify us for the drive. Sitting in that restaurant reminded me why I cruise - drinking coffee, watching the world go by, letting the calmness seep into me - and that was stuck in Southampton docks! Throw in a bit of ship motion and a couple of dolphins and even heaven would be a come-down. They really are my favourite ships. I can't wait until I'm on one again. For a bit longer next time :)

Twitter was full of us rounding off the day by saying how gorgeous everything was, how lovely to meet everyone for the first time, or again. I'm even being followed by Olly Smith now (on Twitter, not in a stalkerish way around town, I hasten to add). But then Olly Smith is directly responsible for introducing me to icewine - and he can do no wrong in my eyes.

There was a bit of a drop in spirits when I saw the pics and realised I looked more like Ricki Lake from Hairspray than Amy Winehouse - but then they catapulted right back up there again. And here's why :) I'm being asked to mentor the YOUNG CREATIVE WRITER OF THE YEAR in a joint competition with The Clothes Show and Simon and Schuster - where you can win VIP tickets to the Clothes Show here. So how nice is that?

As for now - well, I have a viewing on my house tonight, so I'm just about to sign off and scrub the floors. Back to earth with a bump :)

There's still time to win a P & O cruise for yourself and a friend and some Olly Smith chosen icewine - see my post below for details. You don't enter, you don't win. And someone has to... good luck!

Milly x

ICE ICE BABY :) - COMPETITION ALERT!

2011-05-18T10:31:00.002+01:00

I've had so many letters about this one that I'm posting the answer here. Good news, folks - YES the icewine which features in 'Here Come The Girls' DOES exist and it's a real treat - my favourite fizz of all time. I discovered it on my last P & O cruise on The Azura in The Glass House - my 'haunt' on the ship. Olly Smith picked it out for the wine menu and for this alone he should be canonised. It's called icewine because the grapes are harvested when they're naturally frozen on the vine in winter. And yes, it's as nice as it sounds. Too nice - so do remember to drink sensibly and in moderation (at this point my friends burst out laughing).

And where do you get it? www.slurp.co.uk which is a fabulous buy wine online site which sells some gorgeous fare and, if you're buying for a gift, the wine comes beautifully and safely packaged. AND - because this May is NATIONAL WINE MONTH - lovely SLURP are giving away a bottle of this gorgeous Peller Family Estates Ice Cuvee Sparkling NV icewine to three lucky lucky people.

The competition is open to over 18s only for obvious reasons - and is really easy. All you have to do is send me the answer to this question - HERE - (there won't be a posting receipt, but they do arrive).

IN WHICH COUNTRY ARE THE GRAPES GROWN FOR THIS PARTICULAR PELLER FAMILY ESTATES ICE CUVEE SPARKLING ICEWINE?

The Icewine competition ends at midnight on May 31st. Results will be posted on my website and here and Twitter and Facebook. Good luck everyone.

Milly x

Versatile Blogger Award

2011-05-17T11:56:00.000+01:00

Well I've been given a 'Versatile Blogger Award' and the rules of acceptance are that I have to tell you 7 facts about myself - supposedly interesting, but that's up to you. Not promising they'll have you on the edge of your seats but here goes.

1) I HATE marzipan (see - how 'wow' is that?) If I were queen it would be outlawed. I can't even stand the smell of it. And left in the house with a bottle of Amaretto and a raging thirst, that bottle would be totally and utterly safe.

2) I nearly died in my twenties when a cricket ball crashed into my face, severing both lips and knocking my teeth out. Took my years to fully recover, cost me thousands in dental work and had to have my lips glued back together which was more painful than the bloody cricket ball imbedding itself into my skull. Hated the sodding game ever since. And I was playing for charity!!!

3) I was ostracized at school for a while for preferring The Monkees to The Bay City Rollers. Girls can't half have cliques! (and I still play the Monkees in the car so there - ner ner ner ner ner.)

4) I am a qualified primary school teacher with an honours degree in teaching - although the world of education is safe because I wisely decided against a career in that field. And the world of accountancy can sleep safe in its bed as well.

5) I wrote some of the very first Purple Ronnies when they came out. I was given the brief by the owner of a greetings card firm who liked my work and wanted me to have a go at a new project he had taken on from a young man called Giles Andrae. So here is my first ever piece of commercial poetry :)

6) I have always had a fascination with birds of prey and my next book gives me the fabulous excuse of doing a falconry course. I kept quiet about this after an ex-boss of mine intimated that the ultimate in 'nerdship' were people who collect owls. I've got loads of them :)

7) Winning 'Come Dine With Me in Barnsley' was up there with the best great thrills in my life like giving birth to my two children, getting my first book deal - and my decree Absolute.

Tatty bye for now!

Milly x

And the Competition Winners are...

2011-05-14T16:50:00.000+01:00

I had so many entries to the competition that I've had to be very strict and accept only the full title... the winning answer was P & O Cruises. The winners - picked out of a hat by my lovely neighbour - were JOHN MORRIS, LIZ CRAWLEY and ASHLEIGH.

There will be another competition very shortly - a cracker. Do call again.

Milly x

Hellooo Again from - ahem - a Sunday Times Bestseller :)

2011-05-14T10:21:00.001+01:00

I've had to start a new blog as the other got corrupted and was full of spam. Thanks, I know quite a few housewives in my area and I haven't got 'one of those' that needs to grow any bigger. So hopefully the new fitter blogger will spare me the delight of loads of those messages.

Lots of exciting news for me recently. Here Come The Girls is out and doing a bit well - Sunday Times Bestseller list (21) and 25th best seller in the country chart - 10k books sold in the first week. Smashed my personal best by 2000 copies sold so I've had a 'little glass of Lanson' this week. Or 12. And it's only 3 1/2 months till my next one comes out.

Right - enough blowing my own trumpet. Thanks for everyone who came to my launches - I sold masses and we raised nearly £600 for 'The Well' and Haworth Cat Rescue. Plus we ate a lot of Shelley's gorgeous Captain's Cocktails cupcakes - this young lady is an exquisite baker of cakes! The detail was fabulous - little palm trees, ships and flip flops on the buns. Stunning. And they weren't those big awful ones that are just heartattacks in a bun case.

More later - I just wanted to get this up and running. Have a busy time coming up - after dinner speaking at the Mayor's Inaugural banquet on Friday, Southampton on Saturday to schmooze with Marco PW, Dame Shirley Bassey (note order of importance for me there) - and Gail from Corro. Ship (Adonia) naming ceremony - dress code is 'black tie and diamonds'. My diamonds are particularly huge - well, I say 'diamonds'.

And if you fancy a FREE CRUISE - courtesy of P & O - why not enter my COMPETITION which closes midnight on Friday 1st July - 2 very lucky people will be going on a Med Cruise in September on the gorgeous Ventura.

More later... thanks for popping by.

Milly