Sarah Belle's Blog, page 3
August 6, 2014
Escape into Magic Realism Blog Tour…
After over a year of answering the question: ‘in what genre do you write?’ I now have a definitive answer.
Up until now I have only been able to answer that question in a very round about, confusing way, that leaves the asker sorry that she inquired whilst simultaneously reaching for a paracetamol and large glass of wine.
For example:
‘Well, it’s when extraordinary things happen to ordinary people, like a mum time travels 50 years into the past, or a woman buys a spell off the internet and ruins her life, or a mum is plagued by a matchmaking imaginary friend. It’s not quite fantasy, because it happens in our world, and it’s not really paranormal because there are no vampires or were-imaginary friends. It’s not contemporary either because it has magical elements, it’s a bit chick lit and romantic comedy…’
‘That makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. What the hell do you write, Sarah?’
‘Hmmmm, well…..’
Yeah. This kind of answer is worthy of chewing bubble gum, twirling my blond hair and tilting my head on the side like an inquisitive golden retriever. Throw fifteen or so ‘likes’ in that answer and I would be legally obliged to change my name to Paris.
But now, thanks to Escape Publishing, I – and others like me, namely Juliet Madison, Jacquie Underdown, Jennifer Brassel, Katherine Givens and Robyn Neely- finally have a bookshelf to plant our virtual bottoms on and call home.
Magic Realism Romance.
Yeah, baby!
So, let’s take that disjointed and migraine inducing conversation from the top:
‘So, Sarah, in what genre do you write?’
‘Not quite paranormal, not quite fantasy, this genre believes that magic is a part of the every day, and that there’s more to our lives than can be explained. If you’re looking for a little mystical, a little miraculous, a little more, this is the romance for you.’
‘That sounds amazeballs! How clever of Escape Publishing to give you guys a subgenre. Where can I learn more?’
My new Magicl Realism Romance novel, Miss Spelled will be released on September 1, 2014 via Escape Publishing.
Magic Realism mixes with romantic comedy in this new novel from Sarah Belle about the dangers of internet shopping – and using magic to solve real world problems.
Lou’s life is perfect. She loves her job, her renovated house, and most of all, her gorgeous fiancé, Aidan. But when her old flame and Aidan’s school yard nemesis turn out to be the same person, Hunter Wincott, Lou’s life is blown apart. She must divulge her secret past, or have Hunter give it away. Either way, she runs the real risk of losing Aidan.
In desperation, she turns to Google. A quick search turns up Majique, the Internet Witch, and a spell that will delete herself from Hunter’s memory. But something goes wrong in the casting process, and Lou deletes much much more than just a memory. She deletes herself from her life completely.
Luckily, there’s a one-week window for Lou to get back to the life she loved. One week to win back Aidan, before he walks down the aisle with the wrong woman, and damns everyone to a lifetime of misery. It would be easy, if only Aidan had any idea who Lou actually is.
and my debut Magical Realism Romance novel, Hindsight is currently available at all good etailers!
Humour, wit, and just a touch of humility: the swinging 60s as you’ve never seen them before!
The universe has sent Juliette a sign. She wishes it had been an email instead…
Juliette’s career is on fire, her marriage and family are in melt-down, and a red-hot goddess wants her husband. But those are the least of her worries when she wakes up on her lounge room floor in the year 1961.
Without any of her modern conveniences — nanny, housekeeper, surgically attached mobile phone, designer wardrobe, and intravenous lattes — Juliette is just over fifty years out of her comfort zone. But as she takes on the role of a 1961 housewife, with gritted liberated teeth, she discovers an unexpected truth: slower doesn’t mean boring, at home doesn’t mean dull, and priorities don’t mean sacrifices.
As she finds unexpected friendships, a resuscitated love life, tragedy and triumph, Juliette begins to wonder if she really wants to return home after all.
August 1, 2014
Release Day for ‘Luna Tango’ by Alli Sinclair…
Hello Alli and congratulations on the release of your debut novel, ‘Luna Tango’.
What was the first story you ever wrote?
The one I remember clearly is a story I wrote one day after my family had dragged me to an AFL match. I was bored out of my brain so started writing about a humorous story about a character who was bored out of her brain because her annoying brother wouldn’t stop picking on her and her parents didn’t understand why she hated watching sport. Well, they say write what you know and I guess I was doing exactly that! The finished story had my family in fits of laughter but they still dragged me to another football match the following week. Le sigh …
Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?
I’m a little (okay, a lot) in love with Carlos Escudero the dance teacher in Luna Tango. Beneath his broody exterior is a man hoping for another chance at love even though his ex smashed has smashed his heart into a thousand pieces. He’s also conflicted – he despises tango because it ruined his life but he has to teach it because it’s all he knows and is his only income. Plus he’s super sexy. ;-)
Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?
It’s given me more confidence in my writing but I still second guess myself and some days I look at the screen and think I’m only capable for writing s*&^t, but I now recognise it’s part of my writing process. The other thing about being published means I am a lot busier!
What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?
At the moment it’s The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. I’m very keen to get stuck into it as the book has been talked about widely. I also have a Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn that has been highly recommended by writer friends. And I’m always revisiting The Seamstress by Maria Dueñas – it’s my go-to book when I’m in the mood to reread a story and revisit characters and settings I love.
What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?
Ha! That’s a great question! It would most definitely have to be cuy—deep fried guinea pig. Yeah. You read that right, I’m afraid. I lived in Peru for a while and cuy is often served during festivals. After some Dutch courage (ie lots of local beer) I gave it a go and tore off the tiniest piece. One nibble was enough to say ‘No gracias’ and swear never to try local delicacies after large quantities of alcohol. I’m a big fan of Hamish and Andy’s Cultural Eating segment on their Gap Year shows and I am very glad to say I haven’t gone as far as they have!
If you could be any of the following characters for one day, who would you be and why? How would you re-write the ending?
a) Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind.
b) Thelma or Louise from Thelma and Louise.
c) Princess Leia from Starwars.
d) Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffanys.
Oh most definitely Scarlett O’Hara! The dynamic between her and Rhett mesmerises me and even though she comes across as spoilt and bossy, deep down she has a good heart. Although after a day in corsets I might have wished I’d chosen Princess Leia – she definitely looks more comfortable!
Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. At the time it was published, A Suitable Boy was the longest published novel in history. The story has multiple family sagas that are drawn across a long timeframe and the characters are complex, engaging, and very human. Vikram Seth is amongst a large group of writers I adore from India as they have such a magical way of storytelling and the settings are just beautiful. I’ve always loved India and was lucky enough to travel there many years ago so when a writer describes a scent or scenery, it often takes me back to my own travels (minus the family saga!).
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
To write faster! I have so many ideas brewing but it’s hard to find the time needed to get them all down.
If you could go back in time, where would you go and when? What is one thing you would want to take with you?
1920s Paris without a doubt and I’d take a video camera to record all the wonderful adventures I’d experience and the very cool bohemian types that I’d befriend.
Can you tell us about your works in progress?
I’ve just finished the first draft of book two in The Dance Card Series. This one is called Flamenco Fire and is set in Spain. It’s been fun researching flamenco music, dance and lyrics and it is way, way, way more complicated than I ever expected. Luckily I have a flamenco expert on hand to throw curly questions at! It’s been wonderful getting to know the new characters (as each book will have a new set) and to put them in situations they’ve never dreamt of or they have done their very best to avoid. (Mwahahaha!)
I’ve also written a third of Turning Pointe, book three in the series. This one is about the Ballets Russes in 1920’s Paris. Again, the research and getting to know the characters and their situations has been loads of fun. I’m excited about these new books but there’s still a lot of work to do before they’re ready!
Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from LUNA TANGO, please?
This scene takes place near the beginning of the story when Dani is trying to get Carlos on board to help her write her tango articles. He hates journalists with more passion than he ever danced the tango but he’s decided to give her a break—sort of.
‘I did not travel the world as a professional tango dancer because I am bad at it. I do not have my own dance studio because I am bad at it. When I teach you to dance, you will not be bad at it.’
She wondered what it was like living in Carlos Escudero’s bubble. She doubted there’d be much elbowroom between him and his inflated ego. Although, his self-assuredness almost led her to believe he could teach her at least a couple of steps. Then reality hit and she shook her head.
‘I can do this, you must have the trust in me.’ Carlos dipped his chin and locked eyes with her. ‘Trust in yourself.’
She did admire his attempts and thanked the Powers That Be that he had no idea who her mother was. If he did, she’d have to suffer the embarrassment of explaining why the dancing gene hadn’t just skipped Dani, it had fled. Also, she didn’t want to deal with the inevitable questions that would accompany her revelation about Iris. No one outside the family knew who her mother was and she had no intention of revealing this to anyone. Somehow, Dani needed to find a way to understand Iris’s idiosyncrasies and passion through Carlos. Learning the tango could be the easy part.
Links;
Alli is launching a super special competition today and the winner will receive a one-off prize that has been created especially for the occasion.
Click below for more information:
http://allisinclairauthor.wordpress.com/blog/
BOOK LAUNCH:
For those in Melbourne and surrounds, you are invited to the Luna Tango book launch and tango event held on 21 August at Readings Hawthorn. Tickets are $10 and will include a tango show and lesson, wine and food. Proceeds of tickets will go to Parkinson’s Victoria, an organisation very dear to Alli’s family.
Please note: due to limited space ticket bookings prior to event is essential.
http://www.readings.com.au/event/wine-romance-and-a-tango-lesson
July 31, 2014
Choose your Cast…RUBY Finalist and Romantic Suspense author, Juanita Kees with ‘Under Cover of Dark’…
Hello Juanita, and welcome to ‘Choose your Cast’!
Thanks for having me over, Sarah, and for the opportunity to tell you more about my delectable Detective Mark Johnson! Lily Bennetti is a special character but her detective has my heart J
Book Title: Under Cover of Dark – New Australian romantic suspense follows Under the Hood, about a Western Australian drug gang, the teenagers they recruit, and the cop who wants to bring them down.
Ooooh! Sounds good. Can you give us the blurb, please?
When Mark Johnson delves deeper into his investigation into the murder of Tiny Watts and the involvement of a teenage gang with sleazy lawyer, Gino Bennetti, and his drug world ties, the last thing he expects is to be interviewing Gino’s widow, a woman in a world of trouble.
When her husband is shot and killed, it is both a relief and a disaster. Lily has her son to protect and secrets that run deeper than the scars she bears. Mark Johnson is the last person she wants uncovering those secrets, especially the truth about her son, Luke’s involvement in Tiny Watts’ murder.
As the investigation continues and Lily’s wounds begin to heal, she finds the detective easy to trust and the friendship between them blossoms into more. But the secret Lily holds places everyone in very real danger. When it is finally revealed, Lily will lose everything: her son, the man she’s grown to love, her freedom, and her life.
Detective Mark Johnson
He’s tough and determined yet easy to trust. His protective streak runs deep and he’ll stop at nothing to bring the bad guys down.
Who would you choose to play this character?
Hugh Jackman, of course! He’s the perfect hero.
Yes, he definitely is, Juanita! I could never get tired of looking at that man!
Lily Johnson
She’s tougher than she thinks. Used to being the pampered society wife, it’s a role she’s ready to shake off when she’s unexpectedly set free. That’s when we get a peek behind the cool façade and the real Lily emerges. She’s a mother first and foremost and there’s nothing she won’t do for her son, even if it means putting her own life on the line.
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
It would have to be Nicole Kidman. She’s soft and subtle on the outside with a tough shell underneath. Plus Nicole and Hugh are great together in movies. They have spark!
Author Bio-
Juanita graduated from the Australian College QED, Bondi with a diploma in Proofreading, Editing and Publishing, and achieved her dream of becoming a published author in 2012 with the release of her debut romantic suspense, Fly Away Peta. Under the Hood followed in 2013 as one of the first releases from Harlequin’s digital pioneer, Escape Publishing, and finalled in the 2014 Romance Writers of Australia’s RUBY Awards. She escapes the real world to write stories starring spirited heroines who give the hero a run for his money before giving in.
When she’s not writing, editing or proofreading, Juanita is the cleaning fairy and mother to three boys (hubby included, his toys are just a little more expensive). Her not-so-miniature Daschund, Sam is her critique partner and keeps her company while writing.
July 6, 2014
The love story that should have been…but wasn’t…
On June 1, 1878 a 263 foot clipper ran aground on Muttonbird Island , situated on Victoria’s now infamous Shipwreck Coast. What’s most interesting about this tragedy is that of the 17 crew and 37 passengers, only two survived.
Two teenagers.
One male, one female.
It’s a scenario straight out of the pages of a romance novel, or Hollywood classic. Certainly one that could have led to soul mates uniting in the face of tragedy, affording them a mesmerizing recount of how they met. A story their grandchildren would have passed onto their own grandchildren in meticulous detail.
But, unfortunately for us romantics, it didn’t quite happen that way…
On a 3 month journey from England to Melbourne, 15 year old apprentice, Tom Pearce and 17 year old Irish immigrant, Eva Carmichael’s ship, the Loch Ard, became lost in pea soup type fog. It soon became yet another of the maritime disasters that had plagued the 160km region of coast. Between the years 1836 to 1940, over 638 known vessels had come to grief on the rugged Victorian coastline. Only 240 of them have ever been found.
I have visited this area many times and can testify that this coast is rugged- fierce, violent and unrelenting. The sea throws itself around with such turmoil that a limping vessel would surely be swallowed hole by the mountainous waves, only to be thrust under the pounding sea with such force that if it were ever to resurface again, it would only be as splinters and shards of wreckage.
The water is a chilling to the bone 12 deg C- the nearest land mass (latitude) is Antarctica.
The cliffs of the coast tower 70 metres, (230 foot) above sea level; a sheer vertical drop.
Yet at 4am on June 1, 1878, this is what two teenagers survived to go on and tell the greatest love story that never happened.
Imagine the cold, dark Winter pre-dawn hours on an aggressive sea. Suddenly, as the fog lifts the ship strikes a reef and the top deck is torn from the hull, killing crew and passengers as its three masts and rigging come crashing down. Some were knocked overboard into the ocean, while others hid below deck, attempting to avoid the carnage, only to drown when the ship sank just 15 minutes later.
Tom Pearce managed to release a lifeboat, which then capsized after crashing into the side of the Loch Ard. He clung to the upturned hull, managing to survive the enormous swells as he drifted further out to sea.
Eva Carmichael ran up to the deck only to see the chaos unfolding before her. The Loch Ard’s commander, a 29 year old newlywed, Captain Gibbs, took Eva’s hands in his and said: “if you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor”.
That was the last Eva saw of Gibbs as she was swept off the deck by a wave. For 5 hours she clung to a chicken coop and then a boat oar. Five hours in 12 degree water, being thrown to and fro like a rag doll. Don’t forget the heavy layers of clothes a young woman wore in 1878, and how much this would have weighed her down in the water. It’s miraculous that she survived at all.
Tom was swept back into shore and into the (now named) Loch Ard Gorge, where he sheltered in a cave. Sometime later, he heard the cries of a woman in the ocean. Bravely he swam out and retrieved the nearly unconscious and exhausted Eva, and brought her back to the cave to rest.
He found a crate of Brandy and opened a bottle for them to share to help with the shock.
Shortly afterwards, he climbed the sheer cliff and was able to find hoof prints, which he followed until he came across two local workers from Glenample Station, nearly three miles away. He relayed the events of the tragedy to them and they set off to raise the alarm.
Tom then returned to the cave, climbing down the cliff, and continued looking after Eva until help arrived.
They both spent up to 6 weeks recuperating at Glenample Station and Government House, and so had ample opportunity to get to know each other and fall in love- which is what we are expecting to happen. However Eva returned to Ireland and later married a Captain Townshend, while Tom, after being hailed as a hero for rescuing Eva, returned to a life at sea.
According to a 1936 newspaper article in The Argus, M. Mosely* claimed to have spoken with Eva Carmichael, by that stage, Mrs Townshend of the Irish coast. He asked her why she didn’t marry Tom, to which she replied:
“It must be nearly 50 years since I have been asked that. Once it was always being thrust at me.”
Then she went on: “Why should I have married Tom Pearce?” He was a seaman, she explained, although he came of good family, and had an uncle with money who would have helped him. But he ran away to sea. He was engaged at the time of the wreck, but owing to the peculiar circumstances of his saving her he offered to break his engagement and marry her; indeed he pressed her to agree. However, as they had nothing in common, she felt that it would be wrong. So, after having stayed as a guest at Government House while funds were collected, she went back to her grandmother in Ireland, having lost her father, mother, brothers, and sisters in the wreck.
Perhaps even stranger was this story. She told me that when living on the Irish coast she and her husband were constantly called out to help survivors from wrecks. On one occasion who should fall to her care but Tom Pearce!
So, there you go- probably one of the greatest love stories never told. Although I would love to have read about a romance blossom between these two, I am quite impressed by a young woman, who after losing her entire family, and being marooned in a strange country, still had the courage to make up her own mind and not marry someone she didn’t love with her whole heart. Well played, Eva!
* This is the only source for this particular ‘interview’, so it’s credibility is in doubt. There was no other documented case of Eva Carmichael/Townshend making this statement.
Sources
http://www.victoria.visitorsbureau.com.au/regions/great-ocean-road.html
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10947161
June 10, 2014
How to Pleasure a Tea Drinker…
I’m a tea drinker. A well-made mug of English or Irish Breakfast Tea really floats my boat. In fact, it puts the wind in my sails and makes me launch through the stormy oceans of the day with zeal and oomph.
The first sip of tea is greeted with a loud, ‘Aaaahhhhhh!’ and every mouthful after that just gets better. Tea makes me smile and for the duration of that cuppa, everything is zen.
But, am I adequately catered for when it comes to hot beverage commercial consumerism?
No. I’ve been discussing this very important issue over on the Naughty Ninjas.
Read More…
May 29, 2014
Shani Struthers…Choose Your Cast of ‘The Haunting of Highdown Hall’…
I have just finished reading ‘The Haunting of Highdown Hall’ by Shani Struthers, and loved it! It was a pacey, twisty, spooky read that has left me hanging out for more books in the Psychic Surveys Series. No pressure of anything Shani, but I’m ready when you are!
Today, I am stoked to welcome Shani who has chosen those she would cast as the characters in ‘Haunting’ on the big screen…
Blurb:
‘Good morning, Psychic Surveys. How can I help?’
The latest in a long line of psychically-gifted females, Ruby Davis, can see through the veil that separates this world and the next, helping grounded souls to move towards the light – or ‘home’ as Ruby calls it. Not just a job for Ruby, it’s a crusade and one she wants to bring to the High Street. Psychic Surveys is born.
Based in Lewes, East Sussex, Ruby and her team of freelance psychics have been kept busy of late. Specialising in domestic cases, their solid reputation is spreading – it’s not just the dead that can rest in peace but the living too. All is threatened when Ruby receives a call from the irate new owner of Highdown Hall. Film star, Cynthia Hart, is still in residence, despite having died in 1958.
Winter deepens and so does the mystery surrounding Cynthia. She insists the devil is blocking her path to the light long after Psychic Surveys have ‘disproved’ it. Investigating her apparently unblemished background, Ruby is pulled further and further into Cynthia’s world and the darkness that now inhabits it.
For the first time in her career, Ruby’s deepest beliefs are challenged.
Does evil truly exist? And if so, is it the most relentless force of all?
Character 1 – Cynthia Hart
Tell us about this character:
1950’s movie star, Cynthia is world-famous – ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’ – the papers call her. About to star in Hollywood blockbuster, Atlantic, she is in demand the world over. Cynthia is also dead. On Christmas Eve, her thirty-first birthday, she suffered a fatal heart attack at her home, Highdown Hall, her glittering career cut cruelly short. Cynthia’s not happy but it’s not just her early demise that upsets her, it’s something else or rather, someone else. Someone who is waiting in the shadows, who refuses to let her pass into the light – someone whose grudge grounds them both.
Who would you choose to play this character?
Cynthia Hart is based on a true-life movie star but I cannot reveal her name in case I get sued! A friend of a friend inherited her house back in the ‘90s and this is based on his story of what he experienced there. However, I have chosen a less well-known 1950s movie star to be the face of Cynthia – Rhoda Baxter – who has the same Titian curls, sapphire eyes and voluptuous figure! I’ll let you into another secret – Cynthia Hart is the name of my grandmother – although she died when I was 7, she was so glamorous and movie star like, I thought the name quite befitting!
Character 2 – Ruby Davis
Tell us about this character:
Ruby Davis is the latest in a long line of female psychics – she can see through the veil that separates this world and the next – and because she can, she feels it is her duty to help earthbound spirits move towards the light, or home as she and her grandmother call it. To that end, she has set up a company called Psychic Surveys who specialise in domestic spiritual disturbance. By occupying high street offices her aim is to remove the taboo surrounding psychic matters, to put the normal into paranormal. Aged twenty-four, Ruby herself is a down-to-earth, ordinary character, albeit with an extraordinary gift.
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
I have a Pinterest board with all Psychic Surveys characters pinned to it and I have to say, although Ruby was picked from hundreds of pictures and is no one particularly famous, she is Ruby – exactly how I envisaged her. It’s the eyes…
Character 3 – Cash Wilkins
Tell us about this character:
Cash works with computers – a word as mysterious to Ruby as the psychic world is to others. At the beginning of Psychic Surveys, she meets him in the pub – they are reading the same book – and quickly they strike up a deal. She wants a website, he wants to learn more about her fascinating career. She agrees to let Cash accompany her to an initial survey – that survey is Highdown Hall, the home of Cynthia Hart. Cash’s fascination is not just with Highdown but with Ruby too and a tentative relationship develops. Ruby is wary of men, she finds they tire easily of her work and the effect it has on her – but Cash seems different, he wants to help her. “I don’t know, it just seems really noble what you do, helping grounded spirits to move on, unusual but noble.”
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
Again, I picked the face of Cash from hundreds of Pinterest contenders – there’s no one else I would consider him to be, no one famous anyway. But hey, look at him, he’s gorgeous isn’t he?
Character 4 – Theo
Tell us about this character:
Theo is in her late sixties and as wide as she is tall, almost! Her hair, instead of snow-white, is pink, a soft, tasteful shade of pink but pink nonetheless! Whenever Ruby see’s her she is reminded of a line from Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem, The Night Before Christmas, the one that referred to St Nick as a ‘right jolly old elf’. But Theo is no elfin-like creature, she is actually one of the most formidable women Ruby has ever met – a long-timer in the field. Although Psychic Surveys is Ruby’s business, she often tends to take her cue from Theo.
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
Easy one – Judi Dench but with pink hair!
Other team members include Ness, in her early fifties with dark hair and winter pale heart-shaped face. Whereas Theo is effusive in nature, Ness is more sombre – Ruby suspects past experiences have made her so, particularly her work as a psychic with Sussex Police, but if that is so, Ness is not saying. At twenty-one, Corinna is the youngest of the group – a sensitive rather than a psychic, she is bright and bubbly despite her preferred Gothic attire with abundant Pre-Raphaelite red curls.
Character 5 – Jed
Tell us about this character: Jed is undoubtedly the star of the show. A black Labarador that has long since passed – he attaches himself to Ruby during a psychic cleansing – switching his highly developed sense of loyalty from the family he once protected to her. And he is a protector, coming to the rescue on several occasions when Ruby finds herself in psychic trouble. Ruby suspects he is more than just an animal spirit but what he is she doesn’t fully know – not yet.
Buy link:
Also by Shani, The Runaway Year
When the going gets tough… it’s easy to run. Layla does, as far away as possible. Penny and Hannah do too, each in their own way. But how long can you run and what happens when you stand your ground? Over the course of 12 hectic months, three best friends embark on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, discovering that if it’s love you’re up against, true love, you can’t escape that easily.
May 27, 2014
Choose Your Cast..Georgina Penney’s ‘Unforgettable You’…
Today I welcome fellow Naughty Ninja, Georgina Penney to the blog. Her second novel, Unforgettable You is a prequel to her debut novel, Irrepressible You, which was released in February 2014, (and is one of my fave books!) Welcome Georgina, can you give us the blurb for Unforgettable You, please?
After months working on an oil rig in the Atlantic Ocean, engineer Jo Blaine can’t wait to get home. Her job is tough, and she is desperate for some long overdue girl time. The last thing Jo needs when she walks through her front door is to find a strange man staying in her house. When she learns that her uninvited guest is none other than Stephen Hardy, she’s tempted to head straight back out to sea. Stephen has always felt guilty for the part he played in ruining Jo’s life years earlier and immediately jumps at the chance to make things up to her by looking after her apartment and her giant cranky cat. It takes some fast talking, but Jo is finally convinced to let him stay. And by the time she leaves for her next shift at work, they’re both eagerly anticipating her return. But as they grow closer, it soon becomes clear Jo is hiding something about her past that is coming back to haunt her. After a lifetime of taking care of herself and her sister Amy, Jo isn’t used to sharing her problems, especially when they involve her messy family history. But when threats start to escalate, Jo must decide whether to trust Stephen before her stubborn independence places them all at risk.
Now here’s the fun bit – choose your cast!
Jo Blaine
Jo’s a tough lady. She’s six foot tall with short red hair, dark blue eyes and a body that’s been whipped into gear climbing all those steps on the oil rigs she works on. She’s hiding a whole lot of secrets and is deeply protective of the people she cares about.
Who would you choose to play this character?
Hilary Swank would be about right. She’s got the right air of tough fragility. As well as being hella hot with short hair!
Stephen Hardy
Stephen’s a tall, blond, tanned surfer looking dude who just happens to be the marketing wiz behind his family’s successful winery. He’s a genuinely nice guy who’s trying to atone for the mistakes he’s made in his past.
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
I’ve been wondering this a whole lot. It’s a bit of a cliché, but I think I’m going to have to go with Luke Hemsworth. Because he’s super hot but he still comes across as a nice guy who’d have a temper under there somewhere.
Amy Blaine
She’s adorable. She’s a little blonde pin up barber who’s cuter than a box full of kittens in a marshmallow factory. (Amy is also the protagonist in Irrepressible You)
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
Can I have a young Doris Day? Because I think Doris has all the cute and the wise-cracking to hold her own as Amy.
Mike Hardy
Mike’s Stephen Hardy’s big brother. He’s almost identical in looks but he’s a total smart arse.
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
Chris Hemsworth because he looks a lot like his brother but has an edge to him that would suit Mike nicely.
Boomba
He’s a giant fat-arsed Maine Coon Cat.
Who would you choose to play this character and why?
This kitty here. Because it’s huge and fluffy and looks epic!
Thanks Georgina! Two Hemsworth brothers – mmmmmm!
If you’d like to connect with Georgina, you can find her here:
Also by Georgina Penney, Irrepressible You
You don’t become a notorious British celebrity without rubbing a few people the wrong way, which is why writer and comedian Ben Martindale has decamped to Australia until the latest media frenzy dies down.
When he meets Amy Blaine, a perky blonde who dresses like a 1950s pin-up girl, he knows he’s hit the satirical jackpot. He begins to fill his weekly London column with snarky observations about her life, clothes, and even their most intimate moments. It doesn’t occur to him that Amy, who is letting her guard down for the first time in her adult life, might be upset – after all, it’s hilarious, and his readers love her!
It isn’t until Amy discovers the extent of his betrayal that Ben begins to realise just how badly he’s cocked up the best thing that ever happened to him. But is it too late?
May 20, 2014
Goodbye my milky lover…
Dear Milk.
The time has come for us to part permanently. Although I have enjoyed our brief reunion, after a two and a half year separation, I have now come to the utterly devastating conclusion that we are just no good together anymore.
How I will miss our nightly cuddles on the couch. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to signal the end to a busy day than snuggling with you on a cold night, wrapping my chilled fingers around your smouldering warmth.
You, and only you, have the ability to quell the monkey mind, to relax the body and prepare me for a comatose sleep. Herbal tea, no offence, but you’re not the same luxurious indulgence as a mug of steaming, creamy milk with a single teaspoon of Milo.
However, our three week interlude has again resulted in lethargy, tiredness, night sweats, and a craving to consume sugary food. The sweetness held deep within you has left me yearning for the sweetness found in foods that I normally wouldn’t eat. The extra sugar in my daily diet has horrendous consequences of its own as my blood sugar levels peak and trough like a see-saw.
The lethargy is so much that I can barely drag my ass through the day, and cannot remain conscious past nine thirty at night. My body feels as though it is on a permanent go-slow and can’t shift into second gear. And as much as I love you, it’s time to let you go. I can’t live like this any longer.
My body’s intolerance to you, although thankfully void of any gastro intestinal troubles that would result in farts so horrendous and rancid that my entire family would move out of the house, is still ever present. Simply, I need my usual energy back to be the best version of myself possible.
So today we say goodbye. Today I bequeath you back to the supermarket dairy case, where you will remain, forever shut out of my life. We can always smile and flirt a little with each other when I pass by, as a reminder of old times shared.
Please remember that you will always be in my heart, not a day will go by where I won’t think of you and crave your creamy deliciousness. It’s not you, it’s me.
Sarah xxxx
May 10, 2014
Author Magic Moment and Giveaway: Women’s Fiction Author, Maggie Christensen…
Today’s guest is Women’s Fiction debut author, Maggie Christensen, whose novel, ‘Band of Gold’ was released in April 2014 and will soon be available in paperback.
Hello Maggie, congratulations and welcome to Author’s Magic Moment!
What was the first story you ever wrote?
As far as I can recall it was a short story for a magazine competition I entered as a child and it was called The Snow Drift. I loved what we called ‘composition’ in class but never seemed to have long enough to finish the story!
Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?
I love Anna in Band of Gold, but I think my favourite is Jenny from my next book The Sand Dollar. I like her because she reminds me a bit of myself. She’s a perfectionist, very controlled and needs to learn to take life as it comes and become more flexible.
You write about more mature protagonists. How is this different from the majority of women’s fiction, which seems to focus on thirty-forty somethings?
I choose to write about older women because as an ‘older’ woman myself, these are the sort of books I enjoy reading. Life for older women presents similar and different challenges to their younger counterparts. They still look for a HEA, but theirs may include stepchildren – even teenage stepchildren – and ex partners with their attendant issues. I can also explore those issues which only emerge with years. Issues such as aging and death of parents, retrenchment, retirement, downsizing, grown children, grandchildren, widowhood and the empty nest syndrome.
Anna is in her late forties. She has had a busy and happy marriage and career and her daughter, at twenty-two, is in the throes of her first serious relationship. Anna’s life is following the traditional pattern. Then, on Christmas morning, her husband places his wedding ring on the kitchen table and walks out. The book, written in first person present tense, takes the reader into Anna’s shoes as she deals with what follows.
Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?
Yes! Suddenly my writing and all the associated tasks of being published have become much more of a priority. Also it’s pretty wonderful to have people reading what I’ve written and actually enjoying it. I find myself enmeshed in a wonderful community of writer and readers – my idea of heaven.
What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?
Currently I’m reading Jenn J McLeod’s Simmering Season. I’m loving it and was fortunate enough to be in Coffs Harbour on the day Jenn was doing book signing so got to finally meet her and had both of her books signed. My bookshelf holds books by many of my favourite authors including but not restricted to Liz Byrski, Helene Young, Marcia Willett, Joanna Trollope, Erica James, Barbara Delinsky, Elizabeth George, Sue Grafton, Caro Frazer – the list could go on and on.
What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?
Can I have two? Tripe and cod’s roe. When I was a student, three of us flatted together and took turns at cooking. One of my friends found cheap meals to cook which were not necessarily appetising – tripe and cod’s roe were two of her favourite offerings.
If you could be any of the following characters for one day, who would you be and why? How would you re-write the ending?
a) Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind.
b) Thelma or Louise from Thelma and Louise.
c) Princess Leia from Starwars.
d) Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffanys.
Holly Golightly because she looked so elegant. I can’t forget Audrey Hepburn in the movie. My ancient copy of the book has her on the cover in her small black dress, hair elegantly on top of her head, with a long cigarette holder in her hand. I would give her a happier ending with Holly knowing that the cat was safe and, as the narrator hopes, having arrived where she belonged, preferably with her soulmate. She would finally have found what was hers before she threw it away.
Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?
Any of Jane Austen’s, of course, but preferable Pride and Prejudice.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
I can’t image as I’m not into superpowers.
If you could go back in time, where would you go and when? What is one thing you would want to take with you?
I’d go back to Regency England as I love the fashions and I’d have to take my husband with me as I couldn’t survive without him.
![Maggie-Peregian-260x300[1]](http://sarahbell4.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/maggie-peregian-260x3001.jpg)
Can you tell us about your works in progress?
My next book, The Sand Dollar, will be published before the end of the year. It is book 1 of my Oregon Coast books.
An unexpected redundancy and a childhood memento take Jenny Sullivan across the ocean to learn a long hidden secret and embark on a journey of self-discovery such as she’d never envisaged. Moving between Oregon and Australia, The Sand Dollar is a story of new beginnings, of a woman whose life is suddenly turned upside down and the reclusive man who helps her solve the puzzle of her past
I’m currently working on Book 2 of the series, The Dreamcatcher, which follows one of the minor characters from The Sand Dollar. While the Sand Dollar moves between the Sunshine Coast of Australia and Oregon, The Dreamcatcher is set solely in Oregon. My mother-in-law lives there so I have lots of opportunities for research.
Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from Band of Gold, please?
‘I don’t want to be married anymore.’
The band of gold, symbol of our twenty-five years of marriage lies on the table between us. I am stupefied, unable to speak. Tears prick my eyes as my first coffee of the day grows cold beside me. The sun is shining brightly through the kitchen window. The turkey is sitting on the kitchen bench waiting to be cooked. My parents, daughter, brother and sister, along with her husband and children are due to arrive in five hours’ time. The house is redolent with the scent of pine needles and Christmas pudding. It’s Christmas morning and my world has collapsed.
‘What do you mean?’ I finally utter, thinking this must be Sean’s idea of a bad joke. My mouth goes dry. My head begins to spin. The bottom has dropped out of my world. I look over at the man I have loved for over twenty-five years, his bushy greying blonde hair, his ruddy cleanshaven cheeks. He looks no different from any other morning. He’s wearing the bright yellow tee shirt we bought on our holiday in Bali last year.
His steely blue eyes meet mine. This isn’t happening.
‘I can’t do this anymore, Anna.’ His waving arms take in the kitchen including me, ‘All this; family, house, job. I need to get away.’
He pushes his chair back from the table and strides out of the kitchen. I sit there in a daze, my mind going round in circles. Is it too late to call off Christmas lunch? How can I even think of such a thing? Does Sean mean he’s going to leave right now? How will I explain his absence? God, this is really going to be the Christmas from Hell.
Maggie is kindly giving away one e-copy (from Amazon) of Band of Gold to one lucky reader. All you have to do to be in the draw is leave a comment for Maggie!
If you’d like to connect with Maggie, you can do this via:
May 4, 2014
Choose Your Cast, Alexa Bravo’s ‘In Bed With the Boss’…
Hello and welcome to a new concept for the blog – one where authors get to choose the cast for their novel!
I love imagining who might play a character on the big screen inspired by a book I’m reading. It conjures up all sorts of possibilities, so now there will be a regular spot devoted to giving readers a chance to see who the author envisions playing a character.
My first guest is the lovely Alexa Bravo, whose debut novel ‘In Bed With the Boss’ was released by Escape Publishing on May 1st.
Congratulations on your new release, Alexa. I love that cover – could look at it all day! Can you tell us a bit about ‘In Bed With the Boss’, please?
Trish Carter is chasing the career opportunity of a lifetime, and nothing is going to stand in her way.
After a failed marriage and years of self-doubt, she needs her business proposal to succeed, and there’s only one hurdle left: presenting to the Board of Directors and charismatic CEO, Keith Donnelli.
So it can only be the stress and extreme tension that leads her to jump the hot stranger in the elevator. But the unexpectedly explosive encounter puts all her plans in jeopardy, when the stranger isn’t a stranger at all.
Now, her whole future rides on how well she can resist the temptation of sleeping with her boss. Will Trish finally have the chance to make her secret dreams come true or will following her heart destroy her chance at a future?
Protagonist: Trish Carter, Manager, curvy brunette, sassy, hard-working and unaware of her own attraction.
Tell us about this character: Trish is a divorced middle management executive who has dedicated herself to succeeding in her career after failing to keep her marriage together.
She is bright and ambitious but carries emotional scars inflicted by her ex, who never failed to make her doubt herself and her power as a woman.
Trish has hidden depths of passion that she holds on a very tight leash, unknowingly waiting for the right man to teach her to trust again.
When she finally lets go, the results are explosive and have far-reaching implications for her life and her future.
Who would you choose to play this character? Jennifer Connelly, for her beauty and grace, her apparent frailty and hidden strength.
Hero: Keith Donnelli, CEO, tall, dark and brooding, physically and emotionally scarred from a horrific car accident that almost took his life.
Tell us about this character: Keith has been to hell and back. He is astute in business but was fooled once by a woman and is determined to never be fooled again.
He has very defined business goals and needs his star performer, Trish, to be on board with convincing the other executives to follow his plan.
What he does NOT need is to be distracted with an office romance, especially one that puts the plan in jeopardy.
For Keith, the hardest lesson yet to learn is that you can’t control everything, not in life and not in love.
Who would you choose to play this character and why? Chris Pine, for those dazzling blue eyes and that take-charge attitude.
Who is Alexa Bravo?
Alexa Bravo “self-published” her first manuscript at age 12, when she typed a one-page romance story in the seventh grade and gave it to the girl sitting next to her in class to read. Before she knew it the story had been passed along from classmate to classmate and Alexa was getting requests for more stories and taking reservations for those already in circulation.
Alexa has always been passionate about reading as well as writing and despite her “real job” managing a business, she enjoys as many romance novels as she can lay her hands on and sometimes, she writes one too. Alexa hopes to one day write a classic regency romance, her favourite type of love story but for now, the corporate world and all its possibilities for illicit liaisons is more than enough to inspire the romantic in her.
Alexa lives in Sydney, Australia with her three beautiful girls and her very indulgent husband
