All About The Passion

                                                      

Next Monday 20^th April sees the launch of my fourth romantic comedy novel, Game of Scones. And I am a huge fan of its namesake, the hugely successful series of books and TV shows, Game of Thrones.  I recently discussed with someone why I love the programme so much, and I think it’s because George R R Martin succeeds in making me feel passion for the characters – be that love, hate, sympathy or empathy.

Indeed, when writing my own books, I have to feel passionately about any character, to include them in the story. In my debut, Doubting Abbey, I felt a huge affection for pizza waitress, Gemma, a loyal friend who agrees to try and pass herself off as an aristocrat for two weeks, in order to win a reality show and save a crumbling stately home.  I also felt strongly about uptight, superior Lord Edward, who eventually falls for her charm.

In Game of Scones there are three characters who have filled my thoughts and made me experience a whole range of emotions over the last few months and I was sorry to leave the writing of the passionately created first draft, when typing The End.

Firstly Pippa, a successful executive with a secret longing to leave the Rat Race and run an afternoon tea shop. She is continually torn between her head and heart and I can relate to that. Certainly as we age, life becomes more about what we should do, rather than just following our heart and instincts. On returning to the sleepy village of Taxos in Greece, where Pippa spent many a happy childhood holiday, she is reminded of what life is like in a place where families live close together, neighbours look out for each other and the simple things in life give enormous pleasure – like a fresh feta cheese and olive salad, or evening dip in the azure Aegean waters... A far cry from her fast-paced, dusty London life.

Henrik is her suave, organised half-Dutch property developer boyfriend. Tall, blonde and slick, he is caring, considerate and ambitious. He takes huge pride in Pippa’s professional success and is extremely proud of her. He is also happy to do the washing-up – who could be more perfect?  Except, as the story continues, we see that he does have flaws and similar to Pippa, he too has decisions to make about following his logical head or his romantic desires.

Niko, the flirty, cheeky Greek fisherman who was good friends with Pippa when she was a child... Hmm, mocha eyes, caramel skin, and a devastatingly intense gaze, what’s not to like? Except that he’s clearly hiding something from the beginning and throughout the book we see him wrestle with some inner conflict.

So for me, it’s all about the passion when creating my characters. They have to have appealing traits – but also flaws. And inner conflict, that’s the most intriguing thing, as, like the popular meme says, that often gets shared around Facebook: “Everyone is fighting their own battle. Be kind.”

Why I Heart Paris!

On my lounge wall is a famous picture - the Parisian kiss photo, taken by Robert Doisneau - and it sums up everything I love about Paris. The romance - understated in a classy continental way. The sexy accents. The majestic tourist spots.

I lived there you see, a couple of times in my youth and this no doubt inspired the setting for From Paris With Love, the sequel to my romantic comedy e-book, Doubting Abbey.

I spent six months there as a university student, working for a chemical company, just off the Champs Elysees - my, how I enjoyed my lunch hours, strolling down that famous boulevard, taking in the fashionable passers-by and gawping at the glamorous, sophisticated boutiques.

No doubt the French capital holds a special place in my heart, as I fell in love, with an older Frenchman who wrote poetry and played the guitar. I have fond memories of whizzing around the Arc de Triomphe on his motorbike and us sitting together, at night, on the steps of the Sacre Coeur. We would visit jazz bars and eat couscous at Tunisian restaurants.

Of course, some things weren't quite so romantic - the musty smell of the underground... The time I got pick-pocketed... Being very ill after a meal of rare beef, cockles and oysters! But whenever I look back on my time in Paris, my chest glows. My fantasy is to have a little flat near the artists' haven, Montemartre... 

I revisit all my favourite places in From Paris With Love - the atmospheric Pere Lachaise cemetery, where Chopin, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried... The awesome Monet watercolour canvasses at the Orangerie Museum... The fabulous flea market in Porte de Clignacourt...

One day I hope to return there with my English husband, so that we can create some romantic memories of our own. 

Yes, I'll always have Paris... And it's been wonderful to take Doubting Abbey's bonkers main character, Gemma, there.

From Paris with Love is out on 24th July and is the standalone sequel to bestseller Doubting Abbey which is currently 39p on Amazon UK, $0.66 on Amazon.com and is today's Daily Find and 39p on Nook. 

Interview with fellow Carina author Kristina O'Grady!

Hello Kristina  - and can I just say, first of all, how much I LOVE the cover to your time-travel novel (blurb below)! It's great having you here!



Hi Samantha, thank you so much for having me!  I'm so excited to be here.

 Debutantes Don’t Date looks like a fantastic story. It is similar to Doubting Abbey in that my heroine, Gemma, is thrust into an aristocratic atmosphere and has to adapt quickly – it sounds like Grace has to do the same! I’m assuming the book is comedic? Gemma from DA certainly gets herself into some funny situations, when trying to fit in.

You are right to think that our novels hold a common theme and even although they are set in different times they are both about a heroine trying to fit into a situation she never expected to find herself in.  I wrote Debutantes Don't Date with fun in mind and although I wouldn't consider it to be a comedy per say, there is some comedic moments in it as Grace attempts to 'find her feet' in the 1800's.  

 

What appealed to you about writing within the Regency Period?

The very first romance novel I ever picked up was set in the Regency period and since then I have always had a soft spot for that time.  I love the romantic feel of the era with the elegant dresses and the grand homes.

 

Are you a fan of period dramas?

I am.  I love getting sucked into the past. 

 

I can’t imagine having to live as anything but a modern woman – how do you think you would fit into an aristocratic lifestyle?

 The love the idea of travelling back in time but I think the reality of living in the past would soon loose it's shine.  I am too attached to my modern luxuries like running water and flush toilets. But I imagine I would have the toughest time in winter without proper heating. Brrr. 

 

Describe Grace in three words.

Driven, short, klutz.  

 

How hot is the hero, the Earl of Bingham?!

Super hot!  As all heroes should be. ;) 

 

Tell me a little bit about yourself – how long have you been writing?

Lets see, I was born in Canada, I worked as an Environmental Consultant before meeting my husband and moving down to New Zealand.  We have three youngish children and live on a sheep and beef farm in sunny Hawke's Bay.

I have been writing for a long time, since for as long as I can remember really, but nothing serious until about six years ago.  It was then that a story grabbed me and I decided to give writing a novel a go.  It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be and when I had written myself into several corners I decided to try something fun and romantic instead. That novel turned into Debutantes Don't Date. I must say it was so fun writing romance that now I can't stop!  

 

Is there another book in the pipeline – can readers look forward to a sequel or is everything tied up neatly at the end of this one?

 

Well.....things are tied up neatly at the end of Debutantes Don't Date...or are they?  Let's just say in the next book you might find out something else about Grace and Jasper, but the next book is not about them.

Well best of luck with sales, Kristina!

Thank you again Samantha.  It was great 'chatting' with you.

Find out more about Kristina here.

Buy her book on AmazonUK here.

Here's the blurb!

One minute Grace Lancaster is an overworked event manager organising 2013’s New Year’s Eve ball… The next she’s kissing a rather gorgeous man at the Regency themed party. Everyone’s entitled to an out-of-character New Year’s kiss, right? Except Jasper Mossman, Earl of Bingham, isn’t at a costume party - he’s a real-life gentleman from 1813...

And, it seems, kissing a man in Regency London has consequences!

What Grace considers normal behaviour scandalises Regency society and so far she’s provided the irrepressible gossips of the ton with a season’s worth of conversation! In a scramble to protect her reputation, as well as his own, Jasper insists that they marry for the sake of her honour. Marrying Mr Darcy might be a 21st century girl’s dream – but the reality is far from romantic. Corsets are uncomfortable, no running water is disastrous! Grace had always planned on falling in love before she got married, but when Jasper takes her in his arms she just might believe she’s finally found her very own Prince Charming.

Downton Interview with... Author Teresa F Morgan!

  

 Today I'd like to welcome Teresa F Morgan. She writes contemporary romance for digital-first Harper Impulse - and like me, loves Downton Abbey!

As a writer yourself, Teresa, and fan of Downton Abbey, which element do you think has been most important for the series’ success -  the characters or plot/setting?

--- I love the plotting and era, plus how everything has to match history, however the characters are what make this series such a hit. I have my favourites (Mrs Hughes especially) but they are all brilliant in their own ways.

If it were real, would you prefer to spend a month living there Upstairs or Downstairs?

--- I'd want to be Upstairs. Those servants worked so hard and hardly got a day off! And look at the lovely clothes Edith gets to wear.

Yes, me too! Who has the biggest woo-factor - Lord Grantham or Matthew Crawley?! (as in, who would you like to woo you!)

---- Oh, Matthew for me. Lord Grantham's too old and too oldfashioned lol! Matthew had a modern way of thinking. But I think I'd really go for Tom Branson :)

  

Which character would you like to take the credit for creating and why?

---- Ha ha! I don't think I can take the credit for these characters. Mrs Hughes is one of my favourites though, because she's very clever and approachable, and has a very warm heart.

Yes, she is wonderful - everyone needs a Mrs Hughes in their life... So, which is your favourite character out of Loving Winter Nights, the new collaborative book you have out from Harper Impulse (which, incidentally, is free!)?

----- There aren't that many characters, and it was such a short piece. I suppose Mark, because he does become the hero in the end.

Yes, we all like a hero! 

Julian Fellowes is also an actor – are you creative in any other way?

---- Actually I used to paint with acrylics when I was a teenager/young adult. But it's been a long time now since creating a landscape. I'm not that great otherwise. I don't do crafty things with the kids, it just creates too much mess and more work for mummy! Am I bad?

:) Thanks for joining me Teresa! And to finish off, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I live in sunny Weston-super-Mare, trying to hold onto my Surrey accent where I was born and bred.

For years I persevered with boring jobs, until my two boys joined my nest. In an attempt to find something to work around them, and to ensure I never endured full time boredom again, I found writing.

I’m at my happiest baking cakes, putting proper home cooked dinners on the table (whether the kids eat them or not), reading a good romance, or sitting at my PC emptying my thoughts onto the screen.

I love writing contemporary romance, stories with a touch of escapism and creating heroes readers will fall in love with. Men who in reality, let’s face it, just don’t exist.

Find out more about Teresa here !

Loving Winter Nights:

Written by Lori Connelly, Teresa F. Morgan, Romy Sommer, Charlotte Phillips, Carmel Harrington and A J Nuest.

Inspired by roaring campfires and the cold nights of the Pacific Northwest, a group of HarperImpulse authors came together to write their own round robin style romance.

Sitting around our virtual fire, one author starts the tale before passing it off to the person beside them and so on… The story builds as each person adds their part, concluding when it reaches the one who started it. The result is this charming, beautifully told romance ‘For Clara’.

So wherever you are – at home on your sofa, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in your hand, or snuggled into your softest scarf on the commute to work – imagine yourself out their in the wild, the crackle and hiss of the wood burning, the glow of the fire warming you through. Sit back, relax and let our authors entertain you for a while…

Loving Winter nights is available here !