Tag: Jenn J McLeod

Posted on by — 10 Comments

Author Harvest ‘bales’ up Christine Darcas

I’m feeling a bit Sonia Kruger-ish right now. In fact, I’m shaking my maracas and ready to do a little ‘jive talkin’ with the all-dancing, amazingly talented author, Christine Darcas.

So Christine, start by telling me what you’ve whipped up for us.

A vodka martini, my friend! It’s Friday night and I’m blogging. I quite enjoy drinking and blogging in moderation.

(Oooh, it’s a par-taaay! I knew we had a lot in common, Christine, except ‘moderation! See my friend here…..)

Okay, before the martini’s start to take effect…

At home…

My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home, a closet gnomer or with a strict ‘no gnomes’ policy at your place?

I have nothing against a jolly garden gnome, but I’m more of a garden-nymph type of gal. If I had a garden that was big and stately enough, I would definitely have nymphs. I like how dreamy and whimsical they are.

(Funny! I’ve always seen nymphs as small, naked and really annoying. Maybe it’s the martinis.)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

I’m determined to grow an herb garden. I’ve been determined to have one for years. I just need to kick myself in the bum and make it happen.

(Given you’re a dancer I’m guessing you probably can achieve that bum kick!)

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

If you were to ask my children (daughter 20 years old and son 17 years old), they would say not much. In the case of my son, I sometimes wonder if I actually gave birth to a billy goat. As soon as I stock the frig, that boy chews his way through it.

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

No, I don’t sort my wardrobe by colour. I do, however, sort it by function (dresses together, blouses together, jackets together, etc). I just looked in my closet and the predominant colour is brown: caramel, chestnut, auburn … all shades of brown. I’m not sure how that happened. I thought my favourite colour was green.

(I bet you’ve got a few sequins in there somewhere!!!!!)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Hipster jeans (I wear jeans until my toe tears through them when I put them on, then I still keep them for a while), a grey cotton top, a grey jumper, cotton undies (although my bra is from Victoria’s Secret) and runners. No make up. Took my last shower yesterday. Sounds irresistibly sexy, no?

(No! I expected sequins.)

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

Know anyone in Santorini? That one is on the top of my bucket list. The ocean, white-washed buildings nestled in cliffs, warm air and sunshine …

(You need to talk to Helen Ellis (Author Harvest a couple of weeks ago). Just don’t ask Helen about her garden gnome… Really. Don’t!)

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I really like the straw cowboy hat that Elle Macpherson wears. If I wear a hat, that’s the one I wear: funny how it doesn’t quite have the same effect.

(Try the hat with the Victoria’s Secret bra perhaps!)

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

A lioness. I love them. They’re graceful, strong and protective.

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because it spotted a worm on the other side, silly!

About you…

Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?

In roughly 1998 I realised that I was doomed to be a writer. I had been tinkering with short stories, then the idea for a novel banged me over the head. It demanded to be written, like a bizarre force screaming ‘Write me or I won’t give you peace!’. That novel was never accepted for publication – I have a binder full of ‘Close, but no cigar’ rejection letters for it. But I sure loved writing it.

(Well, I love your books, so dig out that novel and take a fresh look.)

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The financial side – I’m in a good mood, so let’s not get me started on that.

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

Teetering in High Heels.

(Hmm, martinis definitely makes one teetery?)

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

My protagonists tend to be a bit tormented before they find their way, so I reckon that they would nag me endlessly. ‘Oh, Christine, I’m just so torn. Please tell me that everything will be okay.’ Of course it will be, love. I’d never leave a girl without hope.

(But you do squeeze them into torturous high heels!)

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

Angelina Jolie – just to see if Brad Pitt is really as amazing as he’s cracked up to be.

(Make sure she takes the kids–all of them!)

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

I would pour you a huge glass of wine, blare Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘September’ and dance like a maniac.

It’s par-taay time. (Do you remember….???? yes I do!)
What food would you be?

An almond. Healthy for some, lethal for others.

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Sex, Jenn. Without sex, there wouldn’t be people who needed bread!

(Right about now I’m thinking martinis! Let’s keep dancing. Or you can…)

… name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.

A stapler without staple pins just snaps, which strikes me as threatening. So everything that I’m imagining (like snapping the stapler at the dog when she doesn’t obey) seems sort of socially unacceptable. I might leave that one alone.

(I’m thinking maracas maybe? :))))

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

Like beauty, weirdness is in the eye of the beholder. So I’m perfectly normal. A nice, healthy 5 😉

Woot! That was fun. My head is ‘Spinning Out’. Too much ‘Dancing Backwards in High Heels’!! 

Need bed!

But but before I go folks, do yourself a favour. Track down a copy of Christine’s books: ‘Dancing Backwards in High Heels’ and ‘Spinning Out’.

Below the blurbs you’ll find links to the iTunes and Kindle versions of both books.

Dancing Backwards in Hight Heels: Amazon and iTunes

Spinning out:  Amazon and iTunes

Did you enjoy this interview?

Why not subscribe to my blog and have future posts delivered to your inbox.

%

Posted on by — 28 Comments

Author Harvest ‘bales’ up Imelda Evans

It’s a Harvest celebration. Congrats on your book’s release, Imelda. Now in all the excitement I believe you have still managed to whip up feast and it starts with…

Ah, morning tea… my favourite meal: a little smackerel of something, after second breakfast and before luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper.  Wait, where was I?

(*salivate*)

Well now, what we have depends on how much of a stickler for protocol you are.  I have some freshly baked sultana buttercake cooling on the bench as I type, which would go down well with the strong morning tea brewing in the pot.  But perhaps you are a coffee girl?  In which case, perhaps you might also like a piece of dark chocolate pie?  I don’t know whether it’s quite the done thing to have chocolate before the sun’s over the yardarm, but if you don’t mind, I don’t!

(*swoon*)

I think I might also have some brownies and almond biscuits in very cunning shapes in the freezer and they would only take a minute to thaw.  If you really want to go to town, I could microwave the brownie and we could have them with cream.  Who cares if it’s more of a pudding that way?  There’s no standing on ceremony here!

(*drool* This country girl hasn’t  been to town for a while. Bring it on.)

In the very unlikely event that you don’t fancy anything sweet, I could whip up some cucumber sandwiches and I have very cute little plates that match the teacups to serve them on.

Will that do?  I do love a visitor, but hate the idea of not having enough!

Okay… (*mumbles* – mouth full)… feel free to carry on without me, Imelda. I’ll just hang over here in the corner and graze a little!

At home…
My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home – or a closet gnomer?
I don’t have any gnomes, but I have mosaics, froggy windchimes and a bird statue. I’m also looking into a birdbath, so I feel it can only be a matter of time…

(Who cares about the gnomes. You have great food!)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?
Mushrooms and asparagus. I have grown the latter but never the former. I must get onto that!

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?
Right now? Milk, lemons, approximately 75 jars of assorted condiments, jams, dressings and garlic, yoghurt, butter, cheese, icecream, sour cream, coleslaw and dog food. I think I need to go to the shop. And that I will never have osteoporosis.

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)
Sadly, at the moment, mostly black. But I do live in Melbourne, which is some excuse and I have many coloured scarves!

Describe what you’re wearing now? (Be honest!)
Trackies (black) and a jumper (not black!). Bare feet, bare face. Pretty standard uniform!

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?
Lord Elrond. I rather fancy living in Rivendell. Failing that, Bilbo, as there seems something very cosy about a Hobbit hole. I suspect the larder would be well stocked at Bag End, too.

Country curiosities…
We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?
Both! I like a hat with a broad brim, as I hate wearing sunscreen. I carry my own shade. Even if it’s a fancy hat, I like one that makes a statement. Think Audrey Hepburn at the races in My Fair Lady.

(So I can get away with saying… ‘…move yer bloomin’ arse!’)

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?
When a friend answered this in high school, he drew me as a parrot – colourful and loud! Probably fair…

(You mean this probing question has been asked before? In high school no less?)

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because the worms were greener on the other side…

About you…
Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?
It was when I was still a freelance copywriter. I had been doing it for about 10 years and was working regularly, when one day I suddenly realised that I had actually achieved my dream of being a professional writer. I was staggered, as previously, I had shelved that one in the same part of my ‘dreams’ shelf as winning a tennis grand slam – viz, never going to happen. But I had done it and realising that gave me the guts to have a go at doing it in fiction.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Overcoming the fear that I won’t be able to realise the idea I have in my head – that I won’t be able to do it justice. I know that the only way to do that is one word at a time, yet still have to remind myself just about every day!

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?
Why on earth would anyone want to? Okay, how about ‘She was a lot more interesting than she looks on paper?”

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Since this is the one of the very few interviews I have ever done as myself (as opposed to a representative of a group) I don’t know! But on reflection, I’m sure the answer would be… world peace, universal female education or Great Keppel Island.

Fun stuff… 
What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.
I hope so. I write women who I would like to know, so I hope they’d want to know me. Besides I gave her the love of her life, of course she would like me! Of course, I also put her through the wringer, but I think she’s big enough to let that go. 😉

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Right now? Peter Jackson! I’d get to direct the Hobbit and work with all those fabulously talented people. (And Richard Armitage, but I swear I only thought of him now. I just want to walk onto the sets!) Failing that, I wouldn’t mind being Alex Kingston when she’s playing River Song in Dr Who.

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?
First, I’d hand you a drink. Then I’d tell you a story or sing you a song or three (which would also be a story, because that’s how I roll).

(Sing? Three songs? Perhaps you should make that three drinks then!)

What food would you be?
This interview has the record for the most number of times I have thought of myself as inanimate objects since the last time I did an improv class! Okay, something involving confectioner’s custard and pastry. No, wait, that’s what I like to EAT and that gives this answer weirdly auto-canabalistic overtones. Something salty and spicy and a bit sweet. How about a chili chip dipped in dark chocolate?

(And that’s not weird????)

What was the best thing before sliced bread?
Crinolines. Knives. The wheel. Wait, how long before sliced bread are we talking?
Of course, the real answer to this is just bread. Never met a carbohydrate I didn’t like.

(*sigh* Carbohydrates… I hear ya!)

Name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.

  1. Bug whacker.
  2. Castanet (can that be singular?).
  3. Back scratcher.
  4. Door stop.
  5. Projectile when annoyed.

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).
Depends on who you ask. According to me, I’m perfectly normal. According to others… well, weird is in the eye of the beholder! (See answers above involving Tolkien and Dr Who)

Where can people find out more about you and your debut book- Rules Are For Breaking?

Penguin’s Destiny Romance site: http://www.destinyromance.com/

Out October 2012, you can buy from: http://www.destinyromance.com/products/9781742538020/rules-are-breaking

My blog: http://imeldaevans.wordpress.com/ or Penguin http://www.penguin.com.au/contributors/7027/imelda-evans

About… Rules Are For Breaking

Rules are for Breaking is a contemporary romance about two pigheaded people who have to learn that they can’t run their love-lives the way they run their businesses if they want a happy ending.

Jo is a smart and determined young woman with a clear-eyed view of men and what she expects of them. Put simply, she is ‘over’ finding the right one. She already  has a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy. When challenged by a friend who thinks she can’t do it, Jo goes one step further and vows not to date, sleep with or even kiss a man for six weeks. Enter Declan, Jo’s gorgeous yet unwelcome houseguest.  Convinced he can win her over, Declan views Jo and her vow as an irresistible challenge. An infuriated Jo declares that Declan is like all the others – attracted to her for all the wrong reasons. She insists that he devote time to getting to know the real her and to doing the things she loves.  Will Declan survive the test? Or will a major misunderstanding spoil everything?  Rules Are For Breaking is a witty, entertaining romance certain to have even the most disenchanted believing in love again.

Did you enjoy this interview?

Why not subscribe to my blog and have future posts delivered to your inbox.

Author Harvest is just getting started. There’s plenty more in store with a spring, summer, autumn and winter harvest.

 

 

Posted on by — 16 Comments

Author Harvest Re-visited: Whitney K-E as a published author!

Whitney K-EToday I have the pleasure of re-introducing Whitney K-E.

When we posted this Author Harvest back in October last year, I described Whitney as a Harvest Seedling (aka an emerging writer). Well, she’s now fully grown and ready to bloom with her debut novel: What Happens in Ireland.

So as an Author Harvest first, here is Whitney K-E (published author) re-visited!

Jenn today: Well Whitney, the questions are much the same and I usually start by asking if it’s scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up for me today. But given it’s the second time around, and with you having returned from your jig around Ireland (I see you have cottoned onto the author research thing already!!!) I’m thinking…. Irish Stew with a wee side o’ colcannon, washed down with a good Irish whiskey–or would that be Guiness? I’m fine either way. But be warned, young Whitney, if you come near me with Crubeens and Black Pudding ye best do a quick Irish jig out of the way as I may just throw up on doze curly-toed leprechaun shoes!

Now that we have that sorted… Let’s see how a PUBLISHED author answers today…

At home…

My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Last time you said you were not into the cheeky little fellas, so I prepared one for you.  (Scary thing is, I’m not sure which one has more wrinkles!!)

Jenn today: Now tell me you didn’t come home with a Leprechaun of some description. That would surely be counted as a gnome – of sorts – wouldn’t it?

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

W K-E then: Umm… I suppose a bit of everything. I have fond childhood memories of growing watermelons and cucumbers. But I tell you what, they are a bugger to get rid of. I tried using the ride-on mower. Let’s just say it didn’t go to plan…

Jenn today: Well Ms Published author, some things do go to plan if you work hard enough!

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

Then: Black. And blue. And no, I don’t sort my wardrobe. I can’t be bothered haha.

(Just as well you like black and blue. When that publisher picks up your book you will (like me) pinch yourself for months.) 

Jenn today: So are you? Black and blue yet from pinching yourself?

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

W K-E: Pj’s. Mismatched ones to be exact… Lucky this isn’t a job interview.

Jenn today: Keep writing those books and job interviews will be a thing of the past!

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

Then: The McLeod’s daughter’s property, Drover’s Run. But to be honest, I wouldn’t be happy housesitting. I wouldn’t want to give it back!

Today: Whitney now says, having swanned around…errr…I mean researched new story settings in Ireland, that she wants to housesit for Monica McInerney in Dublin. Well, shift over sister! Just coz you’re published now…..! You’ll have to fight me for that.

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

W K-E today: I’m a boots girl. I love my riding boots.

Jenn today: I can see that in your lovely published author profile pic above! Nice boots.

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

W K-E today: Hmm… Well, I just brought a Panda onesie so I guess that is as close as I’m going to get.

Jenn today: Not sure how many published authors could get away with wearing a panda onesie! We may require a picture, Whitney!

Now for the big country question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Then: I’ve been trying to figure out this since I was a toddler. And the only reason I can think of is to get to the coffee shop on the other side. That’s why I’d cross the road.

W K-E today: To buy my novel and find out what happened in Ireland of course!

Jenn today: Of course!

About you…

Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realised that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?

Then: Well, it’s not quite a reality yet. But I’ve always thought of it as a career. It’s a passion of mine and I see it as something I want to spend the rest of my life doing. That and running a small horse property of course. Those are my two dreams. And for them to work, they need to be careers. They say money can’t buy happiness, but if it makes money, you don’t have to worry about doing something you don’t want to do. I’m aiming for happiness that makes money so that I can continue being happy, I guess.

W K-E today: I’ve always thought of writing as a career. That’s what I wanted it to be. Now that it is, I’m just all the more committed to it. 🙂 Maybe it’s my age? (Don’t rub it in!) I’m still in the dreaming stages of my life.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Then: Plotting. I’m a pantster-by-nature, but in order to prevent writer’s block and a lack of conflict, I’ve been trying to plot. It’s… going ok. 🙂

W K-E today: The doubts. Even after The Call you still have doubts. But you just have to fight them.

Jenn today: Yep, that’s published author speak. Welcome to the self-doubt club!

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

Then: I like to think my characters are parts of me. And Kate… well, she’s my stubborn side and she has my humour. I think we might clash a little. But as we both share the same opinions, I think we’d be best friends. I can see myself having an amusing chat over a cup of coffee.

W K-E today: I think Kate, Jack and I would love to sit in the Killarney Grand together over a couple of drinks and some good traditional music. And Kate is sort of a piece of my personality. I think we’d agree on a lot of things and we’d have a good time.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

My female protagonist, Kate. I’d love to meet my male protagonist, Jack O’Reilly.

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

Then: I’d probably be silent for the first time in my life. LOL. I would feel very uncomfortable.

W K-E today: I’d probably tell you a story. My latest travels have given me many to tell.

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

Then: Define weird? I like to think of myself as a very approachable person, someone who is down-to-earth and easy to have a conversation with. But I can imagine my sense of humour might catch some people of guard. I’ll leave the number up to your readers 🙂

W K-E today: That depends on what’s normal. 🙂 I think I’m either a 10 out of 10 on a scale of weird.

About Whitney K-E – Published author (have I said ‘published author’ enough times yet?)

Whitney K-E is an Australian author writing for Secret Cravings Publishing. Always a WhathappensinIreland_LRG 2 lover of the Romance genre, it was no surprise that she one day began to type her first story of love. Now, three years on, she’s contracted her first novel What Happens in Ireland and bringing reader’s tales from the Emerald Ireland to the Sunburnt Country. What Happens in Ireland releases on the 26th of April, so prepare yourself to be charmed by her story and by her characters.

Ever wondered what happens in Ireland?

When Australian, Kate Barrow, meets a handsome Irishman in a Dublin bar, she has no idea that he’s about to turn her world upside-down and inside-out.

In Ireland to take on a position on a thoroughbred stud, Kate is shocked when her manager-in-co reveals himself to be the same man she’d met in Dublin.

Jack is drawn to Kate. The problem is, she won’t have him. But Jack has always loved a challenge and the intriguing woman from Oz is one he cannot resist.

Harbouring the sting of another man’s betrayal, Kate is certain she wants nothing to do with love and nothing to do with Jack O’Reilly. But when naked torsos, Mother Nature and dysfunctional umbrellas start plotting against her resolve, she realizes the charms of an Irishman are going to be hard to resist.

Congratualtions on your debut novel, Whitney. May it be everything you hope for.

 Readers: See below for GIVEAWAY details.

Read an excerpt

Add it to your Goodreads shelves

Buy from: Secret Cravings Publishing  or  Amazon  or  Bookstrand

For more about Whitney or her novel, you can connect with her on:

Facebook:

Twitter: @whitney_ke

Goodreads:

Her blog: http://whitneyk-e.blogspot.com.au/

And the Romantic Muse:

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment on this blog post or any of the other blog posts celebrating the release of Whitney’s debut to go in the draw to win one of two prize packs including a PDF of What Happens in Ireland, a handmade ribbon bookmark designed by Swagmaster Designs and a coffee mug. You can join in the fun on Facebook. Whitney will contact the winner independent of this blog post.

Winter Harvest will begin soon. If you’ve enjoyed this post, why not leave a comment and let us know. There are plenty more in store.

Why not subscribe to my blog and have the posts delivered to you inbox.