Mission Romance

Character Craft: The Wardrobe Coach and the Heroine

2012-03-02T10:44:00.000+08:00

Today I'm interviewing Deb Sawyer, author of Stress Free Dressing: How to Mix and Match with Confidence.

Now, you're probably wondering what on earth a Wardrobe Coach might have to do with romance? When we start plotting our next best seller, our characters are an integral part of the story. We create 'real' people in our minds. We define their features, their personalities and yes, even what they wear. And like our characters, we too have our own personal dress style.

Deb has some amazing tools to help 'dress' my hero and heroine. Her book is full of great ideas, tips and tricks and even a few inspirational sayings. I've also used the My Private Stylist and Men of Style programs to achieve my characters' styles. For those of us writing 'Boardroom' Romance, there is also the My Professional Stylist program. To tell us more, here's Deb:

I like to: encourage people to appreciate what is great about their life, and to help them feel good about themselves. Writing my Stress Free Dressing book and sharing the things I have either worked out myself, or had the opportunity and pleasure to learn about dressing easily for maximum effect is one way I can do that.

One of my favourite things is: Colour. Colour really affects the way I feel. Those that don’t suit me make me feel and look older than I need to. It amazes me how many people steer away from the beautiful array of colours that they could make use of. Many people carefully choose colour that they feel good about for their homes, but then dress in drab ‘no colour’ colours!

My dreams: to travel both in Australia and overseas more. A slow trip exploring Australia is high on my dream list, catching up with friends and making new ones. I would want to do some work (voluntary or paid) and get to know people along the way. I have not travelled extensively overseas so there is a lot of the world still to learn about!

My achievements: include a happy marriage (good choice of husband!) and raising three great adult kids. I have also become more adventurous in my mid-life and have fire-walked, tandem sky-dived, and climbed and jumped off a 50ft pole. I want to keep fit enough to be able to ‘have a go’ at whatever adventures present themselves. As I have heard said: “I want to live the width and breadth of my life, not just the length of it”.

Having a published book is opening up opportunities for me also. Being asked to be the guest speaker at an event is a great honor, responsibility, and a great thrill too!

What inspired you to write Stress Free Dressing?

Stress Free Dressing came about after my husband and I had attended many assorted educational seminars over the 5-6 years after we finished educating our children. In endeavoring to improve our position going towards retirement, we discovered the value and pleasure of meeting new people and keeping on learning about health, relationships, real-estate, investment, and other topics including writing a book! The only area I would really ever have considered writing about was something in a clothing field, having spent many years dressmaking, and then studying and working in retail fashion. I know there are things I have discovered from my interests that others may not know.

What is your role as a Wardrobe Coach?

As a Wardrobe Coach I initially have to relate to the women I am working with and gain their confidence. I teach them - in a couple of hours - how their wardrobe can be full of their style, with variety, colour and interest, so they can present themselves at their best - easily, and every day.

My intention is to provide them with information about dressing the best they can in a way they can understand, and therefore give them a reason to want to make changes that will benefit them. When you understand WHY a change is beneficial the effort becomes worthwhile. And often there is less effort - not more - required.

What is your favorite part of the book?

That is a tricky one! I planned the book to include most of the things I had found most valuable to me with regards to dressing and feeling my best. Stress Free Dressing includes many quotes to inspire and challenge the reader’s thinking. I like that! The images were also very carefully selected to help support the words.

The following paragraph from the Chapter 1: Stories We Tell Ourselves (page 13,) is significant and relates to many of us at various point of our lives.

“Many women consciously or sub-consciously put off doing things until they have met certain criteria. I need to lose weight before I can find a boyfriend, change jobs, get a job, join the gym, etc. Look at who you are and what you can offer the world NOW; put a smile on your dial and start living today. Don’t waste the wonderful person you are by wishing you were someone else! There is every reason for you to start looking good and feeling great right now. The rewards will be worth the effort on many fronts, self-confidence being right up there.”

What was the hardest part to write in your book?

One section I needed some help with was in writing about looking too young (Chapter 10: Younger, page 147). While it may not sound like a problem to some, it can be for others. I sought help from one of my nieces who was studying to be a lawyer. She had to learn how to dress as a ‘credible young professional’, while still being a student on a budget. We discussed workplace requirements, appropriateness of clothing choices, care of clothing(such as sometimes you MUST iron), style and cost considerations. Many points relate regardless of your age and position.

Who is your favorite author?

I don’t really have favourites. I read all sorts of material these days. Years ago I read mainly fiction, style, sewing fashion and patchwork, and craft books of my own or from libraries for more variety. I was introduced to self-improvement/personal growth type of books a number of years ago. Some are story-type books, but many are not. Old classics like THINK AND GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill (despite its1937 copyright), and THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING by Norman Vincent Peale, are still so relevant today. They are full of wisdom!

My original COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL book by Carole Jackson has a large part to do with what I am doing today. I still read style and colour books of all kinds, and fiction is necessary when you need 'brain-free’ time occasionally!

If I was going on a blind date, what you have me wear?

I think most women should aim to dress at least conservatively up-to-date. You want to look like you have made an effort, but not like you are high-maintenance. Your choice would depend on where you were going on the date; however, as a guide I would always choose to wear a colour that you look and feel great in, and a style that was classy but not fussy. You want to be relaxed and enjoy the occasion, not be fiddling all night.

If you had no idea where you were going or what you would be doing (which is pretty challenging), I suggest teaming a top in a colour that lights you up with a nice pair of trousers, and with shoes that look good but are comfortable, so you can dine or stroll or whatever the date brings your way. Alternatively, a more neutral coloured outfit can be made to look fantastic with a colourful scarf or a statement necklace.

What shouldn’t I wear on a first date?

Don’t put everything on show at once! If you plan to wear a lower neckline, be more conservative with dressing your bottom half. Likewise if you have great legs you want to show off, then be more discreet with your choice of top. A bit of mystery goes a long way. And as above, you want to be relaxed and have your date enjoy your company and learn about you, not be distracted by your ‘assets’!

Do you think clothes contribute to setting the stage for Romance?

I do. Even if our natural style is not overly romantic we can still enhance the romantic feel by our choices of colour, fabric and style, and with the effort we make with our hair, make-up, scent and accessories.

What does colour do for mood?

Not everyone is tuned in to colour and its effect on themselves and those around them. There are write-ups on the moods created by different colours. Designers and advertisers use colour to achieve a desired result.

For me colour is a major influence on my mood. My natural tendencies are to warm, yellow based, sometimes earthy, and cheery colours. My husband likes the cooler blue tones. When we bought our current house it had a cross-over of warm and cool colours. The living area had earthy toned feature brick walls, along with others painted in a dull grey-blue. They made me feel trapped in dullness! Luckily I like to paint, so after about 6 months I repainted the walls to a warm tone and felt much better. My husband is less bothered than me. We later painted to a blue-green shade that we are both happy with!

In clothing bright, cheery colours are my favourite choices. If I feel a bit flat then turquoise/aqua shades will always pick me up. Red is great too. Most of us suit a version of each colour. But the trick is tuning in on exactly which ones really do the most for you and make you truly shine.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

If I could have dinner with ANYONE, I would love to have the privilege of meeting - in person - Anthony Robbins, author of AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN and other great non-fiction books. My husband and I have attended several of his courses, and the knowledge we gained has changed our thinking on many things.He is an amazing educator, a real people-person and a master of reconciling relationships, and a bit of a romantic too I believe.

Thank you for sharing with us, Deb. If you'd like to know more about Stress Free Dressing and Deb's Wardrobe Workouts, visit www.stressfreedressing.com. You can also find Deb on Facebook and follow her on Twitter (@stressfreedress).

In the Back Paddock with ... Cathryn Hein

2012-02-17T21:55:00.001+08:00

Welcome to the final blog in February Focus on Rural Australia. I'm thrilled to have Cathryn Hein as my guest blogger today. Cathryn is here to tell us all about Mount Gambier, Promises and Heart of the Valley.

Hi, everyone, and thanks, Juanita, for inviting me on Mission: Romance. I’m absolutely delighted to be here.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m glad the 2012 is finally settling into stride. We’ve experienced an amazingly busy summer. Christmas involved a rushed trip to the north Queensland boonies for a lovely but abbreviated break with my wonderful in-laws, then I had the final edits and proof reading of my May release, Heart of the Valley, to complete with another writing deadline on top of that, and if that wasn’t enough, we had to pack up our house and move interstate. Phew!

So I’m very glad it’s now February and I can get back into a routine.

I’m also glad to be living in Melbourne, even if it’s only for a few years, as I’m now only four or so hours’ drive away from my family. As Jim and I tend to move around a lot due to his job, it’s nice to have somewhere to anchor yourself to and for me, even though it’s been years since I lived there, Mount Gambier still echoes of home. And no wonder. My family have been there for generations and are considered part of the town’s pioneer history, having first settled in the late 1850’s, not long after foundation. I suspect that long exposure to the local air and water has affected our genes. We couldn’t let it go if we tried.

Mount Gambier is situated just across the Victorian border in South Australia’s south east, almost half-way between Melbourne and Adelaide if you follow the coast. The town’s main claim to fame is its magnificent Blue Lake, a crater lake which transforms from a dull, uninspiring grey in winter to an incredible electric blue in the summer. It’s quite a stunning sight and visitors are always amazed, and I have to admit that it still gives me a tingle of awe when I see it.

Back in the days when I rode exercise work casually for a local racehorse trainer, we used to take the horses past the edge of the lake and out to the flat rural lanes on the other side of the crater. The beauty and quiet pleasure of those mornings was incredible. You could see for miles, and the soil around the extinct volcanoes of Mount Gambier and Mount Schank is highly arable, perfect for vegetables, dairying and beef cattle. With all the different enterprises the landscape appears a patchwork quilt of earthy, fertile colour, and the air redolent with agricultural productivity.

We were living overseas when I finally made the decision to stop dabbling and write seriously. I’d been in France for two and a half years and hadn’t once returned to Australia in that time, and so was feeling more than a bit nostalgic for home. Writing about rural life, about the stoic, hard-working people who make the country such a special place, was my way of reconnecting with the places and people I love, and I drew heavily on my memories of the town where I grew up. Looking back on that first (unpublished) novel, it still makes me smile how much I romanticised the landscape. No horrible sideways-falling rain or gelid winter wind whistling straight off the Southern Ocean in that book, just a glorious, never-ending spring.

Harrington, Aaron and Sophie’s home town in Promises, is a little more honest than the utopia of that first book. Like Mount Gambier, Harrington is located in South Australia’s south east, but Harrington is smaller, and doesn’t have a crater lake. What they do share, besides the weather, is an economy based on agriculture and timber production, and an old cemetery built on one of the most prime pieces of land you can imagine. I don’t know what Mount Gambier’s forefathers were thinking when they started to bury their dead on the side of the Blue Lake crater but I’m guessing they weren’t property developers. I’m glad though. The view from Lake Terrace Cemetery is stunning and I don’t mind sharing with ghosts.

As far as I know, there’s no Aaron doppelganger living in Mount Gambier, either now or in the past, which is just as well because I’d probably go a bit weak-kneed and dribble infatuated nonsense if I met him. I’ve always had a soft spot for rural good sorts and Aaron is a very good sort indeed! Country boys are so wonderfully earthy and straightforward, although in Aaron’s case he’s more than a bit tortured by his past, poor darling. Plus I think we girls are a sucker for a good, practical bloke – I know I am. One who can not only fix things and wrestle livestock, but who looks mighty fine in a pair of moleskins, with his shirtsleeves rolled up and eyes glowing bright and humour-filled under the brim of his hat. Ahh.

When you move around a bit like we do your perception of home changes. For me, home is wherever Jim is. I know it sounds a bit sappy but without him places become just that – places. They don’t resonate with all that’s important in life – love, family, friends, contentment and laughter. And I think that’s why Mount Gambier will always echo in my heart. I may not have lived there for a long time but those memories are still well and truly alive.

Which Australian place resonates in your heart? Is it the home where you grew up or perhaps a special location where something momentous in your life occurred? I’d love to hear your stories, plus leave a comment and you’ll be in with a chance to win a signed copy of my debut novel, Promises. Entries close midnight Friday, 24^th Feb. Australian addresses only, sorry.

Thanks again, Juanita. It’s been a lovely visit.

PROMISES BACK COVER BLURB

"A father with something to hide, a jockey with a taste for blackmail, a man with an agonising secret ... and a young woman in love, defying them all.

Sophie Dixon is determined to leave her tragic past behind and forge a bright future on her beloved farm. While looking to buy a new horse, she is drawn into her neighbour Aaron Laidlaw’s orbit, despite the bad blood between their families.

As the racing season unfolds, Sophie and Aaron’s feelings for each other deepen. But Aaron is torn, haunted by a dark secret he fears can never be forgiven – especially by Sophie.

Sophie believes herself strong, but the truth behind her mother’s death will test her strength, and her love, to the limit. She’s been broken once. No one wants to see her broken again. Least of all the man who has grown to love her.

From an exciting new Australian voice comes this compelling story about love, loyalty and forgiveness."

If you’d like to know more about Cathryn and her books, please visit her website. You can also keep in contact via Cathryn’s blog, on Facebook and also via Twitter.

Promises is available from your local bookstore, chain stores such as Big W, and from online retailers. You can also buy the ebook on Kindle, and from KoboBooks, Borders.com.au, Booktopia and other ebook sellers.

Cathryn’s second rural set romance, Heart of the Valley, releases in May.

I hope you've enjoyed our snapshot of Rural Australia at its best. Read my review of Promises here.

And the winner of a signed copy of Promises, as drawn by the special random number machine is:

NATALIE!

Natalie, please contact Cathryn via email at cathrynhein@gmail.com to claim your prize.
Congratulations and we hope you enjoy reading PROMISES.

In the Back Paddock with ... Mandy Magro

2012-02-11T06:31:00.003+08:00

My lovely guest this week is Mandy Magro, author of ROSALEE STATION.

ROSALEE STATION is available for purchase from Booktopia.

So from the muddy paddocks of Macksville in rural NSW, we’ve travelled to Far North Queensland to explore Dimbulah with the promise of a rodeo and sexy country boys … whew! Here’s Mandy to tell us more:

Dimbulah is such a unique town in the sense that it is so close to so many diverse landscapes. We have the Great Barrier Reef only 2 hours away, the lush green rolling hills of Malanda and Milla Milla in the opposite direction and the hard core outback not far from our doorstep.

Dimbulah itself is on the fringes of the outback so our natural countryside is quite mountainous and rocky going from fields of green in the monsoon weather right through to hues of brown and red in the drier months. I love the sense of community that Dimbulah has and it is very rich in the history of gold mining which I find fascinating, and might even have to add it into one of my novels in the future!

I would be honoured to go back in time and meet one of the families that came here for the gold rush. They had extremely hard lives and I admire the strength it would have taken for them to endure an existence here with only the bare essentials to survive. So many of them lost children to hunger and disease, it is so very heartbreaking. I have visited the old grave sites and it was quite emotional to see all the little graves.

I adore the serenity of living out here, where you can watch Mother Nature at her best. Where there are fields of cattle and horses everywhere you look. It is what inspires me to write. There are also rodeos all around where I live quite often throughout the year and that is my favourite sport to go and watch.

I was born in Mareeba, about 45 minutes from here, so I class myself as a born and bred local. The country environment out here holds a very special place in my heart and I could never see myself leaving the sanctuary of the Tablelands of North Queensland. There are snippets of Dimbulah and Mareeba in my novel Rosalee Station as I draw on my life experiences to write.

I actually grew up in Cairns, which is on the coast and about 2 hours from where I am living now, as my mum and dad separated when I was only a few years old. I loved the seaside lifestyle but equally enjoyed the school holidays when I would spend them up on my dad’s farm in Mareeba.

The farm was such a contrast from my everyday life and I thoroughly took pleasure in the fact I had hundreds of acres to entertain myself in, spending most of my time riding the four wheeler motorbike or swimming in the dam and catching yabbies. It was these special times on the farm that embedded in me a love for the country way of life. Hence, here I am today, living my dream in the expanse of the magnificent outback.

When I was 14 my dad offered to teach me and my best mate how to drive. I was ecstatic! You just didn’t get the chance to do that in Cairns. He went to get the Ford F250 from the shed and brought the old girl up to the house, leaving it running on the old dirt road that ran along the front of the property. Then, he proceeded to walk inside and make himself a cuppa whilst telling me to help myself to the rumbling beast outside. I froze … wasn’t he coming with us?! Nope, he said, you’ll be right.

My best friend and I wobbled out to the truck on shaky legs and got comfortable, my friend being the first chosen to drive by my terrified self. She revved it whilst trying to find first gear then remembered to hold the clutch in. We were off, down the dirt road, fishtailing slightly from the sudden drop of the clutch. We giggled uncontrollably as she tried to regain her composure, steering the F250 into the paddock and off the road. We thought it would be safer … we thought wrong!

Within seconds we had found ourselves drifting over the top of a massive water pipe, the pipe precariously lifting the F250 up off the track and spinning it smack bang into one of the many massive mango trees that was in full flower. We watched on horrified as in seemingly slow motion the F250’s drivers door caved in and all the many flowers that were about to come to fruition for Dad fell from the tree.

My friend and I burst out crying and jumped out of the passenger side door, running the 2 kilometers back to the farm in absolute fear of a bollocking from my dad, barefoot too I might add! We were relieved to find he was stifling a laugh as he listened to our rushed narrative of the events. Thank goodness he was so understanding! It wasn’t funny for me at the time, but now I look back on it I find the whole incident hilarious.

What Mandy likes most about coming home to the country:

I have only been as far as Melbourne in Australia but I would love to see further south of that and also Western Australia - Esperance looks divine to visit! When I was thirty I embarked on a round the world trip including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Wales and England. It was so much fun and an experience I will never forget ( especially seeing I brought my hubby back with me from the UK) but I remember the day I arrived back in Australia and I wanted to kiss the tarmac when I arrived at the Cairns airport. I missed so much about our glorious country, the friendliness, the weather, the food, country music and most of all the wide open spaces. As the saying goes: You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl.

The most romantic spot:

I love the banks of the Walsh River. It is so serene yet so untamed, nature at its very best. To be able to spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy an afternoon in nature with a loved one is romance to me.

What inspires Mandy to write about the country:

The world comes to life for yet another day as the sun rises magnificently from behind the lush mountain tops, sending the sky gorgeous hues of pink, orange and red. The wide open spaces sprawl out before me, the sunlight dancing across the ground as if in celebration. The bellow of a bull travels along with the gentle morning breeze. A flock of red tailed black cockatoos fly noisily overhead and as I gaze up in awe of them a wedge tail eagle catches my attention as it circles effortlessly in the expanse of the brilliant blue sky. I take a sip from my tea, smiling as a kangaroo goes bounding through my backyard with its Joey in tow, vanishing behind the glorious golden wattles trees that line the back fence. Hank, my bantam cross rooster crows his good morning to the world, announcing his dominance over the hens (I sometimes wonder whether he has small man syndrome seeing he’s that loud!) In the distance I can hear my hubby out in the tractor, tending to our upcoming harvest of tropical fruits. I love this time of the day; it leaves me breathless with wonderment at just how lucky I am to be living in such a unique and peaceful landscape. This beautiful country lifestyle I live is what inspires me to write. It’s what drives me to bring characters and their adventures to life on the page.

Mandy’s favourite scene from ROSALEE STATION:

I have a few favourite scenes but I don’t want to reveal them in case the person that is reading this interview hasn’t read Rosalee station yet. I can tell you who my favourite character was, though, Sarah Clarke. I breathed life into her as I wrote as she was based on me and my life experiences (even down to the curly blonde hair!) so therefore I have a very intimate connection with her. At times throughout the manuscript I would find myself either laughing hysterically or a blithering mess as Sarah discovered life in the outback and fought for the love of Matt, the station owner’s son. I was sad, in a way, when I wrote the final words of Rosalee Station as I had grown close to her and knew her journey had ended, for now.

I couldn’t resist asking Mandy this: What do you think it is that attracts women to country boys?

Country boys have ruggedness about them, a certain kind of manliness that only a man who survives off the land can possess. They can also be a little wayward and most women find that trait attractive. Now, when it comes to a man that is a country bloke and can ride a bull, I reckon it takes the sexiness to a whole new level. A hunky man dressed in jeans, chaps and a cowboy hat is simply irresistible, giving a woman the impression he could ride up on his wild stallion and drag them away to an untamed magical place where they can make love all day long with rain pelting on an old tin roof. I dare any woman to say that the very thought doesn’t leave them a little breathless!

One lucky commenter has the chance to win a copy of ROSALEE STATION. Simply answer one of these two questions Mandy has for you:

Who do you think is the sexiest cowboy in a movie?
Where in the outback/country do you dream to holiday?

The winner will be drawn on Tuesday 14th February for Valentine's Day.

What’s next for Mandy:

My second novel, Jacaranda, is due to be released on May 23^rd. It is definitely another one for the rural romance lovers with a beautiful country setting and not one but two hunky country men at the forefront.

I am in the process of organising a book signing tour for the end of June/early July from Dimbulah all the way down to Coffs Harbour – maybe a little further south depending on time – so if there is anyone that would like me to stop in their neck of the woods for a signing please feel free to contact me.

For more information about Mandy Magro, visit her site at http://www.mandymagro.com

The Winner of a signed copy of Mandy's ROSALEE STATION is Kathy M. Congratulations. Kathy, please contact Mandy to claim your prize.

And the winner is ...

2012-02-08T09:52:00.000+08:00

The lucky winner of the Karly Lane competition is ...

Kaz Delaney!!!

Kaz, please contact either Karly or myself to claim your prize.

Congratulations.

In the Back Paddock with ... Karly Lane

2012-02-04T01:00:00.000+08:00

I am thrilled to have the lovely Karly Lane, author of NORTH STAR as my first guest during our February Focus on Rural Australia. I donned on my boots and headed out to Macksville, NSW, for a stroll around the back paddock with Karly. Here's Karly to take us on a tour of the town:

I live in Macksville on the banks of the Nambuccariver on the mid north coast of New South Wales.

I guess it’s almost a polar opposite to Widgerry,the town in North Star, considering Macksville is only about 20minutes away from the ocean and North Star is located somewherevaguely in north/west New South Wales/Queensland border. But they’re alsosimilar in that they both have the same small town atmosphere, down to earthpeople (if not slightly over the top on occasions) and a rich history.

The Star Hotel in the early years

Macksville was apparently named after twowealthy families who’d built the Star hotel in 1885, the Mackay’s and theMcNally’s. The town becameMacks Village before changing to Macksville. The Nambucca valley has a richhistory in timber logging and there are some amazing photos up at the Pubwith no Beer of some massive trees the pioneers managed to log. On a sidenote, the Star hotel is still there today and is a much loved meeting place formy local writing group!

I actually have two very special characters in my town I’d have loved tomeet, but I can’t tell you too much about them just yet because their story isone of my upcoming books to be released, hopefully next year! It’s a verytragic story based around WW1 era and as soon as I heard it I knew I had towrite a story about it.

Australia Day 2012

Macksville has been my family home and I can tracemy ancestor’s right back to early settlers in the town. However, as a child, myfather’s line of work had us moving every three years and I’ve lived in manylittle rural towns in NSW.

My grandparents farm on the outskirts of Macksville though, was always home and prettymuch every great childhood memory I have took place on the farm. The farm hadsuch a huge impact on me that I actually include a lot of those childhoodmemories in my books.

In North Star, the memory Kate has ofher old horse, Penny, was real. Penny was my first horse and old as the hillswhen I got her. She was my best friend in the whole world and the day she diedbroke my heart. (She died of old age, not at the hands of a nasty grandfather!)Putting some of these little things into my books is a special way to keep thememories alive and I guess it’s my way of honoring such a wonderful childhood Iwas lucky enough to have.

I love that there’s that connection with your past.I can’t help but wonder when I walk down my main street sometimes that my greatgrandparents also walked down this main street too. I also like that no matterwho you walk past - you’ll get a smile or a hello. It doesn’t matter if youknow them or not - there’s just that expectation that people will say hello. Ireally notice this when I’m in a bigger city - there’s no eye contact, no ‘hi’.Everyone seems to be in their own little world. I think that’s sad.

The most romantic thing about living in the country is:

I don’t know about romantic, but as close as we areto the beach - I prefer to swim in the river and we have a fantastic spot deepin farming land with paddocks on eitherside and lovely big sweeping willow trees hanging over the water where we swim.It’s so beautiful and tranquil listening to the insects chirping and the breezeas it whistles through the tree tops…sighhh just gorgeous!

Why I love coming home:

I’ve been to Utah in the United States and Hawaii.I do plan on doing more overseas trips one day but I remember how lovely it wasjust to be back in familiar territory again…although this had to wait untilafter I left Sydney airport!

I love to write about the countrybecause:

I guess it’s because that’s the setting I’m mostfamiliar with - its not impossible to write something set in a place you have noexperience with, but I think having experienced things you can write about themwith a deeper connection.. if I wrote about a big city, it would probably comeacross as slightly paranoid and nervous- because that’s really been my onlyexperience with a big city. If you’d grown up in the city, I’m sure you’d havea lot more positive experiences you could draw on.

My favourite scene in NORTH STAR is:

The opening scene in the book is one of my favourites because it was actually based on real lifeexperience. I had no idea what I was writing when I sat down to write thisbook, but that one scene just leapt out onto the page. I also quite like theattempted seduction scene…poor Kate, I can relate to this—it’s probably whatwould happen to me if I were ever brave enough to try it!

Yours truly couldn’t resist asking Karly this question: (tongue-in-cheek )

Are all ruralcops as sexy as John Cafferty? Where did youfind the inspiration for his character?

In a perfect world they would be! I ahh … once knewa very hunky cop, a long time ago…I guess he had a lasting impression on me!

Now Karly has a question for you:
(One lucky commenter has the chance to win a copy of NORTH STAR)

If you were to make a tree orsea change where in Australia would you go and why?
and/or:
Do you have any interestinghistorical facts about the towns/ cities you live in?

Karly has a wonderful new book Morgan’sLaw due for release in May. Here’s a sneak peek:

Sarah Morgan returns to Australia in desperate need of a change of scenery. Disillusioned with love and on the fast track to career burnout, Sarah realizes she has lost herself somewhere between university and hitting thirty; she decides to fulfill her beloved Gran's final wish of taking her ashes to the small town of Negallan—a place no one in her family had ever heard of before.

Armed with only a rough sketched map and an old photo, Sarah soon discovers her gran had left out a few vital details of her past—like changing her name from Rose Morgan to Eliza Jones?

Could her gentle, unassuming gran really be this mysterious Rose Morgan who vanished beneath a cloud of suspicion never to be seen or heard from again?

Nothing about this trip was turning out to be simple—it doesn’t help matters that Adam Buchanan—the far too attractive for his own good, farmer who had a knack of showing up at inappropriate times, has decided Sarah was going to be his next conquest, managing to further complicate her already dysfunctional love life even more.

But when she finds herself involved in a rescue plan to save the small town—she quickly learns she has invested far more than her time and money into the project and continuing to dig into her gran’s past could ultimately hurt the people she’s grown to love.

Can she walk away without discovering the truth—can she risk her heart as well as her career for a taste of the simple life?

http://www.karlylane.com/index.html

http://www.karlylane.com/blog.html

February Focus on Rural Australia

2012-02-03T10:02:00.000+08:00

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by rural Australia - the history, the places, the people.

It started way back in the 1970's with Skippy the Bush Kangaroo being shown at school movie days. And then encouraged later by authors Emma Darcy and Margaret Way's stories set in Outback Australia.

All I wanted to be at aged 12 was a governess on a sheep or cattle station in the Outback. It took another 20 plus years before I finally made my journey to Australian shores and then it was to the city, not the country. But my fascination for this great land is as strong as ever.

So for the month of February we're heading out into the country with some great Aussie authors and amazing giveaways. Swing by each week and answer these questions to win:

If you were to make a tree or sea change, where in Australia would you go andwhy?
Or: Where do you think the most romantic rural setting is in Australia and why?

And here's the line-up:

February 4 - Karly Lane with NORTH STAR

February 11 - Mandy Magro with ROSALEE STATION

February 18 - Cathryn Hein with PROMISES

Books with BOB: One Perfect Night

2012-01-30T11:20:00.000+08:00

BOB and I enjoyed ONE PERFECT NIGHT by Rachael Johns so much we read it twice.

I was thrilled to interview Rachael on the eve of the release of ONE PERFECT NIGHT. There was no doubt in my mind that it was going to be a winner. It has everything I love about a good book: sass, sizzle and chocolate mocktails. And of course, who wouldn't love a feisty fairy in red fishnet stockings?

When Peppa Grant accidentally sideswipes CEO Cameron McCormac's Lamborghini in the company car park, she figures her career - recording audio books for Lyrique Recording - is over. But Mr McSexy has a proposition for Peppa that will ultimately make her toes curl. (Yours too, actually!) He is in a bit of a tight spot himself. Christmas time means attending dreaded family parties where everyone plays happy families with their children and spouse. Cameron is still becoming accustomed to being a widower and is having trouble letting go of his wife's memory. His adopted family (you'll love Auntie Rose) are pushing him to date again. So to avoid their matchmaking and in lieu of payment for the damage to his car, he asks his delightful Christmas fairy, Peppa, to accompany him to the family party.

The 'sizzle' is there in tasty titbits from the time they step into the car park to view the damage to his car. It builds steadily under the dinner table as Peppa becomes acquainted with everything she wants in life and Cameron doesn't - a family. Somewhere between dinner, dessert, coffee and a trip to the bathroom, any coherent thought goes out the window. And so it leads up to ONE PERFECT NIGHT. (I won't spoil the fun for you because you'll definitely want to read it for yourself.)

But Cameron, still battling his demons, can't resist coming back for more. Peppa slowly draws him out of his shell and it develops beyond their original plan of a once only encounter. As their little white lie about being a couple gets them more and more entangled, they head to towards the inevitable.

What I loved most about this book was the fun, witty voices Rachael gives her colourful characters. You can't resist being swept along. Her characters aren't just words on a page. They become real, breathing, living people who draw you in to the end (and in my case, all the way back to the beginning).

There are some classic lines that had me chuckling away in my hammock as I sipped my chocolate mocktail. I'd love for you to find them. Come back and tell me which were your favourite lines in ONE PERFECT NIGHT.

Next on Books with BOB: Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe

Books with Bob - Mistress of Marymoor

2012-01-24T02:44:00.000+08:00

Meet Bob.

Bob (Battery Operated Book) was my Christmas present from my family. I've been hanging around Amazon for a while now, undecided as to whether or not to take the plunge and invest in a Kindle.

Being a bit old-fashioned, I'd much rather curl up with a paperback. However, I gratefully accepted my Christmas present thinking that perhaps it was a good thing the decision was taken out of my hands. It was time for me to move into the 21st century. So far I haven't been disappointed. Although I do still find myself trying to thumb the page instead of clicking the forward button.

If you've visited my blog before, you'll remember that I recently interviewed Historical Author Anna Jacobs on her Swan River Saga. Since I'd not read any of her books yet, I thought I'd start with MISTRESS OF MARYMOOR as my first Kindle download and work my way through the list from there.

Deborah Jannvier is rescued from a miserable existence when she inherits Marymoor from her dying Great Uncle Ralph. But in order to inherit she must marry the rather delightful Matthew Pascoe and stop the estate from falling into unsavoury hands. It's not long before we see just how perfect Deborah and Matthew are for each other, but they have to conquer many roadblocks before they find happiness.

Mistress of Marymoor, set in the 18th century, spent most of 2011 in Amazon UK's top 100 historical romances. I can't wait to download the rest of Anna's books (or buy the paperback!) Maybe both. I was hooked immediately by the villiany and underhandedness of the baddies, swept along as Deborah and Matthew join forces against nasty cousin Elkin and greedy Uncle Walter. Anna gives this story great life, as with a little help from the loyal village folk, many a battle is fought.

What I liked best about MISTRESS OF MARYMOOR is the 'salt of the earth' characters. A delightful break from the ballroom glamour and glitter of the historicals I normally enjoy. No balls, no society ma'ams looking down their noses at Deborah; just true, home-grown characters who don't mind getting their hands a little dirty or taking off across the moors in desperate escape attempts.

Next on Books with BOB: One Perfect Night - Rachael Johns

Announcing the Winner of Tracy Sumner's Tides of Passion

2012-01-09T07:47:00.000+08:00

The winner of a copy of Tracy Sumner's TIDES OF PASSION is:

NATASHA with her comment:

"Hi!
I haven't come across your books before but they are now on my must read list. When I travelled to the US I fell in love with the soft spoken southern accents and manners. It didn't hurt that newly aquainted friend's voice was like slow flowing liquid honey when he spoke - and when he called me Darlin'- WOW
regards,
Natasha"

Natasha, could you please contact me via email at kees2create@gmail.com with your information to arrange for the collection of your prize.

Thank you for visiting Mission: Romance. We have great Romantic Adventures planned for 2012, so please come back soon!

Getting to Know Tracy Sumner

2012-01-02T01:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome back to Mission: Romance. Wishing you all avery happy 2012. We’re kick-starting the year by getting to know Tracy Sumner, authorof TIDES OF PASSION. Tracy is givingaway a copy to one lucky commenter, so please say hi.

The award-winning Tides series, TIDES OF LOVE, TIDES OF PASSION and bestselling holiday novella, TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL, are out now.Look for the prequel TO SEDUCE A ROGUEin late January 2012.

Helloand welcome Tracy. Would you like to tell our readers a little bit aboutyourself?

I’m a nativesoutherner who has lived all over the place. France, Switzerland, Taiwan. Andquite a few states. I’m nomad!

My affair with the romance genre began during college when I picked up a copyof LaVyrle Spencer’s VOWS. I was not a fan of the genre at all. And this bookblew me away. About a thousand novels later, I decided to write the southern version of theperfect love story.

I sold my first novel, which was incredibly lucky. I had no idea what I wasdoing. I’m a huge reader as well – probably why I’m not as prolific as I shouldbe. That…and my four-year-old son!

Whatinspires you to write and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I actually started writing in high school. I was very inspired at thattime by Stephen King and S.E. Hinton. My early stuff was very Outsider-y (S.E.Hinton wrote The Outsiders, among other books).

A beautiful turn of a phrase and character’s emotions (on screen or in print)inspire me now.

Whichcomes to you first? The character, the story or the idea?

Hmmm…I actually think both. I see scenes – and scenesor a snatch of dialogue come to me – but always with characters attached. Ithink I’m a very character-driven (vs. plot) writer. So, character, if I haveto choose.

Didyou choose your genre or did your genre choose you?

I thinkromance chose me! I simply love the genre – as a reader and a writer. I lovecharacters. And I also like writing from a male point of view. I’m into emotionand angst.

Whatis your favorite scene in your book?

Favorite? Ofany book I’ve written. Gosh…hard one. But I love the scenes in TIDES OF PASSIONwhere Zach and Savannah banter. Sometimes they even argue. A battle of thesexes one reviewer called it! (And I stole this for my website tagline…) So,here goes. This is early in the novel.

"It being kissing, Itake?" He leaned in, his elbows sliding onto the table for the first timethat evening. She could have taken the man to a presidential dinner and hewould have fit in.

"Yes. Kissing.Overrated."

"I could change yourmind," Zach said, surprising the hell out of them both. Why would he takesomething as simple as this banter as a challenge? "I don't know that Iwant to, but I feel right sure I could."

"How arrogant. Howtypically male."

"I suppose." He shruggedand reached for the wine bottle. "More?"

She nodded, frowning now."How do you know you could change my mind? It's been a long time sinceyou... well—"

"Over two years."The pain was there, an ache in his chest he imagined he would feel every time hethought of Hannah.

And he thought of her everyday. Dreamed of her about as often. But lately, maybe only in the past week,he'd begun to realize that his life had not ended with his wife's.

He either had to die orstart living again.

Because of Rory, therereally was no choice at all.

"Were you happy?"she asked.

Glancing across the table,he watched the flickering candlelight wash over Savannah. A soft glowhighlighted the mass of chestnut curls she was not capable of controlling. Longlashes brushed her fine-boned cheeks as she blinked slowly, watching him watchher.

With those looks, it was nowonder the men in town were buzzing about her.

"I was happy," hesaid, letting the wine trickle down his throat, hoping it would dull hisheartache.

"What was shelike?"

Zach closed his eyes andrested his head on the back of the chair, remembering. The crash of waves inthe distance and the rustle of pine branches in the breeze soothed him. Alittle. "She was fragile. Like an angel made of glass. The kind they blowuntil it's so thin you think it'll break if you touch it."

He had often been afraid totouch her, to hug her with even half his strength, but that was far toopersonal a memory to share. "There wasn't a cross bone in her body or anevil thought in her head. She was good... kind." He blinked, refocused.Savannah had moved forward in her chair, her arms propped on the table, hereyes gleaming in the candlelight. "But she wasn't strong. I knew when Iasked her to marry me that I would have to take care of her, that it wouldn'tbe the other way around. I accepted that, I wanted it."

"You wanted her."

Yes. He had wanted Hannah,had loved her intensely—something he had not felt for a woman since. But as theyears of their marriage passed, and she seemed to wither under his care, he hadoften questioned whether he was the right man for her. If any man could be theright man for her. At the very end, he had almost decided that staying in thenurturing care of her family would have been best. He was a man, and he hadneeded certain things.

Things Hannah had givenfreely but without genuine interest. Without fire or enthusiasm.

It horrified him, made himfeel guilty as hell, to think he'd loved a woman so completely, yet had verylittle in common with her in bed.

Conversely, the womansitting across from him—uppity, proud, and sassy—was everything Hannah had notbeen. He sure as heck didn't like her... but he liked watching her. Watchingswift, joyful smiles cross her face, hearing her gusts of uninhibited laughter,and the way her mirth pressed her bosom against her crisp shirtwaist.

She enjoyed life, or so itlooked to him.

He even imagined she mightbe an entertaining companion, maybe even pleasant on a good day. And just whenhe felt safe thinking that, she would turn and deliver a crushing line ofsuperiority and irritate him so bad he wanted to spit.

On her.

But she was intriguing, allright. That, he could not deny.

"What about you, MissConnor? Never felt the urge to shackle yourself to a man?"

She straightened in herchair, her spine locking one vertebrae at a time until she sat as rigid as adried-up schoolmarm. "Me?" With a scant laugh, she took a hasty sipof wine.

Zach smiled, sinking low inhis chair, balancing his glass on his stomach. So, she doesn't want to talkabout herself. "It's a customary question, isn't it? I thought most womenwanted marriage."

She sniffed. "I'm notmost women, Constable."

No kidding, he wanted tosay, eyeing her over the rim of his glass.

Tellus a little about your favourite character:

Noah Garrett (heroin the first novel in the series -- TIDES OF LOVE) is my most personal“creation”. He’s my type. A marine biologist in turn-of-the-century NC (OuterBanks), he’s an introvert. An atypical hero. Sexy but nerdy. I LOVE him.

Whatwas the hardest part to write?

This is broad – but openings in any book are the hardest for me. Istruggle with backstory-itis. I think I’m getting better with each novel tocontain this urge to give the reader ALL the information. But I know so much –and damn, it’s fascinating!

Whoare your favorite authors?

Judith Ivory (retired, I think), good ole’ LaVyrle (retired, too). JulieAnne Long, Meredith Duran, Liz Carlyle, to name just a few. I’m also reallygetting into reading Indie authors – as I am now one, too!

Whatbook do you consider your favourite read of all time?

DANCE – Judith Ivory. Hands down.

Ifyou could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

Elvis! But I’d want my dad there, too.

Tracy’s story telling career began whenshe picked up a copy of LaVyrle Spencer’s Vows on a college beach trip. Ajournalism degree and a thousand romance novels later, she decided to try herhand at writing a southern version of the perfect love story. With a great dealof luck and more than a bit of perseverance, she sold her first novel toKensington Publishing.

When not writing sensual stories featuringcomplex characters and lush settings, Tracy can be found reading romance,snowboarding, watching college football and figuring out how she can get to 100countries before she kicks (which is a more difficult endeavor than it used tobe with her four-year-old son in tow). She lives in Charlotte, NC, but afterspending a few years in “the city”, considers herself a New Yorker at heart.

Tracy has been awarded the National Reader’s Choice,the Write Touch and the Beacon – with finalist nominations in the HOLTMedallion, Heart of Romance, Rising Stars and Reader’s Choice. Her books havebeen translated into German, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. She loves hearingfrom readers about why she tends to pit her hero and heroine against each otherand that great novel she simply must order in five seconds on her Kindle.

Ifyou would like to know more about Tracy, visit her website at:

www.tracysumner.com.

Tracy also blogs regularly at www.tracysumner.com/blog.

Thank you for sharing with us, Tracy. We wish you allthe best with your writing career.

If you’d like to win a copy of TIDES OF PASSION, don’t forget to leavea comment.

Announcing the Winner of Nina Jade Singer's Secrets of the Knight

2011-12-18T21:18:00.001+08:00

Thanks to all those who stopped by Mission: Romance on Nina Jade Singer's Blog tour and commented on her post "A Writer's Holiday Gift". The lucky winner of a copy of Nina's Secrets of the Knight is Jessi Likey.

Jessi, please contact Nina via her website below to claim your prize.

http://ninasinger.com/contact_me

All commenters on Nina's Blog Tour go into the draw to win a US$100 Amazon Gift Voucher. See where Nina goes next.

Getting to Know Rachael Johns

2011-12-18T01:00:00.000+08:00

On the eve of the release of ONE PERFECT NIGHT, guest Author RachaelJohns tells us a little more about her writing journey and shares an extract towhet our appetites. Look out for ONEPERFECT NIGHT for sale as from December 19, 2011. Visit Rachael at www.rachaeljohns.blogspot.com

Rachael, welcome to Mission; Romance andthank you for being our guest author today. Tell us a little bit aboutyourself?

I’m a teacher-by-trade, a Mum of three young boys, a co-supermarketowner with my husband and Mum, and in all my spare time I read and write.There’s not much spare time as it happens, so most is consumed with writing andI don’t get nearly enough reading done L my favourite colour is pink, I LOVE Diet Coke and most people call meRach! Right now, my dreams are coming true – this year I’ve signed two bookcontracts, which is what I’ve been working towards for the last decade or so.One day, when my kids are in school and I write mostly during school hours, Iplan on taking up quilting – lol!!

What inspires you to write and when did you know youwanted to be a writer?

I don’t know if it’s so much inspiration as a DRIVE. I started writingabout 14 years ago when I broke up with my first serious boyfriend and I gotthe bug. Now if I’m not working on a book – even if I’m trying to have a breakto refill the well – I’m lost. I’ve been seriously working towards publicationsince 2006 and since then, I haven’t wanted to do anything else career wise!

Which comes first? The character's story or the ideafor the novel?

I actually think it can be either for me. With thelast book I wrote (Hollywood Heartbreak), I had the idea that I wanted to writeabout someone accepting a posthumous Oscar Award for a dead relative and I’vealso always wanted to write about an ex paparazzi photographer. Somewhere alongthe lines, I decided these two characters might work well together.

For my current WIP (working title Man Drought), Iwanted a rural setting and I got the idea of someone renovating a country pub.I live in the country and constantly see old pubs with so much potential thatare going to ruin. From here, I dreamt up to characters to fit the premise.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say, is for me there isn’t a set thingthat comes first. I’m unpredictable.

Did you choose your genre or did your genre chooseyou?

When I started writing, it was more chick-lit. My firststory definitely didn’t have a HEA – the hero died in fact. Then in 2006, Ifound Mills and Boon and fell in love with romance more than the chick-lit typestuff I’d been reading or writing. I found my home here. I love reading romanceand I love writing romance. At heart, I’m a true romantic.

What is your favorite scene in your book?

My favorite scene is after Cameron finally stays thenight with Peppa. This wasn’t a conscious decision on his part – he just fellasleep and stayed that way, which is a rarity for him. He has night terrors andhasn’t until Peppa spent the night with a woman since his wife died.

Extract:

Cameronopened one eye to see light stealing in through the gap in the curtains andwondered why his alarm clock had failed him. It had been a long while since thesun had beaten him to the beach for his morning run. Whenhe opened the other eye, instant sweat swept over his skin.

Heleaped from the bed—not his—quicker than a mouse sprung by a cat. So quick anactual cat—Penelope’s kitten Fred whom he’d obviously disrupted inslumber—hissed and bared his teeth.

Atthat precise moment, Penelope appeared in the ensuite doorway, hair wet andnothing but that illegally small towel wrapped around her again. He ripped openthe top few buttons of his shirt. How the hell had he slept with them done up?How the hell had he slept at all?

Heneeded fresh air. He needed a drink. Was it too damn early to start on thewhiskey?

“Youlook like you’ve seen a ghost?” She said, coming toward him. “Didn’t sleepwell?”

Herlips were curled upward, satisfied, happy. In contrast, he had a lump in histhroat the size of a large meatball.

“Itappears I slept damn fine.” He rubbed his neck muscles which felt abnormallyrelaxed.

Shefrowned and sat on the bed glancing up at him. “And that’s a problem?”

Hisfists clenched. He stepped backward. Letting out a raw scream was a very realoption. “No.” He huffed. “Yes.” He ran a hand through his bed hair and cursed,unable to do this with her sitting there practically naked.

Howwould Kristen feel knowing he’d slept so soundly with another woman that thedemons of her death hadn’t haunted him? More to the point, how had he let ithappen?

Tell me a little about your favourite character inyour book.

I’m going to choose a minor character and say thehero’s Auntie Kate. She took him in when he was left an orphan as a child and,despite having lots of children of her own; she treats him like he’s hers. Sheis such a lovely, warm woman who just wants the best for everyone. AND shemakes great Christmas fare!

What was the hardest part to write?

The ending. Always seems to be the ending for me. I LURVE beginnings andam excited by the blank page until the Black Moment, then I start stressingthat the BM isn’t dark enough and the resolution is too simple.

Who is your favorite author(s)?

You ask ALL the hard questions! I’m a recent Susan Wiggs fan, I adoreLisa Jewell and Jenny Crusie, and category authors I will always buy areBronwyn Jameson, Kelly Hunter, Heidi Rice and Sarah Mayberry. You’ve probably seen a trend – I’m acontemporary romance gal through and through.

What book do you consider your favourite read of alltime?

That is SUCH a hard question but I think it’d have tobe Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding, and the movie made it even BETTERfor me. This was actually the book that led me back to reading and alsoinspired me to start to write.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, whowould it be and why?

My granddad – simply because he was an amazing person and I miss him somuch. He was also a magician and one day I’m gonna write a magician hero justlike him.

Book Blurb of ONE PERFECT NIGHT:

Peppa Grant’s fellow employees may call their newCEO Mr. McSexy, but she’s also heard that he’s aloof and distant. CameronMcCormac certainly seems cold toward Christmas when she meets him at thecompany’s annual party…but he’s also the sexiest man Peppa has ever seen.And when he offers to forgive the damage she accidentally caused to hisexpensive car in exchange for accompanying him to his family’s holidayget-together, she agrees.

Cameron needs a date to the family party to get hismatchmaking relatives off his back. Their chemistry is instant andundeniable, leading to an incredible one-night stand. But Peppa wants love andfamily, while Cameron’s only interested in temporary pleasure. When theirrelationship takes an unexpectedly serious turn, will he run the otherway—or will he give love a second chance?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachael-Johns/260103224001776

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/RachaelJohns

Your blog: http://www.rachaeljohns.blogspot.com/

Your website: http://www.rachaeljohns.com/index.html

2011-12-16T17:33:00.002+08:00

This digital slideshow made with Smilebox

A Writer’s Holiday Gift by Guest Author: Nina Jade Singer

2011-12-05T02:00:00.000+08:00

Today at Mission: Romance we welcome author Nina Jade Singer, who is currently doing a blog tour. One lucky commenter will receive a copy of Secrets of TheKnight. Followers and commenter’s of the blog tour will go in the grand draw of anAmazon Gift Certificate of US$100.00! For the full itinerary and more chances to win, check the AUTHOR PAGE!

Helloeveryone. I’m so happy and honored to be at Mission Romance today. I recentlycelebrated the release of my first book, Secrets of the Knight from CrescentMoon Press. This is certainly the season of celebration. As I sit here writingthis, we are fast approaching the holidays – a magical, festive time that canalso be oh so tiring. Gift-giving season. So I got to thinking: as writers,what gift can we give to ourselves? And a voice in my head answered. That voicethat we writers all seem to have. You know what it said? Permission to fail.

Hearme out, what could you accomplish as a writer if you weren’t afraid to fail?Maybe even expected it? How would that make you feel? Fearless? Confident? Idon’t mean merely pumping yourself up and repeating affirmations. That’s moreof a way to try and assume success, isn’t it? I mean actually trying somethingeven knowing you will probably fail and fail miserably. Think about it. Whatprojects have you put away because you assumed they would never work? Whatstory did you never write? I’ve had quite a few in the past that I never evenbothered to try. Let’s face it, this business is full of rejection. So trying new and different things is fraughtwith anxiety and doubt. Think about what might happen if you just said ‘sowhat?’ to all that.

Whatwould you start today if you told yourself it was perfectly ok to fall flat onyour face? How could you bring yourself to truly believe that? As a writer, Ican hardly imagine how freeing that would be.

Whatbetter gift for ourselves this holiday season?

I’mlooking forward to your comments!

Nina

AboutNina Jade Singer:

I'vealways loved stories of the supernatural. With mystery, suspense, and agood dose of romance. Afteryears in the corporate world, I had to start writing my own such stories. And Ihad to do it in New England - near mystical Salem, Mass.

Ninaon the Web: Website Facebook Twitter

Secrets of theKnight

Several years ago lifeforced Thomas (Bo) Bowden to give up everything, including the woman he loves,and take refuge on a Caribbean island. Little did he know, he was taking thefirst step to fulfilling his mystical destiny.

Nicole Balian has cometo the small island of Trenado to find a missing teenager. She's shocked to thecore to find her former lover instead. And the attraction between her and Bo isas strong as ever.

Working together tosolve the unexplained disappearances plaguing the island, they find themselvesin a frightening world of voodoo and magic. Trenado's history is shrouded insupernatural mystery. The danger they face serves to reignite their love. Butas Bo fights an ancient evil that haunts the island, will Nicole be able tosave the man she loves? Or will she lose him once again, this time forever?

BuyLink:

Amazon

Getting to Know Anna Jacobs

2011-11-28T07:52:00.000+08:00

I am thrilled to have Anna Jacobs as my guest today to tell us more about her Swan River Saga. Anna has published over 50 novels set in the UK and Australia. Her passion for her craft is inspirational. Over to you, Anna.

Ilive in Western Australia, in a house by the edge of the water - which is greatexcept when I’m writing, when I either stare at a computer, or wander throughmy imagination. I prefer to work in my office, which is set up exactly as Ilike it. I work on two elderly computers, one of which never goes on theInternet. That’s my writing computer. I’m dreading having to upgrade to a newtype of Windows/Word because it’ll slow me down.

I also spend the northern summers in the UK, where mypublishers and half my family are. It’s a great way to live, but complicatedrunning two houses.

My dreams were always to write stories and they stillare. I have ideas and characters queuing up impatiently in my brain, nagging meto write them.

My favourite ‘thing’ is a person, my lovely husband ofalmost 50 years. He’s my best friend and business manager, as well as mybeloved. No wonder I write romantic stories!

Mywebsite is at: http://www.annajacobs.com

I’ve just spent a lot of money upgrading it, and you can findall sorts of information there, including the first chapters of my books, alist of series and which books belong to which, and a picture gallery.

Peoplecan buy my books from bookshops, stores, on line, as electronic books, largeprint, audiobooks, etc. All the usual formats from all the usual places.

Idon’t do a blog, because there are only 24 hours in the day, and I don’t wantto cut down on the number of books I write or give up my time with my lovelyhusband. But I do guest ‘appearances’ on other people’s blogs, like this one. Ido have a Facebook page and post there every few days.

Whatinspires you to write and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Iknew I wanted to write stories when I was 10 and figured someone had to writethe books I loved. I’d been telling stories since I was two.

I’vebeen addicted to stories all my life. Totally addicted. As a child I used toread about 12 books a week from the local library. I still read three novels aweek.

Idon’t know about being ‘inspired’ - story-telling seems as natural to me asbreathing - and if something prevents me from writing for more than a day or twoI get distinctly grumpy.

Whichcomes to you first? The character or the idea?

MostlyI see a setting/incident in my imagination, then the characters seem to appearfrom nowhere. As I write, they become more vivid. I don’t plan ahead in anydetail, apart from the setup scene/incident.

Tellme more about why you write for this genre.

Istarted off imitating Georgette Heyer and writing historical romances - andthese got published and have now been republished as ebook on Amazon andelsewhere. Then I wrote a story set in a mill town like the one I grew up in,but about the other people, not the millworkers - I felt the others had beenneglected. I didn’t realize then that I was writing a saga, UK style, but Iwas, and I’ve now written over 30 of them.

Atthe same time I wrote fantasy novels as Shannah Jay - and they too have nowbeen republished as ebooks. I don’t write fantasy novels at the moment, but whoknows? I still get ideas . . .

Afew years ago I decided to write a modern novel, for a change, to stimulate andextend myself as a writer. That got published, so I’ve been writing modern storiesever since for one publisher.

Mysagas have now morphed into historical novels. They’re set mainly in WesternAustralia, which I’m thoroughly enjoying researching. I think its historyhasn’t been in high focus. Sydney and the eastern states of Australia are asfar away from where I live as New York from San Francisco, so WA is verydifferent.

Thetrouble is, we humans have such short lifetimes and there are so many storiesto write!

Tellus more about the Swan River Saga:

I found out ten years before I wrote the Swan RiverSaga that in 1863, when people in Lancashire were starving because the AmericanCivil War had cut off supplies of cotton to the mills, 60 ‘cotton lasses’ werebrought out to Western Australia to work as domestic servants. That linked mynew life with my old and seemed a good basis for a story, I kept it in my ideasfile to write ‘one day’.

Years later I found some memoirs written by aclergyman’s wife, who had come out to Western Australia on the same ship as thecotton lasses. Chapter 1 described the journey in detail. I decided this was anudge from fate, and set about doing more research, then writing the story.

I added four more young women to the shipload and theyare the central characters in the three books: Farewell to Lancashire, Beyondthe Sunset and Destiny’s Path.

I absolutely loved writing these stories and in Book3, a minor character (Bram) was so vivid I couldn’t forget him, so I had tostart on his story next. That’s how the Trader’s Wife was born. It brings insome of the characters from the Swan River Saga.

Tellme a little about your favourite character in your book.

Theseries is about four sisters, who are tall, intelligent and not at all meek.There are documented cases of millworkers getting an education (eg learningGreek or Latin), or becoming noted naturalists, so I made mine avid readers andusers of their town’s library - public lending libraries were just beingcreated at that time. One real millworker called his daughters by the names ofGreek goddesses, so I did too: Cassandra, Maia, Xanthe and Pandora.

Ican’t single out any of the Blake sisters as my favourite. I like them all! They’recourageous, loving and hard-working. Excellent qualities.

Whatwas the hardest part to write in your book?

Thecart crash in Beyond the Sunset. What do I know about carts? But there were norailways in Western Australia in the 1860s, so ‘we’ had to travel by cart. WhenI wanted a cart crash, I enlisted the help of a cart club in the US to get itright, and they were so lovely and helpful.

Whatbook do you consider your favourite read of all time?

GeorgetteHeyer’s ‘Friday’s Child’. It started my love of historical stories - and ofhistory, which had been smothered by dry facts when I was at school. It hasthe most gorgeous minor characters,especially Ferdy Fakenham, and that’s influenced me as a writer, because I tryto get vivid secondary characters, when appropriate.

Ifyou could have dinner with one person, dead or alive,who would it be and why?

Onlyone? At the moment, I’m thinking of David Susuki, a futurist whom I admire andwho makes me think about the future of our world. But there are also StephenFry and Helen Mirren. Fry is a polymath and Mirren is doing so much for olderwomen’s self esteem. Oh, there are a host of interesting people in the world.

One last message for our readers?

I’dlove readers to visit my website, which has a lot of information on it, alsofirst chapters of each book. If we’re talking about the Swan River Saga, youcan find first chapters to the three books and links to the first chapters at:

http://www.annajacobs.com/book.aspx?title=Farewell-to-Lancashire&bookID=43

http://www.annajacobs.com/book.aspx?title=Beyond-the-Sunset&bookID=45

http://www.annajacobs.com/book.aspx?title=Destinys-Path&bookID=56

A 'Must Read' - Cathryn Hein's Promises

2011-11-21T19:19:00.001+08:00

Every now and then a spectacular read ends up in my hands and I find myself totally enchanted. As a rule, I try to vary my reading choice, so you will find anything from murder and mayhem to supersweet romance on my bookshelf - even a handful of YA. But once in a while I come across an author who has me stalking bookstores and libraries for more. One such author is Cathryn Hein.

Cathryn's novel Promises spent a couple of weeks on my bookshelf waiting patiently for it's turn to be read. I kept passing over it because I'm not really a horse fan. (Put it down to a bad experience with a Shetland Pony!) And since this book was very clearly set in the racing scene, I was a little hesitant ... until I started reading it.

Not since my introduction to Nora Roberts, has an author had me so completely and utterly spellbound. I forgot to cook, the laundry piled up and the dust bunnies swirled, forgotten because I could not put the book down. I sincerely hope Ms Hein considers selling movie rights if approached. It would be an amazing movie!

Cathryn has an exceptional way with words. As I read, I could hear the beat of hooves, smell the turf, feel the excitement. I even found myself liking the horses. I cried and celebrated with Sophie and Aaron, increasing my shares in Kleenex tenfold. Her well-defined characters came alive on each page and kept me so entertained I only stopped twice to reach for chocolate.

Cathryn also captures the growing relationship between Sophie and Aaron perfectly. There is just the right amount of conflict to keep you glued to the page. Will he kiss her, won't he kiss her? Oh for goodness sake! Kiss her already!! From beginning to end, you ride an emotional rollercoaster as you identify with the struggles that keep the two apart.

Promises is a compelling tale of forgiveness and hope, coloured with secrets and tainted with regrets. If you haven't already read it or have it on your TBR list - this is one you should not miss out on. I was thrilled to find that Cathryn has another release, Heart of the Valley, due out in May 2012 and yet another in the pipeline. I hope I can pre-order.

Getting to know Anne Oliver

2011-11-21T05:55:00.000+08:00

copyright © by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd

There's Something About a Rebel - indeed there is! Those bad boys your mum warned you about? Who can resist them? My guest today is Anne Oliver.

Welcome to Mission: Romance, Anne and thank you for sharing your passion with us. Without further ado, let's get to know Anne Oliver:

I live in Adelaide, South Australia. 15 minutes from the city, 30minutes from the beach, 20 minutes from the Adelaide Hills. Perfect. How many places offer so many choices?

In a roundabout way, a clairvoyant gave me the inspiration to write in1996. She ‘read’ an ancestral photographfrom the 1800’s and what she told me was so fascinating I had to put it inwriting. I added my ideas to hers towrite a reincarnation story in 1997 and I was hooked. I completed three 100,000 word time-travel/futuristic/fantasiesbefore changing to contemporary stories. I’d decided early on that the best way toimprove was to enter writing contests. Eight years and many contest finals later I came second in 2005 RWNZ’sGreat Beginnings Contest and my full manuscript was read — and more importantlyaccepted — by Kimberley Young at Mills and Boon, UK.

Ruby Award Winner 2008

My first book was published as one of Mills and Boon’s new line, ModernExtra, in August 2006. In 2007 and 2008my first two published books won the Romance Writers of Australia’s RomanticBook of the Year. In the UK my bookscome out as Rivas or Moderns, in Australia they come out as Sexys, in the US asPresents Extra. And all with differentcovers. Confusing, yes? My latest release, There’s Something about a Rebel, came out in the UK in August,Australia in September, and will come out in the US in January 2012.

I love astronomy (not to be confused with astrology) with a life-longinterest in Mars. Sunrise in summer andsnow-covered sunsets in winter. Rainbows, Haighs dark soft-centred chocolates, and pink diamonds. I love animals and have a passion for animalrights. Visiting Scotland was one of mylife’s highlights in 1998. I’d like tocruise Alaska or maybe one of those river cruises in Europe some time — therehas to be a story there somewhere.

Which comes to you first - Thecharacter or the story/idea?

Sometimes it’s an initial idea which might come from a current affairsprogram or some incident that’s occurred. For example, my WIP starts when my characters are stranded atMelbourne’s airport when all flights are grounded due to the volcanic ash cloudfrom Chile. More often it’s acharacter. I see her (it’s usually theheroine) in a situation and have to figure out how she got there. Once I get to know her, I come up with aconflicting hero and plenty of situations for them to interact and fall inlove.

Lissa, in There’s Something abouta Rebel, was a secondary character in my previous book, Her Not-so-Secret Diary. She insisted on having her own story.

Did you choose your genre ordid your genre choose you?

I loved my paranormal stories but eventually turned to reading/writingcontemporary. I write what I enjoy reading. Something fun and flirty, lots of sexualtension, but also plenty of emotion because I like to shed some tears along theway. And the satisfying ending. The Modern Heat/Riva line gives me all thatand suits my style of writing.

What is your favorite scene in your book?

Don’t have afavourite scene but here’s a snippet: Lissa’ssecret childhood crush, Blake, left to join the navy. Yearslater, the clearance diver returns on leave and Lissa’s all grown up. She’s just shared a takeaway meal with him inan empty office space he’s paid for to help set up her interior design business:

copyright © by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd

He looked ather for a long, hushed, tension-packed moment, his eyes glinting in thecandle’s seductive glow.

Anticipationswarmed through her body, her pulse picked up and her breathing quickened. She swore she could see the sexual sparksdancing between them on the candle-light.

But Blakedidn’t kiss her. He wasn’t seduced orpersuaded by those sparks. Instead, herose, walked the couple of steps to the balustrade and blew out the candles,leaving only the light filtering up from downstairs. Back-lit, he was all stern lines and sharpangles and shadows. Who are you really, Blake Everett? What’s made you this way?

Tell me a little about your favourite character inyour book.

Forme, a romance is all about the hero. Blakeis tormented by the death of one of his team during a routine operation thatwent wrong. Years ago, misunderstood, heleft Australia and his scandalous reputation behind. Now he’s back to recuperate from his owninjuries and just wants to be left alone until he can buy his own yacht andsail away — solo. But his old school mate’s little sisterdesperately needs his help.

What was the hardest part to write in your book?

Usuallythe black moment. I had a couple ofideas for There’s Something about a Rebelbut wasn’t happy with them and fretted constantly as the end neared. The ‘right’ black moment didn’t come to meuntil I virtually arrived at that point and my hero, in true heroic style, cameto the rescue and told me what to write. I worry about it every time I start a new story.

Who is your favorite author?

Myfavourite author is Nora Roberts for her contemporary trilogies. I also enjoy

BarbaraErskine, Barbara Delinksy, and series authors Ally Blake and Kelly Hunter.

What book do you consider your favourite read of alltime?

Don’thave to think about this. Cross stitchby Diana Gabaldon. I loved the firstfour books in the Outlander series.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Thisis hard, so many choices. Maybe BearGrylls, English adventurer and TV presenter for Man versus Wild. I’d love tolisten to his extraordinary adventures and ask questions. And it wouldn’t be a hardship to look at himover the dinner table while he talked either!

Thanks Anne. I'm sure dinner with Bear Grylls would be very entertaining! Now there's a hero and a rebel all in one. Visit Anne's website for more information on where you can buy her books.

While you're here, pop over to see what I have on my TBR list. If you've read a book lately you think I'd enjoy, please let me know.

Cover Art copyright © by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. Permission granted.

Let your Voice be Heard

2011-10-25T21:04:00.000+08:00

Thanks to the Mills & Boon New Voices contest, over 1000 hopefuls were given the opportunity to have their voices heard. Some had been heard before. Others were newbies, shaking in their boots as they put up their first chapter efforts and then ran for cover.

And what a job the judges had on their hands! Imagine trying to choose only 20 entries out of 1090 promising new voices. In the end, they chose 21.

I found myself in good company when I discovered that I was not the only one afraid of feedback. Critique is one of the hardest things for a new writer to learn to accept.

As much as we welcome any critique at all, it takes a while to develop the outer shell of protection to be able to accept the kind and sometimes not so kind critique.Something else we learn with time is that no matter how unkind the critique may appear, it's more about learning what works and what doesn't. For you and the reader.

The voices of the unsuccessful were a mixture of sadness, disappointment and resigned acceptance. Most responded by joyfully celebrating the success of the Top 21. Now that's the spirit. That's another thing we learn. Our best supporters and critics, besides our friends and families, are other writers. We learn so much from each other because we understand the frustrations as well as the celebrations that are an integral part of writing.

For the sad New Voices, I have this advice:

You are winners for taking the first step and entering the contest - any contest
Take some time out from your entry and let the emotion subside
Or better yet, use that passion and emotion in your writing. Let it all out on paper and see where it takes you
When you're spent, take the comments on your entry and analyse them
Try some of the suggestions - they might just make a difference
If they don't, you'll be inspired to rewrite or restructure because you will have identified a better way
If not, put that first chapter away for a while and try something new
Whatever you do, do not give up on writing and never give up on your dreams.

My entry in the contest started it's journey with a different title and a totally different approach. Thanks to the constructive critique from an RWA contest, my characters became stronger and my story better planned and plotted. Finally, I could progress past Chapter Four. It all just seemed to fall into place and Taming the Tiger was born.

My last bit of advice to you is to join a Romance Writers chapter in your area, if you haven't already done so. You will be amazed at what you learn and the bonds you form with your fellow writers.

Writing is a learning journey. When you travel the long road to reach your goal, you need to face the challenges head on. So pick up your mighty sword (or in this instance your pen or keyboard) and soldier on. As long as there are readers, there will always be writers.

Good luck and happy writing until next time.
Regards, Juanita

Love amongst the Cherry Blossoms

2011-10-03T13:38:00.000+08:00

Konnichiwa,

Wedding fever is running hot in our household at the moment as we prepare to take to the skies and head for Japan. Last minute arrangements, the rush to find the 'right' dress, the 'perfect' shoes and the list goes on.

It's a classic love story. They met on a plane and fell in love. Now it's off to a fairytale wedding amongst the cherry blossoms.

This got me thinking about wedding traditions. These days couples are opting for less traditional weddings like beach and garden ceremonies with a celebrant rather than the traditional chapel wedding. The old superstitions and traditions that went hand in hand are now gradually fading away. So I thought I'd share a few of some of the perhaps lesser known superstitions:

Stag parties were first held by ancient Spartan soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days goodbye with a raucous party.
Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
It's good luck for the bride to step into the church with her right foot first.
It's bad luck for the bride to see a pig, hare or lizard running across the road
It's also bad luck for her to see an open grave or to meet a nun or monk on her wedding day.
Dressing the bridesmaids is to fool the evil spirits, so they will not know which one is the bride.
The new bride must enter her new home by the main door, and must not trip or fall. It's a bad omen if the bride stumbles. (Hence the custom of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold.)
The spouse who goes to sleep first on the wedding day will be the first to die. (Oh dear!)
So what can we expect from a wedding in Japan?

The wedding is a cross-cultural, true love-match and promises to be a mix of traditions. Let's look at the complexity. The groom is the third generation of Moyanese descent to be born in South Africa and was raised in Australia. The bride's family has a Japanese history that can undoubtedly be traced back through the centuries, although they embrace the modern era. The wedding party will wear traditional Japanese wedding dress, but the guests are free to choose either traditional or western. It promises to be a colourful day and an amazing photo opportunity.

I did some research into some of the old traditions and came up with some interesting results.

During the age of aristocracy, the marriage system was known as 'Muko-iri' meaning that the groom was 'adopted' into the bride's family where he would provide labour for an agreed period of time to maintain the family.
In the 14th century, the feudal lords reigned and marriages were arranged for political and diplomatic reasons with a view to maintain peace and unity amongst themselves. During this time, the marriage partners had no choice but to marry the one the 'nakado' or matchmaker chose for them.

The tradition changed to the 'Yome-iri' marriage system. During this time, the groom would only visit his wife in her home nightly. It wasn't until the first child was born or he lost one of his parents, that she could take up her rightful place at his side in his home.

Interesting facts? Do you know of an unusual wedding tradition or superstition? Share it with us in your comments.

Until next time, Sayonara

Juanita

Research sites:

University of Southern Queensland
Japanese Lifestyle

Getting to know Eleni Konstantine

2011-09-25T23:03:00.000+08:00

Today we are getting to know Helen Katsinis (aka Eleni Konstantine). Helen is also a tireless supporter and volunteer at Romance Writers of Australia.

Welcome to Mission: Romance, Helen.

First of all, thanks Juanita, for having me on your whizz bang blog.

I’m a long time member of Romance Writers of Australia, and I write fantasy and paranormal fiction under the name of Eleni Konstantine. While I’ve had some short fiction published, I’m yet to be published in anything longer – yet! (wink).

I am a long time volunteer of RWA – after all it’s a great organisation. So if you’ve seen my name around – Helen Katsinis - and you’re not sure where, that could be it. I help with Hearts Talk, the web team, am the paranormal e-loop co-moderator, and am part of the next two conference teams.

Image from www. freedigitalphotos.net

I’ve recently started my own design website, HelzKatDesigns. A result of winning (unexpectedly, I might add) the 2010 Little Gems Topaz Anthology Cover Contest, and also doing banner designs for my writing persona and others, it is something I enjoy doing. I want to get better and better at this, and have loved designing book covers for authors – like Mel Teshco and Tracey O’Hara.

I haven’t really designed any covers for my own books (yes, I know, that’s next on my list), but I did design a bookmark as part of Claytons conference for one of my novels, DreamTamer.

My biggest ambition is to balance the two creative sides of myself as well as balance life – I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so anything creative I do, I see as an achievement.

Eleni's Batgirl

I did play around with a photo of myself to make it look more like a graphic novel drawing for Claytons. I had dressed up as Batgirl for the 2010 RWAus.

You can find me online at:

Eleni Konstantine

Eleni’s Taverna (blog)

Eleni’s Library (reading blog)

South Australian Romance Authors (web mistress)

Dark Side DownUnder (blog mistress)

HelzKat Designs

What inspires you to write and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always loved stories since I was a little girl. I used to make up stories in my head and then I wrote them. I think I always wanted to be a writer, but it was at Uni that I realized it was something I really wanted to do in life. And it was the 2002 RWAus conference in Melbourne, that made me realise, I wanted to be a professional at it.

Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

You know, I don’t know. Sometimes, it’s the character popping up almost fully formed and they hint at a story they have, and other times there is a general story idea saying ‘Look at me!’ It seems I can’t conform.

Did you choose your genre or did your genre choose you?

I think the genre chose me. I’ve always had fairy tale and mythology stories around me. So I think that was a natural progression to fantasy and paranormal tales. That ANYTHING can happen attracts me. A flying superhero – no problem. A fairy godmother helping out a disillusioned girl, here you go. A ring with power rule to world, thank you very much Professor Tolkein. It’s so easy to be swept away with all these stories, and that’s what I want my readers to feel when they read my stories – swept away.

What is your favorite scene in your book?

I don’t have a favorite scene as such, but I love the banter between Zeta and Daniel in Gateway to Hell (novella currently under submission), and I love how Zeta turns Daniel’s preconceptions on its head.

“It won’t work.”

“Why the hell not?” His voice was harsh, and exasperated at the same time.

“In this case, you need more than guns and a ritual.”

“And what would that be?”

“You need me to close the Gateway to Hell.”

Tell me a little about your favourite character in your book.

Now, I know how hard it is to answer this question (I use it myself on the DarkSider blog). One of my favourite characters is Leo from Healer’s Destiny. He may be a secondary character but he is funny, loyal, and just makes me smile. He’s a Lion Guard so he can fight his way out of a corner, but he also is perceptive, so hence why he’s the Prince’s best friend.

What was the hardest part to write in your book?

I’m still rewriting Healer’s Destiny. I thought I had it all set, but while it’s close, it’s not quite there. I have a clearer focus on what I want this book to be, so while it will be time consuming and draining, it will be worth it in the end.

Who is your favorite author(s)?

I have so many faves. Diana Gabaldon for my favourite hero of all time, Jamie Fraser, J.R.Ward for doing something brand new and compelling with Black Dagger Brotherhood, George R.R. Martin for his intricate world building and fascinating characters, David Eddings for writing one of the best fantasy series ever – The Belgariad, and of course there are our RWAus authors – Keri Arthur (Riley Jenson series), Anne Gracie (Gideon anyone?), Barbara Hannay, Nikki Logan, Rachel Bailey, Tracey O’Hara, Anna Campbell, Denise Rossetti (poetic prose)…and many many more.

I also am enjoying Neil Gaiman, Meg Cabot, Michelle Sagara, Stephen King at the moment.

What book do you consider your favourite read of all time?

Again, so many, but if I had to choose one – Diana Gabaldon’s Cross Stitch (Outlander in US). It has history, action, romance…and time travel. And of course Jamie Fraser, the best HERO of all time.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

My grandma, because she passed away before I was born, and not only am I named after her, apparently I look remarkably like her too. She was the only grandparent I never met. Not a very high brow answer, but I’m a basics kinda girl.

Thank you for sharing with us today, Helen. It's been wonderful getting to know you. Wishing you best of luck with all your endeavours.

Coming Soon: Getting to know Eleni Konstantine

2011-09-24T15:35:00.000+08:00

When: Monday 26th September
Where: Mission: Romance

Pop in and say 'hi' to fantasy and paranormal author, Eleni Konstantine.

Getting to know Suzanne Brandyn

2011-09-19T07:49:00.000+08:00

Today we are getting to know Australian Author, Suzanne Brandyn. You can follow Suzanne's blogs at http://suzanne-brandyn.blogspot.com or visit her website. Welcome to Mission: Romance, Suzanne.

The river under the Black Bridges from 'Heat in the Outback'

Hi Juanita. Thank you for having me. Most people call me Suz, and yes Suzanne is also my real name. I am confused enough trying to remember real names and pseudonyms without adding another to the list and, in the process, confusing others. I currently live south of Port Macquarie, New South Wales with my husband, although people used to think I had gypsy in my blood because I have lived all over NSW.

What inspires you to write and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

The stories in my mind insist on being heard. I have always wanted to write. People use to call me 'Murder she wrote’. It wasn’t until a few years ago I got serious and sat down and actually wrote a manuscript.

Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

The idea for the novel. With 'Heat in the Outback' it was the idea of returning home after ten years, then I built my heroine around that idea.

Did you choose your genre or did your genre choose you?

I read contemporary and romantic suspense romance for many years, and loved them. I wanted to see if I could write my own stories.

What is your favorite scene in your book?

I love this scene; it’s when Ethan hears of Sarah’s return:

Sarah & Ethan

"Red alert, red alert! Hot babe soon to materialise on Main Street.”

Almost the entire town’s population of hot-blooded males received the text message on their mobile phones. They dashed for closer observation of the strange, silver convertible crawling through town.

Jack was at the bowser. Pete strummed a spanner in his hand, as his mechanic Dylan peered over his shoulder. Dan from the bakery took an admiring glimpse through his window and Sam leant on the edge of the architrave of the local real estate. Many more enthusiasts partook of the pleasurable sight.

Summer sun reflected off honey blonde hair, swaying in the breeze of the open top convertible.

“Sure is a hot one. Where in the hell did she come from?” Pete said, his mouth sliding into a grin.

“The text message was from Bill,” Dylan stated. “Guess he’s hallin’ hay to Tamworth. Sure has city written all over her.”

The convertible disappeared leaving mouths gaping, and eyes widening with disbelief.

“What’s everyone so hell-bent about? Looks like you’re all in overload.”

“That’s right Ethan, you wouldn’t have got one.”

“Got one what?” Ethan came to a standstill and leant on the bowser.

“A text from Bill alerting us of the major babe attack.”

“Where, what?”

“Too late she’s already gone. You know you should invest in a mobile phone. It’ll keep you up to date.”

“Waste of time, talkin’ and textin’. I like the good old-fashioned telephone, one anchored to a wall…was the woman alone?”

“Yeah, she looked like that Sarah Munro girl. You know the one that got engaged to that actor guy, the big time model on the television. She was all polished up like one of those gals on our calendars. You wouldn’t understand Ethan.” He let out a roar. “She gave us a smile that had our hearts stoppin’, I can tell you that.”

Ethan understood all right more than he was willing to admit. His lips thinned. Not too many strangers resembled Sarah’s description.

So—had the love of his former life actually returned after ten years? As far as he was concerned, it was ten years too late. She’d probably be here for the day and then she’d disappear, just as quickly as the last time.

“That a fact.” It was the only comment he delivered before turning and walking toward his Ute. He knew he’d have to face her sometime to let her know about Munro Station, to make it known he was now in charge. He climbed into his rundown Ute and blew out a breath in frustration. Ten kilometres to Munro Station, ten, and then he’d set eyes on the one woman that incarcerated his heart.

Munro Station from 'Heat in the Outback'

He’d never forgotten Sarah, how could he not? They dated without her father’s knowledge. But the love he held for her couldn’t be ignored. He knew then she was the right woman for him. They were soul mates. He even proposed weeks before she disappeared—without an answer.

She’d snuck off in the middle of the darn night, leaving him, the town, and her friends. She didn’t go to him, not for advice, support or anything. Not even a goodbye. His jaw line squared, his facial muscles tightened. That proved to him just how much love she held for him-none. One minute they were lovers, boyfriend and girlfriend, then wham, she disappeared.

Nope. Sarah Munro would never reopen the locks on his heart, ever again. Setting eyes on her one more time wouldn’t even come close to altering their books in the charts of history.

Tell me a little about your favourite character?

I think it would have to be Ethan. He’s a rugged Aussie with a heart of gold. What more could a girl want?

What was the hardest scene to write?

When Sarah knelt beside her mother’s graveside. It reminded me when I visited my grandmother’s gravesite. It was quite difficult.

Who is your favorite author?

I have many favourite authors; Nora Roberts is one of them.

What book do you consider your favourite read of all time?

I would have to say Jane Austen novels. I read Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice in my early teens. These stories have stayed with me.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

My grandmother. She’d love to know all about my writing and love my novels.

Suzanne, it was lovely getting to know you. Thank you for sharing your writing experience with us and a taste of 'Heat in the Outback'. We wish you the very best of luck with your writing.

Look out for news of Suzanne Brandyn's new releases 'Forgotten Memories' and 'Eyes of a Stranger' coming soon.

Getting to Know Fiona Lowe

2011-09-04T01:35:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the first edition of "Getting to Know You". I am very privileged today to have Romance Author, Fiona Lowe as my guest. You can find Fiona at http://www.fionalowe.wordpress.com/. Welcome to Mission:Romance, Fiona.

Hi, Juanita, Thanks so much for having me here to help me launch my new novel, Boomerang Bride. I live in southern Victoria where the salt of the ocean is always on the breeze. I juggle writing romance fiction with raising two teenage boys and I confess to never being able to see beyond the book I am writing at the time. I need to finish one project before I can start another. I need to move characters out of my head before others can arrive and set up residence.

1. What inspires you to write and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Routine inspires me to write! That and fear of the date on the contract. I write each day as that keeps me connected to the story. I fell into writing when I was at home with a baby, but that said, I had always ‘conversed’ with imaginary characters in my head, even if I hadn’t actually written the conversations down.

2. Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

My books are character driven so I always start with, ‘What does he/she believe and why?’ The story grows from the characters’ actions and reactions to situations. I find interviews, articles, eavesdropping on conversations in cafes very useful for sparking story ideas.

3. Did you choose your genre or did your genre choose you?

Tell me more about why you write for this genre. Three years after I sold my first book and with another seven category medical romances under my belt, I decided to try my hand at writing a single title contemporary romance without a doctor in sight. It was both scary and exciting and I loved the challenge, but whether it’s a Harlequin Mills & Boon romance or a longer single title romance, they both share in common a big, emotional read.

4. What is your favorite scene in your book?

It’s when Matilda who is Australian and Marc who is American are at cross purposes about ‘tea’.

Matilda immediately changed the subject to a much safer topic. “Seeing as your sister is out of town how about I cook tea for you and your nephew.”

He glanced at his watch, his lips twitching. “Is your definition of cooking boiling water?”

The question came out of left field. “I’m not Jamie Oliver but I can do a bit more than boil water.”

“You said you’d cook tea. Isn’t that just boiling water and adding a tea bag? Kyle and I are hungrier than that.”

She swore she was in a parallel universe. On the surface things looked familiar, the words sounded similar and yet everything was so very, very different. She put the pillows in position and explained. “I’m talking about tea, the evening meal, not a cup of tea. That’s a cuppa.”

He threw a quilt onto the bed. “Here it’s supper.”

That made sense. She often had a cup of tea and a snack before she went to bed. “So a cuppa is supper?”

“No, a cuppa isn’t supper.”

“You don’t have a cuppa at supper?”

He grinned. “Not generally, no.”

She plonked down on the now-made bed totally confused. “Then what do you have for tea?”

“Supper.”

“But you said you were hungrier than that.”

He sat down next to her, his weight causing the bed to tilt her closer to him. She smelled citrus and wood mixing with all male strength and power, an intoxicating combination. Then he smiled. Dimples carved into his cheeks, chasing away the serious expression he’d worn more often than not since she’d met him. He looked and smelled divine and her concentration completely collapsed.

She started to laugh. Half out of confusion and half out of hysteria for the crazy swirling sensations that battered her whenever she was close to him. “Let me try and get this straight. If a cuppa isn’t supper and tea isn’t a cuppa…” But the giggles took hold and she couldn’t think at all. She fell back onto the bed, tears of laughter running down her cheeks. “I have no idea what we’re talking about.”

“This reminds me of Abbot and Costello’s, ‘Who’s on First?’” His rich laughter joined hers as he lay back next to her, his arm brushing hers.

Delicious tingles raced up her arm but somehow she managed to splutter out, “So what’s your evening meal called?”

He raised himself up on his elbow, dancing blue eyes gazing speculatively at her. “Supper is the evening meal.”

She met his look, fascinated by the multihued shards of blue. It was like looking into a kaleidoscope. “Which in Australia is a bedtime snack.”

His fingers trailed across some stray strands of her hair, before tucking them gently behind her ear. “And tea in America is a drink not a meal.”

5. Tell me a little about your favourite character in your book.

I love my heroine, Matilda. She’s made a pretty big mistake which was driven by grief and as soon as she realizes the consequences of that mistake she refuses to be a victim. She accepts what she did was dumb, but she’s determined to survive and stand on her own two feet.

6. What was the hardest part to write in your book?

I was well into the book and ready to write the black moment but it wasn’t working. Nothing I wrote seemed right. I remember it was Anzac day and I printed out the 300 pages of the book, took my highlighter and doona and set myself up on the couch. My husband and sons kept the cups of tea going and I read the whole thing and discovered the problem. As is often the case, the motivations for the characters’ behavior were not spelled out clearly enough. Once I sorted that out, the book almost finished itself. Not really, but it was a heck of lot easier than the week of writing in circles!

7. What book do you consider your favourite read of all time?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was THE book that put me firmly on the romance-reading path.

Boomerang Bride is available now from Carina Press, Amazon, Nook and other online book stores.

Fiona Lowe is an award-winning, multi-published author of romance fiction with Harlequin Mills & Boon and Carina Press. Whether her books are set in outback Australia or the USA, they all feature small towns with big hearts, and warm, likeable characters that make you fall in love. When she’s not writing stories, she’s a weekend wife, a mother of two boys and she’s trying really hard to instill in them heroic characteristics like cooking and ironing. She’s an avid reader, a guardian of 80 rose bushes, attempts to stay fit and is often seen collapsed on the couch with a glass of wine. A previous Romantic Book of the Year finalist, Fiona is currently writing her 18^th novel and says, ‘it doesn’t get any easier.’ You can find her at her website, her blog, confused on Twitter and a bit more together on Facebook . She loves hearing from her readers.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. We wish you success with sales of Boomerang Bride.

Coming Soon: Getting to Know Fiona Lowe

2011-08-28T17:12:00.000+08:00

Be sure to attend this event on Sunday Sept 4, 2011

Pop in and meet Romance Author, Fiona Lowe and read more about her new release:

Boomerang Bride.

Passion, Paint and Romance

2011-08-22T20:07:00.000+08:00


Photo courtesy of: New Work Photography

Perth artist, Myra Mitchell lives in a romantic weatherboard cottage complete with a white picket-fence.

As you drive through the gates, your senses are enveloped by colour and perfume from the cheerful garden.

You imagine sultry summer evenings spent sitting on the veranda and sipping a cold glass of Chardonnay. As the condensation forms on your glass, you watch the sun set on Perth's skyline from under the umbrella of an ancient Wisteria.

Surrounded by period features, you couldn't find a better setting to inspire passion in paint. And Myra's passion is evident in her art.

You can visit Myra at www.myramitchell.com.au where you can view and purchase her artwork.

Welcome Myra, and thank you for sharing your passion with us.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My dreams are many. One of them is to be a talented and respected artist; for people to get as much joy out of my paintings as I do, and those of other artists. One of my favourite things at the moment is the new spatula I use to paint with. It’s like icing a cake; very liberating compared to painting with a brush.

Rare Earth

When is your favourite time to paint?

I like to paint in the afternoon when I have to attended to life or, if I am getting ready for an exhibition, at any time of the day when I can fit it in.

Where do you like to paint?

I like to paint both in my studio, which is the front room of our home, or on the back deck when I need more room.

What inspires you to paint and when did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I had dabbled with paints when I first came to Perth about 20years ago, then I started designing and making my jewellery. About 5 years ago we had renovated part of the house and I was going to cover a canvas with nice material to make an art work to hang on one of the walls, but I couldn’t find any material that I liked. It was suggested to me to paint my own canvas, so I got my paints out of the shed (still not dried up) and the most amazing feeling overcame me when I put my brush onto the canvas ... I knew this was the creative outlet that I had been looking for.

Which comes first? The idea/vision or do you just paint and go with the flow?

Sometimes it is just colours I see in nature. I think that I would love to paint those 2 or 3 colours together. Or it could be something in a magazine that inspires me or catches my eye.

Did you choose your style or did your style choose you? Tell us more about the emotions that drive you to sit down (or stand up) and paint.

My style is a bit like myself: evolving, untidy and wanting to try everything. So I paint whatever I feel at the time. I love fashion so I have painted dresses. At the moment I am painting abstracts. Colour is very emotional for me and I like both bold colours and subdued hues. I definitely prefer to stand up, as I move around a lot to get movement and flow into my art.

Which is your favourite painting? Why did you paint it?

My favourite paintings are the last two I have done as they are a different style which I am loving: “Rare Earth” and “Looking for Love”.

What was the hardest picture to paint?

“Last Ferry” - it was a theme for an Exhibition at Parmelia House with interactive Arts. I did not want to paint a cityscape but in the end I loved it and now always look at the city in a different light.

Looking for Love

Who is your favorite artist(s)?

Vivian Case Fox, Cynthia Packard, Fred Williams, Tony Tuckson

What do you think Paint, Passion and Romance have in common?

I am passionate about my art. When you are painting, you are putting all your emotions and energy into your work and that is passion for me.

Do you consider yourself a romantic?

I used to be more of a romantic when I was younger. The books I like to read are self-development books. Having said that, I have just joined a book club and we read Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay which I thoroughly enjoyed. The other two books I have on the go are The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and The Wisdom of Florence Scovel Shinn, who was a metaphysician.

Do you still make jewellery?

I downed my jewellery tools when I picked up the paintbrush about 5 years ago.

Thank you for sharing your passion and paintings with us, Myra. We wish you the very best of luck with the launch of your new website and your future as an artist.

There you have it, folks. Passion, paint and romance at Myra's studio. Visit Myra's website for exhibition dates.

Passion, Paint and Romance

2011-08-14T17:52:00.000+08:00

What do Paint and Passion have in common with Romance?

Find out with Perth artist, Myra Mitchell, on August 22, 2011

Being a Writer

2011-08-07T17:06:00.000+08:00

Literary Agent, Irene Goodman had some great advice this week. Simply said: If you want to be a writer, be a writer.

As a novice writer I've had a lot of firsts this year. I can't help but wonder that it might have something to do with the fact that it's 2011. My list of firsts:

1st: Time in years out of my comfort zone

1st: Business I've owned

1st: Tertiary Course ever

1st: High Distinction obtained in education

1st: Blog

1st: Writing Competition Entry

1st: Critique on my work

1st: "Thanks but no thanks, it needs work" from my preferred publisher.

So with a resounding "No!" ringing in my ears, it's back to the drawing board for this disappointed little Duckie. Oh, the pain! The dagger to the heart! I allowed myself a moment of despair and self-doubt. Had a little sniffle. And then I sucked it up and took a good long, hard look at where I've been and where I am.

Honestly? I doubt I would have submitted my manuscript in the first place if I knew then what I know now. Did I really write THAT? OMG!! But I want to be a writer, so I wrote.

Back into the drawer goes that manuscript until the characters learn to behave themselves or find some sort of direction.

The lesson? Aim high, fall hard, learn well. And learn I have. From the best. Thanks to the wonderful members at Romance Writer's Australia.

They are always willing to share their craft, their ideas, their support and their knowledge. With every new release or contract, it's hugs and happy dances all around. The support is amazing, as are their resources. I have learned more in the year or so I've been a member, than I could ever hope to have learned about writing.

Blogging helps. It exercises your 'voice', challenges your thoughts and, if nothing else, increases your typing speed!

My plan to reach my next goal:

Enter as many contests as I can
Write as often as possible to exercise my voice
Plan and plot for those 'voices in my head' - my characters
Finish my diploma so that I can do that writing course that will improve my style
Never give up on my dream

Whether you're an unpublished novice or a published author, we all have dreams. If you would like to share your dream at Mission: Romance, I'd like to hear from you. Email me at kees2create@gmail.com if you would like to book a blog date.

In the words of the legendary Peter Brock: "Live your Dreams."

Welcome to Mission: Romance

2011-07-31T17:24:00.000+08:00

Hello and Welcome!

I've spent the last 6 months promoting Kees2Create, my writing, proof reading and editing business and juggling between studying for a diploma, work commitments and family time. Needless to say, my alter-ego, the Romance writer—and my characters—are feeling very neglected. It's time to fix that.

As a Technical Writer by day and a Romance Writer by night, I've desperately been trying to seperate and manage the two.

Here at Mission:Romance, I'll be blogging about all things romantic: books I'm reading, interviewing guest bloggers and the odd teaser from a 'work-in-progress'.

If you've been following me at my Wordpress site or the Kees2Create site, you will see that I have transferred blogs I felt were relevant to this site. I will soon be closing down the Wordpress site, so I hope you'll follow me here instead.

If you would like to know more about Kees2Create or follow blogs relating to Customer Service, Quality Assurance and Technical Writing, you're more than welcome to visit me there too. Simply click on the logo on the right hand side of the page.

So, what would you like to see blogged about at Mission: Romance? Send me your suggestions via email to kees2create@gmail.com or simply comment on this post.

If you would like to be a Guest Blogger or a Feature Read on Mission: Romance, please contact me at the same email address as above.

Thanks for stopping by and keep an eye out for Mission: Romance on Facebook—coming soon.

The Wallflower and The Centrepiece

2011-07-22T14:56:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time in a land far away there lived a shy young maiden who came of age and was forced to test the waters of the Dating Pool. But the poor maiden was forever destined to be on the outside looking in.

Alas, her introverted nature severely hampered her progress when she found party banter hard to follow and small talk nigh on impossible. The boys found her … well … boring, for it took her a couple of dates to warm up.

On one such Disasterous Date, the fair young maiden found herself abandoned to the care of a kindly bartender when her dastardly, dead drop Blind Date ran off with a leggy blonde. Taking pity on the maiden, the kindly bartender forfeited a piece of silver to allow the maiden to place a call to her Knight in Shining Armour. The Knight, who was secretly besmitten with the maiden, rushed to her rescue in his white charger (ok, it was a White VW Golf GTi circa 1988). By the time he arrived, she was well in her cups in an effort to drown her sorrows. He paid off her debt to the bartender, took her home and nursed her back with a mug of hot chocolate. They fell in love and lived happily ever after … until the children arrived.

True story. It happened to me. Life isn’t always a fairytale. He would have got a lighter sentence for murder, he reckons. It’s just as well we’re still together. That way, at least one of us can hold a conversation in a crowd. He is the Centrepiece, I am the Wallflower. But whatever you do, please do not mistake me for a Clinging Vine!

Being an introvert definitely has its advantages. As a writer, it pays to study body language. Being a wallflower gives you plenty of opportunity to observe in peace.
I recently attended a function that had over 400 attendees. Not my idea of fun. The noise level hurt the ears and the crush of bodies was stifling. But I enjoyed watching the antics from my position against the wall.
The first group I spotted was led by Mr Charming. A definite leader. He commanded his audience with ease; holding them spellbound with his smooth speech, graceful hand movements and warm smile. But perhaps, he wasn’t as confident as he appeared. I noticed he never took off his sunglasses despite the fact that we were in a dimly lit area.

My next group was one being held captive by Mr Extra-Vert. Loud, booming voice, gesticulating wildly and constantly looking around him to see who was listening. At least he was funny. His sense of humour was definitely his saving grace and from the smiles on the faces around him, it was easy to see he was popular. People drifted away when they needed to and their spot was quickly filled by another passer-by. But even he wasn’t as confident as he appeared. The odd tug on his ear seemed to indicate the need for comfort, as if he was trying to convince himself that he was comfortable in the spotlight.

Last but not least, the very attractive young girl desperately trying to be one of the boys. I watched with interest as she swigged beer, swaggered to the bar, laughed at their jokes and wore her steel-capped boots with obvious pride. They liked her. That was good. They obviously didn’t feel at all threatened or compromised by her presence which was even better, showing that equality is indeed alive and well. But, oh dear, was that a look of envy she shot at the girl who floated by in her mini skirt and stilettos?

I looked around and saw that there were others like me there too. Over on the sofa, a man sat alone, reading a flyer. Propping up the opposite wall, a woman stood frantically sending a text message. “Get me outta here!” her body language screamed. Well, at least I wasn’t alone.

Moral of the story? We all have our insecurities. Next time you see an introvert propping up a wall, remember:

They are normal – well … most of the time
They’re shy, not contagious
It’s okay to speak to them, even if for a little while
They do like people, in small doses
That air of untouchable? It’s a shield, a front, a wall. Get over it.
They really would like to talk to you, they just don’t know how.
Oh yes and the ‘nose in the air’ look? That’s because I’m 5ft 1′ trying to see over your shoulder!!!

Do something for your community today: Adopt an introvert at your next function.
Until next time,
Juanita

Welcome to the Project

2011-05-28T20:25:00.000+08:00

I recently had the privilege of ‘meeting’ very talented writer, Schem (aka T.K.M Morgan) via UK writers’ site YouWriteOn and the emails have been running hot since. Schem’s characters literally jumped off the page and dragged me into the story. It wasn’t long before I was begging for more. Schem writes with a great sense of humour and amazing technique. For more information on Project: Inkstorm visit Schem’s newly created website.

Welcome Schem!

Tell me a little bit about yourself?
Well, that's easy. I've always wanted to be a writer. That is to say, I am one, but I'd rather my lifelong obsession and nigh-on possession by characters be gratified by some manner of palpable gain, preferable monetary. So being a professional writer was always an interest of mine, if not living off it then at least gaining the recognition associated with legitimate publishing. This isn't so much that people faun over me as that I can share my world and have the nice feeling that it is, perhaps, genuinely worth something. Nobody can ever be sure, but it's a nice thought. My nickname, Schemilix, was actually an older name that came from a malapropism of sorts from 'Shruikan', the black dragon from Eragon (I was young). I scrambled it so much I decided the name was fine to take, and it grew with me. So now I'm Schem!

What inspires you to write and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?
The earliest thing I can remember writing was back in Year Two and involved a winged leopard protagonist of some sort of an evil snake, about two A5 pages long and absolutely terrible. Since then I've embarked on many projects with relish. Creative writing was always my favourite coursework of the year – even up to last year with our 'writing to entertain' coursework for AS level, for which I used a story I'd already written and got an A. As for when I knew I wanted to 'be a writer' (which I assume means a professional), I don't remember that either. I just had an urge to get published. Only recently did I get up off my proverbial posterior and start making real tracks towards that.

Which comes first? The character or the idea?
Sometimes I may dream something up (this isn't too often!) Usually it's seeing the smallest of things and taking inspiration from it. Often it will be something I learned in class that I would like to expand upon in a fictional light, taking the feelings it invokes in me and working it into a character, place, item, race or general concept. For example, the character 'Trigger' is my most nebulous character, the product of a very surreal dream, but has since accrued a few features over the years. Nonetheless he is my only character whose 'birth name' and origin remains hazy, and I have no desire to adapt it. On the other side of the coin we have the world 'Artifice' and the concept of an escape from a factory-type setting. The idea was triggered by a klaxon sound, an imagined one at that, and the 'feel' of the story inspired by my love of the game Abe's Exoddus – I tried to capture that mechanical feel.

Did you choose your genre or did your genre choose you?
It chose me. I was always fascinated by the unreal. Real life can be seen, experienced, thought about, written about, sure, and achieving said writing takes real work. They say that the main difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense. Even fantasy. My genre began, of course, as fantasy, but like a lot of authors I later branched out. Now I cover aspects of sci-fi and Steampunk within my stories, having developed a keen love of machinery and the strange, ugly romance they have. I use many genres depending on my mood but I always touch upon the fantastic if I can, simply because my mind naturally gravitated towards creating intricate, interlinked worlds rather than using our own as a crutch. Some would say it is easier, and some would not. I merely say that it's preferable and how I choose to write, not consciously but because I enjoy it and it comes naturally to me.

What is your favorite scene?
The book's not even half finished, but I asked a couple of my readers to tell me their favourite part, and chose the one I thought would be most fitting just by itself.
‘Oh, Stag’s horns. Heresy. And that Hand with the bird mask had merely cocked his head and was listening.
“Ay, sirrah!” Roxanne shouted up – she smirked when the Hand looked up her and the man she had actually addressed in such a way did not. “Step down from there; this isn’t a place for boys to play!”
“Nor am I a toy for spoilt princesses to do as they will with, O, Your Highness.” The figure on the statue bowed as if falling off wouldn’t break his neck. He had what she’d called a dancer’s build, a narrower silhouette still than the Hand’s, and she did recall that he was what one would call athletic, and not heavily set.
If he didn't break it falling off she was going to climb up there and snap it.
“Show your face! You speak ill of Goddess and country,” she shouted. Chagrin caught up with her but she pushed him away, glaring.
There was a loud, youthful laugh from atop the dragon's brow. “Such dulcet tones of yours, Princess! And oh, what incentive to come down, that your bonny blond haired Hand can take me down in chains! I think not.”
“One of the many gobshites mouthing off about things their little brains can't understand. You'd do yourself a favour,” Roxanne countered.
“That I doubt,” came the reply, and that joyful, all-too-agreeable laugh made her stamp towards the statue before Chagrin grabbed her arm and said,
“He'll come down eventually, My Lady. I'm afraid even in this place a couple of drunken heresies spoken for jest or daring aren't going to get a man more than a warning stay in the gaol. Calm your blood-lust.”
Roxanne folded her arms with a huff. “And speaking ill of royalty?”
“Quite the same. The man's probably drunk, and more than likely very stupid, but thinks he's clever.”
From above them there came a catcall of, “The nail is smitten! And right on the head!”
Then from further away a lower, breathier voice interjected, “You can agree with him. He has been crowing to whatever hen will listen.”
“And you would listen, too, to speak of it?” Roxanne challenged. The Hand fell back into silence at that. “I want you or whoever is qualified to have him restrained and while you have this 'cautionary sentence' I want to see his face.”'

Meet Vion!
This is Vion (Vesuvion Elmeier as he's formally known), and he is shirtless mainly for anatomy practice and to show off his tattoos, so please excuse that. He is a Hand, a sect of, I should say, 'elite' warrior-watchmen. They're a pack of thirteen and have a large collection of rules and regulations such as being forbidden from touching people, in order to make them seem, and feel, less human, and more like a tool in one with her 'own nature'. I could go into detail about the repercussions, but that is for your own mind and the story. Vion is the only male in this group due to the matriarchy, and the newest member.

Tell me a little about your favourite character.
Since it's an ensemble cast from multiple narrative perspectives, this is hard to do. I love them all and each and every one takes up residence in my mind to offer comment, even when it isn't on my work! You may consider this quite insane, and I invite you to; it probably is. The character I would thus choose will be more or less random – so I draw Colt d'Essarai out of the hat. Colt is a stranger in a strange land – a Diddikai, a foreigner, and a man enslaved by his own individualism. He is incapable of meshing with society and taking the path of least resistance, instead choosing (if the word benefits him) to continue as he is against the force of an archaic society that stigmatises his origins, conduct, and, indeed, homosexuality. He has to be one of my favourites because he has some of the strangest facets at odds with many of my other characters. He is self-destructive, overly sensitive, prone to harming himself and others in outbursts or previously restrained emotion, but despite this still a 37 year old warrior and thus, usually, on the outside a very stable, if difficult, figure. Underneath lies his masochism and repressed desires. I love him in this way because he is a joy to write and portray to the audience, pushing both his comfort zone and theirs.

What was the hardest part to write?
No particular scene was too grueling, but trying to keep a good reign on the many disparate elements is quite troublesome. I have many perspectives and narratives, several characters, few of whom tell the truth, a rather odd world and a lot of foreshadowing to contend with. Balancing it all is both hard and extremely rewarding. Certainly it's a learning experience, and I'm usually a role player or give up halfway through a novel. This time I feel like I could finish. If I were to pick a scene, however, it would be a later scene featuring a fight between two close friends, one of whom has unrequited love for the other whose oath would prevent any such relationship. I prefer to portray this all through subtext, and as such getting the fight to have significant emotional impact requires a lot of prior work, and of course a lot of difficulty in making the fight itself work. A word to note – fights are hard!

Who is your favorite author?
China Miéville, possibly. It sounds egotistical but the reason I like him is because out of many authors I read, his mind seems the closest to mine. He's just a lot better at it. It makes me wonder what I might achieve. Also, it means I can just enjoy reading it because I sympathise much more readily, and enjoy his innovations with a sense of delighted envy.

What book do you consider your favourite read of all time?
That's a toughie, as they say. The book I return to a lot is Well of Darkness, by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss. I loved the character of Gareth so much that I simply return to the book when I am upset and it cheers me up. It's my comfort reading. It's a good yarn, entertaining and quite witty without being pretentious. I almost gave up because I hate High Fantasy! Joy that I didn't. Villain protagonists are underrated, and the protagonists are excellent; I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Presuming the far-reaching effects of time travel and/or necromancy are factored out (and her dinner wouldn't fall out of the cavity in her chest), I would choose Sylvia Plath. She may not be a 'favourite writer' but studying her poetry, and to some extent the reasons behind it, was fascinating. I wanted to see what it was that drove her into her depression. A while ago I had a bout of it myself, you see, rather out of the blue, and I wondered what it was that kept her in it despite writing, and what it was that caused her morbidity to leak into even the kindest of her poems. She has such a lazy lyricism and sleep, sonorous way with words... it's beautiful, the mark of tragedy. I sympathise with that yearning ache for 'something more'. Yes, if I could speak to her over dinner, I think I would. Not the best conversation topic, though, but you don't go resurrecting the dead to chat about the weather.

Thank you for sharing with us, Schem. I wish you all the best with Project: Inkstorm. Good luck with the ratings and reviews!

Write or Wrong?

2011-04-11T19:17:00.000+08:00

Hello, my name is Juanita and I'm addicted to Romance novels. There, I've said it!

In a household filled with strange characters is it any wonder that my alter ego wants to be a romance writer and I have voices in my head dictating what I write on paper?

WAIT! Don't call the men in white coats just yet ... let me explain.

My Miniature Daschund thinks she's a Rottweiler and my Lovebird thinks he's a dog. The dog eats fruit and the bird eats dog pellets. We take both of them out for a walk on a leash which really confuses the neighbours! My youngest has a genius IQ but prefers not to use it and my eldest is not your average teenager. He has the maturity level of a mid-thirties male which makes writing about teenage issues and tantrums nigh on impossible! My husband and children are resigned to the fact that we will never be a normal, average household and quite frankly, I think they like it that way. Welcome to my family.

Now, when I first started writing, personal computers hadn't been invented yet.
I handwrote my stories in recycled school books, quite often during maths class which explains how I made school history by getting a double 'G' for maths!

If I wanted anything presented neatly, I hammered it up on Mum's ancient Olivetti portable typewriter and used the newly invented Tipp-Ex strips for Typewriters to correct the mistakes. The keys used to stick and I'd end up with sore fingers from them slipping into the humungous gaps between the keys.

There were no on-line courses, resources, groups or chat rooms. My writing 'Bible' (acquired much later in 1997) was Valerie Parv's The Art Of Romance Writing in paperback, dog-eared, highlighted and tagged with sticky notes. So imagine my confusion when I unearthed my manuscripts from their dusty hiding place to breathe new life into them after ten or more years! Technology had evolved without me.

I don't own an e-reader (yet) and I've only just discovered RSS, CSS and other techno terms. Yes, I know. Sad isn't it? But I'm not a complete techno-dummy. I have iBooks on my iPhone. Does that count? I have used computers in my 9-5 desk job over the last twenty years but using them as a writer is something different entirely.

Where do I start? There is a wealth of information available at our fingertips in cyberspace. Literally thousands of 'How-to' blogs, articles, courses, websites, blog groups, writers groups all waiting to guide the new (and not-so-new ) writer in the right direction.
Suddenly I was drowning in a sea of information, lost and confused.

So being a typical, anal-retentive, procedure-driven Virgo, I made a list of what to do first.

Step 1: I uploaded a raw manuscript onto a UK site called YouWriteOn.com for critique. I figured no-one knows me there so if I suck at writing romance novels, at least I won't be laughed out of town! I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are actually enjoying my tale and have given me some great, constructive feedback. Thanks everyone!

Step 2: I put my hand up and got involved with my local Romance Writers Group (RWA). Probably the smartest move I made! Thanks for the wonderful welcome!

Step 3: I joined a couple of blog groups. I found a few groups on the web that I thought would provide interesting blog discussions. I met some inspirational fellow bloggers who made enthusiastic and encouraging comments and even provided me with some very useful tips. On the down side, I also ran into some rather jaded characters who launched vitriolic attacks on new writers, especially those who didn't hold degrees in their craft.

And that got me thinking ... is there too much information out there now? (Don't get me wrong here. It's fantastic to have all this information available at the touch of a button compared to what we had 20-30 years ago.)

Are there too many 'how to's' and too few story blogs? Are there more than enough business professional blog sites selling their secrets of success and too few writers who blog from the heart because they want to tell a story? Is it about making money or writing for love, or both? And how can I, a mature-aged, techno-challenged newbie without a degree or diploma in writing, make a difference? How can I even make an impact as a very small piece of flotsam on a gigantic sea of bloggers?

One of the bloggers asked me what the intention of my blog was. Was it to promote my business? She didn't understand my slogan "Bringing your words and ideas to life". Am I a ghostwriter? Why do I blog? Who is my target audience?

Good question. Here's my answer:

My target audience right now? Anyone who is willing to read my blog!
I blog because I love to write. I don't have a degree or a diploma but I write from the heart.
I like to share stories, ideas and experiences. And if in doing so, I can make you smile just a little, I have made a difference.
I like to put things in perspective and help make people's jobs easier by creating easy to understand business documents, procedures and training manuals.
And when the business day is done, I'd like you to be able to curl up with a romance novel, de-stress and lose yourself in a world of fantasy. Tomorrow is for reality, tonight is for dreaming.

There you have it. Can I make a difference? Maybe, maybe not. But I like to think I already have. Happy reading and writing until next time ...

Juanita

The Journey from Political Correctness to Romantic Semantics

2011-02-28T15:51:00.000+08:00

I can quite thankfully attribute my mid-life career change to a very wise and inspirational man who, with a few simple words, made me take a good hard look at the direction my life was taking.

I had reached the peak of my career. There was really nowhere else for me to go. I had in fact peaked in my career back in 2005 but out of force of habit and in favour of a ‘comfort zone’ continued on in search of stubbornly elusive job satisfaction. I had a good name and reputation in the industry as a hard worker who was loyal and committed, but then as a Virgo I had no choice but to be. My star sign dictates that perfect isn’t good enough and being anal retentive is a job requirement!

But suddenly I found myself facing a mid-life career crisis and a steady downhill slide into automated oblivion. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel was no longer the inbound train but rather the tail lights of the outbound train of my career, taking my passion and drive with it.

One particularly miserable day during a discussion with a fellow colleague, he looked me squarely in the eye and said the words that would change my life. “Juanita,” he said, “It’s not what you do at work that counts, it’s who you are and what you do outside of it that’s important.”

Now to be honest, my focus at that point was not on what he was saying.

I could not see beyond that my back was to the wall and the ground had fallen away in front of me, leaving a bottomless void below. But eventually the penny dropped and the gist of what he was really saying penetrated the fog in my brain. I suddenly knew without a doubt what it was I wanted and still want.

I want to write, to make people feel good, make them smile and forget the tormented real world for a while as they escape on an adventure, albeit in their imaginations.

So I abandoned the world of corporate political correctness, office politics and cleverly disguised, ladder-climbing backstabbing in favour of romantic semantics, murder, suspense and yes, my dearest friend Leah, a bit of ‘trashy novel romance’. For what is political correctness other than romantic semantics? We literally are romanticizing what we really want to say. Not that that’s a bad thing. I believe in treating people with respect, giving positive encouragement and constructive guidance. I have great friends and family without whose positive encouragement I would never have taken this leap.

So here I am, LinkedIn, Branch’d Out, Facebook’d, Gumtree’d, web paged and Googled (and more recently iFreelance’d), studying for a diploma in Professional Proof Reading, Editing and Publishing at a ‘mature age’, a world away from my career of twenty odd years. I couldn’t have a higher profile if I appeared on the FBI’s most wanted list. Although since I’ve recently been researching ‘how to kill your fictional character’ and ‘what drugs will land a Juvenile in jail for murder’ on the internet, I’m half expecting a visit from the TRG at any moment!

So while I wait patiently (okay, not so patiently) for a response from the publisher, a grade on my latest assignment and the acceptance of a contract quote, I would sincerely like to thank my colleague whose words will live with me forever, my friends Tracy, Lynette, Leah, Lina, Hazel and Claire for all their encouragement and support, Deb Sawyer at Stress Free Dressing for her ‘butt-kicking’ sessions and letting me practice on her documents, all my other friends (including the members of ‘The 4 around the 3’ Club Liesl, Carol and Beverley) who have posted such encouraging words in my web page guest book, my family and especially my husband Gavin for not giving up on me and supporting me 100%. Last but not least thanks to my son Shane, who is being an absolute trouper, handing out my business cards and brochures to everyone he meets and Daniel who quietly gets on with life in his own world and occasionally provides some well-timed comic relief.

I really hope you are all enjoying my blogs and that, at the very least, they make you smile just a little. Remember - all it takes is a smile to make someone’s day and make their worry melt away.

Until next time, have a great day.

Juanita

Cleaning Fairies and other Mythical Creatures

2011-02-28T15:49:00.000+08:00

Hello, I'm the Cleaning Fairy. You know...the one who magically makes your laundry reappear clean, sweet smelling, soft as a cuddle from your nanna and neatly folded, ready to wear another day. I'm also the one who dons on the Hazchem suit to muck out your bedrooms, showers and toilets to rid them of 'boy germs', dust bunnies, lolly wrappers and other gross stuff.

As a full- time-working-mum, cleaning used to be a joint effort but now that I'm a work-at-home-mum, I've been handed control of the broom and, according to my boys, have turned into the Cleaning Fairy from the Netherworld with obsessive/compulsive tendencies.

Empowered with control over the broom, the mop and the Kirby, I decided to start at the back of the house and work my way forward with the intention of sweeping all the old dirt and bad energy out the door. Eight hours later my eighteen year old son returned home and trailed his way up the corridor to his bedroom. Blinded by the light from his sparkling, clean bedroom, he stopped dead in the doorway and exclaimed, "What the ...? Mum, did you change my room around or does it just look different because it's clean and the bed's made?"

Now I don't ask for much. All I expect is that everyone makes their own bed. I don't expect precision corners and crease-free military style beds, the perfection of which you can measure with a spirit level. Not at all! That's why we have doonas (otherwise known as duvets). You straighten your sheet, shake out your doona, throw it over your bed, tug a little on the edges, fluff your pillows and slap them on top of the doona at the head of the bed. Simple, right? Apparently not...

According to the wisdom of an eighteen year old male (almost nineteen), not making your bed is a territorial thing. A messy bedroom is the stamp of your male pride and a tip to the Cleaning Fairy to leave it well alone. He assures me that it's scientifically proven. Mmmm...I might have to 'Google' that theory! I love my son, he has a great sense of humour and he's incredibly brave.

Now cleaning the 10-year-old's bedroom is another story altogether. First you have to get past Alien Bob, who guards the doorway with his plastic axe and a "Keep Out" sign. Then you negotiate your way through a minefield of very small, very sharp bits of Lego, past Teddy who is seemingly engrossed in the latest edition of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" but is actually a secret anti-cleaning spy watching your every move and, of course, you keep your eyes peeled for booby traps. (I'm starting to think there might just be some truth in my eldest son's theory after all.) Two hours later, I reverse my steps (carefully) not having achieved much because I got distracted by the Nintendo DS and Mario.

Well, time to hop on my broom and head for the kitchen where the new and improved Kees Cuisine Menu awaits my cooking skills. I'm about to wave my wand and change the Cleaning Fairy into the Culinary Fairy. As I set the pots to boil, I raise my wine glass and the cooking sherry to all the other Cleaning Fairies out there. May you all be blessed with new Magic Cleaning Wands this Christmas - ones that do actually work with a flick of the wrist!

Kind Regards

The Cleaning Fairy