Tag: Loretta Hill

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Loretta Hill writes me a letter

IMG_7402I love Loretta’s letters. We’ve written a few times now. In fact, I sent her a letter to announce really exciting news a while back. (here’s the link)

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Speaking of exciting… Here is the latest letter from Loretta, with news about her latest release – The Maxwell Sisters. You can WIN a copy of The Maxwell Sister’s by simply leaving a comment below.

 

I loved so many things about The Maxwell Sisters. Let’s face it… I love wine and the setting is a winery…with a restaurant!! Woot! I think I’ll crack a bottle of my favourite ‘House Wine’ to read Loretta’s latest letter.

Join me…

 

Hi Jenn J,

How are you? It’s been a long time since we met briefly at the RWA conference in Sydney. Hope your writing is thriving. Your first two books were wonderful.

So glad you enjoyed my latest novel as much as I have enjoyed your stories.maxwellsistersfinal

With this one, I’m actually exploring a similar theme to your first book “House for all Seasons.” – reuniting women with completely different personalities and weaving their lives back together.

My book is called, “The Maxwell Sisters” and as you’ve probably guessed, the three women in the story, Phoebe, Natasha and Eve, are not friends but sisters. They have been living in different Australian cities, estranged from each other due to a fight that occurred in their past.

 

Now Phoebe Maxwell, the youngest sister has decided to get married at their childhood home in the Margaret River Wine Region – Tawny Brooks Estate. They must put their differences aside and return home to help out with the preparations for the big day.

 

Firstly, I loved setting this book in this region. My in-laws live in this area and I tend to go on family holidays there myself at least three times a year. Next to writing, food and wine is definitely my second passion. Love it, love it, love it. So to combine all three was such a joy.

 

I also have three sisters. So I know all about that sibling rivalry dynamic. That, “I love you but I hate you,” kind of relationship that you develop as kids and never quite lose. This book in away is about growing up, not just from child to adult but looking at the way the milestones in your life shape you into the person that you are and how family plays a big role in that.

 

When Phoebe, Natasha and Eve are drawn back into a small community, into their old roles, to face their family obligations, they are forced to face old demons and also confront new ones. The three sisters are all at different stages in their life. Natasha is about to go through a divorce, Eve is single with a freshly broken heart and Phoebe is about to get married. They all share secrets and wisdom for each other. If only they would communicate. J

 

I had a lot of fun with these girls, particularly because weddings are such highly charged events and provide lots of opportunity for drama, misunderstandings and mayhem. I’ve actually been on a bit of blog tour this past month sharing insights into my characters with some of my favourite authors. Last week, I spoke about Phoebe with Fiona Palmer  and so today I wanted to talk to you about Spider, her fiance. He’s one of the heroes in this novel. (There are three, one for each sister, of course!) Spider was an interesting character to write because he’s not your typical romance hero. At first glance, he seems rather weak. Phoebe definitely seems to wear the pants in the relationship. He’s a “yes” man, who just wants to be liked by her family. His personality is pleasant, easy going, likeable enough but maybe too quiet…even possibly a little shady… John Maxwell, Phoebe’s father, definitely doesn’t like him.

 

As a writer, I love creating characters that are real, who have flaws and doubts and secrets of their own. I like an opportunity to show real growth and to help these characters really prove themselves to the readers. Spider is one of these characters. He’s got a lot to deal with when he agrees to have his wedding at his bride’s family home. In fact, he has no idea what he’s walking into but he’s willing to make a go of it for Phoebe’s sake. Things start to go pear shaped when he finds out his fiance is keeping a terrible secret from him. Spider really has to step up and show strength of character that Phoebe has never seen before.

 

What I had the most fun with though was Spider’s relationship with Phoebe’s dad. John Maxwell is the kind of father-in-law that has to be every groom’s worst night mare. He’s over protective of his daughter, impossible to please and eccentric to a fault. He enjoys making fun of people and speaking in riddles that don’t make sense. And yet, Spider is desperate to win his approval. I found a lot of comedy in their interactions and I hope some of my readers will be able to relate to Spider’s attempts at bonding with his father-in-law – much of which back fired.

 

Of all the romance threads in this novel, the relationship between Spider and Phoebe, is certainly the most real. I hope readers enjoy it, particularly for this aspect.

 

Well, next week I’m heading back home to WA, making a stop off at Rachael John’s place to talk about my last character and hero, Heath Roberts, Natasha’s estranged but determined husband.

 

Thanks again for allowing me to stop by. Looking forward to your next book… Season of Shadow and Light.

 

Best wishes,

 

Loretta Hill

Folks, I highly recommend The Maxwell Sisters. You can check out the buying links here. Don;t forget to leave a comment. Winner will be announced on Loretta’s blog on 23rd Feb.

Oh, and check out my previous guest post – Maggie Joel, who is also giving a book away.

You can never have too many books!

Jenn.

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Author Harvest ‘bales up’ Loretta Hill

Hi Loretta, let’s start by telling me if it’s scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up for me today!!!!! 🙂
As you can see, three of my kids are running around like blue arsed flies and the baby has been screaming all morning, so I haven’t had time to bake. Actually, I haven’t had time for breakfast yet. Feel like a bowl of cereal with me?

(Hmmm, feeling a little Fruit Loopy, actually.)

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 no gnomes. Actually, the thought of getting some has never occurred to me. To be honest they kind of creep me out. I have no idea why. Maybe I’ve seen too many horror movies where inanimate objects come to life. An evil dwarf running around with a shovel scares the hell out of me!

(Hmm, okay, did NOT need that image! *cue scary music*)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?
Hmmm… well I love avocados. I would love to have them on tap in my garden but I’ve heard they’re pretty hard to grow. As I’m definitely an amateur gardener I think I would be wiser to practice with something that doesn’t take as much watering or maintenance – like a cactus.

(Avocados are easy. You need a male and a female and … voila! A happy ever after! You’re good at those :))

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?
First of all, please don’t! My fridge needs a clean out. It’s a jungle in there. My family tends to show love through food. And for some reason, can’t think what, they all think I’m struggling with the kids and everything. So whenever someone comes to visit which is almost daily – (I have three sisters and a mum who lives just up the road) they bring something. You’ll find currently in my fridge… half a mud cake, half a casserole, half a pot of curry, a tub of fried noodles, a lunch box of tuna fish sandwiches, a take away container of chilli con carne and the list goes on…

(And I’m getting cereal?! Crack open that mud cake, Loretta! Sheesh!)

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)
I tend to have a lot of natural shades. Ie. brown, beiges, whites, blacks, oranges and reds. But half my clothes don’t fit me at the moment. I’m sort of still trying to lose my pregnancy weight. I say, “still trying” because despite my rock hard willpower (kidding) it’s kind of hard getting on the exercise bike with one baby on the hip and another trying to cut it’s fingers off in the spokes of the wheels.

(Ouch!)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)
Pyjamas. When I said I hadn’t had breakfast yet, I probably should have mentioned I wasn’t dressed either. You don’t mind do you?

(No, but if you coud take the child currently sticking those same fingers in my Fruit loops…!)

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?
That’s a hard one. There isn’t a particular type of home that I want, unless you’re talking hillside mansion overlooking the beach with it’s own cleaning and cooking staff. Honestly, my sights really aren’t set that high. I’d just be satisfied with a house that had no toys in it. Not a single teddy bear, car, gun or push button singing machine that is supposed to teach your kids the alphabet but really just drives you insane. I think if I could just have a space, just for one day without a single laugh from the cookie monster, that would really clear my head space, which is a little cluttered. Can you tell?

(Gun? Maybe let the kid have the Fruit Loops!)

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?
Well, last year I was a boots person 😉 But this year obviously it’s hats. A “Hard Hat” of course. Yes, this is going to turn into a shameless plug for my new book, out this month : The Girl in the Hard Hat. It’s about a woman called Wendy who comes to town to find the father who abandoned her at birth but gets a lot more then she bargained for. To be precise: Three hundred fifty men with an attitude problem and a bad boy called Gavin who won’t leave her alone. It’s packed with all the fun it’s predecessor, “The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots” had : lots of laughs and of course, a delicious spine tingling romance.
By the way, you can attach broad brims to hard hats if you’re out in the sun a lot. My heroine Wendy is not big on that though, she’s too busy worrying about cyclones rather than sun stroke.

(I have a book coming out in a month. Of course I love a shamless plug, Loretta, and that question was just for you!)

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?
I’d be a bird. I’d love to fly.

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because the hot rooster on the other side winked at her.

(See? Happy ever after – as long as that wasn’t one of those monster mine truck that just … Uh-oh! 🙁 )

About you…

Your turning point: I remember my turning point with House for all Seasons (See? Shameless plug!) 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?
I guess when my first book got accepted for publication. I realised that in achieving my goal, one journey had just finished and now I was beginning a new one. Getting published is definitely only chapter one in a career as a writer.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Starting a new book. I think it’s because I lack confidence in the story. When you first start you always think, “this is just rubbish” and you have to keep reminding yourself “Of course it’s rubbish. It’s the first draft.” And just push past that barrier till you start to get more comfortable with your new world.

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?
Madness, Multi-tasking and Motherhood.

(Working title: Fruit Loopy and Fabulous ;))

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
My fantasy question would be: “Would you like nanny?”

My fantasy answer would be. “Yes, please. When can she start?”

(She? Come on, Loretta, this is fiction. Go the manny!)

Now… About “The Girl in the Hard Hat”

To tame a bad boy you will need:
a. One hard hat
b. Three hundred and fifty sulky FIFO workers
c. A tropical cyclone

Wendy Hopkins arrives in Wickham to search for the father who abandoned her at birth.
 She never expected to get mixed up in construction site politics at the Iron Ore wharf just out of town. But when she takes a job as their new Safety Manager she becomes the most hated person in the area. Nicknamed, “The Sergeant,” she is the butt of every joke and the prime target of notorious womanizer, Gavin Jones.
However, to solve the mystery of her past, she must persevere. Only she can save these workers from the coming storm, find a man who wants to stay buried and …put a bad boy firmly in his place.

Find out more about Loretta and her charming stories: www.lorettahill.com.au

Thank you Loretta and thank you readers.

If you enjoyed this (or if you want to know about my March 1 online launch fun – right here – subscribe to my blog and I will let you know what, when, where.