Tag: Penguin

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#WriteRoundOz – Helene Young’s Northern Heat Blog Tour (WIN)

Flat Cover Northern Heat Med ResHelene Young Northern Heat At home with Helene Young … somewhere in the Coral Sea

 

Helene! Thank you for letting me park my rig on your… ahhh…new floating pontoon!

What a fabulous idea, Jenn. It will either sink or swim. *groan*

(Sink or swim was my Mum’s favourite saying, and what I tell myself when subbing a new manuscript. And, so far, so good!)

It’s great to be part of your blog tour, Helene. I’m mid tour myself and giving away my 3 x books to a lucky reader. You have a giveaway attached to your tour, too. Details are at the bottom of this post. (Enter my 3 x book giveaway here.)

Helen, I just realised how silly my regular Q&A is, given you live on a boat, but here goes…

What’s that I see written on your ‘welcome mat’?

‘Ahoy!’ (We like to keep it nautical.)

If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find? 

Avocadoes! Manna from heaven and perfect at this time of year

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. I imagine when you did the same to Roobi you had trouble leaving certain things behind. 

Since Roobinesque is quite similar in size I’ve already made this decision and undoubtedly leaving my books behind led to tears… That and my beautiful outdoor setting which had seen many an entertaining dinner party…

(Folks, I swear I saw that outdoor setting of Helene’s in the ahem…”storage hull”.  I’m thinking Helene ‘schnuck’ it on board. Does the captain know? I wonder!!!!

So, whose home would you like to visit in your van and why?

There’s this tiny island off the end of the runway at Hamilton Island. Every time I flew in there with work I wondered about it. It can only be accessed by boat so I plan on doing that soon!

I usually ask my guest authors if they have room at their house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do they mind visitors.

Happy to have you tagging along on the pontoon beside the dinghy!

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

A staffy – loyal, happy and a little on the stocky side 🙂

You’re cooking and your food going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

My pavlova – crusty on the outside, melt in the mouth soft on the insides and smothered with cream and passionfruit.

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding the time…

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

Dare To Dream.

Favourite four…

Favourite place in Australia: Tough call. I love Uluru and Birdsville, but then there’s Horn Island and Cooktown. And South Strabroke Island’s special. And Albany. And… Can I just go with Australia’s my favourite place?

Favourite holiday destination: Antarctica – the most amazing trip I’ve ever had! Who knew white came in so many shades. And then there were the penguins, historic huts, icebergs, The Dry Valleys, seals, whales, dolphins, and great company on the ship.

Favourite movie: Love Actually – so many intertwined threads.

Favourite quote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

(Ahh, Mark Twain! Also a favourite of mine.)

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

I’d read you the opening chapters of Northern Heat – nothing like a bit of shameless self-promotion!

(Ahhh! Read. Loved. Informed! (We’ll be touring Queensland as of next month so extreme weather survival tips welcome.)

 HELENE’s GIVEAWAY…

To celebrate the release of my sixth book I have six prize packs to give away. Four of them are duos of SAFE HARBOUR and NORTHERN HEAT and one major prize is a complete set of my six books. For international readers there is a duo of e-books to be won.

To enter leave a comment here or share the post and/or the trailer on social media site and I’ll double your chances!

Northernheat_banner Blog tour 2Hope to see you through May at the following blogs.

5th May:              http://bookdout.wordpress.com

7th May:              http://auslit.net

10th May:           http://deannasworld1.blogspot.com.au

12th  May:          https://www.jennjmcleod.com

14th May:           http://ausromtoday.com

17th May:          https://1girl2manybooks.wordpress.com

19th May:          http://writenotereviews.com

21st May:          https://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com

24th May:          https://nevendbookshelf.wordpress.com/category/reviews/

26th May:         http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com.au

28th May:         http://australianruralromance.com

31st May:           http://talkingbooksblog.net

2nd June:           Wrap up and announce the winner on my blog http://www.heleneyoung.com

About Northern Heat…

In steamy northern Queensland, Conor is rebuilding his shattered life. Working at Cooktown’s youth centre has given him the chance to make a difference again, and the opportunity to flirt with Dr Kristy Dark. The local GP is hiding her own secrets and struggling to raise her feisty teenage daughter alone.

When a severe cyclone menaces the coast, threatening to destroy everything in its path, tensions come to a head – and the weather is not the only danger. Cut off from the world and with her life on the line, Kristy will have to summon her courage and place her trust in Conor, or they’ll both lose someone they love.

About Helene…

When Helene’s not writing novels she enjoys a busy career as the Queensland Regional Flying Manager with Australia’s largest regional airline. She’s worked in aviation for over 25 years and has 260 pilots reporting into her. She recently appeared in ‘Judith Lucy is All Woman’ in an episode showcasing women in aviation.

She has twice won the highly coveted RWA’s Romantic Book of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and was shortlisted for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Mainstream Crime and Suspense. She has also been nominated in the Ned Kelly and Sisters in Crime Awards. Helene’s last novel, Safe Harbour, was voted Australia’s 2014 Favourite Romantic Suspense Novel. This is the fourth time Helene’s stories have won the award.

A motivational speaker and writing mentor, Helene lives aboard a catamaran on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and she plans one day to sail around the world in it.

Pre-order Buy Links

http://www.booktopia.com.au

http://www.amazon.com.au

http://www.bookworld.com.au

Northern Heat Trailer You Tube:


Or view on You Tube: https://youtu.be/_nC-4zrkbtM

Jenn’s 3 x book giveaway – CLICK to leave a comment banner three book

 

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#WriteRoundOz w/ Meredith Appleyard +giveaway

AuthorMeredithAppleyard web Meredith Appleyard

And I’m thinking  Meredith Appleyard, from South Australia’s Clare Valley, is my new best friend.

1. She’s a dog lover

2. She lives in one of the best one regions in the country.  (Did someone say wine?)

 Hi Meredith,

Thank you for letting my park my rig under your … gum tree. Would that be with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two, and a kangaroo?  (Now YOU all have the Don Burke/John Williamson ear worm, too!)

What’s that I see written on your ‘welcome mat, Meredith’?

It’s a favourite quote by Groucho Marx and I’d have it on my welcome mat anytime – ‘Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.’

If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

Too many healthy things. Not enough chocolate.

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

The dog.

Whose home would you like to visit in your van and why? (anyone, anywhere)

A friend from the whom I haven’t seen in years.

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!! ☺

We have plenty of room and the dog likes visitors. We don’t mind them either.

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

A border collie with owners like my border collie.

You’re cooking and your food going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

They’d win hands down.

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Not quarantining enough time to write. I get distracted easily. Deadlines do make it easier to put writing first. My first advance also helped!

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

She finally got it write.

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

I have no idea! The hardest question I’ve had to answer so far was for a Penguin Q&A sheet – Describe yourself in three words. I challenge anyone to do that off the cuff. Luckily, I had time to ponder and it took me ages and I had to ask a friend… Well, a few friends actually. It really got everyone thinking.

Favourite Five 

Favourite four authors – MM Kay, Peter Temple, Michael Robotham, James A Michener

Favourite place in Australia – the Flinders Ranges

Favourite holiday destination: Somewhere I haven’t been before

Favourite movie – French Kiss

Favourite quote – see above

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

Tell you about my next book –  The Country Practice.

After working in a London emergency room, a month as a GP in rural South Australia can’t be that hard – or can it?

Meghan Kimble is taking control of her life. Newly single, she’s returned to Australia to follow her dream of working as a GP. Her first stop is a month-long locum in the colourful community of Magpie Creek.

It’s been ages since the town has had a permanent doctor and Meghan is generating more than her fair share of attention, especially from forthright farmer Sean Ashby. A handsome man with a difficult past, Sean isn’t shy about making his intentions known to the redheaded medico.

Against her better judgement, Meghan finds herself charmed by the enigmatic Sean. But time is against her and when love threatens to derail her career plans, she’s forced to reassess her priorities in ways she never imagined. Is Meghan ready to fall for all that life in Magpie Creek has to offer?

WIN a signed copy of Meredith’s book.

All you have to do is describe yourself in three words*.

Buy link: Penquin Books

 

 

(*Aust postal addresses only)

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Writers reveal their writing process

Larissa_EdwardsIt’s great to be taking part in this blog hop on The Writing Process in which different writers answer the same questions about their writing process.

The picture to the left kind of sums up my writing process. Firstly, there would be no writing process without Larissa Edwards, the wonderful Head of Publishing at Simon & Schuster, Aust, who once uttered those words “I love your story”. But look behind her: integrity, confidence, difference, passion and belief. They are all part of my writing process.

Thanks to Pamela Cook, rural fiction author of Blackwattle Lake and Essie’s Way (Hachette), for tagging me. Here is Pamela’s post from last week in case you missed it. Or why not connect with this teacher, mother of three gorgeous daughters, manager of dogs, rabbits, birds, fish and horses, on her website: www.pamelacook.com.au, Twitter: @PamelaCookAU and on Facebook. Pamela lives in the southern suburbs of Sydney and spends as much time as possible at her “other” home in Milton on the south coast of NSW. Her favourite pastime (after writing) is riding her handsome quarter horse, Morocco.

So, it’s my turn now…

1) What am I working on? 

PhotoFunia-930aa9_s user

It’s unbelievable and mind blowing to think I am still being asked to talk about House for all Seasons after 12 months, while about to launch and talk up Simmering Season (April 1), just typed THE END on book 3 in my Seasons Collection – contracted for April 2015, and now plotting book 4 ready for 2016! Yes, this is the glamour life of a published author – NOT! I’ve also fit in a short story for an anthology, a couple of articles for the Queensland Writers’ Mag, and designed some workshops. No one warns you about the crazy hours and deadlines. But I LOVE it.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
While House for all Seasons reviews have made (humbling) comparisons to Monica McInerney and Maeve Binchy, the thing people comment on the most about my ‘Come home to the country’ stories (friendship, family relationships, and small towns keeping big secrets) is the way I balance humour with high emotion, making readers smile and cry and laugh and cry and laugh … but always with a contented sigh at the end.
3) Why do I write what I do?
It just happened. I tried writing romances, but I think my novel’s wry-humoured inhabitants (thx Rowena Holloway for that delightful description) got in the way. (I was giggling in all the wrong places!) Romantic comedy, maybe – which is where I was headed back in 2009 when my characters – filled with guilt and regrets and facing life’s challenges – had other ideas. So now it’s more “Laugh, Cry – Cry, Laugh  Kleenex” genre.
4) How does my writing process work? 
I usually start with an opening sentence and a title and wonder how I can make a story from them. I play around characters, a tag line and a blurb and away I go.
Unfortunately, my opening sentence in Simmering Season is NOT going to go down too well with some House for all Seasons readers. I can only say this…. Give it a chance. I promise you, I will not disappoint.
Well, that’s it from me. Coming up next week, answering the same writing processquestions, is three fabulous authors. I high recommend you look up and follow: Helene Young, Natasha Lester and Zena Shapter. They all love connecting with readers, as you can see, so check them out.

SafeHarbour_cover-1-low-res-676x1024Helene Young – multi-award winning romantic suspense author of Wings of Fear, Shattered Sky, Burning Lies, Half Moon Bay and her next release: Safe Harbour.

Ever wondered what a plane crash feels like? It’s all in a day’s work for multi-award-winning author and airline pilot, Helene Young.  A check captain with Australia’s largest

regional airline, her job is to ensure aircrew can handle all inflight emergencies. It comes in handy for writing fast-paced suspense novels starring feisty women and sexy men. When she’s not writing or flying Helene’s sailing the seas with Capt G and Zeus, aboard their catamaran Roo Bin Esque.

Helene’s twice been awarded the RWA RuBY and was voted Most Popular Romantic Suspense Author by ARRA in 2010 and 2011.

Website: http://www.heleneyoung.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeleneYoungAustralianAuthor?fref=ts

WILOA web sizeNatasha Lester – award winning author of two novels, If I Should Lose You and What 
is Left Over, After. She also teaches creative writing through the Australian Writers Centre, and when she’s not teaching and writing, she spends her time playing dress-ups with her three children.

ZenaShapter300dpiZena Shapter – a British-Australian author who loves putting characters inside the most perfect storm of their lives, then watching how they get out. She likes wild rides through the gulches of adventure that spit you out breathless, and close-to-reality books of the unexplained. She’s won seven national fiction writing competitions (all blind judging), has been published in magazines such as “Midnight Echo” and anthologies like “Award-Winning Australian Writing” (Melbourne Books, 2012). She is represented by literary agent Alex Adsett.

Website: http://zenashapter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenaShapter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZenaShapter
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+ZenaShapter/posts
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ZenaShapter/

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