Exiled: The Chronicles Of Caleath a series of Fantasy novels by Rosalie Skinner

An Author from Downunder.

After painting portraits professionally for twenty years, I found my interest turned to writing. My other career, training children’s ponies and breeding working dogs came to an end when a back injury changed my life. Now I devote my time to writing. With a wealth of reading experience to draw on, along with extensive research and a smattering of imagination, I find my novels begin to take on a life of their own. To know others enjoy reading my work is a constant thrill. Being part of the team of authors with Enspiren Press is a dream come true.

When not penning the next chapter of my novel, I do a little work as a freelance journalist, writer, reviewer and author. You can find me on Myspace, Facebook, Bebo, Skytribe, Writing.com among other places, or at my website www.rosalieskinner.com.

I live on the East coast of Australia and during winter, I treasure the ability to enjoy close encounters with migrating humpback whales. An interest in conservation led me to purchase a sporting estate in Scotland. The land is situated in Laird’s wood, but many would recognize a local landmark as ‘Glenbogle’ the house from Monarch of the Glen the popular TV series.

At home, I am an active member of a local writing network, Nitewriters and it is my goal to support and encourage writers in all genres. I am happy to review work when time allows.

Writing is a wonderful tool, a means of sharing, teaching, escaping and enriching lives. It is a pleasure to meet other readers and authors.

Thank you, Ginger for inviting me to join your Mega Blog Fest.

Lady Rosalie
Author of the popular Fantasy novels
Exiled: Winter's Plight and Exiled: Summer's Peril

Tangled Hearts by Rosemary Morris

My infant memories are of the stories I made up, the stories read to me and the night sky coloured by fires, the aftermath of incendiary bombs.

I grew up first in Kent and then Surrey from where I visited ‘the sights’ such as St Pauls Cathedral, the Tower of London, Westminster Cathedral, Dick Whittington’s stone on Highgate Hill and St James Park. In the countryside, to name a few, I visited Hampton Court, Richmond, Windsor and Eton. My heritage inspired my love of history. I read voraciously and my imagination grew.

My late husband encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a published author. If he were alive today he would be proud to know I have achieved my ambition to be a published author.

Writing, researching and reading must run in my veins and I am so glad that I joined the Historical Fiction Critique Group and through the owner, Anne Whitfield, submitted my novel to Enspiren Press which accepted Tangled Hearts.

Every time I look at my debut novel a thrill runs through me. For months the hero and heroine, Chesney and Richelda, stayed by my side at the computer and while going about my daily business. Their life is so interesting that I suffered withdrawal pangs after I typed ‘The End’.

Richelda and Chesney lived in England during the reign of the last of the Stuart monarch, Queen Anne, who ruled from 1702 – 1714. In common with the rest of the population Chesney and Richelda suffered fears and uncertainties about who would reign after the queen’s death. The economic and political situation affected every aspect of my hero and heroine’s lives. I fell in love with the period’s elaborate clothes, stylish houses sumptuous food and the concept of honour and dishonour at that time. I have now written a novel set in the same period called Tangled Lives which I hope Enspiren Press will publish.

Being a historical novelist is amazing. It sweeps the author into another time and place with all the happiness and tears the characters experience.

Authors want to share their tales with readers which leads to the challenge of how to publicise their books. I live in England. When Tangled Hearts is available in my home county, I plan to promote them, in bookshops, libraries and elsewhere. In the old days Enspiren Press would have sent me on a book tour. Today, my commissioning editor, Anne Whitfield, and Enspiren Press have inspired me to blog. This enables me to keep in touch with old friends and new.

Fingers crossed, 2008 will be a fantastic year during which I will network in person and on the worldwide web to let readers know about me and my work.

Published Historical Novel. Tangled Hearts available from www.enspirenpress, amazon.com, amazon.co.uk and soon from bookshops.

Work in progress. Tangled Lives

Website. www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Blogsites www.rosemarymorris.blogspot.com
www.penwoman.gather.com
www.enspirenpress.com

Member of:

The Romantic Novelists Association of Great Britain
The Historical Novel Society

Affiliations.

http://www.myspare.com/rosemarymorris

Bebo
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Writers Across Time

Don't Forget Tomorrow - The Blog Fest Begins

You're in for a treat. Where else can you find twenty three excellent authors willing to come and tell you about their books and lives? I've lined up quite an exciting array of cross-genre authors and I hope you'll stop by. Don't forget the READERS only contest. If you are non-published and leave a comment identifying yourself as a reader during the blogathon, you might be the lucky winner of a virtual basket of goodies. So far I have a great array of PDF books, for example:

Diane Wylie's Secret & Sacrifices
Lea Schias' Rock of the Realm
Tabitha Shay - Witch's Heart

I'll be twisting arms and if we can get more, I'll have two winners. See you tomorrow when the blogging really begins.

Oh...I can't forget Prissy:

Prissy Gets Weighed

How come we always get green-lighted into these dumb weigh stations? We haven't eaten anything since the last one.

Surprise Guest from Prairie Peace

Today we have a special guest, Cecile Palmer Williams, the heroine from Prairie Peace, by author, Ginger Simpson.

Welcome Cecile. It’s nice to have you with us. I have some questions to ask for our guests about your role in this exciting western historical romance, so let's dig right in.

INT: How in the world did you ever convince your rigid father to allow you to marry a virtual stranger?

CECILE: *Squaring in her chair* You have to remember that back in the olden days, women married young, and sometimes even without the benefit of knowing their groom. Mail order brides were common so I think my father considered that, by some standards, I was well past marrying age and could make my own decisions. Walt simply swept me off my feet and I would have gone anywhere with him. *She smiles with a cocked head*

INT: I read, with great interest, how you perceived your new ‘home’. That must have been a terrible revelation.

CECILE: *Swipes hand across her brow* Oh, you have no idea. Walt had described the perfect setting; he just failed to tell me that he hadn’t yet built a suitable home. My skin was gray from dirt for days… trying to sweep that horrid shack with half a broom that someone left behind. And to be perfectly honest… I didn’t know a thing about keeping house. I guess some might say I was spoiled by my parents. *smile*

INT: I’ll bet you were scared to death when Walt left you alone while he traveled for winter supplies. How did you handle the fear?

CECILE: It wasn’t easy. *Runs a hand through her long hair*. I never realized how many noises there are once the sun goes down. I just prayed that the lock on that old weathered door worked good enough to keep me safe. God knows, I knew nothing about using a weapon. I think if I hadn’t been so exhausted from all the chores everyday, I would have had trouble sleeping. I got used to it after a few nights, but I still didn’t like it.

INT: The book couldn’t possibly have captured the terror you experienced when Lone Eagle collapsed in front of you. Tell us how that felt.

CECILE: My heart leapt clear up here *clasping throat*. You understand, I’d never seen an Indian before and I expected to look up into the face of my beloved husband. I thought for sure I was going to die, but Lone Eagle fell in a heap at my feet. Lordy, my heart raced... all those stories I'd heard about scalping and such.

INT: So, of course, being a good person, you did the right thing and nursed him back to health…

CECILE: Of course. I don’t think I could have lived with myself if I’d just let him die. In the end it turned out well for me, but I don’t want to divulge too much to those who haven’t read Prairie Peace.

INT: You’re so right. That’s not a good idea.

CECILE: I can say that the life saving was mutual. *giggles*

INT: So without asking questions that reveal the outcome to the readers, I’ll just inquire what life was like in 1867.

CECILE: Oh goodness. *shuddering*. There was a wagon load of difference between my life in Silver City and moving to the prairie with Walt. In town, we bought everything we needed from the mercantile. Mother baked once in a while and cooked delicious meals, but we never had to put up our own vegetables. I was flabbergasted when Walt talked about the garden and the tomatoes, corn and other things we’d grow. I sure never expected that I’d be outside hammering nails in a dilapidated old barn, let alone milking a cow. I think the most frightening experience at first was that darned rooster. Who would have thought that something so small could terrify a body like he did?

INT: *glances at watch* Well, I see we’re out of time, but I truly want to thank you for being our guest. I'm sure that fearing your husband dead, watching an Indian drop at your feet and having to make the difficult decisions you face presented some difficult challenges. Prairie Peace certainly was a page turner for me. Can we look forward to a sequel?

CECILE: Well, as you know, Prairie Peace is a re-release of Ginger’s 2003 debut novel with another publisher. She’s really improved how the story flows, and I can only hint that you might visit her website to see if anything looks like a continuation of the story. You can find her at http://www.gingersimpson.com and I can give you a hint. Remember Lone Eagle is Lakota Sioux. *giggles again*

INT: Thanks again, Cecile. This has been fun. Hopefully your fans will visit Eternal Press and purchase the new version of Prairie Peace. They can find it at http://www.eternalpress.com.au

CECILE: One can only hope. I know that Ginger needs another root canal, liposuction on her hips and a neck lift, and that's just the emergency necessities. Poor dear, growing old has its own challenges and every purchase helps with the expense. Thanks for inviting me to visit with you… Oh, and Ginger also has a MYSPACE page at: http://www.myspace.com/mizging