Friday 17 April 2015

RNA Interview - Joan Hessayon Award



Today I'm being interviewed over at the Romantic Novelists' Association blog about my book, A Jersey Kiss, one of the contenders in this year's Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award.

The award is open to a manuscript that had gone through the New Writers' Scheme and is subsequently published as a debut novel. It is judged by a panel of experienced RNA members and is sponsored by Dr David Hessayon, in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member of the RNA and a great supporter of the New Writers’ Scheme.

Here's the link to my interview at the RNA blog.

If you'd like to ask me anything about the Romantic Novelists' New Writers' Scheme, please feel free to do so.
Georgina X

Shortlisted - RNA Joan Hessayon Award

Friday is always a good day because it's almost the weekend. Today, it's a fantastic day! My first book with Accent Press, A Jersey Kiss: The Jersey Scene, has been shortlisted for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award!


Seeing my name on the RNA website, The Bookseller and Booktrade sites has been incredibly exciting and the support from people online, Facebook, Twitter, emails, etc, has been overwhelming.

So, thanks to the RNA for shortlisting me and to the brilliant New Writers' Scheme who work tirelessly to help new writers reach their publishing dream; to the wonderful team at Accent Press, especially Hazel, Cat, Steph and Beth, and to everyone who has congratulated me. HUGE congratulations to my fellow contenders, whose names I've copied below from the RNA website:

The full shortlist for 2015 is:
  • Karen Aldous The Vineyard - Carina
  • Caitlyn Callery  The Bankrupt Viscount  - MuseItUp
  • Ashlinn Craven  Maybe Baby  - Crimson Romance
  • Brigid Coady No one Wants to be Miss Havisham - HarperImpulse
  • Joan Fleming  What the Future Holds  - Tirgearr
  • Kathy Jay  What If He’s The One  - HarperImpulse
  • Natalie Kleinman  Safe Harbour  - White Glove (originally published by Safkhet)
  • Nikki Moore Crazy Undercover Love  - HarperImpulse
  • Margaret Pardoe  Meant for Each Other  - DC Thomson novella
  • Janice Preston  Mary & the Marquis  - HMB Historical
  • Caroline Roberts  The Torn Up Marriage  - HarperImpulse
  • Heather Rosser  In the Line of Duty  - New Generation Publishing (originally published by Attica Books)
  • Georgina Troy  A Jersey Kiss  - Accent Press (me!)
  • Jules Wake  Talk to Me  - Choc Lit
  • Gwyneth Williams  Echoes in the Sand  - Endeavour Press
I can't wait to celebrate with the other contenders at the RNA Summer Party in London on 21 May.
Georgina X

Sunday 5 April 2015

Book Settings

The weekend didn't start out very nicely, with cloud, drizzle and very low temperatures, but the sun made a welcome appearance this morning just in time for Easter Day.

I began the day by going to St Catherine's, to The Breakwater Café - mentioned in A Jersey Kiss - and enjoying a delicious cooked breakfast with a few family members. As if we hadn't eaten enough, we bought several of their delicious donuts - people come from all over the island to buy The Breakwater Café donuts - and took them home to eat with cups of tea, while we chatted a bit more.

I then waved them goodbye and came inside to continue writing book 4, A Jersey Bombshell. One of the fun parts about writing these books is deciding on settings for the different scenes. I don't want to be repetitive, so I look for new places to use within each book as much as possible. Today I'm writing about Beauport, a beautiful bay with a headland around it that displays beautiful views that are perfect for photos. I suppose I should get back to writing the book...

Happy Easter.

Georgina X