In the swim – Kandy Shepherd

They say an author reveals more about her or himself in what they write than they might realise. I have to say that I find this true of myself. For example, it surprises me how often my love of water and swimming seems to sneak into my stories. I’m not doing this on purpose—it just happens!

Curl Curl beach in Sydney on a flat surf day

 My first three books for Harlequin Romance are set in the fictional beachside town of Dolphin Bay (to be published together as an anthology Heart of the Bay by Harlequin Australia on December 12 in Australia and New Zealand.) Beaches and swimming pools, Sydney Harbour, the Yarra River, a fountain and even a bathtub have been significant in other stories, too, whether set in Australia, Indonesia, Greece or a fictional European principality. That the hero and heroine are usually not wearing much in the way of clothing while they’re in the water or on the beach adds to the sensuality of the story too!

North Sydney Pool, a favourite place to swim laps

 I’m not long back from enjoying a fabulous swimming holiday in Crete—my second with a company specialising in Greek open water swimming holidays. It’s an organised tour where you swim with a fully supervised group, divided into smaller ability groups, in the most glorious blue seas. The swim averages five kilometres a day, divided into two swims before and after lunches in Greek tavernas reached only by sea. (The group is The Big BlueSwim if anyone is interested.)

The beautiful blue waters of Crete

 People tend to react with shock when they hear this as I tend to be a somewhat indolent person, happy to loll about reading at any opportunity. Then they wonder if I’m a fantastic swimmer. I’m not. But I’m competent, can stay in the water a long time and am not frightened of deep water. On both the swims I’ve been in the slowest of the groups and very happy with that.

I swam with other swimmers from the US and Israel but mostly British folk where the swim holiday seems to be very popular. Why would an Australian want to swim in Greece they ask? No sharks or other scary creatures is one reply—another is that swimming in such a history soaked country as Greece is something special. I can’t wait to go again!

I couldn't stay out of this hotel pool on the Gold Coast, Queensland

But in the meantime the weather is heating up Down Under and there is no shortage of wonderful places to swim here at home.

How about you? Do you like swimming? Or have another favourite summer activity? Or winter activities? I’d love to hear your comments!

Holiday Snaps!

Those of you who follow me on FB or twitter will know I'm just back from almost 4 weeks overseas. You'll have probably seen the pics so forgive me for the double up but hey...who doesn't like to look at holiday snaps, right? Beware, I found pano mode on my iPhone camera and went a little craaazy! You can click on any of the images to make them larger!

LONDON
Freezing cold but still a special place in my heart.
Iconic symbols and a Harrods red velvet cupcake to die for!

Catching up with some medical author mates at a posh hotel for after noon tea. Or afternoon chamagne...

The lovely Kate Hardy and Annie Clayton

Hiedi Rice and Lucy King - my fellow Fairy Tale of New York authors!

Two of my fav medical authors - Jennifer Taylor and Caroline Anderson - whose books I read obsessively when I was trying to get published in the line. Awesome women, awesome writers and I have to pinch myself to think I know these wonderful writes personally!

Lunch with a view at The Shard with my fabulous editor Megan! Wow - does she know how to impress this girl from DownUnder!

Why yes, that is the Tower Of London you can see in the background!

CRUISE BOAT

View from the lounge at the front of the ship!

 ITALY

Our male companions having a toyota moment in Pompeii!

 

GREECE

I cried standing in front of these amazing ancient monument.

ME AFTER TOO MUCH FOOD AND BOOZE :-)

There are hundreds more but I won't bore you!
Do you like looking at other people's holiday snaps or would you rather stick a rusty fork in your eye?

What's hanging on my walls.

Now the dust has settled from all our renos, one of my favourite jobs has been hanging all our art back on the newly painted walls and when I did it I got something of a surprise. I realized that all our pieces are about the places and people we love. I thought I'd show you a few and the little stories behind how we came to have them.

This was painted for me by my friend, Donna. It's called "Barbara's colours". It reminds me of paua shells, or leaves floating on a pond, and I absolutely love it.

This is a New Zealand artist who creates prints and lithographs inspired by Maori and Greek myths. This fits perfectly in our Greek - New Zealand household.

And here's another by the same artist. If you look closely you'll see some New Zealand icons on the Greek vase. This one of the first piecs we bought and still one of our favourites.

Our very good friend Maree gave us this as a wedding present. She was also our wedding photographer. She took it in the gardens of Sissinghurst. So romantic!

A local Maori artist did this piece for us. It represents our family and on the back has a beautiful Maori prayer written by the artist.

The mother of another friend is a well known New Zealand artist and this was another wedding present. It represents Persephone in the underworld. Another NZ/Greek piece.

My husband took this photo in 1992 when he visited his dad's village in Greece for the first time. There was no such thing as panorama then so he just took a number of pictures and then when the technology caught up we had them stitched together!

This hangs in my bedroom and is called "The Kiss". I think it sums up my world completely :) What about you? Do you have any favourite pictures hanging on your walls?

Belonging

by Barbara DeLeo

We’re four weeks into our three month trip to Greece and Cyprus and it’s as incredible as I imagined. One of the main reasons we decided to do such an extended trip with the kids was to forge links to one part of their heritage. 

The ancestral home in Agios Isidoros, Plomari, Lesvos

I remember the first time I went to Ireland where my own grandfather was from. All those little mannerisms and sayings that I'd thought were my family's (often embarrassing) quirks, were owned by a whole town! After that visit I felt suddenly more "connected", and more proud than embarrassed.

My husband's parents are travelling with us this time and we’re visiting the places where they're from.

Plomari

Last week we were in the village of Plomari  on the island of Lesvos. My husband’s grandfather  left the village in his twenties to seek a better life in New Zealand. A wife from the same village was sent over for him a few years later!

They came back to the village for a time when my father-in-law was young and to be here now with my father-in-law and my children is very special. We’ve had afternoon tea in the garden my  children’s great-grandmother tended, swum in the beach where their grandfather learned to swim, and walked the cobbled streets of their ancestors.

Me in the garden of the old house.
Greek sweets for afternoon tea!

A village stroll after "another" long lunch

The girls (me, my twin daughters and their Yiayia)
take a walk to get the bread

In two weeks time we’ll be visiting the village in Cyprus my mother-in-law left when she was seven. She’s very excited about showing my kids where she helped tend the almond trees and to introduce them to village life. Her memories are still so vivid of that time that it makes me realize the deep seated connection to a place we can have.

More pictures of me in Greece here!

In my first book Contract for Marriage, released next week, (squeals a little bit, next week!!) Ruby, who is pregnant and alone, suddenly realizes she needs to be back where she belongs. Only problem is, it’s the same place the man who broke her heart ten years ago wants for himself.

I'd love to know where you feel you belong. Is it a place, is it with certain people, or is it somewhere you’re still searching for?