Lilly Gayle's Blog, page 9

Lazy Days

Today, I'm going to be lazy. Kind of like in that Bruno Mars song I like so much. Or, at least that's what I'd like to be doing today. I'd like to lay in my bed and read. Or sit at my desk in my PJ's and write. But, despite having the day off, I have a dozen or more things I need to accomplish.

 My daughter and her husband have been gone for a week now. They headed back to Germany last Friday. It feels as if they've been gone a month. They were with his family the first week, split the difference the second week, and spent most of that third week with us. So, my husband and I took a week off to be with them. We didn't really go anywhere. We had more of a stacation than a vacation, but we stuffed that week full of fun.

There was bowling, fishing, pool parties, shopping, and lots of dining out. People were in and out all week, mostly my daughter's girl friends from "the old days" lol, and a cousin that's always been like a daughter to me. It was a fun week. And now,  I feel as if I'm a month behind on everything. Writing, cleaning, laundry.

My daughter did her own laundry while she was here. She even helped keep the towels washed. But, there were just so many towels. Especially beach towels from the pool parties. They take up a lot of room in the wash. And I'm still behind. But at least I got all the sheets washed and fresh ones put on the bed. Even mine.

Despite the fact that the house needs cleaning, today was supposed to be my Lazy Day. I was going to do a little laundry, a little reading and a lot of writing. But, now the air conditioner on my car is on the fritz. My youngest graduates from UNC's Radiation Therapy program this weekend and we still don't have new dresses to wear and I have a dozen errands to run.

So, I guess I'll jut have to pop in a CD, find that Bruno Mars song, and turn the volume way up in the car while I'm driving around, running those errands, and wishing I could have my Lazy Day to do nothing but read and write.

What do you like to do on your lazy days?

Why Agents Reject Writers

Ever wonder why Agents reject some books and not others?

 Even after 3 published novels, I found this post helpful. It's from the editors of my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. Check it out. http://behindthegardengate.blogspot.com/

Guest blogging and reviews

You can find me today over on Vintage Vonnie. www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com where I'm discussing family, research, and my newest historical release, which btw, just got a 5 star review on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601549237/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0F2ESY9C5APAP672EWSE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Meg in Frisco said:

Brilliant Healing Love Story, July 11, 2011
By Meg an Aggie in Frisco - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Slightly Tarnished (Kindle Edition) Last week I took a leap of faith on a story outside of my normal genre, and I could not have been happier I did! I just absolutely loved the story.

Nichole's character was truly enjoyable to watch her blossom while overcoming her life's situation. I cheered on Chad as he worked through his fears. I found myself rooting for Chad over and over, and never too angry with his choices. I so enjoyed the humor in Niki & Chad's mental musings. I laughed, cheered, and cried even. It was a wonderful well written heartfelt love story. I could not put it down until I was done that night, and I highly suggest taking a trip back in time to the Ton.

Thanks Lilly Gayle for the escape!

Meg an aggie in frisco

Slightly Tarnished Reviews!

http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/slightly-tarnished

SLIGHTLY TARNISHED
by Lilly Gayle Genre: Historical Romance, E-book, England, Victorian Period
Sensuality: Hot
Setting: Victorian England RT RatingThis tale starts slowly but once the story focuses on Nicole and Chad's marriage and the barriers that stand between their love, it moves full speed ahead. Lilly Gayle spins a tale one part suspense and one part family dysfunction. Shocking revelations float throughout the novel, but it is Chad's hesitation to completely open up to Nicole that keeps the reader turning pages. Slightly Tarnished is buoyed up by a winning heroine and diverse crew of supporting characters.
The thoroughly American Nicole Keller can hardly believe she has married a domineering and judgmental Englishman. But after losing her father and her home, Nicole has been trying to support herself and her mother. She has little choice but to accept Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest, as her husband. If nothing else, his name will keep Nicole and her mother safe from her malicious uncle. For his part, Chadwick has seen the damage Nicole's uncle can do firsthand. Marrying Nicole will keep her from harm, plus it will satisfy his mother's demands. But this marriage of convenience will never work if Nicole keeps bring up love. Besides, how could Chadwick ever love someone he cannot entrust with his long-buried secrets? (WILD ROSE PRESS, June, dl. $6.75)AND:

http://letstalkromancereviews.wordpress.com/
Slightly Tarnished
Author: Lilly Gayle
Genre: Historical Romance
Link: Slightly Tarnished
Sighs: 3-1/2
Review of Slightly Tarnished
by Callie Hutton
www.calliehutton.comAfter American Nikki Keller's father is lost at sea, along with his ship and cargo that would have paid the mounting bills, she and her mother are left homeless. Mrs. Keller accepts an offer from her brother to make their home with him in England. Loath to leave America, Nikki accepts her mother's decision. So the two head to England to the estate of Henry Tidwell, Earl of Wellesley.The Countess of Gilchrest is anxious for her son, Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest to remarry and produce the needed heir. Although soured on marriage after his tumultuous relationship with his deceased wife, he understands his duty and fully intends to take a wife, just not the one his mother is so insistent upon. Terrified at her uncle's plans for her future, Nikki runs with her mother from Wellesley's home into the dead of night. Gilchrest comes across them and after hearing their story, brings them to his estate. Although it starts out as a temporary arrangement, it soon becomes permanent, but Gilchrest is hiding a secret, and Nikki wants to know what it is.Mystery, intrigue, love and romance all come together to form a satisfying story. Nikki, her mother, and Gilchrest fight to protect themselves and others they love from the machinations of those who would destroy their very world.A good story with strong characters and a satisfying plot, you'll enjoy this one.

THE THINGS WE LEARN WRITING HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Today, fellow Wild Rose Press author, Amber Leigh Williams is my guest and this is Amber's blog...
THE THINGS WE LEARN WRITING HISTORICAL ROMANCE….

 When I decided to write a book based in '40's-era Italy, I was shocked by how little information there was on the Verona region of Veneto. World War II was the first highly-photographed, -recorded, and -documented war in history. There was very little to work with in photos, reels, battle sequences, and cultural details from 1944-1945 Italy.
But that was ten years ago. Between then and the final draft of my historical romance Forever Amore , detailed books on the subject were published. I was delighted when I happened to peruse the WWII section of the Military aisle at my local bookstore. On my sixth and final revision of the novel, I used some of the information in these books to add scenes that involved Lucille, the heroine, trying to find Charles, the hero working as a spy, in Nazi-occupied Milan. The new elements not only adrenalized the formerly-lagging middle: it gave the story underlying layers of suspense and intrigue.

Fashion was an important issue to contend with, as it should be in any historical romance. Lucille comes from a wealthy, almost aristocratic, wine-making family and Italy is one of the most fashionable countries in the world so when it came time to dress her, her sisters, and the other members of her family, they had to have the finest, most luxurious wardrobes in period fashion. The problem, however, I discovered was that the story begins in March 1944…a time when rationing was in full effect. Lucky for me, conservative fashion came back with a vengeance after the promiscuous '20′s and the slinky women's wear of the '30′s. This made it easy to add a collar or high neck to all of Lucille's blouses and gowns in order to hide Charles's dog-tags, which she wears underneath.
Another important research aspect of Forever Amore was the vineyard sequences. In the original draft, Lucille is giving Charles a tour of Villa Renaldi, her family's expansive estate. I eventually cut the twenty-five pages spent detailing how grapes are grown and harvested and how winery machinery works (the technology used in the '40′s-era Italy, that is). Though this information was not necessary for the overall story, it was good to fall back on for reference during seasonal transitions. When spring rolls into summer, the vines are growing taller, easily cloaking Lucille and Charles's twilight rendezvous in the romantic vine labyrinth.
One of the final subjects I had to cover for this book was military. Like wine, before Forever Amore , I knew nothing about flying or fighter pilots. Movies came in handy here. I spent hours watching films that featured dogfighting just so I could learn fighter-pilot-speak. When I was happy with the terminology, I went looking for Charles's plane. Thanks to the movie Pearl Harbor, I knew how a B-17 operated. The plane goes on to have significance in Forever Amore along with the WWII-era P-38, which I use in the opening sequence of the book to bring Charles and Lucille together. (Thanks to the Military Channel, I also learned that P-38s were some of the first planes to be steered by yokes, a term I never would've known or used otherwise.)
You can learn more about Forever Amore, a Best Book of 2009 nominee, at my website: www.amberleighwilliams.com

…and Black Lyon Publishing: http://www.blacklyonpublishing.com/Forever%20Amore.html!
Forever Amore is now available in Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Amore-ebook/dp/B002QHVWES/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1310074079&sr=8-3
…and Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-amore-amber-leigh-williams/1018144755?ean=2940000917640&itm=1&usri=forever%2bamore
Excerpt:
Over the crackle of flames, he heard an engine approaching. Looking up, he went alert and reached for the gun at his belt when he saw the green pickup. He took a deep breath before rallying enough energy to stagger to his feet.

Charles took a step forward and blinked to clear his vision as the truck skidded to a halt and the driver and passenger doors opened.
Two figures swam through the smoky haze and Charles had to squint to make them out. One long, rangy man with a mop of black hair growing into his fierce eyes and … an angel.
His heart thudded. I'm dead. He could find no other explanation for the vision that drifted hesitantly toward him in a long, cream-colored gown and hair the color of angel wings falling in gilded glory down her shoulders.

She made a move toward him, but the man barked at her to halt, catching her by the arm. Pointing at Charles, he gave a short, terse order he couldn't make out.

Oh, hell. Italian. Charles had less than a rudimentary inkling of the language.

The man who looked no more than twenty barked again. Charles saw him point toward his gun. With a frown, he lifted a hand to it. The woman gasped and the man stepped in front of her as if to shield her.
Carefully, Charles unclipped the pistol and threw it at the man's feet.
Movements slow, the local bent and picked it up, pointing the shaking barrel at Charles's chest while scanning him closely. "Americano?" he asked.

Now that he could understand. "Si, si. Americano." He thought he saw relief pass over their faces before his vision dimmed. He swayed on the spot.
As he went to his knees, the woman rushed forward, snatching out of her companion's grasp to catch Charles before he could hit the dirt again.

She looked even better up close. A pixie's face more than an angel's, her big green eyes yawned in concern in front of his. "You are wounded?" she asked in English thick with regional inflection but not at all broken. Huh. Angels speak English. Thank God.
Amber,Thanks so much for sharing and for the great excerpt. My daughter and her husband visited Italy last year and saw some of the vineyards. They didn't go to Milan, but they were in Pizza and Cinca Terra. Italy is a beautiful country and your book sounds like a fantastic read! It's been a pleasure having you on my blog today.