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Indie Champion 2023
It was with some trepidation that I set out for London and the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Industry Awards on the 13th of November which were being held at the the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City. Having been shortlisted for the Indie Champion of the Year Award, twice, I wondered if 2023 would be my year.
Dear Reader, I’m please to say it was.
Accompanied by Adrienne Vaughan (who came up with the idea of the RNA Industry Awards when she was editor of Romance Matters ) we soon arrived in London. St Pancras had a wonderfully appropriate Christmas display waiting for us and Adrienne and I felt right at home among all the books.
Upon arrival, photographs were taken in the ‘green room’ where a glass of nerve-calming prosecco was on hand. After that, we headed for the dining room for the ceremony. It looked fabulous, all the tables laid out with white napery, candles and complimentary bottles of wine and water. The Leonardo staff brought round an array of canapes – which I was too nervous to eat – and we settled down for the ceremony itself. Nervously clutching my pre-prepared acceptance speech, I waited for my category – Indie Champion 2023 to be called.
Here is an abbreviated version of my acceptance speech
Thanks to everyone who has nominated or voted for me in this category. The RNA has been fundamental to my achieving the goal of becoming a published author. As a former teacher it’s second nature to help and inspire others and, since joining the RNA in 2006, I’ve striven to give something back. Not only to help indie authors write the best book they can, but to champion and encourage others to keep going; even when the going gets tough. To this end I formed the Belmont Belles and Beaux which now has over sixty members, organised workshops and co-presented a talk on indie publishing at last year’s conference. Indie authors plough a lone furrow: writing, editing, finding proof readers and cover designers, having their work professionally formatted and relying on social media to get word of their novels out there. If I’ve been able to lighten the load for even one indie author, I feel that I will have earned this trophy.
The trophy is mine to keep and is sitting in pride of place on my bookshelf next to my seven published novels- leaving just enough space to fit the Christmas novella I plan to publish in 2024. Will it feature a man in a kilt? You’d better believe it.
Then, just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, there was a knock on the door a few days later. My husband Dave came through with a parcel and asked, “Are you expecting anything from Amazon?” I opened the package to discover that my dear writer friend Madalyn Morgan – who has just had ten of her novels published by Storm Publishing – had generously sent these brownies. In case, you’re wondering, they are delicious. Thank you, Maddy. It seemed a shame to eat them, but we did.
It just remains for me to say a big thank you to everyone who’s supported me on my journey to becoming a successful indie author. I like the freedom being an indie affords me and I will carry on writing and helping others for as long as I can. Have a great Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year. Once I’ve published this blog post I’m heading back to the pc . . . after all, I have a novel to write.
(offical photos taken by Katie Hipkiss Visuals)
Summer Magic – Romance in the Court
Romance in the Court, hosted by David Headley, managing director of Goldsborough Books and literary agent is a fabulous event and one of the highlights of my summer. On Thursday, I travelled down to London with fellow New Romantic Press author, Adrienne Vaughan to join writers, agents, bloggers and publishing representatives at Cecil Court WC2. 
Adrienne had to buy ‘emergency shoes’ from Dune in St Pancras en route (as one does) and I waited patiently, knowing resistance was futile. A taxi ride through London always sets us up for these events and we really felt the buzz on this warm, summer evening. First stop was Cote Brasserie across the road from Cecil Court to refuel. As we sat sipping our wine, Sir Roy Strong walked past looking very dapper, which was apt considering it is Chelsea Flower Show week. Last time Ade and I had a similar outing we bumped into Dustin Hoffman. Well, I bumped into him, Ade was too busy looking at shoes in Tod’s window on Kensington High Street. Shoes, again? Honestly!
David’s hospitality is legendary and his young staff so friendly and accommodating (thank you Emily et al) that in no time we had picked up our author badges, a glass of ice cold prosecco and started mingling. As you can see from this photo, the court was soon buzzing as we met up with fellow RNA members and others from the publishing industry. I was able to hand out promotional postcards announcing the publication of my latest book: GIRL IN THE CASTLE, which I am very thrilled about.
The interior of Goldsborough Books is fascinating, with many signed first editions behind glass-fronted bookcases.There are also many contemporary novels on sale, and I spotted many favourite authors on the shelves. There is a sign on the stairs suggesting that it leads to Hogwarts, but I was having too much fun to follow it.
Sadly, we had to leave to catch a taxi back to St Pancras for the ten o’clock to Leicester. We are very much looking forward to the RNA Summer Conference when we will meet up with our writer friends once more. Here’s my blog post about last year’a Romance in the Court if you would like to read it.
Footnote: many friends at the event wanted to know more about our caravan trip to Cornwall (where I did a fair impersonation of a drowned rat), and to hear more of the antics of our parrot, Jasper, who travels with us. Here he is, and here am I with writer Rosemary Smith, who I met up with in St Mawes, presenting her with a signed paperback of Girl in the Castle.
If you would like to read a sample, share or buy Girl in the Castle please click here 
So – here’s to Romance in the Court 2018 when I hope the weather gods smile on us. Thank you for reading this blog post – if you feel like sharing with others, the buttons can be found below.
A birthday, a book bash and a Time Lord
This week, June Kearns and I travelled to London for Trisha Ashley‘s book launch at Daunt’s, Marylebone High Street. Our plan was to spend the day window shopping, have lunch and then head for Daunt’s – all part of my birthday celebration. An unexpected guest turned up at Daunt’s and really provided the icing on the (birthday) cake . . . as you will see, if you read on.
I love London and luckily, there is a direct line from Leicester to St Pancras. The whole London vibe really inspires me as a writer. The first time I bought a Diptych candle I was in Notting Hill researching my debut novel, Tall Dark and Kilted. June very kindly bought me a tuberose candle in the Marylebone High Street shop as a birthday present. I will be burning it in my study as I get on with book #5.
Marylebone High Street has lots of niche shops and cafes and June and I plan a return visit later this spring with friends. In one of the pubs, I visited the ladies’ loo and the cubicles were decorated with reclining nudes – there was a purple velvet chaise longue to languish on, should the mood take you. Recline and Sprawl ?
We eventually remembered that we weren’t there to enjoy ourselves (hah!), we were there to attend Trisha’s book launch and meet fellow writers and readers. So we got down to it.
We hoped we might meet fellow Romantic Novelists’ Association members at the launch and we weren’t disappointed. I was especially thrilled to ‘bump into’ Kate Hardy who is on the short list for a Rona Rose award on Monday with: Billionaire, Boss … Bridegroom? In 2012, Kate dedicated her book : The Ex Who Hired Her to my naughty parrot Jasper, and me (he appears on page 6).
Here is a slideshow of other RNA friends who rocked up at Trisha’s book launch –
I’ve been a Doctor Who fan ever since I watched the first episode back in nineteen sixty – something. So, the unexpected appearance of Peter Davison at Trisha’s book launch really was the icing on the cake and topped off my Birthday Bash in London. He was charming and agreed to pose with some of his fangirls. Not every day a girl meets a Time Lord, is it?
The Five(ish) Doctors, reboot – video BBC.co.uk
To sum up – it was so good to kick back, chill, and every other adjective I can think of because (drum roll) my new novel has been returned from fabulous proofreader, Julia Gibbs and is now in the capable hands of Sarah Houldcroft being formatted. And breathe.
Pre-order date coming soon
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Lizzie Lamb - author 