Thanks for having me as
your guest on Romance Book Haven!
My Destiny Romance
release Her Italian Aristocrat is my
debut book and I’m thrilled to announce that I have just signed a contract with
Destiny for my next book, a rural romance to be released in the second half of
2013.
But back to Her Italian Aristocrat. This story had
been bubbling away at the back of my mind for years. I’d gone on a business
trip to Italy in 2003, to visit a factory in the Marche region of Italy, quite
a bit off the tourist trail. It was hot and after the 24-hour long flight from
Australia my ankles swelled alarmingly. So they admitted me to the little local
hospital where no one spoke English. As I lay there I thought how lovely it
would be if I was rescued by a gorgeously handsome aristocrat, someone from one
of the beautiful palazzos I’d seen in the town earlier that day. Much, much
later when I was looking for an idea for a story, this experience popped into
my mind. And so my story began.
I pitched Her Italian Aristocrat to Sarah Fairhall
of Destiny Romance at last year’s Romance Writers of Australia conference. In
previous years I’d gone the route of learning a pitch, which I rolled out
verbatim. This time I had a pitch prepared but when I sat down in front of
Sarah it just disappeared. It seemed right, in talking about this book I’d so
enjoyed writing, to just tell her what it was about.
My passion must have come through because by
the end she was as enthusiastic as I was and later told me she’d made a special
little mark against my name ensuring she’d read my manuscript as soon as it
arrived. Less than a week later, I received ‘the call’!
So, what is it about I hear you ask? It’s about
Italy, high summer and shoes! It’s about a handsome aristocrat who lives in a
stunning palazzo with an old nonna
who rules the roost. And a girl with a blemished past who can’t believe he’d
love her.
You can visit me here:
And Her
Italian Aristocrat is available here:
Buy links:
iTunes Amazon Kobo GooglePlay Destiny Romance
Hi Louise and Nas. Lovely post Louise. I loved Her Italian Aristocrat. You painted such a beautiful picture of Italy and developed wonderful characters!! Love that the beginning of the story is based on something that happened to you.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer. It was pretty uncomfortable while it was happening but the thought of that gorgeous Italian Aristocrat sustained me through the night!
DeleteHi Jennifer!
DeleteCiompletely agree with you! I loved Her Italian Aristocrat too!
Hi Louise,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Her Italian Aristocrat! I love the heroine, LOVE Luca! (Yummy scrummy) and the setting. It's almost magical. And there are shoes!!
Thanks for having Louise as your special guest, Nas. I already own the Kindle and the print version of Her Italian Aristocrat (the print version is available in post offices around Australia).
Hi Serena. Who can resist shoes? And lamborghinis? A beautiful hill town with palazzos? Sigh. I loved writing this book and thank you for loving it too.
DeleteThanks for coming by Serena!
DeleteI'm hoping for some reading time over the Easter break and this sounds like the ticket - taking me back to the gorgeous Amalfi coast perhaps? That stretch of coast line certainly inspired another story idea or two for me, and the lovely Capri villas and their gardens will probably feature some time too. I love that you found your inspiration on your trip. Thanks for an interesting interview, ladies!
ReplyDeleteHi Susanne. With so many beautiful places to visit in Italy, is it any wonder that as romance writers we return time after time to capture that in our stories. Thanks for dropping by!
DeleteHi Susanne!
DeleteThanks for coming by to chat with Louise!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! This book sounds like a wonderful read, and what could be a better setting than Italy? A wonderful place for love!
ReplyDeleteHi Shelly, I agree. It's just everything about it - the language is so expressive, the architecture fantastic, wonderfully stylish women. And then there's the men :-)
DeleteWell said, Shelley!
DeleteHoe can you o wrong with Italy, summer, and shoes?
ReplyDeleteHi Donna. The problem is how do I indulge myself and write another book about Italy, Summer and shoes? I'd love to do it all over again. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteTrue, Donna!
DeleteWho doesn't like shoes? Sounds like a good read, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, S.P. And you know, once you get to the stage that you can't wear those gorgeous shoes any longer they become even more alluring :-)
DeleteThanks for coming by SP!
DeleteWhat a great background for the story! Love it. Sounds like a great story :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jemi. I had fun writing about the town and a lot of readers have commented that it seems so real. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteAgree, Jemi! Sounds a wonderful story!
DeleteSounds like a great story. Congratulations on your next release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dana. I'm looking forward to the release date.
DeleteThanks for coming by Dana!
DeleteLouise, what a great read! Can't wait for your next one to come out. Highly recommend Her Italian Aristocrat for everyone! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dana. You are da bomb.
DeleteThanks for the recommendation Dana!
DeleteSounds like a great book. Good to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi, Nas.
And lovely to meet you too, Carol! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteHi Carol! *waving!*
DeleteI love how you came up with the idea for the novel! That's so neat! And that cover is fantastic. Congrats, Louise!
ReplyDeleteHi Cherie. I fell in love with the cover the minute my publisher sent it to me! It's perfect for my heroine and I never get tired of looking at it. Looks great on the print books as well (only available in Australia).
DeleteThanks so much for dropping in Cherie!
DeleteIt's funny how inspiration for a story can come from real life experiences!
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry. Yes, writers mine their everyday experiences for stories. Very convenient! Thanks for visiting.
DeleteThanks for coming by Sherry!
DeleteYour book is on my Kindle Louise and I look forard to reading it. Congrats on signing your next book.
ReplyDeleteHi Maria. That's lovely. I hope you enjoy it!!
DeleteThanks for coming by to chat with Louise, Maria!
DeleteI'm so impressed that you had a perfect pitch down -- for me that would pretty much impossible. And of course the book sounds so inviting, complete with the handsome rescuer. Who hasn't had a fantasy like that? So HIA is on my list!
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding HIA to your list, Helena!
DeleteHi Helena.
ReplyDeleteAren't pitches the worst? All those nerves, learning it (never easy for me), performance anxiety...I was very glad when this one went so well. Thanks for dropping in :-)
It sounds like a real romance. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI wish Louise every success.
Thank you, Madeleine! And you're right, I really wanted to write something that had all the elements of a classic romance. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteThanks for coming by to chat with Louise, Madeleine!
DeleteItaly, high summer and shoes sounds like a perfect story blend to me!
ReplyDeleteHi, Karen. Yes, I ask you? What woman wouldn't enjoy that combination? Thanks for saying hi!
DeleteHi Karen!
DeleteWho can resist shoes? Thanks for dropping by!
Wow!! Loved how you got your inspiration for this scrumptious story! All the best with your Italian Aristocrat Louise! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Hi Kitty (can't bring myself to call you old :-)). I love it when real life offers up little nuggets I can weave into a story. Glad you could drop by.
DeleteHi Kitty!
DeleteThanks so much for coming by to chat with Louise!