Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

The strawberry season is drawing to an end down here in New Zealand. I’m a huge fan of strawberries. Let me count the ways….

Reasons Shelley Likes Strawberries:

1. The appearance of the first strawberries is a signal that summer is underway.

2. They’re low in calories and very tasty. Often I’ll pick and eat. They never make it inside.

3. Strawberries and chocolate are a match made in heaven. They’re the perfect treat to eat during a romantic rendezvous.

4. Strawberries also go well with champagne. It’s that romance thing again!

5. Strawberry shortcake muffins are delicious. Recipe to follow tomorrow.

 

Sundry Facts About Strawberries:

1. They say wild strawberries grew in Italy as early as 234 BC.

2. Settlers of Virginia discovered wild strawberries in 1588.

3. The acids in strawberries help to whiten teeth.

4. They’re full of vitamin C, contain flavonolds and help reduce cholesterol. They also contain folic acid, potassium and fibre.

5. Black pepper and strawberries go well together. Better for diets, no?

6. If you ever go to the Wimbledon tennis make sure you have some strawberries. It’s a tradition, and they go through thousands of kilos of strawberries during the tournament. Around 27,000! And I have to say it’s an enjoyable experience.

7. They’re a member of the rose family.

8. There are around 200 seeds in each strawberry.

Are you a fan of strawberries, and if so, what is your favorite way to eat them?

I’m thrilled to welcome author Sidney Bristol today. She has such a great post about Paris. I think I need to start saving for a trip now. Over to Sidney!

Thanks so much to Shelley for hosting me again! I’m kicking off my Tour de Paris, celebrating the February 13^th release of Collar Me in Paris. Thursday thirteen, February 13^th release day. Coincidental? Maybe?

Back in 2011 I got the chance to go to Paris with my mother for the big Paris-Brest-Paris cycling adventure. While I’m not a cyclist, my mom loves that crazy stuff. Instead of pedaling across the country, I went around discovering Paris on my own.

1. Eiffel Tower. A lot of people consider this their number one draw. For me, it was very neat to see, but by no means my favorite. There is something very beautiful about the architecture and romantic spirit of the structure. My favorite moment at the tower was the night my mother and I paused to watch the lighting show. You see, at sunset they make a big production of turning the lights on. When I was there they all sparkled and twinkled before settling in to a lovely glow.

2. Opera. The Paris Opera is a beautiful building. I didn’t get to go inside, but I loved the exterior. There are a bunch of gold angels along the top of the building, and the way the roads flow around it is lovely.

3. Moulin Rouge. I’d have loved to go see the dinner show, but it was a bit out of my price range and my mother would have died. That said, the theater is every bit as decadent as pictures lead you to believe. The area is also quirky and fun to walk around.

4. Jardin des Plantes. This wasn’t something I did intentionally. This is a beautiful collection of gardens and a menagerie in the heart of the city. It’s beautiful to stroll through while eating some ice cream on a warm day.

5. Château de Vincennes. My mother really wanted to see a castle, so we dug around for something located in Paris. This is a medieval castle next to a chateau. The history was fascinating. We did a whole audio guided tour of the spread. It was a lot of fun and we got to see a more remote part of the city than I would otherwise have.

6. Shakespeare and Co. This was a fantastic little bookstore. The history is fascinating. It’s crammed full of English books, most of which are used. It’s considered to be "a socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore" and has hosted many famous writers. If you ever go to Paris, visit this shop.

7. Cafés. One of my favorite things to do in Paris was to select a café at random, sit down and pick something off the menu that I couldn’t read and order and eat it. I ate some stuff I’m not sure of what it was, and some really awesome food I wouldn’t have ordered otherwise.

8. Arc de Triomphe. I didn’t think much of this when I first saw it, but I went round and round it several times in an open top bus and I really wish I would have taken the time to go up and see the top of the arch. It’s located on the Champs de Elysee and at the heart of Paris.

9. Seine River. I love how most of the major cities have a river that helps give the city life. I got the chance to take a boat tour, which was a lot of fun, and showed me how the Siene touches so many parts of the city. You can see so much of the history and all of the little shops on the bank. I loved it.

10. Versailles. The palace was every bit as beautiful as the photographs make it out to be, only smaller. I kind of expected something on a much grander scale. But it was beautiful. The gardens and canals were every bit as gigantic and impressive as you would expect. You really need a golf cart to see all of it.

11. Louvre. I spent a whole day wandering around and seeing all of the paintings and things you only see online. The Louvre is amazing. From the exterior to the different regions of paintings and sculpture. It would be so easy to lose days in there! I know I spent at least one day inside, and a half day wandering around the gardens and reading by the large fountains in the front.

12. Catacombs. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this was by far one of my favorite things to see in Paris. This is an underground part of the city that’s a little physically difficult to get to because you have to go down about 140 spiral stone steps to get to the ossuary. There are hand carved scenes in the stone and then hundreds of thousands of bones arranged to form shapes and scenes and little areas. It’s fascinating and sadly you can’t take pictures in it or else I would have spent the day there. It can get a little morbid and claustrophobic because you feel the weight of the city on top of you. Still, amazing experience.

13. Notre Dame. My number one thing I had to see. I always love visiting cathedrals the most of any place I go to. I knew that Notre Dame would be my number one attraction, and it didn’t disappoint. We toured through the interior with an audio guide and got to see all the stained glass windows, the relics and different stations around the interior. Sadly we couldn’t climb to the bell tower, which I would have really liked to do, but I can imagine how amazing it was.

Paris was so memorable, I had to write about it. When I sat down to figure out the story for Bianca and Clay, I knew it had to be their backdrop. I hope that my experiences help create a more vivid experience for the readers!

Collar Me In Paris Trailer

 

It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life.  She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Collar Me in Paris coming February 13th from Ellora’s Cave

What begins as Clay’s first family vacation with his new wife quickly dives into disaster. He may be the submissive in their relationship, but he’s no shy violet. Bianca has taught him the quickest way to turn her on is a challenge, so he’s throwing down the gauntlet.

Bianca butts heads with not just her brothers but her husband when the family torturing begins. But the joke is on him. She’s ready to put him through the most erotic misery of all. In public, at a night club and all over the city, she’ll show him who is Dominant in their relationship until he’s screaming for more.

Their relaxing Paris vacation turns into a mad dash through the ancient streets, a competition of wills and a new exploration of what it takes to make their relationship work. From bondage, discipline and very public orgasms to navigating the Métro, family feuds and overcoming the language barrier, they’re going to redefine the word fun.

It’s definitely summer here in New Zealand with higher than normal temperatures scorching the country. Bella has taken to cooling off by lying on her back with all her feet in the air. I call it her hot, hot, hot! pose.

Later today I’m visiting Not Your Usual Suspects blog where I’m talking about Scarlet Woman—the little book that could!

What are your favorite tips for cooling down during a hot summer?

Today we’re visiting the Greek Island of Mykonos. It’s an island of white washed buildings, clinging to hills and the famous windmills, most of which are now private residences.

This is a shot of the harbor, looking over to the remaining windmills that top the hill. Hubby and I trekked up to the windmills early in the morning, which was a brainwave on our part. We missed the worst of the heat and were able to take photos that weren’t full of other tourists.

The Venetians built the windmills in the 16th century, and they were used to mill wheat. As I mentioned, these days the windmills are both a tourist attraction and private residences.

 

Some of the locals. Meet Pedro the Pelican. He hangs around the harbor and is guarding one of the public restrooms in this shot. On the right we have one of the many cats we saw during our wandering down narrow lanes.

There were loads of shops selling a range of things to catch a tourist’s attention and separate them from their money. I loved these ceramics. They had platters, teapots, jugs and cups bearing paintings of local scenes. I was worried about breakages and left with just a photo instead.

Many houses contained a small family chapel. Having a private chapel seemed a popular thing, judging by the number of crosses decorating buildings. I liked the colors in this photo.

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A reminder – Scarlet Woman is free for the next two weeks. Grab your copy from Amazon or your favorite online store. Please take the time to like Scarlet Woman if you’re visiting Amazon.

I’d also appreciate a tweet or post at Facebook. I’ve included some pre-made tweets and posts for your convenience.

Tweets:

Black panther sighted again. Learn more. Grab your free copy of Scarlet Woman now http://amzn.to/UyUFOs @ShelleyMunro

“Big bro’s got Mission Mate on his mind again.” Scarlet Woman – Grab your free copy today http://amzn.to/UyUFOs @ShelleyMunro

He wanted the lady in red. Scarlet Woman – grab your free copy today! http://amzn.to/UyUFOs @ShelleyMunro

Facebook:

“Look, we said we’d go along with this plan,” Felix said. “We’ll give it a shot. Me first. Introduce me to the lady in red.” Grab your free copy of Scarlet Woman today. http://amzn.to/UyUFOs

This Scarlet woman planned on having a little fun. Scarlet Woman. If you enjoy paranormal romance grab your free copy today. http://amzn.to/UyUFOs

“It’s all about sex,” Maggie snapped. “They have a shortage of women in Middlemarch. I’ve read the papers. This isn’t a dance. It’s a meat market.” Scarlet Woman. Grab your free copy today! http://amzn.to/UyUFOs

I’m delighted to announce Scarlet Woman, the first book in my feline, shapeshifter Middlemarch Mates series will be available free from 28 January to 10 February 2013.

If you enjoy romances set in small towns make sure you grab your free copy of Scarlet Woman (from Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance e-books) and also Lightning Strikes Twice, which takes place at the same dance as Scarlet Woman (free from Ellora’s Cave and All Romance e-books)

Today, I’m visiting the Samhain Publishing Romance blog where I’m talking about endearments in fiction. Do you like them or do they drive you crazy? Edited: My apologies, the post isn’t live yet. I’ll let you know when the link is live.

And I’m also at The Romance Studio Blue where I’m talking about Scarlet Woman and leopards.

The Acropolis towers over Athens, an amazing place to visit with so much history.

This time we didn’t queue with all the crowds, since we’d visited before. Instead we made a stop at the New Acropolis Museum. This was a modern building with lots of glass, and it holds some incredible treasures. During the excavation to build the museum, they found ruins. They’ve incorporated the ruins into the design by using glass for all the floors and allowing visitors to view them. This photo is part of the ruins that are inside and therefore not protected with glass. Just as an aside, if you ever visit, don’t wear a skirt. With the glass floors, you can look upward and see the people on the floor above…and whatever they’re wearing or not.

While wandering around Athens, the amount of graffiti surprised us.

It’s a real shame to see this while wandering around the city.

These are evil eyes and they’re on sale as souvenirs for tourists. The evil eyes have been around for thousands of years and are used as a talisman to ward off evil.

And this is my car… Snazzy, isn’t it? I couldn’t resist a photo.

 

What sort of car would you like if money was no object?

During a recent visit to the local library, I came across a copy of Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson. I’m a big fan of tea, so I picked up the book and checked it out.

Thirteen Things About Jane Austen and Tea

1. Jane Austen was responsible for making the family breakfast each morning and also the morning pot of tea.

2. Tea was very expensive during Jane’s time and was kept locked away to avoid pilfering by the servants.

3. Young ladies of the time used to decorate tea caddies with filigree work (rolled strips of paper applied in decorative patterns)

4. Jane took sugar in her tea, but probably not milk. The sugar was also locked up due to its expensive nature.

5. The sugar came in large cone-shaped loaves and someone had to break it up before it could be used. Sugar cubes came much later.

6. Shopping was different in Jane’s time. For example if she wished to buy tea she could buy it from a pedlar, she could walk to the local shops or wait until she visited a larger town or city.

7. Visits to the city were rare. Whenever Jane visited the city, friends and family would give her a list of their requirements and errands. Items such as jewellery and material were common additions to Jane’s list.

8. During Jane’s time a pound of tea sold for six shillings. Better quality tea fetched even higher prices. This was double the wages received by unskilled workers.

9. The quality of the tea varied widely. Legal tea was usually a decent quality as was smuggled tea, although it sometimes smelled a little of horse. Some tea was adulterated, which could be quite dangerous.

10. Some shops, such as dressmakers and milliners, offered tea to their customers. Tea contributed to a genteel atmosphere.

11. Twinings tea warehouse on The Strand probably hasn’t changed much in appearance since Jane’s visits to purchase fresh tea.

12. Riding in a carriage was considered exercise. Sometimes it was difficult to remain in a seat due to the bone-jarring roads. Tea was often the first refreshment called for on arrival at a destination.

13.  Gentlemen and some ladies too, took to spiking their tea with spirits, especially in the morning after a hard night. If that didn’t work to fix a hangover, they’d move on to normal tea.

Are you a Jane Austen fan? Which one of her novels is your favorite?

One great thing about traveling is trying the local food. During our visit to Athens in Greece last year we were wandering through the Plaka area and came across Scholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis, a small traditional family restaurant. While perusing the menu we saw that chef Rick Stein recommended the restaurant and that sealed it for me. Rick Stein is one of my favorite celebrity chefs, and we decided to follow in his footsteps.

This is one of the restaurant owners. He brought out a tray of all their offerings, and we were able to choose five different dishes. Our meal also came with a glass of wine or beer, bread, mineral water and a dessert.

Hubby went into the kitchen and took a close up of all the dishes.

I loved the food. If I concentrate I can recall the intense flavors and textures. It was one of the most memorable meals we’ve had recently. See my frown of concentration? My brain is saying, Yummy food! Yummy food!

One of the dishes we selected was Tsatsiki, a yoghurt dip that some of you have probably eaten. We’ve made it before at home, but it never tasted like this—thick and creamy and full of flavor.

When we arrived home we decided we’d try again to make some in the hope of duplicating the dish we had in the Plaka. After discussion we decided we’d amend our recipe to make our Tsatsiki thicker.

Recipe for Tsatsiki

Ingredients

1 cucumber

salt

ground black pepper

one large tub of natural yoghurt, preferably Greek

4 Tablespoons chopped mint

1 garlic clove, crushed.

Method

1. Our Greek yoghurt isn’t as thick as it is in Greece, so the first thing we do is to drain some of the liquid out of the yoghurt. We use a coffee filter and a funnel and sit it in a beer mug until some of the liquid drains out. About 1 – 2 hours should do it.

2. Deseed the cucumber and discard the seeds. Cube the cucumber flesh.

3. Mix the cucumber with the drained yoghurt. Add chopped mint leaves and crushed garlic and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Place in a shallow dish and serve with chunks of fresh bread. Perfect with drinks on a hot day.

Do you have memories of a particularly delicious meal?

Over the weekend the newsletter from All Romance ebooks contained an article titled Does Size Matter in Romances? It made for an interesting read, and I thought I’d pose the question here.

Does size matter?

BTW If you’re here because of the blog title, propel your mind onto the right track now. I’m talking about the length of romance books.

With the popularity of self-publishing I see book reviews at places like Amazon that say, “This book was too short. If I’d known how short the book was I wouldn’t have purchased it.”

My personal preference is for a longer read. The only exception to this is if a friend has written the book, because I like to support my writing buddies. When I say longer read, I mean around 45K to 60K at a minimum. A manuscript around the length of 80K is perfect. Just like Goldilocks’ porridge, it’s not too short or too long but just right.

This is my manuscript measurement scale

15K = short

30 – 40K = novella

45 – 60K = novel

60 – 100K = long novel

Generally when I’m looking for books to add to my to-read pile, I purchase novels and long novels. I might download a shorter story if it’s free, and if I enjoy the book, I’ll purchase one of the author’s longer novels, but that’s usually the only time I’ll consider short stories. As an aside one plus for the shorter length is when I’m extra busy yet yearn for some reading time. A shorter length book makes me feel as if I’m not missing out.

What about you? Which length of romance is your comfort level? Do you purchase shorter lengths, and if so why?

PS. Don’t forget that Indies 4 Hire online conference starts today!

Recently, as in the last six months, I’ve been going through a bit of a vampire love affair. I’d like to welcome Lindsay Pryor, the author of Blood Shadows, and creator of one of my recent vampire boyfriends.

Dark. Dangerous. Exciting. Ever since Bram Stoker introduced us to the new world of the romantic vampire as opposed to the terrifying monster of eastern European legend, the vampire has continued to dominate films and books. Almost a century on and they’re still developing – morphing into the heroes of today.

But we know that underneath whatever refinement those vampire heroes present, every single one of them (even Edward Cullen) lives on the edge of their own innate needs. Their nature dictates they are predators and, as such, they will always be a threat. I think the most enthralling vampire heroes are those that live on the very edge of those base instincts – who can just as easily flip to being the villain as the hero.

When I conceptualised the Blackthorn series, I knew they were the type of vampires I wanted. For me, anti-heroes make more interesting characters. Flaws add interest and so does unpredictability. If I work with a character who has an unwavering code of conduct and strict boundaries they will never cross, it doesn’t create enough suspense and tension for me as a writer. I like writing about vampires that skirt close to the edge, so much so that I’m never quite sure if they are going to overstep the mark or not. That’s what my readers report keeps them breathless and retains the tension in the stories – that’s one of the things that defines my books.

My vampires need to be dark. They live in a brutal and merciless manmade world where they are forced to reside as second-class citizens – where humans control them with an iron fist. Society is divided and the third species (such as vampires) are discriminated against. With vampires contained in the polluted, over-populated district of Blackthorn – the most impoverished of several administrative districts – inevitably a greater barrier between the two species has formed physically and emotionally. It is an ideal backdrop for me to reveal just as much darkness in human nature as well as the darkness in the vampires.

I also wanted my vampires to feel real, urban and contemporary. Blackthorn became a district that reflects its residents and vice-versa – dark, dangerous and deadly with unexplored corners, unpredictability, an undercurrent of unrest and a need for retribution. Whether Blackthorn’s vampires get that retribution is down to each of the romances that evolve through the series.

Blackthorn may be a gloomy and dystopian world, the romances forbidden, the vampires dark and a little close to the edge, but those vampires are, in essence, heroes – some just need a little more of the surface scraped away to prove it than others! And for me, a hero who has every reason not to be is one of the most appealing heroes of all.

Blood Shadows

Blackthorn Series Book One
Lindsay J. Pryor

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Bookouture

ISBN: 9781909490000

ASIN: B00AAMO252

Number of pages: 380

Word Count: 117,000

Cover Artist: Henry Steadman

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/PKxHJfXeqW0

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Barnes and Noble Sony ebooks

Book Description:

For vengeance – would you trust a vampire?
For justice – could you betray your family?
For love – are you ready to question everything you believe in?

Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of ‘third species’ beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit’s most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy – a master vampire – comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.

For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane’s help she is next.

She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for.

Or die.

 

You can read the first three chapters on Scribd for free:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/113060932/Blood-Shadows-FREE-extract

Check Out What Readers Have to Say About Blood Shadows:

“Lindsay J. Pryor easily earns a place alongside Paranormal Romance’s best writers!” ~ Michele Hauf

“An incredible voice for paranormal.” ~ Rhyannon Byrd

“Jaw-droppingly good… I’d want to shout ‘Bite Me!’”

About the Author:

Lindsay J. Pryor is a British Paranormal Romance author who writes dark, intense stories set in the dystopian world of Blackthorn.

Her trademark powerful vampire heroes and utterly combustible sensual romances have earned Lindsay comparisons with both J.R Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

A finalist in Mills & Boon’s New Voices competition in both 2010 and 2011, Lindsay has already proved a smash hit with readers.

Comments like “Utterly captivating”, “Jaw-droppingly good”, “Awesome”, “I forgot to blink”, “The sexual tension is off the charts”, “I nearly fainted when he removed her belt”, “I drooled on my keyboard” and even “Tell Kane he can have my soul RIGHT NOW!” convinced Lindsay she just might have what it took to become a published author.

With the launch of Blood Shadows, that dream is now a reality.  Her journey to published author though has been a long one.

Lindsay has been creating stories since she was nine years old, when she quickly decided that fantasy was more interesting than reality. She thought she’d grow out of it but hasn’t yet.

Despite years of bashing out stories on an old typewriter, it was the death of her father in 2007 that finally convinced Lindsay to try and become a published author.

“One of the last things my dad said to me was to do what I wanted to do in life. After he passed away, I pulled out all my scribbles from over the years and got back to writing what I loved most – paranormal romance.”

If reviews are anything to go by, it was a journey well worth making.

www.lindsayjpryor.com

www.twitter.com/lindsayjpryor

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http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583988.Lindsay_J_Pryor

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