Davy Morgan has the inimitable Annie Seaton for his guide across time and mystical ley lines as he searches and waits for Megan. Please welcome Annie and give a huge rock star welcome to Davy Morgan, hero of Hot Rock.
You write across several genres of romance, Annie, from Bliss (sweet) stories to Covet with a high level of ‘heat’. Are there any character traits you consider essential to all heroes, irrespective of heat levels within the story?
My heroes must have a hint of vulnerability and the ability to laugh when the going gets tough. For some reason, many of my heroes begin the story a little tortured and I guess that contributes to the vulnerability that I like to see in them.
What do you think the ideal hero should be like?
LOL... always tall, dark and handsome. Love my bad boys so he must have a quite a bit of bad boy in him. A rock star bad boy was so much fun to write! Muscular arms and a six pack to go with it... oh... and thighs are a given...he must have muscular legs too!
Personality...a little aloof to begin with, a love of wining and fine dining, and a sense of humour. Davy finds a particularly fine bottle of wine in Hot Rock
I have to admit I’m a little bit in love with Davy Morgan. (Okay...a whole lot!). I wrote in my review of Hot Rock that “A man who will wait as Davy waits for Megan--my goodness, he's a forever kind of hero.” Who inspired Davy’s character?
Davy is a compilation of my favourite rock stars from the seventies. A dark version of Peter Frampton, the music of David Bowie and the aloof charisma of Bryan Ferry.
Hot Rock is set at the Glastonbury Festival of 1971, one of the earliest festivals of its kind. What problems did you encounter when including real historical figures in your work?
I didn't encounter any problems. I absolutely loved doing the research—it is the historian in me. Every word, every event, every stage, the location of the pyramid stage, the way they positioned the stage with the dowsing rods, and each band in Hot Rock is based on careful research. Even the order in which the bands play (except for the fictional Davy Morgan band) is accurate. I just wish I could go there. Maybe I’ll go looking for some ley lines...
The hippy culture was still prevalent in 1971. I know your research is thorough and I loved the details that brought this period to life. What are some of your favourite facts?
The donation of the milk at the first festival by the Worthy Farm is factual. “The first Glastonbury. Last year at the Worthy Farm they gave free milk, so we wanted to do our bit this year. Give and the universe gives back to you.”
The hippie dress or the lack thereof, worn or not worn by some of the hippie festival goers was based on a close study of photographs and You Tube clips. The freedom of the festival and how the atmosphere was so different to the commercial concerts we have today.
Some people show their love through acts of service, others through physical contact and so on. How does your hero, Davy Morgan, show how he feels about the heroine, Megan Miller?
Davy’s love and yearning for Megan is demonstrated in the song he wrote, which was to follow her through time.
‘Come back to me, Megan.
Together we will conquer time.’
Come back to me, I can’t find you.
I need you, I love you.’
I love your secondary characters. Can you tell us a little about a couple of them?
Slim, Alice and Holly are my favourite secondary characters. Some of them will have their own book soon. Beth will also come to Glastonbury. Their stories are all tugging at the edges of my mind. They all have secrets which need to be resolved before they find their true happiness. Will it be together or with someone else? I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for them to tell me.
This is a time slip novel. What was the most difficult aspect of juggling two different time periods?
Making sure that moving from one time to the other was believable and that the time shift didn't confuse readers. It took some juggling but I was really happy with how it panned out in the end. I have a fabulous editor at Entangled Publishing (Erin McCormack Molta who works with me on a few of my books.) Erin helped me tweak the time slip details so that the transition was seamless. The fabulous reviews which have overwhelmed me this week have shown that readers find the time shift easy to follow.
What are you currently working on?
I am very busy at the moment. I am beginning edits for my second Half Moon Bay series book, and I’m halfway through writing Book Three. I am also writing the first book in the Emerald Quest continuity series as well as a single title romantic thriller set in Kakadu National Park. I have a deadline for Seductive Secrets, the prequel to Dangerous Desire. The second Hot Rock series book, and now the third book are percolating in my mind. Since Hot Rock was released early this week, I have received many emails from readers who want a Hot Rock series, I am going to have to write more, I am sure!
Many thanks for sharing your work and your special hero with us today, Annie.
My pleasure, Susanne! Thanks for having me visit your fabulous blog.
Buy links are on the Hot Rock Page
You can visit Annie at
Her website
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