tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46639833101809539382024-03-05T10:27:08.549+00:00Home Is Where The Heart IsJane Richardson....
writer....mother....independant woman....all round quite nice gal.Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-69225142998581830092013-10-10T12:46:00.003+01:002013-10-10T12:46:58.523+01:00Alice MunroWhile life, work and study has completely taken over my life for the last few months, I'm still keeping in touch with the world of writing as much as I possibly can - so to hear the news today that my favourite writer, the Canadian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Munro" target="_blank">Alice Munro</a>, has just been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature is wonderful beyond belief!<br />
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People love to ask writers who else, if they could and had to choose, they would love to write like, and my answer has always been Alice Munro. Take this description from one of her stories, for example:<br />
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<em>Her teeth were crowded together in the front of her mouth as if looking for a fight.</em><br />
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What wouldn't you give for that gift??<br />
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Several times over the past few years, Alice has said she'll retire from writing. I SO hope she won't, for a very, very long time to come - but if she does, then what a wonderful and fitting achievement this award is, and a fitting recognition of a truly great writing life!<br />
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Miss Munro - you've been my inspiration since I was eighteen years old and first discovered you in James Thin's bookshop in Edinburgh as a student. I was stunned and immediately in love then, and I still am. Many, many congratulations!Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-50622358399542671412013-07-01T09:55:00.001+01:002013-07-01T09:57:39.670+01:00The Lowdown on.....Megan Johns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJwp5TwzizmZzQmkcobbPicGaWtpKhyphenhyphenOgX1enU_lod2xmwGstScfxNTxTcvih8ym5VMSNJpBI5KbOVtli6-ZW8TfGrmNZ1dolXFYIO0dg8MNd0IyGNjHQF1hQIJL62ylhTd1pi-WvPgw/s550/anne250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJwp5TwzizmZzQmkcobbPicGaWtpKhyphenhyphenOgX1enU_lod2xmwGstScfxNTxTcvih8ym5VMSNJpBI5KbOVtli6-ZW8TfGrmNZ1dolXFYIO0dg8MNd0IyGNjHQF1hQIJL62ylhTd1pi-WvPgw/s320/anne250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a while since I featured a writer at my blog, so I'm delighted to say that all changes today with my guest, Megan Johns. UK-based Megan is already multi-published, and her latest novel A Shore Of Secrets, has recently been released by Muse It Up Publishing. It's already getting some superb reviews. With its Italian setting and its tangled web of family secrets, it's bound to be a superb read! I'm really pleased to have Megan here to talk a little more about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Megan, I’ve just begun to read A Shore of Secrets, you had me at the first mention of
its Italian setting! Italy is my favourite country to visit, so I’d love to
know why you chose it, and why Venice, in particular?
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>'I just love everything about Italy - the generous people, the stimulating
lifestyle, the atmosphere, the food. The landscape is beautiful and dramatic,
whilst the place itself oozes with culture both in its
architecture and art. None more so than the unique and captivating city of
Venice. It’s such a romantic setting, who could fail to fall in love there?'</strong></em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Absolutely. Something that really intrigued me about your writing is that both A Shore of Secrets and your earlier novel, The Path of Innocence, seem to
have family loyalties or family conflicts at their core. What fascinates you
about those sort of situations?</span> </span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>'Family life in Italy is particularly fascinating. Families are so cohesive and tightly-knit, and the unit has a powerful influence over the lives of its members. The deep-rooted loyalty within a family is demonstrated at its extreme by the Mafia. Secrecy is an integral part of its make-up and this aspect of families inspired a central theme in A Shore of Secrets. In the book, the closely guarded secrets of the Renaldi family play a key role in determining the storyline.'</strong></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVp8F2H4TUbK_eaSzBVMTnVacUw_iZXwlguSHK_P2pxNpY_YZxzLQoMJGNICeHe1anULFkF8kN9UNaxPwjlskkHTNuf5AZW2P8zBqTuFyxHOtBajpGj8BlLBkOH-rDuAvd6Jbf9-uQcM/s900/A+Shore+of+Secrets+600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVp8F2H4TUbK_eaSzBVMTnVacUw_iZXwlguSHK_P2pxNpY_YZxzLQoMJGNICeHe1anULFkF8kN9UNaxPwjlskkHTNuf5AZW2P8zBqTuFyxHOtBajpGj8BlLBkOH-rDuAvd6Jbf9-uQcM/s320/A+Shore+of+Secrets+600x900.jpg" width="213" /></a></strong></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It sounds like a gripping, complex read, a story to really get your teeth into. I can't wait to get further into it. Megan, now I have a few fun questions for you! Let's start with this one - </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What
would be your perfect day?</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>I love being by the sea. I would stare at the expanse of
water until almost hypnotised, listen to the waves lapping against the shore,
the sound of screeching gulls, inhale the smell of the salt air. The weather
would not be important. There is nothing more therapeutic and invigorating than
a brisk walk with a cold wind whipping into your face.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I so agree, being by the sea is wonderful. What’s
on your bedside table/nightstand?</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>My bedside table tends to get rather crammed with all kinds
of paraphernalia. Most important of all, however, is a small photograph of my
late father and I always say ‘goodnight’ to him before I go to sleep.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s
your favourite piece of music?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>I like all kinds of music. I can enjoy listening to a
classical piece like one of Mozart’s piano sonatas, but I’m more likely to opt
for songs by strong female vocalists such as Streisand or Celine Dion. It all
depends on my mood.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What
your favourite sandwich, and where in the world is the best place to eat
it?</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>I love smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches. One of my
favourite spots to eat a sandwich is St James’s Park in London which is an
oasis of calm. I love watching the antics of the pelicans as they wade out of
the water to sit on benches next to visitors. It is such an antidote to the
hustle and bustle of London.</strong></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Yum! And those little islands of calm in the middle of a busy city are wonderful. Now tell me this - which household
chore would you happily give up for ever?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>Hoovering. I hate it and I have seriously been considering a
robotic hoover. My main reservation, however, is how would the dog would react
and who would win the battle?</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who would
you invite to your ultimate fantasy dinner party?</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Silvio Berlusconi
would</span> ensure lively conversation and debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 75, the man was unrepentant about his
debauch lifestyle and defiant in the face of his critics. I would like to grill
him to see if the man has any moral compass at all.</strong></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yes, and since we last spoke, the Berlusconi saga has taken yet another twist, hasn't it? Maybe the less said about that, the better! Megan, what
talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><em>I would love to be able to play a musical instrument,
especially the piano, but that might be a tall order at this stage. Improving
my French to a conversational level would be equally satisfying, and more
achievable.</em></strong></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What's
your guilty pleasure?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>Chocolate. It is definitely my bête
noir. I tend to restrict myself to dark, semisweet chocolate and only in the
evenings after a meal. However, show me a box of delicious Belgian chocolates
and all my good intentions fly out of the window.</strong></em></span><br />
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you could retrieve one thing from your childhood, what would it be?</span> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><em>Innocence. As a child, I was fortunate in leading a relatively carefree
existence with few external pressures. We took pleasure from simple things and
wanted for little without actually owning very much. It seems to me that modern
children lead much more stressful lives.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think you're right. One final question, then. Aside
from writing achievements, family, etc - what are you most proud of?</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><em>The thing I am most proud of currently is the fact that my
daughter has just achieved a doctorate in science. Of course, I am proud of her
in so many different ways. For myself, I am quietly proud of what I achieved
during my career, but it still comes second to my family.</em></strong></span></div>
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Back to family, again - I can see how much it means to you. Megan, thanks so much for being my guest today, I've really enjoyed getting to know you. Good luck with all your future projects.</div>
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A Shore of Secrets is <a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=601&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=285&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1" target="_blank">available here at Muse It Up Publishing</a>, and you can find out more about Megan <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/meganjohnssite/megan-johnscom" target="_blank">here at her website.</a></div>
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Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-60708359607624618802013-06-14T15:31:00.002+01:002013-06-14T15:31:34.534+01:00Maggie is a Hot Mama!Of course she is - Suzanna Safi's cover for <em>A Different Kind of Honesty</em> tells you so! Come and find out more about Maggie as she features as this week's <a href="http://vickibatman.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hot Mama at Vicki Batman's blog</a> today. See you there!Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-8028223901425776312013-06-05T09:26:00.000+01:002013-06-05T09:26:01.478+01:00Curiouser and Curiouser!I'm having a lovely time at <a href="http://ksrwriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-influence-of-alice-in-wonderland.html" target="_blank">Kathy Sattem Rygg’s ‘Sense of Fiction’ blog</a> today, talking about my favourite book of all time, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. Kathy is a great writer of children's fiction herself, so I've really enjoyed visiting her. I hope you'll join us!Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-89386862648065599132013-05-22T16:30:00.001+01:002013-05-22T16:30:27.545+01:00I'm A DOUBLE Buzz Deal!For the next few days, you can buy my Muse It Up books for just 99 cents each!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=193&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1" target="_blank">Edinburgh Fog - will Greg have another chance at love with Julia, or will she walk away for a second time?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=431&category_id=205&keyword=A+Different+Kind+of+Honesty&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1" target="_blank"> A Different Kind of Honesty - <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Always the one who ends relationships before they’ve barely begun, it’s way out of character for Maggie Lawless to take a risk with a man she hardly knows…</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Go on - treat yourself - or buy one or both as a gift for a friend. But HURRY - this offer only lasts a few days!</span>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-88149095688281060472013-05-17T14:30:00.004+01:002013-05-17T14:30:46.902+01:00Who Do You Think You Are?Intriguing question, right? So come and give me some answers over at <a href="http://lorriejuly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/who-do-you-think-you-are-jane.html" target="_blank">Lorrie Unites-Struiff’s beautiful Flowers And Thorns blog</a> today. Hope to see you there!Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-37261080095097270342013-05-08T17:18:00.001+01:002013-05-08T18:56:36.086+01:00If I'm so Retro, does that mean I'm Cool??Do you remember Aqua Manda perfume? <br />
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If you were a child of the 60s/70s like me, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Aqua Manda was THE perfume of the early 70s, with its little brown bottle and flower-power hippy-chic label. It went right along with Biba, Mary Quant hairdos, Dr. Scholl wooden exercise sandals, and The Sweet belting out <em>Blockbuster</em> on Top of the Pops. I loved it, along with everyone else I knew. If you weren't wearing Aqua Manda, you - well, you just <em>weren't</em>. Full stop.<br />
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If that wasn't what you were dabbing behind your ears, what about Sea Jade? Babe? Tweed? Charlie? You mention those names now, they're a Bratz-type doll, a talking pig, a jacket your Dad might wear, and a proper one. (think about it.) But if they conjure up the hottest summer ever, Davis Bowie and Marc Bolan with their arms around each other ON TELLY, EEK, and dancing around your handbag of a Saturday night down a disco called Mr. Beaujangles, then welcome to what was my world.<br />
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Why the rose-tinted-retro nostalgia? It's because the other day, as I was a-browsing eBay (I am an eBay tart) I spotted a bottle of original 70s Aqua Manda for sale. Good seal to the lid, still had the original fragrance, so they said. It eventually sold for £30.<br />
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THIRTY QUID!! It probably cost 2/6 back then!<br />
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The same seller had another moment of my lost youth for sale too, but this time, one I've hung on to. My Learn To Cook-Book. Here's my original copy: isn't it lovely?<br />
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And yes, I did learn to cook from it, all kinds of exotic things like Hot Dogs, Croque Monsieur and Pizza Pie. Notice the Pie in Pizza! We didn't have anything as exotic as actual Italian <em>pizza</em> back then. It was the 70s, remember? The most exotic foodstuff back then were Vesta boil-in-a-bag dinners, Mivvi ice lollies and pickled onion flavour Monster Munch. Anyway, the copy of My Learn To Cook Book on eBay sold for just under a tenner. Amazing!</div>
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How things come back! I remember pinching those wide elasticated belts my mum found in the back of the wardrobe. She'd forgotten she had them, back in the 50s. And when 50s fashion came around again in the 80s, I wept hot tears when she spoke fondly of vast collection of full skirts and net petticoats she'd once had and hadn't kept. She never thought they'd come back into fashion, you see. And now here I am, just like my dear old mum, finding the things of my youth in more demand than I ever was when I had them.</div>
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I used to be a fully paid-up, card-carrying member of the anti-70s brigade, you know. I was of of those who truly believed it was the decade that style forgot. But now that it's all the rage and Retro Is Cool, I'm willing to shift sides a little. Especially as my kids are quickly approaching the age where pretty much anything their parents do is most decidedly uncool. I'm hanging on to any wee bit of cool I might still have for as long as I can. After all, I might never come back into fashion again.</div>
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There's a Post Script to this article. I've since found out that <a href="http://www.aquamandaperfume.com/" target="_blank">Aqua Manda perfume is making a comeback!</a> I can't wait. Sign me up for a dozen bottles and stick <em>Starman</em> on the stereo!</div>
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But I bet it'll cost more than thirty quid. Or 2/6, for that matter!</div>
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What parts of your (mis-spent?) youth have come back to haunt you recently?</div>
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Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-85379407269137772612013-05-01T10:18:00.001+01:002013-05-01T10:18:37.704+01:00Hello, World!I know - it's not like me to be so quiet! But this year so far has been a series of one thing after another, some not-so-good, some very good indeed, and all needing attention. I won't dwell on the not-so-good - I still have sadness to deal with, but that will eventually turn into memories, the pain will ease (a little), and life goes on.<br />
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So, to the pretty-darn-good category, which mostly revolves around our house renovations. We spent so many years renting and are so VERY glad to be out of that rut now. It means so much to a shell-lover like me to be able to turn a house into a real home. Not just wallpaper and paint, either, but jobs involving sledgehammers and industrial-strength drills, bags of plaster and filler, and lots and lots of labouring. No matter how much I clean, the second I put the cloth away, another fine layer of dust settles on every surface. The carpet is, I swear, half an inch deeper, and my vacuum cleaner thinks I'm having a laugh. I'm not bothered, though - I can live with the extra dust in the knowledge that the carpet is the next thing to go, and we'll have our longed-for wooden floors very soon.<br />
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After a series of power cuts in the freezing cold depths of last winter, our new wood-burning stove is going to wonderful in the next one. It's sitting in our (rebuilt) fireplace right now, waiting to be installed. It's going to be wonderful! Note to self, must buy toasting fork.<br />
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Much of my computer time - which is scarce enough these days! - has been spent sourcing materials. I've found some beautiful reclaimed tiles for the hearth. When I have them in my clammy little paws, I'll post a photograph.<br />
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It's all fun! And of course, the best bits are the evenings over a glass of wine, when hubbie and I review what we've achieved so far, and talk about what we have ahead. We can picture it all done and complete, right down to the wallpaper and paint I mentioned earlier. I can see the glowing flame in the fireplace, the candles on the new mantlepiece. It's going to be worth every minute, every penny, and every strained muscle. Bring it on!<br />
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Of course, the writing is on a hiatus for now. But don't worry - I'll be back soon. Now, where's that paintbrush.....?<br />
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Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-58813314729821076982012-11-30T08:46:00.004+00:002012-11-30T08:46:53.317+00:00Edinburgh Fog is FREE today and tomorrow!To celebrate St Andrew's Day, Muse It Up is offering my short contemporary romance Edinburgh Fog completely free, today and tomorrow! Go to the Muse It Up bookstore at <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/" title="http://museituppublishing.com/">http://museituppublishing.com/</a> and click on the Edinburgh Fog banner at the top of the page to download it.<br />
You can also check out an excerpt at the <a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Muse It Up blog here</a>. Enjoy!Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-85998344776633951472012-11-07T16:26:00.003+00:002012-11-07T16:30:00.277+00:00The Next Big Thing - All The Boys of Summer<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I’ve been tagged by writer <a href="http://christinelondon.com/" target="_blank">Christine London</a> as part of The Next Big Thing Blog Hop - thanks, Christine! In turn, I'm tagging three of my favourite writing chums - <a href="http://carolaspradling.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carol A Spradling</a>, <a href="http://willtravelforromance.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bess McBride</a>, and <a href="http://blameitonthemuse.com/" target="_blank">R.R. Smythe</a>, who also writes as Brynn Chapman. With a little luck, you'll be able to read about their own 'next big things' next week on November 14th.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">So, what IS all this about a Next Big Thing? Well, here's all about mine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;">What is the working title of your book?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">'All The Boys of Summer,' but that may well change - not least because it makes no mention of the 'girls of summer,' who are just as important as the boys!</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"><br />Where did the
idea come from for the book?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">It started off as the tiniest germ of an idea after an event one summer afternoon several years ago. We'd not long moved into a rented country cottage in an area I wasn't at all familiar with. My kids and I were having a picnic lunch in the garden behind the cottage on a wonderfully sunny afternoon, the kind where the only sound you hear is the humming of the bees amongst the flowers, almost silent and quite idyllic, when we heard another sound in the distance, one quite at odds with the sunshine, Sussex afternoon - a low rumble, coming nearer and nearer, growing louder and louder. The out of the clear, blue sky, the most extraordinary thing - three vintage WWII warplanes roaring over the roof of our cottage, across the garden and over the nearby forest, and headed towards the coast. It was absolutely breathtaking, and at the time, I'd no idea why they were there or who they were.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I learned later they were part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, on their way to a nearby local airshow. What we'd actually witnessed was a flypast from a huge Lancaster bomber flanked by two smaller planes, a Hurricane fighter and the iconic Spitfire. In the evening, another Spitfire flew a solo flight along part of the coast, and I stood by the edge of the paddock adjoining our house, and watched him turn inland, dipping his wing in salute. In contrast to the spectacle of the three planes from earlier, this was slow, peaceful, and incredibly moving. I found myself thinking of all the other women who'd stood and watched, maybe in the same spot I was standing then, as the Battle of Britain was fought over the skies of Sussex and Kent. Those women, of course, were watching for very different reasons to mine - perhaps they were worrying what the future might hold for them, or were longing for their loved ones to come home safe. Many of them would have loved ones who would never return. Standing there, with my young daughter in my arms, watching </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">that solo Spitfire and thinking of those women</span></span> is a moment I've never forgotten. It planted the seed that's slowly becoming 'All The Boys of Summer.'</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"><br />What genre
does your book fall under?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">If it has to have a genre, it'll be a combination of romance and women's fiction, and it's part-contemporary, part-historical.</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"><br />Which actors
would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">I wouldn't. I never 'see' characters as actors, although I know some writers always have actors in mind when they're writing. I've never been able to - or wanted to - do that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;">Will your
book be self-published or represented by an agency? </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">When it's finished, it'll most likely be submitted to my current publisher, Muse it Up. I've had nothing but great experiences with them so far, so I'd be very happy to have another!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;">How long did it take you to write the first draft of
your manuscript?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">It's still being written, but I abandoned a huge part of the first draft that I began about two years ago. The whole direction of the thing was wrong, and I really hadn't got the male protagonist of the contemporary part of the story right at all. He was in the wrong job in the wrong part of the world, and I drove myself to tears with the amount of research I was having to do for him. I'd reached too far, and he wasn't working at all. While I'm not a stickler for 'write what you know,' I decided this time I'd do exactly that and go back to my own background to get him right. I'm glad to say, he's coming alive beautifully now!</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;">Who or What
inspired you to write this book?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">The women on the 'Home Front' in WWII. I've always had an interest in that period of British history, how it affected everyday life, and the lives of women in particular. Dealing with a very new way of life, perhaps working in a factory or driving a tractor, working out how to feed a family on increasingly meagre rations, and the constant fear and worry underneath it all, the threat of air-raids, the ever-present possibility of an invasion by enemy troops, and then the desperate, personal anxiety about those who'd gone to war - is he safe, will he come home? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">On the other hand, for some women, the war held a strange kind of liberation. Many of them relished the opportunity to do things they'd never done before - they learned to drive, and not just cars but buses, tractors, ambulances. They worked in factories, earning a wage for the first time in their lives. Some women volunteered for local support services - organising, managing, being creative, getting things done, providing both practical and emotional help to those who needed it, using their skills and imaginations in brand new ways. Some went a step further and joined organisations like the Women's Land Army - the famous Land Girls - or the Women's Timber Corps, affectionately known as the Lumber Jills. It was an incredible time to be a woman, for sure.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The other <i>massive</i> inspiration for the book is the courage and huge achievement of the pilots of WWII. Those were the men Churchill famously called 'the few,' in his famous speech in the House of Commons in August 1940, at the height of what came to be known as the Battle of Britain, when he said those words that have such a resonance to us now: <i>never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">All along the coastlines of Kent and Sussex - where I now live - temporary airbases sprang up to repel the threat of Nazi invasion. So many of the pilots (and bomber crews) were young men, and it wasn't uncommon for them to have had only a few weeks' training before they took to the skies to defend us. Their achievement was truly remarkable - we really must 'never forget.'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 24px;">What else
about your book might pique the reader’s interest? </b><span style="line-height: 24px;">I've brought an element of a WWII story into the contemporary part of the book and woven the two together....here goes! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Jack Tyler is a young, talented actor-director born and brought up in Canada, but who's recently come over to live and work in London. His grandfather, Harry, was a British WWII Spitfire pilot who left the UK after the war and settled in Canada. When Jack is given the task of sorting his grandfather's possessions after the old man's death, he comes across photographs and love letters from 1940 from a woman called Amy - not the woman his grandfather eventually married. Harry often talked of the farm in Sussex near to where he was stationed, where he had good friends, and spent many happy days - yet he never mentioned Amy. Who was she, and </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">why did Harry keep her letters?</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Intrigued by the mystery, Jack decides to find out what he can about Amy. Visiting the site of the old farm, he meets Lindy, the woman who now owns the house Amy lived in. Lindy agrees to help Jack trace Amy and fill in the missing parts of his grandfather's story. As Jack and Lindy become more and more entwined with Amy's story, they become more and more entwined with each other....and the rest is still being written.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"></span></span><b>What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? </b>Perhaps the prologue.....the beginning of Amy's story....</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Sussex</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">, England</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">15 August 1940</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You always hear them first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I learned to tell the difference a while
ago, and this was definitely one of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All I could see were the tangled smoke trails from the dogfight, like a
child had scribbled over the bright blue sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then suddenly, he was coming right at us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll never forget that sound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You see - I thought I was used to it, but
there was something wrong this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
a moment I wondered if I was mistaken and it was one of theirs, not one of ours
at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He twisted across the sky,
around and around, and then I knew what sounded so odd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The plane was screaming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I couldn’t move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d have thought the muck on my boots had
merged with the stuff I’d just earthed up over the potatoes and I’d taken root,
like I knew I would one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
heard Tom, racing from the top field.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>It’s a Spitfire!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s comin’ down!</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Tom
vaulted the gate and hared across the paddock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had the fork in my hand from digging, and I held it up, like a spear;
as if it was ever going to be any use when a plane landed on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if it <i>was</i> one of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tom stopped beside me, wheezing in the top
of his chest, like he always sounds before he’s had his first ciggies of
the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought the plane would pass
us and land on the big house, and there wasn’t a thing we could do about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then it dropped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I saw a starling drop a snail once; up in
the air one minute, then falling, fragile as an egg, and cracking open right
there on the path in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Spitfire came down, still screaming, and it hit the ground with the most
God-awful crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I hope I never hear that sound again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Or that silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tom gripped my arm – I’ve still got the
half-moons from his nails – and we ran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s hard to run fast in these big Land Army boots, and usually it’s
away from aeroplanes, not towards them. I didn’t know why we were running; the
way it came down there couldn’t be anyone still alive
in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the canopy slid back; a dark
glove waved then fell away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom leapt like
I’ve never seen him move before, braced his foot on the side and hauled himself
onto the wing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Give us a hand here, Amy!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The pilot must have passed out the second
he got the canopy open; pretty rotten timing, if you ask me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom hauled him over the side, and I grabbed
him tight around the knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>An unconscious man weighs a lot more than
you’d think.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bright red blood was seeping out from under
his flying jacket and his trousers, and in a moment it was tricking down my arm too, like a tiny
red brook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t think I could hold
him, but Tom had him under the arms and between us we lowered him onto the
grass, or Tom did mostly, I just held on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I heard shouts, and it was Debben and Billy running down from what we
still call the rose garden, even though it’s all been turned over to
beets now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re big lads, and they
scooped the pilot up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His face was all
grey and screwed up, like crumpled paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tom was ready to jump off the wing when he half-turned his head, and I
heard him sniff, like he had a streaming cold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Bloody hell – run!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He didn’t have to say anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ran, Debben at the pilot’s head and Billy
at his feet, and it was almost comical how they looked, like boys with a
penny-for-the-guy on Bonfire night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
none of us felt like laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tom pulled me again, and I’d wished he’d
let go, because if anything was going to make me trip up, it was him grabbing
at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dashed ahead and opened the
gate, and they ran down the path straight into the cottage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom was last, and I don’t know why, but after
him I turned around to close the gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Force of habit, I suppose, and just then I saw a huge fireball that shot
up in the air as if to scorch the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
heard later it took the top branches off the elms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m writing this down I realise I didn’t hear the explosion...my head was
still full of the sound of the plane screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bits of burning metal fell everywhere, and then Tom turned me away from
the gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Go on, see to the lad.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Billy came out, saying he was going to the
big house to call the doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Debben was
standing there, squeezing his hands like men do when they don’t know how to
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be told, neither did I, but
I told Debben to fill a basin and bring the clean sheets I’d stacked on the
kitchen table this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The least I
could do was tie something around the chap’s leg and see if we couldn’t stop
the bleeding – then I realised I
didn’t know if there were bullets in his leg, or what I’d do if there
were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was muttering now, the pilot,
and starting to shake, so I took the blanket from the back of the settee and
covered him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He clutched my wrist, and it was like being
clutched by a dead hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m cold,” he said, “I’m cold,” and I
didn’t know what to do to help him get warm except put my arms around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Billy came in with the doctor, who it turned
out had been up at the big house with the old man anyway, and had seen the
whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctor Morris knelt beside
the pilot, and said “what’s your name, son?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s your name?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The pilot opened his eyes and, oh, they were such a brilliant blue - just like the cornflowers in the
border that I keep cutting back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Harry,”
he whispered, all breathy and croaky, “Harry Tyler.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he closed his eyes and didn’t say
anything else.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And all I could think was, I’ll never cut
those cornflowers back again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At least, not this summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">So there you are. This is the beginning of 'All The Boys of Summer.' I hope you enjoyed it, and you're looking forward to seeing it finished as much as I am! It's a story about how the past and the present combines, about how your own past and the past of the your family combine to make you the person you are today - and it's very much a book about 'coming home.'</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Thanks for sticking with me this far! If you'd like to find out a little more about how I write, follow the links on my blog sidebar to my currently published works, <i>A Different Kind of Honesty</i> and <i>Edinburgh Fog.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">all the best,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Jane x</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-27140787574703851592012-10-31T09:32:00.001+00:002012-10-31T09:32:21.318+00:00Halloween and NOT Halloween!There's an amazing fiction feature over at the British Romance Fiction today, all genres, great stories, and no, they're not all Halloween-themed either - but they're all definitely ones to cosy up with on a dark and chilly night. My <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=193&category_id=23&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1" target="_blank"><b><i>Edinburgh Fog</i></b></a> is featured there, along with lots of others. Head over to the <a href="http://britishromancefiction.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/enchantment-at-halloween.html?zx=99a7b1051a2a58ae" target="_blank">British Romance Fiction blog</a> to find out more.<br />
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<br />Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-91633342861256870562012-10-26T18:12:00.002+01:002012-10-26T18:13:30.495+01:00Spiced HamSadly, I'm not referring to the stuff of childhood that came in oddly-shaped tins to be sliced and fried in unctuous batter by school dinner ladies, even though it was probably some of the most, er, interesting stuff I've ever had to eat. No, friends, it's the other Spiced Ham I'm talking about. Am I the only person getting more and more junk in their in-box these days? The spam merchants (note no upper case for it this time) are busier and busier, and ever more creative. So I'm addressing them directly. Just to save you the trouble of filling my in-box with stuff I'm never, ever going to respond to, guys, here's a few things that might help you decide whether or not to bother me next time.<br />
<br />
1. I know who I bank with. Therefore, I am unlikely to open mails from other banks asking me to check the details of my non-existent accounts with them.<br />
2. Paypal only ever addresses people by their user names. I may well be a 'valued customer,' but I'm valued because of the business I put their way, and not because I'm so dense I fall for the 'valued customer' line and instantly fill in an on-line form giving my personal info to any old Tom, Dick or Mary.<br />
3. I tend to remember where and when I booked hotel rooms. It's not something that often slips my mind. The chances of me exclaiming, 'bugger me, I clean forgot about those three days I booked in the Sunshine Inn in Uttar Pradesh, thanks for reminding me!' are pretty slim. So I'm not going to respond to your dodgy email.<br />
4. I have never, ever been asked to fill in an online form from the Post Office, FedEx, UPS or any other national or international delivery courier you can name, just so they will deliver a much-anticipated parcel to me. And if I ever had to, I bet they'd know my name and address. May I direct you to 'valued customer,' above?<br />
5. I have never played bingo, poker, dice, Happy Families or any other game for money on-line, and I'm not about to start. So stop asking me. What I may get up to in a darkened room in the back of a pub after last orders is another matter entirely, and my business alone.<br />
6. A special word for a particular pharmacy apparently based in Canada. I won't be shopping with you. If I ever need what you sell, I'll pop down the road to Boots. And for a few of your more specialist items, well, here in the UK we have the National Health Service for that sort of thing. Not to mention Soho.<br />
7. I am sorry you're about to lose all your family millions due to a coup/revolution/change of government, but no, I won't be stashing it away for you for a cut in a year's time, despite the fact that all I have to do to take advantage of both your distress and generosity is fill in this on-line for with my bank details.....(etc etc etc ad nauseam.)<br />
8. Lastly, I've been around the block enough to know that 'an amazing opportunity!' from a complete stranger is anything but amazing. Or it <i>might</i> be amazing, but probably for an entirely different set of reasons. <br />
<br />
Okay, I know nothing I say or do will make any difference. I'll still be cleaning out my in-box every morning until the day I die. But I can't be the only one who finds herself fondly remembering the days when Spam was something your Mum had in the back of the cupboard for emergencies. Sigh. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.<br />
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Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-36682215874864758412012-10-17T14:39:00.005+01:002012-10-17T14:39:46.897+01:00Christmas In October!Wonderful author Penny Estelle is hosting a fantabulous <b>Christmas In October</b> blog festival, with gifts a-plenty for all up for grabs! All you have to do is leave a comment
and your name goes into the hat for the prize draw on November 1st. There are
stories, bookmarks and gifts on offer, and today's goodies include a copy
of my short contemporary romance story <strong><em>Edinburgh Fog</em></strong>,
PLUS a sweet little ‘Winter Wonderland’ bracelet kit!<br />
<br />
Come along<a href="http://pennyestelle.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"> to Penny's blog right now </a>and leave a comment - and good luck!<br />
<br />
Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-9961817218868953802012-09-12T17:24:00.000+01:002012-09-12T17:24:08.158+01:00An Excerpt from 'A Different Kind of Honesty'<div>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><em>
</em><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYJbj-sznbTS-3MyTRxm4CuUHwK1nTOYlrdf2Zu2D3pUN-YBBVZ_mJpasdYf6fP9z8qOTcnwv-iuJMKL-sw0e5HJ6E7gWFq75wNFlS6FXF3KfkospSM5qqI3FD_O3WTWF5cJMF_a0al4/s1600/HONESTYCOVER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYJbj-sznbTS-3MyTRxm4CuUHwK1nTOYlrdf2Zu2D3pUN-YBBVZ_mJpasdYf6fP9z8qOTcnwv-iuJMKL-sw0e5HJ6E7gWFq75wNFlS6FXF3KfkospSM5qqI3FD_O3WTWF5cJMF_a0al4/s1600/HONESTYCOVER2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
<em>After more sleepless nights than a man can handle, Tony
Valentino finds himself unexpectedly face-to-face with the woman he can't forget
- the woman he never thought he'd see again.....</em></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<em>
</em><div align="left">
As he approached the meeting room, the door opened as one of
Linares’ team agents came out and shut it quietly behind him. Tony raised his
hand in greeting. He couldn’t remember the guy’s name. “Can I go in?” he asked,
tipping his head toward the door. </div>
<div align="left">
“Sure.” The man wore a weird expression somewhere between a grin
and a leer. “I’m just off to find me an application form for the London
Metropolitans.”</div>
<div align="left">
“Excuse me?” Tony stared at the guy, who smirked all the more
under his scrutiny. </div>
<div align="left">
“Lady cop that Linares brought over. Oh, she’s a honey.”</div>
<div align="left">
“That so?”</div>
<div align="left">
“Betcha. She can slap her cuffs on me any day.” Sniggering in a
lecherous way, the creep nudged Tony’s side with his bony elbow like he was
sharing some private, witty joke. Tony stared after him as he swaggered off down
the corridor. Sleazebag. </div>
<div align="left">
Turning the handle slowly, he pushed open the door and went in,
careful not to make any noise. Ramon Linares turned around and threw him a mock
salute and Tony returned it with a nod as he perched unobtrusively on the edge
of the table nearest the door. Scanning the room, he saw ten, maybe twelve,
agents from Linares’ division spread around tables set out in a U-shape, but he
couldn’t make out their faces in the near darkness. With the blinds closed and
the ceiling lamps switched off, the only sources of light came from the
photographic images on a projector screen and, nearer to him, a small lamp with
a green metal shade angled to shine directly on the keyboards of two laptop
computers. The desk they sat on formed the bottom stroke of the U. Behind it
sat Ramon and to his left a young-looking slim guy. Their faces were uplit by
the lamp, an eerie effect that made Tony think of the old trick-or-treat torch
gags of his childhood. A woman stood to Linares’ right, her features obscured
by a curtain of hair that swung across her face as she leaned forward to type
into her laptop. The ends of her hair caught the light and twinkled with a
coppery glow. It looked pretty, but that was about the only clue Tony could see
with regard to her potential ‘honey’ rating. He turned his attention to the
projector screen, but the face he saw there, head on and profiled in typical
arrest photographs, meant nothing to him. The screen went blank for a second,
and then another image appeared. This one showed two men emerging from either
side of a car, probably on some London street, judging from the licence plates
and the buildings in the background. Tony stared at it blankly. This one was
lost on him too, and he folded his arms—a waste of his time. He breathed a
silent sigh through his nose and sneaked a glance at his watch, wondering if
this was just the warm-up or if he’d already missed the most riveting part of
the proceedings. He found himself thinking of his sparse room at the efficiency
building and the fridge with a much-needed beer in it.</div>
<div align="left">
The male detective to Linares’ left was reciting a list of names
and misdemeanours as the images on the screen flicked by one after the other.
Tony swept his gaze around the half-lit faces of his fellow agents. They were
all doing the right thing, paying attention and diligently taking notes that
would be impossible to read once the lights came on. Biting his lips together to
stifle another sigh that threatened to turn into a yawn, he gazed back at the
projector screen. This was a favour to Linares, he reminded himself; the beer
later would be his reward for perseverance. He watched the images tick slowly by
until one appeared that shoved his boredom roughly aside. Tony craned forward,
narrowing his eyes in concentration.</div>
<div align="left">
“Wait a second. Can I get a closer look at that?”</div>
<div align="left">
“No problem.” The English detective passed his laptop over, the
screen showing the same photo as the projection. Tony studied it closely.</div>
<div align="left">
“I think I’ve seen this guy. You got any more on him?”</div>
<div align="left">
“Um…yeah, some more here.”</div>
<div align="left">
The picture changed to another shot of the same guy, this time
crossing a road. It had been taken from above, as if the photographer had hidden
in a room a couple of floors up from the street, but the face could be seen
quite clearly. Tony stared at it, trying to make the connection. “This is
London, right?” He glanced up at the detective.</div>
<div align="left">
“Yeah, it is,” the man confirmed. “But this guy we think had a
U.S. connection.”</div>
<div align="left">
“I think I might have seen him here, in New York City.”</div>
<div align="left">
Ramon Linares spoke. “What do you know, Tony?”</div>
<div align="left">
Tony frowned, trying to drag details from the recesses of his
mind. “I never spoke to him. But if he’s the guy I think he is, I saw him a
couple of times with a wiseguy name of Snowy Vincente.” He looked up at the
detective. “Mean anything to you?”</div>
<div align="left">
The detective shook his head. “No. But we know he flew out here a
couple of times during our investigations, though we could never check it out
properly.” He flicked his head in Linares’ direction. “Now it looks like he
might be a British contact for something Ramon’s investigating. Do you have a
name for him?”</div>
<div align="left">
“No,” Tony admitted. “Like I said, I never spoke with him, only
saw him with Vincente. Some of the wiseguys knew what he was into, but they
didn’t give much away and I couldn’t ask.” He gave a short, humourless laugh.
“They said, just the old double Ds.”</div>
<div align="left">
“Yes. Drugs and diamonds.” The lady cop spoke for the first time.
Something in her voice made Tony lift his head, but he couldn’t place the
feeling. He looked over at her, but she was partially hidden by Ramon and he
still couldn’t see her clearly. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to see
him either; the light shining directly on her desk would make it hard for her to
see much more than shadowy shapes around the room.</div>
<div align="left">
“His name is Matthew Branton. Matt,” she said. “Means nothing to
you?”</div>
<div align="left">
It wasn’t what she said that pulled something deep out of Tony’s
memory. It was the way she spoke; not just the accent, but something in the
sound of her voice that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand to
attention—the kind of low voice you had to lean forward to hear, and it would
feel like you were being coated with warm chocolate. It brought Tony a
recollection of a sweet breath against his ear, something he’d tried to forget
in his waking hours but that had regularly slipped into his dreams and played
with his senses until he’d woken with his mouth dry and his sheets soaked with
sweat. He tried to concentrate and focus on the photograph, giving a single
shake of his head to dislodge the crazy thought that poked at his memory like a
stone in a shoe.</div>
<div align="left">
“Nope, I never heard a name,” he said. “All I knew was they called
him </div>
</span><div align="left">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">La Gazza</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;"></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">
<div align="left">
She laughed at that and Tony’s insides lurched as an overwhelming
feeling of familiarity grabbed his guts. His fist went involuntarily to his
mouth and he pressed it hard against his lips.</div>
<div align="left">
“Gazza?” repeated her colleague, furrowing his forehead. “What,
like the soccer player?”</div>
<div align="left">
“No, Danny. It’s Italian for magpie, isn’t it?” The woman leaned
forward, directing the question at Tony, and he saw her clearly for the first
time. He lowered his hand and looked directly into her indigo blue eyes.</div>
<div align="left">
“You got it.”</div>
<div align="left">
“That fits. Branton likes shiny things.” She shook her head. “I’m
sorry, I didn’t catch how you recognized him.”</div>
<div align="left">
Tony wished it didn’t have to be this way. But maybe it was
better, here in this room while it was dark. If she was shocked or embarrassed
like he expected, she might at least have a chance to collect herself before the
lights were switched on. “I was deep undercover with an organized crime
syndicate for four years.” Tony hesitated a fraction of a second before he took
a deep breath. “I used the name Joey Pescolloni.”</div>
<div align="left">
The air between them seemed to crystallize into strands of fragile
spun glass that might snap any second. His breath caught in his throat, Tony
watched as the woman reached out a slender hand and held it above the desk lamp
to mask the glare. As her eyes moved slowly across his features, he remembered
her gentle fingers tracing feather light, fluttering touches over his face.</div>
<div align="left">
“Joey Pescolloni,” she said at last, her eyes fixed on his.
“That’s a great name. One to remember.” </div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<em>
</em><div align="left">
<em><strong>A Different Kind of Honesty</strong> is available in all e-formats - <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=431&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1" target="_blank">visit its page here at Muse It Up Publishing</a> to find out more and buy. And thanks for reading!</em></div>
<div align="left">
<em></em> </div>
<div align="left">
<em></em> </div>
</span></div>
Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-25748753652294045082012-08-19T13:41:00.001+01:002012-08-19T13:41:24.827+01:00How AWESOME is this???<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCmj3m_tc4kAcBiX5YPJYfZXzsMRWP-BRoOS3sO3Xj9kpDKh0e0v24iLmL3ZpKYGsICd_Nur2CQ8EM6kBmiAEaiGR7q-vKqJlPM-85ogwOFfpK50HqQSBEyMMMHgC2hzZ3OVT-ldzG84/s1600/HONESTYCOVER3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCmj3m_tc4kAcBiX5YPJYfZXzsMRWP-BRoOS3sO3Xj9kpDKh0e0v24iLmL3ZpKYGsICd_Nur2CQ8EM6kBmiAEaiGR7q-vKqJlPM-85ogwOFfpK50HqQSBEyMMMHgC2hzZ3OVT-ldzG84/s400/HONESTYCOVER3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Suzannah Safi totally does it again with this amazing cover for my re-release of <strong>A Different Kind of Honesty.</strong> There's no end to this woman's talents! I love it - it's sexy, sassy, passionate and just a little bit dangerous....just like the story.<br />
<br />
Check out more about the book <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=431&category_id=205&manufacturer_id=93&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1" target="_blank">here at Muse It Up's bookstore,</a> where you can also pre-order it should you feel so inclined. There's an excerpt at the bookstore too, and just because I love you so much, I'll treat you to another right here. Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 36pt;">
Leaning her chin on her hand, Maggie looked at him
for a moment before she decided to take the plunge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 36pt;">
“Okay. Danny, when I was in New York, I, um…had a
fling. A brief thing, a one-nighter.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 36pt;">
“<i>What</i>?” Danny looked incredulous. “You told
me you were only actually <i>in </i>New York for one night! Bloody hell, you
didn’t hang about, did you?” He started to laugh. “I thought you gave up one night stands after the college days.”</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I did,”
Maggie squirmed. “But this was sort of…different.”</div>
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“Oh, I see. Different.” Danny nodded in an
annoyingly superior, knowing way. “A head over heels, caution to the wind,
never to be repeated, special offer kind of different, right?”</div>
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Maggie gave a short, embarrassed laugh. “Something
like that. Actually, a lot like that.”</div>
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“Aw, so sweet, my little chicky!” Danny reached
out a hand and patted hers. “But it’s not as if it was your first time, or your
last, let’s hope. So why all the panting ingénue stuff?” </div>
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Maggie sighed, a mix of wistfulness and longing
that surprised her. “Because here’s the thing,” she said, her thumbnail between
her teeth. “And you are not going to believe this.”</div>
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“Ha! Try me, girlfriend.” Danny took a swig of
Bud. “There’s something hot about this one, I can tell.”</div>
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“It was him.”</div>
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Danny creased his brow as he pretended to think hard.
“Nope. I’m going to need a little more than ‘him’, I’m afraid.”</div>
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Maggie cleared her throat, suddenly feeling
nervous. “Okay. It was the guy we met today. Valentino. Tony Valentino.”</div>
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Danny’s lips wiggled around an ooo. “You are
kidding me! Absolutely no way!”</div>
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“Yes, way,” Maggie said miserably.</div>
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“I don’t believe it. Are you sure?”</div>
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“Of <i>course </i>I’m sure, it’s not like I do it every
day!” </div>
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Danny was opening and closing his mouth like a
demented goldfish. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me? You spend one night in New York,
you sleep with the FBI, and you keep that to <i>yourself</i>? You selfish cowbag!
I may never speak to you again.”</div>
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Maggie shook her head and kept her voice low. “No,
Danny, listen,” she said urgently. “I didn’t tell you because I shouldn’t have
done it.”</div>
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Danny’s elbows slipped off the table in mock astonishment.
“What are you talking about, you shouldn’t have done it? What, with that hunk? Good
God, I’d shag him, and I’m straight.”</div>
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Picking up her water, Maggie paused with the
bottle at her lips. “Somehow, I suspect you’re not his type. What with you not
being a girlie and all.”</div>
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“For a guy like that, I’d change. And I’ll pump
you for the sordid details in a minute, Lawless, but what the hell do you mean
you shouldn’t have done it?” He pulled a face. “C’mon, he’s gorgeous, even more
gorgeous than me, if that’s possible. I’m not seeing the problem.”</div>
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Maggie flopped back on her seat and heaved a sigh that
came right up from her boots.</div>
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“Danny, just think about it. I meet this guy
called Joey Pescolloni. He won’t tell me what he does for a living, says he has
bits of business here and there. The guys he knows </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
all have shiny suits and signet rings.” She peered at him
to see if any of this was sinking in. </div>
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It wasn’t. “Look. He takes me to a place called, oh, I
don’t remember, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Speranza</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Gondola</i> or something. Everybody in
the place is flashing big bundles of cash.” She tipped her head to one side.
“Is this waving any flags at you yet?”</div>
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Danny did his worst Robert de Niro impression, lifting
his shoulders right up to his ears, hands open in supplication. “So whaddya
know, he’s Italian, he likes pasta? Badda boom, badda bing!” </div>
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“Exactly! Badda...whatever. That thing you said.”</div>
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Danny’s jaw dropped halfway to the table. “Oh, my giddy
aunt,” he said, leaning on each word as realization began to dawn. “You thought
he was Mafia! Some wiseassed wiseguy.”</div>
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Maggie covered her face with her hands. “Yes, I
did, I did…” </div>
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“So why the hell didn’t you just walk?” Danny couldn’t
contain his laughter now. “You know, ‘excuse me while I powder my nose’ and
just leg it through the bathroom window?”</div>
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Maggie squeaked. She opened her hands a tiny gap and
peeked out. “Danny, you know why, you said it yourself. He’s gorgeous!” </div>
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“Ah.” Danny folded his arms and looked at Maggie in
smug satisfaction. “Oh, now it makes sense. You were already too far gone in
lust and Lambrusco. Lawless, you total trollop!” </div>
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Maggie slumped onto the table, her head on her
arms. “I’m not,” she said in a small voice. “I’m female and breathing. Any
woman would have done the same.” She looked up, trying to retain what little
dignity she had left. “And it was a rather nice Pinot Grigio, thank you, not Lambrusco.” </div>
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“Whatever. He plied you with booze and had his wicked
way. Or you plied him. Stop kicking me under the table.” </div>
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“You deserve it. Anyway, it wasn’t like that. I
just fancied him like mad, and when I realized he felt the same, well, you
know…”</div>
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“There was no stopping you.”</div>
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“There was no stopping either of us.” A sudden
pang of sweet memory made her gasp. “Oh, Danny, it was quite a night.”</div>
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The waitress arrived with their order and the sort
of enthusiasm that would have her telling them to be sure and eat up all their
vegetables because it would make them nice and strong. Maggie fired a look at
Danny, telling him in no uncertain terms to shut up until they were done. She smiled
her thanks at the waitress, who beamed beatifically at them one more time and
went off to bestow her blessings on some other lucky customers. </div>
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Danny attempted to lift a burger as big as the plate
it sat on without losing any of it. “So, when are you going to spill the gory details?
Coz I want to be sitting somewhere cosy with another beer in one hand and a
ciggie in the other when you do.” </div>
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“I’m not telling you anything else, you dirty
sod.” Maggie pushed her salad around the plate with her fork, stabbed a chunk
of tuna and peered at it before she dropped it, appetite gone. </div>
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“Are you going to eat that or just torture it?” Danny
asked, chewing happily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Anyway, there
is one thing you absolutely do have to tell me.” </div>
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Maggie looked at him, eyebrows raised. ”And that
would be?”</div>
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“That would be…what are you going to do about it now?” </div>
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“What do you mean, now?” Maggie stared at him in horror.
“Nothing!” </div>
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“Aw, do me a favour.” Danny paused in his chewing
to lick mayonnaise from the side of his hand. “I twigged the way he was looking
at you when the lights came on in that room. I thought it was coz he was
looking forward to an introduction. I didn’t know he’d already <i>had </i>the
pleasure.”</div>
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Maggie dropped her fork. “You’re making that up.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 36pt;">
“I bloody am not. You think I don’t know how a
bloke looks when he’s thinking about rampant sex? I see it every time I look in
a mirror. Trust me, he’s got the same fond memories of your sordid little
adventure as you.” He dipped a French fry the size of a house brick in some ketchup
and munched, speaking with his mouth full. “Possibly even fonder.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-92173846866591649352012-07-16T08:30:00.000+01:002012-07-16T08:30:02.593+01:00My summer break!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">My blog - including The One-Link Lowdown - is taking a short summer break while I move house with my family and get settled down at last into our 'forever' home. But keep checking in, as I hope to have news soon about my next release, a contemporary women's novel, <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=431&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1" target="_blank">A Different Kind of Honesty.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">See you soon!</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-13630026394061886142012-07-13T08:30:00.000+01:002012-07-13T08:30:03.013+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Linda Swift!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSFXkQwXB5Mz0V3cOsP9OKCezhG2oaQZrUU0cW_uWApDqnjTJCOUon0eTMbNCoqleQYlJT91JWKBU8CPaDtFiEYLO-4d7iXzamLiR1fk5Q4mvQD-3QyD4nr2W3yo1GphDeqtZU_dD_TU/s1600/PROMO+PHOTO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSFXkQwXB5Mz0V3cOsP9OKCezhG2oaQZrUU0cW_uWApDqnjTJCOUon0eTMbNCoqleQYlJT91JWKBU8CPaDtFiEYLO-4d7iXzamLiR1fk5Q4mvQD-3QyD4nr2W3yo1GphDeqtZU_dD_TU/s1600/PROMO+PHOTO.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>My guest today is Linda Swift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing for 6 publishers, Linda has ten books
of fiction and four short stories currently available, with two additional
books and three short stories to be released this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s lived in many places throughout the
world, and while living in the UK in 1999-2000, she visited many of the castles
where Mary Queen of Scots was a "guest" and became fascinated with
both castles and the queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result
of that stay was her latest release, <strong>Maid
of the Midlands</strong>, which will soon <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be
followed by a sequel, <strong>Mistress of
Huntleigh Hall.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome, Linda!<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s the
naughtiest thing you've ever done? </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">As a small child living in a rural area, I
robbed a setting hen’s nest of all her eggs to make mud pies. I took them one
at a time, stirring more dirt and water into the mix each time. When I had a
pan full, I realized my “crime” might be discovered so I dug a shallow hole and
buried the mixture. I didn’t get caught and never did confess until years later
when pregnant with my first child. I suppose I was wondering what secret sins
my own child might commit later on and I told my mother about the incident. She
accepted my story as the unimportant act that it was but my belated confession
certainly lifted a heavy weight off my conscience!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s the worst
job you've ever had? </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">In the early days of my marriage I was a
stay-at-home mother, my husband was in a work training program, and money was
scarce. I didn’t want to take a regular job and leave my children so I sold
cosmetics door-to-door for a few hours during the day while my mother babysat.
I hated every minute of it. I am not a natural born salesperson and knocking on
the doors of strangers was pure torture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I think I’d hate
that too, and I admire you for sticking with it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in complete contrast, tell me about the best
job you've ever had.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I
have it now. To be able to write books, have them published, and experience the
response of people who read them is a dream realized. I enjoyed my work with
children in public education in three states over a number of years, but always
in the back of my mind was the desire to be a published writer. Creating
stories, receiving new covers, the release of the finished product, having book
signings, presenting programs about what I do, all are very satisfying. I even
enjoy the editing process! Did I mention getting royalty checks? Okay, I’m
working longer hours for less pay than any job I’ve ever had except selling
cosmetics, but this not about money as any truly dedicated writer knows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What would be
your perfect day?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I would sleep until I woke naturally, have
breakfast of my choice, take a walk, work in my study. I would meet a friend
for lunch. In the afternoon maybe work for a while or read or nap. I’d go out
to dinner with my husband, watch the evening news on TV, read the newspaper
and/or a book. About midnight, I’d be ready for bed again. I am never bored
staying home and doing simple things. Did you notice that cooking or doing
housework was not included in my day? I would have paid help for that, of
course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">It sounds like bliss, especially the bit about no housework! Linda, what's your
favourite sandwich, and where in the world is the best place to eat it? </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">A chicken salad sandwich (with pecans and
grapes in it) on rye bread would be perfect served at an outside cafe on
Coronado Island overlooking the Pacific. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I might just have to try out that recipe, it sounds delicious! Which household
chore would you happily give up forever?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Only one? How can I choose a “least” favorite?
I suppose cooking which seems so boring day in and day out. I don’t mind
preparing special meals for holidays but the repetition of doing this over and
over depresses me. But to my credit, I love to iron. Too bad almost everything
now is wrinkle-free or else supposed to be worn with wrinkles!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I would love to be able to play piano and I took
lessons for a few months as a child but they didn’t “take” on me. So I did the
next best thing by marrying a man who played piano (and now electronic
keyboard) beautifully. I also wanted to have a beautiful voice and be able to
sing well but I only mouth the words when I sing in church to avoid those
nearby wondering how a frog got into the building. Both my son, daughter, and
son-in-law are musical and are working or have worked as professional
musicians. All three were in a Broadway musical that toured the country for two
years, so my wish has been granted in a convoluted way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Indeed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as I know you’ve said
before, you make music with words, Linda!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tell me, what drives you seriously nuts?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">People who make fun of other people. I think this
is the ugliest character trait anyone can have. To laugh at someone for
whatever reason is probably an effort to cover insecurity and lack of
self-confidence but that doesn’t excuse it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People who don’t do what they say they will comes a close second. And
people who don’t give credit to others for what they do or take credit for what
they have not done is also on my list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Which animal do
you think you’re most like, and why?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I’m probably most like a cat. I am
independent, and I love to curl up in a warm place indoors and do nothing. But
I am loyal like a dog and so persistent that my husband says I am like a “dog
with a bone” when I set my mind on something. I am also verbal like a
mockingbird. So I suppose I’m really an enigma whatever species that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s the best
review you've ever had?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">My best review was actually a composite of
four 5-star reviews (Long and Short Reviews/ Manic Readers/The Romance
Studio/You Gotta Read Reviews) and Romantic Times <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for my Civil War saga, This Time Forever.
These reviewers compared the book to Gone With The Wind and the TV mini-series
North and South. All of them “got” what I was trying to say, felt empathy for
both sides of this tragic war, loved my characters as I did and validated my
ability to research and create a story that was worthy of the subject. This was
the “book of my heart” and in my heart I know it is the best work I will ever
accomplish. It was rejected many times when submitted by my then-agent and I
almost despaired ever seeing it published. Then, ironically, this US Civil War
story was accepted by a Canadian publisher and through no planning on my part,
it was released in the first year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial
commemoration. Fate? I like to think so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>A definite meant-to be! Linda, it's been great getting to know more about you today, and I know my readers can catch up on all your news and books <a href="http://www.lindaswift.net/" target="_blank">at your One-Link here to your website.</a> Thanks so much for visiting - good luck in all that you do!</em></span></div>
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<br /></div>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-74931073977434124592012-07-09T08:30:00.000+01:002012-07-09T08:30:04.711+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Carol A. Spradling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTUKsR5TAccb_rwVYPzE__4PuBxuz72PGdfDXaiAqzl647KJL0s48FzFoLUtauHuch_3oDqviSDuE7GWrkozUJKudGrzsuMR0Xy51CSNf2xIAwng8MzykdWb7WkbytbC-m9fKHFdiIDw/s1600/180982_10150178149557738_542662737_8616538_5344887_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTUKsR5TAccb_rwVYPzE__4PuBxuz72PGdfDXaiAqzl647KJL0s48FzFoLUtauHuch_3oDqviSDuE7GWrkozUJKudGrzsuMR0Xy51CSNf2xIAwng8MzykdWb7WkbytbC-m9fKHFdiIDw/s320/180982_10150178149557738_542662737_8616538_5344887_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">A special start to
the week as the Lowdown breaks its Friday habit with my guest Carol A.
Spradling. Carol recently took back control of her writing by breaking away from
the publishing norm and branching out independently - and she's never looked
back. Her historical novels are vivid and compelling, and her latest, <strong>Shades of
Gray</strong> (not to be confused with another work with a similar name!) is pulling in
five-star reviews. I'm delighted she's my guest today - not least because she's
one of my dearest friends! Welcome, Carol!</span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">If you could retrieve
one thing from your childhood, what would it be? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>A cement
heart.<span> </span>When I was eight years old, my grandfather made a walkway
on the side of his house.<span> </span>He formed the leftover cement into a
heart shape and gave it to me.<span> </span>It was lost when we
moved.</i></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">What would be
your perfect day? </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>A perfect writing day
is back dropped with a heavy rainstorm, and a Twilight Zone marathon playing on
the tv for company. A perfect non-writing day is spending time in the mountains
with friends and family.</i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">What’s your favourite
sandwich, and where in the world is the best place to eat it? </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>OMG, Dunn’s Deli in
Banner Elk, NC has the best sandwiches.<span> </span>My favourite is called The
St. Patrick’s.</i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>It is a grilled corned beef with melted muenster
cheese and, here's what makes it special, it has warmed potato salad on the
sandwich. It isn't a trip to the mountains without a visit to
Dunn's.</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">That sounds delicious! It sounds like the USA has perfected the art of sandwich-making, and I wish I could try them out! Now, I know you're a girl after my own heart, so tell me - which household chore
would you happily give up for ever?</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><em>If you were to ask
my husband, he might tell you to phrase that question in the past tense.<span>
</span>I’m not nit picky when it comes to housework.<span> </span>As long as my
house gives the resemblance of clean, I’m good.<span> </span>Dusting seems to
be my least favorite thing to do.</em></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">What talent or skill
would you love to have that you don’t have now?</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>I would love to be
able to sing.<span> </span>I can’t carry a tune to save my life.<span>
</span></i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">What drives you
seriously nuts?</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>People who drive
under the speed limit and come to a near-dead stop to make a
turn. </i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">I know them! The ones who don't want to use up all their gears at once, as my husband says! Now - you're given a time
travel machine - where would you go, and why?</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>I would zip to the
future and take advantage of modern medicine.<span> </span>Then, shoot to the
past when life was enjoyed at a much slower pace.</i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">What's your guilty
pleasure?</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><em>My husband and I
love to eat out, nothing high end, mostly burger places.</em></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">Quite right, it's good to treat yourself! Carol, if you could change one
thing about yourself, what would it be?</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>I would want to be
more intelligent.<span> </span>It seems to take me forever to catch on to
things.</i></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></div>
<i></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;">What single
invention would change your life for the better?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Traveling at the
speed of thought.<span> </span>I could visit friends and family and still be
home in time for dinner.<span> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt;"><span>Carol, it's always a pleasure to talk with you. Our readers can find out more about <strong>Shades of Gray</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shades-of-Gray-ebook/dp/B007SXHZ8C/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1334227589&sr=8-5" target="_blank">here at your One-Link to its Amazon page</a>. Thanks for being my guest, and I wish you so much good luck in all you do!<em> </em></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-59180691635457026572012-07-06T09:36:00.001+01:002012-07-06T09:36:35.421+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on....Margay Leah Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3zn9XReDJM7hLwZfJZp7trhbQ8gDG-ei487VN-dTWgL69EI6wKBMYEQJwVl8T2Kd-RTc0JHKFoLRuKnprVIwVkVfXhnf1e2chNHoR-h2PpgXvJZvOrpUY8z7B0YlJnlIwRiCuV4_njY/s1600/Sloane_Wolf_200x300+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3zn9XReDJM7hLwZfJZp7trhbQ8gDG-ei487VN-dTWgL69EI6wKBMYEQJwVl8T2Kd-RTc0JHKFoLRuKnprVIwVkVfXhnf1e2chNHoR-h2PpgXvJZvOrpUY8z7B0YlJnlIwRiCuV4_njY/s1600/Sloane_Wolf_200x300+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3zn9XReDJM7hLwZfJZp7trhbQ8gDG-ei487VN-dTWgL69EI6wKBMYEQJwVl8T2Kd-RTc0JHKFoLRuKnprVIwVkVfXhnf1e2chNHoR-h2PpgXvJZvOrpUY8z7B0YlJnlIwRiCuV4_njY/s1600/Sloane_Wolf_200x300+(1).jpg" /></a><em>My guest today, Margay Leah Justice, is a gal who dodges life's curve
balls with style and grace, and I'm sure she'd be the first to admit it's
her love of the written word that's seen her through many a rough patch. Her
first novel, a paranormal romance called <strong>Sloane Wolf</strong>, is now
available form Muse It Up Publishing. I'm so pleased to meet this lovely lady,
and I know you will be, too. Welcome, Margay!</em><br />
<br />
<div>
<em>If you could retrieve one thing from your childhood, what would it
be?</em> </div>
<br />
<div>
My collection of Crissy and Velvet dolls the ones with the hair that
“grew.” I loved those dolls!</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>What’s the naughtiest thing you've ever done?</em> </div>
<br />
<div>
Hmm, this one could get me into trouble! I actually went parking with a guy
in a cemetery once. Sounds creepy, but it was actually kind of peaceful
there.</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>Tell us three surprising things about yourself, one of which is a fib -
and we'll try to guess the fib!</em> </div>
<div>
<br />I have met Patrick Swayze and rubbed elbows with several other famous
people such as Mary Tyler Moore, Dudley Moore, and Paul Michael Glaser. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I used to teach aerobics. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I’m fluent in five languages. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<em>I so want meeting Patrick Swayze to be true as he always struck me as a
very lovely man. Margay, tell me - what’s your favourite piece of
music?</em></div>
<br />
<div>
One of my all time favorite songs is Unchained Melody, it’s just a really
beautiful song. Plus, there’s this scene from the movie Ghost with Demi Moore
and Patrick Swayze where it figures prominently that just gets me every time I
see it.</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>Yes, that's a real classic - in fact, the song and the movie both.
What talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?</em></div>
<br />
<div>
I always wished I could play an instrument, like the violin.</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>What drives you seriously nuts?</em></div>
<br />
<div>
Bad drivers – and I think the majority of them live in Massachusetts!
Seriously, people, those signs and lights aren’t there for decoration. Oh, and
those folks standing in the crosswalks – they’re not there to watch you drive,
they actually want to cross the street.</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>Which animal do you think you’re most like, and why?</em> </div>
<br />
<div>
A cat. Well, for one, if you look up my name, it is a type of wild cat
(though I wasn’t named after the cat – it’s just a coincidence!). But I think
it’s also because, however I fall, I somehow manage to land on my feet. Plus, I
love naps!</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>I can relate to the catnap thing! Now, I'm lending you my personal
time travel machine for the day - where would you go, and why?</em></div>
<br />
<div>
Regency England. There’s just something about that time period that really
calls to me, which is probably why I love books like Pride and Prejudice and
anything by Julia Quinn so much.</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>What's your guilty pleasure?</em></div>
<br />
<div>
I am a sucker for sweets – I love chocolate and cheesecake and the like. If
I could eat it all the time and not gain a pound, I’d be one happy woman. What
am I talking about – the threat of weight gain has never kept me away from a
good piece of cheesecake – or chocolate!</div>
<br />
<div>
<em>It's scientifically proven that chocolate makes you feel good, you
know! Margay, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it
be?</em></div>
<br />
<div>
I wish I wasn’t a procrastinator – or a perfectionist. I think I could get
so much more done if I didn’t put it off until later – and then try to get it
too perfect. </div>
<br />
<div>
<em>I think keep doing what you're doing, because it's obviously working!
Friends, Margay's lie is that she's fluent in five languages - I'm so pleased that meeting Patrick Swayze is true! You </em><em>can find out more about <strong>Sloane Wolf</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sloane-Wolves-Destiny-Falls-ebook/dp/B006M4AGN4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326586732&sr=1-1" target="_blank">here at Margay's link today.</a> </em></div>
<div>
<em></em> </div>
<div>
<em>Margay, it's been great meeting you - good luck in all
that you do!</em></div>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-60205277268406730782012-06-29T10:39:00.001+01:002012-06-29T10:39:13.797+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Jane Toombs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71kLLdeP52uR7EzunAKk8r84KsReX1N4b0FmT4aBVdM9jNWd5Sdub40e4ON7DR3nGpWKYx5gifvs7NgnqAKCYyFmXn7F0p1VK4mbo_-_uUjgMUPfdiqbqEYnk4H1Lt68Q_Tg_1GGbE-8/s1600/high+res_4254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71kLLdeP52uR7EzunAKk8r84KsReX1N4b0FmT4aBVdM9jNWd5Sdub40e4ON7DR3nGpWKYx5gifvs7NgnqAKCYyFmXn7F0p1VK4mbo_-_uUjgMUPfdiqbqEYnk4H1Lt68Q_Tg_1GGbE-8/s1600/high+res_4254.jpg" /></a></div>
My guest today is writer Jane Toombs. Born in California, she now lives
in the beautiful Upper Peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior. She's
written more than eighty books in both paper and electronic formats for
publishers such as Silhouette, Zebra, Harlequin and Avon. Her latest,
<em>Deception’s Bride</em>, is a historical romance that will be up on Amazon
shortly as an ebook from Books We Love. Ltd. Welcome, Jane!<br />
<br />
<em>If you could retrieve one thing from your childhood, what would it
be? </em> <br />
<br />
My diaries.<br />
<br />
<em>What</em><span lang="EN"><em>’</em></span><span lang="EN-GB"><em>s on
your bedside table/nightstand? </em> </span><br />
<br />
Meds for the next day, bottle of water, Kleenex, clock.<br />
<br />
<em>What</em><span lang="EN"><em>’</em></span><span lang="EN-GB"><em>s
your favourite piece of music?</em></span><br />
<br />
Practically anything by Glen Miller (Yeah, I go waaay back)<br />
<br />
<em>They say vintage style is very fashionable at the moment, though! Jane,
what's your favourite sandwich, and where in the world is the best place to eat
it?</em> <br />
<br />
Peanut butter-banana sandwich on marble rye at my kitchen table while working
a crossword puzzle. <br />
<br />
<em>Which household chore would you happily give up for ever?</em><br />
<br />
Changing the cat’s sandbox.<br />
<br />
<em>Ewww...I'm with you on that one. Jane, what talent or skill would you
love to have that you don</em><span lang="EN"><em>’</em></span><span lang="EN-GB"><em>t have now?</em></span><br />
<br />
I’d love to be able to sing in tune. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNS8Za8ZBXsCs1vSTi52IaCGtAyhB-5MD49bZS2Kbx_5eZaUKFNoKjes5avxTFzZoxHk82ef6SS1XN5bAdWmwXsSOXR0zhbncTZ8qnF_Y4na2G1crLDDPOVJT-AhzRz5dGfBdGb_xR5U/s1600/Toombs-DeceptionsBride-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNS8Za8ZBXsCs1vSTi52IaCGtAyhB-5MD49bZS2Kbx_5eZaUKFNoKjes5avxTFzZoxHk82ef6SS1XN5bAdWmwXsSOXR0zhbncTZ8qnF_Y4na2G1crLDDPOVJT-AhzRz5dGfBdGb_xR5U/s1600/Toombs-DeceptionsBride-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNS8Za8ZBXsCs1vSTi52IaCGtAyhB-5MD49bZS2Kbx_5eZaUKFNoKjes5avxTFzZoxHk82ef6SS1XN5bAdWmwXsSOXR0zhbncTZ8qnF_Y4na2G1crLDDPOVJT-AhzRz5dGfBdGb_xR5U/s1600/Toombs-DeceptionsBride-200x300.jpg" /></a><em>What drives you seriously nuts? </em><br />
<br />
Mindless drivel instead of intelligent conversation. <br />
<br />
<em>Sadly, there's an awful lot of it around these days. Which animal do you think
you</em><span lang="EN"><em>’</em></span><span lang="EN-GB"><em>re most like,
and why?</em></span><br />
<br />
I’d like to be like a cat, except I‘m clumsy and cats aren’t. But I do tend
to be picky abut friends and tend to be a loner. Although I like being petted by
the right person. <br />
<br />
<em>What</em><span lang="EN"><em>’</em></span><span lang="EN-GB"><em>s the
best review you've ever had?</em></span><br />
<br />
I’d say from my writing instructor, a published mystery writer who told me
<em>Tule Witch</em>, the book I’d finished and he’d critiqued in class, was good enough
so that he was willing to send it to his agent. (He did, it sold to Avon and
that was my first published book in 1973.)<br />
<br />
<em>That would be pretty hard to top, I'd imagine! Jane, last question - if
you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?</em><br />
<br />
I’d like to be taller. Short people are often at a disadvantage.<br />
<br />
<em>Very true. I'd like to be a little taller, too. As they say, size
matters! Readers, you can find out more about Jane's books at <a href="http://www.janetoombs.com/" target="_blank">today's One-Link, her website.</a> </em><em>Thanks
so much for being my guest today, Jane. Good luck with all your future
projects!</em>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-7816963374664140572012-06-22T09:16:00.002+01:002012-06-22T09:16:46.518+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Lynette Sofras<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HQ_o3SsYfLPofd3_jAcG7WGPZs-qqfEheCJoZjGr76-WuedjLL5fR84tnFFsWdMb7kd8G65d0gJQUF0m5DGr0rGEQTZS2vOKwicVs-aiKHbPNF5Rv0VcI1gXcerVqsdoqEpjoi_1jXs/s1600/shopping+for+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HQ_o3SsYfLPofd3_jAcG7WGPZs-qqfEheCJoZjGr76-WuedjLL5fR84tnFFsWdMb7kd8G65d0gJQUF0m5DGr0rGEQTZS2vOKwicVs-aiKHbPNF5Rv0VcI1gXcerVqsdoqEpjoi_1jXs/s1600/shopping+for+love.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Today’s
guest is Lynette Sofras - aka The Manic Scribbler!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A former Head
of English in a large school in Surrey, Lynette took the plunge a few years ago
to give up her job and concentrate full-time on her writing and freelance
editing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then she’s had three contemporary
fiction novels published, all to great reviews. Her latest, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shopping For Love</i>, has been described as
‘a great read for everyone who believes that love will prevail!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s available on Amazon along with her previous
novels, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Apple Tree</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wishful Thinking</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome, Lynette!</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If you could retrieve one thing
from your childhood, what would it be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As a
small child I had a large and quite old porcelain doll I called Lady Jane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so inseparable that I wore her out -
literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents sent her to the
local dolls’ hospital for a makeover and when she returned she was so altered I
hated her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hair colour had changed
and she had those old and cold soulless eyes, like a fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went in a lady and came out a
dowager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m afraid I treated her
abominably after that and I’d like to get her back now to apologise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, she’d probably be worth a small fortune
now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What’s the naughtiest thing
you've ever done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Well this
happened a few years ago when I lived abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was…no, I really can’t say that on your nice blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s far too naughty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second naughtiest thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, I remember when…no, that’s no good
either – I’m blushing just to think of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shame on me – I must have been a very wicked person ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I think we're going to have to use our imagination on that one! Lynette, what’s the worst job you've ever
had? And what’s the best job you've ever had?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I can
kill two birds with one stone on this question as my worst and best job are the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a teacher, especially head
of department can be extremely stressful and difficult at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s also the best job ever because you
share those eureka moments with students when you can see their faces light up
as they understand something or discover something wonderful in a piece of
literature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s when you know why
you became a teacher and why you put up with the worst bits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaAQxiJ3SaXJYJDza2GZVMxZqGhLKcsgImTQarUzt83c0hE-lgryhfJfjCTBQxchN_S0KAWACYUPdDBD9y80Rmfz2fle1quO4NgiaUG-wbzoLB31-dUbofkBH68kw3hhk_fSmTtnK8Lc/s1600/Copy+of+TheAppleTree_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaAQxiJ3SaXJYJDza2GZVMxZqGhLKcsgImTQarUzt83c0hE-lgryhfJfjCTBQxchN_S0KAWACYUPdDBD9y80Rmfz2fle1quO4NgiaUG-wbzoLB31-dUbofkBH68kw3hhk_fSmTtnK8Lc/s1600/Copy+of+TheAppleTree_Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What’s your favourite piece of
music? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have
lots – and they constantly change, but one that I’ve always had a soft spot for
is Ravel’s Bolero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father introduced
it to me when I was a child, so it has very special connotations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first serious piece of music I
owned – and this was long before it was over-popularised by Torville and
Dean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You hear it so often these days
that some of the magic dust has worn off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In modern music I tend to prefer female singers to males as I think they
have more interesting and versatile voices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What your favourite sandwich, and
where in the world is the best place to eat it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I don’t
usually eat sandwiches, but I would if I could have it served at one of those
outdoor pavement tables at a restaurant in Rome, preferable in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or in Venice or Florence – I’m not that
fussy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just love Italy so much I
wouldn’t mind what was in the sandwich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yes, I'd agree with you there - the sandwich would be somewhat irrelevant in those settings! Who would you invite to your
ultimate fantasy dinner party?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
Booker Prize Committee and a really good hypnotist or mind controller like
Derren Brown or Paul McKenna – you do the maths!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf9rES91DYDjTHWsYHpmPEI4D1ModVpQhvV8xnGajDwzrxYefYfewjDmEPKS5G8_cPWb98m3X2ZRM9fF5FWLaMNJ-v8nrLiX_VIOL7r6vEy0r3kGIqaoNuT1E56lhRjLad6Or067StnU/s1600/Wishful+-+Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf9rES91DYDjTHWsYHpmPEI4D1ModVpQhvV8xnGajDwzrxYefYfewjDmEPKS5G8_cPWb98m3X2ZRM9fF5FWLaMNJ-v8nrLiX_VIOL7r6vEy0r3kGIqaoNuT1E56lhRjLad6Or067StnU/s1600/Wishful+-+Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf9rES91DYDjTHWsYHpmPEI4D1ModVpQhvV8xnGajDwzrxYefYfewjDmEPKS5G8_cPWb98m3X2ZRM9fF5FWLaMNJ-v8nrLiX_VIOL7r6vEy0r3kGIqaoNuT1E56lhRjLad6Or067StnU/s1600/Wishful+-+Amazon.jpg" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I like your line of thinking, Lynette! Tell me, what drives you seriously nuts?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Well
there’s that fashion young men wear with their jeans hanging off and displaying
their underclothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t get
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean I do, to some extent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sort-of understand the statement it makes,
but I can’t believe any fashion-conscious boy actually thinks it looks good or
cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And the
fact that so many foreigners speak better English than vast numbers of people
who are born and raised here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seriously saddens me that we have so little pride in our own language and are
wilfully allowing it to degenerate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I'm with you on the trousers thing. The mother in me wants to get hold of them and pull them up properly! Now tell me, do - you're given a time travel
machine - where would you go, and why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Firstly
I’d go back to my childhood and give myself a firm talking to, to ensure I
worked harder at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, I’d
stop off in Kent around 1890 just to show HG Wells the real McCoy; then I’d nip
back another hundred years or so and tell Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, in
no uncertain terms that she must not destroy her sister’s letters and
documents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next, I’d whizz back to the
early seventeenth century to say hello to Shakespeare and ask him if he really
did write everything attributed to him, to settle that little argument once and
for all and my last jaunt would be to Ancient Greece, to soak up the atmosphere
and listen to Socrates in the Agora – though I guess I’d probably need a gender
change, so maybe I’d have to go into the future to execute that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What’s the best review you've
ever had?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It was
one of the very first, when someone likened my writing to Jane Austen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I thought this was from a friend who
was playing a joke, knowing I admire Jane Austen’s writing style quite a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When no one owned up to it, I had
to believe the review was real and felt immensely flattered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I'm not surprised - what a compliment! My blog readers can check it out for themselves </em><a href="http://manicscribbler.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><em>here at your One-Link to your own beautiful blog, </em></a><em>where they can find out more about you and your writing and, most importantly, find out where they can buy your books! Lynette, thanks so much for being my guest today. Good luck with all your future projects.</em> </span></div>
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<br /></div>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-63428479683509913272012-06-15T11:54:00.000+01:002012-06-15T11:54:33.004+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Viviane Brentanos!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-drHf5TdGcB-d4kWJ0P7vUGC2GYESM09Orahh57D1LrYv2ue9Ag3zzKvRuNxJPVgz_UQKegwFcsQagvGt0YUSVA3GaUjgctF23kmG14WI-52xsxJGrgRH1lI4nHGdeWhC7jfhtLGZ9Q/s1600/188863_10150098905160756_19840_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-drHf5TdGcB-d4kWJ0P7vUGC2GYESM09Orahh57D1LrYv2ue9Ag3zzKvRuNxJPVgz_UQKegwFcsQagvGt0YUSVA3GaUjgctF23kmG14WI-52xsxJGrgRH1lI4nHGdeWhC7jfhtLGZ9Q/s1600/188863_10150098905160756_19840_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-drHf5TdGcB-d4kWJ0P7vUGC2GYESM09Orahh57D1LrYv2ue9Ag3zzKvRuNxJPVgz_UQKegwFcsQagvGt0YUSVA3GaUjgctF23kmG14WI-52xsxJGrgRH1lI4nHGdeWhC7jfhtLGZ9Q/s320/188863_10150098905160756_19840_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">My
guest today, Viviane Brentanos, was born in Reading, Berkshire, but now lives
on the beautiful Ionian island of Corfu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’ll never forget the day she made the decision to stay – ‘I still
remember to this day, sitting in a café-bar, overlooking the crystal clear
azure sea and saying to my friend. "I never want to leave here.” Her
latest novel, a romantic suspense called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Past
Undone</i> is released today by Muse It Up Publishing. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Viv
describes her writing as ‘romance with a quirky, humorous Brit twist and I am
always striving to make my characters real, characters we can all relate to’ –
I for one definitely relate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re very
welcome to my blog – here we go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s the naughtiest thing you've ever done? </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The naughtiest thing I have ever done or the ‘naughtiest’ thing? Okay, let’s forget the second. I am
presuming this is a family blog so let’s keep it clean. So – my naughtiest
thing is, in fact, a series of naughty events. It involved knocking a policeman’s
hat off and I enjoyed every minute of it. Let me take you back to 197blah blah
blah. It was the year of the Osmonds, their first visit to the UK and I was
desperate to see them. Unfortunately, my parents refused to let me go to London
and camp outside the Rainbow theatre and queue for tickets. You guessed it.
When I eventually got there in the morning.... no tickets. Hell hath no fury
like a teenage girl thwarted in her attempt to see her one true love. I was not
alone. Thousands of us protested, screaming for them to give us tickets [even
though the management had none}. A riot followed, involving a lot of police
shoving and ankle kicking. I think this is when a certain Bobby lost his hat. I
do hope he ain’t reading this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I love it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
do remember the whole Osmond-mania thing very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I think I can guess a little of your
next answer, so tell me - what’s the best job you've ever had?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The best job? Not sure it was the best in terms of great money but it
certainly was a cushy number. I was employed as a doctor’s receptionist in the
small Corfiot village of Benitses. Here is a rundown on a typical working day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Husband drops me off at surgery. I open up, change into my bikini and
head down to beach for an hour’s swim. Come back to office, shower, put the
coffee on, nip down to local newsagents, borrow all the days’ newspapers, take
them back to surgery. Pour coffee, bite into chocky croissant and then read
newspapers. Once I have copied out Sudoku puzzles, return newspapers, and back
to surgery for morning round of phone calls to friends. Time for lunch. Nip
next door for a tasty pita. More coffee and then pull out writing pad and
continue writing my next best seller. Oh did I mention my boss supplied the
paper? Occasionally, someone would call or come in and request an appointment
with the doctor but God help them if they interrupted my creative flow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tell us three surprising things about yourself, one
of which is a fib - and we'll try to guess the fib! </span></i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">1}
I have a phobia about driving. I will never learn to drive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">2}
I am an avid reader of romance. It is my favourite genre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">3}
I once received a phone call from Darren Hayes at 5am, all the way from L.A</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Hmm…think, think, think!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I’m thinking, tell me about your
favourite piece of music.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Oh this is tough. I adore music of any genre but, mostly I am into rock
and heavy metal. Different songs move me at different times and for different
reasons. I suppose if I have to pick one, it is the closing song from the movie
Gladiator. It kills me every time. It is such a heart wrencher. Oh but if we
are talking heart wrenchers then I must post a list:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Sara – Fleetwood Mac</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Run – Snow Patrol</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Mine – Savage garden</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The Idol – Wasp </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I can’t go on. The tears, the tears.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Who would you invite to your ultimate
fantasy dinner party? </span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Oh
come on. This is easy. Enrique Iglesias, Rafa Nadal, Darren Hayes, Russell
Crowe, Sheldon Cooper and Tyrion Lannester. What fun it would be. Now who would
I spend the night with? Well, I love them all; a beautiful, talented bunch
but.....it’s got to be Enrique. The man is simply perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Well, if you’re happy to keep
Enrique to yourself for the evening, may I ask you to budge along the table so
I can squeeze in beside Rafa? ; -)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
a great party!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Viv - what talent or
skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Oh
this is another easy one. I wish with all my heart I could play lead guitar and
play it to Angus Young/Jimmy Page/Van Halen/Slash level. I would sell my soul
to appear on stage with Angus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2_zbOnvOKzvNKArzx53w_5d-RVbIB-eHIQAZiDkVW518sl7GUyRAhgbVxPpoeTQsoxjFyEJIvBjkVmvc8nS6P9zfwwBCmGn55A3bCzieuGytnQfdUDldD8AE0-pGxnIKRbqCbqlrAAc/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2_zbOnvOKzvNKArzx53w_5d-RVbIB-eHIQAZiDkVW518sl7GUyRAhgbVxPpoeTQsoxjFyEJIvBjkVmvc8nS6P9zfwwBCmGn55A3bCzieuGytnQfdUDldD8AE0-pGxnIKRbqCbqlrAAc/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2_zbOnvOKzvNKArzx53w_5d-RVbIB-eHIQAZiDkVW518sl7GUyRAhgbVxPpoeTQsoxjFyEJIvBjkVmvc8nS6P9zfwwBCmGn55A3bCzieuGytnQfdUDldD8AE0-pGxnIKRbqCbqlrAAc/s1600/untitled.png" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What's your guilty pleasure?</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I am only allowed one? Shame on you, Jane, for spoiling my fun. Okay, it
has to be Darren Hayes. While he is not as gut-achingly gorgeous as my Enrique,
I adore this singer-song writer with a passion. I have three times flown across
Europe to see him perform. He is the inspiration behind my novel, Cold, Cold
Heart, his songs have kept me company through many a long, lonely night of
writing. He is simply – well – simply Darren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Viv, your life in Corfu and your writing career that’s
going from strength to strength, it sounds to me like you must be so very happy
with your lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m almost loathe to ask
– if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">My obsession with unobtainable men, {see answers to most of the
questions. You get the picture}</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I get it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
single invention would change your life for the better?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I would love a writing machine that was wirelessly in tune with my
imagination. You know the feeling. You are walking along the street while a
perfect scene runs through your head. You can’t wait to get home and put it
down on paper/pc but, as much as you try, as good as you can get it, it never
quite matches that zone you were lost in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You are so not alone with that
wish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from writing
achievements, family, etc - what are you most proud of? </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Showing
my Afghan hounds in the eighties. I loved it. I was good at it and they gave me
immense pleasure. I wish I had time to do it again. Who knows?</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Who knows, indeed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Viv, it’s been great talking to you today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder who has guessed your fib
correctly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s No. 2 – as you say, ‘I
hardly ever read romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
thrillers, murders.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last but not least,
I hope our readers will follow your <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=494&category_id=231&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1" target="_blank">One-Link today over to your Muse It Up Publishers page for Past Undone, </a>where they can read a fabulous excerpt and treat themselves to a copy. Thanks for being my guest, Viv- good luck in all
that you do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-85852731733001561482012-06-08T10:40:00.002+01:002012-06-08T10:46:11.046+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Maggi Andersen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Gcg3IAtCGq7d8QzWC5rzTu-RRrLy7bMruidZQjDUv5Tv31dgMLNS911BR4uAIuJu5iPIPa5xM47A1h3KePGG6TQU_tT3JJE1aqYxkR-tVkydGq3mRGHVhy2FaxaV-arsudPYl9oL_rQ/s1600/Coleman_S3009_020_1622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Gcg3IAtCGq7d8QzWC5rzTu-RRrLy7bMruidZQjDUv5Tv31dgMLNS911BR4uAIuJu5iPIPa5xM47A1h3KePGG6TQU_tT3JJE1aqYxkR-tVkydGq3mRGHVhy2FaxaV-arsudPYl9oL_rQ/s320/Coleman_S3009_020_1622.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>My guest today is Maggi Andersen. A writer of many genres, Maggie describes herself and her husband as 'empty nesters' living in the suburbs of Sydney where 'parrots demand seed, possums fruit, ducks swim in the stream at the bottom of
the garden, and the neighbours chickens roam their yard providing wonderful
eggs,' which sounds like a fairly un-empty nest to me! </em></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Maggi is a Master of Arts in Creative writing, which might explain her wonderful ability to create not only romantic Regency novels but also darker Victorian stories, young adult books and contemporary romantic suspense. Her latest release, a Georgian romance with the intriguing title </em><strong>The Reluctant Marquess</strong>, is now available from Knox Robinson Publishing. Welcome, Maggi!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s the best
job you've ever had?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Writing is the best job I ever had. I can do
it in my pj’s, have a snack when I fancy it, and knock off early without the
boss complaining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What’s your
favourite piece of music?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">That would depend on how I’m feeling and what
I’m writing. Claire de Lune by Debussy is one of my all-time favourites and
perfect for a scene between two star-crossed lovers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">One of my favourite pieces too, it's very beautiful. Ok, to matters of the stomach now! What’s your
favourite sandwich, and where in the world is the best place to eat it?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Seems somewhat unimaginative to eat a sandwich in Paris where the
cuisine is superb, but I love their crunchy baguettes stuffed with ham and
cheese, and where better to eat it than in a little bistro on the</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Champs-Élysées with a
fabulous coffee, while watching the passing parade of fascinating people.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Ah, there's nothing unimaginative about a sandwich in Paris! Maggi, which household
chore would you happily give up for ever?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">There are many, but scrubbing bathroom tiles
would be the most reviled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Who would you
invite to your ultimate fantasy dinner party?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: black;">Hilary Clinton, a remarkable lady, Greta Garbo, did
she really want to be alone? Stephen King, who’s lively and unpredictable, and Mr
Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, need I say more? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">That sounds like a party I'd love! Now tell me this - what talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A good memory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And what skill would you....oops, looks like we could both do with that skill! What drives you seriously nuts?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: black;">Politicians. The older I get the more childish most
of them seem to become. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I Which animal do
you think you’re most like, and why?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">According to the Chinese horoscope, I’m born
in the year of the dog. I like to think that’s me. </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Dog is a
listener, always available to lend an ear or a shoulder to a friend in need.
Often Dogs know more about their friends than their friends know about them or
even themselves!</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They are also
worriers!</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRGbIt-t_9mKc426nciHQp_lza9lfTLgJmqson1LJrosaH-r7BbdO00c9oKxOjeXjCL_Xs470lYzBO6MkjSxTjGS50gt2pYXvTEnTJjMlKe1T_KZAVTKNQmloLlwbZD27KwzzpIefUpI/s1600/ReluctantMarquess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRGbIt-t_9mKc426nciHQp_lza9lfTLgJmqson1LJrosaH-r7BbdO00c9oKxOjeXjCL_Xs470lYzBO6MkjSxTjGS50gt2pYXvTEnTJjMlKe1T_KZAVTKNQmloLlwbZD27KwzzpIefUpI/s1600/ReluctantMarquess.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Maggi - let's be friends! Now I think I can guess the answer to this next question, but I'll ask anyway! You're given a
time travel machine. Where would you go, and why?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Back to the English Regency era. Some of my
books are set then and it would be great to see what it was really like. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What single
invention would change your life for the better?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A way
to lose weight without exercise!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em><span style="color: black;">Ah, Maggie, you're definitely not alone there! It's been great fun having you as my guest today. My blog readers can find out lots more about you at your </span><a href="http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">One-Link, your website right here.</span></a><span style="color: black;"> Lovely to see you - good luck in all that you do!</span></em></span></div>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-85991495929679265492012-05-25T07:00:00.000+01:002012-05-25T07:00:07.609+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...Allison Knight!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuMl4Bpgy6ray-0FbVZF-iYuwt8sWZa1iePdEZM3N4TfmKM8kvzrqPpTxFfR_-XBbq5HRmVIFor2B8QI8ZtoS2DyxVUQMV3vK0DEsmYfNkc7kyUzOYiT4ZC9UP_5ooIMQSCCX8p2KcN4/s1600/small+portrait+Allison+Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuMl4Bpgy6ray-0FbVZF-iYuwt8sWZa1iePdEZM3N4TfmKM8kvzrqPpTxFfR_-XBbq5HRmVIFor2B8QI8ZtoS2DyxVUQMV3vK0DEsmYfNkc7kyUzOYiT4ZC9UP_5ooIMQSCCX8p2KcN4/s320/small+portrait+Allison+Knight.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>My guest today is Allison Knight. Allison decided at an early age she wanted to be writer, and started with poetry, followed shortly afterwards with prose, short stories and even a college newspaper! It wasn't until she discovered historical fiction that everything fell into perfect place, and she now has seventeen historical works in publication. She writes a range of historical periods, so whatever your favourite is, I'm willing to bet Allison has a novel for you. I'm so pleased she's come over to chat today - welcome, Allison!</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>What would be your perfect day?</em> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">My perfect day (which I
have never had in my life) would begin at 7 am. Someone, don't care who, would
bring me something to eat and a cup of coffee. I would have someone who would
answer all phone calls, fix lunch, clean the house, and ignore me while I sat
in my office and wrote without interruption, for the whole day. Oh, boy, am I
dreaming! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>What’s on your bedside table/nightstand?</em>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I have a pencil, a pad of
paper, a flashlight, and lip stick moisturizer. I chew on my lips while I
write. And darned if the best ideas don't come in the middle of the night. I
have to have a way to write them down and a flashlight is essential, 'cause I
can't write in the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>What’s your favourite piece of music?</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I'm a classical music
buff. No way can I name only one piece of music. My favorites depend on my
mood. I love the duet from Pearl Fishers by Bizet, then there's a couple of
choruses from Verdi, Mozart has some terrific stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See what I mean!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>I love your selection, and agree it's hard to choose just one from that crowd! Now tell me if you will - what's your favourite sandwich, and where in the
world is the best place to eat it?</em> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Love French Dip. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city>'s used to have one
with onions and swiss cheese, but they don't make it anymore, so the best place
to eat the sandwich with onion and cheese is in my kitchen. I can get the rolls
at the store, cook my own onions, buy the roast beef and do it up the way I
like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it's a shame. Takes a lot
of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to the perfect day bit.
Somebody to do it all for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><sigh><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>Which household chore would
you happily give up for ever?</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Definitely bathroom
chores. Scrubbing out the toilets and the shower are nasty jobs. We have a lot
of one mineral in our water and it clogs up faucets, and leaves black gunk on
everything. Cleaning it off is .....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yucky!</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I'm with you there! Allison, what talent or skill would you love to have that
you don’t have now?</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With my love of classical music, I'll
just bet you can guess what it is. Singing of course. I have a limited range,
sound like an empty jar, and although I have a sense of timing and can carry a
tune, most people would rather I didn't....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>It always amazes me how many of my guests wish for the same thing - I wonder if there are far more singers - and very modest ones - that we can guess! Well, singing abilities aside, w</em></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>hat drives you seriously nuts?</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Having to wait for a doctor's
appointment. And I always have to. There are people sneezing, coughing, looking
like any minute they are going to be violently ill (which they probably are or
they wouldn't be there). I'm sitting there wondering how many of their germs
are going to make me sick, especially if I'm the one, sneezing, coughing or
looking like I'm about to be violently ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They sure expect you to pay the bill on time....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can't they keep their appointment times?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I'm also not found of people driving
cars who have absolutely no idea of what the rules of the road are. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Then, of course, the telephone calls
from solicitors...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shouldn't have
got me started. I lot of thing drive me seriously nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's why I want to stay in my little office
and just write away...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>Think I started something there! Okay, lets change the subject! Which animal do you think you’re most like,
and why?</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I'm definitely a cat
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have three, a tuxedo, a part
Siamese, and a beautiful old man. He's an orange cat, well more butterscotch.
They each have their own personalities, but they do their own thing. They do
like attention, and when I don't feel well - which was why I went to the doctor
who doesn't keep his appointments on time - they will curl up with me and
snuggle. They do get underfoot sometimes, but since they don't speak English,
and I can't speak cat, I really can't blame them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>What's your guilty pleasure?</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Chocolate - anything
chocolate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><em>Good choice! What single invention would change
your life for the better?</em> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I would like a house cleaning
robot, one that would do the bathrooms. Well, heck, if I have one to do the
bathrooms, why not the whole house?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
absolutely hate house work. A live-in maid would work well too. But that's not
an invention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>Aside from writing achievements, family, etc -
what are you most proud of?</em> </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I've told this story before, and it does
have to do with writing, but it is the one thing, besides my family, of which I
am most proud. It's a true story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I was teaching high school in a <st1:state w:st="on">Michigan</st1:state> county school in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I had juniors and seniors, grade
11 and 12, when my first books were published. This was a very conservative
school district and I didn't tell anyone I was publishing romance, especially
with sex scenes in the books. The info leaked out and one day I was walking to
class, when one of my junior boys stopped me. He wanted to talk, but not in the
hall. He chose a corner of the library. I figured I was about to be told his
parents were going to have me fired, or something along those lines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He started with, "I read your
book." </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I asked if he liked it. Okay, so I
didn't know what else to say. He looked sheepish, then admitted it was the
first book he had ever read. He read class assignments, that kind of thing and
cliff notes when he had to but had never read a book from cover to cover.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But the story doesn't end there. Two
years later I was in a local book store and spotted my student. He had three or
four hardback books from great fiction authors in his hands along with a couple
of paper backs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I said "Hi!" and he came back
with, "See what you've done to me. I spend all my extra money on
books." His grin was a mile wide. If nothing else, I've given one young
man a love of literature. After my family, I'm proudest of that. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: black;">And so you should be – that’s a wonderful, wonderful story!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allison, it’s been a pleasure having you as
my guest today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blog readers can find
out lots more about you <a href="http://www.allisonknight.com/index.html" target="_blank">at your One-Link today, your website, </a>where they’ll
also find lots more about your books.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: black;">Thanks for coming over – good luck in all that you do!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4663983310180953938.post-25622939758161149772012-05-18T06:00:00.000+01:002012-05-18T17:24:01.854+01:00The One-Link Lowdown on...April Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3jD6yyTeAcKQxE9GbZGhSnd0vH-zeUU1VyJN3msL876vAmKOADap9WoBfzdMvvvxOHSXWQskg2p1zHvx8FeqLsENGH9SCnQM1G0X5kYRK9dUAyNNt_bkpZhcNNJFQCrYu52onDkV5ms/s1600/greypix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3jD6yyTeAcKQxE9GbZGhSnd0vH-zeUU1VyJN3msL876vAmKOADap9WoBfzdMvvvxOHSXWQskg2p1zHvx8FeqLsENGH9SCnQM1G0X5kYRK9dUAyNNt_bkpZhcNNJFQCrYu52onDkV5ms/s1600/greypix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3jD6yyTeAcKQxE9GbZGhSnd0vH-zeUU1VyJN3msL876vAmKOADap9WoBfzdMvvvxOHSXWQskg2p1zHvx8FeqLsENGH9SCnQM1G0X5kYRK9dUAyNNt_bkpZhcNNJFQCrYu52onDkV5ms/s1600/greypix.jpg" /></a>My guest today is speculative fiction writer April Grey. Her fiction regularly appears in journals, magazines and anthologies, and her most recent novel, the urban fantasy <em><strong>Chasing The Trickster</strong></em> is published by Eternal Press. <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
April is a fan of comic and sci-fi conventions, and now gets an extra kick out of them by being able to visit with her son! She describes her imagination as 'twisted,' so if you're a lover of steampunk, horror, science fiction and fantasy, then you'll want to check out her stories right away. Welcome, April!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em>If you could retrieve one thing from your childhood, what would it be?
</em>My comic book collection.</div>
<br />
<em>I should have guessed! April, what’s the naughtiest thing
you've ever done?</em> <br />
<br />
Had sex al fresco in the sand dunes. Believe me,
sand and a sun burnt back don't mix.<br />
<br />
<em>Tell us three surprising things
about yourself, one of which is a fib - and we'll try to guess the fib!
</em><br />
<br />
a) I gave birth to my son at the age of 40.<br />
<br />
b) I have a
Ph.D. in Theatre Studies.<br />
<br />
c) I attended a boarding school in Europe where
Mary Queen of Scots once stayed. <br />
<br />
<em>Who would you invite to your
ultimate fantasy dinner party?</em> <br />
<br />
Feminist-Surrealist writer and
artist Leonora Carrington, Leonard Cohen, Leonard Nimoy and the Dalai
Lama<br />
<br />
<em>What talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have
now?</em><br />
<br />
I'd love to be able to paint in watercolors, oils and
acrylics.<br />
<br />
<em>I have to say that would be my choice, too. To be able to paint beautifully from life or from imagination would be fantastic. Tell me now, April - what drives you seriously nuts?</em><br />
The corporate
take-over of America leading to the destruction of our natural
resources.<br />
<br />
<em>Which animal do you think you’re most like, and
why? </em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXDXR3VtBQALPXRPqBrdBgZ9WgMLG-OuLE6a35OsYQXR5QkDV574TSBHVLqmeXXj9yZ3T7YQmwla6Z1YCcnRmj-0JZinS04FvclhyphenhyphenvWI1E_eAjopil5wr-RusdNi3Fnmqd9LeUsvjG3E/s1600/Chasing+the+Trickster_150dpi_eBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXDXR3VtBQALPXRPqBrdBgZ9WgMLG-OuLE6a35OsYQXR5QkDV574TSBHVLqmeXXj9yZ3T7YQmwla6Z1YCcnRmj-0JZinS04FvclhyphenhyphenvWI1E_eAjopil5wr-RusdNi3Fnmqd9LeUsvjG3E/s1600/Chasing+the+Trickster_150dpi_eBook.jpg" /></a></div>
I remember reading the children's story of Ferdinand the Bull.
I feel like that bull sometimes, and my zodiac sign is Taurus. I just want to
sit peacefully under the cork tree, but then a damned bee has to sting
me.<br />
<br />
<em>You're given a time travel machine - where would you go, and
why?</em><br />
<br />
I'd warn myself to not vaccinate my son. It took ten years to
restore his damaged immune system.<br />
<br />
<em>There must be many of us who wish we could go back and warn ourselves of so many consequences in life. April, if you could change one thing
about yourself, what would it be?</em><br />
<br />
I'd not have celiac
disease.<br />
<br />
<em>Having a family member with the same disease, I totally understand that. Aside from writing achievements, family, etc - what are you
most proud of? </em><br />
Being co-founder of the local branch of Attachment
Parenting International.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<em>Huge congratulations on that - you must be immensely proud. And your fib?</em><br />
<br />
It's b - my Ph.D. is ABD (all but dissertation). After I finished my course work, I got
pregnant. I chose to stay home the next 12 years to take care of my son whose
immune system was severely damaged by vaccinations as an infant.You could say
that I hold a doctorate in raising a chronically ill child. While staying home
my writing turned from hobby to something a little more.<br />
<br />
<em>Thanks so much for being my guest today. Readers, you can find out more about April, <strong>Chasing The Trickster,</strong> and find links to all her work - including many free reads -</em><a href="http://aprilgrey.blogspot.com/"><em> here at her blog </em></a><em>. Good luck with all your future projects!</em><br />
<br />
<br />Jane Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.com8