Romy Gemmell's Blog, page 34

Why do we Write?

I came across this interesting article a while ago, which is more accurately titled, Why Women Write? It makes interesting reading and I'm sure we'll all find a similar reason to our own in the responses.

The immediate question that struck me, however, was why should there be any difference between why women write and why men do? Or perhaps the article was only aimed that way because it's a site about women and books. I won't get into the whole male-female writing debate as it's been done to death. Mslexia magazine, which is aimed completely at women writers, is still alive and well and often carries comparisons between the genders.

My own reason for writing is multi-faceted: to express my thoughts creatively; to write out the stories and characters inside my head; to entertain and inform; to earn money where possible instead of going out to work!

No doubt you all have reasons of your own for this enjoyable, exciting, frustrating and creative activity.

I've been interviewed again and only discovered it last night, on Authors Interviews. Relentless online promotion when anew book comes out and people can't find it by wandering into a shop!

Rosemary

Hair cut, Trailer and Interview

 

 Had to get my hair cut yesterday, which I detest doing as I never like it when just cut, no matter who does it! So I treated myself to posh coffee and cake while in Glasgow at a café in the beautiful Princes Square. Looking very festive at the moment. You might remember the Exquisite Quills collection of winter-themed holiday stories I mentioned before - it's still FREE to download in all e-formats from Smashwords. One of the authors, Kaye, made this lovely little trailer for it.


Meanwhile, I'm chatting over on the Exquisite Quills blog today - if anyone has time to drop by! Have a good weekend,Rosemary

Writing Opportunities

As we near the end of the year, far too quickly as usual, here are a few writing competitions and opportunities that might interest some.

The Willesden Herald Short Story Competition - closing date 20 December

The Lascaux Review Flash Fiction - closing date 31 December

Read Short Fiction - market

Fiction Magazines - market

Good luck!
Rosemary

Featured Author: Anne Stenhouse

A very warm welcome on this dreich autumn morning to fellow Scottish author and colleague, Anne Stenhouse, who is sharing the inspiration behind her new historical romance, Bella’s Betrothal , while I’m on a visit to Anastacia Pollack’s Blog today.

Set in 1820s Edinburgh, Bella’s Betrothal is a very enjoyable read with a great sense of place and engaging characters. Since Anne is also an excellent playwright, there is plenty of sparkling dialogue between the hero, Charles Lindsay, and heroine, Lady Isabella Wormsley. It begins with one of the best lines I’ve read in any recent romance and I've really enjoyed following the not-so-smooth course of their love story and their interaction with a host of interesting characters. Here’s a little about the novel.  Bella's Betrothal

While she is travelling north to find sanctuary from the malicious gossip of the Ton, Lady Isabella Wormsley’s room in a Dalkeith inn is invaded by handsome Scottish Laird, Charles Lindsay. Charles has uncovered a plot to kidnap her, but Bella wonders if he isn’t a more dangerous threat, at least to her heart, than the villainous Graham Direlton he wrests her from.Bella settles into the household of her Aunt Hatty Menzies in Edinburgh’s nineteenth century George Square where Charles is a regular visitor. She has been exiled to the north by her unfeeling mama, but feels more betrayed by her papa to whom she has been close. Bella hopes the delivery of her young cousin’s baby will eventually demonstrate her own innocence in the scandal that drove her from home.

Bella’s presence disrupts the lives of everyone connected to her. Direlton makes another attempt to kidnap her and in rescuing her a second time, Charles is compromised. Only a betrothal will save his business and Bella’s reputation.Mayhem, murder and long suppressed family secrets raise confusion and seemingly endless difficulties. Will the growing but unacknowledged love between Bella and her Scottish architect survive the evil Direlton engineers?

Inspiration behind the storyWriting a longer piece like a novel brings together lots of things previously swimming in my subconscious soup. Place is a big influence. I sometimes find myself creating a character and scenario while standing in front of a house. It needn't be a big house and I've written one or two short pieces based on some photographs I took of a Victorian laundry. With Bella's Betrothal, I was very keen to showcase Edinburgh. I've lived here for a long time now in Georgian and Victorian houses. The townscape is always around me.

Next would be theme in the sense of 'What is this novel about?' With Bella's Betrothal, I was exercised by the damage gossip can do. Even in our own, maybe pedestrian, lives, reputation is precious. Once lost, getting it back is the Devil's own job.Characters are of course paramount and I will try out 'voices' until I'm hearing the main protagonists and, often, the villain. Villains are just so interesting and such fun to create. With Bella's Betrothal, I also had several very demanding and interesting secondary characters clamouring to be heard.

Thanks for being my guest, Anne!

Bella's Betrothal is available from Amazon UK and US

ANNE STENHOUSE has always loved words. Reading them and using them greedily, she can’t truly remember a time when she couldn’t escape into the pages of a book and certainly can’t remember when she couldn’t talk and ask questions. Anne is a published and performed playwright. She studied both English and History at University in Edinburgh, and finds it a great joy to combine these two disciplines in her novels. Being a playwright means Anne loves dialogue and knows a piece is going well when she ‘begins to hear the characters talking to each other’. She has been a civil servant, full-time Mum, and for a while, a worker in an Addictions’ rehabilitation unit. Anne lives in Scotland with her husband and dancing partner of over thirty years. Their children and a grandchild are close by.

Anne’s debut historical novel, Mariah’s Marriage, was shortlisted for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award.You can find out more about Anne on her blog, Novels Now.

NaNo Update

I think I've been a bit ambitious this year, trying to do too many things at once, including all the promotion for the new novel! I did finish the next novella in the Aphrodite and Adonis series yesterday and it's away to my publisher for a verdict. But I'm not getting on fast enough with the Victorian crime novel for the NaNo word count (although I probably am achieving it if I count the novella). However, it's not set in stone to write 50,000 words so I'll carry on and see how I get on - any number of words will move the story on.


Since it was a gorgeous cold and dry autumn day here yesterday, we took advantage of a lovely, bracing walk beside the river. Much better than slogging away at a computer and it does help to clear the mind a little.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), I'm on a visit to Charlotte Harrison's lovely blog - A Place on the Bookshelf. Might see you there!

Rosemary

Blog Interview

Delighted to be featured on Lisa Chalmer's lovely blog today. Being put through my paces and talking about some of the inspiration for Midwinter Masquerade !




Remember the collection of 15 winter-themed short stories FREE to download from Smashwords. Penned by international authors and includes my short story, Highland Hogmanay.


Have a great weekend!
Rosemary

FREE Holiday Anthology!

 I'm delighted that the Holiday Anthology of short stories from members and friends of Exquisite Quills is now FREE to download from Smashwords!

The cover was donated by wonderful cover artist and writer, Carey Abbot of E-book Cover Designs. The anthology contains fifteen feel-good winter holiday themed stories from international writers.

Here's the list of titles and authors:

Christmas Knight- Victoria Adams
Star of Wonder - Rose Anderson
The Kissing Ball - E. Ayers
The Christmas Risk - Beverley Bateman
Fallen in Love- Helena Fairfax
Snow Job - J.D. Faver
Christmas Miracle - Jennifer Garcia
Highland Hogmanay - Romy Gemmell
Almost Christmas -  Vonnie Hughes
The Unexpected Christmas Gift - Susan Jaymes
Shooting Star Holiday Express - Gemma Juliana
The Christmas Gift - Jean Lamb
A Faery's Wish - A Mini Christmas Faery Tale - Jane Leopold Quinn
Joyeux Noel - Zanna Mackenzie
Gift to Treasure - Kaye Spencer

My story, Highland Hogmanay, introduces the two main characters from my short novella The Aphrodite Touch, Carla and Jamie, and how they met at a wedding in the Scottish highlands just before Hogmanay.

You can download the collection in any e-format from Smashwords, and if you don't have an e-reader, you can even download the Pdf version to read on your computer! All Free!

Rosemary

Discipline and a Competition

Now that I'm into the discipline of writing the suggested daily number of words for NaNoWriMo, the same thing is starting to happen as last year. As well as the official novel I'm attempting to draft during November, I'm finding it's making me a little more organised in general about all my writing.

In between, I'm also trying to finish redrafting the next short novella in the Aphrodite and Adonis series to get that submitted. Hope this energised work ethic lasts! Can't help thinking it's something to do with this being my favourite time of year when the colder weather makes me feel more alive.

For those who prefer the warmer part of the year, you might be interested in the short story competition from Harper's Bazaar. The theme is spring, maximum of 3,000 words, and the closing date is 13th December.

And to keep us all motivated, here's a very wise proverb I came across:

"If you want to do something, you will find a way. If you don't want to do anything, you will find an excuse."

Happy writing,
Rosemary

Winners, Promotion and NaNoWriMo

 Thank you so much again to all the lovely people who joined in the fun celebrations for Midwinter Masquerade – both here and on Facebook. I greatly appreciate every one of you and all your support. The book is still in the best seller charts on Amazon UK!

A little later than promised, I can now announce the winners of the four prizes, should you wish to accept them. Please email me privately with your address so I can get them off to you.The Black Mask goes to Wendy Clarke

The Earrings go to Janice HortonThe Scottish Calendar goes to Linda la Roque

The Cranberry Lip Balm goes to Sharon Mail

Now that the excitement of launching the novel is over, I’m turning my attention to November. Last year I completed the NaNoWriMo challenge to write 50,000 words in November and found the whole experience excellent for a procrastinator like me. The first draft is the hardest slog and I love getting it all down then having something to work with. So that’s my plan for November – and I’m changing genre for it this year. Will let you know how I get on! I also have a talk to prepare to deliver at the end of the month and, of course, lots of other things will intervene, but at least it will make me get well into this particular project.

My promotional visits to blogs are continuing throughout the month and I’m so grateful to kind bloggers who’ve invited me on to their sites and for anyone who takes the trouble to comment. Today, I’m visiting a dear colleague and friend, Sara Bain, whose own debut novel, The Sleeping Warrior, was featured on this blog earlier in the month. Sara has also started new small publisher, Ivy Moon Press, where I’m being featured.I’ve also just discovered I’m featured on the Humanmade site. I’ve posted my scheduled blog visits for November at the side, just in case you have nothing better to do than read blog posts!

Since this is Halloween, it’s a good time to download Kath McGurl’s great little book, ‘Ghost Stories and How to Write Them’, which is free on Amazon until 2nd November.

Rosemary

Midwinter Masquerade Party!

A very warm welcome to my party celebration for the launch of my new full length historical romance, Midwinter Masquerade , from wonderful Tirgearr Publishing, Ireland. I hope you’ll join in the fun and games to help me celebrate. It’s been an amazing weekend, with my birthday on Saturday and watching the novel climb into the best seller charts on Amazon UK.


I am truly grateful for all the kind and generous support I’ve had for both celebrations and appreciate every one of my online friends. So let’s party! Feel free to pop over to Facebook with a picture of yourself in a mask, if you have one.I’m giving away the following prizes as a thank you for your support and because I like giving gifts! In any of your comments, please tell me which prize you would you like to be entered for and one person will be chosen from each prize category tomorrow (Tuesday). The prizes are all easy to post so anyone can enter.

Cranberry lip balm Calendar of Scotland


Black mask
       Small earring studs 


  




Here’s the blurb to whet your appetite for the novel, and some cordial and cake while you read. I've come in my mask, ready for the ball - wish I was also dressed in a long Regency gown! This was me at the Venetian masked ball on a cruise ship last year when we were actually moored overnight at Venice!

   Midwinter Masquerade Blurb

In Edinburgh, December 1816, young widow Lady Lenora Fitzallan accepts an invitation to the country estate of Edward Montgomery, the man she once thought to marry twenty years previously. Until he left without explanation. Accompanied by her godmother, Lady Pettigrew, Lenora forms a friendship with Edward’s young niece and ward, Annabelle, who has a propensity for getting into scrapes and falling in love with the wrong man.In the days leading up to the Masquerade Ball on the Winter Solstice, another guest arrives. Mr. Henderson has a particular reason for meeting Annabelle, who distrusts him on sight. Meanwhile, Lenora struggles with her rekindled feelings for Edward, while thinking of Robert Masters, the sophisticated man who hopes to marry her when he returns from abroad. As past secrets begin to unfold, Annabelle is rescued from harm, and a dashing, costumed stranger arrives at the Ball.

Once the past is revealed and the real villain unmasked, Lenora must decide where and with whom her future now lies.

The story is set in my own lovely Scotland during the Regency period, which was officially from 1811 to 1820 when the Prince Regent was on the British throne. For this book, I wanted a less traditional Regency romp, although the niece, Annabelle, provides more than one escapade. I love winter, and the winter solstice is an added interest for me, as well as signifying a time of change for my characters. As for the masked ball – well the photo of me above already shows how much I enjoy a mask!Which is your favourite time of year and why?

Here’s the first excerpt As the carriage departed from her house in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, Lady Lenora Fitzallan settled back in her seat and contemplated the change to her plans since receiving the unexpected correspondence.
“Let me read the letter again, Lenora, if you will.”
Lenora reached across the short distance and handed the well-folded paper to Lady Clarissa Pettigrew.
Lenora’s godmother read the letter twice over, then handed it back. “How mysterious, my dear. And you had no knowledge of this niece, Annabelle, whom he wishes you to meet?”
“Not only have I never heard of the girl, but I’ve had no contact from Edward Montgomery in seventeen years, which makes his invitation to a midwinter solstice house party and masquerade ball all the more intriguing.”
“One wonders how Mr. Montgomery knows you to be a widow. His invitation would not otherwise have been proffered.”
Lenora turned the letter over in her hand as if the answer to her godmother’s astute question could be found there. “I do not know, Godmother. It is exceedingly curious.”
She fingered the firm, sloping signature before returning the missive to her reticule. She knew it by heart, especially the part concerning the unknown niece. A sudden vague remembrance surfaced of rumours about the birth of a child, and she recalled Edward had a younger brother but knew nothing of his life. But why should the girl be in Edward’s care, as the letter inferred?
 
Have some more refreshments and sweetmeats while you watch the following trailer. You can even open the Champagne if it’s time!

 
Do you have a favourite Jane Austen character, or a type of hero you prefer in romantic novels? Take the J.A. Character quiz by clicking on the link below the picture!

 

Take the Jane Austen Character Quiz here!  Second Excerpt  She was trying to identify the remaining plants, when a crunch of feet warned her of someone’s approach.
“I hope I don’t disturb you, Lady Fitzallan.”
Lenora knew it was Edward even before he spoke, as though her heart recognised his presence. “Not at all. As you see, I am admiring your herbs.”
They regarded each other without moving and Lenora wondered how to escape without appearing too eager, not quite ready for meaningful conversation between them.
She shivered. “Forgive me, but I had only meant to take a short stroll around the garden and the cold is now biting at my toes.”
He smiled and offered his arm. “Come let me walk you back to the house, lest you lose your way.”
Hesitating for the merest moment, Lenora took his arm. She was hardly a simpering miss to react at the touch of a man’s hand on her arm, yet, annoyingly, she was not unmoved by his tall masculinity. The boy she once knew and loved had become a handsome man, the scar merely adding an intriguing, rakish air. Lenora stiffened away from him. Handsome features and intrigue aside, she could not, no, would not forget his betrayal so easily. If Edward noticed her reaction, he gave no sign.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Lenora. I hardly dared to think you might come after so many years between us.”So they were to use their given names again. “I confess I almost did not, but curiosity won over any other emotion.” This time he glanced at her but did not speak.

They strolled on in silence and Lenora wondered if his thoughts were as deep as her own. Yet she could not broach the subject that had lain between them for this long. Another time, perhaps. However, she must mention the poems, although not the one he had singled out. Not today.

“Thank you for the volume of Sonnets. I have always loved Mr. Shakespeare’s words.”
“I remember.” He smiled and said nothing more.
*I love Shakespeare's sonnets and there is a particular one quoted in parts of the novel - it has great significance for Lenora and Edward's story.

Do you have a favourite line from a Shakespeare sonnet or play? 

If anyone wants to read Midwinter Masquerade , It's available on kindle from Amazon UK and AmazonUS, and in all e-formats through Tirgearr Publishing and Smashwords   The above photo is one of the views from my home and I love when the hills are covered in snow on dark winter mornings.    This fine plump pheasant wandered into our garden on one such morning in the hope of some food. Perhaps in the Regency period, it was more likely to be the food!
Well thank you all for joining in the celebrations. Carriages are now waiting for anyone ready to go home. Don't forget to leave a comment if you'd like to be entered for one of the prizes - and mention which one. Safe journey until the next party!
Romy x