Cover reveal and give away!

I’m super chuffed to reveal the cover for the international edition of Burning Fields. And to celebrate, my USA publisher, Kensington Books, is giving away 100 copies prior to its November release. All you need to do is go over to Goodreads to enter. Good luck!

ENTER GOODREADS GIVE AWAY HERE

Here’s a little more about the book:

1948: Change has come to every corner of the globe—and Rosie Stanton, returning home to northern Queensland after serving the war effort in Brisbane, plans to rescue her family’s foundering sugarcane farm with her unstoppable can-do spirit. Coming up against her father’s old-world views, a farm worker undermining her success, and constant reminders of Rosie’s brothers lost in the war, Rosie realizes she wants more from life and love—but at what cost?

Italian immigrant Tomas Conti arrives at a neighboring farm, and sparks fly as Rosie draws close to this enigmatic newcomer. When an enemy appears with evidence of Tomas’s shocking past, long-held wartime hatreds rekindle . . . and an astounding family secret sets Rosie’s world ablaze. At the dawn of a new era, Rosie must make her own destiny amid the ashes of yesterday—by following her heart.

 

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New covers never get old

Today I’m super excited to reveal the Serbian cover of Luna Tango (Australian/NZ edition) which is also called Midnight Serenade (USA/Canada/UK edition). I love how the publishers in the different territories I’m published in put their own spin on covers and titles – it’s always a surprise to see what they come up with!

Just to show you how different the take can be on one story, I’ve posted the Australian/NZ and USA/UK/Canada editions as well. 

By the way, I have some exciting news about to be announced so if you would like to be one of the first to know, please sign up for my newsletter HERE.

USA/UK/Canada edition

Australian/NZ edition

 

 

Behind the Story: Monica McCabe

Today I’m delighted to introduce you to the fabulous Monica McCabe. Adventuring is in Monica McCabe’s blood. She’s addicted to travel, National Parks, & exploring new places and mysterious locales. She’s climbed glaciers and ancient Mayan pyramids, dived shipwrecks and reef caves, camped in Sasquatch country, and drove across the USA three times. When not traveling she’s writing romantic suspense and adventure for Lyrical Liaison, Kensington’s digital line. 

Welcome, Monica! Please tell us about your stories behind the stories!

I freely admit that I’m addicted to travel. My favorite thing in all the world (besides critters and a good glass of wine) is to visit places new to me, sparkling locales that I’ve not experienced beyond pictures or Google Earth. Whatever it takes…planes, trains, cars, or boats…it doesn’t matter. Let’s just go!

That wanderlust impacts my writing too. Some authors start their story with characters. The WHO is important. They want to know everything about them – eye color, hair color, where they went to school. Not me. I start my story with the WHERE. Then I move into the WHAT. Until I get deep into location and plot, characters are just a vague impression.

Setting motivates me to begin the book. Imagery helps create my story. I have a blank wall next to my computer and as I build my story world, that wall turns into a collage of pictures that detail out every major scene location. The deeper into the book I get, the more images fill that space.

What inspires me to choose a location? I can’t say. I saw something, heard something. It doesn’t take much to capture my imagination. I’m always game to research location. I love digging in to find the details that make a setting feel real. Google Earth, Trip Advisor, travel journals, tourist sites, I’ve a whole list of places to hit when a destination catches my eye. That’s why every one of my Jewel Intrigue books takes place in locales far away from me.

DIAMOND LEGACY is set in Botswana, Africa. It’s the perfect place for a story about diamond smuggling because mining for the gemstone dominates the country’s economy and work force. Unfortunately, it also inspires a ruthless criminal underground. But you can’t imagine Africa without being dazed over their spectacular animal kingdom. So intro Roz, a kleptomaniac monkey who threatens to steal the show.

EMERALD FIRE opens in St. Lucia, West Indies. What better place to hide modern day pirates? Full of secret coves, luxury yachts, & breathtaking scenery, it’s every bit the perfect Caribbean island. It’s also a hotbed of high-seas and high-stakes action that is hard to combat. We visited a few years ago, after I wrote the book. Despite the danger, I absolutely want to go again.

PHANTOM PEARL is a book divided. First half takes place in the rainforests of Far North, Queensland, Australia. Remote and beautiful, it’s an exceptional location for an epic WWII mystery. A treasure hunt is on and the truth hides in the wilderness.

Then it’s on to Singapore for a grand finale on Jurong Island, a massive industrial seaport. It’s a maze of piers, cranes, ship traffic and desalination plants. Perfect for a showdown of epic proportions. I’ve yet to visit Singapore, but it’s on my list. Did you know their airport is consistently voted best in the world? It’s a destination all its own.

The best part … all that delicious research seems to be justified. Because book reviews have a consistent theme – vivid imagery, sensory description, a few even declare the setting takes on a life of its own. I had one swear I’d been to Africa. I wish!

That said, research for PHANTOM PEARL hit a whole new level. Hubby and I visited Australia. It was two weeks of pure awesomeness. This article could easily cover how endlessly amazing the country is, but I’ll restrain myself. Let’s just say – if you’ve ever thought about going – DON’T WAIT. DO IT. It is absolutely worth the 17 hour flight to get there.

Meanwhile, I’m hard at work on the next book in the Jewel Intrigue Series. The story opens in the Florida Everglades, but will move to the other side of the planet pretty quick. I’m currently scanning the globe for that second location.

Tell me the #1 spot on your bucket list and you’ll be entered to win a free digital copy of your choice – DIAMOND LEGACY (Africa) or EMERALD FIRE (St. Lucia) or PHANTOM PEARL (Australia). Choose your destination!

To learn more about the series, or to sign-up for her newsletter (it might include travel photos!) visit Monica at her website:  www.monicamccabe.net 

 

 

 

 

 

World wide give aways!

To celebrate the release of Beneath the Parisian Skies in Australia and New Zealand, I’m offering a special give away. All you need to do is participate in my #Shelfie contest – take a photo of Beneath the Parisian Skies in a bookshop or at home, at the beach, on a mountain, in outer space … wherever you want … then tag me in social media (links below) and you automatically go into the draw for a gorgeous Parisian necklace. The contest will be open until Wednesday, 19 July, 11.59 pm AEST. Creative entries are encouraged!

Alli’s social media links:

Facebook: @AlliSinclairAuthor

Twitter: @allisinclair

Instagram: alli_sinclair

And for those of you who live outside Australia and New Zealand, you still get a chance to win a Parisian necklace! All you need to do is sign up for my newsletter and you automatically go into the draw to win. Entries close on Tuesday 25 July at 11.59 pm DST. This is also release day for Under the Parisian Sky (the international edition). There’s also a pre-order bonus – if you pre-order now you’ll receive a FREE copy of my novella Parisian Dreams, which is the lead up to Under the Parisian Sky. 

You can enter for competition for the necklace and sign up to pre-order and get your free novella HERE. 

Ballets Russes in Paris

It’s been busy-central here and I’d like to get you up to date with happenings.

July is just around the corner and I’m super pleased to let you know that BENEATH THE PARISIAN SKIES is now up for pre-order. Woo hoo! Here’s a little more about the story:

A sweeping saga about love, truth, grief and passion–and what it takes to fulfil a dream.

Paris, 1917

Ballerina Viktoriya Budian narrowly escapes Russia with her life. She arrives in Paris, determined to start fresh with the famed Ballets Russes but her newfound success is threatened when her past returns to haunt her. Forced to choose between love and fame, Viktoriya’s life spirals out of control and the decision she makes seriously affects the lives of many for years to come. 

Paris, present day

Australian dancer Lily Johansson returns to Paris, the city that broke her heart and destroyed her ballet career, hoping to move past her fiancé’s death and to make amends with her estranged sister Natalie, a ballerina with the Bohème Ballet.

Terrified of loving again, Lily nevertheless finds herself becoming entangled with talented composer Yves Rousseau. Lily has many reasons for keeping Yves at arm’s length but as he recounts the drama of the Ballets Russes in Paris, the magic of this Bohemian era ignites a spark within her.

Meanwhile, vying for the role honouring Ballets Russes dancer Viktoriya Budian, Lily’s sister Natalie develops an unhealthy obsession. Natalie’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic as elements of Viktoriya’s tragic life resonate in her own. Lily fears for her sister’s safety and sanity so when Natalie goes missing, she and Yves set out on a desperate quest across France to find her and, along the way, battle their own demons.

Could the search for her sister, lead Lily to realise that ballet—like love and life—should not be abandoned so easily?

And you can find the links to pre-order here for AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND:

HARLEQUIN

BOOKTOPIA

BOOKWORLD

DYMOCKS

iBOOKS

AMAZON.COM

GOOGLE PLAY

KOBO

AMAZON.COM.AU

 

Now, for those outside this region, don’t worry as you’ll have your chance to get your hands on the same book, but different title and cover! Kensington books are publishing this edition and it will be available from 25 July. You can pre-order here:

AMAZON

iBOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY

KOBO

BARNES AND NOBLE

 

 

 

 

Behind the Story: C.C. Wiley

Today we have the super talented C.C. Wiley, who lives in Salt Lake City with her high school sweetheart of over 35 years and their four wacky dogs. When given a choice, she prefers a yummy, well-written, historical or contemporary romance that is chock-full of hope, love and a Happy Ever After. She believes there are courageous characters waiting for someone to tell their story. It’s her hope that each adventurous romance she writes will touch the reader and carry them away to another place and time, where hopes and dreams abound.

C.C., please tell us about your story behind the story …

Whether in art or in writing, I love telling a story. When my painting skill came to a point where I couldn’t express the picture in my head, I turned to writing and began painting with words. Sometimes events that have touched me in some way find their way into the tale. And sometimes a bit of traveling will inspire a story.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to travel to England, and while touring through Bath and Bristol, I stopped at a cathedral. The sights and sounds, the scents, and richness of history came to life. I noticed a knight and his lady, their effigy caught in stone, were laid side-by-side for eternity. I couldn’t help wondering about the strength of their relationship. Did they love each other? Was it a love match? My imagination took hold, and I had to know more about medieval knights and the women who captured their hearts.

I like research. I adore a story that brings together, love, history, and adventure. Even if I have a story outline I am still researching while I write. The desire to learn more has the power to carry me down one path and then another. The ‘What if’ list continues to grow. Over the years I’ve had to rein in myself with the promise of keeping notes of what interests me. You never know. It might be that one idea that takes off.

The Knights of the Swan series came about while doing my research. I discovered the Dunstable Brooch. It was found in the Dunstable Priory, hidden in the mortar of the wall. No one really knows who it belonged to, where it came from or why it was there. This caught my attention. Then I learned there was a swan connection through Henry V’s mother. I asked myself, what if his mother set about protecting her son and ensuring he arrives on the throne unscathed? And since he was on the battlefield at a very young age, he would need extra protection that had to reach beyond all the struggles for power.

And from there the secret brotherhood, Knights of the Swan, was formed. I like to think of them as King Henry V’s Secret Service of the Middle Ages.

This band of brothers, formed in childhood, now serve King Henry V in secret. They are his eyes and ears of the court and of the land. While they are about the task of protecting their king and England, their lives are touched by strong women; women who capture their hearts.

I love it when history comes to life, but in the end, I believe it is still the characters’ personal story and a happy- ever-after that is most important.

In KNIGHT SECRETS, Sir Ranulf, Lord of Sedgewic, is a member of a secret brotherhood, Knights of the Swan. Ranulf fears he has seen and done too many things in the name of his king to be worthy of love. His fate is to be a lonely Knight of the Swan. Like Rapunzel, the emotionally abused Lady Clarice Margrave dreams of being rescued by a knight who vows to love and respect her. But those dreams are shattered and are nothing more than broken fairy tales. Her quest for the truth plunges into the world beyond the Margrave walls and forces her to look closely at what she truly wants: To love and be loved at least once.

The next book in the series, Knight Quests, is scheduled to release July 25, 2017.

READER GIVE AWAY!

C.C. has kindly offered two Knight Secrets: Knights of the Swan series e-books to give away to some lucky person who comments. Contest will be open until 13 April, 2017 11.59pm AEST. Good luck!

Sworn to protect the crown, a Knight of the Swan must never surrender—not even to love . . .

England, 1415. Ordered never to leave the lonely tower on her family estate, Lady Clarice Margrave is suddenly set free when her home is plundered. Now she is determined to discover the truth behind her father’s alleged treason. But an act of daring only propels her into a new prison, with the very knight who destroyed her home as her keeper. Sir Ranulf, Lord of Sedgewic, is ruthless in his inquisition, though there is a searing tenderness in his touch. Is it possible her bold jailor is the Red Wolf of whom her father spoke—and the one man she might be able to trust?

As a knight, Ranulf never questions his troth, but his beautiful prisoner stirs his heart and mind like no other. Clarice is achingly vulnerable—and extremely closed-mouth about her possible ties to the plot against the king. Duty demands he keep his distance, though he yearns to take her to his bed and adore her until he discovers what lies within her heart. And he would—if he weren’t in danger of losing his own . . .
Buy links:

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34414

https://www.amazon.com/Knight-Secrets-Knights-Swan-Wiley-ebook/dp/B01HWKNJEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489533939&sr=8-1&keywords=9781516101009

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knight-secrets-cc-wiley/1124064084;jsessionid=A86802F94FB56B81ED19AC197B3418F4.prodny_store01-atgap10?ean=9781516101009

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/knight-secrets

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/knight-secrets/id1153379728?mt=11

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781516101009&c=books

You can find more about C.C. below:
Website: www.ccwiley.com
Twitter: @AuthorCCWILEY.  
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CCWileyAuthor

 

 

 

 

Behind the Story: Laura Heffernan

I am delighted to introduce you to Laura Heffernan, fellow Kensington Books author. Laura is living proof that watching too much TV can pay off. When not watching total strangers participate in arranged marriages, drag racing queens, or cooking competitions, Laura enjoys travel, baking, board games, helping with writing contests, and seeking new experiences. She lives in the northeast with her amazing husband and two furry little beasts.

Take it away, Laura!

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been writing. Short stories here and there, a play in fifth or sixth grade I sincerely wish I still had a copy of (tiled ‘A Shot in the Dark’, it opened with a gunshot and a scream), and later, law review articles. As an adult, I poured my creativity into Yelp reviews while ghost-writing blogs about news. When my best friend was cast on a reality show, I started a blog to recap the episodes. While the blogs were largely informative, I also used them explore my voice by providing commentary on what happened. I shared my blog with friends, who raved about the writing style, but I still didn’t feel like I was capable of writing a full novel. I’d tried several times and stalled out. 

 Then a friend told me about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and something clicked. Write roughly seventeen hundred words a day for a month? I could do that. And if I couldn’t, well, that was okay, because I’d only lost a month rather than years. Unfortunately, I had a ridiculously busy November planned–including three trips out of town in four weeks. (At that point, I hadn’t yet discovered that airplanes are the best place to write.) So I put it off. That same month, I got engaged, and all writing thoughts took a back seat to planning my wedding and upcoming move to another state.

While on my honeymoon, my husband and I booked a day at a spa. Amid all the relaxation, my mind started to wander. And I realized that if I wanted to write a book, if I wanted to get fifty thousand words on the page in a month, I didn’t have to wait until November. I could just do it. Ideas started spiraling, and the day after we got home, I started writing.

I wanted to write something fun, the type of book I’d want to read. My tastes in books has always run toward beach reads: Confessions of a Shopaholic, Something Borrowed, Jemima J., to name a few classics. The previous summer, my best friend has appeared as a contestant on ABC’s The Glass House, and my friends loved a blog I’d maintained about the show during the experience. As a huge reality TV fan, I thought it would be fun to incorporate some elements of her experience into a book about a show I created.

It took me three weeks to get to fifty thousand words. It took another couple of weeks to finish the story, but I was very proud of that first draft–just the fact that I’d done it. I edited the book – or so I thought – and then I started querying.

The book wasn’t ready. When I started to send it out, I got no requests. Not even a nibble. The rejections started to trickle in. An agent tweeted that she hated the type of opening I’d chosen…eleven seconds before her rejection landed in my inbox. Some research told me that I’d managed to choose one of the top 5 most clichéd openings. Yay me!

But I picked myself up, and I rewrote the opening of the story. I started to connect with other writers on Twitter. I discovered writing contests. I didn’t get in, but I met and swapped work with other writers. Slowly but surely, my story improved. I started to get agent requests. I got a couple of revise and resubmit requests that pushed my story closer to where it needed to be. And after several months, I got an offer from an agent who loved the story as much as I did.

It took time, and a couple more intense revisions, but now that first manuscript is being published. A sequel is in the hands of my publisher, and I’m finishing writing the third. I still can’t believe that all three of them will be published.

Even better, I get to tell myself that watching reality TV is important “research” for my next book.

AMERICA’S NEXT REALITY STAR

SEEKING THE SMART ONE

Twenty-four-year-old Jen Reid had her life in good shape: an okay job, a tiny-cute Seattle apartment, and a great boyfriend almost ready to get serious. In a flash, it all came apart. Single, unemployed, and holding an eviction notice, who has time to remember trying out for a reality show? Then the call comes, and Jen sees her chance to start over—by spending her summer on national TV.

Luckily The Fishbowl is all about puzzles and games, the kind of thing Jen would love even if she wasn’t desperate. The cast checks all the boxes: cheerful, quirky Birdie speaks in hashtags; vicious Ariana knows just how to pout for the cameras; and corn-fed “J-dawg” plays the cartoon villain of the house. Then there’s Justin, the green-eyed law student who always seems a breath away from kissing her. Is their attraction real, or a trick to get him closer to the $250,000 grand prize? Romance or showmance, suddenly Jen has a lot more to lose than a summer . . .

Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jmWQYt

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/americas-next-reality-star-laura-heffernan/11244851765

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/america-s-next-reality-star

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/americas-next-reality-star/id1128178788?mt=11

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Laura_Heffernan_Reality_Star_1?id=ZlxxDAAAQBAJ&hl=en

You can find Laura at:

http://www.twitter.com/lh_writes

http://www.facebook.com/lauraheffernanbooks

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7086797.Laura_Heffernan

Just a tad busy …

It’s been a busy year, for which I am very thankful and I’ll be doing a year in review later this month, but in the meantime I’ve been doing some guest blogging to celebrate the release of Under the Spanish Stars in the USA, UK, Canada and beyond. If you’d like to find out a little more about me, my writing process and the inspiration behind this award-winning book, you might like to pop onto the blogs below:

ELLE FIELD – Writer Wednesday

I reveal the book I wish I had written and why, as well as what readers can expect from me next year.

HAZARDOUS HIPPO

This blog post uncovers some of the super interesting information I learnt about Spain and flamenco when researching Under the Spanish Stars.

SHELLEY WILSON – Tuesday Book Blog

Here I reveal which super power I wish I had. Can you guess it?

LINDA’S BOOK BAG

Where I chat about why I chose Spain and flamenco as a destination for this book.

GET LOST IN A STORY

Where I reveal my reading habits and a little about my next book. 

BROOK’S COTTAGE BOOKS

Here I offer advice to writers just starting out or in the midst of self-doubt.

And last, but by no means least, I had a lovely feature in Readers Entertainment magazine where you can read the first chapter of Under the Spanish Stars. CLICK HERE to read more.

Stay tuned as I have a few more lined up over the next little while. Thank you so much to all the bloggers and readers who have supported me not only for the release of Under the Spanish Stars, but in every way since I first started this amazing journey in publishing. 

Release day: Under the Spanish Stars

Hooray! Today is the official release day for Under the Spanish Stars for readers living in the USA, Canada, UK and beyond (for readers in Australia and NZ, Under the Spanish Stars was released in February, 2016 – click HERE for details).

So, what’s the story about? Here’s the rundown:

Amid the vivid beauty of Granada, a woman entrusted with unraveling a family secret will discover the truth about her heritage–and the alluring promise of love…

When her beloved grandmother falls ill, Charlotte Kavanagh will do whatever she asks of her–even if it means traveling to a country that broke her abuela’s heart. Can an unsigned painting of a flamenco dancer unlock the secrets of her grandmother’s youth in Spain? To find the answers she needs, Charlotte must convince the charismatic and gifted musician, Mateo Vives to introduce her to a secluded gypsy clan.  

The enigmatic Mateo speaks the true language of flamenco, a culture Charlotte must learn to appreciate if she wants to understand her grandmother’s past–and the flamenco legend that has moved souls to beauty, and bodies to the heights of passion. As Mateo leads her into the captivating world of the music and the dance, Charlotte embraces her own long-denied creative gift and the possibility of a future rich with joy…

And if you’d like to purchase a copy, you can get it through most e-tailers and if you prefer print, you can order it online and it will arrive on your doorstep in no time! 

KENSINGTON BOOKS

AMAZON USA

AMAZON UK

iBOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY

KOBO

BARNES & NOBLE

BOOK DEPOSITORY

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me on this writing journey and for sharing posts, telling people about my book and the lovely readers who take time out of their precious days to immerse themselves in the worlds I create. You are all wonderful!

Stay tuned – there’s some more exciting news about to let out of the bag!

Under the Spanish Stars – cover reveal and preorder!

Wow, it’s been a busy couple of days! I am delighted to reveal the cover for Under the Spanish Stars, out with Kensington Books 6 December for those outside Aus/NZ. (If you are an Aus/NZ resident, please click  here. for your version).

Here goes …

Amid the vivid beauty of Granada, a woman entrusted with unraveling a family secret will discover the truth about her heritage—and the alluring promise of love…

When her beloved grandmother falls ill, Charlotte Kavanagh will do whatever she asks of her—even if it means traveling to a country that broke her abuela’s heart. Can an unsigned painting of a flamenco dancer unlock the secrets of her grandmother’s youth in Spain? To find the answers she needs, Charlotte must convince the charismatic and gifted musician, Mateo Vives to introduce her to a secluded gypsy clan.

The enigmatic Mateo speaks the true language of flamenco, a culture Charlotte must learn to appreciate if she wants to understand her grandmother’s past—and the flamenco legend that has moved souls to beauty, and bodies to the heights of passion. As Mateo leads her into the captivating world of the music and the dance, Charlotte embraces her own long-denied creative gift and the possibility of a future rich with joy…

Isn’t it gorgeous? I’m one lucky gal, indeed! I’m very much looking forward to sharing the story of Charlotte, Mateo, Katarina and Raul with you. 

You can pre-order your copy below:

AMAZON

Google

Kobo

Barnes and Noble