Link to Lord Byron Post

Today, my article on the mad, bad and dangerous to know Lord Byron is on the Champagne blog, if anyone wants to have a look.

He appears in one scene of my forthcoming novel, Dangerous Deceit, so I wanted to write a little more about him since he is such a fascinating character!

You can find the post here.

Rosemary

A Way Back by Linda LaRoque

If you’re a fan of time-slip stories, or well-written romance, I thoroughly recommend the new novella length book, A Way Back, by Texan writer Linda LaRoque.

Wall Street Investment Banker Amber Matthews has returned unhappily to work after burying her mother, and she steps into the lift of her modern office building. The lift lurches and she falls. When she stands up, Amber discovers she is in a vintage lift in the original building, and the year is 1930.

Wellman Hathaway, CEO of Hathaway Bank in New York, is in financial difficulties after the Wall Street Crash, and investors are looking for their money. Amber thinks Wellman is about to jump from the ledge of his office. Wellman doesn’t believe Amber could possibly be from 2011. But when they are forced into an unexpected marriage, Wellman discovers Amber has information about the Texas oilfields in the 1930s that just might save his business. And they gradually find that love has a way of transcending time and differences in culture.

This is a highly enjoyable time-slip novel that introduces two likeable characters who are very much of their own time. Linda LaRoque’s attention to historical detail brings the 1930s alive, allowing the reader to experience the despair during the Great Depression, and to feel the hope with the subsequent oil boom. My only slight disappointment was that their story ended too quickly, but that's a good complaint.

Welcome to the reading and writing blog, Linda! Thank you for introducing yourself with answers to the following questions:

How long have you been writing?

I started writing around 1991. My first book, When the Ocotillo Bloom, took 14 years from beginning to publication. It went through many rewrites while I learned the craft.

Do you prefer writing contemporary or historical?

I enjoy writing both but guess if I had to chose, I'd write historical as I love the research involved.

What do you like to read?

I like pretty much everything: romance, suspense, mystery, adventure, historicals, etc. Oddly enough I've found myself immersed in Steven Hunter's books and Stephen King. Others are Carla Negger, Linda Howard, Lisa Jackson, Iris Johansen and many others. I love Kristen Hannah's route stories that take place around the turn of the century up into the thirties and forties. Growing up I read all of Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Barbara Michael's books along with Anya Seton, Phillipa Gregory and Gwen Bristow.

(I too loved Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt and Anya Seton, Linda!)

Any tips for new novelists?

Read, read, read and write, write, write. Join writer's groups, and attend conferences and workshops. Belong to a critique group. When you have something polished, send it out. While waiting to hear back, start work on something new. Don't give up when you receive rejections. They're part of the learning process. If you receive the same critical comments more than once, you might want to take their advice and make revisions.

Follow your internal editor when making changes. If you can see the reasoning behind suggestions you receive from your critique group, editors, etc., make changes. If you disagree, stick with your gut feeling.

Be persistent. Writers must have thick skins. We get our feelings hurt but can't allow a set back to keep us down. Dust off the seat of your pants and get back to your computer. Only the strong survive.

Good luck!
Linda

Wise words to finish on! Thank you, Linda. You can find out more about Linda LaRoque and her other books at her website: http://lindalaroque.com/

A Way Back (e-book for now) is available from Amazon and Champagne Books.

Happy reading,
Rosemary

Link to Weekly News Guidelines

Jill Finlay, fiction editor of The Weekly News, has produced new, fuller guidelines about the kind of stories she would like to see in submissions.

You can read the complete guidelines at the womag blog.

Good luck!
Rosemary

Watermill at Posara Competition

Capri

There is a very interesting competition from the couple who run the creative writing courses at the lovely Watermill at Posara in Tuscany, Italy.

The theme is 'A Foreigner in Italy' and entry should be a piece of writing (fiction or non-fiction) reflecting the emotion of Italy through an outsider's eyes. There is a generous prize of £1000 and the closing date is 28th February 2011. Find full details and enter online at the Watermill at Posara website.

Venice

Although I haven't been to Posara, I love the parts of Italy I have seen and can just imagine writing at such an inspiring place as the Watermill. I've posted a few of my photos of Italy to get you started!

Good luck,

Rosemary

Rome



Champagne Books Blog February Party

Thought this might interest some readers and writers. Although it's a party for the month of romance, many Champagne authors also write anything from thrillers to sci-fi. Come and meet some of them during February. There will be a new blog post every day on the site and plenty of free e-books to win. I'm doing a post on Lord Byron on 27th February!

Rosemary

Please join us at

Champagne Books Blog

for a Hearts and Flowers Party

during the month of February.

Champagne Books Authors will be blogging, sharing excerpts, book trailers,
and many, many e-book give-aways.