Christmas = beach holiday with family. 

Here in Oz where our summer holiday coincides with Christmas, we gravitate like lemmings to the coast. Whether or not it has anything to do with astrology (I’m a Cancerian and yes, family also plays an important part in my stories), I need sea vistas at least once a year, more often if I can con or cajole my husband into a beach weekend (I can and I do!). So it was inevitable that my stories would be set beside water. 

White Ginger, my first novel, is set on Kauai. At the heart of Amelie and Arne's relationship is the reef which is threatened by a major developer. I spent hours in fascinated research on the reef and marine life, and saw numerous similarities to our own Great Barrier Reef off the Queensland coast. Water symbolises creativity and rebirth (among other things) and Amelie, my Aussie heroine, desperately needs a fresh start. Where better than on an Hawaiian island of love? Here's a snippet!
"Now...what do you think?"  He removed the blindfold and stood, warm hands on her shoulders.

Blazing red and gold clouds spread out before them as the Hawaiian sun set, framed by palms whose fronds almost met from either side of a narrow rush of sea water. They were on the far side of a small lagoon. White sand and lush greenery tumbled down to the water's edge in fabulous profusion.

Merger in Melbourne is set in the heart of this southern city's CBD with the lovely Yarra River and the bay as backdrops. Inspired by an abandoned red brick building, I thought this would be a regular cityscape story but found it impossible to keep my characters, Andie (Andrea) and Matt away from the water. They insisted on their coastal romance too! 

One Night in Sorrento, my novella, is set on the Amalfi Coast. Last year, my husband and I spent several weeks travelling in Italy and I fell in love with this beautiful coast line. The Tyrrhenian Sea is a dramatic backdrop and the trip along the mainland coast road is not to be missed! In fact, it inspired Rhiannon and Luca's story. We WILL return and I intend to ride a Vespa around Sorrento. 


FREE GIFT
In the spirit of Christmas and to share my love of travelling in Italy, I'm offering this novella as a free Christmas read. Hope you enjoy it! You can download it here...from Sunday, US time...probably later in the day for Aussie readers, but keep looking!

Where is your favourite coast road drive and what makes it special to you? 

Don't forget to enter the raffle copter below to go in the draw for a $100 gift card and 26 books from the authors participating in the hop. You can enter every day! Follow the blogs below on each day leading up to Christmas Eve for more chances to win this fabulous virtual gift basket! 

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Today I’m participating in the Three Wishes Blog Blitz, hosted by author Juliet Madison! From 2nd to 6th September you’ll have the chance to win some awesome prizes at all the blogs participating in the blitz, including mine. All you have to do is follow my instructions below for winning the prize I have on offer, and then you can click over to Juliet’s blog to enter her prize draw, and see the list of all other blogs taking part and enter their giveaways as well. How cool is that? Why is it called the Three Wishes Blog Blitz? Juliet’s new  romantic comedy release, I Dream of Johnny, is about three wishes, a high-tech genie in a lamp, and one very unfortunate typo that proves magic isn’t all it cracked up to be…

Star light, star bright,

First star I see tonight,

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight…

I’ve wished for many things in my life, starting with the Tooth Fairy. Back then, I believed in magic and fairies at the bottom of my garden. Everything was possible if I only wished hard enough.

Then I grew up and life events knocked some of the stuffing out of me. For a few years. 

I  married and had children and suddenly the world was full of magic again, only this time, I was creating it for my children. There were fairies at the bottom of our garden and a friendly blue dragon who lived in the duck park. He was a shy dragon, but he existed because my children believed in him. 

So did I. You see, through creating a world full of magic and wonder for my children, I rediscovered the power of belief and of wishes. Even if I was the instrument for making their wishes come true; because I had the power to make their wishes come true. 

Nowadays, my wishes are different—a lie-in on a weekend, a visit or phone call from my children, a new publishing contract... Mostly, these wishes are within my power to achieve for myself. Sadly, I can’t wish for better health or a happier outcome for my dear sister’s husband. Some wishes are beyond our reach, even when I wish it could be otherwise. 

But I can grant your wish for a little relaxation by transporting yourself to another place. If you’d like to be in the draw to win an e-book of my novel, White Ginger (set in Hawaii), leave me a comment—where would you like to spend two weeks next summer, and with whom? Competition closes 12 pm Friday 6 September. 

(Sorry, I’ve got dibs on the All Blacks; they’re staying at my hotel as I write this post!) 

You can find more blog participants and be in the draw for other prizes by visiting: 

http://julietmadison.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/3-wishes-blog-blitz-official-post/

When White Ginger was released, just four months ago, I had no idea of the amount of promotion required of me as ‘the author’. White Ginger is the first book I wrote, and it was picked up by a publisher. I hadn’t ‘been around’ other authors very long, had never really read blogs about books and writing, and certainly never used the internet to ‘find’ books to read and authors to follow.

That’s what book club is for, right? And my library.

Quite naively, I expected more input to promoting my novel from my publisher. I literally had no concept that they weren’t interested in this aspect and, in fact, expected me to do all of my own. After all, they liked my book enough to offer me a contract for it, to see it through its edits, to create a very hot cover (although it is actually a ‘sweet’ romance) so they would be my partner through the promotion stage, wouldn’t they?

Several months in, and with the joys of having befriended a number of wonderful writers, sharing their releases, seeing all the work they put in to social media to promote their work and having ‘shared’ much for them too, I now understand that most of getting my little story out there is up to me.

I’ve bumbled my way through creating an author page on Facebook, stuffed up posts and pictures and likes (and probably many other things) along the way, and finally got the idea that I have to stay regular (NB – eat more bran! – NO, not that sort of regular!). I’m not too bad at Facebook, but it’s a challenge running two different personas – me, and my writerly self. Sometimes, I forget which is the real person!  

My daughter set up a twitter account (I still barely know how to twitter/tweet – LOL) which I venture onto on Sundays. I still haven’t come to terms with how to use this medium to good effect but I at least attempt to use it.

However, my favourite social medium is Pinterest. I love it! I can pin while pretending to watch boxing with my husband – it’s far superior to chunky, sweaty bodies and bloodied faces – and add fabulous visual stimuli to my ‘novel’ boards. Pinterest feeds my love of beautiful people and places and shoes and food and Romance and… You get the picture.

A good friend and fabulous author, Annie Seaton, recently published “Promotional Tips and Tricks for Aspiring Authors in the Digital Landscape”. I truly wish this book had been available before I was published. I would have had more idea of what I should have been doing to let readers know about me and my book.

But it’s not too late to learn. I’ll definitely do better next time.

And in the meantime, here’s my Pinterest link if you’d like to see some of what inspired White Ginger and what is to come, including my first short story, One Night in Sorrento. Hey, I think I just did some advance promo!

Cheers, Susanne

http://pinterest.com/susannebellamy/white-ginger-a-romance/

In Shakespeare in Love, Queen Elizabeth sets Shakespeare the task of revealing what true love is. His response is Romeo and Juliet which, although a tale of “star-cross’d lovers”, is a timeless and universally loved story.

Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Georgette Heyer were writers who knew what women wanted and dared answer that unvoiced yearning for women readers of their respective times. Naturally, all were strong writers, but what is it about their writing that still endures, in a different world with different values? Why aren’t their stories ‘dated’?

Each of these writers knew how to create feisty heroines and hunky heroes (be still, my beating heart – Darcy emerging from the lake, white shirt plastered to his torso) but it’s not just about love, although the HEAs are achieved in each story (note – R&J’s is a very short HEA, and I grant you it’s not so much of an earthly ‘ever after’ but it is, nonetheless, achieved).

At the heart of all great writing is the ability to fulfil a deep seated need. A good romance satisfies while it leaves us wanting more. Through trials and tribulations, two characters must work to win their HEA and together, the hero and heroine are stronger and more memorable. We love sharing their journey, and that is what’s most important. A riveting and emotion-filled journey to the land of ‘happy ever after’.

In the spirit of sharing on Valentine’s Day, here are some of my ‘favourites’:

Favourite romantic read(s): Anna Campbell, Annie West, Annie Seaton (coincidentally, my favourite writers are called some form of Ann!) Add in Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and I’m happy for hours.

Favourite romantic movies: Casablanca, The Lake House, Kate and Leopold

Favourite play list in my perfect romance: Would have to include Il Divo; I love their music in whatever language they perform because they capture the language of love so well. Music featured in my debut novel, White Ginger, includes Il Divo’s “The Man You Love”, and Etta James’s “At Last” for that moment when love between two people is recognised and acknowledged.

My favourite romantic hero: Mr. Darcy (I can’t go past Colin Firth’s characterisation in film version), Rick in Casablanca, willing to let Ilsa leave with Lazlo on the last plane out, and Anna Campbell’s Gideon – flawed and damaged, but determined to rescue the heroine no matter the personal cost.

What makes a romance great for me: The contentment as I turn the last page, that “ah” moment that says I’ve loved the journey and am high on serotonin satisfaction.

Please leave a comment and tell me which characters make your heart beat quicken! Share the love and Happy Valentine’s Day. There’s a copy of White Ginger available for one lucky reader through the Rafflecopter draw. Please follow its prompts to enter.

SO, this Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and the prize is an e-copy  of White Ginger, my debut novel for the lucky winner... available on Amazon.

Thank you to Foolsforluv for Hosting this Hop!

To enter, simply answer the  question about your Romeo below and leave the answer in a comment with your email address.

From Susanne...
ROMEO, ROMEO, WHEREFORE ART THOU?

My white knight wore running shorts and joggers, and broke into my house.

I’d broken up with my partner the week before, on my birthday which also happened to be my housewarming party. Pretty lousy, right? We’d been an item nearly two years so it was a bit of a shock to the system. Coincidentally, my BF broke up with her partner at the same time.

Must have been something in the air. Or the water. Or maybe it was fate telling me this was not the man of my dreams.

Anyway, my BF and I planned to console each other by going to the drive-in that night, but my new house mate had moved in and managed to lock me out of my pride and joy. Being somewhat vertically challenged, I headed off to beg help from an acquaintance who fulfilled the requirements of rescuer – he was taller than me, and probably had a ladder.

In fact, he had something much, much better – a new house mate who was male, tall, and who needed no ladder. And who was athletic and handsome, wore running shorts and joggers, and broke into my house.

Well of course I invited aforementioned knight and friend to the drive-in, just to say thank you. As first dates go, it wasn’t ideal. My BF and I sat in the front (I drove), and the young men in the back. My acquaintance promptly fell asleep and snored through most of the two movies. Windscreen wipers and demister were turned on at regular intervals because it rained, and the windows fogged up. And the movies were “E.T.” and “Xanadu”. Not what I’d have chosen if I’d known this was to be our first date. But we remember it. Vividly!

A red rose arrived the following Monday with an invitation to another movie, in a cinema this time. The rest, as they say, is history.

Was it the rose, the dinner, the movies, or the fact he was persistent that won me over?

It might have been his cute derriere as he shinnied up the pipe to break into my bathroom.

I believe we were meant to be. How else can I explain such a wonderful alignment of the stars that brought my Romeo to me?

In White Ginger, Amelie’s white knight rides to her rescue in his jeep when she is stranded at the side of the road. Mine arrived in a friend’s Commodore and broke into my home for me.

How did your “Romeo” arrive? Share your meeting in a comment, with your email address to be in the draw to win a copy of my  new novel, White Ginger. Good luck!


I encourage you all to visit the other blogs participating by clicking on the button on the left or the list below!

“…and the capital of Washington State is…”

“Wait, I know this one…Sleepless in Seattle. Seattle!”

“Correct. And Arkansas?”

“South Pacific, the musical and Nellie Forbush sings…LITTLE ROCK, ARK!”

“Well done. Now, a tricky one…Alabama.”

“Too easy. Montgomery as in Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mocking Bird.” (Hubby quizzing me on my knowledge of state capitals of the USA – yeah, we have our moments! J)

I’ve learned so much from fiction. It’s useful at odd times, like trivia nights, but it’s comforting too, to know that I can trust writers. After all, they’re intelligent and curious people who have written the best book they can. When they tell me a thing is so, I trust they have given me factual information within their detailed descriptions, so I won’t make a fool of myself when I quote them.

With this in mind, and a deep love of knowledge across a broad spectrum, I researched tiny details for what turned out to be my debut novel, White Ginger.

For example, I needed a famous Hawaiian surfer for a minor character to compare himself to – and found Sonny Garcia who, as it turned out, was a better character match than I could have hoped for.

When Amelie and Arne head out to the reef, there was an entire underwater world to explore and bring to life. I know quite a bit now about the effects of pollution and climate change and development on reef environments. I also learned about scuba diving as well as the particular reef that protects Kauai.

I reveled in this knowledge, confident that I had learned something interesting to share with readers that added to the authenticity of the scene. And I discovered the little fish with the long name:

Humuhumunukunukuapua’a – it’s Hawaiian for the fish with a nose like a pig! Click on the Hawaiian name to watch.
Then there was Hawaiian culture, legends and dancing. What can I say? I spent hours watching videos of this beautiful art form and learning more of the history and culture of the islands.

As writers, we have a huge responsibility to our readers. Our job is not just to write a great story, but to be accurate in every detail offered in our work. It’s detective work, sometimes painstakingly slow, but it is one of the great pleasures of a writing life.

I loved every minute of it.

Research – A Writer’s Responsibility and Joy

Welcome to the NEXT BIG THING Blog Hop.

What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors new to them.  I hope you'll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy.  On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information on me and one of my books and links to five other authors you can explore!

White Ginger available on Amazon
My gratitude to fellow author, Juanita Kees, for inviting me to participate in this event.  You can click the following links to learn more about Juanita and her books.

Her Next Big Thing 

Her Website

Her books

In this blog hop, my fellow authors and I, in our respective blogs, have answered ten questions about our current book or work-in-progress (giving you a sneak peek).  We've also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write--the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the working title of your book?      Merger in Melbourne

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?        On a recent visit to my daughter who is studying music at the Melbourne Conservatorium, we explored the CBD on foot, with the occasional tram ride thrown in for good measure. An abandoned red brick building I saw during one of those rides sparked this story idea.

3: What genre does your book come under?             Contemporary romance

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?    You can check out my Pinterest board!   However, I will drop a couple of names: Patrick Dempsey and Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica on True Blood!)

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? One building, two strangers and the past that binds them.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?       At the moment, it’s a work in progress, but I hope my publisher will like this one too when it’s finished.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?          It’s just under half way in first draft form but I’m hoping to have it ready for submission by Easter.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?    Each story is unique so I find this difficult to answer.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?         The spirit of Melbourne CBD and my interest in all things historical. The past can influence our present in unexpected ways.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?    A lovable Irishman with a soft Irish brogue, a heroine who, in facing up to the threat to those she cares about, discovers she is more than capable.

Below you will find authors who will be joining me virtually, via blog, next Wednesday. Please be sure to bookmark their sites, and add them to your calendars for updates on their upcoming books!  Happy Writing and Reading!

((You will replace these 5 author names and urls with 5 of your own))

1.       Annie Seaton

2.       Efthalia Pegios

3.       Lily Malone

4.       Imelda Evans

5.       Ann B Harrison

White Ginger went live early, and I almost missed my own launch party. 

“Missed your own party? What?”

You see, I was celebrating with geographically accessible friends during the afternoon of the day White Ginger was supposed to be released on Monday 7th January. Turns out it went live on New Year’s Eve! Anyway, after champers at our wine bar (on the not-quite-today release day), I headed off to dinner. Should have been home in time but through a slight haze, I MAY have misread my watch.

And not heard my phone as online friends rang to see where the missing hostess was.

Several times.

Embarrassed and a teensy bit wobbly, I fumbled online—after a panicked message to Annie Seaton (Annie, I can’t find my party!)—to discover my launch party in full swing, hottie waiters serving red cocktails and a rainbow selection of cocktails at the bar. Efthalia Pegios was serving up a storm of fabulous food, Channing Tatum look-alikes performed a riotous floor show and S E Gilchrist had arranged a huge cake (forget the cake, I’ll take the hunk who jumped out of it, thank you very much!).

Cyber banter and etheric toasts flew back and forth and celebrity guests called in. Hugh was very popular. I’m not sure who snaffled him in the end!

The best part, though, was the wonderful group of women who I’ve come to know and respect through the RWA celebrating that most amazing and never-to-be-repeated experience of launching my debut novel. Their support and friendship, sharing and caring gave me an evening to remember and treasure.

Ladies, YOU ROCK!

Thank you.

It’s nearly time! Yes, my debut novel will be released on 7th January and I’m excited. On many levels. I’ve got a story, and I’ve got a cover—oh boy, do I have a cover! Talk about hot. Steam rises when I view it. I’ll post the image on release day and you can tell me what you think.

But on the cover, you can’t see the hero’s face, just the female’s. So I’m asking for your suggestions.

Arne (Keanu) is French Hawaiian, a marine biologist, campaigning against a big developer to save his community on Kauai. He is dark haired and dark eyed, and…well, I’ll let Amelie tell you just a little from her point of view!

As Leilani cut through the sparkling waters over Donovan’s Reef, Amelie paused in the hatchway and watched Arne. Shirtless and wearing cutoff jeans frayed at the knees, he steered with one hand. Dark-eyed, dark-haired, he looked like a young Hawaiian god, all-powerful and in complete command of his world.

With a guilty start, she realized he’d turned and was watching her, a slow smile forming.

I wish I could hold a copy of my first-born brain child in my hands, but e-publishing is not tactile. I can’t engage my sense of smell when I open the new book, or run my fingers across the pages, or trace the letters of my name (MY name!—wow!) on the front cover. I won’t even hear the rustle of pages turning as I flick through my book. But I can (and have) spent time researching (it’s not ogling—it’s valid research!) images of potential hunks to be Arne. After all, he is, again quoting Amelie, “Mister Hunky Muscles”. 

So help me out here—please! Who captures the Arne essence? I’d love you to post your suggestion on my Facebook page—Susanne Bellamy.

And when I figure out how to (new author here), I’ll select the “man most likely to be Arne” by the end of January and gift you a copy of White Ginger. 

 This week, I was tagged in a chain blog called The Next Big Thing by fellow writer, Efthalia Pegios.
How it works is, I answer ten questions about my current WIP or release and then tag five other writers to do the same in the following week.

Here are my answers and the writers I've chosen to tell you about their novels are:
Anna Campbell, Annie Seaton, Ann B Harrison, Jenn J McLeod and Natalie Moress 

Well, now that the five have been announced, here are the questions:

What is the title of your current book?

White Ginger, released 7th January 2013!

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It might sound corny but my husband was in Nepal (again) and I was missing him so much that the idea of soul mates finding one another in a tropical paradise (as opposed to a snowstorm!) became my debut novel.

What genre does your book fall under?

Contemporary romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Arne finds his soul mate in Amelie, but his battle against a big developer threatens more than just their community—it endangers their love and their lives.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

White Ginger is contracted by Lyrical Press

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Most of the first draft was written in the five weeks my husband was away, then polished and repolished over the next two months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Difficult to answer; while this is a contemporary story, it has suspense elements too.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I love the grand Broadway musicals that incorporate themes such as racism; South Pacific was the first musical I ever directed so I chose Kauai (remember Bali Hai?) as my setting then used my idea of soul mates meeting in a similar paradise.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

Find out my biggest phobia—I gave it to Amelie, my heroine. She has to overcome it to keep Arne (Keanu) safe! I think love can inspire us to do amazing things.