Hello from London…
Most of the terrible things they say about the weather here are true – especially this time of the year… but that doesn’t matter. It’s great to be home.
One of the first things I have done since arriving – and one of the best – is to attend the book launch for Up Close – the first novel by my good friend Henriette Gyland.
Book launches are always such fun.
There was wine, and smoked salmon; good friends and a lot of talk about books.
Looking around – I realised that there were a few of us there who shared a story. We all met as unpublished writers – members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers Scheme.
We have been friends now for so long, it’s hard to remember a time before we met.
During those years, we learned our trade. Now we all have books on the shelves… we are still learning our trade of course. That never stops.
Along the way we have shared a lot of good news and a few setbacks… but the important part was always the sharing.
I am really looking forward to reading Up Close. I am reading two other books right now – so I have just taken a quick glance at the first few pages – it looks terrific. I love romantic suspense, and there’s far too little of it being published right now.
I’m off to the Netherlands tomorrow – that’s a few hours of travel on planes and trains and automobiles. I am saving Henriette’s book for that journey.
The launch has reminded me of something really important…
To anyone who is working towards a dream – whatever that dream is – don’t give up.
Good friends will always make the journey a little easier.
It might take a lot of hard work to achieve the dream – but dreams are worth it.