Christmas Earworms: White Wine in the Sun

by Louise Forster

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Christmas at our place is focused on the youngest members of the family, ages 10, 5, 3, and 11 months. Way before the big day we make a date to string the fairy lights outside. Never as simple as it sounds, is it? Last year it called for nimble fingers and good eyesight. But we had the perfect solution. Bribe the teenagers into helping us untangle the lights. To make sure there were no distractions, we gathered their phones, put them in a zip-lock bag and hid them in the crisper bin amongst the vegetables … yeah.

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After a hearty breakfast we gave them the ball of lights. And they gave us, ‘What the …?’ faces. Pretty soon there was laughter, giggling, elbowing and pointing, because inevitably someone wanted to take a shortcut, which made the untangling even more exasperating; just because it was fun to frustrate those who were too serious. Ignoring urgent suggestions because they were all talking over each other … the mess only worsened.

In the end one of them threw his hands in the air and gave his younger siblings, who were messing about a dirty look, but with an added smirk, showing them they were going to cop it later. Suggestions kept flying out from those that were determined to see this through, despite the fact that by now brains were starting to curdle. ‘No, this bit goes through there, and then that end loops through this gap here, you f-wit …’

I saw my ancient aunt sneak off, a knowing wicked grin on her face as she turned up the volume on Christmas carols. Funnily enough kids started to bob around, adding their own colourful lyrics, and eventually, the untangling lights took a string of grinning, triumphant teenagers down the driveway and back. The fairy lights became a stunning display at night. More so for the adults because we saw them through a haze of great food, wine, and sheer bliss because our family had gathered together, and we were safe. And the littlies thought it was all very magical. And there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.

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Our favourite carols:

Chevy Chase, Lampoon Christmas Vacation and Hallelujah because his lights finally work.

Perfect lyrics for Australia. Christmas photo, by John Williamson

How to make Gravy  by Paul Kelly

And the end of the day, White Wine In the Sun by Tim Minchin.

 


28381In the sequel to Home Truths, Louise Forster returns to the sleepy country town of Tumble Creek with the story of a cop, a teacher and a mystery that will bring them together—or tear them apart.

Art teacher and occasional life model Sofie Dove wants to know what’s up with Brock Stewart. Everything about the ex SAS soldier turned police officer seems to scream passion—and it’s all for her—but he just won’t express it. All she knows is that he has a past that still keeps him up some nights.

After a semi-trailer crashes through Sofie’s house and the driver disappears into thin air, Brock insists he’s the only one who can keep her safe—but can he, when they can’t seem to trust each other?

While Sofie works on figuring out why this man keeps giving her mixed messages, Brock is determined to find out who’s out to get her—as they both find out why falling in love is a bit like being hit by a truck.

iBooks, Booktopia, Nook, Kobo, Google, Amazon AU, Amazon US, Amazon UK

Feed Your Reader: Scots and Second Chances

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From best-selling author Frances Housden comes a brand new historical romance about a Spanish señorita and a strapping Scottish hero…


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Love at first sight is all very well, but sometimes it takes a second chance

December Gift Guides: A Little Bit of Magic

by Louise Forster

The trouble with finding that perfect gift for an uncle who only reads the sports pages and political satire cartoons, who loves throwing a steak on the barbecue, with a beer in one hand and tongs in the other, while listening to AC/DC is really difficult. The man loves inappropriate T-shirts, with inappropriate slogans and/or graphics. He’s not a bad person: on the contrary, he’s a big-bellied, big-hearted, generous person who contributes to many worthwhile causes, including marriage equality. He does get a kick out of verbal run-ins, loves the sparring. He’ll argue a point that is the opposite of how he feels with conviction, just so he can work out the other person … or push their buttons.

He has two teenage daughters who often find themselves in the middle of a heated debate with him. I’ve watched him grinning as in midstream he’ll swap sides. It doesn’t take long for his girls to catch on, and that’s when they give him a groan and an eye-roll before wandering off.

I could buy him a T-shirt that says, I Fear No One … I Have Daughters.

But I asked avid reader, DH, what he thought would put a huge grin on the man’s face Christmas morning. His immediate answer was anything by Ilona Andrews. But start with the Magic series. He’ll get a kick out of Kate Daniels and Curran.

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28381If your uncle likes stories about secrets and small towns, may we suggest Louise’s latest book, Tumble Creek?

Hallowe’en Series: A Family Ghost

by Louise Forster

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A true story.

Cross my heart … and stuff.

Our robust, Mediterranean brother in-law, Jon, died of pancreatic cancer. A long and excruciatingly painful death.

A loveable man with a huge heart and short fuse. He used to fire up when his immediate family did hot-headed stupid things. He had a strong sense of right and wrong and his siblings, aunts and uncles, even his mother would cop it at times. He protected his wife, my sister in-law, from a lot of the squabbling and no one dared say a word against her. He was always gentle and loveable towards us, his in-laws. He’d greet our girls, arms out wide ready to give them a tight hug with, “G’day Tiger. Who luvs ya baby.” They will always remember him with a soft smile and a warm heart.

After the funeral, we spent few days taking a relaxing drive through country Australia from Melbourne to Northern NSW. We stopped at Dubbo Zoo and other interesting places to give my sister-in-law a well-earned break. Early one morning after our first night home, something roused me; to this day I haven’t a clue how or why it happened. I raised myself up off the pillow, and eyes open, I looked at what I can only describe as a bunch of broken white lines in the form of a person gliding past my side of the bed. There was no soft ghostly-wispy look about this vision. As for me, I wasn’t in the least bit troubled seeing this. I thought, Oh, okay that’s interesting, and then I lay my head down and went back to sleep. I have since wondered whether Jon had the power to simply ease my concern and send me back to sleep. I can’t help it, I have a strong suspicion that he did this to me – or rather for me.

Later that morning as we sat around the table having breakfast with DH’s sister-in-law, I noticed he had a faraway, pensive look, and had become more emotional again. Jon’s cancer and death had hit him hard … he questioned why this loveable bloke whose heart was huge and nothing was ever too much trouble had to suffer such an agonizing death. A man who gave his girls amazing confidence in their abilities; a man who sized up their boyfriends with a ‘do not hurt my nieces’ look. Hoping it would help, I mentioned what had happened to me that morning, and how my scepticism, which bordered on ‘what a load of nonsense ghosts are not real’, was given a good rattling. That what I’d seen that morning was not a figment of my imagination, also that I wasn’t the least bit worried about the whole episode. DH is a disbeliever, the after-life, ghosts, angels, heaven and hell do not exist for him. After he’s listened to my story, his face had a weird ‘I don’t believe this stuff’ quirky grin he gets sometimes. But eyes wavering between scepticism and doubt, he told me that he’d dreamed Jon came to his side of the bed and that he got out of bed to hug him goodbye. DH said he felt him, felt Jon’s arms around him as he felt Jon’s shoulders against his, saying, ‘Goodbye mate.’ And then he woke up.

And now we wonder.

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28381In the sequel to Home Truths, Louise Forster returns to the sleepy country town of Tumble Creek with the story of a cop, a teacher and a mystery that will bring them together—or tear them apart.

Art teacher and occasional life model Sofie Dove wants to know what’s up with Brock Stewart. Everything about the ex SAS soldier turned police officer seems to scream passion—and it’s all for her—but he just won’t express it. All she knows is that he has a past that still keeps him up some nights.

After a semi-trailer crashes through Sofie’s house and the driver disappears into thin air, Brock insists he’s the only one who can keep her safe—but can he, when they can’t seem to trust each other?

While Sofie works on figuring out why this man keeps giving her mixed messages, Brock is determined to find out who’s out to get her—as they both find out why falling in love is a bit like being hit by a truck.

 

Gateway to Romance: Louise Forster

by Louise Forster

What drew me into the romance genre?

Gosh, where do I start?

I’m quite sure I’ve been a romantic all my life. I lived it, but it never occurred to me that I could write within the genre. And then a friend said I could … and should … so I did.

Music is huge in out extended family. On weekends we’d play out favourite albums, turn up the volume and dance and sing all over the living room. Christopher Cross’s song, ‘Sailing’ was a biggie. If my sister, a fine arts painter was around, she’d would join in. On one occasion our Burmese cat prowled out and bit her in the ankle. Maybe sis’s pitch was off.

I used to sit with my ear to the speakers and sway and quietly sing along to love songs. I don’t press my ear to the speaker anymore, which is probably a good thing. Old favourites will always remain close to my heart, nevertheless I have moved on from bands such as Bread, Deep Purple, and Prince and others. Now I listen to artists such as Gwen Stefani, Pink, Adele and more. Did listening to them draw me into reading and writing romance? Probably, but having said that, anything that has to do with the arts: music, movies, concerts, fine art, fashion … oh yes … and guys on horseback mustering, and guys saving animals; you name it, I’m drawn in and will use my experiences to write. Hold on, not that I’ve had experiences of guys on horseback; but my guy does save animals, birds, reptiles, insects …

Escape published my first book, titled: Finding Elizabethwhere Jack takes Katherine to a Christmas Eve dance. The music flows and he takes her hand for a sensuous, slow dance her across the floor.

Music is a powerful medium. I’m moved by a melody and lyrics, and when they come together, it’s magic. Some can bring me to tears, while others make me swoon or laugh. There are so many writers and singers of brilliant songs way too many to name. But some of the most moving, and romantic lines, I find, are in lyrics. A whole love story is sung in 3minutes 28 seconds. The song by Bread titled ‘IF’, has powerful, touching lyrics that will arouse your emotions in about two minutes forty-three seconds.

Because Chris Isaak comes across as a cheeky bad boy, and many would say Hot, I’ve added an oldie … well, maybe not that old.

 

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
It’s strange what desire will make foolish people do
I’d never dreamed that I’d meet somebody like you
And I’d never dreamed that I’d lose somebody like you

The song below is not in the least bit romantic, but it’s the first time I’ve been able to really listen to the lyrics. Is it because the singer is awesomely hot, his voice, his expressive face or the powerful music and lyrics?

From Jonathan Zalman, a staff editor, runs The Scroll, Tablet’s news blog.

“As one YouTube user put it: “I came for the metal, I got feels.

People writing songs
That voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence


28381In the sequel to Home Truths, Louise Forster returns to the sleepy country town of Tumble Creek with the story of a cop, a teacher and a mystery that will bring them together—or tear them apart.

Art teacher and occasional life model Sofie Dove wants to know what’s up with Brock Stewart. Everything about the ex SAS soldier turned police officer seems to scream passion—and it’s all for her—but he just won’t express it. All she knows is that he has a past that still keeps him up some nights.

After a semi-trailer crashes through Sofie’s house and the driver disappears into thin air, Brock insists he’s the only one who can keep her safe—but can he, when they can’t seem to trust each other?

While Sofie works on figuring out why this man keeps giving her mixed messages, Brock is determined to find out who’s out to get her—as they both find out why falling in love is a bit like being hit by a truck.

Gateway to Romance: Louise Forster

by Louise Forster

We lived in The Netherlands for a couple of years, and soon discovered that Dutch spoken at home was quite different to trying keep up with relatives talking through and over each other. Never mind TV announcers who seemed to speak Dutch, plum-in-mouth, which was equally daunting. Television was appalling and the winter nights were long. I needed something to occupy my mind so I ventured into the attic of the house we were renting. I soon discovered said places are always dimly lit, and creepy to explore; a bit like tingles along your spine all the way up to the back of your neck, making your scalp prickle. Nevertheless, creeped out, but determined, I hesitantly poked around and discovered books with English titles. Eureka! Neatly stored in a bookcase, were John Steinbeck, Somerset Maugham, and oh my god, Henry Miller; he blew the cobwebs right out of my prissy upbringing.

Then Jennifer Crusie stole my romantic reading heart.

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Her books were and still are a delight. There are two that stand out for me: Agnes and the Hit Man and Fast Women. If I had to choose it would be have to be Fast Women. I loved crazy Nell and grumpy Gabe.

The opening para is absolutely brilliant:

The man behind the cluttered desk looked like the devil, and Nell Dysart figured that was par for the course since she’d been going to hell for a year and a half anyway. Meeting Gabriel McKenna just meant she’d arrived.’

Who’s Nell? why was her life hell? Who is Gabriel and what made Nell think he looked like the devil? Fantastic, I was hooked. Surely this would have any non-romance reader intrigued as well.

Jennifer Crusie’s dialogue is always brilliant. Her characters draw the reader in, and make you want the whole business of an unlikely romance work out. Gabe is a private detective and his office is exactly how he likes it … a bit of a shrine to his late father who passed away twenty years ago. Livewire, Nell, hired to type and file, thinks the whole place needs updating. Mindful of grump Gabe, she starts carefully with a good clean out and uncovers a mystery involving Gabe’s dad and her ex’s family. There’s plenty of humour, and the intricate plot would keep anyone turning the page.

Just to add more reading fun the whimsical china called Walking Ware features in this book.


Louise Forster grew up in country Victoria, but has seen quite a bit of the world. Experiencing different cultures, she learned that one of the enjoyable things to do was step back and watch as events played out. It fascinated her how European and Australian men romanced women, which differed for every country, yet, happily, the outcome was the same … usually. 😉 Her latest book pits a small town teacher against the wounded soldier who just wants to keep her safe.

Hot Toddies: Louise Forster

NSFW content: please note that our ‘hot toddies’ series contains explicit language and (very) adult situations.

Here in Australia, the weather is getting colder. We’re dragging out the blankets and brewing up the cocoa, but it’s not doing the job. We need something hot.

Luckily, Escape artists have come to the rescue. They’ve provided some of the most scorching scenes from their books for us to enjoy. As the cold winds blow outside, we’ll be heating up with some ‘hot toddies’.

Winter is coming. And so our are heroes and heroines.


from Tumble Creek by Louise Forster

Sofie couldn’t wait any longer and started to pull at Brock’s T-shirt. Exposing his ripped abs she nipped, licked and kissed his skin all the way to his nipples, sucking one then the other. Hands flat, she slipped them under his shirt, feeling his satin skin over hard muscles. He groaned as he reached over his shoulders, grabbed the back of his shirt and hauled it off. Then Brock hunkered down and slid his hands up her thighs, taking the skirt to her hips and exposing her black lacy-topped stockings. He sucked in a breath as his fingers lightly stroked the strip of exposed skin between her stockings and undies. Then his soft mouth kissed the sensitive area above the lace, and slowly moved to her inner thighs. Sofie held her breath, the sweet sensation almost too much.

She started to gather her dress but in one fluid movement Brock stood and took over, swooping her dress up and off. She stood facing him in her black lace bra, matching undies and stockings. Brock’s gaze slid to her feet, then slowly trailed up her body. Eyes on hers, his hands went to her ribcage then slowly moved around to her back. He undid her bra, slid the straps off her arms and tossed it aside. He cupped her breasts and gazed at them as if in awe, then bent down to tenderly lick and kiss her nipples. Sofie whimpered and slid her hand into her undies to clutch her aching sex.

‘Jesus Babe,’ he growled, sliding his hand over hers inside her undies. ‘Wait for me?’

Kissing his way up to her throat, Brock pulled his jeans zipper down with his other hand while simultaneously kicking off his boots, then using his feet, shoved his jeans down his legs and kicked them aside. Sofie’s eyes darted to the impressive bulge in his jocks. In a blink the jocks were gone too, freeing his erection. At the sight of him fully erect, wetness gathered at her entrance.

‘Oh my.’ She whipped her hands out of her undies and went straight for his shaft, her fingers clasping around him, squeezing, stroking. ‘I want you … every glorious inch of you.’ She licked her lips.

Brock groaned and pulled her in against his hard body, Sofie gasped and her arms flew around his neck. His thick shaft pressing into her belly made her want him inside her now; she was about to say so when his mouth went down on hers for a deep, hungry, tongue-wrestling kiss. And then his mouth was everywhere, nibbling her earlobe, grazing his teeth down her neck then tongue-kissing to her collar bone. He cupped her breasts again and sucked on her nipples, sending an electrifying pulse straight between her thighs. Moving further down with his mouth, he slipped his fingers in the band of her undies and pushed them down to her ankles. Breathing fast with anticipation, Sofie stepped out of them. His dark eyes, a heady mix of heat and need, locked on hers, and Sofie’s heart swelled. His beautiful hands pressed in massaging as they moved over to her belly, then further down to her pelvis and in between her thighs. ‘Open for me, Babe,’ he whispered hungrily as his lips brushed the corner of her mouth.

Sofie immediately did as he asked. His hand slid down to cup her sex, then he gently slipped two fingers into her wet folds and slid them over her swollen clit.

‘Oh my God,’ she said on a gasp, her fingers going up into his hair to hang on.

His fingers teased at her entrance. Sofie rocked forward trying to thrust them in deeper, as he edged back to play over her wet, swollen clit. ‘I need more,’ Sofie moaned and began to buck her hips over his hand. Brock trailed kisses to her breasts, then using his tongue he sucked and laved her nipples, then sucked a little harder. Sofie arched back, and Brock eased a finger in, slowly going deeper.

‘Hmm, warm, wet, silk,’ Brock moaned hungrily against her mouth, easing in another finger, pumping, opening Sofie wider.

‘Oh God! Brock! I’m going to …’ She grabbed his hair and pulled his hand away from her sex. ‘Stop—stop—stop! Oh dear God, not in a million years did I ever think I would say that. But if you don’t stop right now I’ll come, and I want you inside me when I do.’

‘Not stopping, you first. Then I’ll make you come again … me inside,’ he murmured, a naughty grin playing across his mouth.

‘You will?’ She’d never done anything of the sort. If Brock’s love-making were to continue like this, and there was no reason why not, then surely she’d be completely sated. ‘I can’t.’ Fingers in his scalp she clutched handfuls of his hair.

‘Trust me, you can.’

‘Oh …’ Sofie whimpered, her body about to collapse with so much pleasure.

His mouth was back on hers, his slick fingers inside her pumping faster, faster. Sofie climaxed. A star-blazing orgasm that rolled on and on. Her body jerked, her limbs shook. Luckily Brock’s forearm was under her bottom, holding her up, because her legs went and without his arm she would have slumped to the floor.

Suddenly his hands were around her waist and she was up and flying onto the bed. He’d pulled back the covers—when he’d managed that she had no idea—and now she was on her back and Brock was covering her with his powerful body, and yes, his weight, and his warm skin on hers—heaven! Using his knees he spread her legs wide and the tip of his shaft nudged her entrance, then little by little he eased himself inside.

‘Oh my God.’ She arched her back and neck, thrusting her breasts up.

‘Babe, wet, silk, tight, wrapped around me. Fuck that feels good.’ His hands were on the mattress on either side of her, taking his weight off her body now, shoulders, biceps and forearm muscles bulging; she ran her hands up, fingers rippling over his skin, loving the feel of him, the power of him.

He kissed along her jaw and, voice rough, he whispered, ‘Let me see your beautiful eyes. I want to see how turned on you are.’

She did as he asked, and all that she gave him reflected in his face, his eyes. Sofie was sure she interpreted Brock’s expression correctly. His open, honest face showed that what he was experiencing, with her, was blowing his mind.

‘Fuck, you’re amazing, giving me everything.’ He lowered his mouth to her lips, his tongue toying with hers.

Her legs went around his back, digging her heels into his butt, pulling him inside her. ‘Stop playing and give me fast, give more.’ Brock upped the pace. ‘Oh yes … yes.’ Sofie bucked her hips to meet his rhythm.

His hand slid in between them straight to her sex. He pulled his shaft out to the tip and his fingers went in, making them wet, he brought them out to slip around her inner folds and clit. Sofie cried out her pleasure and Brock drove deep inside her. Staying there he rotated his hips, again and again, relentlessly driving her to the edge. His mouth went to a nipple, and he sucked, nipped and sucked again, all the while driving in deeper, fingers swirling over her clit.

‘Come for me, Babe. I want to feel you clutch my cock.’ His head went to her neck. ‘Come for me,’ he softly growled in her ear, adding goosebumps to all the delicious sensations, making her body sing.

Sofie moaned with every outward breath, coming faster now as she headed towards another sensational orgasm. ‘I’m … I’m there. Brock … Brock!’ Her breath shallow as the tingling, beautiful waves washed through her, making her body convulse around his shaft. Brock slammed in deep and stayed planted. Grunting, his mouth came down on hers. Claiming. Masculine. Wild.


tumble

In the sequel to Home Truths, Louise Forster returns to the sleepy country town of Tumble Creek with the story of a cop, a teacher and a mystery that will bring them together—or tear them apart.

My Book Setting: Canada

by Louise Forster

What better way to bring Aussie humour into a story than to take an Australian country guy who’s enjoying the summer heat, and set him a task that would take him to Canada in the dead of winter. Winters in Canada are brutal—it can get down to minus 20 degrees C.

louisef2In Finding Elizabeth, Jack’s friend Dave from their university days meets him at Calgary airport. Dave is a sports journalist and takes him to see a ballet. I would tell you more, but that would take a couple of chapters. Anyway, not only is Jack freezing his bits off, he’s also jetlagged. Thank goodness he brought an elderly friend’s hand-knitted colourful beanie with a pompom, and he’s not afraid to wear it. But once he sees the principle dancer, Katherine, he doesn’t care how cold he gets—he wants to see her again.

The author in Alaska: you have to keep close to each other to keep warm!

The author in Alaska: you have to keep close to each other to keep warm!

His search takes him to a small country town, Canmore, which is near Banff. I was intrigued about writing a hero not only planted in a foreign country, but also experiencing foreign weather. As I’ve experienced extreme, icy-cold conditions in Alaska, I know the difficulties of keeping warm. Best to laugh at yourself; you’ll quickly learn how to dress suitably, especially the feet! I wondered how my hero would manage. I drew from my experiences of dealing with sub-zero temperatures, when whipping winds across frozen lakes added that extra ‘I’m going to die’ feeling. People will find my tall, frosted-over body, icicles dripping off my nose, standing in the middle of the street, unable to move…

Understanding that Jack was on a mission and needed to get out of his warm, cosy digs, I had him freezing his arse off on a bench outside a store. Rather than get pissed off, he enjoyed the Christmas decorations and the bleak sun on the only exposed part of his body—his face. ‘He felt like groaning, so he did.’ And although he mutters about the fact that he could be frying on a hot Sydney beach, he takes it all in his stride and thinks warm thoughts. He feels warmer when he sees the ballet dancer stride towards him. Under difficult circumstances, Jack makes fun of himself, which Australians are good at…

Here’s an extract:

Katherine took a deep breath. Icy air hit her lungs and she coughed. Tears sprang in her eyes; she quickly blinked them away.

Jack peered at her. ‘Are you doing that so your eyeballs won’t freeze over?’ he asked. ‘Should I do that as well? I reckon there should be a weather warning.’ He squared his shoulders and mimicked an announcer’s voice. ‘Temperatures will freeze your eyeballs today. Also, men’s nostril hairs will freeze and snap off.’


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After a lifetime in the bright lights and the big city as a prima ballerina, Katherine Bell has finally returned home to her small, snowy town where there’s a blizzard outside, a daredevil girlfriend in her house, and a persistent, sexy Australian called Jack Riley who needs to be kept at arm’s length.

My Country Home

by Louise Forster

I love writing romance because it can take me—and a reader—anywhere, in any genre, and in all kinds of weather. I find it exciting to utilize country towns I’ve visited, with loveable characters that I’ve talked to; towns such as Mudgee, Glenn Ines and Armidale.

People in country towns have a unique dry, Aussie humour, which is a great tool to bring depth to characters. I live in a small town; it has one pub, one general store, a post office and various businesses, including a vet. The same vet performed surgery on our desperately ill dog, and he allowed us into theatre as his mate and fellow vet recited bush poetry.

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For my next book, Tumble Creek (due for release on April 25, ANZAC day), I needed specifics on breaking and entering. Yep, the heroine has decided to deal with a certain problem herself. She’s up to no good…well, not really, but she felt strongly that she had to do something and didn’t know it was illegal, and she’s dating a police officer. I had to get my information correct so I rang the local police station on three separate occasions and talked to different officers each time. And each time we joked about them being interrogated. But while I questioned them, they were serious and considered their answers carefully. They never thought I was a crazy woman about to go rob someone and needed to know the legalities before I started. It being a small town, they knew where I lived. Thankfully, no paddy wagon, sirens blaring, came screaming up the drive to get me.

Country people are happy to stop and have a yarn about anything. There is a certain etiquette one must follow when you need information. Even if you’ve known them all your life you don’t run off at the mouth about your problem. With genuine interest—because they can smell a fake a mile off—you ask how they are going. How’s the family? Are the cattle prices good? Are they getting enough rain? Then gently ease into the questions you’d like to ask. People on the land enjoy a chat, and explaining what happens on the land. They love to help out with what you’re doing.

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They also want to know why you’re asking. ‘Oh, you’re writing a book.’ They give you the semi-profile-squinty-eye and say, ‘Don’t put me in it luv, will ya.’ Having given them my assurances, and letting them know the town has a make-believe name, there’s a sigh of relief and genuine wishes of ‘Good luck, hope it’s a huge seller’.

‘When you’re famous, you can throw us all a barbeque…we’ll bring the beer.’

So the reason I write small-town, you could say rural, contemporary romance is all of the above. But mostly it’s the people I meet through my research; they help me learn more about the country we live in.

And there’s always something new to learn.


home

All is not what it seems in this sleepy, small town…