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?

Bought By the Italian

She’s up for sale, and he’s the highest bidder.

 

What do you think of that as a tagline? It worked for me. And as soon as I had it I knew the plot for my second Hot Italian Nights novella. Here's a taste:

 

Gennaro De Laurentis might prefer motorcycle leathers to Armani, but when it comes to what he wants, he’s as ruthless as any corporate raider in a killer suit. And he wants Chiara, the unforgettable woman who denied the passion sizzling between them and walked away without a backward glance. Now he has the high society princess back in his power – and he’ll risk everything to make her his.

When glamorous fashion designer Chiara Armati goes up for auction, she’s selling her company over dinner for charity. Nothing else. As bidding rises to astronomical heights, she gets nervous. Yet only when she discovers her purchaser’s identity does she realise she’s caught in a trap. She’s never stopped wanting Gennaro or forgiven his betrayal. Now she’s at his mercy – and he’s as irresistible as ever!   

I published my first Hot Italian Nights novella earlier in the year. If you haven't read it, follow this link to find out more about BACK IN THE ITALIAN'S BED. I was determined to write the next story soon, plus I had the lovely experience of readers emailing to ask for Chiara's story. Note: if ever you read a book and like it so much you have the idea of writing to the author, DO IT! I can't tell you how special that is. Anyway, I was getting ready to work out just what Chiara's story was when life intervened with a few rather tough months, and my plans got put on hold.  

Finally, just recently, I carved out some time to write Chiara and Gennaro's story and I'm so glad I did. What fun we all had! I love a sizzling, intense hero and Gennaro is about as intense as they come. And in case you're wondering, this IS Gennaro and Chiara on the cover. I had the picture well before I finished the novella and this was the pair I wrote about.

I won't give you an excerpt here. You can find one on my website or at Amazon, Smashwords or Barnes and Noble where the story is on sale. But I'll leave you with a photo of the area that inspired the story - the stunning Dolomites of Northern Italy.

 

I'm in the middle of another Harlequin novel now but I've got plans to write a third Italian novella too. For a bit of fun, how about giving me a suggestion for a title? I can't promise to use it but it might spark some ideas.

To celebrate the release of BOUGHT BY THE ITALIAN, I'll give a copy of a book to someone who leaves a comment.

Check back tomorrow when I'll post the winner's name.



This is Rome

by Bronwyn Jameson

I am writing this blog on the morning we leave Rome, after four beautiful nights in the eternal city.  Trying to not be sad because, after all, we're heading next to Castellini in Chianti and Tuscany can not be sneezed at.  Also, I have tossed my coin into the Trevi Fountain. Therefore, I will return.

Over our morning espressos we've been talking about what we're taking away from Rome (apart from tightly packed suitcases and even more tightly packed memories.)  For me the best part of Rome cannot be answered in a few words or in a favourite experience.  It's not the Sistine Chapel or San Pietro or Capitoline Hill or the Colosseum.  It's not one trattoria or particular plate of pasta or sipping prosecco as the sun sets over a spectacular skyline.

Rome is the melding of ancient and modern, the bustle of traffic and the dawdling of tourists, the brusque waiters who can be charmed into a smile on the turn of gamely offered Italian phrase.  Beyond the sites and the monuments it's the stories of the people who lived here, ruled here, slaved here, painted here,  died here that I take away.  I also take away several pounds gained but we will not talk of this.

Rome is the ancient…

The modern…

The art…

The food…

I take away a thousand images but this one manages to embody many of my first-time-visitor's impressions of Rome.

Around every other corner there's a glimpse of the unexpected, such as an elephant obelisk -- every piazza can't have a fountain, right? -- or the curved dome of a basilica (this is the Pantheon from a different angle.)  Not unexpected are the tourists, some passing through the square on a mission, others stopping to appreciate the buskers on cello and guitar.  They're playing something rousing and romantic and very, very Roman.  And of course we have the motorbikes and scooters, all the better for navigating the narrow streets and parking on the even narrower verges.

 This is Rome through my eyes.  Whether you've visited or not, what does the mention of Rome conjure up for you?

Still Learning

I don't believe we ever stop learning.  Even without consciously engaging in educational enterprises, we read, listen, watch.   There's that saying, which I firmly believe, about learning something new every day.  Just by living.

But this month I have started two structured educational exercises -- not writing-related, and not because I woke up one morning thinking "I need to expand my knowledge" -- but because of opportunity.   The first is a basic Italian For Travellers course, eight lessons one per week, at our local community college.   The fact they're offering Italian this semester is a happy coincidence as I'm going to Italy this year.  My first time and  I will, hopefully, know enough basic phrases to be polite to the locals...or to at least locate the appropriate words in my phrase book.

No sooner had I signed up for Italian than my sister-in-law asked if I was interested in Ancient History.  Our local high school offers HSC-based subjects to the community and they needed one more student for this course to go ahead.  Some arm-twisting ensued but after one lesson I'm so glad I signed up.  Not just because it will inform my Italy trip but because I'm enjoying the classroom, the reading, the subject matter.   I even enjoy organising my notes into a folder (there will be colour coding.)  And I've downloaded an audiobook on the History of Ancient Rome which is my listening while I walk.

So, that's what I'll be up to for the next few months (Italian) and the rest of the year (Ancient History.)  Is anyone else busy with learning at the moment?  Have you taken any classes recently?  Do you make a conscious effort to further your education or do you prefer to learn by living?