And The Winner Is...

...Jordonna Pearson

Congratulations! Your copy of Italian Knight No 3 will be winging its way to you come release day. Speaking of which, we are on track. Zshushing this shizzle into tight shape and then it is alllllllll yours! Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter. I'll say it again - it is the best, best, best part of this job - to hear from readers and being told which bits they enjoyed. Makes me all tingly inside. Not in a sexual way. Honest.

Pioneer To The Falls

Yesterday, I said goodbye to my godfather. He was in every sense of the word epic. Not only was he a military man, but he dedicated his career to public service. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and an extraordinary friend. Most tellingly, he was a man of deep faith and a shining guide of honesty, respect, calm, temperament and humour to me. 

People often ask me who my heroes are based on. Regardless of the random, dodgy and illegal things they do, at their core, they are gentlemen. It's because that's who my godfather was - an absolute gentleman. Incredible really, given he was raised in South London. 

I've put a dedication to him in my next book. It may be inappropriate, but my godfather was a man who had an infinite capacity for love. A unique human being whom I will sorely miss. In that respect, it is completely the right book to dedicate to him. Actually, I may do it for two. 

No 1 In Threesome

Italian Knight number 3 is finished and has been submitted for editing! It's got weight to it people. Almost 44,000 words. As usual, there were parts that were difficult to write. It meant dredging up old feelings of betrayal and hurt and humiliation and... damn, did I enjoy any of this? That's a lie, yes. I got to play around with some fantastic characters, from crazy to more crazy and psychotic in between. If any of them seem excessive to you, I'm now convinced I'm surrounded by mental patients. Actually, between my job, the writing, my family and my friends, I'm rather surprised I haven't been committed myself. Meh, there's still time. It is also my fastest ever writing. From the trickle of the prologue to the BL that comes at the end of my manuscript, took me a total of 36 days. Considering I don't plot a story, it usually just tells itself and for once, I wrote from beginning to end, I am genuinely quite shocked. Hank has obviously forgiven me for calling him a lazy whore!

How Deep Is Your Love?

Happy Anniversary to Nick and Gina! One year ago today, Windows was published. I'll admit when I saw the email from Jayha, asking me how I felt, I looked at my book all shiny and packaged and ready to be opened and I had a little cry. Even now, looking at that cover, it's sort of unreal and surreal. Did I really share them with the rest of the world? Crazy. Seriously, where has this year gone?

Anyway, as a thank you for embracing those two nut jobs, I am giving away a copy of Italian Knight 3 or 4. Depending which one gets finished first, they're both at the final hurdle. I've got two going at the same time, so who's next is going to be a surprise, more for me than anyone else. Yes give away! Why not, I haven't done one of these myself, get on board.

To enter my anniversary competition, just email me and tell me what was your favourite scene in either Windows or On Caristo's Watch and tell me why. Show me the love, where you really felt it, or laughed or sighed or thought 'is she serious?' or remembered that you're in public and if the dude reading over your shoulder gets to that paragraph you're both going to be really embarrassed. Talk to me, surprise me, remind me how much of the story I've forgotten all about.

The competition will close on 17 March 2012 and a winner will be adulated and exalted on high. Well, I'll announce it and someone will get the new Italian Knight into their inbox from Beautiful Trouble Publishing. Email me at billylondonluv@gmail.com and let the Italian Games begin! Salute!

Let's Get It On...

I've been good! Very good! And I'm feeling good about it. Talking Marvin Gaye good! Which explains why I've been blogging awol for weeks. Fact of the matter is I'm writing and I don't want to stop until certain things are finished. And given that I've written almost 30,000 words in just under two weeks is something that I am very grateful to Hank for. He's been surprisingly amenable recently, particularly as he get's all shy and quiet when I need to write a shove and grunt scent. Usually, I need to have a sip of wine and listen to some Maxwell and Portishead to get in the mood. But the spirit of Cupid is moving me. Even more good news, I'm going Italiano crazy in honour of the first anniversary of the release of Windows which is 17 February 2012, details coming soon. I'm feeling it, people, it's alllllllllllll gooooooooooood.

Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On

Something Different

I'm finalising Italian Knight number 3. That has been almost six months in the writing, discounting the fact that I stopped and got distracted with a Zombie and hella distracted by Christmas and totally off kilter with a vanishing 'rest yourself woman' Hank. I'm starting to get very excited about this. It's challenged me, opened my eyes, made me cry. So let me get back to weaving the final threads together before I can type the end and get it all edited and perfect and ready. Gosh it's really weird because this time last year, I was just starting edits for Windows and trust me when I thought I was done with all the characters. I missed them, but I was finished. Obviously Hank lied to you all.

Islands

I know I shouldn't blame Hank for stuff but I am starting to get really cross about the non writing issue. I've finished a story I absolutely loved. Last year. Now I look at it and think it's 30,000 plus words of junk. I've written 50,000 plus words of the next Italian Knight - I have no ending for it. None. Nadda. Gone. The whole point in having a muse is that you have a prod from a magical source who gives up the goods to allow an author write. Hank apparently is telling me to chill. I don't wanna chill, I want to write. That's what makes me chill. I'm giving all my tried and tested things a go for help. Reading my family's books (BTP ladies are so freakin' talented, it makes me want to up my game!), listening to B.o.B, Calvin Harris, T.I., Florence and the Machine and Adele, taking long bus journeys. And nothin'. I've tried shopping - physical and internet, cooking, washing up. My characters are all apparently in Antigua without phone reception or WiFi. Selfish bastards. Well fine. I'm getting good old fashioned pen and paper. And stamps. And a sticker that says: RSVP FFS. Try and ignore me with Royal Mail and stickers on my side.

Hank's suggesting anger management. He's not funny.