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!
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| 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!
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| 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.)
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| 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!
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| 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!
