Wednesday, August 22, 2012

One more sleep...

One more sleep till the amazing Romance Writers of New Zealand Annual Conference. Here's what I'm looking forward to:
  • Saying hi to Katie Hayworth of Penguin NZ.
  • Meeting Harriet Allan of Random House NZ.
  • Listening to Nephele Tempest, literary agent, comment on the cold reading of manuscripts.
  • Finding out what the Snowflake Guy (Randy Ingermanson) has to say about the Hunger Games.
  • Drinking countless cups of tea - they have an awesome selection at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
  • Not having to make morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner for three whole days!
  • Getting freebies in my conference bag.
  • Winning at least one raffle.
Most of all, I'm looking forward to giving my presentation on how to write sex. Weekends don't get much better than this!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Let's welcome Debbie McClure

Debbie McClure is a fellow Echelon Press author, and she's visiting this blog today with two fascinating tales:
  • first, of her life story;
  • and her new book.

Over to you, Debbie.

Debbie: "Raised the first of four children in London, Ontario, Canada, I married my high school sweetheart. Two children and twelve years later, we divorced. Working as a medical office administrator, the next ten years as a single parent on one income was definitely a struggle. Twelve years ago I met my current husband and remarried. Now, five step/bio children and five grandchildren later, we live in the thriving resort village of Grand Bend, Ontario. We try to get away to the beaches of S.W. Florida during the colder winter months, but after thirty plus years of Disney World, sharing it with children and grandchildren is magical.

Although the last ten years was spent in mortgage or real estate sales, three years ago I decided it was time to pursue my dream of writing. It has proven to be every bit as exciting as I’d ever envisioned, with a learning curve the size of a tsunami. At long last, I’m following that dream."

In The Spirit Of Love - Blurb
A ghost story is just a story-until it happens to you. Claire Jacobs took a vacation to England with her best friend, and changed her life forever. From the beginning, Kent Estate evoked a sense of coming home with Claire. A guided tour of the reputedly haunted mansion reveals a story of love and murder that resonates deep within her heart. Of course sensible Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts or reincarnation, but the ensuing days, and an all too handsome resident ghost, will prove her wrong. Despite her own better judgement, Claire finds herself deeply attracted to Richard, but there can be no future in loving a ghost-can there?


Wrongly accused of a murder he didn’t commit, Lord Richard Abbotsford is the ghost bound to Kent estate for the past one hundred and fifty years. From the moment he sees her, he is convinced his beloved Lady Olivia Kent has returned to him-as Claire. His lady long since dead, his family and friends gone, Richard had become increasingly disillusioned and bitter. The unexpected return of Olivia, as Claire, gives him new hope for release from his eternal prison. He knows Claire has returned to Kent Estate for a reason, and is determined to remind her of their shared past. To do so, he must first change her mind about ghosts-and himself. Discovering love again is the last thing on his mind.



Thursday, August 9, 2012

Two weeks to go!

In two weeks' time, Yvonne Walus will speak at the Romance Writers of NZ Annual Conference about writing sex.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Reclaim the Summer!

Are you spending your Summer indoors, with a tray of chocolate pralines, watching the Olympics? Don't waste this beautiful season! Spend it indoors, with a tray of chocolate pralines, reading romance novels!

Here are a few suggestions of romances you can read to get your spirit into that Summer mood: