Sharon Kendrick's Blog, page 11
April 12, 2012
SNAPSHOT VIEWS OF VIETNAM
A little bit like Maraban (the country I created for my very first Sheikh book: SURRENDER TO THE SHEIKH) - Vietnam is a land of complete contrasts.
Here we have the chaos of the traffic system (you are told that when you wish to cross the road - to turn your head towards the traffic and walk slowly but steadily across the line of moving vehicles, which will then slow and swerve to avoid you! Oddly enough, it seems to work.)
And here we have the unconscious synchronicity of two workers sweeping the leaves in perfect harmony. It really was poetry in motion - and hard to believe that we were only yards away from the noisy roads.
And lastly, one of those amazing temples - full of colour and gleaming gold, where offerings are left and incense burns and the pervading sense of spirituality is hard to escape....gorgeous.
But it's back to "normal" for me after the Easter break. I've removed the last of the chocolate from the house and launched myself into my latest book, which features a Sicilian called Santino Cavallaro who is not behaving as I thought he would behave. He looks different to how I imagined, as well. His eyes are sapphire (blue and green eye-colour are often found on this fascinating island) and he's much swarthier than my usual heroes.
To get myself in a Sicilian frame of mind, I'm reading THE LEOPARD, by Tomasi di Lampedusa. It's brilliant.What are you reading, and why?
Here we have the chaos of the traffic system (you are told that when you wish to cross the road - to turn your head towards the traffic and walk slowly but steadily across the line of moving vehicles, which will then slow and swerve to avoid you! Oddly enough, it seems to work.)
And here we have the unconscious synchronicity of two workers sweeping the leaves in perfect harmony. It really was poetry in motion - and hard to believe that we were only yards away from the noisy roads.
And lastly, one of those amazing temples - full of colour and gleaming gold, where offerings are left and incense burns and the pervading sense of spirituality is hard to escape....gorgeous.
But it's back to "normal" for me after the Easter break. I've removed the last of the chocolate from the house and launched myself into my latest book, which features a Sicilian called Santino Cavallaro who is not behaving as I thought he would behave. He looks different to how I imagined, as well. His eyes are sapphire (blue and green eye-colour are often found on this fascinating island) and he's much swarthier than my usual heroes.
To get myself in a Sicilian frame of mind, I'm reading THE LEOPARD, by Tomasi di Lampedusa. It's brilliant.What are you reading, and why?
March 30, 2012
AMAZING VIETNAM
I've just returned from a trip to the Far East and this moment was captured in Hanoi, at the Museum of Ethnology.
I love this photo - mainly because I didn't know it was being taken - but it reminds me of the sense of awe I felt as I looked around.
It was a very beautiful and serene place. The Vietnamese really value education. They also wish people to show respect in their sacred pagodas, which is why I had to wrap a shawl around me as a makeshift ankle-length skirt.With me is our guide, Jena (I've probably spelt that wrong) who regaled us with stories of how buffalo still pull carts in his village and how much he enjoys cobra blood, when drunk with alcohol. Mmm!Afterwards, we went to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Min, which was quite an experience. When I'm not so jet-lagged, I'll tell you about it.
Have you ever been to Vietnam, or is there a similarly unforgettable place that you've visited?
It was a very beautiful and serene place. The Vietnamese really value education. They also wish people to show respect in their sacred pagodas, which is why I had to wrap a shawl around me as a makeshift ankle-length skirt.With me is our guide, Jena (I've probably spelt that wrong) who regaled us with stories of how buffalo still pull carts in his village and how much he enjoys cobra blood, when drunk with alcohol. Mmm!Afterwards, we went to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Min, which was quite an experience. When I'm not so jet-lagged, I'll tell you about it.
Have you ever been to Vietnam, or is there a similarly unforgettable place that you've visited?
March 9, 2012
SIZZLING HOT DOWN UNDER
I'm loving this Autralian cover of my book THE SHEIKH'S UNDOING, which arrived yesterday morning along with Japanese, Italian and French translations. It's always a treat when foreign editions tumble through the letter box. It makes me realise how truly global romance is....because everyone loves a love story.
I've been frantically busy on my latest manuscript which features a woman called Roxy Carmichael, who used to be famous - but not any more. One time girl-band member Roxy has fallen on hard times. She's bruised and disillusioned - though her talent and her ambition haven't withered one bit. Rosy is a survivor who's used to standing on her own two feet and the last person she wants to accept help from is the sexy and powerful Duke of Torchester. But as we all know, you can't always get what you want....
Other than that, I went to the Romantic Novelists' Association's fantastic awards ceremony, in the Gladstone Library in London. (I have a very soft spot for Gladstone).I also saw SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER at the National Theatre, which was first performed in 1773. It was a brilliant performance - but the most startling thing of all was the freshness of the dialogue, which could have been written yesterday. Because that's the thing about human nature....times change, but people don't.
I've been frantically busy on my latest manuscript which features a woman called Roxy Carmichael, who used to be famous - but not any more. One time girl-band member Roxy has fallen on hard times. She's bruised and disillusioned - though her talent and her ambition haven't withered one bit. Rosy is a survivor who's used to standing on her own two feet and the last person she wants to accept help from is the sexy and powerful Duke of Torchester. But as we all know, you can't always get what you want....
Other than that, I went to the Romantic Novelists' Association's fantastic awards ceremony, in the Gladstone Library in London. (I have a very soft spot for Gladstone).I also saw SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER at the National Theatre, which was first performed in 1773. It was a brilliant performance - but the most startling thing of all was the freshness of the dialogue, which could have been written yesterday. Because that's the thing about human nature....times change, but people don't.
February 11, 2012
WHERE AM I?
Out today in what looked and felt like a winter wonderland.It had been a good week (I made the USA Today Bestseller list with MONARCH OF THE SANDS), but this was the real frosting on the cake.The snow in the city had mostly melted but high up on Farley Mount it was like being in a different world. I saw three deer (not ships!) gamboling across a woodland path ahead of me, which gave the walk a magical touch.The snow was intact and crunchy underfoot (very good research because my current hero and heroine are just about to experience a whirling snowstorm!). But most of all, it was beautiful.
Where have you been recently that's beautiful?
Where have you been recently that's beautiful?
February 6, 2012
BEAUTIFUL CONCKERA
Here's a photo of me taken just before Christmas at Conckera in County Fermanagh, Ireland, where my mother grew up and which is just a couple of miles away from the sweet little town of Clones.
Conckera has a lake and lots of bogland. There are trees which turn to gold when the sun shines on them (look behind me) and some of the greenest grass you'll ever set eyes on. I think it's one of the most beautiful places on earth, but of course - I'm biased! My cousin Peter still lives there with his family and he and his two brothers made my visit so memorable.
I hadn't visited since I was four years old but I'd heard so much about it that I'd built up a vivid picture in my mind. It didn't disappoint. How could it?. Some places are just perfect because of their associations and this is one of them.Do you have a place like that, one which is very close to your heart?
Conckera has a lake and lots of bogland. There are trees which turn to gold when the sun shines on them (look behind me) and some of the greenest grass you'll ever set eyes on. I think it's one of the most beautiful places on earth, but of course - I'm biased! My cousin Peter still lives there with his family and he and his two brothers made my visit so memorable.
I hadn't visited since I was four years old but I'd heard so much about it that I'd built up a vivid picture in my mind. It didn't disappoint. How could it?. Some places are just perfect because of their associations and this is one of them.Do you have a place like that, one which is very close to your heart?
January 30, 2012
LUSCIOUS CORNWALL
This is the view I'll be waking up to for the next few days....The magnificence which is Trevone Bay in north Cornwall.
I shall be taking a book (HIS ILLEGAL SELF by Peter Carey) and some proofs to correct - as well as my latest wip (the one about the bad-girl singer and the arrogant Duke).I shall also be taking a hot-water bottle.Snow is forecast.
I shall be taking a book (HIS ILLEGAL SELF by Peter Carey) and some proofs to correct - as well as my latest wip (the one about the bad-girl singer and the arrogant Duke).I shall also be taking a hot-water bottle.Snow is forecast.
January 25, 2012
WHAT RHYMES WITH *SPINX*, *THINKS*, *WINKS*?
Yes, it's MINX!
And today I'm blogging over at the splendidly named Minxes Of Romance....
So please do stop by and make yourself known.(The word *Minx* would be great for a limerick, don't you think?)
And today I'm blogging over at the splendidly named Minxes Of Romance....
So please do stop by and make yourself known.(The word *Minx* would be great for a limerick, don't you think?)
January 24, 2012
TODAY I AM BLOGGING OVER AT
iheartspresents
where I am talking about the enduring sexiness of
So I do hope you'll drop by and visit. I'll be talking about my latest release which is called MONARCH OF THE SANDS.
Do you like this iconic cover of E. M. Hull's classic Sheikh novel?
So I do hope you'll drop by and visit. I'll be talking about my latest release which is called MONARCH OF THE SANDS.
Do you like this iconic cover of E. M. Hull's classic Sheikh novel?
January 23, 2012
SALLY GAP - and a conundrum!
Last month, I visited one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Yes, I'm talking about Ireland!I went to the County of Armagh ("sure, there's one fair county in Ireland, with memories so glorious and grand....") and I also went to Dublin to stay with the talented and occasionally hilarious Abby Green, whose books you will know and love. Abby has worked (and sometimes still does) in the film industry and she took me to Sally Gap, just outside Dublin. It gives stunning views over the Wicklow mountains, which is why it is so beloved of film-makers.Here I am, on a day so windy that I honestly thought I might fly away.
But I am left with one question.Who was *Sally*?
But I am left with one question.Who was *Sally*?
January 17, 2012
TUSCANY IN MAY, ANYONE?
It's been an age since I updated this blog but now I have returned to it with renewed vigour to
remind you of things I should have reminded you about before!
First up is to say that if you want to come to glorious Tuscany, to learn how to write romantic fiction - then you should book now.
During a dreamy, one-week course - you'll stay in a picturesque watermill, surrounded by trees which are loaded with creamy and fragrant Acacia blossoms, just like this....
And you'll soak up the kind of inspiration you get from living among mountains which look like this:
Of course, we must not forget going to local restaurants for droolingly good food, where course participants can occasionally be persuaded into doing something as daft as posing winsomely with a sprig of flowers!
Twice recently, I have been asked if men are welcome on these courses and the short answer is...yes! All writers (as long as they are passionate about their craft) are very welcome.
So what's stopping you?
First up is to say that if you want to come to glorious Tuscany, to learn how to write romantic fiction - then you should book now.
During a dreamy, one-week course - you'll stay in a picturesque watermill, surrounded by trees which are loaded with creamy and fragrant Acacia blossoms, just like this....
And you'll soak up the kind of inspiration you get from living among mountains which look like this:
Of course, we must not forget going to local restaurants for droolingly good food, where course participants can occasionally be persuaded into doing something as daft as posing winsomely with a sprig of flowers!
Twice recently, I have been asked if men are welcome on these courses and the short answer is...yes! All writers (as long as they are passionate about their craft) are very welcome.
So what's stopping you?
