I’m blogging on Novel Thoughts today, about where ideas come from and more particularly, where the idea for my December release, DEFIANT MISTRESS, RUTHLESS MILLIONAIRE, came from.

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I’m blogging on eHarlequin’s Silhouette Desire Authors blog, about “What have you always wanted to do or be?”

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As my next book (after the one I’m currently labouring on) is set in Queenstown, NZ, and as I’ve never been there before, I decided it was time for a research trip and I have to tell you it was one of the very best things I’ve ever done.

I’m one of those naughty NZers who haven’t seen a huge amount of my own country. I’m not proud of that fact but I’m working to remedy it, and to include as many wonderful NZ destinations in my books as I possibly can.

A Friday afternoon arrival in Queenstown was perfect, and so was the weather. Blue sky, sunshine, warm temperatures a view of Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki) on the flight down, and the most wonderful service from the Avis rental car staff at the airport, through to the hotel reception staff at the Copthorne, through to the restaurant (Prime Restaurant & Bar) for dinner that I’ve ever experienced anywhere in the world. Here’s a glimpse of the view behind me from the room at the hotel. I have to say, every morning and every evening I spent a fair amount of time on that balcony just totally awe inspired by the outlook. Truly, truly, beautiful.

Dinner on Friday night was, after much deliberation and checking of doorfront menus, at Prime. I do not normally hugely enjoy chicken breast because it often presents so very dry, but the chicken breast and vege rosti was delicious, especially with the Akarua Chardonnay. 

Saturday was drive around the countryside day. First, a trip to Arrowtown, which is filled with history. On the way there a glimpse of the Shotover River Jetboats (which engendered an instant booking for the next day) and on the way out, watching some intrepid jumpers take a leap off a bridge, secured by bungee. You couldn’t ever pay me enough money to do that–EVER! LOL. In Arrowtown, a couple of hours spent wandering the museum is time well spent. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single picture inside there. There was so much history about the place but one of the things that really struck me was how personal everything seemed. All the histories were about people whose names you came across everywhere you went, all over the general district. Totally fascinating stuff.

After Arrowtown came a journey through the Kawerau Gorge and a brief glimpse of the Goldfields museum and Jet. Then past several wineries (loved the sculpture at the entrance to one particular vineyard, whose name escapes me now, darnit!) until Cromwell. After Cromwell was a trip back to Queenstown and Kelvin Heights. I could very seriously see myself living there. The views, the tranquility…what else does a person need?

After this was a trip through to Glenorchy. Every corner on the road delivered yet another beautiful vista. I can well understand why this area was chosen for filming the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There’s a raw stark beauty about the area that stays with you long after you’ve passed through. This is one of my favourite photos. At the end of the road were a few businesses, including the Glenorchy hotel which was a beautiful spot to stop and soak up the atmosphere of the surroundings.

Sunday morning was pretty relaxed. A bit of a wander around the retail offerings (many) that line Queenstown central’s streets and watching the coal truck deliver its 6 tonne load to the TSS Earnslaw, at the wharf. But then after that, the excitement began. After a short wait, ever so patiently, at The Station for our bus driver to collect the group heading to the Shotover River, we did exactly that. On arrival it was time to don splash coats and life vests and meet the driver of the jet boat that gave me what was probably the most fun and exhilarating ride I’ve ever enjoyed in my life! I’m a bit of a wimp with most things but this was supreme! I swear we passed within centimetres of rocks and cliff faces, but there wasn’t a single moment, even during the amazing 360 degree turns (and despite the screaming Aussie to my left, ) where I felt frightened. I got off the boat wanting to let my inner child demand, “Again! Again!” After that, a small group of us were taken by bus half way up Coronet Peak where I experienced my first ever helicopter ride. Again, exhilarating and, again, something else I really want to repeat. So often my characters use helis as their preferred mode of transport. Now I really know why! The heli ride finished at the top of the Skyline Gondola complex where intrepid thrillseekers rode the luge (and the scary looking chairlift that takes them to the top of the luge.) The views from up there were spectacular and the ride down in the gondola (about 300m of near vertical drop, I believe) was a brilliant finish to a terrific afternoon. Well, almost a brilliant finish. A couple of glasses of wine on a sunbaked terrace at the Pig & Whistle, followed by a delicious Sunday roast meal, really polished the day off in perfect style.

Monday was, sadly, the day to return home to deadlines but in the morning there was time for a trip on the TSS Earnslaw. Learning about the vessel during a brief and informative tour given by one of the crew was delightful and by the time we pulled up outside Walter Peak Farm I knew that this was yet another trip I wanted to do again. The farm offers heritage tours, lunches, dinners, horse treks, sheep shearing displays and all sorts of entertainment. I think next time around a full day to explore is definitely in order.

It might have only been a three day trip but I felt as if it was much longer–but in a really good way. I’ve come home totally energised about starting the next book, although there’s the small matter of finishing the current one first. Best of all, I have a real sense of place and people for the area, which I know will translate into the story beautifully.

And, if you ever get the opportunity to visit Queenstown, please, do it! You won’t regret a minute of it, I’m sure.

I’ll be posting a competition soon for you to win a copy of Defiant Mistress, Ruthless Millionaire, but in the meantime, I thought you might like to read an excerpt. Here’s a link to Browse the Book:

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People often ask me where I get my ideas from. To be honest, sometimes I just don’t know. Other times, yeah, I can pinpoint a picture of a house, or a line in a song, or a news article that led my mind on that wonderful twisted path that authors follow to create a story and characters. Like the series I’m working on at the moment, which has a working title of The Heart’s Truth trilogy. I originally pitched a royal trilogy, something with a real fairy tale edge to it, something not quite of our modern world, something with a three hundred year old legend and a curse against a family of privilege by a woman who’d been horribly wronged. For Silhouette Desire, yes, I know that probably was a bit of a reach, but with some suggestions from our line’s Senior Editor and my then Editor, the trilogy outline transmogrified into something else. Something we could all happily work with.

I am a home body at heart and for me the home is the heart of everything to do with a family, so for my fictional family on my fictional Mediterranean island, I needed a home. Searching on the web for homes and interiors is a part of my work that I truly love and you can imagine how my imagination soared when I found this castillo, and thus, with the benefit of my ever active imagination, the heart/home of my fictional del Castillo family was born.

I understand the books are tentatively scheduled for July, August and September next year. I’m currently working on Book 2, which is part of the reason why I’m a little scarce here these days.

So, if you’re a writer, would you like to share where you get your ideas from?

Hi! I’m blogging on the Silhouette Desire Authors’ Blog on movies that stand the test of time. There are some great suggestions from the comments on movies to watch and enjoy.

Come and visit and comment to be in to win a copy of one of my books, together with a cute little kiwi keyring!

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This screened a few years ago on NZ’s Police Ten-7, and has recently become a huge hit on YouTube. I’m a great lover of dry humour and think it’s hilarious:

I saw this link on one of my facebook friend’s pages and, oh boy, did I laugh! This kakapo (NZ Parrot) is definitely biologically challenged, either that, or he adheres to the policy of ‘never let a chance go by!’

All humour aside, if you’re a bird person, visit this KAKAPO LINK for more information about the bird itself.

You know, I like a man in uniform probably about as much as the next girl, maybe more than some, but definitely not as much as this TV host on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. I couldn’t help but cringe and feel more than a bit uncomfortable when I watched this clip, and I couldn’t help wondering about how huge the hue and cry would be if the situation had been reversed and a male host had been as ‘flirtatious’ with a female contestant.

Personally, yeah, I get where she was coming from. If he graced the cover of one of my books I have no doubt it would fly off the shelves.  I found him handsome, stunning in his dress whites, clearly he’s a high achiever being a navy pilot and he’s also intelligent. What’s not to like on the cave-girl scale of selection? But I felt she went way beyond the bounds of professionalism and basic good manners with this show. Talk about objectifying someone!

Tell me what you think.

Hmm, this week I’m having a bit of a break between books. Well, I do use the term, ‘break,’ loosely I suppose. So far I’ve updated my website (except for the gallery–I really need to learn to make photos smaller before I change the old ones up for new ones from this year’s conferences,) seen  my mum off to the airport to visit friends down country, taken my girls shopping and thought about tidying my office (a necessary evil between books or I get swamped with paper and my concentration starts to suffer.) Oh, and I’ve started reading the Twilight books–yes, I’m slow to follow trends. Threaded in amongst all of this, of course, is obsessive (moi? never!) checking of email to find out who my new editor will be. Sadly, my previous editor (since Claiming His Runaway Bride) has moved onto a new career so her authors are anxiously/curiously/apprehensively/”insert adverb here” awaiting news on who will be their new editor.

What I still have to do? Movies and dinner with some girlfriends, lunch with another, a visit to the knee surgeon for MRI results, GST (6 monthly tax) return (actually, had better get onto that today. Erk! And, hmmm, what else? Not sure, but there’s something else lurking in the back of my mind there somewhere. Ah yes, Art Fact Sheets for my June novella length continuity story in the Billionaires of Bridgehampton mini-continuity for next year.

Good thing it’s a week off, huh? I suppose I’d better turn off my laptop, get about of bed and get onto it!  

What have you been up to lately? Busy? Relaxing? Having a ball?