One of the elements of my writing that readers most often comment on is the description. I was brought up to be a highly descriptive writer, because I spent so many years immersed in French literature, because writing in English (not my native tongue) demands that I consider carefully vocabulary,
From the blurb: As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris. It’s a huge shift
Being a published writer today means being within a competitive market – trying to stand out in a crowd with your words. But one organisation has taken this notion of competitively to new heights. Yesterday I was fascinated to watch on BBC News an item about a new phenomena in
My home in the south of France, where I’m residing for the summer, has panoramic views over the Mediterranean. On a calm day, I sit out and watch the sparkling sea melding into the hazy cobalt horizon, and I get lost in the majesty of sweeping sunsets and sunrises whose
From the blurb: A forbidden love, a life-long secret, and one chance to make the right decision. Ella has always been an artist, jotting down pictures from a young age, and now in her thirties she has made it her profession. Commissioned to capture memories, fading beauty and family moments,
You can see why my husband and I bought our French home: the view!
Picture the scene: You’re having coffee with a dear friend, and the subject turns to books you’ve read recently. You tell her about a romance novel you really enjoyed. She tells you about a work of literary fiction she found moving and inspiring. ‘That sounds wonderful,’ you say. ‘It is,’
I was fascinated to read of research published in scientific journal PLOS ONE that has found that British writers today are less emotive in their writing than their counterparts of 100 years ago. Researchers examined five million books published between 1900 to 2000 to see how often emotive words –
From the blurb: Enter a sinfully wicked world where three daring women encounter sexy rakes in these erotic adventures… In Lessons in Indiscretion, widowed Lady Julia Renwick pursues the much younger Earl of Bedingfield and is shocked to discover she has much to learn from him when it comes to
A view from my garden in France. Even black clouds can have a certain beauty.
Regular readers of my blog will know that one of my favourite poets is Leconte de Lisle, whose poems are wonderfully visual in that each word contributes to a vivid mental image. Many of his poems are about wild animals, and today I am sharing with you one on the
From the blurb: From the bestselling author of EAST OF THE SUN comes an extraordinary love story. It is 1942 and the war is tearing Europe apart, shattering lives and devastating countries. But for some, it will be the greatest of adventures. Saba, a striking, headstrong singer from Wales defies
Time Out has put together a top 100 list for romantic movies, complied by 101 experts – film makers, actors, critics and writers. The top ten as voted were: Brief Encounter (1945) Casablanca (1942) In the Mood for Love (2000) Annie Hall (1977) Harold and Maude (1971) Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Just for fun, today I’m sharing an A–Z of romantic ideas for creating that special moment with your loved one. Art – awaken the romantic sensibility by ‘getting cultural’. Bathe – together? Candles – for creating an ambient mood. Dance – the closer, the better. Eye contact – lingering, sparkling,
I love going to the nearby hilltop village of Gassin for its quaint little streets and its stunning views.
The beauty of writing as both a passion and a career is that you only get better with time, and you need never stop, so long as you have ideas and the will to write. Did you know that the oldest romance novelist in the world lives in Cornwall, England;
As I see it, there are three types of writer: Type 1: The writer who doesn’t write but dreams of writing. Type 2: The writer who writes but doesn’t share their writing. Type 3: The writer who writes and does share their writing. Over the years, I have evolved from
From the blurb: Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man – perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to
This week I’m returning to my French home. I can’t wait for long, lazy, summer days and lying with a book beside the pool.
I love elephants – who could fail to be impressed by their stature and presence and magnitude and loyalty and intelligence? They are the largest land-bound mammals, and surely among the most awe-inspiring of creatures. One of my favourite scenes to write in Burning Embers was that in which Coral
Having seen the cast list, I confess I myself had great expectations for this film! Jeremy Irvine as Pip Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham Holliday Grainger as Estella Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch Robbie Coltrane as Mr Jaggers And, of course, direction by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral,
From the blurb: CC is trapped by a job she no longer loves in an unfriendly city. So when her new boyfriend decides it’s time to sell up and move to the South of France, she decides in seconds to change her life. After all, who wouldn’t pick an azure
I confess I love romance novels in which there is a tortured hero, because I think any love story needs conflict, some struggle that must be overcome, and inner conflict is, for me, the most compelling. I love human characters, real characters, who are imperfect and wrestle with themselves, because
Today marks a year since the publication of my debut novel, Burning Embers. What a wonderful year it has been! I’ve loved getting to know so many new people, both readers and other, supportive writers, and it’s truly been a time in which dreams have come true for me. To
Recently, I was watching a fascinating BBC documentary about the British love affair with tea (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rx1wx). Not only did it lead me to put the kettle on and reach for the teapot, but it also made me think about tea versus coffee, and how we choose either drink based
From the blurb: Christy Haviland served eight months in prison, giving birth behind bars to the child of the man who put her there and might yet destroy her. Now she’s free again, but what does that mean? As smart as she is, a learning disability has kept her from
French is known as the language of love, and the French are popularly characterised as romantic, passionate people. And when it comes to cuisine, of course the French are internationally acclaimed for their gastronomy – the rich flavours, the fresh ingredients, the commitment to excellence, the Mediterranean influence creeping in
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to write. Writing makes me feel at one peaceful and alive; it feeds a raw need. I need to sleep, I need to eat and drink, I need to be with my family, I need to be connected to nature
Regular readers of my blog will know that I love poetry, and that one of my favourite eras for poetry is Romanticism. Of that time, the poet whose work I find most inspiring is Lord Byron (1788–1824). A leading figure in Romanticism, his writing is infused with all the emotion
Like many bibliophiles and writers, I follow various news outlets with an eye on stories relating to the arts, publishing and the business of being an author. This week, three stories stood out to me as those that should spark debate. First, there was the announcement by Hachette Book Group
Researching my series Andaludican Nights gave me an excuse to visit Seville, one of my favourite cities in the world. The architecture there is so interesting that I find I always walk with my head raised, looking up. Here is a perfect example of an attention-grabbing building: Isn’t is beautiful?
Readers of my books quickly realise two things about me: * I am passionate about travel.Since I first spread my wings as a young woman, I have been fortunate enough to travel widely, and this travel has shaped me into the writer I am today. * Settings are intrinsically important
Last weekend I spent a wonderful afternoon at Tinakilly Country House, a historic Italianate mansion in Wicklow, Ireland. Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland, and the Tinakilly garden is surely one of its most beautiful spots. I loved the many daffodils singing on the breeze, ‘Spring has sprung!’ t
Thank you for visiting my blog on the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop. In keeping with the theme, I’m giving away a fantastic book on Ireland that will open your eyes to the true magic and history of this beautiful land. Entry is open to all (I will post internationally)
Synopsis: Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and
Find out all about the audiobook recording of my latest book Masquerade in this interview with the narrator, Matt.
I am always delighted to discover a new edition of Mslexia magazine on my doormat (although this month’s cover artwork on the theme of monsters of the mind is rather disturbing: take a look at http://mslexia.co.uk/). Mslexia contains intelligent and thought-provoking articles for women who write, and I always find
Meet Leandro, hero of my latest novel Masquerade: The young gypsy took his place in the middle of the circle, which the previous performers had left vacant. His long, copper-tanned fingers began thrumming his guitar. The prelude continued for some time and the shouts, clapping of hands and stamping of
Welcome, and thank you for stopping by on the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop, hosted by BookHounds. I’m giving away a copy of my novel Burning Embers: Burning Embers is a contemporary historical romance novel set in Kenya in 1970. It depicts the developing attraction and love between a young
Recently, a headline in the Observer caught my eye: ‘The Rarefied World of Rare Book Collecting Is Not a Dying Art’. My first thought was, is rare book collecting really rarefied? The article opens: In this age of Kindle and Nook, when used book stores are rapidly disappearing and real
How could I possibly write a three-book series set in Andalucía without including that most controversial and iconic aspects of Spanish culture: the bullfight? I was a young woman when I first attended a corrida. Then, I was much like Alexandra, my heroine in Indiscretion, a curious onlooker: Fascinated, Alexandra
Thank you for visiting my blog as part of the Leap Into Books giveaway hop, hosted by Book Hounds. I’m giving away a paperback copy of my novel The Echoes of Love: The Echoes of Love is a touching love story that unfolds at the turn of the new millennium,
‘Speak low if you speak love.’ ‘Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, Did my heart fly at your service.’ ‘Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?’ ‘Love is a smoke and is made with the fume of sighs.’ ‘I love you more
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
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