Artwork by Sue McDonagh entitled Swimbling Christmas
In October, I volunteered to be a member of admin for the Romantic Novelists’ New Writers’ Facebook group. This is an informal online group where new writers chat, support each other or even confess their writer’s block or editing nightmare. Working with lovely Emma Wilson to maintain the group has been a rewarding experience as she is bubbling with enthusiasm. This week we had our online Christmas party and I invited Sue Moorcroft to read an extract from her latest Christmas novel – Under the Mistletoe. It was wonderful to interview Sue and get some writing tips, and she kindly donated a signed copy of Under the Mistletoe to the winner of our Christmas Competition. We used artwork from author and artist Sue McDonagh as the prompt for the writing competition. All of the short story entries were entertaining and beautifully written. Donna Gowland won the competition.
Interviewing the fabulous Sue Moorcroft at the NWS Christmas party.
It is my pleasure to publish Donna’s winning story on this blog.
Swimbling Christmas
Ronnie was the last to get into the water. The crisp curls of the waves bubbled and brushed her feet. From a distance, the blurred bodies excitedly bobbing up and down looked like baubles. She sighed, pulled at the breast padding in her swimming costume and edged tentatively towards the water.
‘Come on in, it’s invigorating.’
Val’s soothing voice cut through the December chill and Ronnie flung herself into the water. Her teeth chattered as she sprang up and down like a cold Jack-in-the-box.
She swam out towards their blurred shapes, their loud voices ringing out in an enthusiastic chorus. There was other music too: the winter birds enjoying the slow Christmas Day sunrise, carolling their own mirth. Ronnie’s heart beat with a warmth that soothed the scarred breast that lay atop it. She had never felt more alive, nor more grateful.
Under the sun’s golden spotlight, her skin twinkled as if she were made of stars. Nature was healing her unquiet mind, blocking out all her doubts and fears. Ronnie woke from her reverie. The water was silent and empty, the beach miles beyond her reach. She gulped in panic, taking in mouthfuls of seawater that stung her cheeks and eyes. Her heart pounded, her mind raced with panic. All she could do was swim to that golden rock that shimmered uncertainly to the left of her gaze, and hope that someone would rescue her.
Mercifully, the tide was on her side and it delivered her to the rock like a damp Christmas parcel. Ronnie wept with relief as she clung to its back, grateful for its curved stoicism.
It should have surprised her more when the gentle rock turned, swishing a tail loudly in the water, unfurling the full body of a merman. Ronnie gasped – first in disbelief and then at the tremendous, ethereal beauty that even her poor eyesight couldn’t mistake. Here was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen – Brad Pitt crossed with Fabio – with golden hair, a taut, sea toned body and a long, thin golden tail. If her heart beat loudly before, it roared across the water now.
He held her delicately, looking up at her with kind eyes crinkled with wisdom and sand. When he kissed her with softly abrasive lips, the kiss was firm and salty. The sea sang quietly beneath her, faint as the murmur of sea in a shell. When the kiss ended, his smile was Christmas tree radiant and Ronnie felt illuminated.
‘Merry Christmas,’ he whispered.
Ronnie closed her eyes again, waiting for the renewal of the kiss, but when she opened them again, she saw only the soggy faces of the swimblers, creased with concern.
‘We were about to call an ambulance.’ Val chided.
Ronnie sighed, wiggling her body into a star shape on the sand.
‘What time are we coming back next week?’ she giggled.
Sue Moorcroft sent a signed copy of Under the Mistletoe to the competition winner – Donna Gowland.
Jessie: Donna, congratulations on winning the competition. Tell us a little about yourself.
Donna: I’m teacher and writer from Merseyside with a lifelong love of happily ever afters. Attending the Love Writing RNA event at Manchester in 2020 introduced me to the fabulous work of the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme and I managed to grab a place on the 2021 scheme. I’m a keen writer of romance and poetry and seem to be ‘always the bridesmaid’ in competitions – gaining finalist places in the Love Writing Meet-Cute competition, the Seren Poetry Christmas poem competition and joint second place in the RNA conference’s Elizabeth Goudge competition this year. Earlier this summer, I joined forces with eleven other semi-finalists from the Michael Joseph Christmas romance competition to compile our first anthology More Than Mistletoe.
I am sure you enjoyed reading Donna’s story. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a magical Christmas and a Happy New Year. I do hope Santa brings you some brilliant books this year. Did you know that in Iceland there is a tradition of giving books as gifts on Christmas Eve?
The Romantic Novelists’ New Writers’ Scheme is a brilliant scheme co-ordinated by Janet Gover. If you wish to find out more, visit the website at: https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/.
South and West Wales Chapter celebrate sixty years of the Romance Novelists’ Society.
The South Wales and West Chapter had a birthday party to celebrate sixty years of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Each member of the group presented a sixty word slice of their novel or work in progress, along with a biography as a gift to romance readers. Our words and chat put the fizz into the celebrations. Unwrap the tiny parcels of words and meet the authors. Enjoy
Georgia’s glossy curls were piled high. As she moved, the light caught seed pearls scattered in her hair. Her creamy velvet dress clung to her curves. Nick watched the joy on her face when she first caught sight of him and longed to give her the world. That moment was, and he prayed it always would be, fixed in his consciousness.
Jill Barry lives close to the estuary dividing Wales from England. Her historical and contemporary romantic fiction is mainly character-driven and she delves into her life experiences to colour her writing. She enjoys bringing different eras to life and, as a multi-published author, enjoys helping fellow RNA members to realise their dreams. Jill is a co-organiser of her local chapter.
Stelios took her in his arms. Dipping and swaying in time to the bousouki music, Elin felt familiar flutterings in her stomach. She’d promised herself that there’d be no romantic liaisons when she was in Greece. So why did the handsome woodturner have this effect on her? His hot breath on her neck and earlobe made her whole body tingle.
Jan lives in Cardiff and writes novels about families and their secrets. An author with Ruby Fiction, her debut novel, will be published in digital and audio in April 2020. Joining the RNA and its wonderful New Writers’ Scheme in 2016 was her best decision as a new writer. She’s joint organiser of her local RNA Chapter.
For the first time, his skin touched her skin as they held hands. It was the closing of a gap, a circle joined. He remembered that quiet moment, in the midst of the restless, big city. They were like a boulder, solid and immovable, while the river raged around them. It was the moment Arthur fell in love with Pearl.
Catherine lives near cliff tops in South Wales, a view which inspires her every day. With published short fiction, articles, a magazine column and a non-fiction book to her name, a published novel is next on her wish list. She is determined, with the help of the brilliant RNA New Writers’ scheme, to become a published novelist and professional daydreamer.
Each member of the group presented a sixty word slice of their novel or work in progress.
The unmade bed became their island, and clothes washed up on the shore. In exchange for three hours together, Jack scattered the opera tickets. Sophie dug inside her handbag for bruised bananas and chocolate to sustain them until the buffet breakfast. She expected their unused Paris guide to remain in the hotel room like buried treasure.
Jessie is a Yorkshire author living in Cardiff. Wales and words have a special place in her heart. She wants everyone to meet the characters who’ve been hassling her for years. Besides writing, Jessie adores walking, talking, cooking and procrastinating. She joined the RNA New Writers’ Scheme in 2018 and is impressed with the opportunities and support.
The fading evening light caught the russet highlights in her hair and cast a faint pink glow across her face. Her eyes were alight with wonder and her lips were slightly parted. For one mad moment, he wondered what it would be like to kiss them.
He cleared his throat, trying to drive the disturbing thought out of his mind.
Liz lives halfway between the Brecon Beacons and the sea, in the South Wales Valleys. She writes light-hearted, uplifting romantic fiction, with liberal doses of humour. She joined the RNA to make friends with other writers and is now part of the admin team and a reader for the NWS, to repay the help, support and kindness she’s been shown.
We got to the heart of our books with the collection of extracts.
As they began to descend yet another endless hill Ellena turned and caught a glimpse of her home. She could make out the flags fluttering atop the turrets of Castle Swein before it finally disappeared from view. She slowly turned around in her seat and gripped the pommel tightly. The conviction she’d made a terrible mistake hardened in her stomach.
Ella Matthews lives and works in Wales. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else). She writes cosy crime and romance novels. Her first Mills and Boon title is out in April.
Imogen Martin can generally be found behind a laptop in her writing nook, or book in hand in a café, or on a beach in Sardinia. She has two daughters and lives with her husband in South Wales. Her debut novel is a pioneer story set in nineteenth century America. She is a member of the RNA New Writers’ Scheme.
She shrugged. ‘It’s my big romantic birthday break.’ She indicated the vacant chair beside her, straight-faced. ‘Durr. Can’t you see my hunky, virtual boyfriend?
Jake swivelled his eyes to the empty seat and back at her, raising his eyebrows in mute enquiry.
‘And no, I don’t want to talk about it.’
We invite you to post your own parcels of words on your FB pages and blogs as a gift to romance readers
Living on the South Wales coast, Sue McDonagh finds inspiration for both her novels and her art in her beautiful surroundings.
Motorcycles, her other passion, can also be found in the pages of her Art Café trilogy, the third of which will be released in July this year. Her writing explores real life events, with a light touch and humour.
I step inside the shed, hauling the net of footballs. He’s behind me. There’s something invisible pulling me to him. I turn around and he takes my hand. A surge of electricity powers up my arms. We come together in a passionate embrace. Every single bone in my body turns to jelly as he treats me to a sensuous kiss.
Lucy Mitchell is the author of Instructions for Falling in Love Again, an uplifting romantic comedy about second chances and friendship. She’s also the author of the award-winning blog, BlondeWriteMore; which records the emotional highs and lows of her life as a romance author. On her blog she also reviews romance novels and regularly falls in love with male characters.
‘Summer Island’, Natalie Normann
Jack liked seeing her laugh. The first time they met, she had been so furious with him, but right now she was happy.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said.
Ninni frowned. ‘No, I don’t.’
‘Yes, you do. You are beautiful.’
‘No need to flatter me. I won’t throw you overboard.’
She was teasing him and he enjoyed it. ‘Doesn’t change anything.’
Natalie Normann lived in Cardiff for two years, then sadly had to return to Norway, bringing home inspirations and good memories. A week after arriving in Wales, she joined the RNA and her local chapter, and still can’t believe something this good exists. She writes contemporary romance set in Norway and is determined to show Nordic is more than noir.
She was living a fairy-tale that many women could only imagine. And it was worth it, even if her nights ever after would be cold and bitter. You can’t undo love. Every moment, from here on, must be etched in her memory. The place, the time, the man. Memory she could fall back into, during those long, cold nights.
Evonne has been a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association for thirty years. While this makes her feel very old, it also means that she has been to a lot of fabulous parties and made some wonderful friends in the romance writing community. She is currently working on two new books in her romantic mystery series, set on the Riviera
She crept into the bedroom where Owen lay asleep, Bridie looked at his sleeping frame, his thick hair spread over the pillow. She knew nights like this would be few. She slipped in beside him, wrapping her arms around him. Wherever he would be sent, his spirit would always be here at her side. That would have to do for tonight.
Pat a retired ward sister and nurse lecturer lives in Cardiff and is writing a novel about two people one from Ireland and one from Wales both away from home in London and divided by war. She has plans for a second novel based in Wales. A member of the RNA New Writers Scheme hoping for a chance of publication.
‘The point is that you, Rosy, are not just the sexiest women I know, you’re the most honourable, tenacious, well, every quality there is and of course I want to kiss you right now, strip you naked and tumble into the back seat but I also want to wake up with you tomorrow and the next day and the next.’
Kitty Wilson lived in Cornwall for twenty-five years having been dragged there, against her will, as a stroppy teen. She is now remarkably grateful to her parents for their foresight and wisdom – and these days spends her time writing romantic comedies with heroines who speak their mind. She loves the RNA and all the opportunities and support it offers.
The South Wales and West Chapter hope you will raise a glass, eat cake and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the RNA with us. We invite RNA members to post your own parcels of words on your FB pages and blogs as a gift to romance readers. Let’s share the love, and ‘champion the quality and diversity of romantic fiction.’ Happy Birthday to the Romance Novelists’ Association.
