Which wedding would you most like to be a guest at? Don’t forget to leave your vote at the end of the post!

Grab your fascinators - it’s Four Weddings time! To celebrate the release of The Wedding Diary by Margaret James, we’ve asked four lovely Choc Lit authors to imagine their characters’ weddings.

Which wedding would you most like to be a guest at? Don’t forget to leave your vote at the end of the post!

Gethin and Coralie from Move Over Darling by Christine Stovell

What a beautiful spring day and what a glorious setting! Blinking, as she emerged from the cool interior of the old stone building, Coralie paused to take stock. The little church was set on top of a hill, from where emerald fields tumbled down to a turquoise sea. A winding road led to the village of Penmorfa and eventually to the garden centre where the reception was being held. Having popped over there first thing, Coralie knew that Alys and Kitty had pulled out all the stops in the large marquee with its striped-canvas roof spread out jewel-like in the beautiful grounds.

‘You look absolutely ravishing in that dress, Mrs Lewis,’ said the handsome man beside her in his sexy Welsh lilt.

Coralie shivered, delighted that her gamble had paid off. The vintage silk organza wedding dress had arrived as exactly described; prom-style, with an extravagantly-full skirt, a high neck, deep V back and a cinched-in waist. She’d accessorised it with an orange duchesse silk bow in her piled-up copper hair and matching orange shoes.

She gazed up into Gethin’s face as the sunlight caught the intense, blue-black of his hair, the twinkle of his midnight eyes, and a glint of white teeth as he smiled. Her husband. Her husband! Her once-secret love was no secret anymore and she felt like shouting it from the highest hills, telling the daffodils and anyone else would listen. But, first …

‘I look equally ravishing out of it,’ she said, stretching up to whisper in his ear, just as the photographer snapped them.

When anyone asked afterwards what she was saying to her husband, Coralie just smiled. But the photograph always reminded her of the most perfect start to their married life.

That’s in addition to the ceremony, the public affirmation of love and devotion, the joining of two people and hopefully two families forever?

Well – as I was researching The Wedding Diary, I realised most weddings also mean: gorgeous dresses, gorgeous shoes, fantastic nail-art, amazing table decorations, astonishing hairstyles, [...]]]> What do weddings mean to most of us?

That’s in addition to the ceremony, the public affirmation of love and devotion, the joining of two people and hopefully two families forever?

Well – as I was researching The Wedding Diary, I realised most weddings also mean: gorgeous dresses, gorgeous shoes, fantastic nail-art, amazing table decorations, astonishing hairstyles, lots of polyester (especially among the over-fifties), hugely unsuitable hats, hyper-critical grannies, shiny black BMWs and – cake.

You can’t have a wedding without a wedding cake, so here’s one to get the party started.

Where do your stories start? Most writers get asked this question, and there’s no easy answer. Stories often seem to come out of nowhere, but in the case of The Wedding Diary I owe a great debt of gratitude to my local writers’ group, Exeter Writers, who got the ball rolling in a discussion about writing and weddings and winning, which all came together in The Wedding Diary. It’s about a girl who wins a fabulous luxury wedding. But there are a few problems, not least of them a missing bridegroom.

Last Saturday, Exeter Writers had a little private party to celebrate the publication The Wedding Diary. I took in a batch of cupcakes, which amazingly all got eaten. Who would have thought it?

But I kept one back for Choc Lit.

So, it’s your 17th birthday - many happy returns of the day. But remember, it’s okay to eat cake but not too much - a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips and all that.

That school report which stung so much? You’re still reeling from it. What was it Mr. Knight said? [...]]]> Dear Linda,

So, it’s your 17th birthday - many happy returns of the day. But remember, it’s okay to eat cake but not too much - a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips and all that.

That school report which stung so much? You’re still reeling from it. What was it Mr. Knight said? - ‘Linda does not have an original thought in her head, but she seems to enjoy the class anyway.’ I know it’s set you back a bit, rocked your world - but Mr. Knight will be proved wrong. Oh, so very wrong. Teachers don’t know everything, even if the majority of them think they do.

I know, I know…..your mother took you out of school before A levels on the strength of that comment. ‘Obviously you’re not working hard enough at school. Time you left and went out and got a job.’ Hmmm, parents don’t always make the right decisions either and after your mother’s death you’ll find she’d made a few very wrong ones of her own.

But it won’t be all bad about leaving school because it’s the 1960s. Hippies, rock ‘n’roll, the Cold War, drugs, sex, skirts that are far too short (in the opinion of your mother who must be obeyed), and it will be okay to embrace some of that, if not all. Think of it as early research for your future career - long way in the future in your case.

You could always wind your Dad around your little finger but best not tell your Mum he gave you the money for the record player. A mercy then, that you had to wait this long to get one and you never wasted your money on Cliff Richard records. Or Adama Faith’s. The Beatles all the way for you, helped along by your love of black and white photography and that iconic photograph of them

A little bit of advice never goes amiss even though teenagers don’t like hearing it. But hear this…..if you want a boyfriend to give you a hug, say so. Don’t say ‘I’m cold,’ and give a theatrical little shiver, because men are men and don’t read emotional signals. All that will happen is that he’ll buy you a jumper in a colour that doesn’t suit you, and a style you hate - and for the duration of your relationship, or until death…whichever.

Video and DVD recordings are a long way in the future….as are computers. But what lovely memories you will store up of sitting in the back row of the cinema watching West Side Story.Watching? Well, you’ll have to go three times to make sure you see it all in between the kissing, and the hand up the jumper fumbling, won’t you?

So, have a lovely day……it might be dandelion and burdock pop to toast the happy event but there will be champagne….in the future there will be champagne ….lots and lots of it to toast each of your publications. Cheers

Love

Linda xxxx

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hope-Hannah-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B00CJ02QQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368423421&sr=8-1&keywords=Linda+Mitchelmore

Of [...]]]> I’m sure I’m not the only novelist who dreams about her books being made into movies. It’s always good to share, and it’s been great to hear the audio versions of my Choc Lit novels - to listen to someone else’s interpretation of what I wrote. Sometimes I don’t remember writing that bit at all!

Of course, I dream about seeing movie versions of my stories. As I’m writing a novel, I’m visualising the characters right from the start, and while I was writing The Wedding Diary I had several people on my cast list, hoping that one day their people might want to talk to my people!

As a romantic novelist, I think a lot about heroes. Yes, it’s a hard life. So, for my hero Adam - maybe Richard Armitage as he appeared in North and South a few years ago, as a hands-on working man, even if he was the boss? Or what about Gerard Butler? He quite chunky and since Adam is a builder he’ll need to look strong and capable. Gerard’s eyes are blue while Adam’s are brown, but hey, that’s why God gave us coloured contacts. We know he can do unrequited love and yearning passion - he did both brilliantly in The Phantom of the Opera. Richard or Gerard - let’s see who is free…

Fancy yourself up on a roof, Gerard?

As for the heroine - I was thinking Jennifer Aniston or Sarah-Jessica Parker. Cat, my heroine, is a thirty-something green-eyed dark blonde, so these two ladies fit the bill perfectly. British accent - could they do a British accent? I’m sure they could, no problem.

But what about the fairy godmother, who could play the terrifying Fanny Gregory? Meryl Streep, perhaps? Or Helen Mirren? My ideal would be Ruby Wax, she of the acid wit and motor-mouth. Ruby, don’t forget to keep your cell phone charged!

The perfect fairy godmother?

In contrast to my contemporary romantic suspense [...]]]> Actually it’s the other way round, I’m the one who’s delivering. It gives me great pleasure to reveal the cover for my next novel, The Highwayman’s Daughter, which will be published in January 2014.

In contrast to my contemporary romantic suspense novels, the setting for this book is Hounslow Heath in the 18^th century, during the golden age of “gentlemen of the road”, and it’s a swash-buckling romp, light-hearted in parts but with darker elements too, as well as a core mystery.

I really love this cover, with its hint of intrigue and the central character’s slightly androgynous clothing and untamed hair, which tells us that she’s free-spirited and possibly a bit of a tomboy. I also love the green marbled background symbolising a forested hide-out (in 1768 Hounslow Heath was still densely forested in places), and the font has undertones of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Another reason I’m very excited is that this is actually my first historical novel. I always saw myself as a writer of contemporary fiction, so when this story presented itself to me, almost completely written in my head, it was rather a shock to the system. Should I ignore it and concentrate on my contemporary work, or should I go where the story was taking me and see what happened?

I trusted my instinct and went with the story. When I’d finished it, not only was I thrilled that I’d written a novel in a historical period which has always captured my imagination – the Georgian period – I also discovered that I’d succeeded in creating my own story universe (and by that I don’t mean an alternate universe…) as well as the basis for a trilogy.

So I’m very glad I didn’t ignore the call to “stand and deliver”!

I consider myself to be a very lucky girl at the mo. I’m spending rather a lot of time with Nate. Anyone who has read No Such Thing as Immortality will know exactly who I mean. Nathaniel Gray, the former Earl of Ridings, but now a two-hundred year old vampire.

I’m working [...]]]>

I consider myself to be a very lucky girl at the mo. I’m spending rather a lot of time with Nate. Anyone who has read No Such Thing as Immortality will know exactly who I mean. Nathaniel Gray, the former Earl of Ridings, but now a two-hundred year old vampire.

I’m working on book 2 of the No Such Thing series. As this book continues Nate’s story, and is written from his perspective, the two of us are finding ourselves engaged in an awful lot of one-to-one time. It’s at times like these I ask myself why I ever became a writer. It’s such a very very hard life

He’s intense, too. Seriously intense. And has been leading me astray no end. All he has to do is look at me with those eyes of his and raise a brow. Plot line? There was one once upon a time, but now I have not a clue where he’s leading me. I know where I want him to end up, but he’s presently got other ideas. But it’s his prerogative. It’s his story after all. And I am so enjoying the ride.

I’ve yet to decide on a title for this second book. No such thing as […..]? There are currently four possible blank-fillers, although the count is growing daily rather than shrinking. We will see.

So there you go. What I am presently working on. If you can of course, call it work. And to all those who have contacted me to find out when book two is out ― soon I hope 

Edits also loom for Romancing the Soul, due out in January 2014. This one is rather different - not a vampire or faerie in sight. Mainstream but with perhaps a twist as two soul mates deal with the consequences of meeting during a past life regresssion.  I adore the cover for this one, too - thank you so much Berni Stevens and Choc Lit!

And a couple of writing tips for those that way inclined. I’m not at all sure I’m qualified to give them. I kind of make things up as I go along. And no doubt I will not be asked to provide them again. But on the basis of recent weeks, I would suggest:

Not letting your characters go into a kitchen when you are on a diet (see - I so won’t be asked again). You might think you have your cravings under control, but your characters will likely prove otherwise. You will end up with a scene incorporating all of your favourite comfort foods. In my case, quite an accomplishment with so many of the cast being vampires, not at all interested in hot toasted bagels with marmite or macaroni cheese. You may be able to make use of some of it. You may not. But it’s safe to say it can rather take you off course.

The second ― I’m actually chuffed to bits with. In my case, it has allowed me dedicated early morning romps with Nate. The advice? If you seem to be struggling to get words down on the page, try making a dramatic change to your writing routine. I’m not a morning person at all. No Such Thing as Immortality was written very late at night and right through it on occasions. But with my boys’ bedtime getting later and later and with that, the point at which I can recommence writing (I am knackered at 9.30pm) I’ve had to take desperate measures. I’ve been setting my alarm clock to go off at 5am. And for me, sitting in front of my laptop in a freezing cold kitchen at 5.10am, kitted out in extreme weather gear, has proved an amazing incentive to write. I am only out of my warm cosy bed to write. If I don’t write, I’ve wasted that huge effort that was getting up. Previously, that pre-feeding the boys 5―7am slot was spent asleep so I now only associate that time with writing. I find I don’t get distracted with washing and cleaning because I simply wouldn’t climb out of my bed at that time in the morning to do that stuff. It may not work for everyone. In fact, it may only work for me (generally work ― kids!) ― but it’s a great sensation to know you’ve words under your belt before the day starts proper. In my case, that sensation, obviously, has absolutely nothing to do with having a bit of extra time with Nate

When you’ve had a book published, done all the PR/blogging/tweeting etc to launch it into the world and things start to calm down again, the question you are asked most frequently is “what are you working on now?” (That is, if you are talking to fellow book-lovers/writers, not family members who still haven’t realised [...]]]>

When you’ve had a book published, done all the PR/blogging/tweeting etc to launch it into the world and things start to calm down again, the question you are asked most frequently is “what are you working on now?” (That is, if you are talking to fellow book-lovers/writers, not family members who still haven’t realised that writing isn’t a hobby you pursue in between cooking, cleaning or washing up for them.)

For me, that question often doesn’t have a straight-forward answer, because I’m a bit of a writing butterfly. I flit from one story to another, working on one for a while, then get bored and work on something else – I have a very low boredom threshold. Apart from new writing projects, there are also edits for forthcoming novels that have to be done of course, so sometimes that means I can be working on up to four different stories more or less at once. Here’s a little summary of what I’m doing right now:-

Edits for New England Rocks – I’ve just finished the second round of edits for my YA novel due to be published in August (yeah, very excited about that!). There was a small snag, shall we say, which eagle-eyed editor Rachel discovered in between Edit no1 and Edit no2, so that took a couple of days to fix, but I think we’re sorted now (at least I hope so!). I’ll have to wait until next week to find out and then there will be proof-reading.

Umpteenth draft of second YA novel, sequel to the above. I wrote this a while ago and when starting to revise it again I discovered I’d used the hero’s name in another book – disaster! Cue major trawl through endless name lists in order to find one that suited his personality. I can’t write unless my characters have the right names!

Second draft of Monsoon Mists (provisional title), the third in the Kinross trilogy. Those of you who read Highland Storms will know that Brice Kinross’s brother Jamie caused a lot of trouble, but things were not quite what they seemed so I thought it only fair that he should get to tell his side of the story. For the last few months or so, I’ve been working on this and at the moment I’m chewing my nails waiting to receive my beta readers’ verdicts. I know it will need more work, but at least I’ve got to the stage where I dared to send it to them (progress indeed)!

Revision of the third book in my Japanese trilogy so that I might dare to send it to the Choc Lit tasting panel. That’s going to take some time …

In between these bursts of writing, I’m also trying to prepare myself for the RT Booklovers’ Convention in Kansas City which I’ll be attending at the beginning of May with some of the other ChocLiteers. In case you think we’re just going there to have fun (you may have heard that there are parties just about every night and even a ball, not to mention male cover models on the premises 24/7?) – fear not, I promise we will be working hard. Workshops, talks, networking, you name it – we’ll be attending everything. And we’ll report back afterwards with, hopefully, plenty of inspiring photos. With all this socialising, er, I mean working, I have a feeling my wardrobe and suitcase are both going to prove woefully inadequate, but as the convention hotel is apparently situated right next to a shopping mall, I’m not too worried. I may even forget a few things on purpose …

So what are you up to?