Marie Laval's Blog, page 10
June 26, 2015
Angelic Business 1, 2 and 3!
Today I have the multi-talented Olga Núñez Miret on my blog. I hope you will enjoy reading all about her and her novels in the ANGELIC BUSINESS series. I am sure you will agree with me that her covers are absolutely wonderful!
Hi all:
First of all thank you very much for taking part in my Blog Tour for Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters. Don’t worry, I’m not here forever, just twisting the arm of your favourite blogger and borrowing a bit of space.
My name is Olga Núñez Miret and I’m a writer, translator, reader, psychiatrist, I love movies, plays, fitness, owls and recently have taken up meditation (mindfulness). (I thought I might as well summarise and not take too much of your time). I’ll leave you some links at the end just in case you want to find out even more about me (I’m not sure I’d recommend it, but hey…do your worst!).
I’ve been writing since I was quite young and I write in whatever style the story I have in my head wants to be written in. So far literary fiction, romance, YA, thriller…and a few unfinished works.
Around five years ago I discovered and read quite a few interesting Young Adult books and had an idea for what I thought could be a series. At the time I wrote the first of the novels and after trying to find an agent or a traditional publisher without much success, I started self-publishing, but decided to publish some of my other books first. Since then I’ve published 12 books (6 original books and their translations, as I write in English and Spanish).
I kept thinking about Angelic Business and a few months later wrote the second novel in the series: Shades of Greg. (No, nothing to do with…)
And last year, as part of NaNoWriMo I wrote the third novel in the series, Pink, Angel or Demon?
As I had written the three, I thought I’d publish them pretty close to each other so people wouldn’t have to wait to know what happened next (at least not too much).
The three books in the Angelic Businesscollection are now available for pre-order at the special price of $0.99 each. It’s a bargain price and they’ll go up shortly after publication.
Here, a video: Link: https://youtu.be/ZKWP_Q89CiQ
Don’t worry. My writing is better than my video-creating skills, but as I’d been taking all those pictures of angels, I thought I might as well.
Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters
You are Pink, not the prettiest girl, but smart and with plenty of resources. What do you do when your best male friend offers to have sex with you, because he thinks you’re a lost cause? You plot your revenge with your two best female friends, of course!
It seems you’re in luck when a new and mysterious student appears. And, to top it all, he seems interested in you too. He could take part in the plan. But then, he seems to have a plan of his own… He insists he’s not just an ordinary boy. And what seemed so easy to begin with, gets more and more complicated when Heaven and Hell come knocking at Pink’s door.
Pink Matters is the story of Pink, a 17 year old girl, good student, articulate and smart. What she has never been the centre of attention or made the top ten of the most popular and attractive girls at school. When two guys, both claiming to be angels, insist that she is, indeed, ‘special’, fight for her attention and help and tell her she is the key to the future of the universe, she can’t help but ask: Why me?
And a snippet:
“Who are you?” Lorna asked. Before she could say anything else, she froze as if paralysed. And the same happened to Sylvia.
“Oh no, not again” I said.
“Hi Pink. I’m Azrael. I’m…”
“Let me guess...You’re an angel.”
I could say he smiled but it was more like a white light radiating from between his lips. His voice also seemed slightly “otherworldly”. He was nothing like G. Flesh and blood didn’t seem to be his priority.
“Yes. I am.”
“O...K....And...to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? If you are going to make an announcement of some sort...I could have done with some notice.”
The light now seemed to radiate from his whole “body” if that was what it was. Somehow his show was much more believable than G’s. And scarier.
“It’s not an announcement as such. But you should know...G...”
“Yes?”
“I know he told you he’s an angel.”
I looked at him. Maybe he was different to G but he could be as annoying as him. And interfering.
“Yes. I also “know” things...In my case it is because “I” am an angel. He has not been truthful about his identity.”
Pink Matters is currently available for pre-order and will be published on the 26th of June 2015 (Amazon time). So, if you’re reading this post after the 26th of June, you’re in luck and can get the book straight away! (I’m also publishing it in other platforms although as their processing speed is different the dates might vary. Do check there or in my website, that I regularly update). Link: http://rxe.me/YIHTW96
In case you’re intrigued, I leave you the cover (reveal!) and links to the other two books:
Angelic Business 2. Shapes of Greg
What more could happen after the death and resurrection of your mother? What could Heaven and Hell toss at Pink to top that? Well, to start with, she gets a new hellish babysitter, who is seriously hot. And although everybody likes him, he only has eyes for her. When she learns what the price was for the ‘miracle’ of saving her mother, she realises that she must be careful, as Hell doesn’t lose gracefully.
One of her friends wants to find the perfect man, the other one gets into a relationship she refuses to talk about, there’s a demon who doesn’t know when to give up and an angel who seems to have his own agenda. What on Earth, Hell or Heaven is going on?
Shapes of Greg is available for pre-order and will be published on the 15th of July. Link: http://rxe.me/YHZ21O2
And last, but not least:
Angelic Business 3. Pink, Angel or Demon?
OK, OK, OK. Pink gets it. She’s the Elected, whether she likes it or no. Heaven and Hell are closing in, and their envois are closer home than ever. So close she can’t ignore them. And she’ll do everything but.
However long she has, she’s determined to make it count. She’ll sort her friends out, she’ll help her family and, she’ll live a bit. And then, she’ll take charge. Because no one will say that Pink went down without a fight. However big and bad the enemy.
Gender benders, romances, old loves that come to fruition, new challenges, divine interventions, tears, laughter and magic. All of that and more. Because, if you‘re gonna go, you might as well go with a bang.
Pink, Angel or Demon? is available for pre-order and will be published on the 30th July. Link: http://rxe.me/YHZHUYS
As I threatened you before, here are some links:
My website is: www.OlgaNM.com
I have a Twitter account: @OlgaNM7
My blog is: http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com
I also have a Facebook author page www.facebook.com/OlgaNunezMiret
My Goodreads author page is:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6562510.Olga_N_ez_Miret
G+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/118443714277719085351
Pinterest : (Don’t miss my board about angels) http://pinterest.com/olganm7/ Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/OlgaNM
Thanks so much for allowing me to visit and post, thanks so much for reading, and as I always tell them in my blog, if you’ve found it interesting, like, share, comment and CLICK! Oh, and I love reblogs!
You are very welcome, Olga. I wish you lots of success with your three novels in the ANGEL BUSINESS trilogy!
Hi all: First of all thank you very much for taking part in my Blog Tour for Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters. Don’t worry, I’m not here forever, just twisting the arm of your favourite blogger and borrowing a bit of space.
My name is Olga Núñez Miret and I’m a writer, translator, reader, psychiatrist, I love movies, plays, fitness, owls and recently have taken up meditation (mindfulness). (I thought I might as well summarise and not take too much of your time). I’ll leave you some links at the end just in case you want to find out even more about me (I’m not sure I’d recommend it, but hey…do your worst!).
I’ve been writing since I was quite young and I write in whatever style the story I have in my head wants to be written in. So far literary fiction, romance, YA, thriller…and a few unfinished works.
Around five years ago I discovered and read quite a few interesting Young Adult books and had an idea for what I thought could be a series. At the time I wrote the first of the novels and after trying to find an agent or a traditional publisher without much success, I started self-publishing, but decided to publish some of my other books first. Since then I’ve published 12 books (6 original books and their translations, as I write in English and Spanish).
I kept thinking about Angelic Business and a few months later wrote the second novel in the series: Shades of Greg. (No, nothing to do with…)
And last year, as part of NaNoWriMo I wrote the third novel in the series, Pink, Angel or Demon?
As I had written the three, I thought I’d publish them pretty close to each other so people wouldn’t have to wait to know what happened next (at least not too much).
The three books in the Angelic Businesscollection are now available for pre-order at the special price of $0.99 each. It’s a bargain price and they’ll go up shortly after publication.
Here, a video: Link: https://youtu.be/ZKWP_Q89CiQ
Don’t worry. My writing is better than my video-creating skills, but as I’d been taking all those pictures of angels, I thought I might as well.
Angelic Business 1. Pink MattersYou are Pink, not the prettiest girl, but smart and with plenty of resources. What do you do when your best male friend offers to have sex with you, because he thinks you’re a lost cause? You plot your revenge with your two best female friends, of course!
It seems you’re in luck when a new and mysterious student appears. And, to top it all, he seems interested in you too. He could take part in the plan. But then, he seems to have a plan of his own… He insists he’s not just an ordinary boy. And what seemed so easy to begin with, gets more and more complicated when Heaven and Hell come knocking at Pink’s door.
Pink Matters is the story of Pink, a 17 year old girl, good student, articulate and smart. What she has never been the centre of attention or made the top ten of the most popular and attractive girls at school. When two guys, both claiming to be angels, insist that she is, indeed, ‘special’, fight for her attention and help and tell her she is the key to the future of the universe, she can’t help but ask: Why me?
And a snippet:
“Who are you?” Lorna asked. Before she could say anything else, she froze as if paralysed. And the same happened to Sylvia.
“Oh no, not again” I said.
“Hi Pink. I’m Azrael. I’m…”
“Let me guess...You’re an angel.”
I could say he smiled but it was more like a white light radiating from between his lips. His voice also seemed slightly “otherworldly”. He was nothing like G. Flesh and blood didn’t seem to be his priority.
“Yes. I am.”
“O...K....And...to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? If you are going to make an announcement of some sort...I could have done with some notice.”
The light now seemed to radiate from his whole “body” if that was what it was. Somehow his show was much more believable than G’s. And scarier.
“It’s not an announcement as such. But you should know...G...”
“Yes?”
“I know he told you he’s an angel.”
I looked at him. Maybe he was different to G but he could be as annoying as him. And interfering.
“Yes. I also “know” things...In my case it is because “I” am an angel. He has not been truthful about his identity.”
Pink Matters is currently available for pre-order and will be published on the 26th of June 2015 (Amazon time). So, if you’re reading this post after the 26th of June, you’re in luck and can get the book straight away! (I’m also publishing it in other platforms although as their processing speed is different the dates might vary. Do check there or in my website, that I regularly update). Link: http://rxe.me/YIHTW96
In case you’re intrigued, I leave you the cover (reveal!) and links to the other two books:
Angelic Business 2. Shapes of Greg What more could happen after the death and resurrection of your mother? What could Heaven and Hell toss at Pink to top that? Well, to start with, she gets a new hellish babysitter, who is seriously hot. And although everybody likes him, he only has eyes for her. When she learns what the price was for the ‘miracle’ of saving her mother, she realises that she must be careful, as Hell doesn’t lose gracefully.
One of her friends wants to find the perfect man, the other one gets into a relationship she refuses to talk about, there’s a demon who doesn’t know when to give up and an angel who seems to have his own agenda. What on Earth, Hell or Heaven is going on?
Shapes of Greg is available for pre-order and will be published on the 15th of July. Link: http://rxe.me/YHZ21O2
And last, but not least:
Angelic Business 3. Pink, Angel or Demon? OK, OK, OK. Pink gets it. She’s the Elected, whether she likes it or no. Heaven and Hell are closing in, and their envois are closer home than ever. So close she can’t ignore them. And she’ll do everything but.
However long she has, she’s determined to make it count. She’ll sort her friends out, she’ll help her family and, she’ll live a bit. And then, she’ll take charge. Because no one will say that Pink went down without a fight. However big and bad the enemy.
Gender benders, romances, old loves that come to fruition, new challenges, divine interventions, tears, laughter and magic. All of that and more. Because, if you‘re gonna go, you might as well go with a bang.
Pink, Angel or Demon? is available for pre-order and will be published on the 30th July. Link: http://rxe.me/YHZHUYS
As I threatened you before, here are some links:
My website is: www.OlgaNM.com
I have a Twitter account: @OlgaNM7
My blog is: http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com
I also have a Facebook author page www.facebook.com/OlgaNunezMiret
My Goodreads author page is:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6562510.Olga_N_ez_Miret
G+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/118443714277719085351
Pinterest : (Don’t miss my board about angels) http://pinterest.com/olganm7/ Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/OlgaNM
Thanks so much for allowing me to visit and post, thanks so much for reading, and as I always tell them in my blog, if you’ve found it interesting, like, share, comment and CLICK! Oh, and I love reblogs!
You are very welcome, Olga. I wish you lots of success with your three novels in the ANGEL BUSINESS trilogy!
June 16, 2015
SEVEN YEARS OF BAD SEX
I am delighted to welcome Nicky Wells to talk about her great novel SEVEN YEAR OF BAD SEX which was released a few weeks ago. I have only just started reading the book and I am really enjoying it. What an intriguing plot! I can't wait to read what happens in the end...
Hello Nicky and thank you for coming on the blog today. What can you tell us about you?
Do you know, after four years of writing, appearing on blogs, doing readings, appearing at conferences, writing press releases, and hosting a radio show, this is still the question that trips me up. What does one say about oneself without sounding like a wanna-be wonder woman with a completely overinflated ego?
Nonetheless, you asked, so here goes. My name is Nicky Wells, and I write romance with rock stars because I am personally terminally attracted to long-haired, golden-voiced bad boys with a magical stage presence. I can’t help myself. However, I am actually quite a normal, down-to-earth person. I’m a wife and mum to two boys. When I’m not writing or rocking out, I like to cook, eat, make cocktails, and knit (sometimes). I’m from Germany, but I’ve lived in the UKfor the past twenty-two years, and I think my family has finally given up expecting me to return any time soon. I have a wicked sense of humour, and I’m a chronic insomniac. Oh and, if I weren’t a writer and had a better voice, I’d have quite liked to front a rock band myself.
Rock stars are fascinating. I can certainly think of a few who would make great romance heroes! I see we are both originally from continental Europe, although I am not from Germany but from France.
I often get asked how I find inspiration for my stories. I find it a tricky question because pretty much anything can inspire me - a road map, a song or a painting. What about you, Nicky, where do you get your ideas for your stories? Usually, stories come to me in a complete flash of inspiration triggered by the most random of events. I have a novel in the hopper that came to me on the bus. I was people watching and **coughs, embarrassed** eavesdropping, as one does on a bus, and I was pondering the meaning of life. Somebody was talking about office politics, and suddenly I had this idea for a story that has a rock star going into a witness-protection-style deep cover alternative existence… in an office job. Can you imagine his calamity? Can you imagine the potential for jokes, mishaps, and just general hilarity? I didn’t have anything to write with, so I had to tap the whole thing into the notes section of my phone. This will be my next novel to tackle!!
In three words - What kind of man is Alex, the hero or SEVEN YEARS OF BAD SEX? Sexy, confused, and hopelessly romantic.
In three words - What kind of woman is Casey, your heroine? Determined, resourceful, and funny.
What is the one thing you absolutely need to write? Coffee, tea, and chocolate. That’s three things, hope you don’t mind?
Same as me, although I also like goat's cheese, especially if I'm working late in the evening (!). Can you tell us how you pick the name of your characters? I used to trawl through lists of baby names until inspiration grabbed me. I usually look for names that are not affiliated with anyone I know, but that can get tricky. However, of late, I have delegated the important task of naming my characters to my readers. For “7 Years Bad Sex,” I put out a call on Facebook asking my readers to come up with a pair of names (hero and heroine), and I was overwhelmed by the reaction… so I had to pick the names out of a hat. It was great fun!
That's a really great idea! What comes first when you are thinking of a new story - the plot or the characters? Oh gosh, there’s a question and a half! Actually, I don’t think I could separate the two. What usually happens is that I get a flash of inspiration, as per above, about something that happens to someone—so that’s plot and character right there. However, I tend to focus on developing the plan of action—the plot—before thinking about the character too much… I tend to find that the action defines the character, at least to begin with.
And finally, could you tell us about your best ever moment as a writer? I don’t have a single moment as such, but let me tell you this. The best moments ever are when personal messages from readers ping into my inbox or come to me via Facebook or Twitter. It’s an amazing feeling when someone you don’t know takes the time to send you a message to tell you how much they enjoyed your book, how they identified with the hero or heroine, how much they laughed or cried. Honestly that means the world to me, and I always walk around with a huge smile on my face when I get such a message. It’s the best reward any writer could bet!
I totally agree. It's wonderful to think that people are actually reading and enjoying your book! Thank you so much for coming on the blog today and answering all my questions.
Here is a little about SEVEN YEARS OF BAD SEX!
One wedding. One curse? Disaster ever after… A seven-years-bad-sex curse? Surely not! Yet something went wrong when rock singer Casey and drummer Alex got married on that beautiful yacht anchored off St Tropez in the south of France. Something went badly wrong. For even on their wedding night, the young couple discovers a complete and somewhat surprising inability to make love. Muddling through their honeymoon with a string of thin excuses for their predicament, the lovers defer finding a solution (and panicking) until the return to their home in London. After all, they married for life and to make rock music, not for the love of sex. Right?
But when they resume life as normal in London, all hell breaks loose. Increasingly frantic in their quest for release, the unhappy newlyweds embark on a string of hilarious and occasionally harmful antics that drives them, their band, and an assortment of random strangers to the brink of despair. But it ain’t over ‘til it’s over or, in this case… it ain’t over ‘til the newlyweds sing.
About Nicky Wells
Ultimate rock chick author Nicky Wells writes romance with rock stars—because there’s no better romantic hero than a golden-voiced bad boy with a secret soft heart and a magical stage presence!
Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous romance with rock stars—imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity, you’ll connect with Nicky’s heroes and their leading ladies.
Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and ad-hoc radio show presenter. Rock on!
Nicky’s books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas
| Fallen for Rock | Fairy Tale in New York
7 Years Bad Sex
Join Nicky: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon| Goodreads| Pinterest| Google+
Did you know? There’s a single out now by Nicky’s fictional rock band Tuscq come to life! “Love Me Better” is available for download from Amazon, iTunes and many other places.
YOU CAN FIND THE PARTY HERE - https://www.facebook.com/events/1000603729951759/
There will be fun and games, Prizes and lots of laughs. Starting online at 9am on 20th June!
Hello Nicky and thank you for coming on the blog today. What can you tell us about you?
Do you know, after four years of writing, appearing on blogs, doing readings, appearing at conferences, writing press releases, and hosting a radio show, this is still the question that trips me up. What does one say about oneself without sounding like a wanna-be wonder woman with a completely overinflated ego?
Nonetheless, you asked, so here goes. My name is Nicky Wells, and I write romance with rock stars because I am personally terminally attracted to long-haired, golden-voiced bad boys with a magical stage presence. I can’t help myself. However, I am actually quite a normal, down-to-earth person. I’m a wife and mum to two boys. When I’m not writing or rocking out, I like to cook, eat, make cocktails, and knit (sometimes). I’m from Germany, but I’ve lived in the UKfor the past twenty-two years, and I think my family has finally given up expecting me to return any time soon. I have a wicked sense of humour, and I’m a chronic insomniac. Oh and, if I weren’t a writer and had a better voice, I’d have quite liked to front a rock band myself.
Rock stars are fascinating. I can certainly think of a few who would make great romance heroes! I see we are both originally from continental Europe, although I am not from Germany but from France.
I often get asked how I find inspiration for my stories. I find it a tricky question because pretty much anything can inspire me - a road map, a song or a painting. What about you, Nicky, where do you get your ideas for your stories? Usually, stories come to me in a complete flash of inspiration triggered by the most random of events. I have a novel in the hopper that came to me on the bus. I was people watching and **coughs, embarrassed** eavesdropping, as one does on a bus, and I was pondering the meaning of life. Somebody was talking about office politics, and suddenly I had this idea for a story that has a rock star going into a witness-protection-style deep cover alternative existence… in an office job. Can you imagine his calamity? Can you imagine the potential for jokes, mishaps, and just general hilarity? I didn’t have anything to write with, so I had to tap the whole thing into the notes section of my phone. This will be my next novel to tackle!!
In three words - What kind of man is Alex, the hero or SEVEN YEARS OF BAD SEX? Sexy, confused, and hopelessly romantic.
In three words - What kind of woman is Casey, your heroine? Determined, resourceful, and funny.
What is the one thing you absolutely need to write? Coffee, tea, and chocolate. That’s three things, hope you don’t mind?
Same as me, although I also like goat's cheese, especially if I'm working late in the evening (!). Can you tell us how you pick the name of your characters? I used to trawl through lists of baby names until inspiration grabbed me. I usually look for names that are not affiliated with anyone I know, but that can get tricky. However, of late, I have delegated the important task of naming my characters to my readers. For “7 Years Bad Sex,” I put out a call on Facebook asking my readers to come up with a pair of names (hero and heroine), and I was overwhelmed by the reaction… so I had to pick the names out of a hat. It was great fun!
That's a really great idea! What comes first when you are thinking of a new story - the plot or the characters? Oh gosh, there’s a question and a half! Actually, I don’t think I could separate the two. What usually happens is that I get a flash of inspiration, as per above, about something that happens to someone—so that’s plot and character right there. However, I tend to focus on developing the plan of action—the plot—before thinking about the character too much… I tend to find that the action defines the character, at least to begin with.
And finally, could you tell us about your best ever moment as a writer? I don’t have a single moment as such, but let me tell you this. The best moments ever are when personal messages from readers ping into my inbox or come to me via Facebook or Twitter. It’s an amazing feeling when someone you don’t know takes the time to send you a message to tell you how much they enjoyed your book, how they identified with the hero or heroine, how much they laughed or cried. Honestly that means the world to me, and I always walk around with a huge smile on my face when I get such a message. It’s the best reward any writer could bet!
I totally agree. It's wonderful to think that people are actually reading and enjoying your book! Thank you so much for coming on the blog today and answering all my questions.
Here is a little about SEVEN YEARS OF BAD SEX!
One wedding. One curse? Disaster ever after… A seven-years-bad-sex curse? Surely not! Yet something went wrong when rock singer Casey and drummer Alex got married on that beautiful yacht anchored off St Tropez in the south of France. Something went badly wrong. For even on their wedding night, the young couple discovers a complete and somewhat surprising inability to make love. Muddling through their honeymoon with a string of thin excuses for their predicament, the lovers defer finding a solution (and panicking) until the return to their home in London. After all, they married for life and to make rock music, not for the love of sex. Right?
But when they resume life as normal in London, all hell breaks loose. Increasingly frantic in their quest for release, the unhappy newlyweds embark on a string of hilarious and occasionally harmful antics that drives them, their band, and an assortment of random strangers to the brink of despair. But it ain’t over ‘til it’s over or, in this case… it ain’t over ‘til the newlyweds sing.
About Nicky Wells
Ultimate rock chick author Nicky Wells writes romance with rock stars—because there’s no better romantic hero than a golden-voiced bad boy with a secret soft heart and a magical stage presence! Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous romance with rock stars—imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity, you’ll connect with Nicky’s heroes and their leading ladies.
Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and ad-hoc radio show presenter. Rock on!
Nicky’s books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas
| Fallen for Rock | Fairy Tale in New York
7 Years Bad Sex
Join Nicky: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon| Goodreads| Pinterest| Google+
Did you know? There’s a single out now by Nicky’s fictional rock band Tuscq come to life! “Love Me Better” is available for download from Amazon, iTunes and many other places.
YOU CAN FIND THE PARTY HERE - https://www.facebook.com/events/1000603729951759/
There will be fun and games, Prizes and lots of laughs. Starting online at 9am on 20th June!
June 10, 2015
WALKING IN THE RAIN by Julia Ibbotson
Today I am delighted to welcome author Julia Ibbotson and her latest novel WALKING IN THE RAIN. There is a fantastic giveaway at the end of this post, so please scroll all the way down for a chance to win a copy of the book!
Genre: Contemporary women’s romance fiction Release Date: 30th March 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3pUErb8cZc How do you cope when your worst nightmare comes true? Jess happily marries the love of her life. She wants to feel safe, secure and loved. But gradually it becomes clear that her beloved husband is not the man she thought him to be. She survived civil war and injury in Africa, but can she now survive the biggest trauma of her life? This is the second novel in the Drumbeats trilogy but can be read as a standalone. However, Drumbeats is so amazing you should just read it too! Drumbeats Walking in the Rain Before I Die Want to read Drumbeats first? Buy-link on Amazon for the first in the trilogy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drumbeats-Julia-Ibbotson/dp/1910394246/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 And, for a taster, the book trailer video of Drumbeats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OYlEXhHvsc BUY LINKS AMAZON UK AMAZON.COM
Julia Ibbotson is an author and academic, and lives in the middle of the English countryside in a renovated Victorian rectory with her husband, an orchard, a kitchen garden and far too many moles. Their four children are now grown up and they have four gorgeous grandchildren. She was a school teacher for many years before becoming a senior university lecturer, researcher and writer. She loves reading, travelling, choral singing, theatre, walking, swimming and gardening, as well as cooking for family and friends. Her books include a memoir/recipe book, The Old Rectory: escape to a country kitchen, and a children’s book (9-14 year olds),S.C.A.R.S, a fantasy story of dragons, knights and a boy who slips through the fabric of the universe into a parallel medieval world threatened by the evil Myrthor, the heart of darkness. Author Page on Amazonhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Julia-Ibbotson/e/B0095XG11U Author Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Julia-Ibbotson-author/163085897119236 Twitterhttps://twitter.com/juliaibbotson Author Websitehttp://juliaibbotsonauthor.com/ On Pinterest, including boards with pics and images that inspired each bookhttps://www.pinterest.com/juliai1/ On Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6017965.Julia_Ibbotson Giveaway A signed paperback of Walking in the Rain (Open Internationally)http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301778/
Genre: Contemporary women’s romance fiction Release Date: 30th March 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3pUErb8cZc How do you cope when your worst nightmare comes true? Jess happily marries the love of her life. She wants to feel safe, secure and loved. But gradually it becomes clear that her beloved husband is not the man she thought him to be. She survived civil war and injury in Africa, but can she now survive the biggest trauma of her life? This is the second novel in the Drumbeats trilogy but can be read as a standalone. However, Drumbeats is so amazing you should just read it too! Drumbeats Walking in the Rain Before I Die Want to read Drumbeats first? Buy-link on Amazon for the first in the trilogy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drumbeats-Julia-Ibbotson/dp/1910394246/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 And, for a taster, the book trailer video of Drumbeats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OYlEXhHvsc BUY LINKS AMAZON UK AMAZON.COM
Julia Ibbotson is an author and academic, and lives in the middle of the English countryside in a renovated Victorian rectory with her husband, an orchard, a kitchen garden and far too many moles. Their four children are now grown up and they have four gorgeous grandchildren. She was a school teacher for many years before becoming a senior university lecturer, researcher and writer. She loves reading, travelling, choral singing, theatre, walking, swimming and gardening, as well as cooking for family and friends. Her books include a memoir/recipe book, The Old Rectory: escape to a country kitchen, and a children’s book (9-14 year olds),S.C.A.R.S, a fantasy story of dragons, knights and a boy who slips through the fabric of the universe into a parallel medieval world threatened by the evil Myrthor, the heart of darkness. Author Page on Amazonhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Julia-Ibbotson/e/B0095XG11U Author Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Julia-Ibbotson-author/163085897119236 Twitterhttps://twitter.com/juliaibbotson Author Websitehttp://juliaibbotsonauthor.com/ On Pinterest, including boards with pics and images that inspired each bookhttps://www.pinterest.com/juliai1/ On Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6017965.Julia_Ibbotson Giveaway A signed paperback of Walking in the Rain (Open Internationally)http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301778/
May 6, 2015
Praise Her, Praise Diana
Today I am delighted to host Anne Rothman-Hicks and Ken Hicks, authors of PRAISE HER, PRAISE DIANA. There is a fantastic giveaway at the bottom of this post. Don't miss it!
Call it life imitating art—author Maggie Edwards publishes a chapter of a book detailing seduction, murder and castration by a protagonist named Diana, and suddenly a woman code-named Diana begins to mimic her actions in real time. Women who have been abused find Diana to be an inspirational figure, and begin to fight back in her name. Soon violence erupting throughout New York City threatens to spiral out of control. As the police try desperately to identify Diana, Maggie's high-powered lawyer, Jane Larson, finds herself at the center of an investigation that threatens to upend the entire world around her.
BUY LINKS
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/hicks/diana.html
http://www.lulu.com/shop/view-cart.ep
http://www.amazon.com/Praise-Her-Diana-Anne-Rothman-Hicks-ebook/dp/B00NVDGCIM
About the authors
Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks have been married for a little over forty years and have produced about twenty books and exactly three children so far. At press-time, they still love their children more.
Their most recent novels have been set in New York City, where they have lived for most of their married lives. Anne is a graduate of BrynMawr Collegewhere, in nineteen sixty-nine, as the fabled Sixties were drawing to a close, she met Ken, who was a student at Haverford College. They don't like to admit that they met at a college mixer, but there it is!
Together their books include Theft of the Shroud, a novel; Starfinder, a non-fiction book about the stars for children; a series of books on individual names for children (for example Michael's Book, Elizabeth's Book, John's Book, Jennifer's Book, David's Book, Amy's Book); and, most recently, Kate and the Kid, Mind Me, Milady, and Praise Her, Praise Diana, three adult novels, and a middle reader/tween novel, Things Are Not What They Seem.
Ken and Anne have a website with the address set out below. There they have links to some of their books and display images that they hope will be used in future efforts. In case you were wondering about the website address, "R" is for Rothman, "H" is for Hicks, and 71 is the year of their marriage. No secret codes or numerology anywhere. Sorry. Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenneth-Hicks-and-Anne-Rothman-Hicks/622272714477979
https://twitter.com/KenHicksnyc
http://randh71productions.com/blog/
GIVEAWAY
$35 Amazon gift card
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301761/
Call it life imitating art—author Maggie Edwards publishes a chapter of a book detailing seduction, murder and castration by a protagonist named Diana, and suddenly a woman code-named Diana begins to mimic her actions in real time. Women who have been abused find Diana to be an inspirational figure, and begin to fight back in her name. Soon violence erupting throughout New York City threatens to spiral out of control. As the police try desperately to identify Diana, Maggie's high-powered lawyer, Jane Larson, finds herself at the center of an investigation that threatens to upend the entire world around her.
BUY LINKS
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/hicks/diana.html
http://www.lulu.com/shop/view-cart.ep
http://www.amazon.com/Praise-Her-Diana-Anne-Rothman-Hicks-ebook/dp/B00NVDGCIM
About the authors
Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks have been married for a little over forty years and have produced about twenty books and exactly three children so far. At press-time, they still love their children more.
Their most recent novels have been set in New York City, where they have lived for most of their married lives. Anne is a graduate of BrynMawr Collegewhere, in nineteen sixty-nine, as the fabled Sixties were drawing to a close, she met Ken, who was a student at Haverford College. They don't like to admit that they met at a college mixer, but there it is!
Together their books include Theft of the Shroud, a novel; Starfinder, a non-fiction book about the stars for children; a series of books on individual names for children (for example Michael's Book, Elizabeth's Book, John's Book, Jennifer's Book, David's Book, Amy's Book); and, most recently, Kate and the Kid, Mind Me, Milady, and Praise Her, Praise Diana, three adult novels, and a middle reader/tween novel, Things Are Not What They Seem.
Ken and Anne have a website with the address set out below. There they have links to some of their books and display images that they hope will be used in future efforts. In case you were wondering about the website address, "R" is for Rothman, "H" is for Hicks, and 71 is the year of their marriage. No secret codes or numerology anywhere. Sorry. Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenneth-Hicks-and-Anne-Rothman-Hicks/622272714477979
https://twitter.com/KenHicksnyc
http://randh71productions.com/blog/
GIVEAWAY
$35 Amazon gift card
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301761/
May 3, 2015
Chocolate biscuits and Author Talks!
How to hold a successful author talk...Or 5 things I will do next time!
A few weeks ago, I held my first ever author talk at my local library, a very small, but very friendly place.
In preparation for the event I designed a powerpoint presentation about how I became a published author, about my writing in general, and the inspiration behind A SPELL IN PROVENCE, my contemporary romantic suspense. I rehearsed and timed the talk to make sure it wouldn't be too long, and selected a couple of excerpts from the novel to read out. On the day of the talk, I went up to the library early to set up a display of books and postcards.
All I needed was enough courage to get through the afternoon ... and an audience.
Sadly, if I managed to overcome my nerves, the audience did not materialise. Only three people came - and one of them made no secret of the fact he was only there for the librarian's offer of tea and McVities' chocolate biscuits!
Although disappointed at first, I decided to be positive. It was after all my very first chance to talk about myself as a writer, and the ideal opportunity to put into practice an excellent piece of advice I had been given: to make direct eye contact with as many members of the audience as possible. With only three people in attendance, this was going to be easy!
So what did I learn from the event and what would I do differently if I had the chance to do my talk all over again?
Next time...
1. I will be been less self-conscious and advertise the event more widely, for example by contacting local book clubs and other libraries in the area.
2. I will prepare for technology failure and have backup visuals. My powerpoint presentation didn't run as smoothly as planned because the library's computer froze several times.
3. I will not hesitate to tactfully interrupt people who are voicing opinions or talking about things which are not exactly relevant and tell them there will be time for questions and discussions later.
4. I will make the event a multi-sensory occasion. If the talk is about A SPELL IN PROVENCE once again, I will have a display of lavender sachets, scented savons de Marseille or samples of typical Provençal products. I could even have music in the background before and after the talk.
5. I will organise a giveaway or a competition to attract more people.
Of course, I could just forget all that and make sure I have plenty of chocolate biscuits!
What do you think of my tips for a successful author talk, and do you have any great tips you have used yourself?
A few weeks ago, I held my first ever author talk at my local library, a very small, but very friendly place.
In preparation for the event I designed a powerpoint presentation about how I became a published author, about my writing in general, and the inspiration behind A SPELL IN PROVENCE, my contemporary romantic suspense. I rehearsed and timed the talk to make sure it wouldn't be too long, and selected a couple of excerpts from the novel to read out. On the day of the talk, I went up to the library early to set up a display of books and postcards.
All I needed was enough courage to get through the afternoon ... and an audience.
Sadly, if I managed to overcome my nerves, the audience did not materialise. Only three people came - and one of them made no secret of the fact he was only there for the librarian's offer of tea and McVities' chocolate biscuits!
Although disappointed at first, I decided to be positive. It was after all my very first chance to talk about myself as a writer, and the ideal opportunity to put into practice an excellent piece of advice I had been given: to make direct eye contact with as many members of the audience as possible. With only three people in attendance, this was going to be easy!
So what did I learn from the event and what would I do differently if I had the chance to do my talk all over again?
Next time...
1. I will be been less self-conscious and advertise the event more widely, for example by contacting local book clubs and other libraries in the area.
2. I will prepare for technology failure and have backup visuals. My powerpoint presentation didn't run as smoothly as planned because the library's computer froze several times.
3. I will not hesitate to tactfully interrupt people who are voicing opinions or talking about things which are not exactly relevant and tell them there will be time for questions and discussions later.
4. I will make the event a multi-sensory occasion. If the talk is about A SPELL IN PROVENCE once again, I will have a display of lavender sachets, scented savons de Marseille or samples of typical Provençal products. I could even have music in the background before and after the talk.
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5. I will organise a giveaway or a competition to attract more people.
Of course, I could just forget all that and make sure I have plenty of chocolate biscuits!
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What do you think of my tips for a successful author talk, and do you have any great tips you have used yourself? April 19, 2015
The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour, by David Ebsworth
I love history and historical research, and I have always been particularly interested in the great upheaval that was the French Revolution and fascinated by Napoleon Bonaparte. One of my historical romances, ANGEL HEART, is set in 1815 during Napoleon's exile in Elba and the 'Hundred Days' which was the period between his return to power and his abdication in July. You can read my post about The Perfumes of an Imperial Couple here http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/perfumes-of-imperial-couple.html
and about Napoleon's last days on St Helena here http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/auction-of-napoleons-last-shirt-in-paris.html
I am therefore delighted to welcome David Ebsworth and his great novel THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF MARIANNE TAMBOUR on the blog today. There is a giveaway at the bottom of the post, so don't miss the chance to win a copy of the book!
1815 - On the bloody fields of Waterloo, a battle-weary canteen mistress of Bonaparte’s Imperial Guard battalions must fight to free her daughter from all the perils that war will hurl against them – before this last campaign can kill them both. “Superb! David Ebsworth has really brought these dramatic events to life. His description of the fighting is particularly vivid and compelling.” (Andrew W. Field, author of Waterloo: The French Perspective and its companion volume, Prelude to Waterloo: Quatre Bras) A novel of action and intrigue based on the real-life exploits of two women who fought, in their own right, within Napoleon’s army. Includes a Battlefield Tour Guide for those wanting to follow the route taken by the story’s main characters or to visit the sites of the 1815 Waterloo Campaign. About the Author
David Ebsworth is the pen name of writer, Dave McCall, a former negotiator and Regional Secretary for Britain's Transport & General Workers’ Union. He was born in Liverpool (UK) but has lived for the past thirty years in Wrexham, North Wales, with his wife, Ann. Following his retirement, Dave began to write seriously in 2009.
https://twitter.com/EbsworthDavid
https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Ebsworth/372113212814491
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5780879.David_Ebsworth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aSgSB3dlT0
BUY LINKS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Last-Campaign-Marianne-Tambour/dp/1781323216
http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Campaign-Marianne-Tambour/dp/1781323216
http://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/product/9781781323212/the-last-campaign-of-marianne-tambour
https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/the-last-campaign-of-marianne-tambour
GIVEAWAY 2 COPIES OF THE BOOK (UK WINNER PAPERBACK / INTERNATIONAL WINNER EBOOK) http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301754/
and about Napoleon's last days on St Helena here http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/auction-of-napoleons-last-shirt-in-paris.html
I am therefore delighted to welcome David Ebsworth and his great novel THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF MARIANNE TAMBOUR on the blog today. There is a giveaway at the bottom of the post, so don't miss the chance to win a copy of the book!
1815 - On the bloody fields of Waterloo, a battle-weary canteen mistress of Bonaparte’s Imperial Guard battalions must fight to free her daughter from all the perils that war will hurl against them – before this last campaign can kill them both. “Superb! David Ebsworth has really brought these dramatic events to life. His description of the fighting is particularly vivid and compelling.” (Andrew W. Field, author of Waterloo: The French Perspective and its companion volume, Prelude to Waterloo: Quatre Bras) A novel of action and intrigue based on the real-life exploits of two women who fought, in their own right, within Napoleon’s army. Includes a Battlefield Tour Guide for those wanting to follow the route taken by the story’s main characters or to visit the sites of the 1815 Waterloo Campaign. About the Author
David Ebsworth is the pen name of writer, Dave McCall, a former negotiator and Regional Secretary for Britain's Transport & General Workers’ Union. He was born in Liverpool (UK) but has lived for the past thirty years in Wrexham, North Wales, with his wife, Ann. Following his retirement, Dave began to write seriously in 2009.
https://twitter.com/EbsworthDavid
https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Ebsworth/372113212814491
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5780879.David_Ebsworth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aSgSB3dlT0
BUY LINKS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Last-Campaign-Marianne-Tambour/dp/1781323216
http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Campaign-Marianne-Tambour/dp/1781323216
http://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/product/9781781323212/the-last-campaign-of-marianne-tambour
https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/the-last-campaign-of-marianne-tambour
GIVEAWAY 2 COPIES OF THE BOOK (UK WINNER PAPERBACK / INTERNATIONAL WINNER EBOOK) http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301754/
April 13, 2015
Cover Reveal for COUNTRY AFFAIRS by Zara Stoneley
COUNTRY AFFAIRS
'A great treat for readers who love their books jam-packed with sexy men and horses.' Bestselling author Fiona Walker
It’s time to get back in the saddle with the follow up to the deliciously naughty Stable Mates!
Swapping her spurs for stilettoes and becoming Lady of the Manor is not on loveable, but scatty, Lottie’s life plan. Nor does she have the faintest idea how to rescue it from rack and ruin.
But with footballer’s wife Sam on the case, determined to bring glamour to the manor, and fun-loving eventer Rory egging them on, nothing can possibly go wrong, can it?
Todd never forgave himself for abandoning Lottie on a Barcelona beach, but now he’s tracked her down and he’s ready to kiss and make up. With a roving eye and his roguish grin he soon has more than one girl in Tippermere going weak at the knees, but why is he really there?
With wedding plans going awry, unexpected pregnancies and relationships starting to look rocky, will Lottie ever be ready to accept her inheritance and help Tipping House Estate move into the 21st Century?
Praise for Stable Mates –
'A delightful romp peppered with humour, sadness, scandal and steamy sex.'
'...reminded me of Jilly Cooper whose books I grew up with. Stable Mates is up there with Riders and Rivals. If you loved these books then you will love this one'
'...the perfect mix of horsey shenanigans, Cheshire glamour and flirty fun.'
'...reminded me of the Tilly Bagshawe novels I love, with all the scandal and drama. I don’t think I’ve read another author who writes in that kind of style without finding negative comparisons but Zara Stoneley comes into her own'
'a really impressive read.'
'Fun, Frothy & a Good Weekend Read'
'An unexpected FUN read that should not be missed by anyone. I would say I laughed at almost every page! ' BUY LINKS Amazon (UK)
Amazon (COM)
Amazon (paperback)
Foyles
Waterstones
iTunes
Google Play
Blackwells
COMING SOON!!!
Full tour for COUNTRY AFFAIRS!!
ABOUT ZARA STONELEY
Bestselling author Zara Stoneley lives in deepest Cheshire surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and amazing countryside. When she's not visiting wine bars, artisan markets or admiring the scenery in her sexy high heels or green wellies, she can be found in flip flops on the beach in Barcelona, or more likely sampling the tapas!
Zara writes hot romance and bonkbusters. Her latest novels,'Stable Mates' and 'Country Affairs', are fun romps through the Cheshire countryside and combine some of her greatest loves - horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)!
She writes for Harper Collins and Accent Press.
Find out more about Zara:
Website Twitter Facebook Google+
Giveaway 1 ecopy of the 1st book in the series – STABLE MATES
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April 3, 2015
Easter traditions from Provence
A SPELL IN PROVENCE is set in the Lubéron region, so I thought I would write today about some of Provence's Easter traditions.
The Easter period starts on Palm Sunday, or 'Li rampau' as it's called in the provençal language. That day people buy small branches of laurel or olive trees which they keep all year to protect their homes from storms and lightening. Branches from the previous year should be burnt or buried for good luck, never thrown away. The traditional Palm Sunday lunch consists of fresh or smoked fish and vegetables, chick peas in particular. It is believed that if you don't eat chickpeas that day, you will lack of food at some point during the year.
The traditional Good Friday meal is 'aïoli', a meal of cod and vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, green beans, potatoes, and artichokes) with an egg, garlic and olive oil sauce. However as this is still Lent, egg aren't used for the Good Friday 'aïoli'.
On Easter Sunday, church bells, which have been silent for the past two days as they are said to have flown to Rome, ring once again as they return and drop chocolates in people's gardens. The traditional Easter Sunday feast is lamb roast garnished with garlic, roast potatoes and vegetables, together with aniseed bread.
Celebrations conclude
Finally, here are a couple of interesting Provençal superstitions. Eggs laid on Good Friday aren't supposed to rot and can be kept for a very long time. Therefore people used to give them to loved ones or respected members of the community. Also, you should never change your bedding or wear new clothes on Good Friday because it's bad luck!
What about you, do you have any Easter traditions or superstitions?
The Easter period starts on Palm Sunday, or 'Li rampau' as it's called in the provençal language. That day people buy small branches of laurel or olive trees which they keep all year to protect their homes from storms and lightening. Branches from the previous year should be burnt or buried for good luck, never thrown away. The traditional Palm Sunday lunch consists of fresh or smoked fish and vegetables, chick peas in particular. It is believed that if you don't eat chickpeas that day, you will lack of food at some point during the year.
The traditional Good Friday meal is 'aïoli', a meal of cod and vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, green beans, potatoes, and artichokes) with an egg, garlic and olive oil sauce. However as this is still Lent, egg aren't used for the Good Friday 'aïoli'.
On Easter Sunday, church bells, which have been silent for the past two days as they are said to have flown to Rome, ring once again as they return and drop chocolates in people's gardens. The traditional Easter Sunday feast is lamb roast garnished with garlic, roast potatoes and vegetables, together with aniseed bread.
Celebrations conclude
Finally, here are a couple of interesting Provençal superstitions. Eggs laid on Good Friday aren't supposed to rot and can be kept for a very long time. Therefore people used to give them to loved ones or respected members of the community. Also, you should never change your bedding or wear new clothes on Good Friday because it's bad luck!
What about you, do you have any Easter traditions or superstitions? February 19, 2015
Travel through the landscapes of A SPELL IN PROVENCE
A SPELL IN PROVENCE is set in the Lubéron region, near Bonnieux. I am not alone in finding that part of France incredibly beautiful and inspiring. Here are a few photos of the area for you to enjoy.
Fountains have a very special importance in the novel, but they are, and always were, very important in Provence. According to an old Provençal saying 'Eici, l'aigo es d'or', which translates by 'Here, water is gold' - and no wonder when you think how hot it can get in the summer and how parched the earth can be. Anyone who read the wonderful 'Jean de Florette' and 'Manon des Sources' by Marcel Pagnol, or who saw the films, can remember the struggles and hardship the characters faced and their anguish of the characters when the water supply ran dry.
There are so many beautiful villages dotting the countryside. Bonnieux, Saignon, Gordes, and Buoux, to name but a few. Several of them feature in the story.
My heroine buys Bellefontaine, a 'bastide' (an old farmhouse) she has renovated and she plans to open as a guesthouse....and where eerie things happen. But I don't want to give too much of the story away! I had a very precise image of the place in my mind. The photo below is almost exactly how I imagined Bellefontaine to be. I can almost smell the pink laurels and the herbs in the garden...
My hero is heir to an old aristocratic family and has turned his ancestral manor house into a luxury hotel. Once again, the location is based on a real place - the castle in Lourmarin - but I have of course changed a few details.
Lastly, there is the ancient village of 'Bories', these stone huts dating back from the Iron Age for some, and which were until a few decades ago, still used as shelter by shepherds. In A SPELL IN PROVENCE I used the bories as setting for a couple of dramatic scenes!
Some bories are scattered in the landscape, like this one.
I hope you enjoyed my photo tour of the locations of A SPELL IN PROVENCE. Have you ever been in Provence? Which village or landscape did you find the most memorable? I would love to hear from you! A SPELL IN PROVENCE is published by Accent Press and is available fromhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RVQO8RMand in print from http://www.accentpress.co.uk/Book/2529/13421/A-Spell-in-Provence.html
Fountains have a very special importance in the novel, but they are, and always were, very important in Provence. According to an old Provençal saying 'Eici, l'aigo es d'or', which translates by 'Here, water is gold' - and no wonder when you think how hot it can get in the summer and how parched the earth can be. Anyone who read the wonderful 'Jean de Florette' and 'Manon des Sources' by Marcel Pagnol, or who saw the films, can remember the struggles and hardship the characters faced and their anguish of the characters when the water supply ran dry.
There are so many beautiful villages dotting the countryside. Bonnieux, Saignon, Gordes, and Buoux, to name but a few. Several of them feature in the story.
My heroine buys Bellefontaine, a 'bastide' (an old farmhouse) she has renovated and she plans to open as a guesthouse....and where eerie things happen. But I don't want to give too much of the story away! I had a very precise image of the place in my mind. The photo below is almost exactly how I imagined Bellefontaine to be. I can almost smell the pink laurels and the herbs in the garden...
My hero is heir to an old aristocratic family and has turned his ancestral manor house into a luxury hotel. Once again, the location is based on a real place - the castle in Lourmarin - but I have of course changed a few details. 
Lastly, there is the ancient village of 'Bories', these stone huts dating back from the Iron Age for some, and which were until a few decades ago, still used as shelter by shepherds. In A SPELL IN PROVENCE I used the bories as setting for a couple of dramatic scenes!
Some bories are scattered in the landscape, like this one.
I hope you enjoyed my photo tour of the locations of A SPELL IN PROVENCE. Have you ever been in Provence? Which village or landscape did you find the most memorable? I would love to hear from you! A SPELL IN PROVENCE is published by Accent Press and is available fromhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RVQO8RMand in print from http://www.accentpress.co.uk/Book/2529/13421/A-Spell-in-Provence.html
February 15, 2015
The Importance of Listening to Your Heart, by Rosemary Louise Gallagher
I am delighted to welcome Rosemary Louise Gallagher today. Rosemary is here to talk about I LISTENED TO MY HEART, her debut novel. You have a chance of winning a signed copy of the novel by entering the giveaway competition at the bottom of this post.
Hello Rosemary and welcome. Can you tell us a little about you?
I was born in Melbourne, Australia and aside from my many wonderful travels, I spent most of my life there until moving to London in 2000, so I took advantage of my Irish passport and packed up my happy life down under to see what the other side of the world was offering. That was nearly 15 years ago and I haven't looked back!
My creative development started late in my life - I wrote my first novel at the age of 50. I have my own business; I am a tarot/angel intuitive, and have been reading the tarot since giving up the corporate world to concentrate on my creative and spiritual development. I am also a lyricist and I’m hoping one day to write a #1 hit and maybe even win a Grammy! Oh yes, I'm a dreamer all right, but a girl has got to have dreams. I mean, if you don't....how can they come true!
There is nothing wrong with being a dreamer and having creative ambitions! By the way, I am absolutely fascinated by your occupation as a tarot reader, but what did you want to be when you were a child? When I was a child I wanted to be an actress or a singer. I loved Barbara Streisand and would imagine me being her, up there on stage belting out a number. I never imagined me becoming a writer, just goes to show… never say never.
You are right, Barbara Streisand does have a wonderful voice. I used to love her films, especially A STAR IS BORN and THE WAY WE WERE. We all get our inspiration from different sources. Where do you get your ideas for your stories? The idea for my novel was inspired by a real life event. It started out as a journal and from there it took on a life of its own. Before I knew it I had written my book. It’s amazing what you can do when you listen to your heart.
Very true. Can you tell us a little about the novel?
It follows the life of Rose O’Carroll who is about to turn the big 40 and is still single, so she packs up her life in Melbourne to move to London to see what the other side of the world was offering. Rose, has friends in high places – her angles who she communicates with regularly and they guide her to find the right job, home, and to make wonderful friendships and ensure she has loads of fun along the way. Finally they lead her to Joe DeMarco, the tall, handsome American, who turns her life upside down and changes it forever.
Everything happens for a reason and Rose discovers why she had to meet Joe DeMarco at what seems like the wrong time. She had someone else met first…and it wasn’t only the dishy doctor St Claire.
In three words - What kind of man is Joe DeMarco?
Strong, humble and generous of spirit, and funny! oops that’s four but….:)
That sounds like a great combination. What are you working on at the moment?I have just finished writing the sequel which is called Maktub: It is written. Unlike my first book this is complete fiction and it was fun letting my imagination run wild.
What an intriguing title. Tell me, what is your favourite hero from a film or a novel ever? Rhett Butler, from Gone With The Wind. He was tall, dark and handsome and so charismatic, but more importantly I loved his strength, his wit and humour; he was generous, kind and loved passionately.
Yes, Rhett Butler was indeed a hero who stayed with me a long time after I read the novel. Writing can be a wonderful, but at times an incredibly frustrating occupation, at least it seems that way to me! What was your best ever moment as a writer?When the Fedex guy delivered my book - I was so excited, yet nervous and when I opened the package and held my published book in my hands, I was overwhelmed. In in my hands was a book that I’d written, with my name on the cover. What a fabulous moment and feeling.
I know exactly what you mean, Rosemary. I had that lovely feeling a few weeks ago too, when I held a copy of my contemporary romance A SPELL IN PROVENCE in my hands for the first time.
Thank you so much for answering my questions today. I wish you lots of success with I LISTENED TO MY HEART!About the authorRosemary Gallagher is an author, tarot reader/angel intuitive and lyricist. She was born in Melbourne, Australia and spent most of her life there until moving to Londonin 2000. For most of her professional career she worked as a Receptionist in various high profile companies. She recently left her day job to concentrate on her writing and spiritual endeavours. Rosemary has always held a strong interest in the metaphysical, especially the tarot cards and the angelic realm. After settling into her new life in London she began formal tarot studies at the Psychic College of London and has been reading the tarot professionally ever since. Rosemarydiscovered her creative voice a few years ago after an emotional encounter turned her life upside down. I Listened to My Heart is Rosemary's debut novel and although fictional, is inspired by a real life experience. It is an uplifting and light-hearted story of faith, love and friendship. Rosemary is passionate about life and all things spiritual, with a strong interest in twin soul connections.
You can find Rosemary at
www.facebook.com/pages/I-Listened-To-My-Heart/274725042650703
http://www.rosemarygallagher.com/index.html
https://twitter.com/rosemarysangels
BUY LINKS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1481245309
http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Listened-To-My-Heart/dp/1481245309http://www.rosemarygallagher.com/shopping.html Competition Link
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301733/
Hello Rosemary and welcome. Can you tell us a little about you?
I was born in Melbourne, Australia and aside from my many wonderful travels, I spent most of my life there until moving to London in 2000, so I took advantage of my Irish passport and packed up my happy life down under to see what the other side of the world was offering. That was nearly 15 years ago and I haven't looked back!
My creative development started late in my life - I wrote my first novel at the age of 50. I have my own business; I am a tarot/angel intuitive, and have been reading the tarot since giving up the corporate world to concentrate on my creative and spiritual development. I am also a lyricist and I’m hoping one day to write a #1 hit and maybe even win a Grammy! Oh yes, I'm a dreamer all right, but a girl has got to have dreams. I mean, if you don't....how can they come true!
There is nothing wrong with being a dreamer and having creative ambitions! By the way, I am absolutely fascinated by your occupation as a tarot reader, but what did you want to be when you were a child? When I was a child I wanted to be an actress or a singer. I loved Barbara Streisand and would imagine me being her, up there on stage belting out a number. I never imagined me becoming a writer, just goes to show… never say never.
You are right, Barbara Streisand does have a wonderful voice. I used to love her films, especially A STAR IS BORN and THE WAY WE WERE. We all get our inspiration from different sources. Where do you get your ideas for your stories? The idea for my novel was inspired by a real life event. It started out as a journal and from there it took on a life of its own. Before I knew it I had written my book. It’s amazing what you can do when you listen to your heart.
Very true. Can you tell us a little about the novel?
It follows the life of Rose O’Carroll who is about to turn the big 40 and is still single, so she packs up her life in Melbourne to move to London to see what the other side of the world was offering. Rose, has friends in high places – her angles who she communicates with regularly and they guide her to find the right job, home, and to make wonderful friendships and ensure she has loads of fun along the way. Finally they lead her to Joe DeMarco, the tall, handsome American, who turns her life upside down and changes it forever.
Everything happens for a reason and Rose discovers why she had to meet Joe DeMarco at what seems like the wrong time. She had someone else met first…and it wasn’t only the dishy doctor St Claire.
In three words - What kind of man is Joe DeMarco?
Strong, humble and generous of spirit, and funny! oops that’s four but….:)
That sounds like a great combination. What are you working on at the moment?I have just finished writing the sequel which is called Maktub: It is written. Unlike my first book this is complete fiction and it was fun letting my imagination run wild.
What an intriguing title. Tell me, what is your favourite hero from a film or a novel ever? Rhett Butler, from Gone With The Wind. He was tall, dark and handsome and so charismatic, but more importantly I loved his strength, his wit and humour; he was generous, kind and loved passionately.
Yes, Rhett Butler was indeed a hero who stayed with me a long time after I read the novel. Writing can be a wonderful, but at times an incredibly frustrating occupation, at least it seems that way to me! What was your best ever moment as a writer?When the Fedex guy delivered my book - I was so excited, yet nervous and when I opened the package and held my published book in my hands, I was overwhelmed. In in my hands was a book that I’d written, with my name on the cover. What a fabulous moment and feeling.
I know exactly what you mean, Rosemary. I had that lovely feeling a few weeks ago too, when I held a copy of my contemporary romance A SPELL IN PROVENCE in my hands for the first time.
Thank you so much for answering my questions today. I wish you lots of success with I LISTENED TO MY HEART!About the authorRosemary Gallagher is an author, tarot reader/angel intuitive and lyricist. She was born in Melbourne, Australia and spent most of her life there until moving to Londonin 2000. For most of her professional career she worked as a Receptionist in various high profile companies. She recently left her day job to concentrate on her writing and spiritual endeavours. Rosemary has always held a strong interest in the metaphysical, especially the tarot cards and the angelic realm. After settling into her new life in London she began formal tarot studies at the Psychic College of London and has been reading the tarot professionally ever since. Rosemarydiscovered her creative voice a few years ago after an emotional encounter turned her life upside down. I Listened to My Heart is Rosemary's debut novel and although fictional, is inspired by a real life experience. It is an uplifting and light-hearted story of faith, love and friendship. Rosemary is passionate about life and all things spiritual, with a strong interest in twin soul connections.
You can find Rosemary at
www.facebook.com/pages/I-Listened-To-My-Heart/274725042650703
http://www.rosemarygallagher.com/index.html
https://twitter.com/rosemarysangels
BUY LINKS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1481245309
http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Listened-To-My-Heart/dp/1481245309http://www.rosemarygallagher.com/shopping.html Competition Link
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be0301733/
