Happy Birthday Choc Lit

On Wednesday, it is Choc Lit Publishing’s seventh birthday. In celebration of this, I’ve written seven things about my association with Choc Lit. Check out their website here.

1. I’m so proud that my debut novel will be published by this particular publisher, as my desire to join them goes back almost as far as the point when I began to take my writing seriously.

2. In 2009, I read Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft. It must have been one of the first books issued by Choc Lit. I was captivated by the story, the hero, Ratty, the writing and the publisher’s heart shaped logo. I even analysed the novel, to work out why it drew me in, why I loved the characters and the shape of the ups and downs on the heroine’s journey. Needless to say, I’ve read all of Sue Moorcroft’s books since and been on several of her courses.

3. I was also fascinated that Choc Lit associated heroes with chocolate. I love chocolate! I devoured (and continue to do so) any books produced by this publisher.

4. In 2011, I won a giveaway competition for a copy of Please Don’t Stop the Music by Jane Lovering. It came wrapped in tissue paper with a ribbon printed with Choc Lit Romance and Chocolate. That ribbon has hung above my desk ever since.

5. Joining the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writer’s Scheme in 2012, I continued to learn about writing, doing my apprenticeship as I like to call it. This scheme allows for a critique of a novel every year that you are a member. A highly recommended scheme if you are an aspiring romance writer. At the RNA events, I began to meet some of the lovely Choc Lit authors.

6. At the RNA conference in 2014, I was brave enough to have a one-to-one interview with Lyn Vernham, Choc Lit Publishing’s Director. I was devastated that she didn’t want the novel I presented to her, but heartened that she asked to see some more of my writing.

7. Fast forward to 2015 and another novel was sent for NWS critique. When it returned from the lovely reader, I made the suggested amendments and got it ready just in time for the deadline for Choc Lit’s Search for a Star competition at the end of October 2015. I never dreamed that I would win this competition when the result was announced in March 2016, but I did!

Watch out for my debut novel Who is Harry Dixon? coming soon and happy 7^th birthday Choc Lit.