Happy Hogmanay and New Year!

Another year drawing to a close already. It's been a rollercoaster in many ways: first historical novel published; first tween novel accepted (to be published in March); son married; news of first grandchild expected next year. I think 2012 will be just as exciting!

May I wish everyone who reads this blog a very Happy New Year, filled with much health, love and success. Thank you so much for making blogging such an enjoyable and satisfying form of communication. Thanks to all the authors profiled on here this year. I look forward to introducing many more in 2012.

So raise a toast on our Scottish Hogmanay for Auld Lang Syne and a guid New Year!

Rosemary

Music and Chocolate

Hope everyone who was celebrating had a great Christmas. Our festivities began on Christmas Eve when we went to the Abbey in a nearby town for the early evening Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. A magical experience for someone who loves music and atmospheric ancient buildings. My favourite piece by the wonderful choristers was the hauntingly beautiful 'O Magnum Mysterium' by Morton Lauridson. A lovely way to begin the celebrations.

We had a happy time with our family over the past two days and, as always, I am now indulging in the annual chocolate overload from all the edible gifts. Do I feel guilty? Absolutely not. Everyone knows how much I enjoy chocolate, and the family buy me exactly the right kind. However, I'll be glad once the boxes eventually disappear, or I'll never fit into any of my clothes. Fortunately, my husband helps out by eating all the chocs he likes!

Now, it's catching up with friends before the Hogmanay and New Year celebrations. And maybe grabbing a few hours for some work in between... except daughter bought me the new PD James book and it's calling to me every time I walk past it!

Rosemary

Christmas Joy

This is a wonderful affirmation of the joy Christmas music and meaning can bring to people everywhere. This took place in a California Mall. It's worth watching right to the end.

Enjoy!
Rosemary

For Horse Lovers of all Ages

Today, I'm interviewing lovely tween author, C.K. Volnek over on my Flights of Imagination blog, where she is talking about her great new book, A Horse Called Trouble. For horse lovers of all ages, C.K.'s novel explores what happens when troubled teenager, Tara, is sent for horse therapy and meets an equally troubled horse. And both are in danger from the nasty Alissa.

C.K. is kindly offering a FREE download of A Horse Called Trouble to one lucky reader who leaves a comment below her interview on Flights of Imagination.

Rosemary

Wish I Was Here...

Today is the launch party of Janice Horton's great new book, Reaching for the Stars, and I'm taking part in her 'Wish I was here' blog tour. So in the spirit of the theme: Wish I was in Venice. One of my all time favourite destinations, I love the romance, the mystery and history of this unique place. From the water taxi along the length of the grand canal, and the 16th century buildings, to getting lost in the meandering narrow lanes, I'd happily be there right now!

Meantime, while I'm dreaming of Venice, here's the blurb for Janice's book.

Reaching for the Stars

Scottish celebrity chef Finn McDuff is media stalked and disillusioned after winning his third star and losing his third wife. He decides he’s had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and, after giving up all his accolades and closing down his restaurant, he disappears.

With the enfant terrible of the kitchen missing, two rival newspapers, having lost their media meal ticket, compete against each other to whip up further public curiosity in the missing chef. Love him or hate him, everyone is out looking for Chef McDuff. Who will find him first and whose side will you be on...?

Sounds great! You can buy Janice's book at Amazon (UK) or Amazon (US)

Enjoy the launch, Janice
Rosemary

City Scape

I'm away behind with lots of writing jobs and various other items of busyness, but today I enjoyed a little escape up to Glasgow. Not for Christmas shopping (didn't do a single bit), but to meet up with my lovely daughter-in-law for lunch and a blether. She and our son are making us first-time grandparents next year and, after a difficult beginning to the pregnancy, it was great to see d-in-l and her little 'bump' manage into the city.

On my way back to the station, I couldn't help noticing all the busy shoppers with bulging carrier bags from various stores, as to be expected just a couple of weeks before Christmas. But mainly, I was looking at all the beautiful lights and almost wishing it was much darker to see them in their proper glory. And forgive me for feeling smug, but I took pleasure in carrying nothing more than a handbag. I could enjoy the atmosphere without worrying about what to buy for whom and then having to carry it. But, fear ye not, I've still to do some of my shopping yet!

I hope the photo gives some idea of the glorious canopy of star-like lights stretched across some of our city's most gracious architecture - had to keep looking down to avoid tripping over anything. Lovely day out, and I even wrote on the train both ways. Must do it again soon!

Rosemary

Featured Author: Linda Rettstatt

I’m delighted to welcome fellow Champagne author, Linda Rettstatt, as my featured author today. Linda is an award winning writer of meaningful contemporary fiction and her latest novel, Reinventing Christmas, is an ideal read to put us in the mood for the festive season.

Welcome to reading and writing, Linda. Please introduce yourself.

Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, I worked for my hometown newspaper following graduation from high school. My writing career began with reviewing community theater productions (a task no one else on the news staff wanted.) I penned my first novel in 2004 and now have ten published. Four of my books have finaled for EPIC eBook Awards.

I write women's fiction and contemporary romance, and my background as a psychotherapist serves me in digging deeply into the emotional and psychological depths of characters. I am the owner and moderator of Women Fiction Writers, an online critique group of women writers from the USA and Canada. My work is published with Champagne Books, Class Act Books, and Wings ePress, and will soon be coming to Turquoise Morning Press. You can find me on my website and blog.

I currently reside in Southaven, Mississippi where I’m allowed to share an apartment with my cat, Binky (as long as I continue to bring home the Fancy Feast).

Reinventing Christmas

M.J. Rich is about to breakup with her boyfriend and seeks the comfort of her family’s familiar traditions for Christmas in Pittsburgh. Brady Cameron plans to spend the holiday alone at a Pennsylvania ski resort, drowning his sorrows. They meet while stranded by a winter storm in the Philadelphia Airport and agree to share the last rental car available, since they are both heading west. But a blizzard forces them off the highway and into an abandoned hunting cabin. Upon rescue, M.J. invites Brady to join her for a traditional family Christmas. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that nothing and no one is the same as when she last visited. Christmas turns out to be nothing either M.J. or Brady expects. It’s even better.

Reinventing Christmas is available at Champagne Books  and at Amazon (US) and Amazon (UK) for Kindle.

Thanks for joining us today, Linda, and all the best with your novels!
Rosemary

From Floods to Snow

Last week, we had crazy flooding in our village and the nearby towns. We're used to rain in the west coast of Scotland, in fact we're famous for it, but this was exceptional. The highest rainfall happened overnight so we weren't even aware of the extent of the problem at first. Our village main street was completely under water (we live at the top of the hill!), cars and buses couldn't get into the nearest main town because of floods, and the trains stopped around lunch time. We've never seen anything as bad as this. Husband was away for two days and couldn't get a train all the way home when he returned. But apart from the village street, which wasn't quite cleared until the end of the week, life soon returned to normal.

Last year, it was excessive snow falls which interfered with transport and travel, and I'd heard we were not meant to have any before Christmas. But it snowed last night. There's only a light dusting of it on the streets and grass this morning but it makes everything look so pretty. And in the midst of everything, our central heating boiler broke down. I was certainly grateful for the little electric heater! Fortunately, a new pump has finally got everything working again, after a few airlocks.

On Friday, I had the pleasure of going through to Edinburgh to meet up with lots of online writer friends for our Christmas lunch. You can imagine the volume of chatting, as we only get together in person a few times a year. I didn't even manage to speak to everyone properly as we ran out of time and many of us had trains to catch. When I eventually got back to Glasgow, the gorgeous Christmas lights around George Square and Buchanan Street ensured I retained that warm glow of a lovely day out in good company.

I love this time of year, with cold days and cosy dark nights, the brightly lit towns, advent and carol singing, the run up to Christmas. But I'm also grateful for warmth, home, friends and family and am very aware that many people don't have those necessities of life. Sometimes we need a little discomfort to remind us of the blessings we have!

Rosemary

Featured Author: Pauline Barclay

I’m beginning a new venture on this blog over the next few months, where I hope to feature different authors and display one of their book covers on the side bar for the month in which they appear.

So to start us off, I’m delighted to welcome independent author, Pauline Barclay, who as well as being a prolific writer is lucky enough to live on one of the lovely Canary Islands. Pauline is a brilliant blogger who takes part in many online forums and blogs, and she is always helpful to other writers. Her three published books have already gathered a huge number of five-star reviews on Amazon Kindle.

Hello Pauline, please introduce yourself!

Years ago I gained a BA (Hons) degree from the Open University, today I spend my time writing fiction.These days, I live on the beautiful island of Lanzarote with my husband and two rescue doggies and it is a wonderful place for inspiration to write. Though born in Yorkshire, UK, we have lived in Suffolk and Surrey and before moving to Lanzarote, we lived in Holland in the beautiful town of Leiden.

I have three published novels, Magnolia House, Satchfield Hall and Sometimes It Happens… In between marketing and all my other commitments, I am busy with my fourth novel!

You can find out what I get up to at my blog and website

Pauline’s Latest Book

Satchfield Hall

When the news reached Henry Bryant-Smythe about his daughter’s indiscretion, he not only dealt with it, but stamped on it with such a resounding thud, that the consequences ricocheted through the years and well into the future. Henry Bryant-Smythe cared nothing for the consequences of his actions and even less for the feelings of those involved, with the exception of his own, and these he cosseted.

Celia Bryant-Smythe’s disgrace set in motion events that would affect the lives of many people, taking decades to unravel. Lives would be lost and destroyed and it would take until the death of the one man who had callously started it all, Henry Bryant-Smythe, until it was finally over.

Satchfield Hall is not about gentleness, tranquillity and privilege; it is about power, love, lies and, in the end, revenge.

A sweeping saga set in 1942 through to1986

Available now from Amazon Kindle

Thanks for visiting today, Pauline, and all the best with your novels.

Rosemary