Ros Clarke's Blog, page 27

In action

Here’s the video interview from Monday.

Giveaways

Want to win a copy of The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh? Of course you do. There are giveaways happening all over the place:

Manga Maniac Cafe

Confessions from Romaholics

The Readiacs

Ramblings From This Chick

Away

I am going to be away for the next week with very intermittent internet access. My plan is to spend the mornings on #thesisthesisthesis, the afternoons exploring and the evenings writing. Also reading. I am taking some books with me and I have been warned about the second hand bookshop as well as the books in the house where I’m staying. There is no TV in the house either, so although I’ll take some knitting, I’m not expecting to get lots done.

See you next week!

Reviews and some good news

People like my book!



The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh is a sexy, engaging read about two star-crossed lovers who are caught between duty and desire; ambition and passion… (Harlequin Junkie)

What a great contemporary romance novel this is. (K-Books)

Overall, this was a very sweet romance story. The characters realize their priorities are not what they should be, and that what may seem wrong is actually right. (In love with romance)

Ros has written compelling characters, a very well done story line and transported me to beautifully well written locations. (The Readiacs)

In other good news, one of my self-published novels, The Tycoon’s Convenient Wife, is really starting to creep up the sales ranks at Barnes and Noble. In the quarter from April to June, I made about $170 on it. In July alone, I’ve made $219! Very exciting. I wish I knew why, so I could replicate it.

Tomorrow afternoon, I am having my first live interview! Someone from the local paper is coming to talk to me for a piece in the paper and also to film me for a video clip to go on their website. I am having my hair cut in the morning and I am still panicking about what to wear.

JUBILYMPICATHLON!!!!

I went to the Olympics on Monday. I had a ticket for Centre Court at Wimbledon. So that’s two birds with one very awesome stone, since I’ve never been to Wimbledon before. I had SO MUCH FUN.

[image error]

Travel was easy peasy. Gamesmaker volunteers were as smiley and happy as everyone has been saying. They are brilliant and I feel strongly that they should have been given free access to all the empty seats on days when they’re not volunteering.

Wimbledon is TINY. I know they always point that out on TV, but it’s really true. The open spaces are not big, even Henman Hill. Also, it was harder than I expected to work out what matches were happening on different courts throughout the day. It was still very recognisably Wimbledon, with a few Olympic banners blu-tacked over the top.

I watched Azarenka win her match, though really she was not playing well. So many double faults. Then I watched Federer win his match. That was fun because his opponent plays proper serve-volley tennis, which is always exciting even if it doesn’t come off. Then I needed to get out into the sunshine (my seat was way up under the roof in the shadows) and stretch my legs. Yes, I’ll admit it, I was an Empty Seat.

I bought a bottle of Fanta and a Flake icecream. Total cost: £5.30. Very glad I’d taken a picnic for lunch.

Then I watched a few games of a ladies’ doubles match. I ended up sitting directly in front of the Russian coaches and team. The Russian players did not look like they were having fun, even though they were winning. I just got the uncomfortable impression that if they lost, it would matter a little bit too much. I queued up to get onto Court 2 where the Williams sisters were playing doubles. I missed some of the match but there was a guy in the queue with it on his iPhone so I saw some of it that way. It was really good to have seen them playing live, even if it was for less than a set. After the Williamses it was supposed to be Federer’s doubles match, but that was moved and instead they announced it would be Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong, so I stayed to cheer them on to a valiant defeat.

The worst moment of the day was getting to Wimbledon station and seeing the dreaded words ‘Replacement Bus Service’. Fortunately the mainline trains were running, so I wasn’t too delayed getting home.

Since then, I’ve been glued to the BBC live text commentary and the TV in the evenings. Amazed to see that the British team are currently third in the medal table. So brilliant. I really think we should always have the Olympic Games here, now that we’ve got all the kit. It looks like the most fun Olympics ever, as well. Everyone seems to be having a total ball. After that Opening Ceremony – funniest ever, as well as brilliantly moving and spectacular – the tone was set. Boris stuck on a zip wire; beach volleyball at Horse Guards; crowds of people taking picnics and enjoying the Olympic Park.

Right, I have to go and cheer on Becky Adlington, Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis now…

Story

A fabulous post about the Olympic opening ceremony and, um, my book. I cried when I read what Frankie said about the book, because it is exactly what I was trying to do and it’s so fabulous that someone just gets it.

If you didn’t watch it last night, I thoroughly recommend the opening ceremony. Wonderful, funny, barmy, inspiring and uplifting.

Giveaway!

I did a little trailer for the book:

I’m blogging about cute animals and giving away a copy of it at the Indulgence author blog today. Come and say hi, and enter to win!

[image error]

New blogs!

The Entangled Indulgence authors, of whom I am now one, are blogging over here. There’s a great recipe for chocolate martinis and other fun stuff. All the news about new releases and so on will be there too.

I’ve started a new blog, too: Fab Clothes for a Fat Woman. There’s refashioning, shopping, sewing and all sorts of fun stuff. Check it out!

Introducing my new models

The new series of Project Runway starts tonight, which means that the new series of Project Project Runway starts tomorrow. This time I have invested in two new, fully poseable models. Meet Fashionista Barbie and Liv:

[image error]

I like that they have such different styles about them. Liv is much more tomboyish with her short hair and flat feet. Barbie is much more fashiony with her high heeled feet and long blonde hair. I adore the boots Barbie came with. Liv has flip flops which fall off.

Can’t wait to see what the first challenge will be!

The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh

[image error]

His duty, her dreams, undone by their desire…

In the male-dominated oil industry, executive Olivia McInnes plays a careful game – she’s cold, uncompromising, and ambitious as hell. Once she seals the deal to drill in the clear waters of Saqat, she’ll finally prove herself worthy to take the reins of her father’s oil company. Her only obstacle is marine biologist – and Saqat’s royal heir – Sheikh Khaled Ibm Saqat al Mayim, who’s determined to protect both his people and his country from environmental devastation…

It’s not long before Olivia’s icy cool exterior is shattered by the intelligent and wickedly hot sheikh, and business is surpassed by sweet, stolen pleasures. But outside the bedroom, there’s reality to be faced. Soon Khaled must return to his obligations – and his betrothed – in Saqat.

Caught between duty and ambition, can an oil tycoon and a sexy sheikh find room for love… or will this business deal spell disaster for them both?