By Jennie Lucas
A few weeks ago, the Association of Mills and Boon Authors held their annual luncheon, a daylong event that included an afternoon of champagne (the famous Toast to the Authors) hosted by the Mills & Boon Richmond office. What a fun excuse to visit London!
The night before the AMBA festivities, some of the Presents authors went out for dinner organized by hilariously witty Kate Walker. What a blast! Below, from left: India Grey, brand-new Presents author Sabrina Philips, Christina Hollis.
I was overjoyed to meet the fantastic, brilliant Michelle Reid!
We met at the Radisson Hotel for drinks then had dinner there. We were a rowdy crowd–we pretty much owned that hotel restaurant! At our table, from left–Abby Green, Kate Walker, Trish Morey
The next morning, India, Abby, Natalie Rivers and I walked from our hotel at Charing Cross to the event at Browns, a posh tavern in Covent Garden. Below: Abby and India!
Inside Browns, the pre-luncheon cocktails and chatting…
I was thrilled to meet the legendary Sara Craven!
At the luncheon. From left: India Grey, Harlequin Historicals author (and AMBA luncheon organizer) Michelle Styles, and our own Natasha Oakley
With the head of the London HM&B office Karin Stoecker (in the middle) and Heidi Rice.
From left: Kate Hardy and Julie Cohen.
Between the luncheon and the champagne toast that afternoon, Sharon Kendrick, Carole Mortimer, Christina Hollis, Sabrina Philips, Abby, India and I went out for a walk. India had forgotten her phone, my high heels needed to be exchanged for flats and Sharon realized she had a rip in her stockings! That called for an emergency trip to the Charing Cross Boots!
During the champagne toast later that afternoon, I finally met Kiwi (and fellow mom of toddlers) Natalie Anderson. We likely would have had so much to chat about–a pity I’d lost my voice the night before and could only communicate with pen and paper!
After the champagne toast, a bunch of us were rounded up by the irrepressible India and Abby to explore the nightlife of London. In attendance were also Harlequin Romance author Fiona Harper, Heidi Rice, and Julie Cohen. We went out for drinks, a curry, then some more drinks… But as I, um, have no photos of our girls’ night out, please instead enjoy this lovely shot of London.
Here’s one last picture, taken the night before by Natalie Rivers, of us having cocktails before we attended the Presents dinner! From left: Abby Green, Jennie Lucas, India Grey.
Cheers! Thanks for a fab long weekend, London, AMBA and Mills & Boon! And most of all, thanks to my fellow Presents authors for such an incredibly fun whirlwind time. You guys rock!!
Looking forward to meeting the new, as-yet-unpublished authors who might join us next year…
Jennie
P.S. For more photos and gossip about the AMBA luncheon, check out this or this.
Jennie, I LOVE to title of this post. What a great idea – Presents authors ‘taking’ London! Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and the details. One day I hope to make it for these London celebrations. They sound brilliant. I was tempted to try to make it this year but other things intervened.
It looks like you all had a well-earned celebration. Good on you!
Annie
Hi Jennie,
I loved your post. It looks like you had a really good time. As an unpublished it is so good to have a peek into events like this.
Take care,
Rachael
Jennie, it was lovely to see you at the M&B drinks and the AMBA lunch. But boy am I glad you didn’t take any pictures of us later on. Suffice it to say, by that stage I don’t think I was looking my best….
Annie, you’ve gotta come over for the do next year. And Rachael, hopefully we’ll be welcoming you to the fold really soon.
Jennie thanks for the memories! It was great to see everyone and let’s hope there’s an even bigger gang next year…
x Abby
What a fabulous time y’all had!!! Love the pictures! I hope to join you next year. I got The Call this morning.
Such a dream come true to be a Presents author!!!!
Lynn– CONGRATULATIONS!! That’s a whole new blog entry asap please!
Welcome to the gang– and yes, we’ll be holding you to a trip to London next September for Strawberry Bellinis!
It was lovely to see everyone at the lunch and the champagne reception and thanks to all who were responsible for making it such a lovely day.
(Well done again, Lynn. Amazing news!)
xx
Oh LYNN!!! I gasped aloud when I read your news. I’m so happy for you!!!!!
And YES–please do a whole new blog entry!! I want to read every last detail of your Call story!!
So, so happy for you. I can’t wait to party with you in Washington DC–YEAH!!!
*big hugs*
Jennie
Great pictures, Jennie – they bring back some lowely memories. (I wonder just what I was laughing at. Knowing Abby Green, it will have been something wicked that she said. . .:grin:
) I hope it’s not too long before we see you again – and that you can talk the next time!
And many congratulations, Lynn – that’s wonderful news. Welcome to the Presents authors.
Kate
Annie, I really hope to toast you at a party soon! We might not make it to Australia until Sydney in 2010, so I’ll be crossing my fingers to see you in Washington DC or maybe London in 2009!
Rachael, it’s so great to see you! I’m glad you liked the post. Hope to have you join us soon!
Heidi, that night was so fun! And just imagine how crazy it would have gotten if India and I hadn’t had head colds?! I just hope the next time we get together, everyone is feeling well enough to party till dawn. I’m thinking we wreak havoc on a dance club. And the instigator of course would be…
Abby. The party girl from Dublin. Such a cool chick, hilarious and fearless. You and India are like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Thelma and Louise. Together, an unstoppable force of mischief and fun! Being with you guys make me feel 16 again.
India–let’s make a pact. No head colds next time, k???? *big hugs*
I still can’t stop thinking about Lynn’s wonderful news. It’s just amazing to think of you being at the London party next year! And the big pink ribbon in DC–aahhhh!! So many new authors this year… Kimberly Lang, Sabrina Philips, and now Lynn Raye Harris. It’s so fab. Can’t wait to see who’s next!!
I love that picture of you, Kate. So joyous and rowdy. What a fun night. The whole table was laughing! Abby right in the middle–and do you remember when India stuck a wine bottle in front of my camera just as I was trying to take a picture? Funny since didn’t India keep stealing the wine? “There’s no white left. We’ll have to order another bottle. Oh wait…India!”
You, Michelle and Trish were pretty wicked with your jokes at our end of the table as well. Thanks for inviting me, Kate. What a memory I’ll never forget.
Oh, Jennie, what great pix! Thank you for reminding me of what fun great time the AMBA lunch always is. I had to miss it because my husband and I were in Istanbul while you guys were tearing around London and no, I’m not complaining! Istanbul was a joy… but I’m very much looking forward to making it to London next year.
Presents writers are a great bunch and being together is always, always fun.
Love,
Sandra
Oh Sandra, if you’re going to be in London that makes me want to go back even more. Oh my gosh, that would rock!!
I loved your photos of Istanbul on your website. If anyone hasn’t seen Sandra’s pictures from her “research trip” cruise of the Mediterranean, see them at:
http://www.sandramarton.com/photos.htm
Thanks so much for sharing the experience of Istanbul and Greece–some of the most exotic and popular Presents locales!
Wow Lynn a BIG congratulations and to join the others – another blog please. All the best now you are Presents author.
Rachael
Lynn! Well well done. You must be floating on cloud nine, do tell all when you come back down to earth for a bit!
x Abby
Great pictures Jennie – it was a fun day – and London was stunning that week wasn’t it!
And HUGE congrats Lyunn – that’s wonderful news!!!!
~Natalie
Hi Lynn,
Congratulations on getting The Call. What a fabulous reward for all your hard work. And can I just say what a wonderful job you’ve done encouraging everyone else to stick at it and get their writing up to standard.
Can’t wait to snap your first book up once it hits the shelves downunder,
Robyn
Lynn, huge congratulations on having your book accepted. What an enormous thrill! Bet you’re floating on air.
Jennie, sad to hear you mightn’t make it to Australia till 2010 but that year’s the Sydney conference so there are compensations.
Cheers,
Annie
Congratulations, Lynn Raye! My husband wondered what was wrong when I started jumping around our lounge room waving my arms above my head and shouting!
Thank you so much, everyone!! I didn’t mean to hijack Jennie’s post and her beautiful photos. But the prospect of joining you glamorous ladies next year was just too much!
There will definitely be a blog post all about my call story here at IHP in the future. Probably next week, in fact. Thanks so much! I am indeed excited and floating and just so happy I could burst into spontaneous song (which really isn’t a good idea if you’ve ever heard me sing, ahem).
Great post, Jennie.
Can’t wait to make it to AMBA one day.
And huge congrats, Lynn!!!
Looking forward to your call story.
Jennie – fab photos and very inspiring for us lowly unpublished.
Now… speaking of someone who is no longer UNPUBLISHED – OMG Lynn, you slipped that one in quietly. I’d have definitely been using CAPITALS… but HUGE CONGRATS!! Can’t wait to hear more and what a wonderful HEA to the Instant Seduction contest!
Rach!
OMG Lynn. What awesome news and nicely dropped in there too. As a runner-up in the Modern Heat comp I am totally inspired by your success. Well done.
Felicity
Wonderful post, such excellent pictures!!
Jenny, you gorgeous girl, you look exactly like one of my heroines! Oh I wish I’d been there at that table with Trish Morey and Kate Walker. What was so hilarious!
Cheers to you all and I’m glad it was such a dazzling time. One of these years I’ll earn millions in royalties and wing my way to join you!
And to Lynn that clever girl who’s joined the celebrated band–a big super congratulations!
annax
**Jennie – great post and I loved all the pics
**Lynn – congrats – thats fantastic news – wow!!! cant wait to read your call story
Cheers, Joanne
Jennie–great pictures! What fun! Thanks for sharing. You did it again–made me want to steal away inside your luggage!
And Lynn!!!!!! HUGE CONGRATS!!! Can’t wait to hear The Call story!!! Yeah!!!
MARIAN
Great pics Jennie – thanks for sharing! And thanks again to Kate Walker for organising the dinner, I had a great time meeting everyone and I’m looking forward to next year already
Jennie, Those pics are romantic background shots. See any potential heros around? I loved seeing so many of my favorite authors. I have read all your recent hps.
to Abby Green: I loved so much your sept. book. The Kouros Marriage Revenge. Alexandros was very sexy looking & Kallie was my type of herione & misunderstood for so long so that it created a lot of tension.
hope you are writing another book soon.
All of you write such gripping and incredible romances. You deserve to take london & have fun.
Abby and Natalie! Hi you guys! Can’t stop thinking about all the fun. Already looking forward to the next time! (And Natalie, thanks again for the kid travel tips!)
Annie–the Gold Coast conference sounds fun but honestly, my heart is set on seeing Sydney. I’ll hopefully bring the whole family in 2010 and we’ll stay awhile to make that loooong plane ride worth it! Although I will of course be still trying to talk you into Washington DC or London next year…
Mulberry–you know, I had almost the same exact reaction when I read Lynn’s news!
Lynn–I can’t imagine a more fun reason for a blog to be hijacked! Actually, it was the perfect lead-in–”I can’t wait to see who joins us next year!” and you raise up your hand and say “Me!” That is SO COOL. I knew you would sell soon! I still remember the day I got the Call, almost exactly two years ago–no wonder October is my favorite month! And now I suspect it will your favorite month as well! hehe
Hi Nicola! I can’t wait to meet you–either in the U.S. or London or maybe Down Under in 2010!
Rach–I’m so glad you liked the photos. I love looking at photos too, especially when I can’t attend the events. Last year, Abby’s photos of AMBA helped me imagine what it might be like to attend. I almost didn’t come, though. I love to dream about travel, but always get so nervous about actually doing it. Two weeks before AMBA I was coming up with all kinds of reasons why I should cancel my trip and stay home!
Anna–HA!!! Thanks!! As I sit here looking a mess in sweatpants, glasses and no makeup your words brought the biggest grin to my face. I’ll send ya your five bucks later.
Seriously hope to meet you someday! (And when you’re a zillionaire, just remember, the first round’s on you….hehe)
Joanne, thanks so much!
Hi Marian! That’s right, weren’t you threatening to sneak into my luggage after my Cancun trip? Or was it Hawaii or Italy?? (Hmm, now that I think about it I’ve traveled a lot this year…) A shame about all the new airline baggage restrictions or I’d definitely try to fit you into my suitcase next time. Hey, it worked for that gymnast in Ocean’s Eleven…!
Hi Sabrina! Hehe–can you believe you’re already done being the Newest Newbie? Now that tiara goes to Lynn. But on the plus side you can give her advice and tips now you’re a veteran!
Hi Redlighting! Thanks! Nope, didn’t see any potential heroes in London, but I tend to be kind of oblivious. You might ask Abby as I think she has an eagle eye for spotting the good-looking guys. Our Irish lass is a charming one. And fearless
Ooh, I get a tiara?!
Thanks again for the congrats, everyone. And Jennie, my birthday and anniversary were in Sep — so all my favorite days will now be separated by only a few weeks! I’ll start the party in Sep and keep it going until Oct.
Congrats on your two year anniversary of the Call!
Wasn’t that a fantastic time! They were really great photos, Jennie, and I can’t wait to meet you all again.
And congratulations again to Lynn – as well as the tiara, don’t forget the sticky-out dress and the wand-with-star (wishes, for the granting of)!