Marie Laval's Blog, page 7

A delicious recipe from Sardinia by bestselling author Gemma Juliana

I am very happy to kickstart a series of delicious weekly blog posts today, which I hope will tempt you into trying new recipes for your Sunday lunch! I may have mentioned before that I am very lucky to be part of a group of international romantic authors - the World Romance Writers. Our first anthology of short stories, LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES, will be published in a couple of weeks, at the end of June. I thought it might be a good idea to invite a different author every Friday and ask them for their favourite recipe from the country where their story is set.
 
Today is Gemma Juliana's turn. Gemma's story is called Abandoned Treasures and is set in the beautiful island of Sardinia.
 Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Hello Gemma and thank you very much for coming on the blog today.
Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today, Marie. I’m delighted my story, Abandoned Treasures, is in such wonderful company in our new boxed set, LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES VOLUME I.
What can you tell us about Sardinian cuisine?
The cuisine of Sardinia is very fish-oriented, due to the bounty of the beautiful seas surrounding the island. I chose to share a recipe that is simple, and that has been a staple of the old folks of the island over a long period of time.
You chose a recipe for Tomato-Poached Eggs with Sardinian Music Bread. What a wonderful name!
It is a traditional recipe. The love story of Sophie and Rico takes place at Costa Smeralda, on the northeastern coast of the Mediterranean island. As I researched Sardinia, I fell in love with the culture, the archaeological sites, and the resilience and endurance of a people that historically faced one wave of invasions after the other. While the coastal cities draw tourism the inland area is where the native people maintain their culture and traditions.  
Tomato-Poached Eggs with Sardinian Music Bread
This recipe is a sort of ‘peasant frittata’ and the freshness of the ingredients causes a starburst of intense deliciousness in your mouth. It is a feast for your taste buds!
Ingredients: Serves 4
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1/2 cup sliced green onions2 fresh garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided2 (14.5-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped 4 large eggs4 sheets pane carasau, each broken into 4 wedges2 ounces finely grated aged Pecorino Sardo cheese2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add onions and garlic to pan; cook 3 minutes at medium heat or until fragrant. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and tomatoes with juice; bringing it all to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for 15 minutes, and stir as necessary. Reduce the heat to low. Taking one egg at a time, crack each egg over tomato mixture in the pan, about an inch apart. Sprinkle the eggs with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cover and cook 5-7 minutes or until eggs are at the desired degree of done. Remove pan from heat. Arrange 4 wedges of pane carasau on 4 plates; spoon sauce equally over each serving and top with 1 egg. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons grated cheese and 1/2 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil.
For the recipe to make Pane Carasau (Sardinian Flatbread or Sardinian music bread) visit the fantastic website below. It is a great find for all of us who enjoy Italian cuisine. There you will also find excellent historical facts and lovely photos of Sardinia for those interested in learning out more about this magical island. https://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/02/08/the-cuisine-of-italy-sardinia/
Photo courtesy of PixabayABANDONED TREASURES by Gemma JulianaWhat do a reality TV star and a Sardinian billionaire have in common? Sophie Hayes is jaded from years of buying and selling the contents of abandoned storage units, so after dumping her fiancé she decides the best way to spend what would have been her honeymoon is to accept an invitation to deliver a rare antique desk to Rico di Carlo. The reclusive widower has secrets—when he lures Sophie into his world he has one week to make sure she never wants to leave.

http://worldromancewriters.blogspot.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/denysebridger/world-romance-writers/


Gemma Juliana Author Bio
Born in Canada, raised in the Caribbean and educated in Europe, I’ve lived and traveled the world. Perhaps that’s why I believe international settings and a sprinkling of magic add extra romantic spice to a story. I enjoy playing the role of matchmaker when creating love stories where two hearts end up beating as one.
These days the USA is my home. I share a cozy cottage with my true love, our teen son, and a crafty dog who rules us all. My muse is nourished with the finest fuel for creativity – chocolate and coffee.
Visit my website for special offers, latest news, and to see what I’ve written and what’s coming soon.
www.gemmajuliana.com
http://gemmajuliana.blogspot.com/
amazon.com/author/gemmajuliana
www.twitter.com/gemma_juliana
www.facebook.com/gemma.juliana
https://www.pinterest.com/gemmajuliana/
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe with us, Gemma!

DANCING FOR THE DEVIL AND THE OULED NAIL DANCERS

 SWORD DANCE, Book 3 of the historical romance trilogy DANCING FOR THE DEVIL, was recently released by Áccent Press. Like the first two books in the series – DREAM CATCHER and BLUE BONNETS – it mostly takes place in the far north of Scotland, so you may wonder why I'm writing a post about Algeria's infamous Ouled Nail dancers. Algeria is a long, long way from Scotland!

Well, here is why. THE DREAM CATCHER, the first novel in my DANCING FOR THE DEVIL trilogy, features Rose Saintclair, an unconventional heroine born and brought up in Bou Saada, an oasis in the Sahara desert. This was where many dancers from the Berber tribe Ouled Nail lived and worked.

The Ouled Nail were made famous by painters such as Etienne Dinet, who settled in Bou Saada in the late nineteenth century and who, like so many other visitors to North Africa, was fascinated by them. The Ouled Nails were trained since their girlhood in the art of dancing. They left their villages to earn a living in market towns and usually returned home after ten to fifteen years, when they had saved enough money to settled down and get married.
Unlike most women in Algeria, they were always unveiled and wore heavy make up. Their eyes were lined with kohl, their hair was braided on both sides of the face, and adorned by elaborate headdresses. Their costume featured voluminous and colourful skirts, lots of necklaces, charms and bracelets. These bracelets often had studs and spikes which the girls used to defend themselves against the unwelcome attentions of overexcited spectators.

The Ouled Nail literally wore their wealth on their person, usually in their long necklaces, sawn into their skirts and shawls, or on their headdress. This made them easy preys to unscrupulous thugs and many were attacked and robbed.

The girls usually danced in pairs. Their style has often been described as 'earthy', and it was often the case that after several dances in costume, the dancers would retire behind a screen, only to reappear completely naked, except for headdress and jewellery, to continue their performance.  

An Ouled Nail Dancer by  Etienne DinetTed Shawn, the famous American dancer and choreographer, saw the Ouled Nail in the early 1900's and is quoted to have said that their dancing could not be called suggestive 'because it left nothing to the imagination'.

Rose Saintclair, the heroine in DANCING FOR THE DEVIL, learnt the art of dancing like a Ouled Nail from one of her childhood friends.  However now she is married to Cameron McRae, one of Scotland's richest landowners, she has to forget all about that most unsuitable skill...Or does she? 
And to carry on the theme of dancing, DANCING FOR THE DEVIL was published in three parts, each one with the title of a Highland dance.
THE DREAM CATCHER
Blurb
Can her love heal his haunted heart?
Cape Wrath, Scotland, November 1847.
Bruce McGunn is a man as brutal and unforgiving as his land in the far North of Scotland. Discharged from the army where he was known as the claymore devil, haunted by the spectres of his fallen comrades and convinced he is going mad, he is running out of time to save his estate from the machinations of Cameron McRae, heir to the McGunn's ancestral enemies. When the clipper carrying McRae’s new bride is caught in a violent storm and docks at Wrath harbour, Bruce decides to revert to the old ways and hold the clipper and the woman to ransom. However, far from the spoilt heiress he expected, Rose is genuine, funny and vulnerable - a ray of sunshine in the long, harsh winter that has become his life.
But Rose is determined to escape Wrath and its proud master - the man she calls McGlum.


DREAM CATCHER is the first in the DANCING FOR THE DEVIL trilogy and is followed by BLUE BONNETS and SWORD DANCE.


It is available both as an ebook and paperback from
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Catcher...

BEAUTY AND THE RECLUSE by Ellie Gray

I am delighted to welcome Ellie Gray and ger romantic novel BEAUTY AND THE RECLUSE, which was recently released by Tirgearr Publishing. Don't miss the giveaway at the end of the post!
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 12th February 2016
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Following the recent death of her father, and in need of both a job and somewhere to live, Kiya takes a housekeeping job on the spur of the moment. She soon finds herself living in a beautiful but neglected mansion, working for a strange and reclusive man.
St. Johnis a man scarred by the past, both physically and emotionally, and is determined to live out his life alone. They are two very different people, drawn to each other almost against their will, but can Kiya convince St. John that he is not the monster he believes himself to be?
Kindle UK/Amazon UK
Kindle US/Amazon US
Smashwords
Nook
Apple
Kobo
EXCERPT
Singing softly to herself, Kiya was halfway into the room before she realised that she was not alone. From the corner of her eye, she saw St. John O’Neill spin around in surprise and she gave a startled cry, the vase slipping through her fingers to smash on the floor by her feet. He was a very tall man, easily 6ft. 5ins, broad-shouldered and muscular. His thick black hair, although clean, was long and unkempt, and his beard did not quite hide the vivid scar that ran from high on his right cheek down to his mouth. Incredibly bright blue eyes bore into her and, despite the scar and his rough, dishevelled appearance, Kiya was breathlessly aware that he was an incredibly attractive man. He continued to stare at her, radiating an aura of menace, and Kiya gave an unconscious shiver.
‘Seen enough?’ he asked coldly.
Blushing furiously, aware that she had been staring, Kiya quickly bent to pick up the pieces of shattered vase.
‘Leave it.’ His words were clipped.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise what time it was. I’ll just clear…’ she babbled, nervously.
‘Dammit, I said leave it.’
Her hand jerked at his unexpected ferocity and she gave a yelp of pain as the sharp edge of the broken vase sliced her palm. She stood quickly, lifting her hand to check the severity of the cut, and felt a wave of nausea wash over her at the surprisingly profuse amount of blood pouring from the wound. She heard St. John mutter an explicit curse and looked up to see him striding quickly towards her, his expression furious.
ABOUT ELLIE GRAY Ellie lives in the beautiful East Riding of Yorkshire with her partner, David, and two children, Joe and Abbie.
Ellie is a contemporary romance author, published with the lovely Tirgearr Publishing, and is a proud member of the Romantic Novelist Association.
Her debut novel, Beauty and the Recluse, was published in February 2016 and her second novel, Love on the Nile, is due to be released in the Summer of 2016. In between working full-time in public services and studying for an MSc in Public Management, Ellie is currently working on her third novel.

A few random pieces of information about Ellie:
Favourite TV shows – The Walking Dead, The X-Files, Nashville, Dr. Who, The Great British Bake-off!Favourite Music – I’m an 80’s girl!, country, sixties, Elvis, classical (when I’m writing)Favourite Food – Indian, tapas, crisps, cheeseFavourite Drink – black coffee – copious amounts when I’m writing, Sauvignon blanc when I’m not.
Facebook:         Ellie Gray Author Twitter:              @elliegray58 Goodreads:        Ellie Gray Author on Goodreads Instagram:         Ellie Gray Author on Instagram Google+             Ellie Gray Author on Goole Plus LinkedIn:            Ellie Gray Author on LinkedIn website:             https://elliegrayauthor.wordpress.com
GIVEAWAY £20/$20 Amazon Gift e-Voucher<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." rel="nofollow" data-raflid="4be03017161" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_h4acuaba">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...OR http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be03017161/ ?

Writing historical romance: personal challenges and useful resources

I love writing, and I love writing romance in particular. For some reason I have now written more historical romance than contemporary romance but I didn't plan it that way at all.... In fact I currently have two novels on the go which are contemporary romances and I love them both, but there is something about historical romance that draws me back time after time, and it's not just my inability to come to grips with modern technology  - iphones, ipads, and various gadgets I don't know much about and feel compelled to include in a contemporary novel!
I may love writing historical romance but it can be difficult to make sure the characters, the period and setting, and of course the love story between the protagonists, are plausible. Research is always important whatever period you are setting your story, but it's even more so for historical fiction.
My first challenge is to make sure I get the tone, the language and the thought process of the characters right, and for this I try to take into account the more rigid social order of the times my novel is set. That includes the constraints imposed on women, the importance of religion in everyday life, the relationships between men and women, as well as the broader historical background - such as political struggles and wars, for example.
I set the DANCING FOR THE DEVIL Trilogy in 1847, but the heroine's father fought in Napoleon's cuirassiers at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. There is, of course, a wealth of material about these battles, but this site in particular was very useful: Waterloo. The site also has details of many battles fought by the British army around the world, including the Punjab wars where my hero Bruce McGunn fought. Reading social or political pamphlets or extracts of newspapers of the time helps me find out what was going at the time of my story, and what and who was popular, fashionable, or reviled. By readingfiction of the period I can pick up popular expressions, slang or understand the way people addressed one another at the time. If you fancy taking a look at some Victorian slang, click on Victorian Slang, but be warned, it's not for the faint hearted! For lots of fascinating posts and articles on the Victorian age you must read The Victorianist.


Secondly, I try not to get mixed up with the various items of clothing people wore at the time, and that includes underwear! There are of course lots of material detailing items of clothing for both men and women, but for a quick glance at outfits for writing a particular scene I find Pinterest very useful. This site here has great information about female underwearin different time periods and these have beautiful photos and descriptions: Fashion of the 1850s and Romantic Era Fashion and Hair.
When writing historical fiction, 'you have of course to pay attention to distances too. Travelling by horse or carriage took a lot longer in the early nineteenth century, especially in bad weather and considering that the state of the roads could be appalling. It's the same of course for sea crossings. I know it's not exactly relevant here, but I absolutely love this website and will consult it again for anything regarding types of ships. If, like me, you don't now the first thing about horses, this site Horses, will prove invaluable!
The DANCING FOR THE DEVIL Trilogy mainly takes place in the Scottish Highlands where I have unfortunately never been. Here are just a few sites I found useful, including this one on the Clearances. For general information about the Highlands, these were very useful: Highland dress and weapons, Scottish Folklore and Songs, and the Scots Tongue.
Of course, I just don't rely on the Internet and material I find online. I always look out for great books too, all kinds of non-fiction books about fashion, travel and folklore. These featured on the photo below have been invaluable when I was researching DANCING FOR THE DEVIL. Visiting historic houses is always inspiring too, for ideas about design, furniture, everyday items. I always love looking at family portraits and old sepia photos, and make notes of unusual names.
 Finally I would say that the biggest challenge for me is to avoid overloading the story with lots and lots of historical details. However frustrating it may be to leave out fascinating or quirky facts I came across during my hours of research, I need to remind myself that I am writing a love story, not a social or historical treatise!

I hope you found these links useful, but if you have any favourites of your own, please post in the comments!

Welcome to Bestselling Romance Author Anna Markland

I am delighted to welcome bestselling author of Medieval Romance Anna Markland to the blog today. Anna's latest romance LOYAL HEART will be released on May 3rd but is available to pre-order right now.
Hello Anna and welcome. Can you tell us a little about you? I was born in Lancashire but I’ve lived most of my life in Canada.

Lancashire is where I live now. It's a beautiful part of England but a long way from Canada!Tell me, what did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write?  
I wanted to be a teacher, and I followed that dream for many years. I loved teaching, but eventually felt the urge for a different career.

Teaching is indeed a wonderful job, but it can be very stressful too...Where do you get your ideas for your stories?
History provides a basic storyline for the writer of medieval romance and then I fit my characters into that. As for the things that happen to them in the books, who knows? I have on occasion used aspects of my family’s experiences. For example my granddaughter was badly scalded as an infant. Peridotte, the heroine of Hearts and Crowns suffers a scalding. Adam, the hero of Haunted Knights loses his hearing to an illness. I have a grandson who is deaf.

Can you tell us about LOYAL HEART?
It’s Book One of a new series that’s an offshoot of a previous series, The FitzRam Family Trilogy . Blythe, one of the daughters of that family, an Englishwoman, married a Saxon count called Dieter von Wolfenberg and went to live in Saxony. This series tells the love stories of Blythe and Dieter’s children. Their daughter Sophia is the heroine of Loyal Heart . I don’t seem to be able to leave my families in limbo. The amateur genealogist in me wants to follow them from one generation to the next.

I think you're right. Authors do get attached to their characters and their family. I had the same issue with the Saintclair family in my historical romances...I just couldn't let them go! Can you describe your hero in three words?
Brandt is unhappy, pessimistic, an outsider.

And your heroine?
Sophia is optimistic, spoiled, determined.

What did Brandt think the first time he saw Sophia ?
I think the excerpt gives a fair indication.

It does indeed (the excerpt is at the end of the post)! What did Sophia think of Brandt the first time she saw him?  In her own words:

“She turned impatiently, fully expecting yet another overweight count or baron. Instead, her father was shaking hands with a young man who was far from portly. The giant stood taller than any of her brothers, even Johann, though he was probably about the same age as her half-brother. Glossy hair, as inky black as hers was blonde, framed his face before falling to broad shoulders. He was too stunning to be true, the kind of knight troubadours sang of.”

Brandt looks like a wonderful hero...Tell me, Anna, w hat is the one thing you absolutely need to write?
Quiet.

Like me, then, Anna, although I rarely get any! What are you working on at the moment?
Book Two of the Von Wolfenberg Dynasty Series, Courageous Heart , which will star Sophia’s brother, Lute (short for Luther).

Promotion is part of an author's 'job'. I personally find it quite difficult and time-consuming. How do you promote your work?
For the past few years I’ve hosted other authors on a weekly blog. I’ve since been invited to be part of several anthologies with many of those writers and that has helped introduce my work to their readers too.  I find the hardest thing about promotion is to be consistent, but with FB, Twitter, etc., you have to be consistently putting out the message.

I know this next question is quite tricky, but what is your favourite hero from a film or a novel ever?
From a film I would have to say Yul Brynner in The Magnificent Seven, or any film he starred in, just because I loved Yul Brynner. Can’t say I have a favorite heroine. Jane Eyre perhaps.

It's a long time since I watched a film with Yul Brynner. I'll never forget how great he was in The King and I, one of my favourite films when I was a child...How do you pick the location for a story ?
History usually chooses my settings.
I love choosing names for my characters, especially for my historical romances. How do you choose yours?
I’ve used the names of some of my grandchildren and children, or I’ve researched medieval names of the region.

What comes first when you are thinking of a new story - the plot or the characters?
The characters, although I have to fit them into the historical framework.

What was your best ever moment as a writer?
When I got the first review on my first book, Conquering Passion . A 5 star!!

That must have been a wonderful moment indeed, Anna! One last question...Do you find it difficult to come up with titles for your novels?
Yes.

Thank you very much for answering all my questions today, Anna. Now for the WORD ASSOCIATION FUN TEST! What are the first three words that pop into your mind when you think of....

winter: snow, Christmas, sleds
summer: beaches, gardens, warmth
romance: writing, heroes, love
writing: computer, Amazon, royalties
chocolate: allergic, dark, smooth

Oh no...Don't tell me you are allergic to chocolate!

Here is the blurb for LOYAL HEART
An impossible choice…love or family loyalty. 
Book I of a brand new series from Anna Markland, The Von Wolfenberg Dynasty. 
Sophia falls in love with a guest at her brother’s wedding, but he is an envoy sent by her father’s enemies. Brandt intends to return home as soon as his unwelcome obligation to attend the wedding is fulfilled. It quickly becomes apparent he’ll be lucky to leave the celebrations alive. 
You can buy LOYAL HEART at
http://amzn.com/B01DO5JDVE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DO5JDVE
Excerpt:
Brandt became frustrated when several pavilions obscured his view of the young woman’s progress, then gasped when he caught sight of her again. She’d removed her head-covering. Masses of blonde hair cascaded down her back almost to her bottom. A golden cloak.
In a moment of lunacy he was tempted to rush across the meadow and compliment her riding skills so he could get closer to the incredible tresses, mayhap sift his fingers…But he closed his mouth and jolted back to reality quickly. He was an outsider. An enemy. Better not to attract attention.

Author Bio
Passion conquers whatever obstacles a hostile medieval world can throw in its path. My page-turning adventures have earned me a place on Amazon’s All-Star list. Besides writing, I have two addictions-crosswords and genealogy, probably the reason I love research. I am a fool for cats. My husband is an entrepreneur who is fond of boasting he’s never had a job.I live on Canada’s scenic west coast now, but I was born and raised in the UK and I love breathing life into the history of my homeland.
Escape with me to where romance began.
You can find me at my website and my Facebook page, Anna Markland Novels.Tweet me @annamarkland, join me on Pinterest, or sign up for my newsletter.
Thank you very much for being my guest today, Anna. I really enjoyed finding more about you and your new book and I wish you lots of success with LOYAL HEART.

Welcome to Tom Williams and BACK HOME

I am delighted to welcome fellow Áccent Press author Tom Williams on the blog today. Tom's latest historical  novel 'BACK HOME' was released on April 14th. Welcome, Tom, and thank you for being a guest today. What inspired you to write your John Williamson stories? Historical novels come in all shapes and sizes. Many are pure escapism – whether they are tales of love and romance, or of battle and adventure. Many, though, use the past to comment on the present. Sometimes it is easier to talk about the 21st century by writing about events that seem safely in the dead past. Even in my straightforwardly escapist adventure story about the British expedition to Argentina in 1806, the whole question of when a liberation becomes an invasion does rear its ugly head. I was in Argentinaresearching this soon after the Iraqinvasion and some of the documents the British produced, which promised the locals freedom from Spanish tyranny, look remarkably similar to the promises we were making to the Iraqis at the time. You can enjoy Burke in the Land of Silver without knowing or caring that the whole ‘invasion or liberation’ argument had happened almost two hundred years earlier, but if you picked up the reference it might have given you food for thought.
The John Williamson stories, set against a background of Victorian colonialism, were always going to be more political. As ‘colonialism’ has become a bad word, the question of what Britain was doing ruling so much of the world and whether this had any positive aspects has become a very sensitive one. My answer is that the history of colonial rule is more complicated and morally ambiguous than we often see it these days, although colonialism, in the end, seems to damage both the colonialists and the people they colonise. I’ve tried to reflect this in Williamson’s first two adventures, The White Rajah and Cawnpore, where his efforts to improve life for the natives in the Far East both end in bloodshed.
In Back Home the political issues are central to the story. After a lifetime in the Far East, Williamson returns to Londonto find a city where the gap between the ruling classes and the poor reflects the gap between colonisers and colonised in Borneo and India. The London of 1859 faced many of the same challenges as we see today: mass immigration, political unrest, the threat of political violence, and rapid expansion of the city which stretched its infrastructure to breaking point – all this against foreign policy concerns and the fears of Britain being drawn into a new war in Europe.
Would our rulers today respond to political unrest with surveillance by government agents, blackmail, police brutality, unlawful detention and even murder? I couldn’t possibly say. But John Williamson discovers that the authorities in 1859 can be very ruthless indeed.
Enjoy Back Home as a tale of crime and adventure with a Dickensian backdrop or as a comment on Londontoday. It's entirely your choice. I hope it’s a good read either way but I hope, too, that there is stuff in there to make you think about 2016 as well as 1859.   Author bio Tom used to write books for business. Now he writes about love, death, and adventure in the 19th century, which is much more fun. It also allows him to pretend that travelling in the Far East and South Americais research. Tom lives in London. His main interest is avoiding doing any honest work and this leaves him with time to ski, skate and dance tango, all of which he does quite well.
You can find Tom at
http://thewhiterajah.blogspot.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTomWilliams/
Twitter @TomCW99
Excerpt:
John Williamson has arranged to meet someone in a public house in Seven Dials, a slum near Covent Garden.
  The triangular shape of the building, occasioned by the peculiar arrangement of the streets, meant that the interior was well lit, despite the grime that covered the windows. Twenty or thirty people sat about the place or lay slumped over the tables, apparently sleeping. A couple of fellows were standing at the bar. They were being served not beer, but a clear liquid which, from the prevailing smell of the place, I recognised as gin.
As I watched, the men at the bar upended their glasses, downing the contents at a gulp, before making their way uncertainly to a space at one of the tables, where, regardless of the mess of crumbs and pooled liquor that stained it, they settled their heads upon the wood and promptly fell into a stuporous sleep.
Watching the scene, I paused, uncertain of whether or not to remain. The landlord, though, called across while I hesitated.
‘What’s your pleasure, sir?’
He spoke with a distinctly Irish lilt to his voice and I stepped hesitantly forward. ‘A pint of beer?’
‘We’ll serve you beer willingly, sir.’ He made his way to the beer pumps that lay at the farther end of the bar. ‘We serve Wood Yard’s here, sir, a fine beer and local. Do you know the brewery, sir?’
I confessed that I did not and he insisted on explaining exactly where it was. It stood, indeed, nearby and if the pervasive stench of the place was not so strong I would probably have smelt the distinctive aroma of beer being manufactured, but the brewery lay a little to the South and out of my way. ‘It’s a fine beer, sir, you must admit it,’ he said, passing over a glass of some cloudy liquid which, once I sipped at it, I had to admit tasted a great deal better than it looked.
‘You’ll be wanting to sit with that,’ he said.
I glanced around, but the two men who had been at the bar when I arrived seemed to have taken the last convenient seats. This did not worry the landlord, though, for he stepped from behind the bar and walked to one of the nearer tables where he proceeded to shake awake the man who was slumped there. ‘It’s time you were awake, Higgins. Will you have another glass?’
Higgins shook his head, gazing blearily around. He reached toward his trouser pocket and then, as if recollecting himself, shrugged. ‘No money,’ he mumbled.
‘Then you’d best be on your way,’ the landlord said, not unkindly and, taking Higgins firmly by the arm, he escorted him to the door.
I took the place he had vacated and concentrated on my beer, trying to ignore the stentorian snoring of the men on either side of me. I sipped slowly, anxious that I should not have finished before Harry had the chance to join me.
I need not have worried. Barely ten minutes after I had started my pint, Harry Price appeared that the door.
I beckoned him over, calling for the barman to provide another drink.
The barman poured Harry’s beer and brought it to our table, nudging one of my neighbours awake and evicting him, as he had the unfortunate Higgins.

SWORD DANCE is out!

I am delighted to announce that SWORD DANCE, Book 3 in my Scottish historical romance DANCING FOR THE DEVIL has been released by Accent Press. The cover really shows my heroine's lovely, sunny personality, don't you think? 

 So, what happened in Books 1 and  2, THE DREAM CATCHER and BLUE BONNETS and what can we expect in SWORD DANCE?
The story so far...Cape Wrath, Scotland, November 1847.

When her ship is caught in a terrifying storm off the far north of Scotland and she catches her first glimpse of Wrath Lodge, Rose believes she has reached the gateway to hell. Her encounter with Wrath's laird Bruce McGunn does nothing to reassure her. A reckless officer discharged from the army, McGunn holds a bitter grudge against her husband's family, the wealthy McRaes, and Rose is soon horrified to find out that he means to hold her to ransom in order to save his estate from financial ruin.
 Bruce's health is failing, and he fears he is descending into madness with terrifying hallucinations tormenting him every night. Soon something else is keeping him awake - a growing attraction for his captive, and the gruesome discovery of two women's bodies near the castle. One of them, Malika, is a childhood friend of Rose's she last saw in Algiersthe day before her marriage to McRae. How the women died, who killed them and disposed of their bodies is a mystery Bruce now has to solve.  
Rose manages to escape Wrath, taking with her a posy of pine sprigs she believes was given to her by the Dark Lady, Wrath's resident ghost, and her confused feelings for Wrath's tormented master - the man she calls McGlum.
Here is an excerpt. I hope you enjoy it.
‘What are you doing? Please stop,’ she breathed, as his lips trailed along the curve of her throat.            If only he could... He looked up and the seductive power of her sultry, heavily made-up eyes gleaming in the moonlight hit him like a bolt of lightning. Every fibre of his body reacted to the feel of her soft body against his, the warm fragrance of her skin. She was right, though. What the hell was he doing? Once again he reminded himself that he had no right to feel that way, no right to want her, but damn it, the woman would tempt a saint. And he was no saint.
          He swallowed a deep, hard breath, released her and made himself step back. ‘All right. We’ll stay here a while and wait until McRae and his remaining guests have gone to bed. Where’s your horse?’
          ‘I left it tied to a post behind the hunting lodge.’
          ‘What about your bag?’
          ‘It’s still strapped to the saddle. By the time I spoke to the girls and the musicians, we had to get ready to come here.’
          ‘How did you manage to get into the hunting lodge without being seen by McRae’s men?’
          ‘It wasn’t easy. I got stuck as I sneaked in through one of the downstairs windows and ripped my - ’
          ‘You got stuck?’ He would have laughed if he weren’t so angry.
          ‘The musicians had to pull me in. We had to be quick and very quiet, because Cameron’s men were in the kitchen.’
          Damn the woman. Didn’t she care about the danger she put herself in?    ‘So, after clambering through a window, you had the brilliant idea to disguise yourself as a dancer and throw yourself into the lion’s den.’
          She flinched at the harshness of his tone. ‘I thought I could avoid bumping into Cameron.’
          ‘You bump into everything and anything you come across, why not McRae?’ he interrupted, taut with temper. ‘He could have recognised you when you were with the others in the music room.’
          ‘Then I would have confronted him and exposed him for the liar and the debauched rake he is in front of all his guests!’ The baubles on her necklace tinkled like little bells as she shook her head.
          ‘Weren’t you afraid of all those men ogling you, lusting after you?’ Me included, he remembered, guilt tightening his chest.
          ‘Well, I... I didn’t think I would have to dance. My plan was to get into the castle and hide until I could speak to Lady Sophia. Unfortunately, Cameron’s manservant was watching us like a hawk and I had no choice but to go into the music room with the others. The girls promised to create a diversion so that I could sneak out unnoticed.’
          ‘A diversion? That’s a mild way of putting it,’ he sneered. ‘The girls’ dancing was... ahem... striking, to say the least. Ask that poor old man who collapsed.’ He drew in a deep breath. ‘Anyway, where did you learn to dance like that?’
          She lowered her eyes, snapped a leaf from a nearby bush and tore it into tiny pieces that spiralled to the ground. ‘Malika taught me, in secret. She always said I was good enough to be one of them.’
          She was right, her dancing had been entrancing, mesmerising, but he wasn’t going to tell her. ‘I still can’t believe you took such risks tonight, just to talk to McRae’s fiancée. It was stupid and foolhardy.’ And damned brave, too, even though he would never admit it. Gripped by conflicting urges, he towered above her, his fists clenched and his jaw set. 

SWORD DANCE is available from Accent Press and from Amazon








  

DOLLAR SIGNS by Manning Wolfe

I am delighted to welcome Manning Woolfe on the blog today. Her latest novel, DOLLAR SIGNS, is a legal thriller which was released last February by Starpah Books, LLC. There is the chance to win a copy of the book at the end of the post!

BlurbMERIT BRIDGES, an attorney and widowed mother in Austin, Texas, works hard, drinks too much wine, and sleeps with younger men. When Merit goes after a shady corporation threatening her client, she encounters hired gun Boots King. His charge is simple, “Stop her!” Merit and her team – including Betty, a mothering office manager with a bad-ass attitude – struggle to stay alive, while they navigate a labyrinth of legal issues, and prove once again that you don’t mess with a Texas lady lawyer.

BUY LINKS
Amazon
IndieBound
Barnes & Noble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MANNING WOLFE an author and attorney residing in Austin, Texas, writes cinematic-style, smart, fast-paced thrillers with a salting of Texasbullshit. The first in her series, featuring Austin Lawyer Merit Bridges, is Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King.

A graduate of Rice Universityand the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some shady characters’ lives and a front row seat to watch the good people who stand against them.Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/manning.wolfe/?ref=hl www.manningwolfe.com Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ManningWolfe Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14468516.Manning_Wolfe Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/manningwolfe/ Google+  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ManningWolfe LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/manning-wolfe-60a724?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

PRAISE FOR DOLLAR SIGNS!A legal thriller not to be missed…Manning Wolfe just putherself on my list of must-read authors. — Mark Pryor, HugoMarston Novels
Move over, John Grisham. There’s a lady lawyer in town.— Elizabeth Garcia, Deputy Ricos Tales
This novel is smart, funny, moving, and entertaining as hell.— Jesse Sublett, 1960’s Austin Gangsters
A great read, and Texas crime fiction has a new star.— Bill Crider, Dan Rhodes Mysteries
Pages smoke like burnt fried chicken grease on a Saturdaynight…This one, my friends, is a non-putter-downer!— George Wier, Bill Travis Mysteries.
A high-speed storyline full of twists and turns upon a starkbackground of reality as lawyers might really experienceit. Manning Wolfe is one of the up and coming legal thrillerwriters of this generation. Read her and enjoy her, but don’texpect much sleep! — John Ellsworth, author, ThaddeusMurfee Legal ThrillersGIVEAWAYEcopy of the book http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be03017152/ ? 
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Welcome to Eleanor Smythe and REFLECTIONS!

Today I am delighted to welcome Eleanor Smythe to talk about her latest release, REFLECTIONS, a contemporary fiction Whodunit which was released last December.
  Hello Eleanor and thank you for coming on the blog today. Can you tell us a little about you? 
I’m not really sure what you would want to know about me. I’m a very open person. I don’t mind answering questions. I don’t like toothpaste tubes being squeezed from the middle. I can’t work if my environment is untidy. I have to keep things in order and I’m not a hoarder, which means I clear out cupboards quite regularly. You can always ask me questions by visiting me on:


authoreleanorsmythe@gmail.com
www.@facebook.com/authoreleanorsmythe
www.eleanorsmythe.blogspot.com
Http://Twitter@authoreleanor1  
  Oh dear... I think you might have a nervous breakdown if you ever came to my house! What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write?  
I can’t remember ever thinking I wanted to be anything in particular, I certainly never said I want to be an author. However the thought must have been there because I was 10 or 11 years old when I told my Mother, ‘One day I’m going to write a book. My friends would say I want to be a nurse, a dancer or a teacher. I would say, ‘I don’t want to be anything in particular, I just want to write a book. I didn’t think I could be a published author, in those days it was only something one would dream of… I believe my mother actually laughed… Okay dear dream on. She didn’t say it quite like that, but I imagine you get my point.  Thanks to the internet all things have been made possible. You could say I’ve fulfilled a childhood dream. 
It is indeed wonderful that you fulfilled your dream. Tell me, where do you get your ideas for your stories? 
It’s a bit like growing an oak tree from an acorn. I have a character in mind, they just seem to appear from nowhere. I nurture them imagining them in various situations and work out how they might cope or develop. I build them a community of family, friends and enemies if necessary. The story tends to unfold as I dig into their lives.  It probably helps that I listen to people and their stories, a mind full of what if this and what if that. My previous profession as an Occupational Therapist gave me the experience and skill to listen, assess and ask questions. I do this with my characters. I know it sounds a little crazy, but I open my mind and listen to them as if they were real. 
It doesn't sound crazy at all! All my characters live with me for  months and I get terribly in love or very annoyed with them! Can you tell us about REFLECTIONS?
I loved writing Reflections. It digs deep into Sally’s past, talks about the parents she never really knew or understood. It’s  her parents love story, a look into their past as much as hers… she learns about her family roots. Discovers that she can have a future without her ex-husband Brian, and a marriage she didn’t think she’d ever recover from. Her strength of character shines when she begins to plan and live for the future.
In three words - What kind of man is your hero? 
Intelligent, reserved, lonely
What about Sally, your heroine? 
Determined, emotional, strong
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on a book titled Pink Hair and Murder. Set in current times, somewhere in Essex, although I’m not intending to be specific about the area. It features a group an elderly people in their 80’s. I’m not wanting to give to much away as I’m yet to write the blurb on this. However I can tell you: The coroner’s report clearly stated natural causes. Stan’s wife is convinced he was murdered following information that confused her. The will is read and reveals that half the house should be split between the wife of 55 years and the mistress of 40 years…huge shock for Irene who is determined not to sell and seeks out revenge. A sad story in parts, but full of humour and one liners. The story tells of betrayal, loyalty between friends and of course the murder. An interesting twist at the end. 
I love the title! How do you promote your work? What do you find the hardest?
I tend to use social media. Face book, twitter, good-reads and Brook Cottage Books for my tours. I’m not good at marketing or promoting myself. I have found that side of things quite daunting. Until my first book was ready to be publish, March 2015, I’d never been involved with social media sites. It’s still quite new to me really. I’m chugging on and I’m always ready to listen and take advice or suggestions.  
Choosing the name of my characters is something I love doing. How do you choose the name of your characters?
This isn’t always easy. I’m conscious not to use the name of anyone I know. If my character begins to remind me of anyone… this has happened, I make changes to their personality within the plot and I’m even more particular about the name. Often a name just falls into place but it is something I’m very aware of. 
What was your best ever moment as a writer?
This is an easy question for me to answer. The moment I received an acceptance from Amazon to say my first book was live…that was the best feeling I had as a writer. My goal to write a book had been achieved.
One last question...Do you find it difficult to come up with titles for your novels? 
Once the story line takes shape it seems to fall into place. So far I haven’t found it to be a problem.
WORD ASSOCIATION FUN TEST!
1. day … light, time, dream
2. night… mare, sky, vision
3. winter… cold, damp, fire
4. summer… sun, sea, swim
5. romance… love, cuddles, roses
6. writing… books, silence, relaxing
7. music… dance, soothing, memories
8. hair… long, short, curly
9. love… husband, family, nature
10. ring… bell, tone, wedding. 
Thank you Marie for inviting me and for taking part in my tour. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and look forward to visiting your blog.
You are very welcome, Eleanor. Good luck with REFLECTIONS!

  Author Bio
Eleanor Smythe was born in the East end of London but struggles to call it home as she moved away in her teens, and continued to live in various parts of the UK. After raising four sons, she went on to obtain a degree in Occupational Therapy. Although she took the opportunity to work in various medical settings, her greatest passion was working with clients within the community, where she claims real life takes place. 
Now retired and living primarily in Portugal Eleanor has more time to pursue her love of writing. Always intrigued by the way in which individuals cope with life's challenges and how they overcome the twists and turns of life, her stories embrace inner emotional turmoil that her characters might feel. They are brought to life by showing humour, tragedy, conflict, betrayal and emotions that many of us face daily. 
Her debut book, The Other Side of Town continues to receive positive reviews while her second book, Reflections, was recently released. 
Eleanor and her husband’s love of travel, which has led to the recent acquisition of ‘Dolly the Camper Van’. Dolly will enable them to pursue their individual hobbies of fishing and writing in new and exciting environments. Eleanor will be blogging about their adventures as well as inviting others to share their own.
Blurb
Sally must deal with the grief of losing her father, a man she knew very little about. After his funeral she takes time out to be alone and reflect on her life. 
To find out the truth about him, she first has to make amends with her estranged mother and half sisters, who she hasn’t spoken to for almost twenty years. 
In the meantime, Mr Leriche from Interpol opens a fascinating old case file, about a stolen painting potentially worth millions. Before long Sally finds herself in the middle of a criminal investigation. Having discovered she is the sole beneficiary to her father’s estate, she must decide whether to develop the business or walk away. 
Reflections is an emotional journey of love and loss and the revealing of family secrets…Life is never quite what it seems until we dig deep.
Excerpt
Sally had never imagined she would be sitting in the back of a black limousine with blacked out windows on her way to her father’s funeral. In fact, she had never expected to attend the funeral of either of her parents. Having been estranged from her mother for almost twenty years, and never knowing her father, the possibility seemed highly unlikely. 
Mixed feelings—of gratitude and a deep sadness for the years that had been lost—washed over her as she searched her handbag for more tissues. She had spent so many years believing her mother had abandoned her, when in fact the truth proved to be very different. It left her with feelings of guilt. Her own stubbornness had prevented her from removing the barriers she’d created between herself and her mother. Her interpretation of events, seen through the eyes of a child, had been allowed to expand in her mind, festering into resentment. 
The tears rolled down her face as she reflected on her childhood, her marriage and her family. The past four years had also taught her about perception, how misleading things had been, because she hadn’t been open to others and their opinions and views. Sally had previously believed her world to be unshakable, as long as she blocked out her past, but that had proven not to be the case. 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflections-Eleanor-Smythe-ebook/dp/B018STVSEG/

Welcome to Eleonor Smythe and REFLECTIONS!

Today I am delighted to welcome Eleonor Smythe to talk about her latest release, REFLECTIONS, a contemporary fiction Whodunit which was released last December.
  Hello Eleonor and thank you for coming on the blog today. Can you tell us a little about you? 
I’m not really sure what you would want to know about me. I’m a very open person. I don’t mind answering questions. I don’t like toothpaste tubes being squeezed from the middle. I can’t work if my environment is untidy. I have to keep things in order and I’m not a hoarder, which means I clear out cupboards quite regularly. You can always ask me questions by visiting me on:


authoreleanorsmythe@gmail.com
www.@facebook.com/authoreleanorsmythe
www.eleanorsmythe.blogspot.com
Http://Twitter@authoreleanor1  
  Oh dear... I think you might have a nervous breakdown if you ever came to my house! What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write?  
I can’t remember ever thinking I wanted to be anything in particular, I certainly never said I want to be an author. However the thought must have been there because I was 10 or 11 years old when I told my Mother, ‘One day I’m going to write a book. My friends would say I want to be a nurse, a dancer or a teacher. I would say, ‘I don’t want to be anything in particular, I just want to write a book. I didn’t think I could be a published author, in those days it was only something one would dream of… I believe my mother actually laughed… Okay dear dream on. She didn’t say it quite like that, but I imagine you get my point.  Thanks to the internet all things have been made possible. You could say I’ve fulfilled a childhood dream. 
It is indeed wonderful that you fulfilled your dream. Tell me, where do you get your ideas for your stories? 
It’s a bit like growing an oak tree from an acorn. I have a character in mind, they just seem to appear from nowhere. I nurture them imagining them in various situations and work out how they might cope or develop. I build them a community of family, friends and enemies if necessary. The story tends to unfold as I dig into their lives.  It probably helps that I listen to people and their stories, a mind full of what if this and what if that. My previous profession as an Occupational Therapist gave me the experience and skill to listen, assess and ask questions. I do this with my characters. I know it sounds a little crazy, but I open my mind and listen to them as if they were real. 
It doesn't sound crazy at all! All my characters live with me for  months and I get terribly in love or very annoyed with them! Can you tell us about REFLECTIONS?
I loved writing Reflections. It digs deep into Sally’s past, talks about the parents she never really knew or understood. It’s  her parents love story, a look into their past as much as hers… she learns about her family roots. Discovers that she can have a future without her ex-husband Brian, and a marriage she didn’t think she’d ever recover from. Her strength of character shines when she begins to plan and live for the future.
In three words - What kind of man is your hero? 
Intelligent, reserved, lonely
What about Sally, your heroine? 
Determined, emotional, strong
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on a book titled Pink Hair and Murder. Set in current times, somewhere in Essex, although I’m not intending to be specific about the area. It features a group an elderly people in their 80’s. I’m not wanting to give to much away as I’m yet to write the blurb on this. However I can tell you: The coroner’s report clearly stated natural causes. Stan’s wife is convinced he was murdered following information that confused her. The will is read and reveals that half the house should be split between the wife of 55 years and the mistress of 40 years…huge shock for Irene who is determined not to sell and seeks out revenge. A sad story in parts, but full of humour and one liners. The story tells of betrayal, loyalty between friends and of course the murder. An interesting twist at the end. 
I love the title! How do you promote your work? What do you find the hardest?
I tend to use social media. Face book, twitter, good-reads and Brook Cottage Books for my tours. I’m not good at marketing or promoting myself. I have found that side of things quite daunting. Until my first book was ready to be publish, March 2015, I’d never been involved with social media sites. It’s still quite new to me really. I’m chugging on and I’m always ready to listen and take advice or suggestions.  
Choosing the name of my characters is something I love doing. How do you choose the name of your characters?
This isn’t always easy. I’m conscious not to use the name of anyone I know. If my character begins to remind me of anyone… this has happened, I make changes to their personality within the plot and I’m even more particular about the name. Often a name just falls into place but it is something I’m very aware of. 
What was your best ever moment as a writer?
This is an easy question for me to answer. The moment I received an acceptance from Amazon to say my first book was live…that was the best feeling I had as a writer. My goal to write a book had been achieved.
One last question...Do you find it difficult to come up with titles for your novels? 
Once the story line takes shape it seems to fall into place. So far I haven’t found it to be a problem.
WORD ASSOCIATION FUN TEST!
1. day … light, time, dream
2. night… mare, sky, vision
3. winter… cold, damp, fire
4. summer… sun, sea, swim
5. romance… love, cuddles, roses
6. writing… books, silence, relaxing
7. music… dance, soothing, memories
8. hair… long, short, curly
9. love… husband, family, nature
10. ring… bell, tone, wedding. 
Thank you Marie for inviting me and for taking part in my tour. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and look forward to visiting your blog.
You are very welcome, Eleonor. Good luck with REFLECTIONS!

  Author Bio
Eleanor Smythe was born in the East end of London but struggles to call it home as she moved away in her teens, and continued to live in various parts of the UK. After raising four sons, she went on to obtain a degree in Occupational Therapy. Although she took the opportunity to work in various medical settings, her greatest passion was working with clients within the community, where she claims real life takes place. 
Now retired and living primarily in Portugal Eleanor has more time to pursue her love of writing. Always intrigued by the way in which individuals cope with life's challenges and how they overcome the twists and turns of life, her stories embrace inner emotional turmoil that her characters might feel. They are brought to life by showing humour, tragedy, conflict, betrayal and emotions that many of us face daily. 
Her debut book, The Other Side of Town continues to receive positive reviews while her second book, Reflections, was recently released. 
Eleanor and her husband’s love of travel, which has led to the recent acquisition of ‘Dolly the Camper Van’. Dolly will enable them to pursue their individual hobbies of fishing and writing in new and exciting environments. Eleanor will be blogging about their adventures as well as inviting others to share their own.
Blurb
Sally must deal with the grief of losing her father, a man she knew very little about. After his funeral she takes time out to be alone and reflect on her life. 
To find out the truth about him, she first has to make amends with her estranged mother and half sisters, who she hasn’t spoken to for almost twenty years. 
In the meantime, Mr Leriche from Interpol opens a fascinating old case file, about a stolen painting potentially worth millions. Before long Sally finds herself in the middle of a criminal investigation. Having discovered she is the sole beneficiary to her father’s estate, she must decide whether to develop the business or walk away. 
Reflections is an emotional journey of love and loss and the revealing of family secrets…Life is never quite what it seems until we dig deep.
Excerpt
Sally had never imagined she would be sitting in the back of a black limousine with blacked out windows on her way to her father’s funeral. In fact, she had never expected to attend the funeral of either of her parents. Having been estranged from her mother for almost twenty years, and never knowing her father, the possibility seemed highly unlikely. 
Mixed feelings—of gratitude and a deep sadness for the years that had been lost—washed over her as she searched her handbag for more tissues. She had spent so many years believing her mother had abandoned her, when in fact the truth proved to be very different. It left her with feelings of guilt. Her own stubbornness had prevented her from removing the barriers she’d created between herself and her mother. Her interpretation of events, seen through the eyes of a child, had been allowed to expand in her mind, festering into resentment. 
The tears rolled down her face as she reflected on her childhood, her marriage and her family. The past four years had also taught her about perception, how misleading things had been, because she hadn’t been open to others and their opinions and views. Sally had previously believed her world to be unshakable, as long as she blocked out her past, but that had proven not to be the case. 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflections-Eleanor-Smythe-ebook/dp/B018STVSEG/