 I have written before about the importance of my writing tribes and one of my most important tribes is my fabulous 'Writers'Group'. We don't meet all that often but we communicate daily... sharing the trials and tribulations of our writing lives and the intersection with our non writing lives. So I will declare that Louise Reynolds is one of my tribe members and we have loved, lived and agonised with her over her latest release IF I KISSED YOU. It is such a thrill to see it come to life! Louise Reynolds is an author of contemporary romantic fiction published by Penguin Random House Australia. By day, she works in the commercial lighting industry, lighting anything from bridges to five star hotels. By night, she's working her way through a United Nations of fictional heroes. She loves live jazz, cooking complicated meals that totally destroy the kitchen, and dining out. She has embraced Melbourne by wearing far too much black (DON'T WE ALL!) Connect with Louise on her website and if you're a foodie I recommend having a look at her PINTEREST boards! The world of Irish 'Travellers'Thanks for inviting me to your blog, Alison. With Irish heritage and a father who possessed 52 first cousins and innumerable more extended family it was always on the cards that I would write a book with an Irish hero. But in my latest release, ‘If I Kissed You’, my hero, Declan, wasn’t pulled from the gentle farming community from which our family sprang. He came into my mind from the world of the Irish travellers. Stories abound about travellers, most of them unflattering, but in my research I uncovered a people who have strong family ties, are deeply religious and yet seem to have a moral compass with a few more points than the rest of us. Let’s just call it viewing life through a different lens. Travellers, or as they call themselves, Pavee, are distinctly Celtic people separated by race, culture and language from the Rom, the people we know as Gypsies, a word now considered a racial slur. Many of the Irish travellers took to the roads during the Irish famine and never returned to a settled life. Others have a much more ancient lineage. Travellers do exist in Australia, often doing odd jobs and fruit-pickingIn researching ‘If I Kissed You’ I referred to novels and media that gave an insight into the way of speech, terminologies and lifestyle. “Traveller” by John F McDonald was a fascinating read purely for the language and expression. Here I was pulled into a world with a rich, arcane language designed to obscure meaning and confuse the law and settled people. Youtube offered pearls of travellers singing, particularly useful for one scene in the book. I watched a few episodes of ‘My Great Big Gypsy wedding”, a TV series showcasing the lives of the travellers. I’ve never enjoyed seeing people presented for ridicule, but I was interested in the language, customs and rhythm of their speech. This isn’t the Ireland of my Irish forebears but a place of bare-knuckle fighting and horse fairs. But there’s no reason to think there is any less love in Traveller families than our own-- although they go about things differently. IF I KISSED YOU Raised by a pair of hopeless hippies, Nell Connor had to grow up quickly. But now her father, awash in whisky, has handed her the reins of his Irish pub. After obliterating every trace of Ireland, Nell has transformed it into a smart, and trendy bar. Business is booming but, outside of work, things aren't going so smoothly. When gorgeous musician Declan Gaffney arrives, it's clear he's definitely not Nell's type. He's Irish (therefore must be feckless and unreliable), he sings romantic Irish ballads (which Nell hates) and his nomadic lifestyle reminds her of some of the most painful parts of her childhood. After Declan helps Nell out of a tricky situation, her father takes a shine to him and starts matchmaking. And when her aura-reading mother turns up, Nell's carefully ordered life is thrown into chaos. She's losing control but the biggest shock of all is yet to come ... In a story that shines a light on the unusual forms family can take, Nell must accept that sometimes love takes you in unexpected directions. Read an excerpt from IF I KISSED YOU...This scene sheds light on the courting habits of the travellers and how it compares with our own. Nell is the heroine, an Australian from the “settled world”, Declan is the hero and former traveller and Aisleen is his sister who still lives as a traveller. “‘Aisleen’s nice,’ Nell murmured as she lay in the crook of Declan’s arm later that night. He leaned down and buffed the top of her head with a soft kiss. It was kind of her since Aisleen had been quite standoffish. ‘Yes, she’s a good girl. I hope Tommy will make her happy.’ He felt himself tighten as he remembered how it could have been for him. ‘You have your doubts?’ He was silent for a moment then turned his head towards her. Her eyes were deep caramel in the dark, serious. ‘It’s different for us. We marry very young and there’s hardly any courtship.’ ‘You’re joking. You mean, like an arranged marriage?’ ‘No. The way it’s done is, you hang around with a group of lads and watch the girls. When one takes your fancy you grab her and drag her somewhere private to give her a decent kiss.’ He lowered his head and kissed Nell deeply. ‘A bit like that, actually.’ ‘Don’t try to side-track me. A decent kiss?’ Nell demanded. ‘What the hell does that mean?’ ‘Decent in the sense you put a bit of effort in, make it as long as you can to try and see if she’ll do.’ ‘If she’ll do,’ she echoed. She swatted his arm in a playful gesture. ‘That’s terrible.’ ‘It does sound bad but it’s just the way it is.’ Jaysus, but it did sound bad. Nell was right. Choosing a life partner on the basis of long-distance observation and a stolen kiss was daft. He knew that now. ‘So when you’ve decided “if she’ll do”, what happens next?’ ‘Well, after that you’d better be calling on her mam and da and asking to marry her if she’ll have you.’ In fact you couldn’t get so much as a kiss but the girl would be measuring new curtains for her da’s second-best van. Before you knew it you had a ring on your finger and a pile of children at your ankles. Nell punched his arm playfully. ‘Ah, so the poor woman has some say after all.’ ‘Of course. What do you think? That we’re savages?’ He leaned down and kissed the top of her head again. Nell was quiet for some time, then she raised her head to look at him. ‘Have you ever been married?’ ‘You say that like an Australian. You might as well ask if I’ve ever been to the moon. It makes it sound easy to get out of if you don’t like it. It’s different in Ireland; it takes years to get a divorce, and that’s if you can stomach the idea of eternal damnation.’ Especially in my culture. Pavs don’t divorce, they bury. Nell bit her lip. ‘I hadn’t thought of it that way. So, no then?’ Declan focussed his eyes on the ceiling. When was he going to get honest with Nell? He needed to tell her the whole truth now and ease the monkey off his back. He turned his head to look at her. ‘Actually, I was engaged once.’ She rolled over on to her side and rested her head in a cupped hand, her eyes bright with interest. ‘Once?’ He nodded. ‘What happened?’ He dragged his gaze away from her exposed breasts and fixed it on the ceiling again. ‘She died.’ Nell’s sharp intake of breath made him glance back at her. Her mouth formed an O, the sweet bottom lip dropped in dismay. ‘I’m sorry.’ ‘Don’t be. It was a long time ago.’ ‘But, still . . . ’ ‘Shhh.’ He placed a finger against her lips. ‘Rose is gone, and you’re here.’” Buy... IF I KISSED YOU When my children were young, one of our favourite bed time stories was THE BUNYIP OF BERKELEY CREEK. The bunyip is one of the most endearing creatures of Australian Mythology and I am thrilled that my guest this week, VIRGINIA TAYLOR has managed to include this mythical beast in her latest book... ELLA. Virginia Taylor, former midwife, former theatre set designer, and now full time author sold her first two romantic comedies to Random House and a series of three historical romances to Kensington Books during the past two years. She is working on the next three in the series and a new series of romantic comedies. Apparently, she never sleeps. Is It A Fish or a Beast? . . .  Every country has its own legends and, in Australia, we tell tales of a mythical water-dwelling, flesh-eating beast called a bunyip which apparently lurks in order to lure unsuspecting travellers to their doom. Ask anyone what a bunyip looks like and you will be given a different answer, ranging from an octopus with wings to the description I found during my research and used in the passage below for Ella, #2 in my South Landers series of historical romances published by Kensington Books: . . . she set her quivering jaw. “Your stupid dog almost drowned me. That wretched animal shouldn’t be roaming free, as I...” Suddenly aware of her skirts hitched over her crinoline, she shook the drenched black fabric to her ankles, shamed by the display of the cage and most of her wet underwear. Mortified that more than her fear showed, she hauled in a shuddering breath. “I’m sure I can have you arrested for trespass and willful destruction,” she muttered, wanting to weep. He stepped back, his expression amused. “Destruction? I don’t suppose you noticed I saved your life.” “After your dog attacked me.” Pushing back the curtain of hair dripping over her nose, she began to shiver, a reaction she couldn’t control. “I thought she was a bunyip.” “A bunyip?” He raised his eyebrows at Girl, who shook off a halo of water droplets, stretched full length, and grinned at him. “A mythical monster?” She glanced at the hills, backlit by the endless blue sky. “If a jet-black, hairy creature attacked you in a billabong, you might believe in mythical monsters, too.” She swiped her wet sleeve under her nose. . . ABOUT ELLA... Ella Beaufort knew better than to rely on a sexy stranger. But with two sisters to support on the modest earnings of the family sheep station, she accepts shearer Cal Lynton’s help—along with his intoxicating kiss. The most Ella can hope for is an affair. Something a woman in her situation wouldn’t dare—or would she?
Heir to his family fortune, Charlton Alfred Landon Lynton abandoned his privileged life to prove his independence. He doesn’t have time for a woman, but once he woos the lovely Ella into his bed, he is ready to make her his wife…until she shocks him with her refusal, claiming she can only marry a rich man! Angry and brokenhearted, the heir in disguise leaves the beautiful golddigger behind… But amid the breathtaking landscape of South Australian, Ella and Cal are destined to meet again. Will their heated reunion lead to cruel confrontation—or the kind of passion that lasts a lifetime?
It is my great pleasure to do a shout out today for my friend, historical romance writer Beverley Eikli whose latest book, WICKED WAGER, has just been released by Escape Publishing.
Beverley has just joined me at Escape Publishing so we are not only friends but stable mates. I asked her about Wicked Wager's tortuous path to publication. "Thanks so much for showcasing my first Escape Publishing release, Alison. The story has undergone many changes since it was first due to be released by another publisher before things in the publishing world changed for me. I'm delighted with the fabulous cover the story was given by Escape and if you stare into the calculating depths of the dazzlingly beautiful woman it features, you might suspect that this is one woman who knows how to get what she wants. My heroine is just as beautiful, yet more innocent, so I think the cover has to be that of the ruthless society beauty who is (sigh) just so beautiful she can get away with anything...until she discovers that the innocent little piece she'd thought to entrap is actually more resourceful than she'd given her credit for. Here is a bit about Wicked Wager... Wicked Wager A dissolute rake, a virtuous lady, a ruthless society beauty, and a missing plantation owner with secrets – just another day in Georgian England… 1780 Wealthy Jamaican plantation owner, Harry Carstairs has disappeared – and everyone wants to know where he is… Celeste Rosington knows her place in society, and while she may not be overjoyed at her upcoming wedding to her detached cousin, Raphael, she nonetheless hopes the marriage will be successful. When Raphael asks her for her help to save Harry, she agrees. But her decision costs her more than she knows… Celeste’s clandestine visit to Harry’s home is witnessed, and her connection to Harry misconstrued. Harry’s secrets put Celeste into more danger than even Raphael understands, and throws her into the path of the ruthless, cunning, beautiful Lady Busselton and the dissolute, dangerous Lord Peregrine. Raphael is invested in keeping Harry alive. Lady Busselton is invested in keeping him quiet. Lord Peregrine is invested in anything that staves off boredom. And Celeste is becoming increasingly invested in Lord Peregrine. After all, what resistance does an innocent young woman have against something so deliciously wicked?
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About Beverley Oakley Beverley Eikli was seventeen when she bundled up her first her 500+ page romance and sent it to a publisher. Sadly, her high hopes for a six figure publishing deal were dashed after she was informed that drowning her heroine on the last page was not in line with the expectations of romance readers. Since then Beverley has written more than twelve historical romances, mostly set in England during the early nineteenth century. Redemption is her favourite theme and if she can pull off a thrilling, page-turning race to save someone’s honour – or a worthy damsel from the noose – then it’s definitely time to celebrate with a good single malt Scotch. Beverley lives with her husband, two daughters and a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy the size of a pony in a pretty country town an hour north of Melbourne. She also writes steamier historicals as Beverley Oakley. Connect with Beverley: Website | Twitter | Facebook Page | Mailing list
I was a little taken aback the other day to receive a one star review and a complaint from the reviewer about my 'pages and pages of explicit sex'. My crit group were rolling around on the floor laughing as anyone who reads my books would know that nothing could be further from the truth. I think I might need some guidance in this area!
So who better to ask than the lovely and talented, Diane Demetre. Diane has worked in the education and entertainment industries as a school teacher, dancer, choreographer, director and guest celebrity, as well as managing and owning her own successful businesses. Having spent many years as a stress & life skills therapist, motivational speaker and life coach, she adopted the pseudonym of the Goddess of Love, making guest appearances on national radio and television in Australia, offering advice on life, love, sex and relationships. Her first foray into fiction was released this week. DANCING QUEEN is the first in an erotic trilogy and who better to ask about how one puts 'eros' into erotic then this amazing lady. You can find out more about Diane on her website. Click HERE
Putting Eros into Erotic Romance
I never thought I’d write erotic romance but the story swirling in my mind could have been nothing but that. A love story with a twist meant the sexual relationship between the lead characters was critical to the plot. More than just sexual tension, there needed to be highly erotic scenes describing the style of sex play, so the full impact of the story could be experienced in the story’s resolution. Yet highly descriptive, blow-by-blow sex scenes, (sorry for the pun), rarely imbue the reader with a compelling reason to continue reading. Without the characters’ deeper internal and external relationships, a story falters. Enter — Eros — the mythological Greek god of love. Recognised for his wings, bow and quiver of arrows, and often know under the alias of Cupid, he represents the most fundamental of all human needs. Love. Without Eros, a story often falls short of a romance readers’ expectation. This is true in all sub-genres of romance but especially for me, in erotic romance. When carnal desire is underpinned by a profound yearning, Eros weaves magic into the story. This yearning can be for one’s own awakening and to experience a more fulfilling sense of self love, self-worth and self-value. Or this yearning carries the character outside of him/herself, to connect with another at such a spiritual level, even when the odds are stacked against them. In most cases, the yearning for love is both an internal and external expression of hope. Without loving oneself, we cannot truly love another and this is true of us as human beings as well as the characters we write about. When I put Eros into my erotic romances, he becomes my muse. He guides me to delve deeper, to look for love and express that love through my characters words, actions and importantly, my sex scenes. And when I get it right, he taps me on the shoulder, blows me a kiss and flies off selflessly to another in need of his magic. About Dancing Queen
When Michele Johnston, a sexy forty-two-year-old ex-dancer from the Moulin Rouge gets divorced, she leaps into her new world of singledom with unbridled passion. Having been in monogamous relationships all her life, she decides to cast off her inhibitions and release her repressed sexuality through casual sex.
Aided and abetted by three vivacious girlfriends, Michele embarks on her new erotic adventures, but gets more than she expects, when mysterious yacht captain Mark Miller unleashes her wanton desires. Further complicating matters, debonair Greek businessman Nick Stavros arrives on the scene and falls madly in love with her, promising the happy-ever-after ending. Although not her type, Michele finds his charm and persistence strangely bewitching. But will she give up her new-found freedom? Will she choose one man over the other? And who’s the special someone she’s been unconsciously searching for all her life? Dancing Queen is a steamy, erotic romance where you can expect the unexpected from the heady heights of love to everything in between. Reader Advisory: This book contains a sexually empowered heroine and willing men to fulfil her desires. Casual sex scenes with recreational drug use. Red hot romance rating 5 |
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