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Saturday, July 21, 2007

Escapist, Guilty Pleasures, by Bronwyn Jameson

Hello there. This is my first post on Tote Bags'n'Blogs and I would like to thank Lee for inviting me to share this space with some of my favourite authors. Perhaps I should start by introducing myself. Briefly, I'm Bronwyn Jameson, author of 12 Silhouette Desires to date with several more in the publishing pipeline. I live on a farm in the rural heartland of Australia, am mother to three almost-grown-up boys (do they ever grow up entirely?), and I love immersing myself in the fabulous world of an emotionally compelling book...whether I'm reading the pages or writing them.

After reading Sandra's post, I am green with envy over missing the RWA National Conference this year. I was invited to present a RITA at the Awards ceremony, a prospect that both excited and terrified me, but I wasn't able to make the long trip to Dallas. However, I lived the events vicariously through the many blogs posting live from the heart of Texas.

One blog I checked daily was The Pink Heart Society which included not only social and fashion updates and loads of party pictures, but notes from the Harlequin Spotlight. Thank you, Jenna! I learned the latest from Desire's Senior Editor, Melissa Jeglinski, who is looking for "escapist, guilty pleasure reads that are powerful, passionate, and provocative. The hero is very successful, the pursuer. Set the scene with international vacations and luxurious parties."

I'm currently working on some new proposals and this little snippet consolidated that I was on the right track with my storylines, my characters, my settings, but also jogged loose a new idea. Yesterday I incorporated this into my draft synopsis, and I can't wait to dive into this glamorous, lux world. I'm smiling as I write that, thinking how I'll be sitting in my cosy but quite ordinary office, probably still wearing my pyjamas, while my mind will be lost in a world of cashmere and silk organza and superfine wool suits, private jets and first-class travel, five-star hotels and penthouse apartments, country estates and seaside manors.

I do love that research. I do love my job.

And I'm also curious – which international settings and luxurious locations do you like to read about? I have a trio of fabulously escapist, no-need-to-feel-guilty reads by Yvonne Lindsay, Annie West and Bronwyn Jameson – set in diverse international settings – and I will randomly select the winner from comments left by Thursday 26th.

The winner is...comment #4. Congratulations, Anne! Email me with your address and I will mail yr prize books.

15 comments:

Stacy S said...

I like stories in Scotland, Ireland, England & France. Those are about the only places I've read stories from besides US.

Lois said...

Well, hi there! :) I'm not a writer, but seeing all the pictures and stories, geez, do I wish I went to the RWA myself! Well, the signing anyway. I mean, that great big room with all these authors that I like, and some I never read, and I can get all these books, especially signed? Sigh. Maybe another time. LOL

Oh, anyway, I am a big huge fan of almost all things England. LOL But I think you can still call me a bit new to the Presents line, so I've read my first Sheik books, and I've hit Italy too. . . and geez, I can't think of the others right now. Oh well. :) But I'm expanding on my locales. :)

Lois

robynl said...

I would like to read stories set in the Alps in Switzerland. I loved reading Heidi when I was young and would again enjoy that setting.

anne said...

My favorite locale for a story is Italy. I enjoy those the most since it is romantic and beautiful.

ellie said...

Getting involved in a story that is set in the countryside of England is amazing. I can picture the scene from the vivid descriptions.

sharon said...

A wonderful area that I love reading about in a novel is the south of France. It is absolutely enthralling.

diane said...

The Tuscany area of Italy does it for me. I cannot overlook this charming and unique place in any of the books that I have read.

pearl said...

My ultimate setting would have to be in the Mediterranean on the Isle of Capri. That and Lido Island would be a gorgeous area to read about within a novel.

sabrina said...

Stories that take place in Spain are my all time favorite. Perhaps because I had the opportunity to travel and live there for a brief time during a semester at school.

Cherie J said...

I love stories set in New Orleans, England, Scotland, Italy,and Australia.

Bronwyn Jameson said...

Picture me hunched over the keyboard, heater at my side, hands periodically cradling a warm coffee mug...and reading the gorgeously warm and vibrant Mediterranean locations you've mentioned. I would love to be there now!

And I must admit that I am a sucker for British settings, too, and I'm currently reading a series (by Emilie Rose, for Desire) set in Monaco. Beautiful. Switzerland would be interesting and different -- I'm picturing a chalet, a couple isolated by the snow...

Oh, and New Orleans conjures up all kinds of sultry and sensual, with a touch of the supernatural...and a Cajun accent. Yum.

I'm enjoying hearing all your favourite locations. Keep 'em coming!

:-)

Bron

Mary Kirkland said...

I like reading about places like Scotland and reading their accents. Or places like the dark jungle, because being lost in the jungle with a hot tour guide always gets me wanting to read more. lol

Bronwyn Jameson said...

Ooh, Mary, yes. Love a great adventure novel -- or movie -- set in the steamy jungle. Romancing the Stone is a personal fave!

Bron

Annie West said...

Hi Bron,

I've just surfaced after finishing a book (yay!) and found your blog. I'm rather late but wanted to say welcome to the site. It's so great to see you here.

Your question is just too hard - there are so many great settings. I love the settings that seem so exotic to me here, downunder, like Britain and Europe, especially around the Mediterranean, or settings in North America. But then I've read some fantastic books set in Australia (including yours!) which have been wonderfully vivid and enticing.

Annie

Bronwyn Jameson said...

Hi, Annie. Great to see you here. This site has scads of wonderful authors. See you soon at RWAust.

Bron