Engaging the Enemy - sensational new book from Susanne Bellamy

Another sensational release from Australian author, Susanne Bellamy, is Engaging the Enemy. If her first two books - White Ginger, and One Night in Sorrento - are anything to go by, this novel, set in Melbourne, will be a runaway success.

Susanne, thanks so much for visiting me, and congratulations on the release of Engaging the Enemy. Last time I interviewed you, we were eagerly awaiting news of this release. (Click here to read previous interview with Susanne). I must say, I love the cover for this book and can't wait to read it.

Q. Susanne, I’ve enjoyed reading your previous books very much. I love exotic settings away from the every day. Yet here, in Engaging the Enemy, we have Melbourne as the setting for this charming story. What was the catalyst for choosing Melbourne?

Cities that care about their heritage and have made positive moves to protect buildings and byways have a different vibe. After walking along Swansdown Street from the Yarra River up to the university and exploring its ivy-covered buildings, we were returning to our hotel on a city tram. My head was full of these beautiful buildings and all things heritage when I spotted the abandoned building that inspired this book. What can I say? It felt right.

Q. Melbourne – sassy, sophisticated, cultured – rivals any city in the world for style and class. Is there something in how you have depicted this great city in Engaging the Enemy that means the story could not have been set in a comparable city, such as London or New York? 

Cosmopolitan but with an elegant charm and one of our oldest cities, Melbourne has the history and the heritage attitude I needed to make this story work. It’s quite different from other Australian cities (though part of Adelaide could possibly substitute) and the atmosphere is not replicated in any overseas city I’ve visited. I needed an Australian city because of the story behind the building’s ownership and also a city in which preservation of buildings with sufficient age is well-catered for in council laws. I don’t believe it would be the same story in a different location. I’m not saying that many other cities don’t protect their heritage. They do, but Melbourne provided the confluence of elements my story needed.

Q. Andie, your heroine, sounds like a determined yet warm-hearted girl. Do you share Andie’s social conscience regarding her resolve to provide a safe haven for women and families in need?

I do, and I have the greatest admiration for those who work in this area. Australia has had a decent record in the area of caring for those who are vulnerable, although our current political climate is less reassuring; too many social justice programmes are under threat with the present government. I wanted a heroine who wanted to make a difference to the lives of those who, through no fault of their own, are in difficulty and cannot cope with the hand fate has dealt them.

Needless to say, she doesn’t know the hero shares her values. At least, not for a while! ;)

Q. How does Andie cope with the dichotomy of, on one hand, a very honourable and self-less ambition; and on the other, a web of deceit?

Great question! Andie hates lies and can’t tell a lie to save herself. This places her in the occasional humorous situation as she attempts to be what she thinks she isn’t which lies at the heart of her dilemma. She is confronted by the need to tell what seems a lesser lie in order to save the building for the families depending on her and her friend, Lexie. She questions what she is doing and the need for deceit causes her more than a moment of angst.

Q. Can you please tell us five things you love about the city of Melbourne?

Plush interior of the Langham

Langham Hotel!
Tram rides
Cultural precinct
Fabulous food and coffee
My daughter lives there!

Fabulous Melbourne beach-side eatery

Beautiful Flinders Street Station - the oldest train station in Australia (c 1910)

Q. Do Amelie (from White Ginger), Rhiannon (from One Night in Sorrento), and Andie – your latest heroine in Engaging the Enemy - have anything in common?

Each of them is an intelligent and independent woman though in different areas; Amelie is artistic and works as a fabric designer; Rhiannon is an engineer who has worked with her step-father to build a revolutionary engine; Andie is creative, (especially when it comes to hare-brained ideas!) but stubborn in asking for help. Mind you, she can fix almost anything and has a set of tools that would tear the heart out of most men.

They share certain attitudes and values; honesty, integrity, loyalty and family. And the ability to find the most gorgeous men! I haven’t yet created a heroine in need of redemption but that’s not to say I won’t further down the track.

Q. I have to say, I love the cover of Engaging the Enemy. Is it how you envisaged?

I do love its simplicity and clean lines for a start, and the colour choice. Originally I expected to see a watermark of an old building in the background since the central conflict is around ownership/possession of the building. But I love the tux over the bare chest look; it relates to a scene in chapter one!





Q. Similarly, the title is stunning. I love a little bit of alliteration. It’s catchy, unforgettable, and enticing. How many iterations did this title go through to get to this one?

At least four. As a work-in-progress, it was “Merger in Melbourne”; I love alliteration too! The suggestion to make it ‘higher concept’ led to the first name change, “Besting the CEO” which was changed by my publisher to “Betting on the Boss”. For a short time, this was going to be its published title but my wonderful editor didn’t feel it captured the essence of the story and came up with “Engaging the Enemy”. It’s the best of all and is clever on several levels! I’d love to know what readers think!

Q. And now something about you. Now that your latest book is out there, what are you currently working on?

Three southeast Queensland author friends and I are working on a Christmas anthology titled A Season to
Remember. Four novellas set in Christmases past, present and future... I decided to expand my horizons and write a story of Christmas in 2525 AD when the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. Look out for that in late November!

I am also one-fifth of a romantic suspense series, Emerald Quest, about a two hundred year quest for a fabulous emerald and diamond necklace that moves through New Orleans, Britain and Hawaii. I loved writing this for many reasons, not least of which was that I got the chance to revisit Hawaii but in 1960, just after statehood.

And I’m working on the first book in my own romantic suspense series. Her Mountain Man (working title) is the story of Dr Marcy Westwood and her research into an aphrodisiac in a remote part of Nepal. Needless to say, her hero is the mountain man!

Q. You hail from the beautiful garden city of Toowoomba, high up on the range west of Brisbane in Queensland. Can you ever see a time when you will set one of your stories in Toowoomba?

A little too close to home! Besides, what excuse do I have for my next trip overseas if I set a novel at home!

Q. When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?

Travelling, reading, talking, including to our dog. Seriously, she has an amazing range of vocalisations! We also have a beautiful garden that entices me outdoors but sadly, I’m not the green thumb of our family. I can kill plants with too much kindness! I love scrapbooking and dabble in crafts from knitting and cross stitch to making my own necklaces. Obviously I don’t have enough creative outlets!

I’m currently on long service leave from my full time job as a high school teacher and loving the chance to write every day. I could get used to this life!

Thanks for hosting me, Noelle. I’ve loved being here.

One building, two would-be owners and a family feud that spans several generations: all relationships have their problems.

 
Andrea de Villiers can’t lie to save herself. But when developer, Matt Mahoney, buys the building she and a friend have established as a safe house in the Melbourne CBD, she decides that protecting The Shelter is more important than her aching heart. She will confront Mr Mahoney, and she will emerge victorious. There are no other options. 
But Matt has other plans for Andie, and she soon finds herself ensnared in a web of well-meaning lies and benevolent deceit. To protect the building and the families that depend on her, Andie agrees to play the part of Matt’s fiancée, and play it convincingly. 
But lies soon bleed into truth, and what was once a deception starts to feel all too real. Can Andie accomplish her goals and protect The Shelter, without losing her heart to the charming Irish developer? 

I love travel—new places, new faces, different cultures and endless possibilities. I’ve cruised from Australia to Britain and back through the Suez Canal when I was a child, trekked in Nepal and Vietnam, lived briefly in Noumea, visited western Europe and west coast America among other places. Let me repeat—I love travel! And history.

People’s stories fascinate me. Past and present lives and relationships and the mysterious ways Fate works. Even how I met my husband—Fate. Wonderful and mysterious.

And so my stories explore people engaging with the mate that Fate created for them. And the wonderful and mysterious ways in which they meet. I should probably thank the flat-mate who locked me out of my new house years ago which led directly to meeting my husband. But that’s another story!

Escape
Amazon AU
Amazon UK
Amazon
iBooks
Google Play
Kobo

A Day in the Life of: Author - Susanne Bellamy

Today I welcome fellow Queensland writer Susanne Bellamy to my blog. Susanne writes contemporary romance novels set in exciting and often exotic locations.






Susanne’s current releases are:

• White Ginger
• One Night in Sorrento

I recently reviewed One Night in Sorrento. Needless to say, I absolutely loved it. Click HERE to read my review.

 

 

Susanne, which comes first – the plot or the location?

Generally, location allows me to develop plot ideas although I often see the meeting of my protagonists first. Travelling along the Amalfi coast road gave me the idea for Luca and Rhiannon's meeting and Arne and Amelie were always going to be in Hawaii. I do think that place is important because it carries cultural and social elements that affect what may happen and how characters are likely to behave.

Do Arne from White Ginger, and Luca from One Night in Sorrento, have anything in common?

Apart from being tall, dark and sexy? Heroes have to be heroic in their actions; what they do speaks volumes about their personal values and attitudes. Arne fights to protect his town and reef from a big developer as well as being honourable  towards Amelie. He is also a fabulous uncle to his sister's young daughter. Despite it being Rhiannon's fault, Luca offers her a ride after their near disastrous meeting and helps her achieve her goal. Neither hero is perfect, both have faults but they are intrinsically good men with whom the reader might imagine living a long and happy life. They both have a sense of humour and   engage in witty repartee. Did I mention Luca rides a big, black motorbike and wears leather while Arne is most at home in swimmers or a short wetsuit? Whatever they wear (or not!), they are fine specimens of men, eye candy extraordinaire!

Your heroines, Rhiannon and Amelie: do they have any similarities/major differences?

I like women who are the intellectual equals of their men but a certain amount of vulnerability is fine if packaged with inner strength and determination.  Amelie is visual and highly creative whereas Rhiannon has a logical brain and has assisted her step father with his engineering research. Both women are in unfamiliar countries; Amelie is in Kauai for three months to work on her fabric designs while Rhiannon had taken her ill step father's place. She is on her first trip to Italy to present his designs to a luxury car manufacturer. Amelie has had a bad experience with her ex-fiance yet is still open to possibilities with Arne. Rhiannon has never ridden a motorbike but discovers how exhilarating it can be—Amalfi, motorbike, wrapped around a sexy Italian man wearing leather?

 
Do you think the characters are influenced by the location? I mean – would Rhiannon (for instance) have acted differently if she had been at home in Australia?

Location definitely influences characters' behaviour. Much of Rhiannon's anxiety and reaction to initial events was based on the fact she couldn't understand Italian whereas if she'd been in an English speaking country, the problem would never have arisen. Amelie has to face her greatest phobia in order to help Arne and the location is a key factor.

Take a person out of their comfort zone and a great source of potential conflict opens up. Increase the  problems (ie throw a few rocks their way) and you really see what they're like under pressure.

What do you think readers will enjoy most about your novels?

Location, location, location! I love being transported by a story to another place; it's delicious to live vicariously through the written word. I've been told I write great sexual tension and sensory descriptions too.

How do you balance writing with all of life’s responsibilities? Which ones do you have to juggle?

Until now, I've been juggling full time work and family needs with writing but 2014 is my year to write almost full time while I take long service leave. My biggest problem is 'pfaffing around' because I feel like I have so much time now! I balance writing and other 'stuff' according to the day's needs. House work takes a back seat when I'm writing. The dust will still be there tomorrow but the idea might disappear if I don't get it down. And evenings are time to spend with my husband who works long hours.

What is a typical writing day for you? Do you stick to a regimented pattern of writing so many words per day?

I set a word goal for each day but I'm still trying to find my best writing time. It's such a luxury to have most of the day available! And I'm still learning the demands of social media; it's a great tool but a terrible master. Turning the internet off except for set periods might save my sanity and boost my word count.

Where do you like to write? At your desk, or perhaps wherever looks comfortable at the time?

Mostly in an armchair with my laptop on my lap. I found a neat little 'laptop tray' in an office supplies store that has made this much more comfortable. My main requirement is a lack of distractions. And no chips in the cupboard. My name is Sue and I'm a chipaholic.

Is there anyone who stands out as a mentor in your writing career?

Annie Seaton—she is such a dynamo and generous with her time and assistance in so many areas. Shirley Wine deserves a mention for beating out my early tendency towards 'purple prose'.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a writer?
Self discipline.

When you don't feel like writing but have a dead line to meet, when your word count seems as elusive as the peak of Mt Everest, when that publisher you subbed to still hasn't got back to you and you feel like your writing 'sucks', you need to keep writing, even if it's just stream of consciousness 'stuff'.

 

What tips would you have for aspiring authors who feel passionate about the stories they write?

Be open to feedback and take it on board, especially if several people give you similar comments. It might be the story of your heart but others may not read it in the same way. If you receive some negative comments or there are elements identified that you don't agree with, don't jump up and down and say they haven't 'got' you. Put your work aside for a night or two or more if need be then come back when you're fresh and look at your work again. Distance does give a different perspective.

Are you able to share with us what you are working on now?

I’m thrilled to announce that I have just signed with Entangled Press. I’m writing Book 4 in The Emerald Quest, a romantic suspense series that spans two centuries.

My book is set in Hawaii in 1960, just after it became the fiftieth state of the USA. It will be the story of Eva Abbott and Luc Martineau. It is scheduled for release in May 2015.

Congratulations! That is wonderful news and I'm looking forward to seeing that one. Susanne, thanks for visiting today, and for sharing so generously with us.

About Susanne Bellamy:

Like most authors, I’ve always loved reading and I read broadly, following whatever my current passion is. Perhaps curiosity killed the cat but it is lifeblood for an author and I am curious. I enjoy researching and I love creating new characters then chucking the proverbial rocks at them and making them work for their happy ending.

 
I am also mad keen about travelling to new places, as well as revisiting some old favourites. Paris will always be one of my top spots, and I fell in love with Scotland when we visited the west coast (it had nothing to do with the fine single malts), but I only recently had my first real trip to Italy. Four weeks in four different parts of the country--tick off one of my Bucket List items!  I’ve enjoyed New Year in Kathmandu and trekked in the Annapurnas, sailed in Ha Long Bay on a junk, and stayed on a floating hotel beside a tethered elephant in Thailand. I love the Peak in Hong Kong and the cable car ride in Singapore. My heroes have to be pretty special to live up to the real life one I married. He saved my life then married me. We live on the edge of bush land on a mountain in beautiful sunny Queensland, Australia, together with our two children and two dogs.  I write contemporary romance novels set in exciting and often exotic locations.

 

Check out my story boards on Pinterest for White Ginger, One Night in Sorrento and Betting on the Boss (formerly Merger in Melbourne) and see what else you can find! Follow me if you see boards you like!

 

Two great books – two fabulous exotic locations.

 

Blurb – White Ginger
Amelie Mackenzie chases her artistic dreams in Hawaii after a life detour. That means no more ex-fiancé…and definitely no men to distract her. Should be easy, but how will she resist the hot and sexy marine biologist fighting a battle against a corrupt developer?

Arne Keloki is fighting a resort development which will damage the reef protecting his small Kauai town. Although being with Arne could be dangerous for Amelie, in more ways than one, some attractions cannot be ignored. Will she succumb to the smoldering attraction or will Arne lose his chance forever?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb – One Night in Sorrento
Rhiannon steps out of her comfort zone when she travels to Sorrento for a meeting in borrowed business clothes. The last thing she expects is to miss her meeting, and end up in the company of Luca, a sexy Italian bike rider.

What will one night in Sorrento bring?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Susanne:

www.susannebellamy.com

https://www.facebook.com/susanne.bellamy

Twitter: @SusanneBellamy

 

Buy links

One Night in Sorrento http://amzn.to/1brE2Jp

White Ginger http://amzn.to/MiDjVr

 

Special! Extract from Susanne's next release - Betting on the Boss

Wrong Matt’s warm, long-fingered hand covered hers and stilled her jerky movements. As he pressed her hand against his chest, calluses at the base of his fingers, the kind that came from hard, honest labour, scraped over her knuckles. Strong, tanned and downright gorgeous, Wrong Matt did more than shuffle paper and the touch of his work-hardened hands comforted her. 

Through a haze of tears, she stared at the expanse of wet white shirt plastered to his broad chest. Like a second skin, the material stretched over toned muscle that her hands were now firmly pressed against. Tempted to trace the outline of well defined muscle, she opened her fingers wide and slipped her hand beneath his jacket.

He leaned into her touch. Did he welcome it? A muscle jumped and her little finger slipped between the buttons of his tuxedo and touched warm, smooth skin.

How would his skin taste? Of Champagne? Almost certainly. Her lips parted.

Book Review - One Night in Sorrento by Susanne Bellamy

I was hooked from the very first page of One Night in Sorrento. As a self-confessed and well-

documented Italophile, there is no way I can pass over any book set in, or about, Italy, particularly the gorgeous Amalfi region.

The action starts early in this novella, with first time traveller, Rhiannon, finding herself stranded in a small Amalfi Coast village with no suitcase, no ability to speak Italian, and a hugely important business meeting to attend in Sorrento, some two hours away.

Rhiannon’s world literally collides with Luca d’Alberghi, a charming, smart-talking, and frankly irresistible local, who offers her a lift to her business meeting on the back of his motorbike. But Rhiannon is feisty, and wary of the stranger’s offer. Sparks fly, with Luca’s well-meant offers of assistance bouncing off her like bullets ricocheting off a rock.

Eventually Rhiannon sees no alternative way to make it to the important meeting, so she ungraciously accepts Luca’s offer. And so begins the bike journey, which can also be a metaphor for the journey they each take in dealing with the undeniable chemistry that consumes them both.

My evaluation?

Amazon.com
Amazon.com.au

http://www.susannebellamy.com/