So the book is now on my editor’s desk.  And I am starting my Monday with  a clear desk and a backlog of things to do which is not funny.

Time to shake things up. Because the 23rd January marks the Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival can last ten years until the start of the astrological new year - and 2012 is particularly auspicious.

2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon.

The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast – the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune.

The Dragon Year lasts one lunar year (12 months) –until Feb. 9, 2013.

After working so hard since Christmas on delivering this book at short notice, then the revisions, it is time to go back to my old business model.

Think of it this way. I am head of my own self-employed little company.

The production team are taking a day off after an urgent delivery. Which means that the planning department can get to work on what they do best.

My new year may be starting a little later than most but today works for me.

What do I want to deliver in the rest of 2012? How does that fit into the long term plans I have inside my head? When do I want to deliver it and still have a life and holidays and fun? How will that work stretch me as a writer?

Time to have a board meeting with the directors and get our heads [ head] together. Cake and tea provided by the management.

Go Dragon!

ps. I was born in the year of the monkey. Sniff. That explains a lot.

Some publishers discuss cover art with the author but Harlequin actually gives you the opportunity to add the visual profile for each book which the designers then use to select the cover image.

And here it is – March RIVA. My chocolatier heroine and cocoa grower hero.

Quite delicious.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first Shannon Stacey romance I have read and I really enjoyed it. Of course you have to suspend disbelief in the set-up which forces our landscape gardener and former soldier together, but the small town, close family setting adds some credibility and the dialogue and wit is terrific. A fun read.

Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed both of the previous books in this series and was very much looking forward to reading Chloe’s story.

In fact this book was my personal reward for submitting my book to my editor last week.
The small town harbour setting and the set up for the three sisters is dealt with quickly and we are straight into the story when sheriff Sawyer Thompson walks in on Chloe on page 8 and the sexual tension bounces back from the page and keeps you hooked.
Sawyer was not a character I liked immediately. Sexist to the extreme. Chloe had to work hard to make him attractive. Physical toughness and broad shoulders only go so far. Both characters are matched very well and are strangers to intimacy. But we got there in the end, even if the character arcs scream at you then bang you over the head and repeat them several times to make sure that you got them. Hence only three stars.
This is not a book for someone expecting a romantic relationship but ideal if you are looking for a very sensual read with some interesting banter.

Happy reading!

Through Jurgen I have come to know of the TED Lecture series where leading experts in all fields of modern life are invited to give short presentations.

J.J. Abrams traced his love of the unseen mystery — the heart of Alias, Lost, and Cloverfield — back to its own magical beginnings, which may or may not include an early obsession with magic, the love of a supportive grandfather, or his own

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/205.

Go here to watch on YouTube:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjVgF5JDq8

‘Novelist Amy Tan digs deep into the creative process, journeying through her childhood and family history and into the worlds of physics and chance, looking for hints of where her own creativity comes from. It’s a wild ride with a surprise ending.’

Brilliant. Fascinating to learn about the completely different mindset of another writer. Go here to listen to it -http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/250
* http://www.timetowrite.blogs.com/

My very first Manga! Tipping the Waitress with Diamonds as I had never seen it – or attempted to read it – before.

Astonishing graphic talent. I was awe struck with the details the artist used to recreate my storyline. So thrilled.

I was also delighted to discover [ hat tip to the lovely Liz Fielding] that ‘Unfinished Business’ is released in Australia this month.This anthology includes my debut book, ‘Always the Bridesmaid’ – I do hope you like it as much as I adore the cover.

In the bell tower of our local church.

Mr Nina is a born-again ringer, and sitting there in the tower as the local ringers rang the 8 bells to welcome in the new year for our community, I thought to myself that there was probably no better or happier place I wanted to be – or a more fitting one.

The old and the new. The ancient and respected traditions working in harmony with the new which threatens to destroy it.

Now where have we heard that in the past few years?

In 2010, St Michael’s celebrated it’s 500th anniversary. The main nave and tower were built in 1514. And the current 6th bell was founded by John Saunders, an itinerant bell founder in 1558. The number 7 bell was cast in 1602 and the 5th and Tenor bells were cast  in 1670.

So early this morning I was literally sitting under the three bells which were cast when the Tudors and Stuarts ruled England. Those bells had been rung during some of the most dramatic times in British History. The deaths of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs, the civil war – which was fought very fiercely in our county, then the return of the monarchy, the Great Plague, the Great fire of London… people, places, discoveries – exciting times for the world.

And those three old bells are still being rung in 2012 by men and women holding ropes . Only now they time the start of the midnight 12 rings of the Tenor bell using a digital watch and a cell phone.

Remarkable.

And so January begins. From Janus, the god with two heads, one looking back, one forward, half in the old year and half in the new.

If 2011 was the year of turmoil and uncertainty in the publishing world then 2012 should see a lot of settling down  – which means new boundaries, new gate posts and new opportunities as the old gate keepers change their roles.

I have so many exciting  – and challenging  – ideas and plans for 2012 that I am totally jazzed to get started. Scary and tough? Absolutely. But exciting all the same.

But most importantly – I wish you all a happy and healthy 2012. This is going to be the year when all of your dreams and goals become real. Nina x

The heroine is a frustrated illustrator and art historian and by pure chance I discovered when I was doing some research that the British Library was releasing some of its vast collection of hand painted and written illuminated manuscripts for a very special exhibition of – Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination.

No hesitation – I booked the ticket online on Monday and went up to London at some silly hour of the morning.

And it was totally dazzling.

I have always had an interest in calligraphy [ despite my terrible hand writing ]and the masterpieces of art that were the illuminated religous works created by monasteries from 900 right through to the middle ages – with the peak in the 1400s.

Hand written on fine animal skins using quill pens and inks made from powdered imported minerals plus local dyes such as woad and galls these were miracles of design and geometry and skill. Gold, lapis lazuli from Aghanistan and malachite green were imported for these luxury items intended for a lucky few. Many of these bibles and prayer books were created to be given as gifts to royalty and important cathedrals.

And today was probably my only chance to enjoy them in person. Remarkable.

Oh – and as a bonus, the free permanent exhibition is an absolute joy and this morning I saw everything from Charlotte Bronte’s hand written and amazingly neat pages for Jane Eyre, Handel’s original sheet music for the Messiah, complete with scrubbings out, Mozart’s wedding certificate with his signature, to letters from Mary Queen of Scots, Leonardo da Vinci and most of the Tudors.

And the Magna Carta.

Books, Maps, Music…. bliss. Inspirational and much recommended.

Will they  make friends? Will the other children mock their love of cartoon fairy tales? Will they have to sit alone at the lunch table?…

So it is a delight when readers and reviewers take the time to tell you that they enjoyed reading how the two characters you dreamt up in the back bedroom of your little house in a small town in England fall in love and make a life.

Of course some people may want more sensuality in their RIVA, or less, or more international settings, or less, or more alpha male, or less.  But it is good to know that my story has touched the hearts of some readers. Thank you ladies. Sniff.

Many thanks to Julie Bonello at Cataromance Magazine for her lovely review of ‘Blind Date Rivals.’

Here is a snippet: “Nina Harrington pens fun, flirty and fast-paced contemporary romances that pack an emotional punch and Blind-Date Rivals is a fantastic story about learning to trust, facing up to the past and falling in love that will touch readers’ hearts and have them laughing out loud. Sara is a wonderful heroine readers will root for and Leo is a deliciously attractive hero no woman will be able to resist.

Imbued with humour, pathos and heart, Blind-Date Rivals is a heartwarming and feel-good contemporary romance from the talented Nina Harrington!”

And here is a quote from the Romantic Times Magazine : November 2011. 4 star Review.

“Harrington’s latest novel is fast paced and fun. Her characters are interesting and their predicament is believable. While waiting for a blind date at her best friend’s birthday party, florist Sara Fenchurch meets an intriguing man. After several dances, she learns that he is her blind date. The problem? Leo Grainger describes this desperate woman he is supposed to meet in such unflattering terms that an embarrassed Sara excuses herself from the party without telling him who she is. The situation quickly worsens when, unbeknownst to Leo, his family’s hotel company tries to evict Sara.”

And thanks to the lovely Judy Jarvie for saying on GoodReads:

“I loved this book. Both hero (drop dead gorgeous) and heroine (wanted to be her) had me drooling from the off. If you like an absorbing, feel-good read that you can snuggle into like a furry blanket and enjoy to the final sip – go for Blind Date Rivals. A very satisfying read. Put time aside to finish it like a glutton.”

Just in case you missed it, I have posted one of my favourite soup recipes over at the sparkly new Harlequin Romance Authors site – Cardamon scented caramelised sweet potato and parsnip soup. Go HERE for the recipe.

One of the reasons I love this soup is the cardamon, which has to be one of my favourite spices. I always use green or black cardamon to make savoury rice and curry dishes. Fresh ginger, fresh garlic – both crushed or finely chopped – and cardamon pods, sizzling in the pan – oh, that aroma. Delicious.

And that is before I add the onions and other spices such as cinnamon, cumin and coriander. Wonderful.

Sensory anticipation of the meal ahead.

And if you love Indian food, the mega talented Nicola Marsh is sharing some of her Indian recipes over on her blog and guest sites as appetisers or ‘Bolly-Bites’ for her first single title book ‘Busted in Bollywood’ – which is out now. Neither are to be missed.

And you wonder why I write romance… snigger.

For those of you of a knitting persuasion, the  Knitty Online magazine is out now, and there is a very simple and therapeutic pattern for a hunky gent’s pullover. Called ‘Mr Darcy’. Which of course could also be worn by any Elizabeth Bennett.

The model for the design clearly sees himself as a Zombie Slayer. Very funny.

photos: Cheryl Niamath

There is also a child’s hot water bottle cover

in the shape of a penguin - photos: Laura Nelkin

Now enough funstuff – back to the other fun of throwing rocks at my lovely hero.