Fiona Lowe's Blog, page 12

Cover Cafe’s 2012 Contemporary Romance Cover Winner is….

Squee! I’m thrilled and excited to announce that the Australian and US print paperback and eBook cover of Boomerang Bride has been voted the winner in the contemporary section of Cover Cafe’s annual competition!

I confess to tweeting a bit about this in May so a thousand thanks to all you wonderful friends, family and readers who took the time to vote! The email from Cover Cafe said,   “Boomerang Bride was the winner in contemporary!  It won by

a large margin – people just loved your cover.”

Congratulations to all the other winners! Please indulge me while I take a parochial moment and say that Australian covers did very well in this world-wide contest. Congratulations go to Kylie Griffin who won the Alternate Reality section and to Nikki Logan who won the Category section. Here are their gorgeous covers!

Beech Forest, Cliff Young and Me

A month ago, with a long weekend looming, I said to my husband, let’s go bike riding along the Old Beechy rail trail. Given it’s winter and this area is the wettest in the state, I knew it was going to be weather-dependent, but I was hopeful.

A couple of weeks after making that decision and totally by coincidence,  I watched the telemovie, Cliffy, about Cliff Young, the 61 year-old potato farmer from Beech Forest, Victoria who back in 1983 ran and won the ultra-marathon from  Sydney to Melbourne. He’d always been a runner…he’d run from Beech Forest to Apollo Bay and back….70km, half of which is up a very long hill!! And he used to do it in gum boots!

Funny that by coincidence, I should find myself in Beech Forest on Sunday after riding my bike 18km from Gellibrand to Beech Forest, up a continuous uphill gradient. Beech Forest is teeny, tiny…there is a cafe, a pub and a park with a granite gumboot in memory of Cliff Young. It is a beautiful part of the world, dotted with dairy farms, rolling hills and fortunately still some unlogged forest.

It was glorious riding my bike through Casuarina forests, past towering beech trees and massive gums. It was hard work going up and one section, which took 25 minutes to climb, took 6 on the return downhill run!  I am hoping the cycling I am doing in France later in the year is less hilly than this ride!

Digital-First: Say again? How do I buy and read your book?

With the launch of Saved By The Bride, the first book in  my Wedding Fever trilogy, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from friends who have always bought my books in print from a physical book store.

They look at me with a bemused expression and say, ‘How do I buy this book?’

The conversations go a bit like this.

Do you have an eBook reader?

If the answer is “No”, no problem!.

Do you have a Smartphone?

If they have a smartphone I ask how they feel about reading on their phone. Big on-line book stores all have apps for iPhones and Android phones. If they feel the phone screen is too small then I suggest they read it on their computer .

Again, there are free programs to download so you can read on the computer. If they want to buy the book from Amazon, download the Kindle PC reading app.If they are shopping at the Barnes and Noble Nook store, Sony store, the Australian Booktopia, then I tell them to download the free Adobe Digital editions and read the ePUB book on their computer.

If they ask me about which eReader to buy I send them to my website where I have outlined the different eReaders.

Personally , I think you should purchase an eReader with wireless and or 3G as it will make your life a lot easier. You will be able to buy your book whenever you want and wherever you are…home, out, on vacation/holiday! I also like eINK so you can read outside but you also need a light or a backlit screen just for nighttime. So do your research!

If they already have an eReader, the next question is:

What sort of eReader do you have?

An iPad uses ePUB format. Many of my books can be bought from the iBookstore.  Note to Aussie Readers… right now Saved By the Bride is not on iBooks Australia but can be purchased from Booktopia, Sony Australia and JB HIFI Books. You just download the reading App for the store from the Apple App Store.

Other eReaders that use ePUB format are Sony eReader, Kobo, Nook, tablets and generic readers.

It’s Easy to buy eBooks!

The other day, an Aussie friend with an iPad asked me via email, ‘How do I buy your book?’ I sent her the Booktopia link and three minutes later I got this email…

Done!

Opened link

Purchased book

Book download

Opened Booktopia on my ipad

Book on ipad

Ready to read

So folks, it’s  that simple. Just match up your device with the format of the book eg iPad reads ePUB, Kindle reads MOBI, and BINGO. You will have a book in 60 seconds and be reading straight away.

The KEY to eBooks is matching the device to the format. Know what format of books your eReader, “reads.”

Want to jump into Wedding Fever with Saved by The Bride?

 BUY IT NOW! for $2.99 and less*

Amazon Kindle ,
Barnes & Noble Nook
Carina Press ,  Kobo   ibooks
 
AUSTRALIAN READERS: Booktopia*
Amazon Kindle ,   Sony Store,   JB HIFI Book
and all other eBook retailers

Memories of Memorial Day Weekend

It’s Memorial Day weekend in America and it got me thinking about the trips away we always took on that weekend when we lived in Wisconsin. One very memorable trip was the year winter wouldn’t end. My parents were visiting from Australia and weeks before we had planned to go to Bayfield, Wisconsin…a small town on Lake Superior, in the far north of Wisconsin. A place very similar to Whitetail, the town in my Wedding Fever trilogy.

I had visions of sparkling blue lakes, glorious blue skies, spring flowers and sunshine. Boy was I in for a surprise!

So here it was, May 29th that year and technically well into spring, technically closer to summer even and yet, the ice on Lake Superior had only just broken. The Lad was then a toddler and here he is insisting on playing on the beach! Snow on the beach isn’t something an Australian ever sees!

We had a fabulous weekend, albeit chilly and one of the of the wonderful  memories is how the owners of the B&B lent us their Cadillac when our car battery was flat so we could drive to the restaurant for dinner. Did we feel grand arriving in such style!

I adored the Apostle Islands and their glorious lighthouses and light house keeper’s cottages so it’s no wonder, I created Whiteteail although now I think I need to set a series of books that feature lighthouses!

Between the weather, the hospitality and the scenery, we had a very memorable Memorial Weekend, so much so we still talk about it years later.

Wishing all my US readers, a happy Memorial Day weekend!

If you want a taste of small town Wisconsin, lakes, boats and weddings, check out  Saved By The Bride, a single title contemporary romance full of heart and humor. Available NOW from  Amazon, Kobo, Nook, Carina Press and all other places eBooks are sold.

“Saved by the Bride, the first book in Fiona Lowe’s Wedding Fever series, is a delicious romantic comedy that combines laugh-out-loud physical comedy, sigh-worthy love scenes, and enough heartbreak to keep it real. I liked not only Annika and Finn but also Finn’s sister who is headed toward Bridezilla status in her quest to see that a perfect wedding protects her and her endearing beta finance from the sad ending that her parents experienced. Frothier than Lowe’s Rita-winning Boomerang Bride, this book has the same charm. Tobin and Whitetail have more in common than their Wisconsin address and the wedding business. Give this one a try. I think you’ll be glad you did.”   JUST JANGA

Happy Mother’s Day

I am celebrating my 18th Mother’s Day as a mother and for the first time ever, I have neither of my boys home! It’s not really a big deal as they’re both home next weekend, YAY and both of them had sent me snail mail letters for today.

I made a cup of tea and read them. The Lad’s was funny, and as usual, made me laugh and then I opened Boy Wonder’s. He’s up the bush this year so no shops and he made me a card and drew the most amazing eucalyptus leaves on the front. All good, lovely. I was still fine. Then I read the poem inside.

That was it. Tears flowed. I rang my mum.

It takes a village to raise a child so to all the women out there with children in their lives, Happy Mother’s Day!

The Light of Books

I have a mate, Monica, who is very artistic and she takes old lamps and old books and does amazing things with them.

She calls what she does, Recycled Enlightenment. She haunts the opportunity/thrift stores for lamps and old books and then she matches them up with themes and creates magic! She has some great children’s books and lamps for bedrooms, lamps for reading rooms, cookbooks for the kitchen…you name it,she puts it together and they look great.

Here are some of her lamps. This one below is a stack of crime novels and I just LOVE the little typewriter and jigsaw pieces

She also makes fabulous postcards and greeting cards.

 

 

 

 

 

Monica says,

RECYCLED ENLIGHTENMENT allows

her to enjoy the unique, organic process of reworking beautiful elemental objects from the past. Although its primary focus is the production of these distinctive booklamps, RECYCLED ENLIGHTENMENT also refashions other once loved materials into new art and design forms. Keep a look out for RECYCLED ENLIGHTENMENTS other artistic creations!

She also made me a standard lamp using everyone of my books! 

She sells them at markets and she also makes to order so if you fancy a lamp, check out her website and give her a call or an email.

Cover Cafe’s Annual Book Cover Competition

Color me excited! I’m thrilled  to say that the print edition cover of Boomerang Bride is a finalist in Cover Cafe’s annual competition and the voting is open! I ADORE this version of the cover.

Designed by Amanda Emmerson, this cover was chosen by the Australian arm of Harlequin  to grace the cover of  the Australian print edition last year. Carina Press also used it for the US print edition.

I have no clue who nominated the cover but I am

stoked that someone took the time and that it made it to the finals. If you love the cover as much as I do, you might want to pop on over to Cover Cafe and vote for it along with other covers in different categories. Three votes in three separate categories are required for the vote to count.

There is also a worst cover section and I found the covers there both oddly disturbing and compelling all at the same time! It’s worth stopping by for that section alone!

Voting is open until May 28th but why not do it now

A Mini Break in Williamstown at The Captain’s Retreat!

On Friday afternoon, DH and I set off down the road toward the big smoke of Melbourne, but instead of crossing the bridge into the capital of our state of Victoria, home of world class art collections and cuisine, we dropped down into Williamstown.

You can easily see the skyscrapers of Melbourne just across the river and the bright lights shine so close, but Williamstown, with it’s  maritime history is a delight. It has a  ”small town” feel despite being in the shadow of Melbourne’s CBD. They still have a green grocer and old fashioned butchers shop in the main street, just like when I was growing up.

With the river on one side and the sea on the other, Williamstown is very connected to the water and the walks take you past ship builders and docks…The Sea Shepherd was in port… gorgeous Victorian houses, botanical gardens and of course, the Esplanade along the sea.. They even have a Pirate’s Tavern located in the old ship yards and run by the Maritime Association.

We stayed at The Captain’s Retreat B&B and it was gorgeous! We had the suite and it was luxury from the most amazingly comfy bed to the spa bath, to our own verandah with a view of the estuary and a reading nook! We didn’t want to leave.

It also has a lovely deck where you can kick back and a living room with a fireplace and loads of books and magazines. Our room had gothic windows which were out of place in an 1880s weatherboard/clapboard house so I asked a friend who lived in Williamstown if she knew the history.

She kindly found out and sent  me a note,  which said,  the Captain’s Retreat has a chequered history and you were right about its ecclesiastical past…”Built originally as a single 4 room cottage (1862) and then extensively extended in 1880 for a ship Captain and his family, the house at #2 Ferguson St. has also been a Nunnery, a Brothel, Accommodation flats and Administration offices”

I love that it was both a brothel and a Nunnery!

According to my friend, Williamstown was pretty rough and ready and murders were a-plenty during the 1800 and early 1900′s and ghosts abound. They run ghost tours so we’ll have to go back and do the tour because it sounds like a lot of fun.

I took DH clothes shopping as there was a store with a sale of clothes he liked (Lucky!) and then we enjoyed a beautiful dinner with a writing mate and her husband.

Breakfast at The Captain’s Retreat was delicious  and with full bellies, we drove into Melbourne and took advantage of being able to see an ‘Art-House’ movie. We’re short of those where I live as the cinema tends to only show the blockbusters. We saw the French film, Rust and Bone which we really enjoyed and hey, I could understand some of the French.  Not a lot, but some!

Here are some more photos of our room at The Captain’s Retreat. If you want a lovely, relaxing get away, I really recommend it!

The perfect decoration for a Harlequin author!

The spa bath!

It may have only been 26 hours away but if felt like two days. So much so, I have forgotten where I was up to in Runaway Groom! I better get back to Amy and Ben today, as deadline is looming close now…about two weeks. Yikes!

ANZAC DAY. Lest We Forget

It’s April 25th today and in Australia and New Zealand that means Anzac Day. For those of you reading this who are  not from either of these countries, it is a day when we remember the men and women who have served in the defence of our countries. A bit like Memorial Day in the US, although Anzac Day came into being because of a specific battle in Turkey on April 25th 1915.

It was the day Australia lost it’s innocence and came of age. 8,700 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders died during the Gallipoli campaign along with many British, French and Indian and Turkish soldiers. With a small population, the deaths of young man during WW1 changed the lives of an entire generation.

Of course in later years Australian troops fought in WW2, the Korean War and Vietnam. During the Vietnam war years, Anzac Day became a focus for anti- war sentiment. Then during the 70s and 80s it became for many a public holiday and the chance for a sleep in and a picnic.

Life changes and in the decade there has been a definite shift. Perhaps having forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq effected us.  Perhaps it is to do with more Australian history taught in schools or the fact that more Australians travel and are visiting the Turkish peninsula, but Anzac Day is once again a day where many people take time to reflect and give thanks.

Lest We Forget.

Recipe for ANZAC Biscuits…these are ‘cookies’ that were sent to the soldiers. They had no eggs so could keep for a long time and they are YUMMY! We make them a lot and they’re an Australian cultural icon.

1 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup caster sugar
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons golden syrup or treacle
150g unsalted butter, chopped
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda

Preheat oven to 170°C. Place the flour, oats, sugar and coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine. In a small saucepan place the golden syrup and butter and stir over low heat until the butter has fully melted. Mix the bicarb soda with 1 1/2 tablespoons water and add to the golden syrup mixture. It will bubble whilst you are stirring together so remove from the heat. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix together until fully combined. Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on baking trays lined with non stick baking paper, pressing down on the tops to flatten slightly. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

What Can You Buy for $2.99? Saved By The Bride!

Seriously, there isn’t much we can buy for $2.99. In Australia, bananas are usually more per kilo than that. A coffee from a cafe is definitely more expensive than $2.99. Parking in a major city costs 10X  $2.99 per hour.  Saved by the Bride is 360 pages, 99,000 words and will keep you entertained for hours at the bargain price of $2.99.

 

Sale Links are Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook,Carina Press, Kobo ibooks and where all eBooks are sold.