All the fun of the fair plus giveaway by Michelle Styles

My latest book Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match originated in part because I happened to read about the Stagshaw Bank Fair. In its time, the Stagshaw Bank Fair was the largest one day fair in England and it was always held on the 4th of July. It was included a huge stock sale as well as various traders brought their goods from around England to sell to the local populace. The Stagshaw Bank Fair is has also been immortalised in several folk tunes. This is one rendition done with the Northumbrian (as opposed to the Scottish) bagpipes.



Fairs and their possibilities always intrigue me. When I was a young girl we used to go to the Calavaras County Jumping Frog contest. I also super enjoyed Charlotte's Web which has its climax  at the fair. But there are not so many fairs in historical romance these days, even though the fair or show was a large part of rural life.
Fairs could be happy and joyous times but they could also be fraught with danger. I clearly remember driving through Angel's Camp, the day before the Jumping Frog contest started and seeing all the policemen on the rooftops. We had not realised until we got to the fair but the fair had become a huge gathering point for the Hell's Angels and other motorcyclists. My father was friendly with the sheriff who said that year, they ended up using every spare cell, including the black as night one from the 1850s where the outlaw Black Bart had ended up.
The Stagshaw Bank shortly before the Regency period was notorious for people snatching and press gangs preying on the farmhands and the like. Apparently, many of them were snatched and sent to work on the sugar plantation in the West Indies. Unfortunately, I could not find out enough information to write a credible story and it is not my time period but the story intrigued me.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun writing Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match. The back cover reads:

WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT…!

In the eyes of the ton Hattie Wilkinson is a respectable widow, content with her safe, if somewhat modest life.

On the other hand Sir Christopher Foxton prides himself on being regarded as one of London’s most notorious rakes, with a particularly mischievous streak!

Upon their first meeting Kit threatens to shatter Hattie’s well-ordered peace—and her reputation!—if only she’ll allow herself to succumb to his playful advances. This time they’ve both finally met their match…

Set in June/July 1816 Tyne Valley
You can read an excerpt here.

UPDATE on Totebags Giveaway: Barbara was the first name out of the hat this morning so she wins a signed copy of Hattie.

You can also enter the giveaway I'm doing with Good Reads.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match

by Michelle Styles

Giveaway ends November 01, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance in a wide variety of time periods. her latest Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match will be published 1 November in both the US and the UK. She is currently working on her next Viking.You can learn more about Michelle's books at www.michellestyles.co.uk

Holly Jacobs - Everything but...

Holly, Ella and Ethel

When I sold my Everything But… trilogy to Avalon, I was thrilled.  I mean, it might not seem hard to find a home for a book that features a Hungarian grandmother who cursed her own family to bad weddings and spends three books trying to break that curse, but after a few attempts, the trilogy was shoved ‘under the bed.’  Then I met an editor from Avalon and she asked if I had any books I'd like to send them.  And…well, long story short, she bought them.  I was thrilled. 

Avalon was a small publisher.  They published hardback books for libraries.  Beautiful books.  I grew up in the library.  Or rather, more specifically on a Bookmobile.  The staff was wonderful.  They knew I read a lot, and made sure to bring along a host of books they thought I’d enjoy. 

Nana Vancy, that Hungarian grandmother, did in fact break the curse at the end of book three.  I’ll confess, I’d become a bit nervous about how she was going to manage it…frankly, I didn’t know.  But I figured it out…or rather she did.  And it turned out Nana Vancy was a hit with readers.  That first book in the trilogy, Everything But a Groom, was on of Booklist’s best romances in 2008.  And I heard from readers who loved Nana Vancy and the Salo family.

When I wrapped up the trilogy,  I found, I missed the Salos.  So, one afternoon, I called up the editor at Avalon and said, “Uh, would you be interested in another Everything But… story?  You see, Nana Vancy’s bored now that the curse is broken.  She’s going to try her hand at matchmaking…to the tune of The Twelve Day of Christmas.”

She bought it.

And Avalon bought the next two books as well.  And everything but the last book was released.

Then…Avalon was sold to Montlake Romance.  I was so hoping they’d do right by this last book, Everything But a Dog.  You see, of all the stories, it hits closest to home.  Oh, the entire series was set here in Erie, PA.  Yeah, I know, it’s not a setting that’s used often in romance, except in my books.  But I love my city.  We sit here on the shores of a Great Lake.  And more than Erie, this book has my dogs in it.  Now, in real life, my dogs are named Ethel Merman and Ella Fitzgerald and I changed their names in the book because they were afraid that the…wait for it…wait for it…PUParazzi would hound them otherwise!  (You can groan…my kids all have!) 

Well, not only is Montlake releasing Everything But a Dog in December, they’ve also have or will release the earlier books in the series as eBooks and paperbacks before that date!  I loved that the series was so popular in libraries, and I’m thrilled that they will be available to a whole new group of readers now.

People say write what you know.  Well, I’ll confess, I don’t know any Hungarian cursing grandmothers and their large comedic family, but I do know Erie.  I know what it means to fall in love with joy and laughter.  And with this last book, I do know a bit about dogs.

You know, when I first wrote this very sweet humorous series, I was disappointed that it was rejected and I tucked it away.  And yet, here I am…six books later.  The last book is due to be released, and the other books will be getting a new life as eBooks and paperbacks.  Sometimes life surprises you.  And in this case, for me, this surprise has been a wonderful ride!

Holly

Everything But a Groom, 11/20/12

Everything But a Bride, 9/4/12

Everything But a Wedding, 11/20/12

Everything But a Christmas Eve, 11/20/12

Everything But a Mother, 10/16/12

Finally the grand finale,Everything But a Dog

Cover art

For twenty years – ever since my first book, An Image of You, was published — I’ve been obsessing about cover art. That first cover was so pleasing that it would have been difficult for any of those that followed to match it.

The hero was suitably mature, the heroine had the right colour hair and the African backdrop was perfect.

Since then, covers have been a bit of a roller-coaster. One or two have brought tears to my eyes — and not of joy.

Now, with three of my early books reverted to me, I’ve been on a cover image hunt of my own and suddenly I’m feeling a lot more sympathetic for those guys in Toronto who have to produce 50+ every month. It’s a bit like a car assembly line; you don’t want to be the last one of the day.

The three books I’m working on were a mixed bag. Old Desires was pretty enough, although the hero was too young. Dangerous Flirtation was cute and got everything right. A Stranger’s Kiss was a disaster with a heroine so hard-faced that any man would have run a mile and the hero wasn't wearing one of those ridiculous collars and I was really looking forward to giving that one a makeover.

Replacing them with something that truly appeals to me has not, however, been the piece of cake I fondly imagined it would be. Flirting and kissing are just about nailed, but Old Desires? How on earth can I demonstrate that in a cover appealing enough, sexy enough to have the reader hitting the one-click!

Any suggestions gratefully received – and downloads of Eloping With Emmy for those that inspire me, or make me laugh!

Shéa MacLeod: Saved By Wonder Woman

“Why do you write these strong female characters?”

“Because you’re still asking me that question.”

                                ~Joss Whedon

Growing up my heroes were almost always men: Apollo from Battlestar Gallactica (The original, baby!), John from Chips (Am I dating myself yet?),  the Duke brothers. They were cool. They were bad ass. And they kicked some serious bad guy back side.

Why didn’t I have female heroes? Well, there weren’t any. Okay, there was one: Wonder Woman. And she was the most excellent of all. But most of the women on TV were pretty much useless, beautiful props in skimpy outfits.

I didn’t want to be a useless prop in a skimpy outfit. I wanted to be right there with the boys taking names and kicking butt.

Things are different now, of course. Over the past few years many strong female role models have popped up on our televisions screens. From Dr. Quinn and Captain Janeway to Buffy and Rizolli, these women are a reminder of everything we can be and do: powerful, sexy, smart, loving, and really good bad guy butt-kickers.

It’s so important to me that my female characters are all, each in her own way, are the strong, confident role models I never had as a child. It’s also important to me that my fictional women, like real women, are more than one dimensional. This is why Morgan Bailey is both a powerful vampire hunter, and a kind hearted friend, sister and lover. When her world is rocked, which it frequently is, she gets right back up and keeps on going.

And if anyone ever asks me why I write strong female characters, I’ll just smile and say, “Because I can’t write them any other way.”

Who are your fictional female heroes? Or real ones, for that matter?  Share your thoughts and I'll give away one autographed set of the first two books in the Sunwalker Saga!

***Shea's winner is Donna!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing info!***

Out and About!

by Anna Campbell

I've just had a wonderful week swanning around (yeah, that's a pun as will become clear if you check out the photo a little bit lower down!) Victoria.

It actually wasn't great timing as I've got a book due and my launch for SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED is going on right now. But the National Gallery of Victoria was having a huge exhibition about Napoleon. Given that Napoleon is the major historical figure of the first quarter of the 19th century and that's the period I write in, I really couldn't miss seeing it. And it closes this weekend so it was now or never.

So I girded my Napoleonic loins and flew down to Melbourne for a weekend of museuming, mainly at the NGV which has a wonderful permanent collection heavy in decorative arts, especially English. Heaven on a stick for a Regency writer, as you can imagine!

It took me a couple of days but I did the complete permanent collection (apart from the fashion and Asian galleries which weren't open). I feasted my eyes on beautiful art and ceramics and jewelry and furniture and glassware. Stunning stuff all round. Must say the feet objected to all that museuming, though. I was walking like a duck (a swan? Nah!) by the end!

I also did the Napoleon exhibition which featured an awful lot of gold. In fact, I had a gilt headache by the time I got out. Clearly Monsieur N wanted to show the world that he'd arrived and he did it in the flashiest style possible. Among my favorite pieces were some exquisite snuffboxes in diamonds and gold. The sort of thing we all have lying around in our top drawer, of course!

I've got lots of photos to share with you guys over the next few blogs, but one of my favorite pieces from the NGV was this stunning suite of Regency furniture. Can't you just imagine Sidonie and Jonas lounging around on these? I sure can!

I also caught up with a stack of wonderful friends, including wonderful medical author Sharon Archer who features in the photo at the top of the page. And I had lunch with a whole crowd of Melbourne authors at the gorgeous Langham Hotel on the Monday. Made a complete pig of myself of course!

Here's a photo of some of those authors. From left to right, SuperRomance writer Emmie Dark, young adult writer Ebony McKenna, rural romance writer Cathryn Hein and historical romance superstar Anne Gracie.

I got lots of photos of the lunch, so I'll probably do a blog just about that so you can see all the great writers who live in Melbourne. Well, at least those who could make the lunch. It's school holidays down here at the moment. A couple of the regulars couldn't be there, sadly. Although they were present in spirit!

And now for the swan section of this blog!

It was quite a swanny visit. Not only did I regularly cross Swanston Street in Melbourne, I went to SWAN LAKE at the Victorian Arts Center on Friday night. It was a beautiful new production from the Australian Ballet, using the traditional elements. That suits me down to the ground (or the water!). When I go to SWAN LAKE, I want swans, I want a prince, I want pretty dresses, darn it! That was a lovely way to kick off my weekend in Melbourne!

Here's the last photo for this month! From Melbourne, I went to stay with Sharon outside Ballarat and we had a lovely morning wandering around the botanical gardens there. I took SOOO many photos so flower pics are going to grace all my blogs and my Facebook page for the next few months. Here's a sample. Isn't that pink lovely? They have lots of beautiful mature European trees there so it was like being in an English country garden in spring.

So that's been my recent excitement. What have you been up to lately? Been anywhere nice? Oh, and if you are traveling, I can recommend SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED for your suitcase! Gold goes with everything! LOL!

Spring is here Downunder!

My boys have just headed back to school after our 'spring break'. We have four school terms here, broken up with a two week break between terms 1, 2 & 3 and then six weeks summer vacation after term four.
We took a mini trip during the break, funnily enough to visit Kandy Sheperd who blogged yesterday! It was so great to visit her and her lovely husband and to meet the cats and horses she often blogs about.

On the last day of our trip, we visited The Royal National Park in Sydney. Back in the 1870s, when this park was declared, I am sure it was in the middle of nowhere, but now it is surrounded by the southern suburbs of Sydney and on a public holiday, everyone was there taking advantage of having rugged coastal  beaches and glorious bush right on their doorstep.

And the flowers were out. I wanted to share some of them with you....

This is a Waratah and it is also the state flower of New South Wales. My photography doesn't show off how big the flowers really are but they are about 4 inches across and a glorious maroon red. They last in a vase for about six weeks. I love them but it is a bit too cool for them to grow where I live.

This is pink heath. Although I took this photo in New South Wales, it is the state flower of my state, Victoria.

Sorry, I have no clue what this is but it's pretty, right ? ;-)

 This is flower eucalpyt. Eucalyptus trees can flower in white, red or even orange, depending on the sub species.

I have exhausted my knowledge here but wanted to share them all with you.

So tell me, what is your favourite local flower? Or what is your state flower? I would love to know!

Fiona Lowe is a RITA^®  and R*BY award-winning, multi-published author with Harlequin and Carina Press. Whether her books are set in outback Australia or in the mid-west of the USA, they feature small towns with big hearts, and warm, likeable characters that make you fall in love. When she's not writing stories, she's a weekend wife, mother of two 'ginger' teenage boys, guardian of 80 rose bushes and often found collapsed on the couch with wine. Yyou can find her at her website, facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Her most recent releases are Letting Go Wiht Dr Rodriguez, Boomerang Bride and Sydney Harbour Hospital :Tom's Redemption

Her Christmas novel, NewBorn Baby For Christmas is up for pre-order now

What's Your Snack? -- Kandy Shepherd

Is it because I’m trying to lose weight that I keep thinking about favorite snacks? Not the delicious, low-fat meals I am enjoying and that, to be honest, are so filling I'm not hungry. Rather those delicious morsels that don’t seem to have a lot to do with hunger but with stress, want, and—yes—just plain greed!

On my Californian road trip this past July, I treated myself to a variety of toothsome snacks, some very difficult to get in Australia, where I live. First to be eaten with a great deal of pleasure was a double pack of Nestle Butterfinger, probably my very favorite of American candy bars.

Some swear by peanut butter cups--these are my peanut butter addiction.

 Next was a pack of Poppycock. I adore this sweet, nutty popcorn. I usually nibble on a pack—or two, or three—with my friend, author Cathleen Ross, when we share a room at the Romance Writers of America national convention. Sadly, Cathleen wasn’t able to come to Anaheim this year, so I bought a pack of Poppycock to take back home to her. Well, that was the intention. Greedy me succumbed to temptation on the plane home. But when I came back through Customs in Australia and declared I had some snacks, they specifically asked me if I had popcorn. If I hadn't eaten that pack, it would have been confiscated. What a waste that would have been!

I wonder if they put something addictive in this to  make me like it so much?

 Most of my snack passions tend to be sweet. But I was introduced to a new savory treat at a roadhouse in Burney, California. I thought I was ordering a side of fried zucchini but got served this amazing appetizer of crumbed zucchini sticks served with ranch dressing. How I love ranch dressing—and IMHO it doesn’t taste as good anywhere outside of the US.

I'm going to have to find a recipe to make this.

However, for all those scrumptious American treats, I have to say that the sweetest and most appreciated of all was the handful of blackberries gathered for me by my favorite little boys who live in northern California. “Eat them slowly, Kandy,” they admonished me, before they risked scratched arms and legs to go back for their own handfuls.

Picked and given with love--what a special treat.

And back home in Australia? Lovely Cathleen Ross just came back from a writer’s retreat with a gift for me of a pack of musk pencils. These are a hard version of the popular sweet, musk sticks, available only, to my knowledge in Australia and New Zealand. They’re mega sweet, have a floral type of flavor and a lurid color that probably isn’t very good for us at all! (And thanks, Cathleen, for not eating them on the plane before they got a chance to get to me.)

How to explain the appeal of such a sugary, brightly colored treat?

Of course the heroines I write in my novels also have a penchant for snacks. Cristy in  The Castaway Bride is stranded with a handsome stranger on a tropical island, their emergency food supply comprising chocolate bars. She thinks she’ll never eat chocolate again, but when things go wrong with Matt later in the novel what does she turn to? The chocolate in the hotel mini-bar. Allison in Something About Joe also turns to candy bars in times of stress. Heroines after my own heart (and sweet tooth)!

What about you? Do you have a favorite snack or treat? One that, perhaps, brings back happy childhood memories. Or one that you never want to eat again? I’d love to hear about it!

Please leave a comment to be in the draw to win a Love is a Four-Legged Word T-shirt.  Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you want to be in the draw.

Kandy Shepherd writes fun, feel-good fiction. Her books include The Castaway Bride, Something About Joe, Love is a Four-Legged Word and Home Is Where the Bark Is –they’re even better than a chocolate snack to relax with!

Visit Kandy at her website

 www.kandyshepherd.com