LONG TIME...

Since I've just finished a book (early), and while I'm searching around in the recesses of my mind for a new story - I decided to return to my blog.  Eek.  What a huge tranche of time has passed since the last time I wrote here (about inspiration).  So much has happened in the interim but I'm not going to touch on history, or corruption - because this is a place of happiness and romance.

So instead, I'll give you a photo of my latest book, which is out right now in the US & UK.  

It's a story of lost love, and idealism, and hope.  There's a hunky and arrogant hero - and a runaway bride!  Most of the action takes place in delicious Greek setting which moves to the glamorous South of France. So let me transport you there...

I'd be interested to know what you think of Theo and Mia's powerful and passionate story.  And also, your views on her dress...

PEOPLE SAY

"Where do you get your inspiration from?"

I get it wherever I can find it.  On a train, a bus, a plane.  Eavesdropping is the writer's greatest ally, that and watching people's faces when they think are unobserved.  My daughter is always saying, "Stop staring, mum!"

Of course, other times - I just let the sheer other-worldliness of a place soak into my skin.  For a while I live a completely different life, and I had one such experience recently.  We stayed at the fabulous Villa Joya in Portugal, courtesy of a charity auction held in aid of Action Against Hunger.

It was sublime.  I love Portugal (even if the language is pretty impossible).

Blue skies and palm trees...

Lunch by the pool (with not a cheese & pickle sandwich in sight)

Flowers everywhere...

Course after course of fancy food, served in teeny-tiny exquisite portions...

And romantic sunsets which must have been set up by Central Casting...

And now it's back to the train...

SPECTACULAR NAPOLI

Here you go:

Stunning Neapolitan architecture 

And scrumptious Neapolitan pizza:

Because?
Just because I love this amazing city soooo much.
Who else has visited here?

SPOOKS AND POMEGRANATES

I'm just back from an amazing olive-picking trip to Umbria, where this year we broke the record by harvesting over 17 crates of beautifully-coloured fruits (at least, I think they're called fruits..).

The days (although we sometimes had to dodge the showers) - were spectacular and enlivened by luscious pomegranates still hanging from the trees.

Later that evening we played dress-up...these are the kind of clothes I would wear all the time, if I could!

Though not quite so sure about whether you could get away with wearing these...

Did you do anything exciting over the Halloween weekend?

TEFLON-TOUGH YET VULNERABLE...MY NEAPOLITAN HERO

Okay, I know it's still November but already in the shops I can see twinkly lights, stars - and cards with impossibly green triangular-shaped trees.  So, do you love Christmas, or are you like my latest hero, Salvio de Gennaro - and hate every minute of it?

I've just fulfilled a long-held dream and visited the beautiful city of Naples.

Naples has 366 churches and the best sea-food and mozzarella in the world.  (Oh, and properly juicy tomatoes).

I've gazed on Mount Vesuvius and seen the famous bay.....

I've eaten the most delicious pastries known to mankind (sflogliatelle).  In fact, you can read an earlier blog post on this very subject.  

And I've watched the vibrant and colourful life of this unique and spectacular  city....which brings me to my latest book THE ITALIAN'S CHRISTMAS HOUSEKEEPER, which is set in Napoli.

The hero is a once-famous football star who's known his share of bad times.  He isn't looking for love - but then he finds Molly and suddenly, all bets are off.

If you want an emotional roller-coaster - if you want to remember all the things you love best about Christmas - then look no further than this seasonal read of passion and heartbreak.

IT'S BIN A LONG TIME....

I

MY HOTTEST-EVER SHEIKH

I love every book I write and get to know my characters so well that I miss them when I finish the story.  Every hero makes me shiver with pleasure and envy the heroine her future life with him, but I have to say that Zayed Al Zawba is one of my favourite heroes of all time.

Well, see for yourself...

He's flawed.  He's arrogant.  And proud...so proud.  He doesn't want to marry until he's sixty or seventy, when he plans to take a young virgin for a bride as custom allows.  Trouble is, he needs a bride right now - and the only way he can contemplate a short-lived marriage is to choose a woman who doesn't attract him, so that the union won't be consummated.

Enter Jane.  Plain Jane Smith - the earnest academic who hates Zayed almost as much as she loves his rich and historic country.

It's an explosive combination of two strong-willed people who have no desire to be together, but who cannot deny their growing desire for each other...and you can win an advance copy by contacting me directly (see contact details on home page of this blog) and telling me which heroes you like best.  Italian?  Brazilian?  Greek?
And good luck!

NO NIGHTINGALES* BUT PLENTY OF POLICEMEN

When people ask where I get my ideas from, I always mention that I like to do as many quirky and adventurous things as possible.  No, not skiing.  I mean, doing things which are completely different from the things I do in my own life.  Which is how I found myself in Belgrave Square this morning, for a visit to the Argentine Ambassador's residence.

It's situated in one of those leafy London squares which thrum with behind-the-scenes activity.  You can sense the presence of a zillion hidden CCTV cameras and there are London *Bobbies* prowling around everywhere.

Inside, it was gorgeous.  High ceilings, lots of paintings, tapestries, souvenirs from South Africa and a shiny dining table which seats 24.  I particularly liked this mantlepiece in the Ambassdor's office:

And this (rather kitsch but very beautiful) Italian light, which features the Madonna and child plus lots of little cherubs.

But the weirdest thing of all is that when I wrote my one and only story with an Argentinian hero (THE HOUSEKEEPER'S AWAKENING), the book opened with my heroine making the hero's favourite biscuits, which are called Alfajores.  I even made some myself (to add a little authenticity to my story) and wrote a blog post about it.  

So imagine my delight (and surprise) when I was offered a biscuit to have with my coffee when I arrived - and the biscuits just happened to be....

ALFAJORES!

Spooky, or what?

* And the title of this post refers of course, to the dreamy old-fashioned song: A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKLEY SQUARE, sung here by Vera Lynn

THE STORY OF SEXY DANTE DI SIONE

is out right now. 
It's a book I loved writing with a heroine who's had a lot of stuff thrown at her but it's made her strong and it's made her determined.  

Willow Hamilton has been protected from the world for most of her life and finds herself longing for adventure.  The man she picks for her particular adventure ( can you guess what that might be?) is possibly the world's worst candidate for a naive innocent like her.  
He's powerful, he's tough and he's dangerous - in an emotional sense of the word - the trouble is that he's also irresistible!

The book is released this week in the USA and UK and features some amazing settings - from a crumbling stately home in the English countryside, to a luxury mansion on Long Island - with a Caribbean island thrown in for good measure.  It's part of the billionaire's legacy mini-series  and although it's a stand-alone novel, there are seven other great books for you to enjoy - including the story of Dante's twin by Caitlin Crews.  

Hope you like it.  

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF*

Although the only leaf* I can see right now is an aging one, amid lots of others which are just starting to display a blaze of gold, copper and bronze.  I do love autumn and am lucky enough to live in Winchester, where (I'm sure I've mentioned this before) Keats famously wrote his beautiful and evocative poem: Ode To Autumn).

I've been very lazy with this blog - but I'm not alone.  I scan the websites of my fave authors to discover a dearth of info.  Do you think social media has made blogging a redundant pastime?  Yet I love reading brilliant blogs.   Which ones?  Well, The Spike is always worth a look and makes me want to buy up whatever is featured there - clothes/bags/things-I-never-knew-I-wanted-but-can't-live-without.

Have just discovered that my entire back-list is available on iTunes and am KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THAT!   

So will leave you with a picture of the leaves outside my writing room while I get back to Ariston and Keeley, who are about to get married (she doesn't want to) and the words of that gorgeous poem.  And the question:  to blog, or not to blog? 

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,	5
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease;	10
For Summer has o'erbrimm'd their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;	15
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twinèd flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;	20
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barrèd clouds bloom the soft-dying day	25
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river-sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;	30
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

A GORGEOUS GOLDEN HAT

Now all I need is an excuse to wear it...

BOOK #99 - AND AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT

My story about Conall Devlin spawned a brand-new hero, Prince Luc of Mardovia and his story has now been written, sold and will be published in August 2016 as CROWNED FOR THE PRINCE'S HEIR.
And here is another man (apart from the actor Franco Nero) who  I used as my template for my sky-blue-eyed royal.  Approve?

The other piece of news is that I've been shortlisted for a Romantic Times award, for best Presents of 2015.  It's for my book CARRYING THE GREEK'S HEIR, featuring Alek Sarantos - very irresistible Hellenic billionaire.  Yum.

Am slightly dazed and delighted to be up for an award after 90-something books and thrilled to learn that the ceremony will be held in Las Vegas - a place I honestly never thought I'd visit (except during trips to the cinema).  

Anyone been there?  What are the best bits?  And do I have to look out for SNAKES?

MEET DEVLIN - AND LUC

The book I was talking about in my last post (with sexy Irishman Conall Devlin) has been accepted and it will be published in April, 2016.   It's called THE BILLIONAIRE'S DEFIANT ACQUISITION.

Meet Devlin...

The story spawned a brand new hero - Prince Luc of Mardovia and I was inspired to write him by a film - the glorious musical version of CAMELOT, which starred Franco Nero.  Who can ever forget him as Lancelot du Lac, with those luminous blue eyes and that expression of torment as he struggles with the conflicting desires of duty versus passion?

Meet Luc...

I'm going to leave you with the delicious version of Lancelot singing his heart out to Guinevere.  If Ever I Would Leave You which is one of my favourite romantic songs.  

What's yours?

MY NEW BOOK

has an enigmatic and unbelievably gorgeous Irish billionaire hero, which gives me the perfect opportunity to post photos of my Irish muse - Cap'n Poldark aka Aidan Turner

A sublime definition of brooding....

Perfect, don't you think?

SUMMER RIVER

I took this picture when I was walking through Winall Moors - an area of outstanding natural beauty right in the middle of the city.  It's magical.

In other news, I have several new books out (and perhaps I should do the sensible thing of posting pictures of them).  But actually, for now - I think I prefer the feathery fronds which line the river Itchen...

PRESS ENTER*

On my phone are stacks of amazing photos from sculpture parks to Tuscan mountains, which I am planning to post here, but in the meantime there's a chance of winning an advance copy of my forthcoming book THE RUTHLESS GREEK'S RETURN.  Just click on this Goodreads link and it will take you straight there 

I won't tell you about the sizzlingly sexy Loukas Sarantos - I'll leave you discover him all by yourself...

*Have attempted a rather weak play on computer terminology to draw your attention to this competition!

FEELING LUCKY?

if you're feeling lucky and would like to read my RT Top Pick story about a sizzlingly sexy Greek billionaire (with major hang-ups!) - then head right on over here to Goodreads for your chance to win a copy.

Yesterday I was most definitely not feeling lucky because my USB stick gobbled up four thousand words of my latest story as I was backing it up and all the IT intervention in the world couldn't get it back.

Sometimes I wish I still used a typewriter...

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

This has been an amazing week, so far.  My 95th book was accepted.  My March/April 2015 release has been chosen as a Romantic Times TOP PICK.  Oh, and I was on holiday in Cornwall.

Picture the scene.  It's February.  It's England.  The worst cold snap in aeons.  Yet I get this...

Beautiful, isn't it?  The photo was taken at the Lizard which is a secret backwater,  an area of outstanding natural beauty - and the most southwesterly point of the British mainland.  

It is also the stunning backdrop for the eagerly anticipated new series of Polldark, starring Aidan Turner.

So, not exactly on TOP of the world - but feeling pretty damned good.

All I want to know is how that bat has managed to fly onto my left hand without me noticing...

I'M HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO

The UK cover for my April 2015 release arrived today and the jury is still out...
There's no sign of sexy Alek Sarantos, the powerful Greek billionaire hero - and the heroine is wearing a rather dodgy dress.

So I ask, do you like a book cover without a hero?

Or do you prefer the more conventional US version of the same title?

NEW BEGINNINGS

Recently, an editor asked me to complete a Q&A for a new blog and one of the questions she asked was:  Which is more difficult to write - the first line of a book, or the last?

I didn't have to think about it for more than a nano-second.  For me, the end of a story practically writes itself.  By that stage you know your characters inside out and you've shared every step of their unique journey.  You've witnessed all the heartache and heartbreak and all the different highs and lows along the way.  You need to tie up all the loose ends in an emotionally satisfying way and you also need to leave your reader wanting more.  To have them think:  "I like the way this writer tells a story."

But the beginning?  That tantalising first line we call The Hook?  Now that's a completely different ball-game.
There are almost too many choices to make about how to open your story.  Do you start from his POV?  Or hers?  Do you use narrative, or dialogue?
As always, it depends on the characters.  Ask yourself who has the most to lose and then put yourself in their skin and try to convey some of their fears.  Hook the reader right in by getting all those big emotions and feelings on the page, so that they can experience them vicariously.  Create characters who have real guts.  Give them a heart and a soul, as well as all the frailties and flaws which make us truly human.

With SEDUCED BY THE SULTAN (I've shown the yummy French cover above) the story starts from Catrin's point of view.  She's is the ordinary girl who has undergone a Cinderella-type makeover so that she's worthy of being the mistress of a hugely wealthy King.  The story starts when she realises that she's broken the number one rule of being a mistress - by falling in love!

I used narrative to convey Catrin's innermost thoughts and turmoil.  There was no way I could have started the book with dialogue since she is alone in the Sultan's luxury apartment and I'm not crazy about characters who talk to themselves (because it makes them sound crazy!).

It seems like an impossible love-affair and those are the ones I like best.  So that love can do the thing it's supposed to do and conquer all.

Think about the most memorable first lines you've ever read and then analyse why they've stayed with you.  For me, "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents." is one of my favourites.

What's yours?