My star sign is
Pisces, the fish, and though I’m not a particular fan of astrology, I am
definitely a water person. I love being by water and I also love swimming in
it!
 |
| Doing what I love to do in summer! |
My part of Down
Under is in an unprecedented heat wave for this time of year with a month of
temperatures hovering over 30˚ C, 86˚F and little relief from rain. The hottest
day in Sydney was 42˚C, 107˚F.
 |
| Such a sweltering day! That's 42˚C, 107˚F! |
Though these
temperature can be uncomfortable and are terrible for gardens and our farmers,
they have been great for swimming. I’ve been swimming at the beach; the harbour
pool (where parts of Sydney Harbour are fenced off and shark-proofed); the
beautiful Olympic pool right under the Sydney Harbour Bridge; and in the
municipal pool high in the Blue Mountains where the water is usually freezing.
 |
| The best place to be! |
I’m
making the most of the extended summer!
 |
| Splashing about! |
It’s probably no
surprise that every novel I’ve written features a water setting of some kind:
the characters surf in Australia, swim in Bali, stroll along the waterfront in
San Francisco, are castaway on a tropical island. The restoration of a fountain
is symbolic of the growing relationship in another.
So why would my
March release from Harlequin Romance be any different? Much of the early action
in Crown
Prince’s Chosen Bride takes part
on Sydney Harbour where party planner Gemma Harper and Tristan, the incognito
Crown Prince of Montovia fall in love.
“Gemma
swam ahead of him with effortless, graceful strokes, ducking beneath the water,
turning and twisting her body around. How did he describe how she seemed in the
water? Joyous. That was the word. She
was quite literally in her element.”
Of course, having
my hero and heroine wearing only skimpy swimwear does help keep the sensual
tension simmering too!
Tristan’s castle
in the fictional European principality of Montovia is on a vast lake and its
icy waters are also important to the story and Gemma and Tristan’s developing
romance.
Do you like to
swim? Or walk? Or play tennis? Or
zumba? (Or loll on the sofa reading romance novels and eating chocolates
which is my other favorite past-time!) I’d love to hear about your favorite
activity—please share your thoughts with a comment!
I’m giving away one
signed paperback copy of Crown
Prince’s Chosen Bride. Make a comment to be in the draw. Please include your email address if you want to be included in
the draw.
Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary
romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the
Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and
a menagerie of four-legged friends.
Visit Kandy at her website
5 comments:
It's sweltering here too. No sign of autumn yet.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
It's unusual, isn't it, Mary!
we had an unusually warm 81f late winter day here in the Mid-Atlantic, USA.
rather wade in water than swim. sitting by the pool or on the beach reading is my cuppa tea. but I do love to stroll on the beach.
Denise
dholcomb1 (at) aol (dot) com
I've been swimming since I was 2. I love to start my day that way. It relaxes me.
Half the year I swim in a heated pool and half the year in a chilly stream fed lake. My husband and I like to take a walk every evening. We like to watch the sunsets.
I used to jog but had to give it up after my 4th child. I still miss the feeling of freedom and tranquility.
We've had a cool, gray, windy winter in Florida.
OOPS! I forgot to include my e-mail address:
johns lake at usa dot com
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