Spotlight on author Bernadette Rowley

Our spotlight on author Bernadette Rowley. 

Who is Bernadette Rowley?


I’m a fantasy romance author whose spicy stories feature a healthy dash of magic and are set in my fantasy world, the kingdom of Thorius. My first book with Destiny Romance, Princess Avenger explored a romance between a feisty princess and a dark and dangerous shape shifter. My second book, The Lady’s Choice takes one of the secondary characters from Princess Avenger and matches him up with a sexy and desperate lady from a neighbouring kingdom.
I’m a vet in my day job so my stories feature animals and, in fact, you might say a gorgeous, dappled grey stallion is a secondary character in The Lady’s Choice.

What inspired you to be a writer?

I was always a reader so was naturally driven to write stories as a girl. I didn’t write much after leaving school but then when I had my third son, I realised that I’d love to write a book. Starting with picture books, I moved through junior fiction to writing for adults and ending up with fantasy romance. I’ve also dabbled in space opera and have a series started in that genre.

How did you choose your genre?

I discovered fantasy in my teenage years and read Tolkien, Feist, Brooks and Jordan. I’ve basically read nothing else but this genre until I joined Romance Writers of Australia so it was natural that I would fall back into my fantasy world when I wrote romance. I’m writing what I know, what I immersed myself in for three decades.

What made you tell this story and why did you write this book?


While writing Princess Avenger, Squire Ramón Zorba kept trying to steal more of the story than I could justify so I knew he would have to have his own book. He’s a gorgeous blond swordsman but quite inexperienced in love and so it was fun to match him up with Lady Benae Branasar who had ‘enjoyed’ men before she met Ramón.

How did you come up with the title?

I brainstormed about a dozen titles and sent them to the Destiny editors, Carol and Sarah, as they didn’t like the working title. They selected The Lady’s Choice as it reflects the premise of the story. Benae has to choose between a marriage of convenience and a love match- each path having consequences.

What is your favourite scene?

It’s so hard to choose but I really adore the bathing chamber scene when Benae - along with the queen and all her ladies-in-waiting- catches her first glimpse of Ramón naked. He makes quite an impact, ensuring the castle gossip runs hot for weeks.
The premise for The Lady’s Choice

With her people on the brink of starvation, beautiful Lady Benae Branasar has the perfect
plan. She will marry the powerful Prince Jiseve of Brightcastle and use his fortune to save them. But first she must compete against three princesses equally determined to win his hand.

When she finds herself irresistibly attracted to her reluctant escort, the handsome Ramon Zorba, her plans begin to unravel. Ramon is dealing with problems of his own, but as he begins to thaw, Benae begins to glimpse the devastating man underneath.  The more time they spend together, the harder Benae finds it to focus on her objective. Will she stay true to her people and pursue the prince? Or will love and fate intervene?








Find Bernadette at:





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23 comments:

  1. Great post, Bernadette. Your covers are so beautiful!!

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  2. I really like the covers. I love when characters let the author know they need their own book. It's happened to me and it's so much fun getting to explore them more.

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  3. Thanks Jen and Kelly. I really like the covers too and I loved writing Ramon's story.

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  4. Sounds like a terrific story. Good luck with it! (Dontcha love it when a character insists you tell his story, too?)

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  5. Bernadette's stories sound great. I enjoyed reading about how she began writing. The covers are lovely!!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Denise xx

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  6. Hi Bernadette, Thanks for the wonderful post. I loved learning about your journey to becoming a fantasy writer. Your covers are gorgeous! Best wishes:)

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    1. Cheers Allison, thanks for the kind words.xx

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  7. I love fantasy books and a fantasy romance is lots of fun! It was great to hear where Bernadette got her ideas from. All that reading paid off! :) Thanks for sharing. I wish her the best of luck.
    ~Jess

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    1. Hey Jess, fantasy sure is fun and so glad you enjoyed the blog. xx

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  8. I think it's great that you've written in so many different genres!

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    1. What they all have in common is adventure with love thrown in, even with my junior fiction!

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  9. Love the sound of this story :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. It's a fun premise! Thanks Helen

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  10. Oh my goodness! What a tantalizing concept, and I love the covers. Gorgeous!

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    1. Love the word tantalizing Crystal, thanks for stopping by xx

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  11. I don't read a lot of pure fantasy, but throw romance into it and it's more exciting. :)

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    1. Hope you'll give my stories a try, Medeia xx

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  12. Thanks for hosting me on the blog, Nas. It's been fun. xx

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  13. I read all those book too as a teen :)

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  14. Good luck to you and your writing.

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

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  15. The bathing chamber scene does sound pretty great!

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You can discuss your romance novel addiction too!