Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a happy Easter holiday.
I am spending mine gardening and doing various writing projects as I wait for my editor to get back with her thoughts.
Slowly but surely the garden is starting to look less like an unkept jungle and more like a cultivated garden again. You would not believe the amount of ivy we have burnt over the last few days. My youngest son has learnt about what happens when you put a very dry ex Christmas tree on a bonfire. The holly tree will recover in time. It is a good lesson.

I had a piece of good news yesterday. My short story His Stand In Bride was published in print somewhere in the world (rather than just being in digital). It pleased me no end as I thought it was only ever going to be in digital. I also got paid some more money for it as per my contract which was very welcome. It remains up as a free read on Harlequin. in case people haven't read it.

His Stand In Bride -- the final chapter

In which Anne and Jason reach their HEA (it is a romance after all), the final chapter of His Stand In Bride is up on eharlequin. The enitrety of the story is also up now in case people (Chris I am thinking of you!) want to read it in one go. It was written in one go and so it is how I have always read it.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who has read thus far and commented. I do appreciate it.


Last night I discovered Zen -- the adaptation of Michael Dibdin's Roman dectective novels -- has started on BBC 1. Absolutely must watch. Stunning visually. Rufus Sewall stars as the dectective. And Dibdin was a great crime novelist so the plots hold together. A fantastic way to start the New Year. The lack of spin/excitement about the series in the general media is surprising. Luckily I happened to realise what it was! Dibdin is one of my dh's favourite novelists. The tv series does not disappoint. (I assume it will go to the US in the autumn as part of Masterpiece Theatre's crime season)

Chapter 7 His Stand In Bride

Chapter 7 of His Stand In Bride -- The seduction is up. You can read it here.

Hopefully everyone had a great Christmas. Mine was quiet but good. However, the annual ritual of someone is ill has struck and we have been laid low by a cold/flu thing. I blame my youngest.

His Stand In Bride Ch 6 and my day for the HHA Advent Calendar

Chapter Six of His Stand In Bride can be read here.  Anne and Jason have left the wedding breakfast but each has their own idea of how the marriage will go.

Today is also my day to the Harlequin Historical Advent Calendar. You can see the full instructions on my website. Email contest@michellestyles.co.uk with the answer to What book is Diana Clare reading at the start of A Question of Impropriety. It is the third and final volume of... You can read the excerpt here. The draw takes place on 22 December. All entries go forward to the grand prize draw of the kindle 3-g.

I sent my revised, revised full into my editor this morning. Fingers crossed that she loves the changes...

It snowed in the night and so I shall be digging out the car. Christmas is coming and last minute things need to be done.

Chapter 5 of His Stand In Bride

Yes it is that time of the week so Chapter 5 of His Stand In Bride is up.It is during the wedding breakfast and how is Anne going to cope with people asking where Cressy is? For me, it is interesting to read the chapters as the last time I saw them, they were marked up with track changes and all the editorial notations. So I was a bit nervous about this chapter but it seems to read all right.

And because my copies for Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife have FINALLY arrived:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife

by Michelle Styles

Giveaway ends December 23, 2010.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

His Stand In Bride -- chapter 4 live

Chapter 4 aka the  wedding is up at eharlequin.  I enjoyed writing the chapter. Although many years an agent once said to me that weddings should be uncomfortable and cause tension unless they are part of the HEA. They need to do something more than simply be a wedding. Words I have taken to heart.

It is Deb Marlowe's turn with the Harlequin Historical advent calendar. Her latest How to Marry a Rake sounds fab.

My revisions should go into today. I am doing a last read over. Something that one of my editor taught me as I tend to miss words etc, and right on cue, I find I have. ARGH!

Chapter 3 of His Stand In Bride up

The third chapter of His Stand Bride is up. You can read it here.

In other news:
Lots and lots of snow around so the school is closed and both children are home.
I have revisions and want to get them done.

I am currently glomming Susan Elizabeth Phillips and can thoroughly recommend her. I adored the workshop she gave at the RWA and thought I ought to read her. She is excellent and her work is providing insight.

His Stand In Bride -- up on eharlequin

The first chapter of His Stand In Bride is up now on Eharlequin. A new chapter goes up every week until 3 January. You can acces the whole thing from here.

The blurb reads:

Tyne Valley, 1813


When her sister eloped with someone other than her betrothed, Lady Anne Dunstan knew two things. One, that she completely supported her sister's making her own choice about who she would marry. And two, that Anne—the responsible one—would have to clean up the mess
What she didn't know was how her sister's intended, Jason Martell, would take the news. Or how Anne would respond to the force of his presence, his rugged good looks, his less-than-gentlemanly advances.
Or to his proposal of marriage.

Anyway, I really enjoyed writing it and I am anxious to see how people like it...There is going to be a thread on eharlequin for discussing the story and I will be happy to answer any questions.