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Saturday, September 15, 2012

AMBA 2012 by Michelle Styles

Apologies for the slightly late posting but I just got back home.




Friday saw the annual Association of Mills and Boon Authors lunch with the Toast to the Authors following in the evening.

It is always a glamorous occasion and this year was no exception. In fact, this year, Mills and Boon gave each of attending authors a small goodie bag which included a small bottle of champagne, chocolate (Kir Royale), a pink notebook, pen and a candle which helped to make it more special. The authors also had a photo shoot with a professional photographer.

As ever the event was well attended. I ended up sitting next to Tim Cooper who is the Director of Digital and Dirct for Mills and Boon and Historical author Barbara Monajem. Both very charming lunch companions. Also on the table was Kate Hardy who is celebrating her 50th book (in ten years!) I met the lovely Lynne Grahame for the first time.

Among other things we were treated to a sneak peak of the covers for the new KISS line (debuting in the US in Feburary 2013).

Kate Hardy gets her 50 books (in 10 years!) pin
After the lunch, and photo, I had tea with Kate Hardy, Caroline Anderson and several other medical authors before going to the toast. We were met with champagne.

My editor was already there and looking beautiful in white with these fantastic candy floss pink shoes. I was also able to meet several of the newer editorial assistants including Katharyn Carlisle who started two days ago. She is primarily working with the Riva/KISS team. Sadly, a number of editors are leaving – for a variety of reasons, including 2 pregnancies and moving over to the single title section of M&B UK. All departing editors were given flowers.

The highlight of the evening happened when an American author (who shall remain nameless but writes for the relaunched Riva) slipped outside for a cigarette break and ended up literally slipping on the cobblestones. These things happen to authors particularly authors of fun flirty romances.

 An off duty policeman who also had just married at the hotel that afternoon rescued her and escorted her back to the party.  Truly a hero. It turned out that his bride is a HUGE Mills and Boon reader. Once he learnt who we were, he went back for his bride as she'd never believe this.

The bride approached the dying embers of the party with some scepticism as she thought her new husband was teasing her which quickly turned to unbridled joy when she realised that we were indeed Mills and Boon. Her dress was utterly gorgeous.  She claimed to be near 50 but looked far younger. She was given a goodie bag (or two – to make sure she had enough champagne). She confided that she kept her M&B books in shoeboxes, read all sorts but had a real fondness for the more steamy ones.

It was an utterly surreal moment.

And a fitting end to the 2012 AMBA lunch and party. Sometimes you can’t make these things up!
Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance for Harlequin Historical. Her next release is Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match (November 2012) You can read more about Michelle and her books on www.michellestyles.co.uk

6 comments:

Melissa McClone said...

Thanks for the recap! I was wondering how it went! Sounds wonderful.

Pat Cochran said...

Mills and Boon seems to know how
to host a great gathering, both
planned and impromptu! Best Wishes
to the bride and groom for a long
life together!!!

Pat C.

Mary Preston said...

A perfect ending for what sounds like a fabulous time.

Eli Yanti said...

it'd be wonderful time there :)

Michelle Styles said...

It was wonderful!

Pat -- I think everyone at M&b hopes the couple will be v happy. The groom seemed v caring but didn't understand why his bride was such a huge fan. Apparently it really made her day.

Linda Henderson said...

It sounds like everyone had a wonderful time. How great that the bride got to meet some of the M & B crowd. What a special wedding treat for her.