Last week in the UK, in the county of Devon on the south-west coast, a single name echoed on the breeze: ‘Flaviu’. The county’s attention – and, indeed, that of the wider country – was captured by the news that Flaviu the Carpathian lynx was loose somewhere among the population.
Most people are aware that reading is a Good Thing: for knowledge-building, for intelligence, for empathy, for wellbeing even (see my post ‘Want to feel better about yourself? Read more books…’). But have you ever considered what you read in terms of how it benefits you? Have you ever thought
Back in 2005, the Global Language Monitor, an organisation that analyses trends in word usage and their impact on culture, sent out an alert entitled ‘The “Skirt With No Name” Challenges Linguists – and the Fashion Elite’. Its subject was a skirt that was currently trending, variably being called tiered,
In this season’s edition of The Author magazine I was fascinated by an article by Alexandra Harris, author of Weatherlands, a book that explores the relationship between the writer and the weather in English literature (well worth reading; you can find it on Amazon here). The article, entitled ‘Fine weather
A girl never forgets the first time she sees Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I was in my late teens and absolutely enchanted by the story, the characters… but most of all, the style. Audrey Hepburn’s black dress, which she wears at the opening of the film, is probably the most famous
My latest book, Masquerade, focuses on Luz, a young writer who finds herself torn between two men. The first is Andrès, a smooth, sophisticated businessman who exudes intelligence and authority. Attractive, certainly, and a sensible choice in many ways – but whatever he says and whatever he does, he’s just
Having read the title of this blog post, you may be thinking: Modern and courtship? Now there are two words that don’t belong together. True, courtship conjures up a picture of times gone by, before the Jazz Age heralded a shift to ‘dating’, but it’s valid today to describe the
From an early age, I have been interested in style – in fashion and accessories and looks. I’ve read Vogue. I’ve attended fashion shows. I’ve shopped-until-I-dropped in all manner of stores, from little boutiques right through to the heavenly Selfridge’s, Oxford Street, all the while with the iconic words of
Lipstick, powder, compact, hairbrush, breath freshener, eau de toilette… the contents of a woman’s handbag are myriad and many. Now, according to a recent study reported in the media, if the woman in question wishes to be attractive to a potential mate, her handbag arsenal needs an essential addition: a
Hannah says: You needn’t pay the earth for your funky summer tote… Did you know that the first tote bag was designed in 1944 by LL Bean? They quickly caught on, as ladies realised they made light and easy work of carrying paraphernalia, and by the 1990s, when designer Kate
In my novel Masquerade, book two of the Andalusian Nights trilogy, the heroine Luz is maddeningly attracted to her new employer, Andrès. I say ‘maddeningly’, because while Andrès is in so many ways a good match for her – charismatic, intelligent, charming, successful in his work – he is also
Hannah says: With this simple top in your wardrobe, you can be effortlessly chic and classy. ‘Simplicity is the key note of all true elegance.’This was the ethos of one of my all-time favourite designers, Coco Chanel, and it’s one I wholeheartedly embrace. Did you know that we have Chanel
In my lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to travel to all manner of places around the globe. I have liked many, and loved a few. One of those few is Andalusia, Spain. That sultry, sunny Spanish region so fired up my imagination that I set not one or even
Earlier this week I blogged about how high heels can infuse a woman with a sense of style and confidence. While researching the book, I was led on a meandering and enthralling course, which culminated in a wonderful new discovery: the Fashion Fairy Tale Memoir series. Is there any better
Recently, I have been packing up my British home to move to my renovated mas in the south of France, where I summer each year. I have a confession to make: of the many cases stacked ready for transportation, more than oneis devoted to shoes. High heels: beautiful, artistic, show-stopping
My latest fiction series is set in Andalucía, Spain. It is a region I know well, having travelled there several times. Whenever I visit, I try to practise my Spanish (I am far more fluent speaking in French and English), which requires that I listen carefully to the language and
I am a keen follower of http://www.ted.com/: the website devoted to ‘ideas worth spreading’. Recently, the following video, entitled ‘My year reading a book from every country in the world’, caught my eye: From the description: Ann Morgan considered herself well read — until she discovered the “massive blindspot” on
If you love reading and you want to share your passion with the world, how do you do so? How do you identify yourself as an ardent bibliophile? Until a few years ago, the answer was most likely to entail words. You showed your love of reading by writing about
‘Learning language from the language of love’: That was the headline that caught my eye in the news recently. Have you heard about Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) engine, and its new reading material? Some time ago, Google realised that the conversational skills used in its many products were somewhat lacking:
Welcome to my blog, and thank you for visiting. For this hop, I’m giving away ebook copies of my novels Masquerade and Indiscretion, books one and two of the Andalucian Nights trilogy, and recent award winners: Entry is open to all, via Rafflecopter. The prizes are ebooks: mobi, epub or
My romantic trilogy – comprising Indiscretion, Masquerade and the forthcoming Legacy – is set in Andalucía, Spain. As part of my research for the series, I travelled to this beautiful region and immersed myself in the culture and vistas. Then, when I returned home, I stacked my bedside table high
Digital publishing is still in its infancy. Developments are quick, and frequently surprising, because ebooks are breaking new ground. With anything new comes a desire to forecast and predict trends, but sometimes, when the pace is fast, there is a tendency to make assumptions rather than carefully analysing exactly what
Synopsis: Holly Wright has had a difficult few years. After her mother’s death, she’s become expert at keeping people at a distance – including her boyfriend, Rupert. But when Holly receives an unexpected letter explaining that an aunt she never met has left her a house on the Greek island
Welcome and thank you for stopping by. For this May I Suggest hop, I’m suggesting the novel that began my career: Burning Embers. Entry is open to all (I will post internationally). Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway There are plenty more great books to win: follow the hop
On every romance bestseller list in the UK right now (and, indeed, in plenty of countries worldwide) you find After You, Jojo Moyes’ sequel to her internationally bestselling Me Before You. Although Me Before You has been out – and raved about – for some years now, I have only
Siesta: as I write in my novel Indiscretion, it is ‘that sacred hour of the afternoon when Spaniards retire to the coolness of their rooms, blinds drawn, to escape the stifling heat’. In my Andalucian Nights series, the siesta is part of the culture of the Spain in which I
I am delighted to be able to share with you today the cover for my upcoming book, Legacy, which is the third and final book in the Andalucian Nights trilogy. What do you think? I would love to read your comments.
Recently, I’ve been following the blog of Terry Dresbach, the costume designer on the show Outlander. Her research into eighteenth-century fashion is fascinating, and like many others I adore the statements she makes with the outfits for the court of Louis XV, particularly for the heroine, Claire: I’ve no doubt
My dream has always been to write romance novels, and I am very fortunate that I live that dream every day. But if, for some reason, I could not have written romance, what then would I have dreamt of doing? Something to do with reading then, naturally: I’d have dreamt
When American writer James Patterson makes an announcement, it is usually big news; because he’s a bestselling author, of course, but also because he’s a game changer in publishing. Unafraid to be a maverick, Patterson has created a very successful author brand with acute business acumen: To date, he has
Do you remember the first time you experienced Romeo and Juliet? For me, it was in my early teens, sitting in the audience of a playhouse and watching actors interpret Shakespeare’s classic lines. I found the romance between Romeo and Juliet so beautiful, especially the balcony scene.
In my latest novel, Concerto, music therapist Catriona travels to Lake Como, Italy, to work with a new client. Umberto was once a celebrated pianist composer, but since he went blind he has lost all interest in composing. He is embittered, recalcitrant and depressed, and Catriona has her work cut out trying to guide him back to the piano.
Opera is a key theme in my novel Concerto. The heroine, Catriona, is a young woman who dreams of becoming an opera singer. She has the passion, and the talent: she attends the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice, and has made the final in a competition to earn a place at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris, which would launch her career in the world of opera. Then she meets composer Umberto Rolando Monteverdi, and her life takes an entirely unexpected twist.
Last week, libraries were in the news in Britain: firstly, because Essex County Council reversed its decision to close 25 of its 74 libraries after extensive pressure from the public (and, helpfully, some celebrities); and secondly, because The Bookseller reported that book loans at libraries in the UK have ‘plummeted
Each summer, from my garden in France, I watch a sailing regatta called Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. There is something so romantic about the sight of all those sailboats sweeping across the ocean. But given a choice, I would always be aboard a boat rather than watching it from the
In my new book, Concerto, the story begins in Nice, on the French Riviera. My heroine, Catriona, is an aspiring opera singer who lives with her mother in Vieux Nice, the old town, at the foot of Castle Hill. I chose this setting for the opening of the book with
One of my earliest memories is of a castle. Turrets so tall they touched the clouds, beautiful gardens and a princess running across the lawn, her long train sweeping behind her. Why was she running? Well, she was away to do battle with a dragon (my princesses ran toward danger,
The hero of my new novel, Concerto, is a man in pain, struggling in the darkness, both emotional and physical, brought on by going blind. When music therapist Catriona meets Umberto, she can see that there is much work to do if he is to live with passion and humour
Whenever I release a new book, interviewers commonly ask me about my writing habits – what are my sources of inspiration; do I plan or write off-the-cuff; where do I write? Here’s a little guide to writing a romance novel, the Hannah Fielding way. I’m sure all sorts of other
‘Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume’. — French writer Jean de Boufflers In my new book, Concerto, when the hero and heroine first meet they are in the flush of youth, Umberto in his mid-twenties and Catriona eighteen. At once, a powerful attraction springs up between
I find it hard to recall a time when I did not want to be a writer; it feels like it has always been part of me. Similarly, when I look back I can’t pin down a point in my life when I decided I wanted to be an author,
‘A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.’ So wrote one of my favourite writers, the 19th-century French novelist Stendhal. In all of my romance novels, hope is essential, for how can one fall in love without being hopeful of a bright future? But
On an ordinary street in Dumfries, Scotland, beside the River Nith, lies an extraordinary house. Moat Brae, which was built in 1823, is a quite beautiful building, with its striking Georgian architecture. But that’s not what makes this place special. Indeed, until a decade ago the house was threatened with
In Concerto, when the hero and heroine first meet, they are young and full of dreams and a great deal of ambition. Catriona is a talented singer who would love to become an opera singer, and Umberto is the son of an opera diva and is a famous pianist composer
Have you heard of the Future Library project by Scottish artist Katie Paterson? The concept is simple, and very beautiful. In a Norwegian forest, 1,000 Norwegian spruces have been planted. For one hundred years they will grow. Then, in 2114, they will be cut down and made into paper, on
Today is the day! My new novel, Concerto, has been released in the UK. You can buy Concerto in print or as an ebook from Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones and WHSmith. The novel will be published in the US in August. When Catriona Drouot, a young music therapist, honours an opera diva’s dying request to help
In Song of the Nile, Phares and Aida explore a famous and historic part of Cairo: the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and souk.
For the ancient Egyptians, there was great meaning in the heavens above. The planets and stars could help you understand who you were and what would happen in the future.
How would a pharaoh’s spirit navigate to the glorious afterlife? For ancient Egyptians, the answer was simple: follow the funerary texts, a kind of ‘afterlife guidebook’.
The largest temple complex ever built with a construction history spanning 2,000 years, Karnak is one of the most important ancient sites in Egypt.
Every country has its proverbs, little sayings passed down from generation to generation that impart wisdom and tell truths, and Egypt is no exception.
The heroine of my novel Song of the Nile is named Aida for the opera – a passionate, dramatic story of love and tragedy.
What did it mean to be both royal and female in ancient times? How much autonomy and power did royal women hold? Was it as glamorous as a Cleopatra movie?
Saturday was a very big day for the people of Egypt: with great fanfare, eighteen of their ancient kings and four of their queens were transported through Cairo to their new resting place.
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