Thanks to EE Carter for this interview

Reposted from

http://eecarter.com/index.php/tuesday-book-club-noelle-clark-honors-promise/

An interview by awesome Historical Romance author Elizabeth Ellen Carter.

Tuesday Book Club – Noelle Clark: Honor’s Promise

Chesterfield couch, in royal purple – just perfect for our distinguished guest on tonight’s show.

I’m delighted to have great friend and fellow Queensland writer Noelle Clark as my special guest on the famous purple couch. Noelle is a warm, talented lady who is so incredibly supportive, so I’m especially thrilled to be able to ask her a few questions about her latest novel, Honor’s Promise, the second of three stories set on Robinhill Farm in Ireland. The first, Honor’s Debt, I devoured in an afternoon. It is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

Welcome Noelle!

This is your first series. Was that always intended to be the case? Or was there some point in the process of either writing Honor’s Debt or in the planning for the book when you knew that this would be more than just one title?

About half way through writing Honor’s Debt I could see that with such a large cast of characters, it would be good to get to know some of them in greater detail. Two families living side by side for generations, working hard to eke out a living on their farms, and then came the double-bed factor – Dermot and Cherry got married – further cementing the ties between the O’Dohertys and the Cullens.

As with any family, their lives can seem dreary and monotonous on the surface but in reality they undergo issues that place stresses on all of their relationships. But the glue that holds them all together is their loyalty, love, and friendship, and of course, the fact they have their feet planted deeply in the soil of the farms they love.

So a series has evolved where we follow their lives, loves, disappointments, and achievements. Book 2 is set three years after Book 1, and the final book – Honor’s Legacy, is a further five years on. So, for eight years, we witness changes that many readers will identify with.

No way could the stories of the O’Dohertys and the Cullens not be a series.

How do you get to know your characters? What do you do to keep an ensemble cast such as the family at Robinhill Farm straight in your mind?

I know each character of the series well. In my head, I can hear them talk, the cadence of their voice and Irish accent. I know how tall they are, their build, their weaknesses and their strengths. Truth is, I’ve come to know them all so well I’ll be very sad indeed when I type ‘the end’ on Book 3, marking the end of the series.

I do a very detailed biography – complete with inspiration photo – of the two main characters of each book. This includes giving them a birthdate so I can look up their personality type, identify their traits, nature, and quirks. Each subsidiary character has a profile too, so that they can shine in their own way without overtaking the story. I create a document for each character, and spend considerable time making sure that their name suits them. For instance, the name Liam means ‘loyal, strong willed warrior and protector’. Once you read Honor’s Promise, you’ll see how apt this is.



Honor’s Debt gave us a view into to the challenging world of animal husbandry and the realities of farming life in the 21st century. I understand Liam is looking at alpacas to diversify – tell us what brought him (and you) to that point.

In Book 1, my hero Bryan began breeding Zwartble sheep – a fairly rare and at one time endangered species. In Book 2, it’s my heroine – Aislin – who is the alpaca breeder. Liam is very interested in them, but his first love is the large and productive dairy herd.

I love writing animals into my books as characters in their own right. If you’ve read Rosamanti, you’ll know all about the gorgeous goat Geraldina, who had a love affair with my hero Pietro.

Animals are such a normal part of our lives that I can’t possibly leave them out of stories about ordinary families like the O’Dohertys and the Cullens. Animals give stories a touch of normality, a real slice-of-life experience for the reader.



Honor’s Promise is a journey of discovery for Liam isn’t it. You get the sense that he feels like he’s missing out a lot and is wondering whether the grass is greener away from the farm. It must be hard for him because he also has clear cut responsibilities.

Liam is going through inner agony. No one could love his family and his farm more than he, but when he becomes uncle to Honor and Cherry’s children, he yearns for his own family. A certainty that he will never meet the right girl makes him feel suffocated, trapped, and lonely. He’s lived on the family farm all his life and,until recently, he’s been content with his lot. Now he’s become aware of a desperate urge to spread his wings, to see the world—but he knows he can’t. The chances of him finding a wife in the tiny village of Timpelaire are a million to one. But, well, we’ve all heard about the ‘luck of the Irish’.

Tell us about the girl who capture’s Liam’s heart.

Aislin O’Neill – Ash – is the opposite of Liam. She has no family ties, no sense of home, and no sense of obligation to anyone.

Strong, determined, and fiercely independent, Ash forges ahead with her own life and career despite some tragic setbacks that nearly sap her of any future. A past love affair that turned toxic has scarred her deeply, and she is in the process of hiding from the real world when she meets Liam.

Her epiphany comes when she realises that, just like the words of Shakespeare, she must be true to herself and follow her own moral path, even if it means giving up her job — and perhaps relinquishing her determination to never fall in love again.

About Honor’s Promise
Loyalty is high on Liam Cullen’s agenda, but lately he’s been feeling restless. He wants to run away from the endless routines of life on the family farm. He contemplates busting free of the sometimes suffocating confines of the close-knit family. He’d like to see the world. Maybe meet a few girls.

Riddled with guilt that he could even consider such a thing, the final blow comes when Liam’s abilities as a first rate farmer are questioned. He sees red and his quick temper is sorely stretched. He struggles inner demons and attempts to fight the inevitable – until he meets the girl with the blue-green eyes and the copper-colored hair.

Without knowing it, Aislin O’Neill sweeps Liam off his feet, and transports him to a place he’s only ever dreamed of. It’s soon apparent that Aislin has her own inner battles. Will she break her self-imposed vow to never get involved with anyone again?

About Noelle Clark
Noelle Clark is an Australian author of contemporary romance novels and historical fiction. Her books weave romance, intrigue and adventure into colourful, exotic, and interesting locations around the world. Noelle infuses real life experience of places, culture, and people into her stories, giving the reader an authentic taste of the location. Her novels feature strong, mature heroines and heroes, who—often without knowing it—are ready for new beginnings.

Noelle lives close to the sea in sunny Queensland, Australia, and shares her home with one cat and two dogs. She has two grown up children and four very small grandchildren. When Noelle’s not writing and travelling, she procrastinates a lot by thinking about travel and perfecting ways to get out of doing housework. Oh, and she babysits her grandchildren a lot.

Buy Links
Amazon
www.noelleclark.net

E.E. Carter - Moonstone Conspiracy

I'm very excited to have award winning historical romance author, Elizabeth Ellen Carter, here with
me today to discuss her brand new release - Moonstone Conspiracy - the sequel to Moonstone Obsession.

Q. Firstly, congratulations on the release of Moonstone Conspiracy, the sequel to your first book, Moonstone Obsession. The first was set in 1077 – how much later is Moonstone Conspiracy set?
Moonstone Conspiracy is set two years later in 1972-1793 and things are very much different. The glorious French Revolution which was supposed to bring reason, progress and secular enlightenment has descended into a bloody madness history would call the Reign of Terror. England still remains on a knife edge still economically weakened but facing peril inside its borders too.

Q. What specific research did you do for this time in history?
In some respects it was a continuation of the research for Moonstone Obsession. When James and Selina got to Paris at the end of 1790 they were there with England’s Ambassador, Earl Gower. By the end of 1792, most likely following the arrest of Louis XVI, England closed its Embassy.

What amazed me was the speed of the descent into murderous, blood-thirsty anarchy.

What was also interesting is that the National Assembly of France didn’t technically declare war on England in early 1793, they declared war on George III.

They had hoped that Radical elements in Britain would rise up against the Crown and would join a world-wide revolutionary movement.

Q. How important to you is to have the setting, era, and speech perfectly suited to the time the book is set?
I think there has to be a balance with dialogue because you’re writing for modern audiences. Today conversation is a lot less wordy, a lot less flowery. It’s important to be mindful to avoid glaring anachronisms and I found myself doing a lot of research into lots of different areas including boxing, types of carriages – even how sugar was prepared for the table. There are a lot of Regency and Georgian enthusiasts among readers who are sure to pick up on any inconsistencies

Q. Is there any link between the names you’ve chosen for your leading characters, and people from real history?
I have included mention of a number real life historical figures, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, George III and William Pitt the Younger – of course, but there is also reference to the boxer Daniel Mendoza, the French doctor Philippe Pinel, Robespierre, Lord Mansfield... To me a historical romance doesn’t feel authentic if there is no reference to news, events, people and issues of the time. We don’t live in a vacuum, the times in which we live influence our views. So it is important for me to represent the characters as real people engaged with their time.

Q. Will readers warm to Lady Abigail Houghall straight away, or warm to her as the book progresses?
I think readers will understand Abigail very quickly even if they don’t condone her past. At the beginning of Moonstone Conspiracy, we see Abigail emerging from a very dark place.

The events at Bocconoc House two years earlier left her uncertain and broken – two things Abigail has never been in her life but now she’s picking up the pieces of her life the best way she knows how.

Q. Daniel Ridgeway is a man with his own past and problems. What is it about him that attracts Lady Abigail?
Daniel is the first man who has ever seen Abigail for herself. He knows of her past and doesn’t hold it against her. In many respects he brings out her better nature and encourages it.

Mind you Daniel’s past has scarred him. He holds himself responsible for a tragic death and that has coloured his approach to love and relationships.

Q. What can readers expect from your current works in progress?
I’m working on two very different stories at the moment. I’m just about to wrap up a short story called September Harvest set in the late 19^th century which has a little bit of a Thomas Hardy feel to it and my next major work is called Dark Heart which is set in 3^rd Century AD Rome just as the Empire is in its death throes.

What appeals to me about that is I can’t recall another novel set during the time of the Barracks Emperors – everything I’ve read so far centres on the Golden Age of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

I see a lot of parallels between that period of history and today.

Q. Your first two novels, Moonstone Obsession and Warrior’s Surrender, have both been runaway successes. Any news for a sequel for Warrior’s Surrender?
Thank you very much!

I don’t have any plans for a direct sequel to Warrior’s Surrender but I do have some very exciting plans for a new Medieval series set around Yorkshire in the early 13^th century.

I’ll be co-writing them with my husband. They’ll be a blend of  history, action, mystery and, of course romance.

Watch the stunning trailer for Moonstone Conspiracy:

BLURB

What would you gamble for love?
For her unwitting but eager participation in helping her corrupt cousin rob the Exchequer, Lady Abigail Houghall – a scandalous star of the London Beau Monde – has spent the last two years enduring the relative drudgery of life in the town of Bath. Under threat of transportation to the Colonies for her sins, Lady Abigail is forced to live with a maiden aunt and pen nonsensical weekly letters detailing the town’s social activities to mysterious ‘Aunt Druscilla’ in London.
As she plots to escape both her gilded cage and the stifling convention of an England that casts her as wicked, Abigail is awoken abruptly by the Honourable – and handsome – Daniel Ridgeway to the clandestine role she has been playing unawares and the price she may yet have to pay for her freedom.Daniel is a man with his own past and problems – an estranged family, a missing friend, an old flame and a mission to thwart those who would export France’s bloody revolution to England.
As Abigail is drawn deeper into his dangerous world, she realises she is falling in love for the first time, comprehending a world beyond her own self-interest, and must decide between the life she knew and the life she might have – if they survive.
From Bath’s lush Assembly Rooms to the seedy backstreets of London and the claustrophobic catacombs of revolutionary Paris, the sequel to Moonstone Obsession weaves a story of rejection, romance and redemption where the stakes are life itself.

“I’m glad you remembered our appointment.”

Abigail recognised the droll voice and so did not even bother opening her eyes.

“It’s not yet midnight,” she replied and felt the couch shift as Daniel’s weight settled down into it.

“In our business, we take opportunities whenever they occur.”

Abigail opened her eyes and opened her fan to hide a yawn. He did not look fatigued. If one was to assign his expression right now, she would have described him as being studiously nonchalant.

“And what business are we in, Mr Ridgeway?”

“A very dangerous one.”

“I don’t recall signing up for a dangerous business,” she retorted, keeping her voice low to prevent anyone overhearing. “If my experience of your business over the past two years is any guide, stultifying boredom would be a better description.

“You can tell Aunt Druscilla that my obligation to her is complete. I’m going abroad at the end of this season.”

A slow feline grin spread across his face.

“Are you now?”

Fatigue fled and Abigail straightened in her seat, ready to rise to the challenge.

“Are you going to stop me?”

“I don’t particularly care what you do after this season,” he told her. “If you can’t give me what I want by the end of June, then you’re not half the woman Blakeney thinks you are.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth  Ellen Carter’s debut novel, Moonstone Obsession, was published in 2013 by Etopia Press. Earlier that year, the Regency adventure romance had been shortlisted in the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Awards for Best Unpublished Manuscript. Set in England and France during the French Revolution, it was heralded as ‘edge-of-seat adventure and intrigue’ and ‘a rollercoaster of love, blackmail, ill-gotten gains, treason and trickery’ with Carter described as ‘a writer worth keeping an eye on’ with ‘a hint of classic suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier’.

Her second novel, Warrior’s Surrender, was published by Etopia the following year. Set in Northumbria in 1077, it sets the relationship between a displaced Saxon noblewoman and a Norman baron against the turbulent backdrop of England in the years following the Norman invasion of 1066. Reviewers found the novel ‘a fast moving and passionate read’ with ‘strong characters, an intriguing plot, and plenty of action… a sexy romance to be savoured’. Readers agreed, voting Warrior’s Surrender Favourite Historical Fiction in the 2015 Readers & Writers Down Under Readers Choice Awards.

Also in 2014, the short story Moonstone Promise, spinning off from Moonstone Obsession as part of Etopia’s Valentines Heat anthology, followed the fortunes of one of the supporting characters back home to 18th century Pittsburgh in a tale of ‘second chance romance’.

Carter moved up to 1802 for the light-hearted romantic short story Three Ships, part of the Christmas 2014 anthology A Season To Remember, and ventures briefly into contemporary romance for the first time with her Romance Writers of Australia annual Little Gems competition placegetter, The Tin Bear, publishing in August 2015.

And another Moonstone Obsession character, the sinful Lady Abigail Houghall, features in the full length novel Moonstone Conspiracy, coming from Etopia Press in 2015.

Carter is currently working on her fourth novel, set in ancient Rome and tentatively titled Dark Heart, which will bring together the elements for which she has become known in just a few years – in-depth historical detail woven through gripping adventure and captivating romance.

The author lives in Australia with her husband and two cats. A former newspaper journalist, she ran an award-winning PR agency for 12 years.

http://eecarter.com/

   

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An interview with Elizabeth Ellen Carter - Warrior's Surrender

My good writing buddy and friend, Elizabeth Ellen Carter, released her second novel, Warrior’s Surrender, on November 7, 2014. 

I think the cover for this book is striking. So evocative.

I'm very excited that Elizabeth could join us today. She's a very busy lady. Not only has she had the big release of Warrior's Surrender, but she also has been doing several public speaking appearances, talking about historical research - especially as it relates to medieval and regency times.

Q. Firstly, congratulations on the release of Warrior’s Surrender. This is your second historical romance from Etopia Press. How long has it taken you to write Warrior’s Surrender?

Thank you Noelle, your friendship and support has meant so much to me and I’m so glad that we’ve been able to connect in the real world this year along with Susanne Bellamy and Eva Scott.

Warrior’s Surrender took a lot longer than Moonstone Obsession, mainly because I was in the middle of promoting Moonstone Obsession and also my husband had a very serious health scare, so in the end it took eight months – double the time of Moonstone Obsession.

Q. I imagine that you’ve done a lot of research of the time, place, costumes, political and cultural climate. How important to you is to have the setting, era, and speech perfectly suited to the time the book is set?

To me, having a historical romance that is conscious of its time is important to me to add depth and complexity. Just as people today are aware of the social and political climate in which they live, so too are the people who inhabited times past. The only difference is technology, specifically in this case mass communication and the rapid dissemination of information.

Elizabeth Ellen Carter

So news which is instant today, may take weeks or months to travel back in 1077AD

So, I always like to include an element of ‘current’ events to help anchor the story as well as introduce real life historical figures. In Warrior’s Surrender it is William Walcher, the Bishop of Durham, most famous today for building Durham Cathedral and Ligulf of Lumley, a Saxon Earl who eventually has a most fatal falling out with Walcher...

I did give a bit of thought to the speech habits of the characters – of course, they couldn’t be speaking Norman or Old English – no one would be able to understand it! So I hope I’ve struck the right balance between sounding authentic and being readable.

The historical research part of it is fun. I love learning new things about the era I’m writing about. For instance, I had great fun learning about medieval sword play and the importance of monasteries in the foundation of modern education and science.

Q. Baron Sebastian de la Croix sounds like a very complex man. On one hand, he sounds harsh, ruthless, and unforgiving; on the other, sympathetic and protective. Will readers like him straight away, or warm to him as the book progresses?

Readers will get to know Sebastian straight away, the prologue is from his point of view, so we understand that he is an able and loyal soldier but he is also a man with a very strong sense of right and wrong. That morality he will have to defend with his life.

The prologue reveals Sebastian’s Achilles heel...

Q. Lady Alfreya must be a brave woman. How strong is she in the face of the dilemmas she finds herself?

Alfreya was a fascinating woman to write. She is brave and her strength comes from seeing what needs to be done and doing it, regardless about how she feels personally. She has been stretched and tested almost every day for seven years since the Harrying of the North and there are times she feels she has endured beyond breaking point. But now there is Sebastian to help take some of the load, she has to learn that one of the biggest sources of freedom is when you give your concerns to another.

Q. Now that Warrior’s Surrender is finished, what are you working on now?

It hasn’t stopped! I’m looking forward to the release of A Season To Remember, the short story anthology that we’ve all been a part of.

Not only was it an amazing experience working with wonderful authors, but I also enjoyed the discipline of writing a short story – my novels tend to be 10 times the length.

After finishing that short story, called Three Ships, I made myself a promise that I would write at least one a year – I have a few ideas that will take me out of my usual historical genre – a contemporary romantic comedy is one, and another a poignant ghost story.

I started research on my fourth full length novel, a romantic mystery set in 3^rd Century AD Rome, but I’ve put that aside for the moment to work on another short story which relates to your next question J

Q. Your first novel, Moonstone Obsession, has been a runaway success. Any news for a sequel?

I’ve left the Rome story to work on a short story for Etopia Press called Moonstone Promise, it will give a happily ever after to one of my favourite supporting characters in Moonstone Obsession – Toby Jackson, the best friend of our hero.

His heroine is Ann Sellars a brave and determined widow who learns to fall in love again after the death of her husband.

And that leads me to another exciting project, a full length sequel to Moonstone Obsession called Moonstone Conspiracy.

My husband fell in love with one of the villains, Lady Abigail Houghall. Moonstone Conspiracy is set two years after the end of Moonstone Obsession. We find out what happened to Abigail after her arrest and learn of Sir Percy’s plans to turn this Jezebel into a Rahab.

Her hero is the Honourable Daniel Ridgeway, the black sheep third son of a Viscount. He is one of Sir Percy’s spies, and Abigail’s ‘controller’, to use a modern spy term. He’s a fascinating character with a tragedy in his past that haunts him and colours his actions.

Elizabeth, thanks so much for sharing with us your exciting projects. I think 2015 is shaping up to be even bigger than this year!

Set in 1077 in wild and untamed Northumbria in the years following William the Conqueror’s Harrying of the North.

Lady Alfreya of Tyrswick has returned to her family home after seven years in exile — not victorious as her dead father promised – but defeated by Baron Sebastian de la Croix, the Norman who rules her lands.

To save her gravely ill brother’s life, Alfreya offers herself hostage to her enemy.

Sebastian is a man with a secret – one that could destroy him.

Seven years earlier, he made the impetuous decision to spare the life of a Saxon Earl and his family – the act brands him a traitor, even now.

For Alfreya’s protection and his, Sebastian makes another impetuous proposal just as a new threat emerges.

Drefan of Angou, a man who betrayed Alfreya’s father and claims to be her betrothed, arrives with more than a reunion in mind. He has learned the Baron’s secret and will use it to destroy him – even using Sebastian’s own family – to further his ambition that will plunge an unprepared England into war against the Scots.

Extract:

By the light of the fire she could see the abandoned chair. To see the second chair Frey must peer around the door.

It too was empty.

Frey frowned. Did she doze and Sebastian slipped past her unseen? She took a further step or two into the room and looked.

The bed was…

Before Frey could complete the thought, she was grabbed roughly from behind and held firmly against a man’s broad chest. A large hand covered her mouth and suppressed an involuntary scream.

The man recognised her and relaxed but did not remove his hand.

“You picked the wrong night to slit my throat while I slept, princess.”

Sebastian’s whispered voice filled her ear. He held her still for long moments before speaking.

“Are you recovered? You will not scream?”

Frey nodded and shook her head in answer to each question and she was released, her heart pumping furiously.

“Do you suggest I pick some other night then?” she said, wiping her mouth to rid the sensation of his hand.

Sebastian ignored her barb and poured a small measure of spiced wine into his goblet. He handed it to her and watched as she drank.

“Why do you assume the worst of me?” she asked.

“Habit,” he answered, arms folded across his chest. “Now tell me what you’re doing in my chambers while others sleep.”

“I have to speak to you.”

Sebastian’s eyebrows rose in surprise. It might have been scepticism, but Frey couldn’t be sure.

“And it couldn’t wait until morning?”

All of a sudden Frey’s courage left her and she wondered if her senses had taken leave of her too.

She was an unmarried woman, alone, late at night in the bed chamber of a man whose mere presence made her feel powerful sensations that she struggled to understand. What on earth was she doing?

She shook her head softly.

“This was a mistake.”

As she turned to leave, Sebastian grabbed her wrist.

“It’s a mistake to not finish what you start.”

A Season to Remember - Christmas Anthology blog tour - #4

A micro-story exclusively for you:

This blog tour brings very special people together. People who would never normally meet. Continuing on our theme of delving deep into the psyche of our characters from the forthcoming Christmas anthology - A Season to Remember - today we will visit the cold, windswept south coast of England in the early 1800s where Peter from 'Three Ships' meets Nick from 'A Touch of Christmas'.


Peter Winter wished he was anywhere but here. What a horrid way to spend Christmas Day, he thought. He hated leaving the lighthouse at any time, but should a ship founder on this special day because he was hob-knobbing it with these out-of-towners, well…  He shook his head.

The visitors certainly looked strange. They wore odd clothes, and their pallor made them look ill. Except the big male.

“Mr. Winter? I’m Nick Madigan. So glad you could come.”

Peter looked up to see a friendly, tanned face before him, smiling warmly. This man looked human. He took the proffered hand and squeezed it.

“Yes, well. Thank you for inviting me. Although I can’t stay long, you know. My daughter is on her own at the lighthouse and I mustn’t miss the tide.” He felt in his waist coat pocket for his fob watch. “Once the tide turns, we’re cut off over there on St Joseph’s Rock, you know.”

“I know, Mr. Winter. We won’t keep you long. We just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for the ships in these parts. And to wish you a Happy Christmas, of course.” Nick took hold of the older man’s elbow. “Come now, let’s have a rum. I’ll make sure you get home safely.” Nick led him over near the bar.

The rum trickled down his gullet, warming him from the inside out. Laura, his daughter, wouldn’t let him drink too much. But Nick Madigan kept refilling his glass without even asking.

“These ships of yours,” he squinted at Nick, looking for any sign that he was being made fun of. “You say they are ships of the sky? That they can fly?”

Nick’s smile was charming. “Yes, sir. They’re called space ships. But they, too, rely on similar life-saving beams as your lighthouse. Without such reliable navigation beacons, many of the spaceships would founder.”

Peter felt as though he must have drunk too much rum and was dreaming. “Really? Ships that fly?” He cleared his throat. “Well, son. You better tell me about yourself and how you came to be…flying in the oceans in the sky.”

Nick topped up his glass again. “You have deduced I—we are not from your time but I am an Earthman from—some time in the future. Mankind has made huge advances in science, including machines that allow us to fly to the stars. It seems we managed to slip through time on this trip and landed here. Your lighthouse beacon drew us to safety through that terrible storm.”

Nick raised his glass to Peter and offered a toast. “Thank you for your dedication in keeping even space mariners safe.”

They drank and Nick refilled their glasses for a fourth, or was it fifth time?

“So, do you have much of a problem with smugglers on this stretch of coast?”

Peter gave a sly grin. “I don’t have a problem with them. But they do have a problem with me.”

A conspiratorial smile spread across Nick’s face also, in anticipation of a tale to come. He wasn’t disappointed.

Another glass of rum each was consumed by the men over the course of the tale.

“Not that I can take all the credit, mind. I had the help of my very brave daughter and a Royal Navy Lieutenant, oh beg your pardon, he's a Commander now.”

“I can see that you’re very proud of your daughter,” Nick observed.

“Aye, that I am.”

Perhaps it was the amount of rum he’d consumed but there was something in Nick’s face which told him he could be trusted with a confidence.

“I have to confess being a bit concerned for Laura,” he said, leaning in a little. “She’s a fine girl but it hasn’t been easy since her mother died. I’m glad  she’ll be marrying a good man.

“Are you married, Nick?”

The spaceman seemed to stand taller and Peter recognised the look of pride in his face. He wore it too whenever he was asked about his wife.

“I am—and to the captain of the very ship that brought us here.”

“A woman captain! She is someone I definitely want to meet. Is she from Earth’s future too?”

“Yes. Earth will suffer dark times but with the help of Andra’s race, our planet will survive and prosper. Never underestimate a woman’s capabilities. Your daughter is a strong, intelligent woman like my wife.”

“Aye, that she is.”

Nick pushed his glass away and looked at the device he wore on his wrist. “Thank goodness they are on our side. I should return to our ship. If you like, I’ll bring Andra over to your lighthouse to meet Laura later this evening.”

“Tide’s up then. You won’t be able to make the crossing.”

“Ah, high tide won’t be a problem for us so long as you’ve a small, clear area for a vehicle about the size of that coach.”

Peter looked through the window and grinned. “Never tell me ye have a smaller flying ship inside that big one? Well, I never...”

Nick held out his hand and shook Peter’s. “Shall we say around eight o’clock?”

Thank you to Elizabeth Ellen Carter - author of Three Ships, and Susanne Bellamy, author of A Touch of Christmas, for contributing to this very special and exclusive micro-story of the meeting of two mariners.

On November 28th, you'll be able to download your free gift copy of A Season to Remember, and enjoy four stories full of romance, adventure, love, and Christmas. Stay tuned for the download link..

A Season to Remember

four Australian authors  -  four unique stories about Christmas

Elizabeth Ellen Carter   |   Eva Scott   |   Susanne Bellamy   |   Noelle Clark

A day in the life of: Author EE Carter

 

My travels around the world speaking to author pals, has been one of the most extraordinary experiences. There’s nothing like a quiet chat between like-minded people to forge friendships. As you can see by the map below, I’ve made friends all over the world – yet today I get to introduce you to an author friend from just down the road.



Elizabeth Ellen Carter (EE Carter) hails from the Gold Coast, Queensland, not far from where I live. Elizabeth writes full-bodied historical romance, wrapping secrets, lies and scandals around the rich landscapes and stories of England and Paris, and exposing the oft-hidden lives of the aristocracy.

I’m very excited to say that her very much anticipated first novel, Moonstone Obsession will be released by Etopia Press on October 18. The book has already received high acclaim, having been shortlisted for the 2013 Romance Writers of Australia’s Emerald Awards for unpublished manuscripts. Elizabeth is currently working on her second historical romance, Warrior’s Surrender, set in England in the years after the Conquest of England by William in 1066.

Noelle: Elizabeth, welcome to my blog, and thanks for taking the time to talk to us about your books.

Elizabeth: Thank you very much for having me. It’s wonderful to see so many authors from our part of the world doing very well. I can’t wait to see your next title on the shelves.

Noelle: Thanks. :-) Moonstone Obsession is set in England in 1790, and centres around Sir James Mitchell, and his unexpected love affair with Selina Rosewall, daughter of an untitled seafaring family. What inspired you to write this book?

Elizabeth: I had one scene in my head for years that centres on the witty and flirtatious banter between a Regency lady and gentleman and it wouldn’t let go until I wrote it down. From there I became fascinated with the Georgian and Regency era, not only because of the gorgeous clothes, but also the incredible industrial and philosophical ideas emerging at that time which have had a profound effect on how we see the world today.

Noelle: It seems to have been a big year for you so far. Being a finalist in the Emeralds, then a publishing contract, and now you’re on the threshold of release day for Moonstone Obsession. I bet you are thrilled that your stories will be read by people from all around the world?

Elizabeth: Oh yes, absolutely. This is the wonderful thing about being involved in publishing right now. We’re not limited by borders or by being filtered through major publishing houses. And more titles and a greater choice is also great news for readers.
It’s been a rollercoaster year. I started writing Moonstone Obsession in June of 2012 and by October it was polished enough (pardon the pun) to send it off for consideration in the Emeralds

Noelle: How long did you spend on solid research for Moonstone Obsession?

Elizabeth: I’ve always loved history and philosophy, so a lot of the basics of the era I already knew. I tend to have a framework for the story and then research along the way to make sure the story is authentic.

Noelle: Did you happen to uncover any real secrets, or unknown stories about noted characters in that period of time?

Elizabeth: Ah, Chevalier D’eon a transgender spy who lived out his later years in London. He had retired by the time Moonstone Obsession was set and I had already written a couple of scenes for him, but sadly he ended on the cutting room floor (or whatever the literary equivalent is).
There’s also the Earl of Sackville who was the original cricket tragic who was all set to set sail from for the world’s first international Test match between England and France when news broke that Louis had been overthrown.

Noelle: How do you manage to juggle all your commitments, yet still find time for writing and marketing? Are you good at routines?

Elizabeth: I work full time, so any writing I do is in the evenings and weekends. Thankfully I have a wonderfully supportive husband.

Noelle: Are you able to share with us your favourite ‘writing room’?

This is Miss Coco who sits next to me while I work.

Claude keeps one eye on Duncan while Coco sleeps on my chair.

Elizabeth: As you can see I have to share my writing room with Claude and Coco, who are the epitome of the classic story of two abandoned kittens found on the doorstep. We’ve had them since January. BTW I have tidied my desk since this picture was taken… honest!

Noelle: I see you’re second book - Warrior’s Surrender – is well under way. It’s another historical romance novel. This is clearly your chosen genre, but do you ever see yourself writing contemporary romance?

Elizabeth: I love writing historicals for the same reason why other people like science-fiction, it’s a way of exploring the human condition (especially romance) in a way that is different from the modern world. I have another four two page historical synopses.
I did say once that I couldn’t see myself writing contemporary, but I’ve changed my mind.
After Warrior’s Surrender I have a contemporary novella called Miss Midnight that I’m going to dive straight into – the heroine becomes an accidental radio star and finds her true love.
And speaking of scenes which won’t let go, I have another idea for a contemporary romantic thriller based on two scenes which came to me while daydreaming.

Noelle: You’ve been a professional writer for some years. How well did this background prepare you for writing historical novels?

Elizabeth: In terms of the craft – nothing at all. Writing novels is a completely different discipline to any other writing I’ve done (and I think I’ve done the lot – journalism news and feature stories, radio and TV advertisement scripting, web site copy, brochure writing, technical papers…)

Noelle: When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?

Elizabeth: I love browsing antiques and op shops. Then there is reading, of course! Fortunately I’m married to the perfect man who enjoys the same things I do!

Noelle:Elizabeth, thanks for visiting today. I can’t wait for Moonstone Obsession to be released! In

 

the meantime, where can readers connect with you?

Elizabeth: Thank you once again for having me.

Web: www.eecarter.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ElizabethEllenCarter

MOONSTONE OBSESSION  out on October 18th!

 

Summer Sun Award!

My good friend, Shehanne Moore, has bestowed upon me a Summer Sun Award. She's always so

generous and brightens up my life daily. Thanks Shey. It's the middle of winter here in Brisbane, Australia. Mind you, yesterday we hit a top of 24 degrees C, so I'm not really complaining, but it's still winter for us.

But ... as with anything Shehanne does ...  there are rules! And God forbid any of us to neglect to follow them to the letter! So, here are the rules surrounding my acceptance of this esteemed award.

Well, firstly you display the logo and link back to the blog of the person who nominated you. Then you answer the following summery questions before nominating a lucky eight ….one for each sunray on the picture there. Then you must tell the lucky eight and name and display their blog link.
Of course the questions are all summer based.

So here goes. But just to liven things up (I'm a very boring person), I decided to do a retrospective view, and recall some of my happiest memories of summer.
 
1. Favourite song with summer in the title or the words (give the line) –

“Summer Holiday” – Cliff Richard. “We’re all goin’ on a summer holiday”.
(play the video, it's so funny).

2. Favourite book about summer –
“Allison’s Island Adventure” set in the isles of north-west Scotland. Can’t remember the author.

3. Favourite hot summer film –
“Gidget”    

4. Favourite summer memory –
Dad piling us all into the VW Combi and taking us to Wellington Point for a swim. Hey, I live there now!





Sunset at Wellington Point. I can walk here from my house.

Um, not me, but camping on Cylinder Beach.

5. Favourite summer holiday destination –
Camping at Cylinder Beach on Stradbroke Island.




Cylinder Beach, Stradbroke Island, Qld

6. What books will be in your suitcase this summer?

It won’t be summer here in Australia until about November. So, by then, I’ll be taking:

•  His Judas Bride
•  Saving Grace Devine
•  Collared for a Night
•  Share the Moon
•  Finding Butterflies
•  Lost in Kakadu
•  Moonstone Obsession
•  Warrior’s Surrender
•  Rosamanti (Just getting a plug in for my new book).

7. What’s your likely destination this summer?

No plans as yet … maybe to the Sunshine Coast, just north of Brisbane.

Sunshine Coast, Queensland

8. What hottie would you most like to be sharing the hot days and long nights with this summer?
Pietro Lombardi (he’s my hot Italian hero in Rosamanti). Here's a photo of him. What do you think girls?
 

Okay that’s it. I’ve nominated seven people to receive this award. It’s now up to you all to follow Shey’s instructions above

• Sharon Struth
• Louise Forster
• Kendall Talbot
• Cat Cavendish
• EE Carter
• Susan D Taylor AND Susan Arden LOL
• and Lady Fury.

 

And thankyou Shey, for spreading some happy sunshine all around the world. :-) I feel warmer already.