Inspiration and Relaxation - Annie West

Hi, everyone! As it's almost the end of the year, I've been taking stock lately. I've been thinking about what I've achieved during 2016 and what I might try to do differently in future.

Following Stefanie London's recent post which included a total of words written, I thought I'd try the same thing. I'm stunned to find I've written over 300,000 words this year - that's new stories, not editing. Sadly, as I have a tendency to write long then prune that does not mean I've written 6 x 50,000 word books. It does mean though, that despite some upheavals through the year, I've been writing steadily. One of the reasons for that is sheer determination. Especially since there were upheavals, I was determined to get in and keep writing. Writing also gave me a rather nice place to escape to sometimes.

But there were other factors too and I've been thinking a lot about inspiration and relaxation. I reckon both are necessary for writers. Writing is so much easier if you feel inspired. And if you feel relaxed, the same applies. If I can close my mind off to the world and dive into the story, so I feel I'm actually there, and relaxed enough to enjoy the experience, I find I write better. 

Which leads to the big question - how to find inspiration and relaxation. There's no one answer, of course. But here's one of mine. This is the view from my desk. I look out on the pool and trees. Sometimes I get distracted by the birds coming in to the bird feeder, or eating my flowers. I'm convinced looking out on greenery, and on water, helps me feel relaxed and inspired. After all, I get my best ideas while walking by the water each morning, or while in the shower.  Speaking of water, I live near both the coast and a huge lake. Is it any wonder there are lots of inspirational places to visit? Okay, this photo below was taken at Coogee Beach in Sydney - much further than a stroll away from my place, but you get the idea.

And knowing how inspirational water is to my thought processes, my dear family recently bought me my own private fountain. When I have the door open and sit at my desk I can hear the sound of the water running. Apologies for the quality of the photo. I left it late to write this blog and the shadows are across the fountain but you may be able to make out a lion's head dribbling water into a bowl. I love it!

How about you? Is there something that particularly inspires you, or helps you to relax?

If you're like me, and reading is your other source of relaxation and inspiration, check out the covers of currently available books by the Love Cats on the side bar. You'll see my DESERT KING'S SECRET HEIR  there too. Maybe it would be just the thing for a little Christmas treat?

Annie's current release

Sunday Smooch with Annie West

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from but first 


... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is ANITA H.


Can you please contact to receive your copy of MILLIONAIRE UNDER THE MISTLETOE.


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Annie West's THE DESERT KING'S SECRET HEIR.

The child she hid… 

Surrounded by society's glitterati, Arden Wills finds herself staring up into the eyes of her first and only love. But Sheikh Idris Baddour has a surprise title and heavy responsibilities…so she clings to her precious secret even tighter.  

Time has done nothing to dampen the intense ardor between them. And when their kiss is blasted across the world's front pages, Arden's truth comes to light—the sheikh has a secret son! To avoid further scandal, Idris must legitimize his heir and make English rose Arden his dutiful desert queen!

Scene set-up
Four years earlier Arden had a holiday affair with Shakil, a student on vacation. Circumstances tore them apart but, discovering she was pregnant, Arden tried unsuccessfully to trace her lover. Now, against all odds, she meets Shakil in London, except he's not Shakil, he's Sheikh Idris of Zahrat, wealthy, powerful and about to become engaged to a beautiful Middle Eastern princess. Now, the morning after their surprise meeting, Arden finds Idris outside the door of her London home, accusing her of having an affair with his cousin, who'd accompanied her the night before.

Smooch  -

‘Ridiculous?’ Idris’s eyes narrowed to ebony slits. Those carved cheekbones loomed threateningly high as his face drew taut. ‘You call me ridiculous?’

Fire branded her neck as hard fingers closed around her nape, moulding to skin turned feverish at his touch.

Arden swiped her suddenly arid mouth with her tongue, searching for words to stop the fury in that glittering gaze.

But his touch didn’t feel like anger. That was the problem. She could have withstood it if it did.

Arden trembled as the hand at her neck shifted and long fingers speared her hair, spreading over her scalp, massaging. Shivers of delight rippled through her and her eyelids hovered, weighted, at half mast. Tendrils of fire cascaded from her scalp down her spine and around to her breasts where her nipples peaked.

She swallowed convulsively and forced herself to straighten away from the door, even though it meant brushing against him.

‘I didn’t mean—’

‘Of course you did.’ His mouth twisted. ‘You’re right. It is ridiculous. Impossible and inconvenient…and inevitable.’

Then, while Arden was still absorbing his words, his head lowered.

His mouth on hers was just as she remembered. A huge, tearing fullness welled in her chest as his lips shaped hers, not hard and punishing as she’d expected from the glint in his eyes, but gentle, questing. As if seeking an answer to a question she hadn’t heard.

Shakil. The taste of him burst on her, rich and delicious. It was the one sense memory she hadn’t been able to recall in the years since he’d left her. Now it filled her, evocative, masculine and, she feared, potently addictive. For her head was lolling back, lips open to allow him access.

Somehow her hands had crept up to brace on his chest. The steady thrum of his heart was a reassuring counterpoint to her sense of disorientation.

His other hand slipped around her waist, pulling her against a body that was all hard power, making her feel soft and feminine in ways she’d almost forgotten.

And still that kiss. No longer quite as gentle. Arden heard a guttural sound of approval as her tongue met his in a foray into pure pleasure.

He shifted and delight filled her as her nipples grazed his torso. She pressed closer, absorbed in heady, oh-so-familiar delight, till a long hard ridge pressed against her belly.

Arden’s eyes snapped open and she saw his eyes had narrowed to slits of dark fire. Then, over his shoulder, high up at street level, came a burst of light, a glint of sunlight off something. It was enough, just, to bring her back to reality.

‘No.’ No-one heard her protest since their lips were locked.

She had to shove with all her might for him to lift his head, blinking as if unable to focus. That might have made her feel better but for the realisation just five minutes in this man’s company had obliterated every defence she’d spent years constructing. 

‘No,’ she gasped. That full feeling behind her breastbone turned to pain. ‘This is wrong. We can’t…’

She didn’t need to go on. Sheikh Idris of Zahrat agreed completely. It was there in the dawning horror sharpening his features and the unsteady hand that swiped his face. He shook his head as if wondering what he was doing.

Nor did Arden need to shove him again. One swift pace backwards on those long legs took him almost to the base of the area steps and left her feeling appallingly alone.

Chest pumping, Arden stared at the dark gold face of the man she’d once adored. The man who now looked at her as if she were his personal nightmare.

Desperate, she put her palms to the door behind her, needing its support.

Despite it all, the anger, hurt and betrayal that had shaped her life for four years, she’d harboured a hope that if they met again he’d admit he’d made a terrible mistake in leaving. That he’d missed her, wanted her, as she’d missed and wanted him.

In her dreams he’d never looked at her with horror.

Have you ever been tempted to kiss someone you knew you shouldn't? If you don't want to admit to that, maybe tell me what your current favourite temptation is to go in the draw to win a signed copy of THE DESERT KING'S SECRET HEIR.

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Amy Andrews will be posted!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver