Comments on: Friday Midday Links of Webtailing

By: Sunita

Sunita — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:53:01 +0000

@Susanna Kearsley: I should have noted that in my comments on Fiona Harper. Kate Hardy is terrific; she's one of my auto buys. I'm so glad we're finally getting her Medical Romances in ebook form on this side of the Atlantic.

By: Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:35:20 +0000

Hi Jane, It's so great of you to announce the RNA's award list. Just a note: it wasn't Fiona Harper who won last year's award, it was Kate Hardy for Breakfast at Giovanni's (I think the US title was In Bed With Her Italian Boss...) Anyhow, here's last year's announcement from the RNA web site:

The Romance Prize for 2008 has been won by Breakfast at Giovanni's by Kate Hardy. Novelist Trisha Ashley gave the judges' speech, summing up each of the six shortlisted romances in a few, perfect sentences. All the books, she said, would have been worthy winners, but one had stood out as having that extra dollop of warm, feel-good, heart-lifting romance. Kate Hardy was completely taken aback at hearing Trisha announce Breakfast at Giovanni's as the winner. Arriving on the stage to collect the Betty Neels Rose Bowl, she apologised for her uncharacteristic lack of words, saying she had been all ready to applaud one of the others! She then made a very moving speech thanking her agent, editor and the RNA, and saying that winning the award was a wonderfully bright spot in what has so far not been a terrific 2008.

Looks like 2009 is starting well for Kate, too, since she's up for the award again with her new book!

By: Sunita

Sunita — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:18:44 +0000

Thanks for info, Jane. The RNA love Fiona Harper! She won the New Writer’s Award for her first book, which M&B published as Blind Date Marriage. I read it and thought it was really good (it’s not out in ebook form, but I found it in my library). I’ve read all her other books, but they’ve been a bit hit or miss for me. My other favorite is English Lord, Ordinary Lady. The rest have ranged from meh to good for me. The writing can be a little clunky and there is sometimes more telling than showing. I was not crazy about Saying Yes to the Millionaire in the end, but the London scavenger hunt plot is terrific and well executed, so others may come away with a stronger liking for it. I think Harper is very good at creating sympathetic, multi-dimensional heroes and heroines, and even when they fit the Lord or Millionaire/Billionaire template, those attributes don’t overwhelm the normal, more interesting character traits. Even when I am not entirely satisfied with one of her books, I’m never sorry I spent the time and money on it.

By: AReader

AReader — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:34:04 +0000

Huh I thought that India Grey book was awful – a heroine who was passive, a hero wallowing in self pity and a blurb which described a different book. Reminds me why I tend to avoid books that make award shortlists.

By: Teddypig

Teddypig — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:10:40 +0000

From Businessweek: not good…

Sony yesterday announced an operating loss of Â¥18 billion ($197 million) for the crucial Christmas quarter of fiscal 2008.

Sony is not making money on much of its hardware: games, TVs and mobile phones in particular are all loss making and are no longer automatically considered “best in class,” despite the premium price tags.

By: DS

DS — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:24:09 +0000

Oh, wow, what a difference in the two events. There was a very good item on the local public radio station about the background on the Lilly Ledbetter story also.