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Today...my special guest is Darry Fraser whose latest book...Berry Flavours has just been released. Welcome to my chair, Darry and tell us a bit about yourself and your new book! The tag line enticed me like a good bottle of wine... Full bodied, rich and tempting on the palate, easy on the eye and ... is that the wine and the food at Berry Flavours Restaurant and Vineyard - or the boss? I have been writing since a very young age. I was the one at school with the home-penned plays and stories, the entertaining ideas and the grand vision, believing I had great talent. Wrong. I believed that because I could put words on a page in a grammatically acceptable way and tell a reasonable story that I was ‘an author’. Technically, I suppose I was, but the apprenticeship as a ‘writer' – to labour the difference - is a long and hard road. One day, I had what I still call a little ‘thing’ – I saw my late grandfather in his World War One trench gear talking to ‘me’ at my desk and suddenly the words flowed and so did the short story which was published within two weeks in an Australian national women’s magazine. So I revisited all my short stories and my novel-length stories and found success again with four short stories and then two short novels in 2001/2. Alas, life got in the way once more. I kept writing, but in the dark so to speak. I used it as a means of escape, as a retreat and I was able to create my own HEA or HFN. Then life took another turn and I figured that I had nothing to lose. I dusted off quite a number of manuscripts and began to whip them into shape. At a serendipitous meeting with my current publisher, Nicola at SteamEreads, she agreed to read my current work at the time. It was a 67,000 word unedited novel, which she accepted. It was published in June – Money For Blood. Since then I have had two other novels and two novellas accepted, all HEA/HFN. The second published and the first novella, This Forever Game came out in September. The next one out is the second novella, Berry Flavours which has just been published. Berry Flavours Good fences make good neighbours but it seems the Thomases have moved the boundaries and the fences so they and their neighbour, Berry Lockett are headed for the courts. After a family breakdown and just a week before Christmas, Clancy was to start her dream job as chef at Mac Thomas’s restaurant on Australis Island. Unfortunately, she finds there is no restaurant - just a rundown, disused and dirty old shearing shed. When she meets Berry at the local hotel, the attraction is instant and he warns her to be careful on the Thomas estate. So when things go badly wrong for Mac Thomas and his strange son, Greg, Clancy calls on Berry for assistance to leave the property and escape a progressively worrying situation, especially with Greg. Things go smoothly for a little while until Greg decides to take matters into his own hands. Then it goes downhill from there with lies and accusations undermining Clancy’s new found confidence until unexpectedly, she is thrown in the deep end at Berry’s property. Excerpt “I’m guessing you’re the person Mac Thomas has employed.” He took a long drink then set his beer down and fished in his pocket for money which he placed on the bar. Santa-dude swiped a tenner and returned with change. “Good guess,” she said. “I’m Clancy Jones.” “Berry Lockett.” He held out a hand. “Berry?” She took the proffered hand, its roughness comforting and hospitable. It was a strong hand, a hand used to helping with heavy loads. Her heart beat thudded merrily. “Beresford. Fancy name, I know. Great-grandma’s maiden name.” That low baritone rumbled through her again. “Ah.” “Going to drink your drink?” he asked. “You look a bit gloomy just staring at it.” He slid a small wallet and a bunch of keys on to the bar alongside his change. She pulled a face at her untouched glass. “I asked for a local sauv blanc. I hope it is.” “It is. Taste it,” Berry said. “It’s good. Happen to know the vineyard pretty well. It’s just over the hill about four kilometres.” She ventured a sip. “It is good.” She sipped again. Checked out the black chest hair above his tee shirt collar. “You drink wine sometimes?” She nodded at the beer. “Sometimes. Probably too much. Beer’s a good change, but I can vouch for the local wines, really.” He grabbed his wallet and peered inside. “There are others but none better than this one.” She looked around the bar. “I expected good food and wine here. The place looks a bit rough, though.” “A bit rough. You’d expect some warmth in here for a country pub, too, wouldn’t you?” He waved his hand around. They both looked across at the fireplace, empty of course at this time of year. “The place lacks a certain je ne sais qois,” he said. She ventured a glance at his face. “You know exactly what it lacks. How’d you fix it?” His face lit up. “I’d put in some happy staff, for a start.” He inclined his head towards the dangly-Santa-dude. “Nice guy, but Alan over there doesn’t exactly warm the cockles of your heart.” Berry studied his hands. “Is this where Mac Thomas has you working?” “I didn’t know he owned the pub, too. I’m supposed to be in the Vineyard Restaurant.” “The Vineyard Restaurant.” Lockett frowned. “It’s not exactly up and ... ah, I wonder he didn’t say something about ...” His voice trailed off. Then, “Well, they need a bloody good cook in here, too.” Clancy shrugged. “He said the Vineyard Restaurant. All I know.” She sipped her wine again, enjoying the conversation, hoping that he was as good as he looked and not some crazy noo-noo out here in the boondocks. That’d be her luck. Available on: Amazon SteameReads Visit Darry at... www.darryfraser.com www.steamereads.com.au
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I liked the idea of being a writer from the moment I saw my poems in print in the school magazine. For years I combined employment with writing columns, articles and non-fiction. Then the writing bug took over completely, and I turned to fiction. The result has been the Shameless novels, describing the crazy and romantic adventures of ‘my wife’ Caroline; and now The Catch, inspired by a sports-mad mad Englishman who met his Australian future wife at a cricket match. I live in England with a wife who insists she isn’t called Caroline. My latest book My latest book is a novella for Steam eReads, The Catch. The story combines my two great loves, romance and sport. Alana Carragher is experiencing a transformation from ugly duckling to swan, but is still is locked into her teenage dream of lusting after a cricket hunk, the poster boy Captain on her bedroom wall. Over the five days of a dramatic Melbourne Ashes test match, she is faced with a choice between either following her teenage dream or getting to know the funny English guy in the row behind her at the MCG. The ten things I like most about being a writer 1. Going to the pub and calling it ‘character development’. 2. Walking the dog and returning home with a plot twist. 3. Taking a holiday somewhere hot for ‘research’. 4. Making up stories and calling it ‘work’. 5. Writing a first draft. Now that really is the fun bit! 6. Re-writing, editing, and saying, ‘It’s finished.’ 7. Getting feedback from a reader. Good, bad, or indifferent, it all helps. 8. Not having a boss. Nicola at SteameReads, publisher of ‘The Catch’ is just called Boss. 9. Waking up in the morning and wanting to get to my desk. 10. Seeing the finished product on Amazon with a cover and thinking, ‘Did I really write that?’The rivalry on the pitch was mirrored by a raucous dialogue in the crowd between representatives of the opposing nations. The English, a mixture of tourists, ex-pats, and fanatical barmies, had turned up in sufficient numbers to make it a real contest. Daniel and Merv, Alana’s older brothers, rose to the bait dangled by the lone Pom in the row behind. Louis confidently announced that the Aussies would be out by lunch. Alana scoffed and Louis had to pay for his bravado throughout the afternoon and evening sessions as Australia piled on the runs. But the Carragher’s jibes were water off a duck’s back. A grin remained fixed on Louis’s face. He was having the time of his life. A year in Australia doing post-grad research was, he explained to Alana, his idea of having died and gone to heaven. “I admit your captain knows how to hold a bat,” conceded Louis soon after tea. “But we’re only letting you get a few runs to make it more interesting.” The Australian batsman illustrated Louis’s comment, confirming he knew how to hold a bat by hitting a powerful six, which soared towards them. The crowd roared, but Alana could still hear a low whistle as the ball cut through the air. Her brothers leapt up and stretched to catch the ball but it was over their heads. Louis stuck up a hand and the ball smashed into his palm. He couldn't hold it, but he knocked it skywards. Alana jumped from her seat, fixing her eyes on the bright red cherry. She stretched out an arm and completed the catch just before the ball was grounded. The plastic seats, vacated by her brothers, cushioned her fall. She stood up and cradled the warm hard ball in her hands for a second, running her fingers over the rough seam. It felt like a message from her hero. She threw the ball strongly to the fielder on the boundary. The action was captured by one of the many cameras positioned around the ground, and replayed on the big screen. The crowd cheered. Alana took a bow, and that was replayed too. She high-fived with her brothers and turned to Louis. “You English guys need more fielding practice.” “I’m seriously impressed,” said Louis. “That was some catch.” Buy at Amazon Steam eReads All Romance Welcome .. a big welcome to Susan who has a new book out this week! It sounds like a fabulous read and has been added to my TBR pile! Blind Achievement is available here. About Susan... I grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney in the 50's and 60's. My parents are originally from the Newcastle-Under-Lyme area of England and came to Australia in 1952 as £10 poms. They came under a migration scheme to help Australia with workers. My father was a Painter and Decorator and I was the eldest of five children. I met my husband, Robert, in 1973 and we married in March 1974; we were both 18 years old. We have two wonderful sons, gorgeous daughters-in-law and five incredible grandchildren. We have been extremely blessed. I was a Nurse, a career that spanned more than 35 years. During my career I specialised in caring for people with Alzheimer’s type Dementia, an area that fascinates me despite how heartbreaking it can be. My dear father-in-law is unfortunately afflicted with this disease and now resides in a Nursing Home. In the not too distant future I am hoping to pen a novel incorporating some of the stories I have heard from these amazing people. Part of my career was with the blind and I also cared for severely disabled children for a while too. When I retired four years ago I decided it was time to get the stories out of my head and onto paper. From there I just hoped my stories were interesting and well written enough to attract readers. It is difficult being a new author now that anyone can publish a book. I can understand readers’ reticence to read Indie authors but hopefully they will give people like me a chance. I find as an avid reader, you can be pleasantly surprised most of the time. I can’t imagine sticking to just one or two authors and just because an author has a publisher doesn't make them good. I have certainly read some terrible books which have been published by some of the largest companies. I do hope readers enjoy my books and would love them to leave reviews. Book: Blind Achievement. Sequel to Blind Acceptance which received a 4 1/2 star review and a Crowned Heart Award from InD'tale Magazine, October 2013 Website/Blog: http://susanhorsnell.com.au/ Blurb: Phillip Johnson has been blind since the age of six after sustaining a head injury in a wagon accident. Growing up on a ranch outside of Austin hasn't been easy for the young man but he has thrived with the loving help of his Step-Mother, Rachel, and the faithful support of his father, Luke. At eighteen years old, he has made the decision to head to Macarthur to attend the Wyoming College for the Blind. He plans to study Civil Government Law and Political Economics. It is here that he meets Belinda and he falls deeply in love with her. Belinda hides a dark and dangerous secret. A ruthless man is obsessed with owning her. This threat has the power to ruin their relationship and put their lives in jeopardy. Can they overcome such obstacles and find happiness together? Excerpt: ..........It had been a long day and he tapped his way back to his room. He was startled from his thoughts by an ear piercing scream. Coming to an abrupt stop he listened. Sounds of a scuffle and banging came from what he knew was a classroom ahead. He approached and threw open the door without hesitation. “What the hell? Get out!” a gruff voice bellowed. “Please help me.” A girl’s agonized plea tore at his heart. “What’s going on?” Phillip demanded to know. “None of your damned business, half-wit. Get out.” Phillip could not place the voice. “Let me go,” she screamed again. “Let the young lady go.” Phillip said angrily. “Come here to me Miss.” He could hear her struggling to get free. “I have asked you to let her go. I will not ask again.” Phillip loaded his voice with menace. The man guffawed. “Do you really think a blindy like you can stop me?” Phillip used the man’s voice to help him move closer. The girl took advantage of her captor being distracted and bit down hard on his arm. He yelped with pain, and she wrenched free of his grip and launched herself into Phillip’s arms. The air rushed from his lungs as she collided with his chest. He wrapped his arm protectively around her trembling body as she sobbed into his shirt. Phillip lifted his cane as a warning for the man not to approach. “I am taking her to speak with Mr Carver. I expect he will also want to speak with you.” The girl in his arms continued to tremble and sob. “Come with me. We’ll ensure this never happens again,” he told the girl gently. Sue Susan Horsnell Western Romance Writer http://susanhorsnell.com Twitter: @susanhorsnell Locationality - It's more than just a plane flight Like the word? I made it up. After all, isn't that what authors do? Make stuff up. Well, yes and no. You see, sometimes it's not quite that simple. Sometimes we are writing about locations we've never even visited. What a totally scary thought that was for me, when I started A Bar In Paris. It felt ... odd. Kind of covert, checking out various sites where people had posted their images of the city... especially hotel rooms and bars! But I had a story itching to be written. Oh and the fact that it was set in the most romantic city in the world. What's not to love about it? But it's a double edged sword. I needed to research the locations, carefully. That is where the term locationality takes on its meaning. For instance, when I wrote my first series (Warriors of the Elector), I had a lot of latitude. It was set so far into the future, that it didn't really matter what was already here... I only focussed on 3 Australian areas but they were so significantly different that I could do pretty much whatever I wanted. Another series I'm writing (featuring a Celtic Cupid) is set in Melbourne, so I had to be careful . But what the heck! I'm an Aussie and I've been to Melbourne enough times to be able to write about it comfortably. I know the city well enough to paint the pictures. But when I wrote A Bar In Paris... I'd lived in England and Australia, yet never actually set foot in Paris. I'd landed at the airport en-route for London, and that was it. So how could I tell this story effectively? That is where the wonders of modern technology stepped in and saved my proverbial bacon! Google Maps became my new best friend, together with other travel websites. I trawled for days looking for the right Penthouse suite exactly in the location that suited me! The next step was to make my way, using the photos on google maps and retrace every step so I could arrive in the locations that suited my story best. Then one of my writing friends went into a bar in Paris (yes she actually was in Paris... so jealous DG!) and took a photo of the bar! For me. It was a squee moment. The world of writing has got so much smaller thanks to the wonders of modern technology. We can write about locations we've never visited thanks to photo sharing sites, travel blogs and even you tube. We can visualise the subtle play of light over the aged stone. We can hear the sounds of the city and imagine ourselves there, collecting the information. Sure, it's not quite the same as physically being there, but that is where our imaginations then take over. Thanks for having me over today. It's been fun! Imogene Bio Imogene is the author of many books, including A Bar In Paris, Hesparia's Tears, among a host of other titles. Wife, mother and nutty bookstore owner all describe Imogene Nix, but the real secret is Science Fiction, Paranormal Romance with a hefty dose of Romantic Suspense is what she adores. She is dedicated to high quality romance, with a dollop of erotic interactions, and has dipped her toes into Science Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance featuring feisty headstrong female leads and the odd Romantic Suspense. She lives in Rural Queensland where she happily raises 2 daughters, lots of chickens a couple of cats and her super pup Teddy. When she isn’t writing or reading, she’s hanging out with her husband, acting like a techno-geek or cooking and making wine. Links—where to find Imogene Nix: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Google+ Blog Hotter Than Hades Website Blurb Ever considered a naughty weekend? A “Hook-Up” with no strings? What does a woman do when she’s turning thirty? She takes a sexy weekend trip to Paris looking for commitment-free sex. Or, that’s what Davina Chalmers does, anyway. Enter Johnathon a tall charming Englishman. How can she possibly resist his charm and that dimple? But what starts out as a lark quickly becomes so much more. But how does one weekend become a lifetime? And how does a lie of omission bring everything into jeopardy? Excerpt The waiter smiled and I sighed. “Time to go.” As I started to rise, gripping my bag in my hand, the bell above the door rang and I watched with interest as the sexiest man I’d ever seen entered. The cool blonde on his arm was scowling and he pried his fingers from her arm then walked away. For a moment, she wobbled on her stilettos before she sneered in her super chic French way only they can pull off and stalked out the door. It slammed so hard the panes of glass shuddered. The man scowled, but to be honest, it didn’t hurt at all. He was tall and well built. Blond hair with gray eyes. My mind screamed that this man that could probably satisfy my needs. He didn’t appear even slightly inebriated and he was obviously single now, if that little carry-on was to go by. Perhaps this was my chance? I smoothed down my black dress, making sure my cleavage was just peeking out, then I sucked in a deep, deep breath and stood, hoping to catch his eyes. I watched the man stalk to the bar and order in perfect English-accented French. “Une bière, s’il vous plait.” My toes curled at his voice and the waiter hurried to do his bidding. Mr. Sexy’s voice was cultured and deep. I like voices, particularly men’s voices. They can make me go gooey at the knees, and this one warmed my insides to the consistency of thick, warm honey. And I knew he was the one I wanted to be with all night long. The server handed over a bottle of beer and a glass, but Mr. Sexy looked at the bottle, grimaced, and then took a long pull. The other men at the bar started talking in low voices, putting aside newspapers. They paid their money and left. I didn’t want to think it was because of the dangerous aura surrounding the man. It was, after all, three in the morning. No, there had to be something else. But I was sure it wasn’t the time to ask these questions. The small bar was quiet now as I was waiting alone with the mystery man. The waiter disappeared to the back. Obviously, with only two patrons left, he could do other things. I sucked in my confidence, folded it around me like a coat, and approached the man. “Hi. Mind if I join you?” He grinned and gestured to the seat beside him. I slipped onto the small stool, perched uncertainly. Then I wiggled my bum a little, thrust out my chest, and gave him my very best come-on smile. “Looking for a hook up, are you?” His voice caused a curl of heat to gather deep inside me. I nodded slowly. Better to be honest from the start, I thought. I didn’t have time to say a word. The next thing I knew, he had me thrust against the bar, his lips on mine and his tongue halfway down my throat. But man, what a tongue it was. He played me like a violin until he lifted his head, casting a wicked smile in my direction. “Your hotel or mine?” “Umm, yours.” Right now, I felt the rosy glow of arousal roaring through me. Sexy and quick to catch on. Yep, I was sure this guy was a winner. “You’re not from around here, are you?” I shook my head. “No.” Buy Links http://beachwalkpress.com/a-bar-in-paris/ [] Ok, so I have a confession to make… A confession that many hot-blooded Aussie women will back me up on… I’m kinda in love with lifeguards. No particular lifeguard, just lifeguards in general. All of them. Every single last one! Sure, some of it has to do with living on the gorgeous east coast of Australia and seeing their scantily-clad firm, tanned and fit physiques patrolling the beaches at every turn. Probably some of it has to do with the ease and surety of their demeanour. Oh, and did I mention biceps, abs, thighs and butts? Oh yes, I did that already… So, all of these factors make up a pretty well-rounded alpha male wrapped in quite a handsome package. BUT, the one thing that puts lifeguards even further ahead in the appeals stakes is their bravery, their tenacity and calm under pressure, their soaking wet bodies emerging from the waves… but I digress… again… At the end of the day, who doesn’t love a hunky lifeguard in tiny Speedos saving the day?! That’s exactly what the hero of my latest release, Bondi lifeguard Jack Covey does… and boy does he have his hands full! EXCERPT: Rescued: A Festive Novella J’aimee Brooker “Jack! Finn! Someone, help. Please, someone help!” came Sophie’s shrill scream. In a second, all the noises of the beach, the kids playing, parents shouting, drunks laughing—it all faded to silence, as his eyes strategically scanned the water where he’d last seen Anya and Sophie swimming, his body instinctively moving, already headed toward the water. He could see Sophie, standing on the shore, frantically scanning the water. Anya, where is Anya? he asked himself repeatedly, his feet carrying him faster than he thought possible, he looked to his left and saw Finn running with him, keeping up pace by pace. Behind him were two other surf lifeguards trying desperately to keep up. “Soph, where is she?” Jack shouted, stripping his shirt off and throwing it behind him as he made his way into the surf. “She’s was hit by a surfboard, she hasn’t come back up yet. Please, I’m coming to help” Sophie yelled, making her way into the water alongside him and Finn. “Finn, get her out of here. Calm her down, we don’t need to be pulling them both out” Jack shouted, hearing Finn’s stern voice commanding Sophie to stay on the shore before feeling his presence as they both dove under an incoming wave. Coming up, he saw a distressed surfer shouting to him, “over here, over here” he called urgently, “my board flew out and hit her in the head, I’ve been under a few times, and I can’t see her” Jack swam to him, duck diving beneath the surface, his eyes searching the water, stinging from the salty water but instinctively staying focused and open, adrenaline taking over. He made eye contact with Finn as they both came up for breath, the concern etched onto his friend’s face both deflating Jack’s hopes and spurring him on to keep going. Jack watched Finn dive back under and immediately began to follow him as he saw Anya’s body bob up above the surface a few metres away. Then he heard it: her desperate gasp for breath, her pained and scared moan for help before she dropped back below the surface, at least she’s breathing he thought to himself as her threw himself toward her, every muscle overstretching and overworking in his desperate attempt to get to her. Amazon iTunes Complete list of buy links Find J'aimee online: Website Creative Conversations Blog Google+ Independent Author Network Amazon Apple Kobo Barnes & Noble J'aimee Bio: A creative and commercial writer by trade; J’aimee also authors novellas and short stories focused within the contemporary romance genre and incorporating themes of travel, intrigue, and suspense. J’aimee has written for industry trade publications and lifestyle magazines, and is a regular columnist for several lifestyle magazines and lifestyle/travel websites as well as having a full-time job in radio and three kids under 9yrs. Today I have much pleasure in welcoming the lovely Samantha Darling to my chair. Sam, tell us a little bit about your debut release and yourself. Revenge in Rio...Calculated revenge, unexpected passion… Business magnate Luca Venancio is returning to Rio to pay his respects to his late brother, and to seduce his once fiancée, Daniella, back into his bed. Five years ago she left him without so much as a word, shunning him and the rich life he could offer in exchange for his younger, reckless brother. Now Luca wants revenge—seduce her and dump her, that's all he intends to do. Blackmailed into a violent farce of a marriage, Daniella had no choice but to comply to protect Luca's life, even though it meant never being able to see him again. Years later, a twist of fate reunites them, throwing her plans of fleeing Rio out of the window and the love of her life straight back in. Luca's flawless plan soon becomes complicated when he discovers Daniella is expecting his brother's child. It becomes even more complicated when old passions return. Can he actually go through with seducing her, bedding her, and then discarding her? About me... I live in Essex, not too far from London, with my very understanding husband, our identical twin boys, and two Bedlington Terriers. We're crammed into our rather cozy two-up two-down terrace and we can barely swing a cat, but hey, we love it. I work part-time as a nurse, but when I'm off duty, you will find me either chasing the toddlers around like a headless chicken, head buried in a book, or tapping away at my stories. I have always loved to read and romance is by far my favorite genre! You can easily escape into such promising worlds, where sexy Alpha males lead the way and strong heroines often can't help but fall head over heels in love. I adore a Happy Ever After, as I'm sure we all do if we're honest, right? Reading and writing go hand in hand, and from the day I could read, I enjoyed writing. To put pen to paper and conjure up weird and wonderful little stories was what I thrived on! English was my favorite class at school right throughout to secondary, and I will always be thankful for the teachers who gave me the opportunities to develop and be creative! If I remember rightly, one of my first stories was called The Turkey Who Could Talk…but I'll tell you more about that some other day *** Hi Annie! Thanks for offering me your chair today – it’s very comfy indeed! So, it was release day a couple of days ago and my baby, Revenge in Rio (which Annie helped whip into shape with her brilliant editing service) went out into the big world of publication, right into the hands of readers and reviewers. How did I feel? Nervous, excited, scared, elated, everything all mixed into one, that’s for sure! Definitely a roller coaster experience. I’m overwhelmed with the response the book has received so far and the wonderful support I've had from my friends and family. Talking of family, we are still away on holiday, so I saw in release day whilst soaking up the tropical Mauritian sun….I couldn't think of a better way. We have been staying with my in-laws which is lovely but to top things off and make release day even more special, my husband arranged for us and the boys to stay a couple of nights in the Le Meridien hotel. It really was lovely. When we arrived in the hotel room, a HUGE bouquet of flowers that my cousin and his wife had arranged to celebrate the release welcomed us and made the room smell amazing. This was an extra special token considering that they are thousands of miles away back in the UK! I also had a little virtual release party on Facebook, organised by the Lisa at Tasty Book Tours. She did a great job and I hope everyone that came enjoyed themselves and the winners of the giveaways enjoy their prizes! Here’s a couple of snaps to share with you guys! So, that was my fabulous first release day and I loved every second of it! Here’s to hoping for more release days in the future. Sam X Today I welcome Eva Scott to my chair... and make sure you keep reading to see the fabulous cover of her latest book! HI Eva.. what are you going Just last week there was an amazing discovery under the City of London – a second “Pompeii” they call it – the most extensive collection of Roman artefacts ever discovered in Great Britain. Including an amber Gladiator amulet almost two thousand years old. I was transported! Many years ago I worked in the shadow of the Southwark Cathedral near London Bridge. An old warehouse was pulled down to reveal the remains of a Roman farm. I spent far more hours than I should gazing out the window at the bobbing heads of the archaeologists as they went about their business. I’ve always had a love affair with history and archaeology. I studied anthropology which borrows from both disciplines. People fascinate me. If I could be a time travelling anthropologist I would be in seventh heaven. Rome reaches out across the millennium and touches our everyday lives in a myriad of ways we don’t even think of. The framework for our modern society was constructed out of the ashes of the Roman Empire (okay, so Ancient Greece helped a little bit as well). But what was it truly like to live in Ancient Rome with its public baths, high rise housing, markets, taverns and games in the great Coliseum? We can only ever speculate based on writings left to us, remembering we are looking at the past through a filter of personal opinion. And what about those people who came into contact with the Roman Empire? Researching for my stories I became fascinated with Scythians, Sarmatians, Huns and Alans. Of course Britons were influenced by Rome too. There are so many tribes and ethnic groups with fascinating cultures and customs who came into contact with the Empire. In The Last Gladiatrix, the heroine Xanthe is a Sarmatian. She would have been used to riding horses, wearing leggings or trousers, fighting side by side with her men folk when required and probably knew how to handle a bow and arrow with a level of skill. A very different life from that of a Roman woman. The contrast is fascinating. So for now I’ll stick to Ancient Rome and stories of how it impacted people who lived in that time. I’ll also be keeping a watchful eye on the dig in London, eager to see what more they can tell us about this amazing culture.THE LAST GLADIATRIX BY EVA SCOTT RELEASE DATE: 1ST APRIL 2013 The Last Gladiatrix Historical Romance In the dust and death of the Coliseum, a slave fights for freedom, a soldier fights for his life, and they both fight for the love that has been forbidden Captured and enslaved by a Roman legion, Xanthe never expects to end up training for the Coliseum floor, but every night after the day’s march, she is put through her paces by a Roman solider who challenges her, tests her, and excites her. Titus is drawn to Xanthe, her fire and her spirit, so he breaks one of his rules and brings notice on himself, offering to train her as a gladiatrix to spare her a courtesan’s role. But training her, working with her, soon becomes too much. Titus knows the penalty for taking property that does not belong to him, but how long can he resist? Excerpt – The flash of her green eyes in the candlelight reminded Titus of the verdant wild forests of Northern Italy, which they had recently left. He rubbed a smear of dirt from her cheek with his thumb, and then taking her hand, he raised Xanthe up to stand. With deliberate, slow movements he unfastened her tunic, letting it fall from her shoulders to pool on the ground at her feet. Xanthe made no move to stop him, their eyes locked, her fear and trust clear to see. He slid his fingers beneath the waist of her leggings and tugged them down over her hips, leaving her naked, standing there before him. Titus took a sponge and dipped it into a bowl of warm water, letting it soak before applying it to Xanthe’s flesh. He washed her with firm yet gentle strokes, and as the water ran over her skin it dripped deliciously from her breasts. The centurion bent his head and licked at a droplet, pleased to feel her shudder in response. Her nipple hardened, inviting him to explore further. He needed no invitation. Xanthe had to summon all her self-discipline to stand still while Titus explored the curves of her body. His touch turned her core to molten fire; she could barely contain her need. Buy Link – http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Gladiatrix-ebook/dp/B00BSKJF98/ http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/products/tag/historical About Eva I live on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia with my fabulous husband and gorgeous little boy. When I'm not writing romance you can find me out on the water kayaking, fishing or swimming. When on dry land it’s all about the shoes and the coffee. .Links http://www.evascottromance.com/ http://www.facebook.com/eva.scottromancewriter http://www.facebook.com/pages/Romancing-The-Romans/476218929112324?ref=hl#!/pages/Romancing-The-Romans/476218929112324 http://www.twitter.com/EvaScottWriter Today I welcome the lovely Susanne Bellamy to my chair. Her debut novel White Ginger, set in Hawaii is a lovely read with a dreamy quality and would make a fabulous read for the holiday weekend. Welcome Susanne... What was your first perfume? Do you remember the scent and how it made you feel? Mine was White Ginger and the memory of its sweet, fresh scent has stayed with me. It was one of Avon’s range back in the days of my emerging into young womanhood. I loved it, and the way I could close my eyes and imagine myself in Hawaii with swaying palms (and maybe Elvis—I loved “Blue Hawaii” too!). Years later, with autumn in the air and home alone, I sat writing my first novel. Amelie, my artistic heroine, has been rescued from her broken-down hire car and driven to her cottage by Arne, my hunky hero. As Amelie surveys her temporary home in the waning light, she sees a white ginger bush flowering beside her veranda and races over to bury her nose in its heady delights. Moonlight cast a glow over a cabin to their left. “Is this my cabin? How wonderful.” Fascinated, she looked over the small wooden structure as she climbed out of Arne’s jeep. A miniature plantation style building with verandas around two sides faced south overlooking the sea. Three shallow wooden steps gave access to the middle of the veranda. And to the left of the steps, almost aglow in the full moonlight, was a Hawaiian white ginger bush. “Oh, my favorite.” She leaned into the gleaming white bloom, savoring the heady perfume. “I think I’m going to love being here.” Memories of my adolescent love of the perfume rushed back. I sat, savouring the remembered scent and realised I had the perfect title. White Ginger fed another of my passions—Broadway musicals—and shares one of its key themes with South Pacific. Several characters struggle to get past their prejudices and the way they’ve been “carefully taught to be afraid/Of people whose skin is a different shade”. This is the 1940’s, don’t forget, but these prejudices are as pervasive today as they were then. In the musical, Ensign Nellie Forbush falls in love with Emil Dubeque, the French planter, but can’t get past the fact he has two children from his marriage to a Tonkinese princess. Lt. Cable falls in love with Liat but she is Tonkinese and he struggles with the idea of her ethnicity while remembering “the girl back home”. So for Arne to worry that Amelie may have a problem with his mixed French/Hawaiian ancestry is understandable, especially as it is the reason his fiancée dumped him. Great musicals have such conflict at their heart, deep and powerful and emotion-driven. Which is why I love them so much. And why I had to explore this theme in White Ginger. I really am a sucker for beautiful music and a powerful love story. I suspect references to other musicals will feature in coming books. In fact, Her Spanish Flame (working title was The Impossible Dream) features a delicious Spanish baritone, Alejandro Augustin, playing the role of Don Quixote when Isabelle first meets him. The working title was the title of a famous song from the musical, Man of La Mancha. Anyway, here’s the blurb for White Ginger: Sometimes finding a soul mate can be dangerous. Dumped by her fiancé and deemed too predictable, Amelie vows to steer clear of men. She flees Brisbane for Hawaii where she fights an inconvenient attraction to a sexy marine biologist who is busy waging war against a developer. Arne is fighting a David and Goliath battle against an unscrupulous company whose resort will damage the reef protecting his small Kauai town. He recognizes his soul mate in Amelie, but his efforts to win her trust are thwarted when he becomes a target due to his anti-development stance. Although being with Arne could be dangerous for Amelie, some attractions cannot be ignored. Will he overcome her resistance and win the battle against those trying to destroy their paradise? CONTENT WARNING: Seductive locations and a smouldering hero. Excerpt: “I thought you might like this,” he announced holding the bottle aloft. “It’s Australian. We can celebrate your new car--” “Thank you, again. I’m impressed you managed to organize it so quickly. And here was me thinking I’d have no one to help me out of an awkward situation when that stupid car carked it.” “I take it that means when it died on you?” She laughed again. “I see I’m going to have to teach you Aussie speak. Give me a chance to have a quick shower and change and I’ll cook you a thank you meal.” “Sounds good. I’ll open the wine.” Suiting action to words, Arne poured a glass for himself and one for Amelie and then carried them out onto the veranda. He leaned against the upright, contemplating the twists of fate that had crossed his path with that of the woman inside. Three months she’d said. Who knew what could develop in three months? If he hadn’t set out to check on his furthermost weather station yesterday instead of today, he wouldn’t have run into her when she needed assistance. And now he’d found a golden opportunity to see her regularly over the next few days. She turned to look up at him, elbows resting on the railing. “What do you do, Arne?” “Dive, swim, look at fish.” “Umm, that sounds idyllic.” Her brow creased into a tiny puzzled frown. “It is. And that’s just my work…I’m a marine biologist.” He grinned as the joke registered and her beautiful smile reappeared. That was a smile to keep a man coming home every day. “What can I do to help?” She spun around. “You can cook?” “Should I be insulted by that remark? I’m not helpless in the kitchen.” He grinned. “Sorry. Not many men I know can, that’s all. Actually, I can’t imagine you helpless at anything.” She’s wrong. I’m helpless right now with wanting to kiss her but it’s too soon. He cleared his throat. “Would you like another glass of wine? You know the saying--one for the food and one for the chef.” She handed her glass to him and her fingers brushed his. Sparks like electricity raced up his arm. Her wide-eyed gaze met his. A strident buzzing from the stove timer announced dinner was cooked. Amelie blinked several times. “I better get that before it burns.” She turned slowly away. She felt it too. Buy links: http://www.amazon.com/White-Ginger-ebook/dp/B00AVLEK0O Bio: Susanne lives in beautiful Queensland, Australia with her own hero who saved her life then married her. Given her reality, her fictional heroes have a lot to live up to in the action man stakes! Her children, a pigeon pair, are the light of her life, along with two dogs, one devoted and one ditzy, who are her door bell. She lives on the edge of beautiful bush land, visited by families of wallabies, kookaburras and wild birds. A few of her favourite things—sunsets, family, Friday drinks and coffees with friends, big Broadway musicals, a wide range of music but especially Il Divo. And travelling just about anywhere. Susanne loves experiencing new people, places and cultures. Whether trekking in Nepal and Vietnam, or admiring the Mona Lisa in Paris or David in Florence, she loves discovering the history and adventure of new places. Relationships, the resilience of the human spirit, and the interconnectedness of our lives fascinate her, and she values a strong social conscience. Every day she looks for something beautiful to nourish and inspire her. One day, she plans to give up her day job and just write. Oh, and travel to another new place of course! Today I welcome the lovely Juliet Madison to the chair. Her recent novel Fast Forward put a smile on my face and made me lough aloud, as well as exploring some deeper societal issues in a lighthearted way. I really must get that review up, Juliet! How I Became A Writer Thank you, Annie, for hosting me on your blog today! I’ve been writing seriously for three years and four months now. I do remember writing before that, but I never thought I’d try making a career of it. I’ve always loved stories and grew up with a vivid imagination and daydreaming tendencies, so it’s no wonder the desire to write fiction was born. Several years ago, I was working as a naturopath and running my own business. It was a lot of hard work. I really enjoyed it, it was rewarding and interesting, but I barely had any time to read, and I was too tired by the time I got to bed late at night. I think I went a couple of years without reading a single novel! Eventually I read a book, and then another, and I started to get a funny feeling whenever I’d walk into a bookshop. Something was telling me - you need to write! I went through a very stressful period in my life and some pretty big changes occurred, resulting in my son leaving school at the end of Year Six and me leaving my health clinic. I enrolled my son in distance education and agreed to being his full time supervisor/teacher. I could barely handle helping him with his homework before, so I had no idea how I would cope with schoolwork every day! But it’s amazing what you can do when you set your mind to something and when a certain pathway is the best option for your child. So as I prepared for this new phase of my life, I decided that when it came to the desire to write a novel, it was now or never. Sure, I’d be busy in my new role, but because I would be at home full time I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to make time to work on a book. And so it began. I started my first foray into novel writing and a year later had a completed novel. The euphoric feeling was so rewarding, and addictive. I haven’t stopped writing since! It was even more exciting when this novel got a ‘revise and resubmit’ request from a major publisher (I’m still revising!). I knew I was on the right track, and it spurred me on to write more stories. When I moved to a beachside town on the south coast of New South Wales, I started writing my second novel and based it on my new town, and I decided to turn it into a series. I’ll be working on the second book in the series later this year. And at the start of 2012, I began my third full length book (I’d written a few short stories and a novella also during those three years). This book was Fast Forward. Nine months after starting the book I received my first offer of publication from Harlequin’s Escape Publishing, and now it has just been released! It’s great to be able to finally say - ‘I’m a published author’. Some things I’ve learned are to write what’s in your heart, write the story you want to read, and believe in yourself. It’s easy to doubt yourself as a writer, and we all do it now and then, but if you write - you’re a writer, it’s as simple as that. Not everyone picks up that pen or opens that word document, so celebrate the fact that you started and that you’re having a go. I’d also encourage aspiring writers to get their work critiqued or assessed, as it can help pinpoint areas that need improving, and you can learn a lot in the process. And something that’s been a big help to me is joining RWA (Romance Writers of Australia). The support and professional development is fantastic, and the wonderful writers I’ve met have become cherished friends. It’s amazing to look back and see where I was three and a half years ago compared to now - it’s so different! But I’m enjoying my new life, and now that I’ve become part of the writing world - I’m here to stay. :) Here’s the blurb for my debut release, FAST FORWARD, out now from Escape Publishing: Aspiring supermodel, Kelli Crawford seems destined to marry her hotshot boyfriend, but on her twenty-fifth birthday she wakes in the future as a fifty-year-old suburban housewife married to the now middle-aged high school nerd. Trapped in the opposite life of the one she wanted, Kelli is forced to re-evaluate her life and discover what is really important to her. Will she overcome the hilarious and heartbreaking challenges presented to her and get back to the body of her younger self? Or will she be stuck in the nightmare of hot flushes, demanding children, raunchy advances from her husband and hideous support underwear forever? Buy FAST FORWARD via... Escape Publishing, Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes/iBookstore, Kobo. GIVEAWAY #1: To go in the draw for a $25 Amazon gift card, forward your purchase receipt to fastforwardbook (at) gmail (dot) com - replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . GIVEAWAY #2: To go in the draw for a $50 Amazon gift card or the runner up prize of a $25 gift card, leave a comment on this post. Comment on other blogs during Juliet’s February blog tour for more entries into the draw! Winners drawn 1st March. Connect with Juliet online: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter. |
Annie SeatonAnnie loves sharing her writing chair with special guests! If you'd like a turn...please email her! annieseaton26@gmail.com Archives
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