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Bar Yarns w/ author – Juliet Madison (giveaway)

Juliet MadisonIt’s the new year and I’m having a beer and a yarn with friend and author, Juliet Madison, who is getting exactly what she wished for – writing and publishing her magical stories.

First, Juliet, here is a beer coaster! Take a minute to jot down the blurb for your book.

THE JANUARY WISH:

When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrin’s Bay Wishing Festival, it’s the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparation…of science and research and
diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.

A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylvia’s small coastal town with secrets that can’t be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylvia’s well-ordered life 

TheJanuaryWishcoveris soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.

They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered. 

Come on in. Grab a pew. What can I get you to go with your beer nuts? (Shandy? Wine Spritzer? Pink Lemonade?)

Oooh let’s be girly and go for pink lemonade!

I’m a beer nut nut! What bar snack would you be and why?

I’ll say a plate of various dips and crackers, to represent my versatility as I write in a few different genres 😉

Ahh, that beer hit the spot. Let me slip a drink coaster under your glass while you tell us—on a scale of 1 to 10—as a writer are you a messy desker or tidy desker? (NB: 1 = “I am a neat nut case” and 10 = “What desk? Where? Is there a desk here somewhere?”)

A 9: I prefer to think of it as untidily organised. And anyway, I read some research that said people with messy desks are more creative, so I’m doing it on purpose 😉

The publican offers you free drinks all night if you will:

  • Dance to Gangnam Style
  • Sing John Denver’s ‘Take me Home Country Roads’ on the Karaoke machine
  • Spend an hour washing dishes

Which do you choose?

A: Gangnam Style hands down. Washing dishes? No thanks!

Time to liven the place up. Got a buck? We can crank up the old jukebox in the corner. You get to pick three songs.

  1. Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer
  2. The Time of My Life by, um, those two people who sang it…*googles, then finds pictures of Dirty Dancing, gets distracted and forgets what I’m supposed to be googling for*
  3. Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal.

An author, an agent and a chicken walk into the bar… how do you know which one crossed the road?

The author was stalking the agent and the chicken was concerned for the agent’s welfare so crossed the road and followed them to make sure everything was okay.

There’s a stapler on the bar. Tell me what it’s doing there.

It’s for all those people who ate too many beer nuts and their pants ripped open so the stapler is to put their pants back together again. Quite resourceful of the pub to think of providing such a courtesy.

(Am starting to see a pattern develop in my Bar Yarns. Authors don’t sew!)

The pub is the heart of a small town and most locals would be lost without one. What are three things you’d be lost without?

  1. iPhone
  2. Family
  3. My imagination

There are a few good prizes up for grabs in the bar jackpot. Do you have a lucky number?

Your lucky number is: 4 (Did I win?)

(YES! You just won $1 million fictional dollars because everyone’s a winner in a fictional pub, Juliet!)

Last drinks, my friend! It’s been great. But before we go, tell us how we can find out more about you and your writing/books.

– Visit Juliet online at her website, blog, facebook, Goodreads, and twitter.

– Buy THE JANUARY WISH from all good ebook retailers:

Amazon – Amazon UK – Amazon Aus – iTunes/iBookstore – Kobo – B&N/Nook – GooglePlay – BigW ebooks – Booktopia – JB HiFi – ebooks.com – All Romance ebooks

– WIN STUFF! Throughout the month of January, Juliet is running a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a beautiful coastal photographic print (see photo). All you have to do is enter via Juliet’s Rafflecopter form here: Rafflecopter giveaway

In the meantime, watch out … It’s on the way …

This storm season, in Calingarry Crossing, a perfect storm is heading Maggie Lindeman’s way.  Find out more, right hereSimmering Season: April 1, 2014

For emergency alerts and warnings for Simmering Season, subscribe to Jenn J McLeod’s blog before you go, or LIKE her Facebook Page.

Happy New Year everyone!

 

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Subscribers? This is all about YOU.

Have you ever seen an announcement like this on a blog you follow:

“Come on over and subscribe to my blog to win….” to which you have grumbled (as I have): “But what about me? I’m already subscribed to your blog and a Facebook fan. Have been for ages. What do I win?”

Well, in recognition and to say thank you to my loyal subscribers and Facebook Author Page Likers (many of you have been with me from the early days of this wild ride) I have this special treat.

Yes, there is a catch, although I am hoping the prize is worthy.

YOU can have YOUR NAME entered into a draw to win a pre-release copy of Simmering Season just by sending a friend along to sign up.

That’s right! YOU WIN! The minute I get my hands on copies next year (mid-March maybe) the book could be in the mail to YOU!

How?

Simply ask any fiction-loving friend(s) to come home to the country right now and subscribe to (using the email capture thingy – top right of screen). YOUR FRIEND will go into a draw to win a copy of House for all Seasons and YOU will be eligible for the Simmering Season prize.

How do I know you referred someone so I can add your name?

New subscribers need to get YOUR NAME into the Simmering Season barrel by leaving the following comment:

“Knock, knock, [insert your name here] sent me.”

(But wait … Send more friends and get more Simmering Season entries.)

So this giveaway really is all about YOU, lovely subscribers. One of you will get a book and so will a friend, simply by subscribing.

Yes, I am hoping to bring the odd (take that any way you like) newsletter to readers in the coming months and that, too, will have treats, sneak peeks, and the ‘odd’ exclusive for subscribers, so perhaps it’s not a bad idea to stay subscribed.

Open to Aust/NZ subscribers (current as at: 12 December 2013). Draw to take place under strict guidelines (ie before I start drinking) on 18 December, 2013. Announced here by way of ‘subscription post!’ Posted in the mail on the 19th.

Okay, so, Due to circumstances beyond my control, Christmas arrived! So, it will be a new year pressie instead.  

UPDATE: Two cortisone injections later I can sort of type again without pain, but briefly, and long enough to jump on, thank you for your patience and understanding, and announce the winners. With so many knock knocks in the comments, there was no surprise when i pulled out the winning name: Shannon Garner (who wins the pre-releae copy of Simmering Season.) From her referrals, the winning knock, knock is…. STACY! I’ll be in touch, ladies, and arrange delivery of your books.

Just because, Gailene and Anne, your names will automatically go into the next giveaway I do! Thank you for your continued support.

 

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Author Harvest w/ NZ author – Zana Bell

zana bell photo

I have a final Author Harvest and we are heading across the ditch to the land of the long white cloud to meet New Zealander and Choclit author,  Zana Bell. Please give her a great big Aussie welcome.

I fell in love with Zana’s beautiful storytelling after reading Forbidden Frontier, a fabulous story about a convict girl searching for Freedom. That was a log time ago, when I was still dreaming about publication, so it is pretty special to have Zana on Author Harvest.

Speaking of special, Zana, I am assuming you have some special treat for me.

Lamingtons, Jenn, because my latest novel is all about the celebrating the wild early days in the Antipodes. Here is the blurb…

We are not going any further until you tell me why yet another fiancé seems intent on wringing your neck.

Masquerades, deceptions and subterfuge – and that’s just on the heroine’s part.

****

Georgiana da Silva is catapulted out of the Victorian drawing rooms and into a world of danger when she escapes her fiendish fiancé to engage in a mad dash across the world to save her brother before an unknown assassin can find him.

Meanwhile, Captain Harry Trent is setting sail for New Zealand. With a mission to complete and the law on his heels, he’s got enough trouble of his own without further complications.

Close to the Wind by Zana BellThrown together, unable to trust anyone, -Georgiana and Harry are intent on fulfilling their missions despite the distractions of the other. But liberty comes at a price and the closer they get, the more they must question the true cost of being free.

 

Okay, so, at home…

Zana, my mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home, a closet gnomer or with a strict ‘no gnomes’ policy at your place?

We don’t have gnomes but for many years we always had one pretty little convertible or another parked up beside the driveway. I used to refer them as my garden gnomes. They never went – we couldn’t afford a sports car that was roadworthy! – but my husband could never resist the broken down 1930s MG, the rusted out 60s Porsche etc. Finally, we have one that we can actually drive but now it lives inside the garage while my trusty station-wagon (340 000km on the clock and still going) has been consigned to the drive.

(I’m sorry, but the only picture this conjures up is Noddy and Big ears!)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

Pawpaw. New Zealand can grow a lot of things but not pawpaw, alas. Whenever I go to the Pacific Islands, my first stop is the local market to pick some up.

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

It depends. Out of sheer curiosity I’d love to stay in Bill Gates’ house because it would be my only opportunity to see what all the money in the world can actually buy.

If I were going with the heart, I’d take any Bavarian castle provided it was fully-furnished with lots of central heating and a first rate chef. They are a wonderful blend of romance and Disney fantasy with all those turrets and towers. A friendly ghost would top things off nicely.

(Bil Gates my HAVE a Bavarian Castle and that would kill two birds, wouldn’t it?)

About you…

Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?

I don’t view writing as a career per se. I just write what I love and then hope to find a publisher and an audience. For example, when I wrote Forbidden Frontier, it took me years to find a publisher who was interested in Australian history. Now that I’ve changed tack, they are begging for Australian sagas!

I loved writing my Superromance but historicals continued to pull at the heartstrings. Close to the Wind was written when even Kiwis were rolling their eyes when I said I wanted to write a NZ historical. But I’d fallen in love with the 1860s gold-rush days and nothing was going to stop me. I had in mind Georgette Heyer meets Romancing the Stone against glorious South Island scenery. Again, it took a while but as soon as I’d signed up with ChocLit in London, one of the big publishers in NZ began to show an interest.

It’s impossible to second guess the market so I write the book that burns to be written. It’s a risky approach but so far I’ve sold all the books I’ve written which has been very lucky.

(Good advice.)

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

I find the balance between family, job, friends and writing extremely tricky. If I’m not careful, a book can become an obsession. On the flipside, I’m also a genius at procrastination!

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

That’s a no-brainer. I’d change places with Georgiana, heroine of my latest book, like a shot.  I’ve given her all the skills I wish I had. She’s feisty and, having grown up in a circus, she can climb masts and walk tightropes. She’s an excellent horsewoman and a great actress. I’d love to have the performing gene!

On top of that, she gets to hang out with Harry, the rakish sea captain, and have lots of adventures with him.

Of course I think they are the coolest couple – I wouldn’t have spent all those many months closeted up in my study with them if I didn’t.

(Bill Gates may ALSO have a circus!)

For a more…ahem…serious look at Zana and her novels, I can recommend you check out this post. My ‘old’ critique partner (also a New Zealander) did a great Q&A.  

About Zana Bell

Zana Bell writes in a variety of genre, her novels covering YA, historical, and contemporary and historical romance. Her second novel, Forbidden Frontier (Mira) based on Charlotte Badger, Australian convict and pirate and New Zealand’s first known English woman migrant won the Cataromance Single Title’s 10 Best Books of 2008.  She won the Cataromance Reviewers’ Award 2010 for Tempting the Negotiator (Harlequin Superromance). In 2012 she was shortlisted for the New Zealand Society of Authors Mid-Careers Grant.

Her New Zealand historical, romantic adventure Close to the Wind (ChocLit) came out in October, 2013.

Visit her website http://www.zanabell.com/ or FB https://www.facebook.com/zanabellauthor