The Time to Give Thanks

Thank you, Delilah, for allowing me to stop in and visit with you and your readers again. The last time I was here, my post was about the Canadian long weekend in May, our Victoria Day holiday, which is when my current release Worth the Risk takes place.  Due to the timing of this visit, I thought I’d talk about another holiday—this weekend is our Thanksgiving.  So, yes, I’m spending the weekend cooking. Hmm, not unlike most weekends, but this one’s special – it’s turkey time!

Just like in the U.S., Canadians give thanks for a good harvest and any other good fortunes over the past year, and we take time to stuff ourselves with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie, well, I actually prefer apple.  😆  However, our Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated earlier, on the second Monday of October.

Traditionally, this is a national public holiday for most of us, and although we do tend to get together with family on the Thanksgiving weekend, the holiday itself is not as big a celebration in Canada as it is in the U.S. While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, many will actually celebrate it on the Sunday.

Last time I was here, I talked about how we generally used the May long weekend as our springboard into summer—we open everything up—our pools, our camps and summer cottages. Well, we use this one to close them all up.  Summer is officially over, all done. It’s time to pack it up, sweep it away, and pull out the winter wear. Yuck. Coats and boots we’ve been hiding in the basement. *shiver* We look longingly at our shorts, swimsuits and sandals.  If we’re lucky though, it’s a beautiful warm fall day, the leaves have already turned to bright reds, oranges and yellows, and they’re gently falling from the trees.  Just in time for the kids and hubby to rake them up!  Pumpkins, squash and Indian corn are in abundance and adorn dining room tables, front entrances, and create beautiful crisp masterpieces that (hopefully) last through Halloween.

A few interesting facts:

• Canadian’s don’t have a Black Monday.  Our biggest shopping day is Boxing Day
• Similar to the U.S., Canadians have parades and watch football on the holiday Monday
• Kitchener Waterloo hosts Oktoberfest – if you’re looking for German music, beer and Schnapps, Kitchener is the place to be (if you can’t actually be in Germany of course 😀 )
• Quebec Francophones don’t consider it an important holiday – it’s simply a day off!
• The Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with the U.S. observance of Columbus Day

Now, remember when I said we took the time to express our thanks?  Every day, I’m thankful for my family and friends, both close and extended, my health, and my job. But this year, I saw my dream of becoming published come to fruition. And before the end of the year, I should see my second book hit the e-market. For that, I’m especially thankful too everyone involved in making that happen.

In my upcoming release, Friends with Benefits, Tyler is most thankful for the woman he shares his life with.  When he finds out that his best friend is moving to town, Tyler decides this may be the opportune time to surprise his wife, the woman he loves more than life itself, by fulfilling some of her fantasies, and Connor is the one man he trusts to help him do just that.

You trust your friend.

You love your wife.

Is your relationship with both of them strong enough
to put it all to the ultimate test?

There’s only one way to find out…

All images are for promotional purposes only and do not reflect the actual cover
or character images.  Author as appropriate rights for the use of all images.

I want to wish all my American friends a happy Columbus Day and all my Canadian family and friends a happy Thanksgiving!  Tell me…what are you thankful for?

To purchase Worth the Risk:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | All Romance Ebooks | Kobo | Bookstrand

To connect with Anne:

Web Page/Blog | Facebook  | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

A Cowboy and a Guitar

Thanks for hosting me today, Delilah! I’m excited to chat with your wonderful readers.

Country Western singers play a huge role in my fantasy life. A few years ago, I attended a concert with my girlfriends. We had too much fun planning naughty stolen moments with the opening act.

I just imagined what it would be like to get invited backstage by him, into his dressing room, accept a glass of whiskey from him, and sip it while watching him strip off his shirt. “Sure, I’ll wait while you take a shower,” I say, and he grins at me, takes the glass from my hand, and shakes his head. “You’re commin’ in with me, sugar.”

Hmm, should I risk messing up my makeup…oh heck, who am I kidding? I’m naked and in the shower before he can get his boots off!

Our first kiss is whiskey flavored, hot and slow. He likes to take his time. But he is intense, knows exactly what he wants and (woo-hoo!) exactly what I need. Do we ever see each other again? Of course we do! This is a romantic fantasy. Somehow, he tracks me down and we start a crazy-wild relationship that lasts happily ever after.

Fantasies are wonderful, aren’t they? Who’s the country star you daydream about? Are you sneaking backstage with him? Or do you have a different fantasy planned for him? Leave a comment for a chance to win!

Book 1 of the Hot Country Series: Country music superstar/actor Chase Tanner has yet to be denied anything–and he’s never wanted anything or anyone more than gorgeous screenplay writer Reno Linden. So when the film they are working on is finally finished, Chase decides to turn up the volume on seducing Reno.

Reno Linden lived a quiet, rural life until she was thrust into the Hollywood scene when her book was adapted to film. Chase Tanner is larger than life, sinfully sexy and hell-bent on getting her into bed. Skittish after a failed wedding engagement, Reno risks the plunge into Chase’s arms, and is surprised that her good girl self can keep up with bad boy Chase.

Though Chase returns to his cowboy roots often, and Reno cherishes the time spent with him on his ranch, the two find their careers pulling them in different directions. Will their attraction survive the glitz and stress of fame?

Excerpt from Chase and Seduction – Book 1 of the Hot Country Series:

Reno looked at Chase for a minute, losing herself in the dark passion in his eyes. Fisting her hand in his silky hair, she pulled him down to her and kissed him. Her tongue plunged in, twisting with his.

He took over, his lips slanting on hers, his breath hot and sweet as he explored every crevice of her mouth, teasing and caressing. His arms wrapped tightly, and he spread his feet apart so his hips could grind back and forth across her mound.

Her mind numbed to everything but the throbbing of her slit, the trickle of cream dripping from her opening onto her swollen lips, wetting her panties. She pulled his head back, still gripping his hair, and took huge breaths. “I’m drowning, Chase. Don’t let me go.”

“Reno.” His voice caught. “Never.” He walked her backward three steps and flattened her against the hard wall. His eyes bore into hers, his pupils dilated, making them look black, sensual, intense. He ran a hand up under her shirt, up to her breast. Her nipple grew rock hard as he teased it with his thumb, circling then squeezing it.

The pleasure ached, shivered down her belly, down low between her legs, making her cry out with the urgency of her need. He had to take her. Now. She couldn’t wait.

Chase tugged up her bra and fit her breast into his hand. “Oh baby, this is so fucking much better than I imagined.”

She stared at him, his face so close it seemed like a dream. Her voice seemed to come from far away. “Did you, Chase? Did you think about this? About making love to me?” She wanted to cry, for some insane reason—cry and hold on to him forever.

He gyrated his hips against her, hitting her clit through her clothes. “Yeah, I thought about this. Every time we talked, every time I saw you across a room.” He took her nipple between his finger and thumb again and caressed it. “And a hundred times a day when I could only see you in my mind.”

The ecstasy streaking from her breast to her pussy was outrageous. Sweet, heavenly contractions began, and she tipped up her hips to better feel his cock against her clit. The increased pressure flooded her pussy with heat as her climax neared.

“Reno.” He captured her mouth with his, demanding and driving, his need becoming frantic. He moved his hand from her breast to the waistband of her shorts and slid his fingers in, catching her lacy underwear with it.

Wanting to prolong her ecstasy, she pulled away from his kiss and caught her breath while she unbuttoned his shirt and yanked it open. Seeing his muscular pecs and abs, she lost all control and ran her hands over his hot, satiny skin, making circles with her fingers in the auburn hair lightly covering his chest. She leaned forward and bit him on the collarbone.

He cried out. “Oh yeah, baby, I like a little pain.”

She kissed the spot she’d just bitten. “And a little pleasure?” She’d never been so bold with a man. All her inhibitions had packed up and left.

He yanked her shorts and underwear down to the floor then stood and cupped her pussy with his big hand. “A lot of pleasure.”

**********

Leave a comment sharing the name of your fantasy ‘cowboy with a guitar’ for a chance to win an e-copy of Cowboy 6 Pack plus a box of swag.

Thank you!

Randi
“Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied”
RandiAlexander.com

-Chase and Seduction is Book 1 of the Hot Country Series, and is available digitally at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, and in paperback at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Createspace

A big thank you to Delilah for letting me play in her sandbox for a bit.

October has to be my favorite month of the year for a number of reasons. It’s my birthday month. Fall weather has usually rolled in. Boots and sweaters can be pulled out of the back of the closet. And I get to decorate for the spooky-ooky season, Halloween.

Even before I had children, I loved putting up cobwebs, flickering candles and tombstones. Now they help me drag stuff out of the attic. We end up with stuff all over the living room, foyer and front yard. Despite having boxes of stuff, we still add to it every year.

And costumes? I’ve lost count of how many we have. But like the decorations, almost every year I think of a new one to put together. This year I’m thinking Firefly (the show, not the insect).

My love of the odd, unusual and paranormal is probably why I was so drawn to Tullamore Castle, the setting for the Emerald Isle Fantasies series.

Tullamore is an enchanted castle-turned hotel, set in Ireland that is home to ghosts, witches, werewolves, vampires, selkies and other creatures that go bump in the night. While all of those paranormal beings might seem frightening to some, erotic delights can be found around almost every corner.

My book, Ghostly Persuasion, is the fourth book in this multi-author series.

When American-born Katie Ward takes her mother’s ashes home to Ireland, she finds hunky but spell-bound Seamus MacDonhnaill loitering in her suite at Tullamore Castle. Seamus is surprised Katie can see and hear him because he was turned into a spirit three hundred years earlier.

Seamus acts as her personal tour guide around the castle and estate. Not only does he show her the historical sights but Seamus introduces her to voyeurism and a variety of other cardinal delights. As frustrating as it is for them to not be able to touch each other, they push the limits as far possible.

Katie is determined to help Seamus break the spell cast on him by the wife of one of the previous lords. A woman he refused to take as a lover. Seamus only knows the spell will not be broken until he finds and claims his one true love. With help from a few castle ghosts and the local witch, Katie’s cousin, they break the spell.

Katie and Seamus fulfill her mother’s last request by spreading her ashes along the shoreline then begin their life together.

Get it now:
Ellora’s Cave  /  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Stop by my website later this month. I’ll be participating in a blog hop and giving away prizes.
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

You want to know where my story ideas come from? Everywhere! I’ll show you what I mean…

I took this photo when my family went on a trip to northern Arkansas this last summer. When we travel, we tend to stop wherever we see interesting signs along the side of the road. “Quigley’s Castle”—had to see what that was all about—think a house built of concrete with bits of shell and crystal stuck into the bricks. Very strange and wonderful. If there’d been a “Biggest Ball of Twine” sign, we’d have been there, too. After all, what’s a family trip if you don’t enjoy the journey as much as the destination?

We stopped at a country store that had half a dozen horses lined up and a sign that read, “Horse rides–$6.”

Now, I look at this picture of the 9-year-old who was lead around the grassy yard in front of the store again and again, and I think… hmmm… a little town’s 4th of July celebration… cowboys giving kids rides on horses… a single mom watching her little girl ride a horse… a cowboy who sees the little girl’s joy… Where might that lead?

Now, it’s your turn…

THE MANY HATS I WEAR

As I’m writing this blog, I’m listening to my 3-year-old grandson screaming his head off, in a temper for the hundredth time this week. That’s right, my daughter and two grandsons are living with me for a short time until they can get moved into their own house. I love my grandsons and I love that I get to know them better since they have lived so far away from me (Guam) for so long. It’s been a tough transition for us all to get used to each other and I have to remind myself, he will grow out of the “terribles”. Count ten and insert earplugs.

Not only am I a grandmother, I’m a mother to three children, now grown. Well, mostly. The twenty-one-year-old is still in college and very dependent on us when she needs money and very independent when she has a pocket full of cash. I try to be there for my grown children when they need a shoulder to cry or lean on, or want someone to vent to.

We also own a business with 16 employees. I’m the president and I try to go to the office at least once a week to run the status meeting. That once a week becomes even more quite often. The business is expanding and I’m in charge of placing ads, interviewing and hiring the new employees.

Then I’m the writer. Sometimes I feel like that role takes the back seat to everything else. And it really shouldn’t. Because my schedule is flexible, writing gets pushed to the back burner all too often and I find myself writing in crunch mode more than I should. Not only that, but I write under two pen names. And in this digital age, I have to keep enough content to keep my readers happy for both pen names.

I love my jobs, all of them! And I love being a writer and creating exciting stories that I can get engrossed in. It’s my escape sometimes from a very disjointed life. It’s my grounding place where I can get back to the fantasies that take me to far off places where I get to meet or be other people if only for a short time.  I started out as a reader and I still am, because I like to take those trips into other people’s lives. It helps me tune out the screaming, or shut off the worrywart mamma in me, or forget for a moment that I have a schedule to pull together for the office.

Come…escape with me!

And I hope you enjoy the following blurb and excerpt from:

COWBOY RESURRECTED
Covert Cowboys Book #4
by Elle James aka Myla Jackson
Amazon | Nook

An expectant mother’s protection is a cowboy’s promise in Elle James’s Covert Cowboys, Inc. miniseries 

Thorn Drennan stares death in the face when he’s nearly shot by a ranch trespasser. But this is no ordinary trespasser. Pregnant and running for her life, Sophia Carranza has crossed the Mexican border, leaving a trail of ruthless enemies behind.

Sophia’s protection is Thorn’s first assignment as an undercover agent and he senses trouble. Inexplicably drawn to Sophia’s beauty and fighting spirit, Thorn fears his growing desire for Sophia could jeopardize the mission. And when Sophia’s captors finally catch up to them, will Thorn trade his own life for another?

Standing to the side of the door, Thorn balanced his rifle against his hip, grabbed the doorknob, shoved open the door and darted out of range.

An explosion erupted from inside the cabin, and wood splintered from the door frame, bouncing off Thorn’s face. He ducked low, rolled through the doorway and came up in a crouch, aiming his rifle in the direction from which the last bullet had come.

“Vaya, o disparo!” Another shot blasted a hole in the wall near Thorn’s shoulder.

He threw himself forward in a summersault, coming up on his haunches. The rifle lay across the cot, pointed at the side of the shooter’s head.

“Por favor, no disparar!” a shaky female voice called out. “Don’t shoot!” Slim hands rose above the other side of the cot.

“¿Hablas Inglés?” Thorn asked.

“Sí. Yes. I speak English. Please, don’t shoot.”

“Place your weapon on the floor and push it toward the door.”

The thunk of metal hitting wood was followed by the rasp of it sliding across the floor.

Thorn hooked the gun with a foot and slid it toward himself. “Now you. Stand and walk toward the door.”

She hesitated. “Do you promise not to shoot?”

“I’m not going to shoot, as long as you don’t do something stupid.”

A slim figure emerged from the shadows, rising above the cot. Long, straight hair hung down around her shoulders, swaying slightly as she moved toward the door, picking her way carefully. For a second, she stood silhouetted in the light filtering in from the moon, the curve of her hips and breasts in sharp contrast to her narrow waist.

She glanced toward him, moonlight glinting off her eyes.

Thorn stared, transfixed.

Then, before he could guess her intentions, she flung herself outside, slamming the door shut behind her.

Thorn shot to his feet, ripped the door open and ran outside. He turned left, thinking she’d go for the motorcycle under the lean-to.

Just as he rounded the corner of the house, he realized his mistake.

Little Joe whinnied, then galloped by with the woman on him.

Thorn tore out after them, catching up before Little Joe could get up to speed.

He grabbed the woman around the waist and yanked her out of the saddle, the force of her weight sending them both to the ground.

The wind knocked out of him, Thorn held on to his prize, refusing to let go, a dozen questions spinning through his mind. Who was she? What was she doing on the Raging Bull, and why did her soft curves feel so good against his body?

Elle James’s Bio:

Elle James spent twenty years livin’ and lovin’ in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. She has 39 works with Harlequin, self published works under pen name Elle James, over 40 works with other publishers including Samhain, Elloras’ Cave, Kensington and Avon and 18 works self-published under pen name Myla Jackson. Now living in northwest Arkansas, she isn’t wrangling cattle, she’s wrangling her muses, a malti-poo and yorkie. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, out snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.

Social Media:
ELLE JAMES  Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

An Intimate Conversation with Sebastian Marriott

Sultry, wounded hero of Fierce, by Sabrina York, A Decadent Press 1NightStand

Read on for 3 giveaway opportunities from Sabrina York!

INTERVIEWER: Welcome back everyone. We’re talking to Sebastian Marriott, CEO of SEM Inc., successful entrepreneur and all around great guy—not to mention, quite a hunk. So Sebastian, we’ve talked about your climb up the business ladder, the booming success of all your companies. But there’s one thing we haven’t discussed.

SEBASTIAN CLEARS HIS THROAT IN A DEEP RUMBLE. Yes?

INTERVIEWER: Your love life.

SEBASTIAN SHIFTS IN HIS SEAT: My love life?

INTERVIEWER: Come on, Mr. Marriott. You know that’s what all the ladies want to hear about. The one question burning in everyone’s mind. Are you single?

CHARMINGLY, SEBASTIAN MARRIOTT, BUSINESS ICON, BILLIONAIRE AND FORBES MAN OF THE YEAR, BLUSHES.

INTERVIEWER: Well? Are you?

SURELY HER QUESTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS DARK GOOD LOOKS, BROAD SHOULDERS, LONG SINFUL LASHES…

SEBASTIAN: Well, I am seeing someone.

THE INTERVIEWER POUTS. BUT ONLY A LITTLE. Is it serious?

SEBASTIAN BLUSHES AGAIN. Serious? Yes. It is very serious. AFTER A MOMENT, HE CHUCKLES. But it didn’t start out that way. I mean, our first date almost never happened.

THE INTERVIEWER NARROWS HER EYES. A little birdie told me you met through a dating service. But not a…conventional dating service. AN EVIL GRIN. Tell us about that.

SEBASTIAN BLOWS OUT A BREATH. That’s kind of private.

THE INTERVIEWER LEANS FORWARD. This is An Intimate Conversation with Sebastian Marriott. Come now, Mr. Marriott. The world wants to know how you found the woman of your dreams.

SEBASTIAN. All right. The broad strokes. HE RAKES HIS FINGERS THROUGH HIS HAIR.

CURLS TUMBLE. THE INTERVIEWER DROOLS.

SEBASTIAN. As an incredibly busy man I rarely have time to meet women, much less date. So yes, on occasion, I have used a dating service.

INTERVIEWER: But this was no ordinary dating service, was it?

WHEN SEBASTIAN DOESN’T ANSWER THE INTERVIEWER PRESSES ON. It was, in fact Madame Eve’s One Night Stand Service. Where men, and women, can ‘hook up’ for a night of fantasy sex with absolutely no strings attached. IT IS CLEAR, FROM HER EXPRESSION, THE INTERVIEWER WOULD LIKE A NIGHT OF FANTASY SEX WITH SEBASTIAN.

ALTHOUGH SHE MIGHT PREFER THE STRINGS.

SEBASTIAN: That is correct.

INTERVIEWER: So you engaged Madame Eve, she found you your perfect woman, you had this wild night of unbelievable sex…and fell in love?

SEBASTIAN: As I said, this is private.

THE INTERVIEWER, NONPLUSSED, RIFFLES HER NOTES: Okay. So, tell me what you meant when you said the date almost never happened?

SEBASTIAN SNORTS. It had been a really long day. Even though I’d made all the arrangements for a …romantic tryst, I thought about just staying in my suite that night. I was tired. Been traveling all day. But it was more than that. I was tired of…I dunno. Tired of searching, I suppose.

INTERVIEWER: Searching for the perfect woman? Yes. We all know about your first marriage. THE INTERVIEWER MUTTERS IN AN UNDERTONE. If I were your wife, I would never cheat on you with your best friend. And your business partner…

SEBASTIAN: And my gardener.

INTERVIEWER: Yes. Of course. I’d forgotten that one. Suffice to say, you are better off out of a marriage with a woman who is not faithful.

SEBASTIAN, FIERCELY: Fidelity is everything.

THE INTERVIEWER LEANS FORWARD. PATS HIS HAND. You deserve better.

SEBASTIAN: I found better.

INTERVIEWER: But you almost didn’t go on the date Madame Eve set up for you.

SEBASTIAN CHUCKLES. I almost didn’t go. But something about the arrangements intrigued me. So I went down to the bar, where we were supposed to meet. Just to have a drink. Maybe check her out. Hell, I wasn’t even dressed for a date…

INTERVIEWER: And?

SEBASTIAN, SOFTLY: And I saw her. Laughing. Her head thrown back. Eyes sparkling. I was rooted to the spot. Couldn’t leave. Then she and her friend sat down at the table next to me. Chatting, drinking. I listened in on their conversation. Couldn’t help myself. What I heard…well, it poleaxed me.

INTERVIEWER, BREATHILY: What did you hear?

SEBASTIAN’S LIPS CURL, SLOWLY. DIMPLES WINK ON HIS CHEEK. HIS FACE IS TRANSFORMED FROM THAT OF A HARD, INTRANSIGENT BUSINESSMAN TO THAT OF A MAN IN LOVE.

INTERVIEWER, AGAIN: What did you hear?

SEBASTIAN SITS BACK AND CROSSES ONE LONG LEG OVER HIS KNEE. HE FOLDS HIS FINGERS OVER HIS BELLY AND QUIRKS A BROW. That, my dear Delilah, is private. But it was what I wanted. What I needed. What I’d been craving down to the depths of my soul. She is. My. Everything. That one night—which almost didn’t happen—gave me everything I’d been missing in my life. And more.

INTERVIEWER SIGHS. GAZES AT HIM DREAMILY: Oh Mr. Marriott…

AT HER PRODUCER’S NUDGE, SHE COLLECTS HERSELF. Well, we are almost out of time. Two more questions, Mr. Marriott, if you don’t mind.

SEBASTIAN: Sure.

INTERVIEWER: Question number one. When does the world get to meet this perfect mystery woman?

SEBASTIAN, FINGERS A SMALL BOX IN HIS POCKET. BITES BACK A SMILE: Soon.

INTERVIEWER: And if you could describe her, in one word…what would that word be?

SEBASTIAN’S SMILE BROADENS, BLOSSOMS INTO A GRIN. In one word?

INTERVIEWER: Yes.

SEBASTIAN: Without a doubt… Fierce. My Katie is fierce.

About Fierce

The last thing Katie is expecting—when she meets her friend Joy for a girls’ weekend in Vegas to celebrate her divorce—is an ambush. But Joy, determined to get Katie “back on the horse,” has submitted her profile with Madame Eve—who’s found her the perfect man.

Katie doesn’t want another man. She certainly doesn’t want or need confirmation that it’s her fault Mark could never satisfy her in bed.

When Sebastian—scarred by the infidelity of his wife—overhears Katie’s confession, and the fact that she was faithful to her husband for ten years even though he never met her needs, he’s intrigued. More than intrigued. He’s determined to prove to this gorgeous, tempting, fascinating woman that she is not frigid. In fact, she is fierce.

He took her empty glass from her and set it on the table. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her away from him.

She glanced over her shoulder with a frown. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Just a little massage while we talk. Do you like massages?” Read the rest of this entry »

If, as frequently happens, something funny—or out of the ordinary—occurs in the Cochrane household, one of my daughters will usually say, “That’s going to end up in one of your books, isn’t it?”

And, because I’m the world’s worst liar (any career as a secret agent would be totally beyond me) I say, “Um. Yes. Probably.”

I can’t help it. I get inspired by little incidents, turns of phrase, quirky things which turn up. They can’t be left buried in the family memory: they need to be shared with the world. So when my eldest daughter’s boyfriend refused to take some medicine he needed, that was always going to end up as a scene in one of the Cambridge Fellows books. He had Orlando’s characteristic reticence and pig headedness down pat!

I guess there are two elements in this, for a magpie type writer like me, who snaps up unconsidered trifles left right and centre. One is the “you couldn’t make this up” aspect, which I’d better explain.  I have been known to think of something ridiculous and then do it. Helping on a school trip, I was watching children roll down a grassy bank. “That looks fun,” I thought, so I gave it a go. They might have been having a whale of a time, but I thought I was going to die. Time expanded, so I was able – as I made my Usain Bolt like descent – to imagine the newspaper headlines. “Chair of governors dies on school trip. She was arsing about, says headteacher.”

That sort of incident, the vividness of the emotions I felt, is meat and drink to an author. We don’t have to imagine the feelings of that near death (it seemed like near death at the time) experience. We recall them all too well, so they add veracity to our writing. (Yes, I did use it. Jonty and Orlando roll down a hill and think they’re going to die in Lessons in Desire.) We are told to write what we know (although there are many arguments against that, not least the fact that as soon as you write about anybody other than yourself, you’re writing what you clearly don’t and can’t know). Bringing the emotions and experiences we know into the stories we tell will help to bring them alive.

The second aspect is the old saw that “truth is stranger than fiction”. Some of the coincidences in life could never be put in a story because the reader would find them too farfetched, although we know these sort of things can happen to us every day. But some things are usable. The Cochranes were staying at a country house (actually it was a stately home) hotel and were given a tour by one of the staff. I was fascinated by the bell board for the servants and how each bell had a specific tone so the staff would know where to go. Lovely little fact, and one which immediately sparked a plot point, even before there was a story to include it in. That plot point remained all the way through drafts and edits and into the final release, because the original premise was so fascinating.

My advice to aspiring authors would be to make a note of anything which piques your interest. If it intrigues you, chances are it’ll intrigue other people. And you always need ideas for your scenes and dialogues. Don’t ignore the ones which land in your lap!

 An invitation to stay at a friend of the Stewart family’s stately home can only mean one thing for Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith—a new case for the amateur sleuths! With two apparently unrelated suicides, a double chase is on. Read the rest of this entry »