Hannah Fielding's Blog, page 137

Interview with Roberta Capizzi, romance novelist

 

Roberta is the author of The Melody in Our Hearts, a romance novel I recently read and very much enjoyed. An avid reader since her childhood years and being an only child, Roberta always enjoyed the company of her fictional friends from the children’s books she loved reading, while she dreamed of writing her own stories one day. It was when she discovered novels by authors Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy in her teenage years that she realized it was time she put down in words the stories she had kept well hidden in her mind until then. What started as a hobby, soon turned into a real passion and a way of life, until she could no longer keep the stories to herself, and decided to get over her fears and share them with the world.

Roberta lives in Italy, but her dream is to move out of her country and live either in a thatched cottage in the Irish countryside or in a country house with a swing on the back porch, somewhere in the United States, where she would love to spend her days writing novels as a full-time job, and maybe one day even get as far as writing a screenplay for a movie.

Welcome to the blog. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I like to think of myself as a dreamer, a bookworm and an art lover. I have a soft spot for Ireland, romantic movies (and books, of course) and I love keeping myself busy with anything. The word RELAX is not in my dictionary. Even in my free time, when I’m not working I simply have to do something, be it reading, writing, creating something, anything. I can’t spend a minute simply relaxing on the couch or taking a nap. My mind is always working overtime.

What made you want to become a writer?

I’ve always loved reading; and writing essays had always been my favourite moment at school. So when I was old enough to realise that I could actually start writing my own stories, and creating a world of my own (especially when reality didn’t turn out to be quite like I wanted it to) I decided to challenge myself and start writing. And when I realised I loved it, and it was who I am, I never stopped.

Who are your favourite writers?

The first writer who made me seriously fall in love with books and with writing was Rosamunde Pilcher. After I read all of her books, I discovered Maeve Binchy and Nicholas Sparks, and they quickly became my favourite authors too.

Why do you choose romance as the genre within which you write?

I guess it’s because I’ve been badly influenced by my favourite writers – and because I’m a hopeless romantic, dreaming of happy ever after.

What’s the most rewarding element of writing for you?

When I write I feel like I’m really myself. I have a day job I don’t particularly like and I’ve got to put on a happy face mask for eight long hours, hiding myself behind it. When I write, I can finally pull down the mask and be the person I am; I can write down my feelings, my dreams, my hopes and it makes me feel good.

What’s the most challenging element of writing for you?

Writing the word “The end”.  Once I become involved in the story and I start feeling for the characters, I find it hard to simply come to an end. I know a novel can’t go on forever, but sometimes I feel I could write the sequel of the sequel of the sequel, because I just can’t let go of my “babies”.

At what point did you think, ‘I’ve done it – I’ve become a writer’?

When I first held the proof copy of my book, and it had my name on it. It was the most exciting moment in my whole life.

Can you share a little about your writing process?

When I start a story, I don’t always have a “from start-to-end” plot. I jot down ideas, as they pop into my mind, and I write down scenes as I go, trying to put them all together while editing, like in a jigsaw puzzle. I’ve recently taken part in a webinar on plotting, and it was very useful, because it gave me a professional approach to the whole writing process. I tried following it, and it was easier than I’d thought, but then I went back to my own “jigsaw puzzle” technique. I guess I’ll have to start following the rules, though. Maybe with my next novel I will.

 What’s your most recent book about?

My most recent (and debut) book is about friendship and love. It’s the story of Valerie and Ryan, who’ve been best friends since their adolescence in Ireland, and who share a common passion for jazz music and Frank Sinatra (which is what brought them together). When Ryan moves to Boston to pursue a career as a professional jazz pianist, Valerie leaves her hometown too, so that she can be near him. As they grow up and pursue different careers – Ryan becomes a jazz star, while Valerie struggles to become a surgeon – their friendship grows stronger, in spite of people telling them friendship between a man and a woman cannot exist. Something changes along the way, though. Things don’t turn out the way they had planned, Valerie loses a patient and gives up on the surgical career for good, while Ryan finds it hard to cope with popularity. Until the night Ryan is brought into the ER fighting for his life and Valerie is the only one who can save him, although she is too scared to walk into an operating room again. But when faced with the possibility of losing her best friend, she knows she has to make a decision that might change her life forever.

What inspired you to write this book?

Sinatra’s and Michael Bublé’s music, and the thought of what my life would’ve been like if I’d had a male best friend, someone as close as a brother (I’ve always wanted to have an older brother, but I’m an only child).

How did you decide upon the title?

I’ve changed the title a few times, before I came up with the final one. I tend to choose a title when I’m still writing the first draft, and for this novel I had chosen “The Sound of Love”, because I wanted people to know it was about love and about music, too. When I was just about to publish it, I found out there was another book with the same title, so I tried to come up with a similar one. I picked at least another three titles which were all taken, until I found out there was a Sinatra song called “The Melody of Love” and I thought it was perfect. But then there already was another book with the same title, so I changed it until it became “The Melody in Our Hearts.”

What message would you most like readers to take away from the book?

Well, that true friendship exists (as well as true love), and a real friend can help us through thick and thin, no matter what happens all around. Love can come and go, dreams don’t always turn out the way we had hoped they would, but a true friend is always there, no matter what.

If a movie was made of your book, which actors would you cast in the leading roles?

Funny you should ask: I always imagine that, when I write a book, although I know I’ll probably never be famous enough to have a movie made of my book. For this novel, there’s an actor who’d be perfect for Ryan, but he might be a bit old now: Kyle Chandler, the actor from the TV show Early Edition. Ryan Reynolds would also make a perfectly gorgeous Ryan.

As for Valerie, I think I’d like Reese Whiterspoon to play her part.

When you’re not writing, what do you most like to do?

Well, I love reading. And I have a few other creative hobbies: I like painting on ceramic, I like knitting, and I like going to the cinema. I’m not a very “outdoor-lover” kind of person, but I do love travelling, when I have the chance.

What, for you, is the very epitome of a romantic moment?

A stroll on the beach at sunset – is this too soppy?

What’s next in your writing career?

I’m working on my second novel, which I’m hoping to publish by the end of the year, and I have at least another three ideas for novels, so I really hope to find more time to write those. Maybe one day I’ll be able to be a full-time writer, fingers crossed.

Book review: A Lady’s Wish by Katharine Ashe

From the blurb:

To the world, Lady Patricia Morgan is a proper lady. But in secret, she yearns for a scorching romance – a single night of passion to make her feel alive. For years ago she had had that with a breathtaking gentleman she has never forgotten. They spent one perfect day together, but he disappeared before she could learn his name.

 

Eight years ago, Captain Nikolas Acton ran off to join the navy so he could forget the mysterious young lady who, after promising him her heart, simply vanished. Now he has returned to England

as a war hero, and is staggered to come face to face with the woman who still possesses his heart…

 

Sometimes life’s path is not the one you thought you would tread and this is certainly the case for the two main characters in Katharine Ashe’s regency novella A Lady’s Wish. Patricia and Nikolas first meet at a May Day celebration, and after a deliriously intense and happy day they agree to meet the next morning and run off together. But it is not to be, for the very next morning Patricia learns that her parents have betrothed her to another man and she is forced into an unhappy and loveless marriage. When she does not return to their meeting place, Nikolas searches for Patricia before running off to the Navy to try to forget about her. This book then tells the story of what happens nine years later when the two characters meet again. Is it just down to chance or are there stronger forces at work here? Is someone once again fiddling with their futures, or it is simply destiny that their paths must cross again and entwine?

 

It is a short story, but I found it to be a delightfully sweet and heart-warming read. Katharine’s use of description was not overpowering, but emotive – reflective of the strength of the feelings that these two characters have held back and suppressed for so many years; for example:

 

A fortnight back in London and he looked for her everywhere, upon the street, in the drawings rooms, in the lips and eyes and hair and hands he danced with in crowded ballrooms.

But all men were not like Oliver. Some were passionate. She had kissed a man of that sort once. On one perfect day she had tasted heaven.

The story is told from the point of view of both main characters, which allows you to understand the pain and heartache that both have endured since their original love-at-first-sight meeting. Both characters are fully formed and believable. Patricia, now a widow, is kind and thoughtful, yet has a spark of fieriness about her. She yearns to experience fully the desire that she felt on that one day with Nikolas, and it seems that she is not afraid to break with society’s rules to experience that again, even if it is just the once –a single night of passion – before she returns to her sensible family life with her children. Nikolas, now a celebrated war hero, returns to land knowing that he should settle down but struggling to settle for anything less than the girl who stole his heart all those years ago. Both are still haunted by the memory of each other, their first loves.

There are some fabulous other characters mixed into this book as well. I loved Patricia’s slightly mad elderly aunt and her rambunctious and flirty younger sister. Patricia’s late husband, Oliver, also fascinated me – while I wanted to not like him, I couldn’t help feeling somewhat sorry for him. We also get an intriguing glance at a main character in one of Katharine’s other novels in her Rogues of the Sea series, Alex Savege – a Robin Hood upon the sea – in Captured by a Rogue Lord.

The novella packs in quite a few twists and turns, which is impressive considering its length. Whilst you might hazard a few guesses at the mystery of the force pulling these two characters together and how it will ultimately resolve, the plot will keep you guessing throughout, and that for me is a sign of a good book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A Lady’s Wish is available now from Amazon; click on the book cover below to visit the store.

Interview with Jodie Pierce, paranormal romance author

Jodie Pierce is thirty-eight years old and lives with her hubby, John in Cleveland, Ohio along with four beautiful step-children. She has had a fascination with vampires since they were introduced to her as a child and has had a long history with them. It wasn’t until she started reading the Anne Rice vampire books that she was truly inspired. She was an exchange student in Brasil in high school so you can find some of her experiences from there in her stories. Many of her stories have historical or researched facts as she also enjoys research and learning about new places. She has published five short novels (Eternal Press), a short story in “Midnight Thirst 2″, an anthology (Melange Books), has two self-published books and has several short stories that she still works on. She’s always busy with the next great vampire story as her mind is non-stop and even plagues her dreams .

 

Welcome to the blog. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ll be 38 years old in April. I live in Cleveland, Ohio with my hubby John. I’ve had a fascination with vampires since I was a child and have been writing since high school.

What made you want to become a writer?

I always found English fun in school and my teacher gave essay assignments all the time. I excelled and she suggested I write a story. She then read my short stories and we went over them as she critiqued them. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Who are your favourite writers?

Anne Rice, Christine Feehan, J.K. Rowling, Christopher Paolini and Deborah Palumbo.

Why do you choose romance as the genre within which you write?

Well, it’s paranormal romance because of my love of vampires and you can’t really have a strong vampire character without romance in my opinion.

What’s the most rewarding element of writing for you?

That I get to express the creative side of my mind which keeps my head from hurting.

What’s the most challenging element of writing for you?

Writer’s block. I write as things come to me either in a dream or just on my own. Sometimes I feel blocked when I can’t write.

At what point did you think, ‘I’ve done it – I’ve become a writer’?

When my first novella was published in 2010.

Can you share a little about your writing process?

Well, a lot of the time my hubby comes up with ideas for my stories. Like I said, I either dream about the story or things just come to me as I type. I don’t make outlines as I feel they are too constricting and don’t allow me to free flow write.

What’s your most recent book about?

It is the third book in my Vampire Queen trilogy called Demise of the Vampire Queen. The Queen of all vampires has taken over a castle in Scotland and turned it into a school for ‘different’ children (vampire, werewolves, elves, fairies, etc). A group of witches and warlocks come to her gates and beg to be taken in. The Queen is power-hungry and rules with an iron fist. She is reunited with a past lover and two other former lovers unite in an attempt to kick the Queen off her ‘throne’ and replace her with a witch.

What inspired you to write this book?

I had books one and two done and decided I wanted to make it a trilogy as that would be cool. Also, I wanted to tie up a loose end with a character from the first two books.

How did you decide upon the title?

My wonderful hubby actually gave me the title. I’m not good with coming up with titles so he usually does that for me. He’s good at it too.

What message would you most like readers to take away from the book?

That it’s okay to be different.

If a movie was made of your book, which actors would you cast in the leading roles?

My Queen would be Charlize Theron as she has such a wide array of characters under her belt she would make the perfect Queen. That’s as far as I’ve got.

When you’re not writing, what do you most like to do?

Read, write reviews, watch TV with hubby, watch movies, go to music concerts, spend time with family.

What, for you, is the very epitome of a romantic moment?

When two people can look into each other’s eyes and see the love the other has for them. They know at that moment that they are soulmates.

What’s next in your writing career?

I’m currently working on a vampire charity anthology with various authors where all proceeds will go to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. I’m still taking submissions up until August 1st, 2013 as I plan to self-publish it on Halloween 2013.

A seafront walk in France

Part of my daily scenery when I go for a walk in Ste Maxime. I love the palm trees, which remind me of my upbringing; the ornate and romantic details like the lampposts; and, of course, the azure sea which draws one’s attention on any day, whether stormy or glorious.

Book review: Sweet Enemy: A Veiled Seduction Novel by Heather Snow

From the blurb:

Geoffrey Wentworth , a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty–take up the responsibility for his family’s estates.  His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word–heirs.  When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford.  But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont , a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a countess.  If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge.  However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter–for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula.  But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can’t control…

This book is the debut novel from Heather Snow and I am very impressed. This novel has all of the usual things we associate with, and love about, historical romance – society rules, nobility and titles, balls, dresses, romance and fluttering hearts. But what makes it stand out is the crossover element, adding a touch of mystery and danger that keeps the plot moving forward quickly and making the book a real page-turner.

Added to that is the fabulous heroine, Liliana, who is not the usual lady of the Regency period. She is strong and independent, and extremely intelligent; the kind of woman you root for as she outsmarts her way through the book, going against the wishes of her aunt and single-handedly taking on the world:

Her entire life she had been told to keep out of men’s pursuits. As if men alone had a brain worth educating. As if only men were capable of understanding complex scientific theory or making any worthy contribution to the world besides making babies.

Well, not today. Liliana took a bold step forward. “I’d wager, my lord,” she scoffed, “that this woman can not only make that weapon fire faster, but increase its accuracy measurably.”

Heather Snow’s characterisation in this book is wonderful. Liliana is a chemist and so the book is littered with scientific references which add authenticity:

She’d always had it–this compulsion to break things down to their elements. To discover the why and the how. It was what drove her to continue to pursue science, even though she’d been harshly rejected by the male establishment. And in a sense, it was what drove her now. She would discover the truth.

Could you see guilt in someone’s eyes? And if so, how did you quantify it?

She hadn’t been a bit surprised by the curiosity that had gripped her when she’d given in to his kisses – after all, she was nothing if not inquisitive. Any good scientist worth her sodium chloride was.

In this story, Liliana has gone undercover. She is trying to discover the identity of her father’s murderer. It is not her intention to fall in love with Geoffrey, the earl of Stratford, but there is something very alluring about him and she cannot help but be attracted to him. Geoffrey is also a very interesting character and not at all what you  (or Liliana) expect him to be. He is not bogged down in the rules of society; he listens to Liliana’s theories and advice and he treats her as an equal, not just an adornment he can parade while he gets on with his work in political circles. He too does not want to marry, but understands that he has duties as a earl to keep the family name going. The chemistry between Geoffrey and Liliana is explosive and passionate, but also wonderfully tender. It was such a pleasure to read about how their love for each other grew and how they solved the mystery surrounding Liliana’s father’s untimely death.

The book is written from both Liliana and Geoffrey’s point of view, allowing you as a reader to fully understand the intense feelings and conflict that each is feeling. Heather Snow’s description is wonderful. You can really believe the actions and reactions caused by analytical mind of Liliana in a society which is not yet quite ready to accept this academic dedication and ability in a woman. The descriptive detail of the unusual setting and situations that the characters find themselves in is superbly handled, with just enough to allow the pictures to blossom and captivate you. The addition of the mystery to the story allowed the characters to fall in love over weeks rather than days, without affecting the pace of the book. I loved the often humorous and sometimes sarcastic dialogue between the characters, and the twists and turns that formed this mixture of romance, mystery, suspense and intrigue.

I really enjoyed this novel and I am pleased to see that already another book in the series has been published. I look forward to reading it.

Sweet Enemy is available now from Amazon; click on the book cover below to visit the store.

Do ebooks alter how we read romance novels?

I confess that I am a bibliophile. I love books – the smell of the ink and paper; the texture of the cover and pages; the soothing swish of a turning page. Books represent nostalgia too; they transport me back to my childhood home, where I would gaze at shelf upon shelf of books and have that wonderful feeling of being on the cusp of a world full of magical stories and knowledge just waiting to be explored.

There is a certain romance to be found in reading a book. You curl up in an armchair with a mug of hot chocolate in one hand and a paperback in the other, snug and safe, while the rain beats against the window. You rest on a bench beneath a shady tree on a warm summer’s afternoon, escaping into a story while half-aware of the drone of bees and the scent of freshly mown grass. You lie in bed at night, your body aching and your mind buzzing in exhaustion, and prop up a hardback to drift into another world.

The book is solid, comforting. It exists; it is tangible. You relax into the journey of the story that is bound to the pages. You hold the book; you feel the book – you feel the book.

As well as the many books I have in my homes in Kent and France, I have an e-reader. I find it convenient for travelling, first and foremost, and useful for downloading materials when researching my novels. But for me, the experience of reading an ebook is a little different to reading a print book. It works fine for many types of book, but when I’m reading pure romance, when I want to just get swept away and escape into the characters’ dramas and passions, I find myself a little less connected to the book. The sense of escapism is less for me – I think because I spend so much time on a computer, reading on a screen is less relaxing.

What do you think? Do you notice a difference in how you engage with a romance novel depending on its format? Do you think the very romance of reading print books contributes to the romantic feelings stirred by reading a romance novel? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Romance Madness Blog Hop: Five must-read romance novels + giveaway

Today I’m participating in The Romance Reviews’ Romance Madness Hop, in which bloggers come together to showcase favourite romance novels. I so love romance books, and have done my whole life, so choosing just one to feature today proved too hard a task. Therefore, I’m sharing with you five of my favourite romance reads:

The Shadow of the Moon by MM Kaye. Had I to pick a favourite writer, MM Kaye would be my choice. She writes so vividly, and her fabulous descriptions transport you to a time and a place so effectively that you are drawn into the story. The Shadow of the Moon tells the story of a beautiful English heiress come home to her beloved India and her protector who falls in love with her, set against the backdrop of war that threatens the empire. It’s epic, it’s romantic and it’s timeless.

 

 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. This has been one of my favourite books since I first read it in my youth because it is so wonderfully romantic and Charlotte Brontë has such a beautiful writing style. Jane is such a strong, admirable character, and Mr Rochester is the ultimate byronic hero. I defy anyone to read this book and not be swept away by the poignancy and power of the words.

 

 

 

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I was educated at a French convent school and I read French Literature at university, so as you can imagine, I have a strong connection to this great French writer. If, like me, you love thick books and long, intricate, detailed plots then Les Misérables is a must-read. The stage show and the film are wonderful, of course, but they really can’t convey the power of Hugo’s words. There is such beauty in the language, and such wisdom. Take, for example, this quotation from the book: “When love has fused and mingled two beings in a sacred and angelic unity, the secret of life has been discovered so far as they are concerned; they are no longer anything more than the two boundaries of the same destiny; they are no longer anything but the two wings of the same spirit. Love, soar.” My heart sighs just to read those words!

The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh. This is a recent read for me, but I’ve found it has echoed in me since I closed the book. Stirring and romantic in a grounding, inspiring way, and eye-opening in terms of its exploration of colonial South Africa. For my review of the book, see http://www.hannahfielding.net/?p=1745.

 

 

 

Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding. Is it cheating to choose your own book? Well, the American writer Toni Morrison once said, ‘If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ This is how I feel about my books, and I’m sure it is how other authors feel as well – we love our books, because they embody stories that have lived and breathed inside our minds, our hearts, our souls for a lifetime.

 

 

 

Would you like to escape into a passionate, vivid romance? For your chance to win a copy of my novel Burning Embers, simply comment on this post by the end of the hop.

A church with a view

The Church at Eze, a beautiful medieval village near my home in France. It’s described as an eagle’s nest because it perches on a high cliff 427 metres above sea level, affording a breathtaking view (no wonder Walt Disney came often to this place to daydream). The church, Notre Dame de l’Assomption, can be seen for miles around. Once, the Phoenicians erected a temple there; now, the vestige of this is an Egyptian cross inside the church.

Le Pont des Arts, Paris – padlocks of love

The city of Paris has long been revered as a place to fall in love and to rekindle the flames of passion. The architecture, the greenery, the culture, the cuisine, the people… c’est la cité d’amour. But beyond enjoying a tête-à-tête over a cup of café au crème, rendez-vouzing on the Champs-Elysées, and gazing out at the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower, there is one spot that is, for many lovers, the place to visit…

Le Pont des Arts (Arts Bridge) is a footbridge traversing the banks of the Seine. It is an elegant metal bridge, first conceived by Napoleon and originally built in 1804 by engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Lacroix-Dillon, then reconstructed in the 1980s. It has long been a popular meeting place for romantics and artists, affording as it does views of the Louvre and the Ile de la Cité. But then a new phenomena emerged – attached to the metal mesh on the side of the bridge padlocks appeared, each etched with initials and/or messages.

The idea is this – you go to the bridge with your lover. You paint onto a padlock a signature of your love. You attach the padlock to the side of the bridge, then you throw the key into the river. It is a sign of commitment, of fusing hearts, for all the world to see. Though the padlock is usually a rather ugly, functional object, here, on the bridge, it transcends its metallic bounds and becomes something else entirely – a symbol of love and strength and hope. And when you stand back and see the many, many locks attached to the bridge, you get a sense of a world full of love. What a beautiful thing.

If you’d like to see images of the bridge, please visit this link: http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2013/01/04/locks-of-love/1808771/.

In memory of an inspiring writer: The Cell War Notebooks

Every writer’s dream is to write in their lifetime – to write what is in them to write; to find, perhaps, an audience; to express themselves in their chosen art form; to leave a little of themselves in the world. I consider myself very fortunate to be living my dream of writing every day, and I was deeply saddened to hear of the writer Julie Forward DeMay who lost her battle with cervical cancer before she had a chance to fulfil her writing aspirations.

Julie’s blog entries posted during her illness – beautifully written, heart-warming, and indescribably moving  – have been brought together in a book, Cell War Notebooks, which is available to purchase on Amazon, and writers worldwide are coming together to help promote the work for a lady who so sadly is not able to. Proceeds go to Julie’s daughter, who is nine years old.

I very much encourage you to check out the book and support a writer who was so brave and will always be so inspirational.