Sarah Belle's Blog, page 6

Author Limelight: Erotic novelist, Kate Belle…

Kate’s novel, The Yearning has earned rave reviews since its release this year. Congratulations and hello Kate, welcome to Author’s Limelight!

Kate: Thanks for having me Sarah. Do you think we should explain that we are NOT related?

Sarah: Yes, very good point! Despite having the same surname, blonde hair and hailing from the same state, we are not related. Kate also has a chemistry degree which makes her much brainier than me with a business degree!

What was the first story you ever wrote?

The Only Survivor. It won the Benalla Ensign Bookweek short story award for under 15’s in 1978. It was a dramatic account of a person who survived an airplane crash – something I knew a lot about at 13 years old – given I’d never been in an airplane.

I still remember how proud I was to see my story in print.

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

I have strange, confusing relationships with my male characters. I kind of fall in love with them. I even get a bit obsessive. They occupy my mind in the same way a real lover might. I think about them while I hang out the washing, fantasise about them when sitting in traffic, wonder what they might be doing now. When I’m writing them I often imagine them standing behind me, their hands on my shoulders, whispering the action into my ear.

It’s kinda creepy. Lucky for me they’re fictional, otherwise I might get done for stalking.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

Interesting question! I hope not, I wouldn’t want it to. If anything it’s given me more confidence. If a publisher is willing to publish my work it can’t be complete rubbish. And it’s made me more anxious. In making a job out of being an author I’ve found so many new things to worry about, especially money. I worry about it in a way I’ve never done before.

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

We have 7 (count them) bookshelves in our home and they are overflowing with eclectic collections of predominantly second hand books. I have shelves of fairytales, erotica, Aboriginal literature, self help books (refugees from my 20’s), cookbooks, poetry, classics, psychology, astrology, and loads of Australian fiction. I’ve probably only read about 20% of it. I will die buried under my books, I’m sure.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

Oh God, I gag at the thought of it. Smoked tofu. I went to Yum Cha with a Filipino friend one day and was thinking of smoked salmon when I ordered it. I couldn’t even swallow it. It tasted like it had been soaked in old cigarette butts for a week. I spat it out into my napkin. It ruined the rest of the meal.

Sarah: Did you see the episode of ‘Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year’ where Hamish ate 10 year old tofu? He gagged, cried and nearly brought it back up numerous times. One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen!

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.

Definitely Thelma or Louise – I loved that movie. Of course, there’d be no driving off cliffs but a slow meandering down through Mexico where we would adventure with hot blooded male amigos. Sigh.

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

I hate choosing just one but if I must – Pride and Prejudice. Because it’s just about as perfect as a novel gets. Gorgeous, insightful writing; compelling love story; convincing characters. Otherwise one of Sonya Hartnett’s books. That woman is a freak, her writing – double sigh.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

If I was 12 I’d say flying, but at this stage of my life I have to say cleaning my home to sparkling without having to lift a solitary finger. That or writing perfect first drafts. If you’re going to grant me one, either will do.

Sarah: Oooooh yeah! Good ones, Kate. Love them both.

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 the Summer of Love – San Francisco 1968. I’d take a notebook and pen and write it all down. The passion, the discovery, the fight for freedom and human rights. I’d like to try the dope that was around then, live on a commune, march the streets with placards, talk to Gloria Steinhem, visit Woodstock, immerse in the zeitgeist. Actually I’d probably take condoms too – I wouldn’t want any nasty consequences from participating in the sexual revolution.

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

My second novel will be published mid-2014. Its working title is Saint but it’s unlikely to be published as that.

Fourteen year old Banjo falls in love with Jade the moment he sees her step through the school gate. Their close friendship evolves into marriage but Banjo is vastly unprepared for life with his self-determined, temperamental, damaged wife. After half a lifetime of struggling with Jade’s repeated infidelities he makes a stand and musters the courage to leave. Tragically Banjo is killed, but his spirit is still tied to the woman he loves and he returns to watch his family grieve. When their adult daughters discover Jade’s Book of Lovers Banjo embarks on a journey of discovery. Did Jade love him above all others? And who was the strange man he found Jade with the night he died?

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from ‘Saint’ please?

People argue about death. Some say it’s the end of everything. They believe life closes off, and who we are, everything we’ve ever been, disintegrates, sinking into the earth with our bodies. Others think life disappears from sight, like a mollusc retracting into its shell. It wasn’t like that for me. For me, death was a beginning, an unexpected roaring rebirth into a different kind of life.

Death dawned on me, cold and shrouded in fog. It was a shock, reaching out to feel nothing. I have no body, no physical presence. I know I exist because I can still think, see, feel, but it’s nothing like the reality of being three dimensional. I remember the feeling of a body, the gravity it gave me. I remember what it was to take up space, move among people, influence the world.

The only place I can’t go is the future. I’ve tried and it’s like slamming hard up against a locked door. If I’m honest, I’m not sure I want to go there. I might lose Jade altogether then. At least now I can still be close to her, hear her voice, let my eyes feast on the sight of her, send my love to her. On the other side of that locked door she might be lost to me forever. And I’m not ready for that. Even now, when I know I’m gone and I can’t have her anymore, I’m not ready to say goodbye to Jade.

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THANKS FOR HOSTING ME SARAH!! Xxx

Buy a calendar, support a great cause and absorb useless Christmas trivia as you go…

One of my bestest friends, who we shall refer to as Chickster, is the most interesting person to sit next do at dinner parties because she is loaded with useless trivia and facts.

Who better to sit next to, at a boring, conservative party than a woman with an encyclopaedic knowledge of useless facts and a wit sharper than Tom Hiddleston’s cheekbones? (Sorry, he’s my pin up boy at the moment, much to my husband’s annoyance.)

Soooo,  inspired by Chickster, here’s some fun facts about Christmas…

Also at the end you will find a link to a wonderful charity named Cody’s Angel Heart Foundation,  that is currently selling 2014 Calendars in order to raise money to provide financial funeral assistance to parents of children who suffered from a Congenital Heart Defect in Australia. They are only $10 each and filled with stunning photos of the Australian landscape and 13  gorgeous Angel Kids who will melt your heart with their courage. They make great presents and all profits go to help parents during this devastating time. (Don’t worry about the 2013 typo – it’s in the process of being altered to 2014!)

5 fascinating Christmas facts that will leave your friends, families, colleagues and strangers utterly bedazzled!

1. The modern day Santa Claus is modelled on Saint Nicholas, a Greek saint who was born in AD270.  He is the patron saint of: Greece, sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, prisoners, unmarried women and …wait for it…pawnbrokers!

2. Santa once topped the Forbes Wealthiest list for fictional people, his wealth being estimated at ‘infinity’.

3. Mistletoe is derived from the word Misteltan which means ‘little dung twig’ because the plant is germinated via bird droppings. Kind of takes the romance out of kissing under the mistletoe, doesn’t it? However the Druids believed that Mistletoe was an aphrodisiac, so we’ll leave that one open to discussion.

4. The first artificial Christmas trees were made during the 1880′s in Germany, in order to avoid deforestation. They were made out of goose feathers that had been dyed green and became very popular during the early 20th century.

and finally,

5. Jesus’ birthday isn’t actually December 25th. That date was given in the fourth century as it coincided with two other Pagan seasonal celebrations: the birthday of Mithra and the Feast of Saturnalia. Guestimations for the actual birth of Jesus vary from November through until the end of March.

 

Meanwhile,  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to the following websites for their amazing information. These facts, and many more can be found on:   http://facts.randomhistory.com/christmas-facts.html and http://thefw.com/christmas-facts/

Cody’s Angel Heart Foundation 2014 Calendars

Author Limelight and Giveaway: YA Fiction writer, Vanessa Garden…

Today’s guest is my very good friend, Vanessa Garden. We met at the RWA conference in 2012 and, along with Susan Roberts, formed a trio with a promise that we would all be collecting our ‘First Sale’ ribbon at the 2013 conference. And guess what…we did! All three of were successful in being published in the same year. So, it’s with a huge smile that I welcome my friend and totally awesome YA author, Vanessa Garden to the Author’s Limelight today!

Hello Vanessa and congratulations on the January 1st release of ‘Captivate’. I have to say that it the most gorgeous cover I’ve ever seen!

Thank you for having me, Sarah!

What was the first story you ever wrote?

It was a poem called ‘Shell’ – about… a shell!  I wrote it when I was six and it was published in our school newsletter. I was so excited. I think my mum still has it somewhere.

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

My favourite character is Marko, my sexy young king from Captivate. He is so flawed and has so many layers that I just find him so intriguing.

 

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

It hasn’t really changed me much as a person (apart from the huge smile that never seems to leave my face). However, one thing it has done is instil a little more confidence in my writing. I think sometimes we can all get stuck and doubt ourselves. All we need is a little belief and validation. I’ve also become a lot stricter with my writing schedule.

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

Anything and everything – especially books with romance. My bookshelves are double stacked with every genre you can imagine and I have books all over the house on coffee tables and couch arms. But Young Adult novels are what I read most. I love the Infernal Devices series, The Elementals, and also good contemporary writers like John Green and Sarah Dessen.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

A slice of cold pig fat that I thought was cheesecake!

Oh my god! That’s so funny, Vanessa!

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.

Thelma or Louise – who doesn’t want to just hop in a convertible and see where life takes them?

c) Princess Leia from Starwars.

d) Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffanys.

 

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men – it’s a beautiful book with so much heart it makes me cry every time I read it.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

To not need sleep. That way I could write all night and still feel refreshed in the morning.

Ooooh, yes! Good one.

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 when my mum and dad were little kids to see what their childhoods were like and to just get to know them as children. I’d take my own kids so that we could all hang out.

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

I’ve just completed book two, to follow Captivate, and I’m also awaiting edits on a YA sci-fi, Carrier, which will be released with Escape Publishing March 2014.   

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from ‘Captivate’ please?

Here’s a piece of dialogue from one of my favourite scenes:

I kept my arms folded and raised my head. ‘Yes, and I’m not pretending.’

‘So you want me to believe that you’ve suddenly fallen hopelessly in love with me,’ he said.

I ignored the smirk on his lips and said, ‘Yes.’

He folded his arms across his chest and stared down at me. Amusement sparkled in his eyes.

‘Say it, then. Declare your love for me.’ 

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Vanessa is giving away a signed copy of Captivate to one lucky reader! All you have to do to be in the draw is leave a comment.

This competition is open to Australian postal addresses only. It will be drawn on Monday Dec 23, 2013 but will not be received by the winner until January when Captivate is officially released.

Author Limelight: Charmaine Clancy, Author of Mystery, Adventure and Fantasy…

Hello Charmaine Clancy and welcome to Author’s Limelight! Congratulations on the recent release of  Dognapped: A Dog Show Detective Mystery.

What was the first story you ever wrote?

We tell stories from the first moment we can talk, even if it’s in garbled baby-talk, and we start writing stories from the time we scribbled a green crayon swirl and call it an elephant. However, it was my first real failures at novels that led me to really study the craft. The first novel I finished writing was Dognapped? A Dog Show Detective Mystery, which turned out to be my second book published.

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

Dogs are always winners with me, and they often appear the most animated in my novels, however I do have one brash little pirate girl who is very impatient about getting her story finished at the moment.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

I’d like to say it’s made me smarter, more market savvy, or even taller, but really, it’s just made me busier. I will say that publishing that first book, and receiving positive feedback, is a great way to finally feel like you just might be on the right path.

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

My life savings. There are enough books on my shelf to last several decades (if the zombie apocalypse hits, I’ll be set… unless I need food and water), and ebooks on my Kindle to last several lifetimes (I guess there’s nothing stopping me moving to Mars now).

The books I keep are always fast paced, deeply engaging and often funny. Terry Pratchett takes up a fair bit of space, but he’s earned it.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

Eggplant. And I don’t buy that whole ‘acquired taste’ rubbish. I can easily say, ‘Here, try this crispy bacon, or this chocolate mud-cake thick with icing!’ Good-tasting food doesn’t require perseverance.

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.

I think I may have gone through a selfish stage in my teenage years where I was a bit too much like Scarlett and Holly, and I don’t think I could pull it off anymore. Princess Leia is a pretty good role model, although I think I’m too lazy to keep up her save-the-universe schedule and although there are days (luckily not too often), where I could encourage Louise to just keep driving us over that cliff, most of the time I’m pretty optimistic. Ooh, I’d be the cat in Breakfast at Tiffanys!

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

The Book Thief is my idea of literary perfection and something I know I could never reproduce. On a smaller level, every time I get an idea for a novel, Jackie French has already written it.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Invisibility, just so I could take naps without anyone noticing.

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 love all things 40’s and 50’s, I would go back in time to meet Agatha Christie and I’d bring a magnify glass with hopes to solve a murder mystery. Or maybe I’d just take post-it notes and pretend I invented them.

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

I work on multiple projects at once, but at the moment, my attention is on Warracknabeal (a title that will probably go before production). It’s a story that looks at belonging and isolation from within the family to community and even on a national level. My protagonist is 13 year old Harry, son of the local copper in a small country town in Victoria. The year is 1939 and Harry’s childhood is about to be shattered. He will uncover family secrets, sinister acts and even a body. Suspicion is passed on like chinese whispers when the local racetrack clubhouse burns down. Harry must decide who to trust and follow a dangerous path of clues to rescue the one person he cares about most. These events are set against the backdrop of fires about to burn through Victoria like none before and none since, along with the lingering fear of an inevitable war.

This project is a lot darker than my usual goofy stories for kids!

Sarah says – I have had the privilege of meeting Harry and his GrandPa on paper and must say that I just loved the little bit I saw. I can’t wait to read this when it’s released! 

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from Warracknabeal, please?

Here’s a snippet from a significant scene – it’s still a first draft, so no doubt it will change drastically as it’s reworked:

Remembering the stories from the Penny Mysteries, Harry decided he was looking for ‘the spot where the fire initiated: burst gas pipes, heaters that may have been left on, empty fuel cans, clumps of rags, or anything smelling of lighter fluid.’

His attention was drawn to a large sheet of collapsed roofing. He moved closer to the iron sheeting and not worrying about keeping his clothes clean, he crouched down and grabbed hold of one edge. It was still warm. He pulled hard, but it proved to be quite heavy. Trying a different tactic, he stood above the sheet and tried to raise one side, hoping to flip it.

Dusting off his hands, he scanned the room. He’d give the roofing one more go and then he’d leave. That copper wouldn’t be far away now. He crouched down low, got both hands under one edge of the iron and heaved. It did the trick, too well. The iron sheeting flipped over, sending Harry sprawling. He pulled himself up to a crawling position and stared, stunned and disgusted, at his find. Laying beneath him was a partially burned body, the young woman’s blackened face stared vacantly back at him. Amazingly, perhaps because it had been protected by the iron, her strawberry blonde hair that he remembered so well, was mostly not singed. In one charred hand, the corpse clutched a his grandfather’s favourite silver lighter.

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Thanks Sarah for having me on your blog today!

Author Limelight: Romantic Comedy author, Samantha Tonge…

Hello and welcome to Author’s limelight,  Samantha Tonge! Congratulations on the recent release of Doubting Abbey.

Hello, Sarah! Thanks for having me!

What was the first story you ever wrote?

Apart from at school, it was my very first attempt at a novel in my twenties, and set in EuroDisney – I had just finished working there. However, I never completed it and didn’t start writing again until my late thirties.

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

Phew  – that is a hard question, as I have several novels under the bed, plus have sold over 80 short stories to women’s magazines! But I think Gemma, out of Doubting Abbey, enjoys the qualities I most like my heroines/heroes to have. She is loyal, determined and guileless. Plus has a wicked sense of humour. Gemma would make a great best friend – one you could laugh with and rely on.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

It has done my OCD no favours, now that I also have Amazon rankings to obsess about! On a serious note, though, after nine years of trying to get a novel deal, I think being published has brought me an inner calm.  Not that I’m complacent but it’s a relief to have finally achieved one of my writing goals.

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

A selection of chick lit books, of course – plus several from the teen Romance with Bite genre. Also, “How to Write” books and celebrity autobiographies.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

I lived in Paris once and was invited to a family home. They went to a great effort and served oysters, cockles and rare-to-bleeding beef. I was very English about it all and said how wonderful the food was, which led to second serving. I really appreciated their hospitality, but was off work ill for two days afterwards!

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.

Without a doubt, feisty, wilful, reckless, beautiful, passionate Scarlett O’Hara! I just wish she wasn’t still yearning for Rhett Butler at the end and could accept that, as a couple, they were no good together.

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. How wonderful to have written a book with a plot and characters that still inspired people a century on.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

I am obsessed with the vampire genre, so it would have to be the ability to run super-quick, have super-strength and to compel people at my will. Plus to live forever, of course.

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 would want to go back to my insecure teenage years and take my husband with me. He would have boosted my confidence and been a great confidante.

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

I am considering a REALLY fun and slightly bonkers idea for a sequel for Doubting Abbey! I can’t say anymore though, at the moment, in case I jinx it! (One of my many writerly paranoias!)

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from (Doubting Abbey), please?

“ I dodged around to the other side of the trunk. Edward chuckled and looked back to make sure I was following him as he ran. Faster I sprinted, to the left and then to the right, around trees, skirting bushes, jumping over tree roots, praying Edward would stick to the moonlit areas so that I didn’t tumble over a boulder and land in a pile of mud.

I ran into a clearing and stopped still, chest heaving up and down, wishing now that I wasn’t wearing the mega thick, sauna-hot coat. Edward had disappeared. I turned my head. What a giveaway! Someone sneezed from the left. I tiptoed across a grassy area and peered over a large bush.

‘This is too easy. Tig!’ I said and ruffled his hair.

He roared and with a scream I ran back the way I’d come. Laughing, I could hardly breathe and lost my way. Where on earth was I now? Heading for the broken fencing or toward the cemetery at the front? I lay flat on the ground behind some tall grass.

‘Aarggh!’ I screamed as someone grabbed me, under the arms. I turned and glared at Edward. ‘You scared me!’ I shouted and jumped up.

‘Your… face,’ he stuttered and wiped away tears from his eyes.

I giggled. ‘Beautiful as ever, I hope, even if mega surprised.’

He stopped laughing and stared at me, his familiar serious expression back in place. ‘Yes. Yes, it is.’

Before I knew it…”

I’ll leave any blogvisitors to guess what happens next!

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Author Limelight and Giveaway: Jennie Jones…

Welcome to Author’s Limelight, Jennie Jones and a huge congratulations to you – your current e-book release, The House on Burra Burra Lane will be released in paperback in January 2014 with Harlequin Mira. Yay!

Thanks Sarah, I do love a spotlight so thank you for inviting me.

What was the first story you ever wrote?

A Mills & Boon western when I was twenty-five or thereabouts. They didn’t want it (it was pretty bad) but I kept the manuscript (thankfully) and decided to give writing fiction another go (which thankfully worked).  Writing romance was a no-brainer.  I actually penned my first words of romance at the age of thirteen when I was heady-in-love with my Girl Guide leader’s son. That story had a lot of long dreamy looks and a fair amount of kissing in it. No saucy nonsense though – my first year as a teenager and I was really only ‘looking’ at boys. My attention was focussed on getting a pair of high-heeled shoes and my first bra.

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

Funnily enough I don’t have a favourite, although I’m partial to one or two of my secondary characters like Mrs J and Grandy in The House on Burra Burra Lane. I’m also falling for each of the men I write, for their particular masculine appeal and for the story they’re involved in.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

Yes it has changed me because it’s moved me into a different groove. For one thing, I’ve achieved something I desired, for another, the ride has taken me beyond my initial expectations so I’m excited, surprised and happy, but the bubble wouldn’t last for me if I hadn’t made the decision to dedicate myself to this job. I love this job. I’m so happy to be part of a writing community and I plan to stay (she said nervously, but with gusto – since she’s in the Sarah Belle limelight).

Lol Jennie! With all the gorgeousness you brought to the MC role at RWA13, you are a much loved member of the writing community. What a velvety voice you have!

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

Lots of unread romantic fiction books. Lots. Oh, and women’s fiction, contemporary and historical.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

Anything that tastes of aniseed. Yuk!

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. I’d love to be that breezy and beautiful. A country girl at heart with such an eclectic lifestyle and following – and an unnerving desire to be someone else. I wouldn’t change the ending. Holly found her home.

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

Em… Pass. Why? Because there are too many and they’re diverse. For example, as a teenager I read (or think I read – I might have skimmed through it a bit) War and Peace. Yes, I know. Years later I found my copy of War and Peace, along with the library sticker stating it should be returned by April the year I turned fifteen. Oops. But it was probably the film that held my attention – therefore I also wanted the book (and happened to get that book… Not sure why I wasn’t hunted down by the library mistress).

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Oh, you do ask challenging questions, Sarah.  Emm… I don’t think I’d want one. Too complicated to haul around all that emotional angst of right and wrong.

If you could go back in time, where would you go and when? What is one thing you would want to take with you?

WWII. I’d be an ambulance driver (and I’d take nylons. Lots of nylons for those off-duty moments.) I will never forget a lady I sat next to on a London bus when I was in my twenties. Can’t remember where either of us were going, or why the conversation struck up, but she told me the best time of her life was during WWII in London. She was thrilling to talk to. She spoke of the unanimity of comradeship during the bombings and the bread queues, of the courting by the uniformed men, the dances where they could all let their hair down for a moment – and – of the repercussions for women. She said WWII made her ‘whole’ and she wasn’t being flibbertigibbety about the war. She had lived the hardships, the losses, the worries and she got through it, evolving (as she put it) a better person.

I’d have to say I am with you on that one, Jennie. WWII is an amazing time in our history, particularly for women.

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

Yes please! Book #2 in my Swallow’s Fall series is written and I’m at the exciting arty stage of going through each scene and really getting the crafting to the best I can. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing this story. We meet all the locals from Burra Burra Lane and a few new ones. My hero and heroine are newcomers to Swallow’s Fall township and they’re taking it by storm. Its working title is, The House at the Bottom of the Hill.

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from The House on Burra Burra Lane , please?

Love to!

Sammy raised her face and saw sunlight and peace on Ethan’s. He suited the place he stood: outdoors. Had he been born with patience, or had he learned it? She had the impression still waters ran deep. There was a waterfall cascading inside him somewhere, but someone or something had turned off the tap and all that gushing water was trapped. He was too solitary most of the time. Too unperturbed, but she didn’t know if it was a trait, or a rule.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Sarah. It’s always fun and rather contemplative when asked questions that make us remember episodes in our lives that make us smile. J

Jennie is also giving away an e-copy of her novel, The House on Burra Burra Lane. All you have to do to be in the draw is leave a comment below. The e-copy will be either Amazon Kindle or ITunes only. This competition is open world wide and will be drawn one week after the publishing of this post.

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Launch day for a great cause: Merry Chick-Lit!

What can you buy for just  99 cents?

Hope. That’s what.

In the spirit of giving, six chick-lit authors “present” a charming collection of seasonal shorts sure to inspire holiday cheer-plus love and hope throughout the year, with all proceeds donated to Rocking the Road for a Cure!

Carolyn AspensonIn “Santa’s Gift,” journalist Jessica thinks Santa’s just a silly myth for children, so when he asks what she most wants for Christmas  she tells him the one thing she knows he can’t deliver–true love. Or  can he…? 

Sarah Hitchcock

In “The Christmas Lights,” one competition pits two families against each other…who will win this war?  

Francine LaSala

Pretty Izzy knows exactly what she wants for Christmas: hunky sales  manager Jake Harrington wrapped up with a shiny silver bow–and nothing  else. Except Santa may have other plans in “Carol of the Belles.”  

Nikki Mahood

In “Spinster Christmas,” Cara’s looking forward to spending  Christmas alone until she learns her old–and she believes very  gay–crush needs a place to stay. Though it soon becomes clear that  while still hot, Ronan isn’t gay after all…  

Holly Martin

Ella’s dreams of making a better life for her and her daughter seem further away than ever in “Iced Dreams.” But as Christmas approaches, and she wishes for a fairy godmother to  wave a magic wand to fix her life, things begin to change in ways she  never imagined! 

K.C. Wilder

In “The Mermaid,” Allie’s content to spend Christmas by herself  at a vacant beach house to make good on a promise made to her true love  lost, Jeff. Until Jeff’s gorgeous college roommate Tim crashes in on her with his own promise to keep…

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Rocking The Road For A Cure is tickled PINK to be selected as the recipient of proceeds from your purchase of Merry Chick Lit.

We are a growing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the New York City/Long Island area, dedicated to improving the quality of life of people undergoing the often energy-depleting and emotionally draining treatments for breast cancer. Our name came from our founder and President, Dawn Frey, a musician, who learned through personal experience that “it takes a village” to get through the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, and not every individual has the support network they need.  Rocking The Road For A Cure provides free, in-home housekeeping, health and wellness services to restore strength and confidence, and to rebuild spiritual, emotional and physical well-being.

So, when you settle back and relax to enjoy reading Merry Chick Lit, please know that you have helped us help a breast cancer patient to also settle back and relax…and heal.

Author Limelight and Giveaway: Historical Romance Author, Elizabeth Ellen Carter…

Today my guest is the gorgeous Elizabeth Ellen Carter, who is celebrating the recent release of her debut historical romance, Moonstone Obsession.  Welcome and congrats, Elizabeth. What an awesome name for a novel!

What was the first story you ever wrote?

I was about 11 and I decided I wanted to be an author over the school holidays. I had run out of Nancy Drew mysteries to read, so I decided to create my own character and write my own adventures. I had a ball, although I do recall writing a full length novel seemed a lot harder than reading one…

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

I don’t have a favourite – I love them all for various reasons. I imagine that every author feels the same, so I’m going to beg the question.

My husband, on the other hand who was my first proofreader and editor, has one of the antagonists has his favourites from Moonstone Obsession. Lady Abigail Houghall, it seems, is destined for her own adventure and happily ever after.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

Technically I have been published before. I spent 13 years as a newspaper journalist and I remember as an eager 18 year-old cadet journalist eagerly scouring the Saturday edition of the paper for my first byline.

Being published as an author is a little like that. There is something amazing to be able to say that one is a published author as opposed to being an aspiring author. The breakthrough into being published has given me more confidence in my storytelling

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

I love the classics as well as eclectic titles – Wilkie Collins, Agatha Christie, Shakespeare, the Bronte Sisters, Thomas Hardy, along with Camille Paglia, Anna Campbell, Philippa Gregory, CS Lewis’ philosophical and science fiction titles and I’m loving GK Chesterton.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

Hmmm, I’m pretty broad in my tastes, so I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. I’ve eaten eel, shark, crocodile, kangaroo, goat, venison, pigeon, rabbit snails, chicken feet. I’d pretty much give anything a try.

You are a brave, brave woman! Chicken feet!

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.

Funnily enough, I don’t really like Scarlett, she’s not a very nice person. Her reasons for stealing her sister’s beau and the dismissal of her own children, for instance are rather thin, but the way Margaret Mitchell has written such a complex character who is still engaging is a full credit to her.

Rather than rewrite the ending, I would like to see Scarlett grow up and learn the error of her ways and realise that her single-minded selfishness is not the way to achieve lasting happiness.

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

The very first one… can you imagine the royalties?!

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

The ability to suspend time – there never seem to be enough hours in the day.

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 would love to go back to the early Regency period – which is the period in which Moonstone Obsession is set such a fascinating social and political era. The one thing I would want to take with me… modern sanitation!

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

I’ve just finished a large novel – another historical romance this one set in the late 11th century called Warrior’s Surrender about a Saxon noblewoman who is forced to wed the enemy – a Norman Baron who now has control of her family’s lands.

I’m about to start work on a contemporary novella, Miss Midnight, which is set in a country radio station.

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from (insert book name here), please?

Selina raised her head and looked at James fully in the face.

“Truly, I am unharmed.” she nodded. “All except I think, for my dignity because you have been more than kind and you are far too important to have your time monopolised by me.”

James gave a half smile.

The tension and fear that had radiated from her when he first found her had dissipated.  All she had needed was time, not a big scene which would have only embarrassed her further.

He decided to test the mood.

“And what if I told you that you are the only woman here whom I wouldn’t mind being monopolised by?”

Selina genuinely laughed. “Then I’d say you are a most notorious scoundrel and breaker of women’s hearts and I shouldn’t believe a word you tell me.”

James laughed at the spirited rejoinder.

She stood, placing one of her hands in his and giving it a squeeze.

“Thank you,” she smiled down at him.

He stood also, his eyes capturing hers. His hand returned the pressure before lifting her hand to his lips for a kiss that lasted a few moments longer than it needed to.

“I want to see you again, Selina.”

Elizabeth is kindly giving away an e-copy of her debut novel, Moonstone Obsession,  to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below to be in the draw. This competition will be drawn on Monday the 25th of November and is open world wide. 

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Author Limelight: Erotic novelist, Rhyll Beist…

Hello Rhyll Biest and welcome to Author’s Limelight! Congratulations on the recent release of Risk.

What was the first story you ever wrote?

I vaguely remember, around age ten, writing something involving dinosaurs with diamonds. Bling-a-saurus, anyone?

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

My character Jane, the surly bartender in A Sporting Chance, is my favourite. For some reason I find surly characters amusing and endearing.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

God, yes. The private jet, the adoring fans, the wads of cash I burn to keep the fireplace lit…Actually, none of that has happened. But I do like the idea that other people read my stories now instead of just me.

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

I’m so thankful the e-reader was invented, because I was running out of shelf space, and because e-books are so much cheaper than print books I now get to live above the poverty line. On my shelves and e-reader, you’ll find too many writing craft books, and a lot of  Kylie Scott, Charlotte Stein and Cara McKenna/Meg Maguire. And poetry and books on metaphor. I’m a shameless metaphor-hungry vixen.

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

My toenails. Just kidding. Liver, I think. I hate peas, too. They’re the boogers of the vegetable world.

That’s hilarious, Rhyll. I think my kids would agree with you there – they all hate peas.

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.

Definitely Louise. I have a thing for vengeful women with guns…

I’d rewrite the ending so Thelma and Louise lived and could carry on their bad-assery forever.

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

Oooh. That’s a tough one. There are so many wonderful books and writers out there. But I have to admit that more than a mega-bucks best-seller, I wish I’d written something unique and beautiful, with strong emotional impact. Something like Lucky, by Alice Sebold, or Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Jodi Picoult’s books also amaze me.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

I want to be a female Wolverine. I’m not sure if that counts as a superpower, but that’s what I want. Actually, I’d settle for claws and fangs. If you met some of the people I work with at my day job, you’d want them too.

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’m fascinated by the whole World War 2 period and would like to be a fly on the wall in many European countries. But I’d have to take a loaded Kindle and a big supply of peanut M&Ms with me. That’s two things, so I’m screwed already, aren’t I?

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

A paranormal romance set in Russia, a post-apocalyptic tale set in Prague and a survivor story set in Australia.

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from Risk, please?

Most women and plenty of guys would be filling the silence with inconsequential yap, dissecting the dinner in a pointless narrative replay. Not Jane, she preferred to quietly digest the world in her own time and keep her immediate feedback on mute. She incubated thoughts oyster-style, letting irritations form a pearl of perfectly coherent thought.

Holding her hand, he let their skin do the talking for a while before finally clearing his throat.

“What were you ladies discussing? You looked thick as thieves over dessert.”

“Really? I guess it’s kind of private.”

“Private? What kind of private?”

Another Jane trick, presenting him with a wrapped mystery on the conversational carpet and teasing him with it. Usually it turned out to be something mind-blowing.

He waited.

They caught another red and he followed her gaze to a shikumen entry. Floating mops, mopeds and empty clotheslines narrowed the flooded lane to a capillary. The tops of bicycle handlebars gleamed dully under the soggy moon. Fuck, the water was getting higher the closer they got to their district.

“Promise you won’t judge?” she asked.

His brows shot up at the question. “Course not. But you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” I can just quietly die of curiosity.

“I’m aware of your little reverse psychology ploy, Mr. Ransom, but I’ll tell you anyway.”

“Thank you.” The light changed and they drove on, rain-slick tires swishing through flooded gutters.

“Lena told me something. Something sexual.”

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Author’s Magic Moments with historical romance author, Nicole Hurley-Moore…

Hello Nicole!  Welcome to Author’s Magical Moments and congratulations on the pending release of Dancing on Air.

Hi Sarah, thanks for inviting me.

What was the first story you ever wrote?

I vaguely remember writing a pretty terrible mystery when I was about twelve.

Of all the individuals you have created, do you have a particular favourite? What appeals to you the most about this character?

I do… which might be wrong, but I do. His name is Armand and he is from a half written story I toyed with years ago. He is loyal, handsome and a does what’s right even if it is at his expense. Now, don’t get me wrong – I love all my heroes but it’s Armand I can’t get out of my head. I suppose I had better dust him off and give him his own story.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

Yes, I suppose it has given me a little more confidence in myself and my writing.

What would we find on your bookshelf / e-reader?

Lots and lots of romance (what a surprise!) – Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Anne Gracie, Anna Campbell, Jenny Swartz, Samantha Holt just to name a few. Also lots of history books(generally medieval, Georgian and Victorian),  cookbooks and classics. 

What’s the most unappealing thing you’ve ever eaten?

I would like to say haggis (sorry to my Scottish friends), black pudding (sorry Aunty Paddy) or frog legs but the truth is I chickened out at the last moment.

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.

I don’t know about rewriting the ending, but who doesn’t want to kiss Harrison Ford? 

Of all the books in history, which do you wish you wrote and why?

Pride & Prejudice.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

If I had a superpower it would be the ability to fly… maybe it would help me get over my vertigo.  

If you could go back in time, where would you go and when? What is one thing you would want to take with you?

Too many choices. I love history and there would be far too many interesting time periods and people to see. However I don’t think I would leave the house without a box full of Paracetamol, bottled water and an inhaler

Can you tell us about your works in progress?

I’ve just started the second book in the Dancing on Air series. So once again it will be a Victorian era romance. This time the tale will centre around Evander’s elder brother, Alistair, the Marquess of Coltswood. It’s about a man who can’t see love even when it is literally standing in front of him.

Finally, can you give us a sneaky excerpt from Dancing on Air, please?

Blurb for Dancing on Air

Cinderella meets Swan Lake in this Victorian-era set story about a ballet dancer, an aristocrat, and their class-crossing romance…

Lisette yearns for freedom, security and love, but none are offered on the run-down stage of The Imperial Theatre. Instead she has hard work, a tyrannical aunt, and the hope of one day becoming a prima ballerina. Dancing on the stage she catches the attention of two powerful men: Lord Gainsworth and Lord De Vale.

Lord Evander Gainswith never expected to fall in love, let alone with a woman so wholly unacceptable to his family and his peers. The sinister Lord De Vale covets Lisette’s youth and strength, and is willing to pay well for it. Lisette may dance roles in fairy tales and fantasies, but the real world is about to intrude, bringing with it the harsh realities of life for a young girl with dreams of rising above the demimonde.

Excerpt:

‘You should not have come,’ Lisette said as she leaned against the darkened doorway of the prop room, She turned her head and looked down the corridor nervously.

‘I could not stay away,’ Evander said.

Lisette looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. ‘Pretty words again, my lord. However you did stay away, didn’t you?’

Evander reached over and took her hand in his. ‘It is not just pretty words, Lisette. I had family business to attend to with my brother. It was unavoidable. The truth is, I thought about you all the time I was gone. I know that we have barely met, but I want to learn all there is about you.’

‘Do you say that to all the girls you woo to your bed?’

Evander’s eyes widened and with a slight laugh he asked, ‘Really Lisette, what would you know of such things?’

‘I have grown up in a theatre… this theatre. I have seen the way of things; handsome lords and rich men weaving their pretty words to make the girls fall in love with them. Then when they are done — when their eyes catch onto the next prize — they leave the girls crying and wretched in their ruin and misery.’ 

‘Lisette, I swear to you this is different… I am different,’ Evander said.

‘Perhaps, but it would be better if you turned your attention elsewhere. I cannot be with you. I have a duty to my aunt and I cannot be swayed from my course.’

 

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