And The Winner Is...

Julia Gregson won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2009. To read more about it, please go to the RNA site here.

The short-listed books and a brief description was read out, as each book was shown on four screens placed around the room, one on either side of the stage and a further two in the main part of the room. I have to say that it must have been a difficult task for the judges to choose between them, as they all sounded so good.

The Winner of the RNA Romance Prize 2009 was India Grey for her novel, Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure. Read more about it here.

Each table had a large black candelabra, decorated with black and red feathers, and clear candles in the holders. The courses were served with great aplomb and immaculately presented. I can be a fussy eater - not that you'd know it to look at me - but even I ate everything placed in front of me.

My friend Andrea came with me as my guest, and once we'd met, as arranged at Victoria Station (where I saw copies of Caroline Smailes' Black Boxes in WH Smith), we decided to forget the tube and go by double decker bus (another highlight for me as we haven't had them in Jersey for years). We were on it so long that we thought we were lost. We weren't of course, but were just having such fun that we felt sure we'd missed our stop.

I arrived and immediately bumped into Ray-Anne, please see her fab with photos and far more detail than I can possibly remember. Liz was looking wonderful and taking photos so I'm sure she'll have those on her blog shortly, and I got to meet the fab, Calistro, who introduced me to her lovely agent and the bubbly Debby Holt, who's book, Love Affairs for Grown-ups, I bought yesterday after the lunch, as well as Adele Park's new novel, Tell Me Something. (Note to self, tell R that these were freebees from the lunch...).

A beautiful crystal, Lifetime Achievement Award in the shape of a star, was given to Judy Piatkus who gave a lovely speech.

The food was great, and you can see photos of it on Kate Hardy's blog here. I have to confess that although I did take photos, they were utterly useless, and all the camera did was take up much needed room in my handbag.

I had a fabulous day, and despite the hideous winds, constant rain and threat of snow the previous day, Tuesday though a tad blustery and certainly colder than I'd expected (it never ceases to amaze me that we're only a little further south than England, but usually warmer) was wonderfully sunny.

I eventualy caught my flight, arriving home just before 9pm and was greeted by Grumpy, who was so excited at seeing me, you would have thought I'd been gone at least a month. Today was back to work... On that subject, I shall say no more.