Playing Hookey aka. When the Deadline Has Passed - Annie West

Bliss - waiting for someone else to serve afternoon tea

I love, love, love it! I have just, an hour ago, sent my latest book to my editor. I've spent months working on it, dreaming about it, fretting over it and polishing it. I've had voices in my head and sudden revelations and last minute tweaks. Now, for a short time (till my lovely editor gets back to me about any revisions) I'm in that glorious state of existence that's 'between books'. That means at last I'm going to take those couple of days for myself that I didn't manage to fit in at Christmas. It means that I'm officially now playing hookey, not writing or plotting or thinking about the next deadline. Those will come soon enough, as will updating my tax, clearing the clutter of papers that have accumulated while I wrote this book and a stack of other chores I've been avoiding. I feel FREE!

Maybe this feeling of 'school's out' liberation is so much stronger because, like other self employed people, I rarely feel I can walk away from the job. Being a writer isn't just about developing a great story and getting it down on paper. There's always so much else to do - administration and promotion and lots and lots of extras that build and build while you're not watching. In fact, if you let it, the work would never end.

 

But for these next few days I intend to ignore them all and take a well-earned break. My body needs it after the hours at the computer, and so does my head. I adore writing romance but it's also taxing work and I'm feeling the need to refill the well, soak up more of the world than I can see from my computer desk.

 

I thought I'd share with you some of the things I love to do when I have time off. First up there's spending time with family and friends. The photo above and the one below were taken when I sneaked a couple of days alone with my lovely daughter. I think you can tell by the smile that we were having a great time. Add to that the fact that I didn't have to prepare any meals...bliss!

Speaking of meals, how about this for breakfast? No, no, I didn't have the berry pancakes, though they looked yummy. Mine was the amazing fruit salad. It would have taken me ages to prepare all that fruit. Now I have that time. I wonder if I'll spend it in the kitchen?

What else will I do with my time? Books of course! I'll be reading. In fact, I'm rather hoping tomorrow to stay at home with my stack of to be read books, and linger over the fun of choosing which one next. Then, with luck, I'll stretch out somewhere with a book or three and a cold drink (it's summer here in Australia) and lose myself in someone else's story. Sigh. Did I say how much I was looking forward to this?

 

Then there's the chance to tune into what others are doing. I can catch up on current affairs (I've let the news slide the last few weeks) and find out about movies, plays and TV shows. Some outings too, definitely. Here's a photo of one taken not so long ago, when I was lucky enough to attend a day at the Australian Open Tennis. As well as watching a number of matches we got to see a number of players warming up. Here's Rafael Nadal, the world's number 1.

 

I'll also be spending time outdoors, enjoying the gorgeous, warm Aussie summer weather. In addition to my usual early morning walks I'm thinking of visiting a few parks and beauty spots just to take the time to enjoy something different. Maybe a long drive to a few scenic spots or a picnic by a river. I love having choices!

 

Treasury Gardens, Melbourne

So between reading, walks, eating, seeing friends and family, checking out movies, plays and TV series I've missed, I think I'll be busy. Perhaps I'll fit in a morning at the beach, or a trip to the markets. What about antique browsing or picking up some craftwork I haven't done in ages?

I'm so excited about this 'me' time, even though I know I'll only get to do a fraction of the things I'd planned. But whatever I do it will be fun.

How about you? What's your favourite thing to do when you've got time for a treat? Do you have any suggestions for me?

I'll give away a copy of my book AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY to one person who responds.

To check out my latest releases, go to your favorite bookseller and look for AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY or RUTHLESSLY ROYAL (a UK anthology release). Or you can visit my website for excerpts.

Romance and Country House Renovations - Annie West

Dial R for Revenge…

Forgiveness is a foreign concept to wealthy investment trader Jonas Deveson. Someone has been stealing from him. He's got a good idea who it is and she's going to pay….

Seeing the harsh lines that bitterness has carved into Jonas's handsome features, Ravenna Ruggiero knows he'll never see the shades of gray in her actions.

Jonas blackmails Ravenna into working as his housekeeper to pay off her debt, but living under the same roof leads to unexpected yet forbidden temptation, and Jonas is no longer sure who is being punished

 

An Enticing Debt to Pay is a  romance about two people drawn and held together not just by revenge but by sizzling attraction and a sense of unfinished business.



It also features Deveson Hall, a crumbling old English manor house in dire need of attention. Romantic Times' 4 star review for the book said 'This is a terrific hate-into-love story, set in a dilapidated old manor that's a character in itself.' Poor Ravenna is blackmailed into becoming housekeeper at the Hall responsible for bringing the interior back from its faded glory - single-handedly. As the Hall is a rambling old place that's been uncared for, Jonas expects she'll give up and admit defeat. But Ravenna is made of stronger stuff.



Haddon Hall, copyright Anna Campbell

As the Hall gradually comes back to life under Ravenna's attentions and those of builders and heritage gardeners, my feuding hero and heroine gradually reach a truce, then an understanding that allows love to blossom. You might even say that the state of the house tells you a good deal about the state of their hearts, as they gradually work towards their happy ending. Or you might just sit back and enjoy the hard work others are putting in to transforming the Hall into a showpiece as well as what will become a family home.

 

I'm sharing here a couple of photos take by my friend, author Anna Campbell, which show the sort of place I had in mind when I wrote AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY. When I look at these I can imagine Ravenna and Jonas inside, working and fighting and making up.



Calke Abbey, copyright Anna Campbell

As I wrote this book I was soaking up all sorts of renovation shows on television and a few about caring for stately homes. I'm sure a lot of that influenced the book. I have no desire to renovate a stately home myself - I've seen how much work is involved, but I loved the chance to use that as a backdrop for my latest story.

 

If you had a chance for a dream renovation what would it be? A rambling country house, a fisherman's cottage right on the sea, a mountain retreat, maybe an old castle or an upmarket city apartment?

 

To celebrate the release of AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY I'll give away a signed copy to someone (drawn at random) who leaves a comment here. Come back tomorrow to see who the winner is.

 

Here are a couple of links for you to find the book at the Book Depository (free postage anywhere), Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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