Last week, whilst chicken-sitting in Kent, I gave a talk and did a book signing at Waterstone’s in Tunbridge Wells.  It was lovely to meet so many aspiring authors there and they all had plenty of interesting questions for me. 

And I absolutely loved the yellow gerbera that lined my signing table (the heroine of Molly’s Millions is a florist and this is her calling card!)  Thank you, Sarah!  A really lovely touch.

The chickens were – once again – a wonderful distraction and I didn’t get quite as much written as I should have.  Here’s me with the gorgeous Bubbles. 

No rest for me at the moment as I’m off to Norwich for a signing at Jarrolds.  Norwich is my home town so this is going to be a very special trip for me.

Saturday brought another day’s promotion – this time at Waterstones in Uxbridge where they had a lovely display of Molly’s Millions.  I was delighted to be joined by my two lovely nieces, Lucy and Charlotte.  Here they are with me and my mother-in-law. 

And today I spent a wonderful afternoon with children’s author, Mary Hoffman.  I met her three beautiful cats and we talked about – well – books!  Get two authors together and it’s usually the same!

Whilst driving around the beautiful Oxfordshire lanes, I saw this sign which reminded me that I’ll be chicken-sitting again this week!

Last night, I had the very great pleasure of being part of the Summer Fiction Panel with Judy Astley and Jane Wenham-Jones at Notting Hill’s Waterstones.  We had a lovely crowd of people: friends, family and “wannabes” who all risked torrential rain to join us and make the evening a success.  Thanks to the fabulous Mark Farley who organises the very best author events in London.  And thanks to everyone who bought copies of Molly’s Millions.  I’m delighted to say that it sold out!  We even had to grab the ones from the window display!

This has been an amazing couple of weeks.  I’ve had the great pleasure of seeing my first UK novel, Molly’s Millions, in the bookshops.  Here I am in a branch of Smith’s next to Cherie Blair!

I also did a spot of signing with fellow author, Lola Jaye.  We ventured into central London on the hottest day of the year and signed as many of our books as we could find.  If you can find an unsigned one, it’s worth an absolute fortune! 

Here we are at Smith’s in Victoria.  Thanks to the lovely Ines who was so sweet and helpful.

I also attended a wonderful garden party at Oxford’s St John’s College with my Great Uncle Peter who was a student there in 1949.  The sun shone for us and there were cucumber sandwiches, heaps of cake and strawberries and cream.  It was perfect! 

Whilst in Oxford, we visited The Eagle and Child (also known as The Bird and Baby) where the ‘Inklings’ used to meet.  It was amazing to step into the pub where early readings of The Lord of the Rings and the Narnia stories would have taken place, and my uncle told me he was in Oxford at the same time as Tolkien and CS Lewis!

Out and about a lot again this month. My hubby was very busy delivering paintings to exhibitions and Molly and I accompanied him to Salisbury and to the Kent and Sussex Art Fair. Check out his beautiful website to see some of his paintings: and his blog can be found: here
Had the most wonderful week in Kent this month – house, dog and chicken-sitting for friends. I was meant to be proof-reading my latest novel but the weather was glorious and I spent rather a lot of time sitting in the garden watching the beautiful bantams. Here are some pics of my gorgeous friends.

 And, at long last, my first UK paperback, Molly’s Millions, is available to buy online. I’ve been sent my author copies and they look so pretty with their shiny covers and embossed flowers. I love them! Some good news for the book too – WH Smith Travel will be stocking them in a buy-one-get-one-half-price deal so be sure to grab a copy if you’re off on your summer hols!

I got my author copies of Molly’s Millions this weekend and it looks very cute indeed!  A lovely cheery pink cover for the summer, embossed with pretty flowers (my heroine is a florist). 

The official publication date is not until 15th June but you can buy it now on line.

Find out more here.

It was the Oxford Literary Festival this month and I got to meet children’s writer and one-time laureate, Michael Morpurgo. His books Private Peaceful and The White Horse of Zennor are amongst my favourite. Whilst in Oxford, I met up with one of my other favourite writers, Julia Golding, and talked about fantasy, festivals and the horrors of getting the right title for your books. I also managed a quick chat with Joanna Kenrick between events.

At Waterstones with Lisa Jewell

Then there was a fabulous fiction panel at Notting Hill’s Waterstones which I attended with Helen Salter. It was great fun and lovely to chat with Carole Matthews, Isabel Wolff and Lisa Jewell who has given me a lovely quote for my novel Molly’s MillionApril also meant a trip to the London Book Fair where I met up with my lovely German agent for lunch. There was also time to meet up with Juliet Archer for a writerly gossip on the steps of Earl’s Court.

Then, a surprise trip to Pembrokeshire where I managed to finish the first draft of my new novel, Connie Gordon’s Clan, and completely killed my right shoulder doing so. Ouch! The coast and countryside glowed with yellow flowers: primroses, celandines, cowslips, dandelions, buttercups and the ever-present gorse.

Flowers on the Pembrokeshire coast

An event-filled month, this one. First, there was the wonderful Romantic Novelists’ Association’s awards lunch where I met the author, Cecelia Ahern.

Victoria Connelly and Cecelia Ahern

I also got to meet fellow Allison & Busby writer, Susanna Kearsley whose book, Sophia’s Secret, was on the shortlist, and chat to the wonderful Linda Gillard who was also nominated for the main prize for her magical novel, Star Gazing. It was a gorgeous event. There aren’t enough occasions to leave the keyboard and get dressed up but this is one of them!

Nine years ago, I helped to set up the London/SE Chapter of the RNA and I was delighted to give a talk there this month. I told them about the long arduous journey of my first published novel, Flights of Angels, and how it made its way through countless rejections to become a bestseller in Germany and to be adapted as a film.

And I’ve heard a wonderful rumour that some hardbacks of Molly’s Millions have found their way to a branch of WH Smith’s at Gatwick. I may have to book a holiday and go and find out for myself …

And then the snow came …

Here’s a pic of Molly enjoying her first proper thick snow in a wood in the Chilterns.

And I am now the proud owner of a pair of glasses. Yes, all those years of reading and writing have finally taken their toll and I need a little bit of help. I’m hoping that they make me look even more bookish than usual and slightly more intelligent to boot!

A fabulous start to 2009 with my first UK publication – Molly’s Millions. It came out in hardback this month and looks gorgeous! Find out more about my fast-paced love chase on the Molly page!

I was also delighted to see my first cover puff on Linda Gillard’s German translation of her lovely book, Star Gazing. It’s been nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award and is a truly beautiful book.

I went to see the fascinating Babylon exhibition at the British Museum with my UK publisher and then had lunch with my editor where we talked about heroes past, present and future! And then, to round the month off, I had a party to celebrate another birthday passing me by as well as my UK publication. My lovely writer friends gathered round and we ate cake, drank champagne and watched highlights from the film adaptation of my novel, Unter deinem Stern.

I got two wonderful deliveries of books this month – first, my UK hardback of Molly’s Millions. It comes out at the end of January and it was a lovely surprise to have my author copies so early. Take a look on the Books page and glory in the pinkness!

I also received the latest edition of my German novel, Flights of Angels (Unter deinem Stern). This one is published by Weltbild and I think it looks gorgeous!

Just started my new romantic comedy, Connie Gordon’s Clan, and it’s proving great fun – a wonderful escape from the wintry weather as I snuggle into my armchair with my laptop and dream about the Highlands of Scotland.

And it’s been another great year of reading. My favourites are listed on my Top 10 Reads Books 2008 page.

Hoping you all have a Merry Christmas!