Eve Summers's Blog, page 14

The 10pm Question

"The 10pm Question" by New Zealand author Kate De Goldi is probably not considered a romance novel by most of its readers. And yet, as I lived alongside the book's characters, I couldn't help thinking that what the book was chiefly about was first love. First, pre-teen I-don't-even-know-it's-love type of love.

Loved every page.

Champagne

For no reason at all, I feel like writing about champagne.

This one is my very favourite. Tastes of gold and spring and luxury.



My second choice. Tastes how mineral water should have tasted if it wanted to be consumed at the Olympus.



What it lacks in originality, it certainly makes up for in taste. A good, predictable choice. If it's a tad boring, I'll be boring.



You know? I haven't had the pleasure yet. Keen to try it, though.

The best setting for a proposal?

2-week course reminder

"Running down the stairs, she put on her shoes." Do you know why your editor will tell you to rework this sentence? 

This class will tell you why. It'll also teach you how to dig deeper into the story to come up with interesting sentence structures, other than the dreaded "she did this and then she did that."

Where: The Savvy Forums
Cost: Premium Members $20 / Basic Members $30

Syllabus:
Lesson 1: Those pesky -ings
Lesson 2: He said, she said... Remove Those Tags!
Lesson 3: She went outside. She started the car engine. She drove... and the reader fell asleep.
Lesson 4: Q&A

Yvonne Walus is an award-winning novelist with over 20 books published in USA and UK.

Unlikely Romance Novels

Readers can find romance in the most unlikely places. Many murder mysteries, thrillers, SF and fantasy novels are romances in disguise:
"Truth" by Terry Pratchett"Just one look" by Harlan Coben"The Day of the Triffids" by John Wyndham "Operation: Genocide" by Yvonne Walus

Faking It

Want a racy read that's also super humorous and intelligent? Then try Jennifer Crusie's Faking It. It's about what you think it's about, but also about art and conmen and a stack of wonderful characters you'll love to be with.

Easter Decorations

It so doesn't feel like Easter in my household. By Sunday, I hope to have painted some eggs and cooked some holiday food (baked cheesecake always features high on my list of Easter dishes), but at the moment, it's just another Thursday in the Eve Summers household.

A fellow romance writer, however, Jane Beckenham, is full of awesome ideas when it comes to doing over your home for Easter. Egg crafts, Easter Wreaths, table setting examples, it's all happening here.

Happy Easter, everyone!

A Cottage by the Sea

It's official: I'm on a Carole Matthews spree. Reading "A Cottage by the Sea" and really enjoying it. The themes are right up my alley: growing up, adventure, life choices. A fun book.

It's Now Or Never

"It's Now Or Never" by Carole Mattews is perhaps not a romance as much as a glimpse into what paths a girl's life might take. At (give or take) forty, you might find yourself lead a glamorous life with a glamorous husband and perfect children. Or you might find yourself stifled in your adventure-less existence. Or you might begin to wonder whether being single with a married lover is the best way to spend your youth.

As you get to know the three sisters and their life choices, you start examining your own. You only live once. What have you got to show for it?

The Only Way is Up - Carole Matthews

I really like Carole Matthews. Some of her books don't resonate with me as much as others, but she's always a fun, unpredictable read. THE ONLY WAY IS UP is probably one of my favourites. I don't know what it is about the "from riches to rags" stories that I find so alluring.

From the book jacket:

Lily and Laurence had it all: the money, the car, a beautiful home in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Then Laurence loses his job and everything disappears. With nowhere to turn, Lily and Laurence are forced to take their two young children and move to a flea-ridden council house on a notoriously rough estate. As they try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, Lily constantly dreams of returning to her old, luxurious life. Will her dream come true or will she learn that money doesn't alway buy happiness?