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#WriteRoundOz w/ Annie Seaton and Kakadu Sunset

Kakadu SunsetAnnie Seaton has penned a winner.

I don’t have to say much—this book will sell itself.

Kakadu Sunset is one of those stories — a stand out cover with a real crowd-pleaser plot, set in the most well-known and intriguing places in Australia.

This is a very contemporary story that sees corruption in politics collide with the environment, which I’m guessing Annie had fun researching. From the helicopter scenes to the vivid descriptions of Kakadu, the authenticity within these pages took me back to my own time spent working in Kakadu, some years ago. (And I have to say… I cheered after reading the croc scene.)

A prolific author in the romance genre, with multiple ebooks online, Kakadu Sunset sees Annie Seaton in bricks and mortar bookshops for the first time, right alongside other great Aussie fiction. (Okay, so her and I are not side by side – yet. But if you manage to do a little shelf-elfing and get a picture of Annie’s books and one of mine (see below), do share.

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Or see Read Round Oz’s Q&A about Annie’s camping/research trip to Kakadu:

There’s nothing better than good Aussie fiction.

Thanks for coming home to the country… To five-star Aussie fiction.

Jenn J
book-House-194x300  book-Simmering-194x300book-Season-194x300CLICK HERE for more books…

Or find more great Aussie fiction at:

The Australian Rural Romance Readers’ Portal

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Author Harvest ‘bales up’ Annie Seaton – romance author

Author Harvest

 

Annie_Seaton_200x300Well, look who I have managed to pin down for two minutes! Don’t suppose you’ve managed to find time to bake for me, Annie — what with all your contract deadlines,  numerous editing jobs and generally being available to anyone who needs advice? (Ummm…like me!!)

I’ve actually made homemade banana bread for you, Jenn! Low fat of course.

(Low fat? What are you saying, Annie? Perhaps we will just move on…)

At home…

You know my mum used to say 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?

Love my garden gnomes. A home garden is not complete without at least one. My husband was known as a purloiner of garden gnomes to win my love when we were courting. (Love that word!)

(A purloiner of garden gnomes sounds a bit suss to me. Just as well I know hubby.)

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

Strawberries… with no luck. It might be because I forget to water the pots.

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find? (As if I have to ask?)

Lots of fruit and vegetables and er…the odd bottle of Sauvignon Blanc

(Er…don’t forget the odd bottle of Champers – cold and ready to pop for those frequent ‘oh, look, another book contract’ moments!)

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

My husband loves the old advertisement… Do you have it in black? He says it was made with me in mind!

(Classically flamboyant black, of course!)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Jeans and slippers, and a raggy (black) cardigan

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

David Bowie…because he might come home and I could meet my music hero!

Seriously, I need to meet either David or Peter Frampton as I am writing a time slip novel about a seventies rock star. A conversation would be very helpful in the creation of Hot Rock.

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

Hmmm. Don’t own a hat… and bare feet for me. Sorry… I’m a beach gal!holiday affair

That’s why all of my books are set near the water… Holiday Affair-Whitsundays and Nambucca Heads, Italian Affair on a beautiful Italian island… and there is a crystal clear pool in Outback Affair as well as flooding rivers!

Dangerous Desire in the Whitsundays and there are more….

(More? Well there you go then! Crack that Champers!)

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree Italian Affair-200x300(animal) would you be?

I would love to be a cat. They are clever, get to sleep in front of fires and are loved by their ‘cat people’ owners!

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Oh Jenn… I am rolling on the floor laughing. I will have to Google it. Remember me? I don’t get jokes!

(I remember… So, what DID the fish say when he hit his head, Annie?  …  Dam!)

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?

When Holiday Affair hit the best seller lists and my solicitor asked for my autograph…and it wasn’t on a legal document.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding a writing/life balance…once I start I find it hard to stop and I tend to focus and ignore the rest of the world (this is probably why hubby has become a purloiner of garden gnomes — for the company!) until I have finished the current task in hand. I can spend days away from the real world. I just completed 46,000 words of Outback Affair in nineteen days. Thank goodness for online grocery shopping. (Is that hubby I can hear cheering in the background?)

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

Well, Jenn if you were choosing I am sure it would be the Amazon Queen or the Facebook Queen!

(One of those companies will own the other one before long. Then both titles will be yours!)

Seriously…I would say Determination Does It!

(Determination and a couple of super wonderful couple of friends who live up the highway. Right Elle Fynllay?)

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Q: How does it feel to have toppled Nora Roberts from the top of the perch? (A girl can dream)

A: Pretty damn good!

Fun stuff …

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?

Katherine Swynford. I would meet John of Gaunt and experience life in fourteenth century England. I love history and have a degree with a major in British constitutional history. I am sure I have lived there before in a previous life. When we visited Wales a few years ago, it was like going home. I was in awe and all my husband could do was look at me and complain about the rain. (And purloin gnomes?)

I have a historical novel lined up three books down the list!

Okay, now for Italian Affair (everyone should have one. I’m referring to the book, of course!)

Free-spirited sex therapist Brianna Ballantine has four days to find a fiancé so she can inherit her birth mother’s Italian villa. Commitment is not on the agenda. Writing her sex therapy book and signing legal papers are. And once all is said and done, she’ll return home to Scotland.

For finance guru Tomas Richards, relationships have been a bad investment—give him stocks and shares any day. When Tomas offers a marriage of convenience to help Brianna secure her inheritance, the sizzle between the sheets promises an affair to remember, despite family complications at every turn.

But Tom must convince Brianna to stay, and make this Italian affair a lifelong commitment.

And to find out more? http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Affair-Entangled-Indulgence-ebook/dp/B00CNTTEAI

Annie loves to hear from readers at: annieseaton26@gmail.com

Her website is http://www.annieseatonromance.com/

And her blog is at http://annieseaton.blogspot.com.au/

You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnieSeatonAuthor and https://www.facebook.com/annieseaton26

And Twitter https://twitter.com/annieseaton26

 

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Me, Maeve Binchy, Monica McInerney & My Mum

Good friendsYou’d think by now I’d be used to the rollercoaster emotions that goes with the publication ride I’ve been on for well over a year now.

But this week, the highest of highs met the lowest of lows, some 10 days out from ‘Launch date’.

Here’s what happened.

(Monday) — My mum, who has been very unwell for some time, slipped a little further, finally passing away that afternoon.

(Tuesday) At my Dad’s insistence (and him in the care of my brother), I flew down for a scheduled Simon & Schuster publicity meeting in Sydney. I’m not sure how, but I managed the pre-arranged recording of an author interview with Caroline Baum. (Caroline has worked as founding editor of Good Reading magazine, features editor for Vogue, presenter of ABC TV’s popular bookshow, Between the Lines, and Foxtel’s Talking Books, and as an executive producer with ABC Radio National.

I was a bit of a mess, and despite my day starting with sliced cucumber stuck with cellotape under my eyes to reduce puffiness (refusing to use the suggested movie star trick of applying haemorrhoid cream to my face!) the interview went well. As it turned out, the trip was a much-needed distraction in a difficult week. (You will see the results online on February 27 when the interview goes live. Be kind!!!! (BLOG UPDATE: Here is the You Tube link for that interview.)

Bronwyn Parry, who also suffered a sad loss prior to one of her book releases wrote to me, offering this advice…

Be kind to yourself; I was where you are now last year – grieving a parent, and preparing for a book launch. Cry when you need to, stroke your book and grin madly when you want to – and know that your Mum would be so proud of you.

I have taken that advice and I did find myself grinning madly after the interview on Tuesday when Caroline said House for all Seasons reminded her of a Maeve Binchy novel, and we talked about how both Monica McInerney and I love an eclectic cast of characters in our stories.

Back home that same day (pleased to find the dogs had held their water for the 6 hour trip) I rang Dad, then I logged on and found a tweet — Culture Street’s review of House for all Seasons – my first review! I promptly rang Dad back again. Thank you Sophia Whitfield.

(Wednesday) With emotions totally betwixt by now, I was further bowled over by theMUM 15.02.13 overwhelming response from friends on Facebook to this photo of my mum holding House for all Seasons for the first time and reading the dedication. (I took this the Friday before she passed. I knew she was still with it because she made a joke about the book being heavy. (My Mum always loved her little pink Mills & Boons.)

This afternoon, the wonderful Annie Seaton and Marie Miller called around with flowers and hugs.

Tomorrow (Thursday) we get to say goodbye to Shirley Lewis – 02.09.30 – 18.02.13.

I am so glad my novel will be out on March 1 and with this dedication…

To the four women who have shaped my life.

Each as different as the seasons.

Jeannette ~ Kristine ~ Shirley

My partner in dreams ~ The wind beneath my wings ~ My mum

And to Pam Leicester ~ whose courage inspired Sara’s story

It’s the happy ever after you deserve. Mum's Flowers