Photos from the AMBA Luncheon— London 2008

by Jennie Lucas

Every year, the Association of Mills and Boon Authors held their annual luncheon in London. Last year I heard so many stories of all the fun that I vowed that I had to go in 2008--and by some miracle, I actually was able to do it!

Here I am near Trafalgar Square on my way to Browns, a posh tavern near Covent Garden. (I was walking with fellow authors Abby Green, India Grey and Natalie Rivers, who were all staying at the same hotel.)

To the left: the outside of Browns.

To the right: a view from the sweeping stairs of the pre-luncheon drinks and chatting.

I unfortunately had lost my voice from French-kissing my laryngitic husband farewell before I got on the plane for London. So although I'd hoped to meet many of my fellow Harlequin Mills & Boon authors, I wandered around the party as speechless as Ariel the Mermaid, trying to communicate with pen and paper. ACK! Now that's a confidence-builder when you try to network with strangers. But at least I was able to take lots of pictures...

To the left: Harlequin Presents/M&B Modern authors Trish Morey and Kate Hardy (in purple).

To the right: the luncheon room--elegant as a wedding reception, complete with assigned seating! The lunch was scrumptious, a starter of goat's cheese and mixed salad with fig relish, then chicken breast served with mixed roasted pepper and chocolate truffle with raspberry coulis for dessert.

The view across my table. From left, Presents/Modern author India Grey, Harlequin Historicals author (and fab luncheon organizer!) Michelle Styles and Presents/Modern author (and 2008 RITA finalist) Natasha Oakley.

To the right: beaming Harlequin Historicals author (and 2008 RITA finalist!) Nicola Cornick after receiving her milestone award for 25 books! Other authors also received milestone awards, and I wish I could list them all here too...if anyone else can remember their names, please help me!

To the left: me, the head of the HMB office Karin Stoecker, and Presents/Modern Heat author (and 2008 RITA finalist) Heidi Rice.

After the Champagne Toast to the Authors from Mills and Boon later that afternoon, a bunch of us headed out into the night....


Here we toast London with fab strawberry bellinis! From left to right: Presents/Modern authors Abby Green, Jennie Lucas and India Grey! (Thanks to Natalie Rivers for taking this photo!)

Thanks London, AMBA and Harlequin Mills & Boon for a heck of a party! Hope to see you all again soon--when I have a voice and not just a camera. :)


A ruthless billionaire prince forces an impoverished single mother into a life of passion and luxury in Italian Prince, Wedlocked Wife, out this week in the U.K.! Read the excerpt, enter contests and more at www.jennielucas.com.