My latest visit to Turkey involved stops in Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara and finally in Adana.
The first activity was visiting family in the leafy suburbs of the Asian side of Istanbul. It is such a pleasant area, with parks full of flowering trees and shrubs, and hydrangeas in bloom spilling out over their garden walls into the streets. As always, the cats of Istanbul are peeping out from the bushes, hoping for treats.
A few days later I took the Sea-bus across the Sea of Marmara to the outskirts of Bursa. Even though it was mid May, the peaks of Uludag, the Turkish Mount Olympus were still covered in snow.
In the foothills, the vast olive groves were a delight. The olive trees were a mass of frothy green tops on gnarled trunks, with drifts of red poppies stretching out under them. The region is famous for its delicious olives, called Gemlik olives from the name of the nearby town.
The next stop was Ankara for lots of warm hospitality and the pleasure of joining in a wedding celebration. The family breakfast was a remarkable feast each morning and a time to exchange anecdotes, jokes and news as we helped ourselves from the heaped dishes of fruit, olives, cheeses, conserves and pastries.
All too soon it was time to move on again, this time to Adana, where the weather at last relented and the sun made an appearance. Again I received a heart warming welcome from dear friends and family.
So far my travels had been by boat, car and train, but one afternoon in Adana a very special carpet made an appearance. It was made by the great-grandmother of our hostess. She had woven a Turkish samovar as part of the design. The colours were absolutely fresh and vibrant and when it was spread on the floor,it did seem we could have flown off on it. However, nobody dared to put a foot on such a precious heirloom.
I spent a pleasant afternoon talking to the Turkish-American Ladies English Reading Group in Adana. The members had read my story, Scandalous Lady, and invited me to explain why I chose to set the tale in Constantinople in the year 1811.
We had an interesting discussion on what fires a writer's imagination and how a story develops from things seen, from memories and how the plot can change due to the characters taking over the story. And, as always when a group of ladies gets together in a Turkish home, the event ends with a splendid feast. The kind hospitality of everyone on this occasion made it truly an afternoon to remember with pleasure.
Friday 8 September 2017
Saturday 22 July 2017
My hero is a caveman
My hero is actually a caveman. Poor Arnaut.
When he first appears in the story, he walks out from the depths of a cavern. He’s hiding there for a very special reason [ *see older post about The Heavenly Horse]. The local people are familiar with the many ancient caverns in the region and use them from time to time for shelter. In this case, Louise and her local guide take refuge from a fierce storm and to escape a pair of Napoleon’s secret agents.
Arnaut is not at all pleased to see them invading his hideout and Louise would rather be anywhere than enclosed in the dark and eerie bowels of the earth.
Photo: Heinrich Wendel (© The Wendel Collection, Neanderthal Museum]
She is oppressed by being shut in this warren of rough and uneven areas, with unexpected columns of rock jutting up from the ground or dipping down from above to bump against her head. When at last Arnaut leads her back to the entrance, she’s overjoyed to see the blue sky and green hills.
Louise sets off to complete her mission. As she rides away, she wonders what Arnaut has done for him to be living in such a bleak place. But Louise comes from London and everything about the Pyrenees is strange to her at this point in the story.
The endless steep mountains and deep valleys…..
The small, sure-footed Merens horses
The mysterious Lake of Bethmale
but she’ll learn…………..
…and my Caveman? Acually, he’s very charming.
Sunday 18 June 2017
The very nicest rake in France and England
For charm - and kindness, Arnaut has no equal
Lean and handsome, with glossy black hair and dark eyes that crinkle at the corners into a devastating smile, Arnaut never has the least trouble in attracting girls...or in bringing ladies of any age under his spell. His exquisite manners and warm heart only add to his charms.
Of course, there is a dark side to all this... he must use these talents for political ends. Will he survive?
The Rake and His Honour [Amazon.co.uk ]
The Rake and His Honour [ Amazon.com ]
"Messages
passed between nobles in France and England, spies bent on killing and maiming
the messengers - a widow and a rake, gutsy chances that pay off despite serious
injuries, and love that surmounts difference in status, this is a very
enjoyable adventure and love story combined."
Read a short excerpt
Well aware of his powers, Louise is wary of Arnaut, but can she resist him?
In the window embrasure near the door
of the boudoir, Arnaut was waiting. He turned to watch her approach, his smile growing
wider as she came near. It was like being a fish on a hook. In spite of all her
warnings to herself, she could not resist those gleaming almond eyes, that charming
smile. You must not, her mind screamed, but her heart screamed back, Just this
once.... Fool, fool! her mind warned even as she quickened her step.
‘Alone at last,’ he breathed, seizing
her hand and turning it over to press a kiss on her wrist.
The last shreds of her common sense vanished at the sensations this caused. To hide her hurried breathing, she made a show of turning him towards the window. Taking his right hand, she examined it thoroughly. The puckered scars were paling but still very obvious. She shook her head sadly. ‘I fear you will carry these marks always.’
The last shreds of her common sense vanished at the sensations this caused. To hide her hurried breathing, she made a show of turning him towards the window. Taking his right hand, she examined it thoroughly. The puckered scars were paling but still very obvious. She shook her head sadly. ‘I fear you will carry these marks always.’
His mouth curved in a grin. ‘No matter,
it still works properly.’ He reached the scarred hand up to stroke her hair. ‘See?’
His face softened as his dark eyes dropped from hers to focus on her mouth. He glanced
quickly up again then slipped his free hand to the back of her neck, drawing her
closer. The fragrance of his cologne added to the sensory pleasure of his touch
and the caressing murmur of his voice. She was lost. Her breathing quickened and
a quiver ran through her. She clutched at the lapel of his jacket.
He angled
his head. His lips were about to touch hers when there came the pounding of feet
on the stairs.Monday 24 April 2017
The Heavenly Horse
Akhal-Teke horses are well-known for speed and endurance, intelligence, and for the distinctive metallic sheen of their coat. Natives of Turkmenistan, the bloom on the coat acts as camouflage in the shimmering desert heat. Prized for their beauty as well as their strength and skill, they are known as the Heavenly Horses. These horses are thought to be one of the oldest existing breeds in the world.
No wonder Arnaut de Montailhac is so proud of his Akhal-Teke, Zephyre. [in Scandalous Lady ]
… Olivia was still fascinated by the shimmering golden horse.
‘Mademoiselle,’ said the newcomer, ‘I am delighted to meet you at last. And I agree with you,’ he waved a hand expressively, ‘ My horse is the most beautiful creature you ever saw, n’est-ce pas?’
She was obliged to laugh. ‘Monsieur. Truly, he took my breath away. I have never seen such a proud animal and his coat is extraordinary – like metal.’
He wheeled round to ride beside her as they turned back towards the city. ‘This is Zephyre. He is an Akhal-Teke, a horse from the deserts of Turkmenistan,’ he explained as she shook her head in puzzlement. ‘He is fleet and strong, hey, my Zephyre?’ He leaned forward to pat the animal’s neck and the stallion tossed his head proudly.
The gentleman had a pronounced French accent but he spoke English without any hesitation. Olivia studied him from under her lashes as they rode on. She had noticed that Richard merely exchanged a nod with this gentleman. So they had met before. When? Why had he appeared now? She felt darkly suspicious but what could happen? They were merely riding back home after all. Soon she would be shut up inside four walls for another day of heartache. Her throat closed up as the misery surged up again. Don’t think ahead, enjoy the rest of this ride. At least for the moment she could admire this superb new horse.
She studied at the shining golden stallion as he trotted gracefully along. At once, her companion smiled and nodded. ‘I see you truly appreciate him. But these horses only accept one master.’
‘How splendid,’ she said wistfully, ‘He moves so beautifully.’
That was enough encouragement. The gentleman launched into a list of all Zephyre’s qualities. By the time he finally stopped for breath, Olivia had caught some of his enthusiasm. She managed a smile.
Friday 7 April 2017
Regency author Vonnie Hughes is my guest
Hello Vonnie. Thank you for accepting my
invitation to talk about your latest book.
Could you tell us
something about the subjet?
DANGEROUS
HOMECOMING was originally titled COMING HOME. It is a Regency historical and was
aimed at the British market, but I have since discovered that the majority of
my readers are American. Under the circumstances, when my U.K. publisher closed
down, I retitled the novel, made some alterations and self-published it. The
audio rights to the original are with another British publisher.
What led you to
write about this theme?
Most of all I like the theme of redemption. The only fairy tales that
called to me were ones where the hero or heroine attained redemption after
struggling through great adversity and they were redeemed by the strength of
their character(s).
What was the hardest part of
writing this book?
It
entailed the usual heavy research which is essential when writing in the
historical genre. But as I come from the Antipodes and did not have information
at my fingertips such as a British writer would, I had to make doubly sure that
my facts were correct.
And what was the most enjoyable
part?
Doing the
editing! I love editing; writing the story not so much. But as you edit it all
falls together and you can think, “I like this book.”
What motivated you to write about
this period?
The Peninsular Wars are a favourite setting for me. After reading Georgette
Heyer in my teens, I subsequently married a man with an antique arms collection
which included various swords, duelling pistols and shotguns from the Regency
era. Recently we travelled to Spain and saw a couple of the 1809-1812
battlefields for ourselves.
What kind of research do you do,
and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Our
family owns many history books and that is where I start. Sure, there are great
references online, but you have to remember that much of the information online
is uploaded by people with an axe to grind. Whatever I read online I then
verify from library books or more importantly, personal diaries.
How do you choose names for your
characters?
Now I
must admit that with the contemporary romantic suspenses I write, deciding on
names is much easier! I can even invent one or two if I like. But when you
write historicals you must use era-appropriate names and it is surprising how
narrow the field is. There are only so many derivatives of Elizabeth and Mary
and Henry. It can be a real challenge to name characters appropriately,
particularly if one is perhaps the villain or anti-hero and needs a darker
name.
What elements do you consider
make a character believable?
I am not
sure. Some authors have a gift for making the most improbable characters sound
authentic. I’m referring to writers such as Sandra Brown (contemporary
suspense) and Amanda Quick (historical romance). I think the depth of a
character’s emotions make them believable more than anything else. A lacklustre
characterisation makes for a light-weight hero or heroine.
If you could go
somewhere for a few months to write, where in the world would you go?
Italy, Italy and did I say – Italy?
Which authors do
you choose to read for pleasure?
I re-read Georgette Heyer – not just her historicals but also her
detective fiction. Other authors I love to re-read are Mary Stewart and Beverly
Barton. Authors still writing whose work I enjoy and learn from are Tami Hoag, Lisa
Gardner, Jayne Ann Krentz, Michael Connelly and J.D. Robb. Those are well-known
writers. But I also number favourites among less known writers such as Maris
Soule, K.M. Rockwood and Daniel Silva.
What do you do when
the inspiration falters?
Get angry with myself! I read and read and read and watch mindless T.V.
And I people-watch. Eventually my faltering imagination fires up again.
Lock out
the world and put fingers on keys.
What are some ways in which you
promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your
writing time?
Oh, I
hate, hate marketing. My blog site remains vacant for months at a time. But I
belong to many online Yahoo groups and Facebook groups and I try to do a soft
sell on those. I absolutely detest that “Hey, look at me!” stuff. Occasionally
I get asked to do talks at one of the local libraries, and I quietly leave my
personalised pens lying around on the shelves at bookshops or in libraries. I
also belong to a lot of writing groups generally.
What projects are you working on
at present?
Almost
finished a romantic suspense (with the emphasis on suspense) for the Lobster
Cove series at The Wild Rose Press. I also have a few bits and pieces of half
written historicals and I’m going through them at the moment discarding some
ideas and developing others.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Take your
writing more seriously. You would have succeeded better if you’d not looked on
it as a hobby but more of a career. Shove other distractions aside.
How long on average does it take
you to write a book?
Depends
on the book. Two Regency historicals (one named THE SECOND SON and a Regency novella called ENTANGLEMENT) took only four
months each. But mainly my books take a good year to write.
Do you find Social media useful?
Useful? She grinds her teeth. Yes and no. It can
waste your time, but it does help to get the word out there.
Do you
use elements from your day job in your plots?
Thank you, Vonnie, for sharing your ideas and writing tips with us. Now let's look at the details of how to find your novel.
On
April 2 I self-published a Regency re-release. It was originally called COMING
HOME, but if you look at Amazon you will see that there is a plethora of books
all with that name. I altered some of
the text to a more universal standard since the original publishers were
British and upgraded the title to DANGEROUS HOMECOMING.
It is available here:
They
are both scarred by war; she because of the shattered men she nurses; he
because of the loss of friends and the horrors he must endure daily.
Colwyn Hetherington has a chance to put it all behind him and return to England. Juliana Colebrook desperately wants to go to England to seek out her relatives. They take an almighty chance and travel together, setting in train a series of events that neither could have anticipated.
With only their love to sustain them, they clash head-on with the reality of England, 1813.
Colwyn Hetherington has a chance to put it all behind him and return to England. Juliana Colebrook desperately wants to go to England to seek out her relatives. They take an almighty chance and travel together, setting in train a series of events that neither could have anticipated.
With only their love to sustain them, they clash head-on with the reality of England, 1813.
Thursday 30 March 2017
At The Swan at Alresford
Alresford is a charming Hampshire town, where you can easily take a step back in time. I was on the look out for a coaching inn for the characters in my story and The Swan was exactly right. One of the waitresses there remembered that not many years ago there had been a wide entrance for coaches to sweep in from the street and drive between the buildings to the stableyard. That is now all renovated and part of the restaurant. But easy enough to picture as it was in 1814.
[ You can read about the history of The Swan here:
https://www.swanhotelalresford.com/about/our-history.html ]
Now for the story - The Rake's Challenge
[ You can read about the history of The Swan here:
https://www.swanhotelalresford.com/about/our-history.html ]
Now for the story - The Rake's Challenge
Driving in Giles' curricle behind his splendid matched horses, Anna cannot help enjoying the ride. They stop in Alresford at The Swan.
' He swept under the archway and through to the yard of The Swan. Ostlers came running to attend to the horses. Giles jumped down, and helped her descend. He noted how gracefully she managed this.
' He swept under the archway and through to the yard of The Swan. Ostlers came running to attend to the horses. Giles jumped down, and helped her descend. He noted how gracefully she managed this.
'Do you always stop at hostelries
called The Swan?' she asked as they approached the open door where the landlord
stood waiting.
'Anna
was impressed by the ease and speed with which Giles whisked her into a private
parlour. She was even more impressed when a meal started to appear almost
immediately. The drive had made her hungry. She removed her bonnet and came to
survey the food on the table. The serving boy was hurrying in with a large dish
of vegetables. Anna sniffed appreciatively. 'That smells delicious.'
The young man looked up, gaped at
her and set the dish down too close to the edge of the table. There was a
mighty crash, which brought him back to his senses. 'Sorry, sorry, miss…sir…'
He fled.
Giles shook his head, his mouth thin
with annoyance. Anna smiled uncertainly. 'That was a silly thing to do-' she
began but stopped as the landlady bustled in and quickly cleared up the mess.
She gave the floor a last wipe and straightened up. She glared at Anna then
turned her fearsome gaze on Giles before sweeping out. The serving boy came
back in, eyes lowered and bashfully set another dish of vegetables down
carefully before scuttling out and closing the door behind him.
Giles sighed as he carved the
sirloin. 'I must remember not to come here again for some considerable time.'
'Why ever is that?' Anna inspected
all the dishes eagerly and helped herself to a generous portion of vegetables.
'Mmm, carrots, my favourite.' When there was no answer to her question, she
eventually looked up. Giles was leaning back in his chair, watching her.
'Are you not hungry?' she asked,
eager to begin her meal but making herself wait until he had served himself.
He shook his head slowly. There was
a strange little smile on his face. 'Miss Lawrence, you are an education. I
begin to perceive that I have taken on a new role in life. Perhaps it's doing
me good.' He poured some lemonade into her glass. 'Behold me in the position of
chaperon!'
Anna frowned over this. 'Surely we
are only two travellers, whose paths go together for a short while?'
He laughed. 'You just do not
understand, do you? You have been too sheltered from the real world. You bewitched
that poor mooncalf of a serving boy. And you're not aware of why, are you?' He
set his glass down abruptly. 'And the landlady evidently thinks I'm running
away with you.'
excerpt from The Rake's Challenge
Wednesday 15 March 2017
Another Rake, revisited
Today I'm a guest on Sherry Gloag's The Heart of Romance Blog.
On the theme of 'Books Revisited' I discuss my story of the summer holiday in Brighton that so nearly ended in disaster - but thanks to the Rake, all turned out well.
http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.co.uk/
1 – 2 of 2
On the theme of 'Books Revisited' I discuss my story of the summer holiday in Brighton that so nearly ended in disaster - but thanks to the Rake, all turned out well.
http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.co.uk/
- Beth Elliott said...
- On a sunny day like today, it's easy to think of Giles driving Anna in his curricle along the leafy lanes of yesteryear...
Thank you so much, Sherry for hosting me and my characters.15 March 2017 at 09:55 - Jane Risdon said...
- Fabulous reading this and getting into your head and finding out about Giles. I must read more glossies. Much success Beth, wonderful.21 March 2017 at 15:57
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