Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick March 25, 2011

Happy Friday! It's hard to believe we are nearly at the end of March! My posts may be a bit spotty this next week. We travel to Orlando over the weekend to celebrate my father's 87th birthday.  We will return Monday for one day and then head out to Texas for our son's graduation from his Air Force program. We will bring him back with us for a visit before he goes to his assigned base.

Here is another tree bookshelf for March

artsyspot.com

I did get to set up a new group of books:
Group #19

Pair- Lisa Jackson

Twice Kissed (Zebra Romantic Suspense)

Final ScreamFinal Scream

Pair - James Patterson

1st to Die (The Women's Murder Club)1st to Die (The Women's Murder Club)

Kiss the Girls (2nd Alex Cross Novel)

Singles

And Then Came You: Sam's StoryAnd Then Came You: Sam's Story

Second Chance: A NovelSecond Chance: A Novel

Disguised Blessing

[BLOOD GAME BY Johansen, Iris]Blood Game[Mass market paperback]St. Martin's Press(Publisher) on 2010

The Italian (Mira Historical Romance)

Rhapsody: A Love Story

The Waterfall

Primary Colors - audio tapes

A Little Magic

See No Evil (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #39) (black stripe on cover)

Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!
Not all of these are two from a series but several are.  Each pick gets two books.

Robert Parker:
Rough Weather (Spenser Mysteries)
Sudden Mischief (Spenser)

Patricia Cornwell:
Cruel and Unusual
At Risk (Win Garano)
John Grisham
Bleachers
The Last Juror
Jack Higgins
Touch the Devil (1983 Signet Edition)
Thunder Point (Sean Dillon)
Judith McNaught
Something Wonderful (note this is an older 1988 Pocket Romance edition; torn binding and mark across front) - but wonderful romance
Almost Heaven (also an older 1990 edition with one mark across front)
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Match Me If You Can
This Heart of Mine
Sandra Brown
Words of Silk
Fat Tuesday (torn cover at binding)
Fern Michaels
Final Justice: Sisterhood Series #5
The Jury: Sisterhood Series #4 (Revenge of the Sisterhood)

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books!  And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

So far I have posted 18 groups of 16 books to find new homes!

I am continuing to include the full list updated with chosen books crossed off until I get around to deleting the crossed off books.  You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!  I am happy to say that so far about 151 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the correct number sent out.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.
I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 and $6.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00.  If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.   
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY  NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings before the next Pick post. 
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND E-MAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS at mesreads@gmail.com.  I will confirm receipt of the addresses.  If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so.... 

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

1/14/11 New List 
#17

Scavenger by David Morrell
The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger
Wicked Prey by John Sandford
Moonfire by Judith Redman Robbins
In Silence by Erica Spindler
Night Sins: A Novel by Tami Hoag
Dead as a Doornail: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris
Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, No. 4) by Janet Evanovich
No Ordinary Man by Suzanne Simmons
1022 Evergreen Place (Cedar Cove) by Debbie Macomber
Time to Run (Navy SEALs, Book 3) by Marliss Melton
Malice Domestic: An Anthology of Original Traditional Mystery Stories
Taboo by Susan Johnson
Turbulent Sea (Drake Sisters, Book 6) by Christine Feehan
Saving Faith by David Baldacci
Michal: A Novel by Jill Eileen Smith

12/3/10  Book Set:
#16

Adam by Ted Dekker
Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith
The Proposition by Judith Ivory
Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart
Veils of Silk by Mary Jo Putney
Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter
Comanche Woman by Joan Johnston (part of a great series!)
Barefoot: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand
Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway
Blueberry Hill by Marcia Evanick (small tear on cover)
Through the Grinder (Coffeehouse Mysteries, No. 2) by Cleo Coyle
Forever, Ashley  by Lori Copeland
She Loves Me Not by Wendy Corsi Staub
Cornered Tigress  by Jade Lee
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

Double Exposure (Brio Girls) by Kathy Wierenga

Wicked Widow  by Amanda Quick

A Little Magic by Nora Roberts

Imitation in Death by J. D. Robb

A Heart Speaks by LaVyrle Spencer

The Texas CEO's Secret (Silhouette Special Edition) by Nicole Foster

Almost Forever (Sarah) by Linda Howard

Silver Falls by Anne Stuart

Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller

List #14

The Cobra Event by Richard Preston

Proof of Intent: A Charley Sloan Courtroom Thriller by William Coughlin, Walter Sorrels

Blood And Glory (Soldiers Of War) (Soldiers of War, Book 1) byLarson Reed

Off Season by Jack Ketchum

The Color of Law: A Novel by Mark Gimenez
Atlantis by David Gibbins
Depraved Indifference by Joseph Teller
Lines of Defense by Barry Siegel
Must the Maiden Die (Seneca Falls Historical Myster) by Miriam Grace Monfredo
Gospel Truths by J.G. Sandom
The Summons by John Grisham - Audio CDs

Here is set #13 of Used books!

Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods
Death Cruise (St. Martin's True Crime Library) by Don Davis
The Angel by Carla Neggers
Anansi Boys by Neil Gairman
The Hellion by LaVyrle Spencer
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix
The Outside Man by Richard North Patterson

This is a group of books I have had for several years but not gotten to read.  Since it doesn't look like I will get to read them for another year (or more!) I am passing them on. Although as I type them part of me still says "But you may want to read that some day!"  Yes, yes; along with the other 700 books I am housing! Must Let goooooo.....
Group #12
The Ripple Effect by Lynn Erickson
First King of Shannara (Shannara Trilogy, Prequel)  by Terry Brooks
Seal Team Oneby Dick Couch
Motion to Suppress by Perri O'Saughnessy
Presumption of Death by Perri O'Saughnessy
Pandemic by Daniel Kalla
Lethal Practice by Peter Clement
The Undertaker's Widow by Phillip M. Margolin
The Burning Man by Phillip M. Margollin
Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt
The Genesis Code: A Thriller by John Case
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods - CD Audio
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher
Looking Back by Belva Plain
The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth Bevarly
Rainmaker by John Grisham - Audio Tapes

List #1 Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Almost Single by Advaita Kala

Pick #2
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
The Crush by Sandra Brown
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

Pick #3
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon
Isle of Palms by Dorothea Benton Frank

Pick #4
Talking God by Tony Kellerman
Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford
The Sixth Sense
The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)
The Forgotten by Faye Kellerman
Swear by the Moon by Shirley Busbee
Montana Bride by Barbara Clark (A)

Pick #5
See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel
Jake's Return by Liana Laverentz (A)
The Jester by James Patterson - Audio Tapes
The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole
Misfortune by Nancy Geary
False Prophet by Faye Kellerman
Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes
A Kiss of Fate by Mary Jo Putney (SC)

Pick #6
Tin Man by Dale Brown
The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*
On Bear Mountain by Deborah Smith
The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock
The Healer by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan
Mistletoe and Mischief by Patricia Wynn

Pick #7
In Her Defense by Stephen Horn - Audio Tape
A Perfect Gentleman by Barbara Metzger (slightly creased)
Scarred by William Heffernan (spine creased)
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
The Path to Her Heart by Linda Ford (Personally Autographed)
X-Men 2
Hunted by William W. Johnstone (spine frayed at top)
Man of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey (spine frayed a bit at bottom)
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8
(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
Stormy Weather by Carl Haasen - Audio Tapes
Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland - Audio Tapes (box creased but tapes good)
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes
Vertical Run by Joseph R. Garber (sc)

Pick #9
Spyder Web by Tom Grace - Audio Tapes
The Closers by Michael Connelly
Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology
Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline (spine creased)
The Lost World by Michael Crichton - Audio Tapes
Evil Whispers by Owl Goingback
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Darkfall by Stephen Laws
Runaway Heart by Stephen J. Cannell
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10
The Third Twin by Ken Follett (spine creased)
Double Blind by Ken Goodard
Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief by Dorothy Gilman - Audio Tapes
The Trouble with Mary by Millie Criswell
Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)

Winners of Friday Pick March 18, 2011

Thank you to everyone who entered.
First I have one automatic win where the book was named four weeks in a row and no one else named it for those four weeks:  Jane gets Time to Run.
Now the drawn winners:

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winners of Friday Pick March 18, 2011

lkish77123

and

Carol M



lkish77123 chose Through the Grinder

and

Carol M chose Malice Domestic

Please email me addresses and choice of bookmarks if desired.

Winners of Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

Sorry to be a bit late posting the winners for the Hop.
The week was a bit tight getting ready for another trip. I always feel like I have to finish all the work on my desk even though that is impossible. 
Thank you to all who entered and thanks for the kind comments on the bookmarks made by my friend. She'll be making some more for a special giveaway I am having in April.

Now to the winners......

CONGRATULATIONS
to winners of Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

Package #1

#37 of all entries

Lindsey

Paclage #2

#91 of US and Canadian

Mary (Bookhounds)

Package #3

#33 of US and Canadian

BJ

and

Package #4 International

#52 of only International entries

Andrea B

I will email the winners tomorrow. (I forgot my computer tonight...shows how tired I was since I packed the cord and mouse but left the computer!)

Book Review and ARC Givaway: Highland Heat by Mary Wine

Which will prevail? Passion or moral duty and honor?
Highland Heat by Mary Wine

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402237391
• ISBN-13: 978-1402237393

Genre:  Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.0

Ruined, betrayed, and banished…
As brave as she is impulsive, Deidre Chattan’s tendency to follow her heart and not her head has finally tarnished her reputation beyond repair. But when powerful Highland Laird Quinton Cameron finds her, he could care less about her past—it’s her future he’s about to change forever…

Review: This is a solidly entertaining highland romance.
Deidre was barely a young woman when she lost her heart to a deceiving man. He proclaimed love and promised marriage but was really using her to strike out at her betrothed. Disgraced and broken hearted she goes to the convent. She tries to be content and work through her shame but it is hard to dampen a true nature of passion.

Quinton, Laird Cameron, once met Deidre and was impressed by her fiery spirit. When he meets her at the convent he immediately taunts her with suggestive teasing.  She faces off with him but is unable to stop him from searching the abbey for the Queen.

Shortly after the search the Queen does seek refuge in the convent.  When she meets Deidre she decides that they look enough alike to have her play decoy. The Queen offers Deidre a position as one of her Ladies in Waiting in exchange for help.  Deidre sees this as a way to have a better life and a way to make her father proud of her.  She helps the Queen slip off but Deidre is soon captured by Cameron’s men.  They take her to Quinton thinking they have successfully delivered the Queen to him. Quinton immediately recognizes her and is pleased with his men even if they got the wrong woman.

Deidre wants to leave the Cameron clan and go to her position with the Queen but Quinton has a different idea and has no intention of allowing her out of the keep.  Thus the conflict continues in their personal battle. Quinton may be able to prevail in getting Deidre to succumb to the chemistry between them but can he capture her spirit and get her to stay? Deidre has to struggle with the internal battle of desire against the need to not dishonor her father by her actions.

The dialogue is suggestive and sexy; the conflict keen and fun. There are escapes and danger and of course a passion that flares bright and hot.  This has it’s own share of wisdom and I liked when Laird Douglas says to Deidre:

“We were all young and innocent once, lass.”...”Now ye understand what the world is really like.  Some crumble when they kicked in the jaw, but others pick themselves up and become stronger. They take the sting and pain and use them to fortify themselves.” Page 255.

That is just the sort of person Deidre is.

The characters are very likable and this is a fast, easy read. I enjoyed this romance but give caution that there is some brash, raw language.

xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY:

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on April 8, 2011. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Q&A Interview with Helen Hollick, Author of I Am The Chosen King

I am so pleased to welcome Helen Hollick for interview today at Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf.

Thank you so much for agreeing to share about your writing experience.

Helen: It’s my pleasure to be here!

Q1.  I'm always interested to discover the story behind the story. Where did the inspiration for your historical fiction, I Am The Chosen King, come from?

Helen: The English edition of  I Am the Chosen King is called Harold the King, I originally wrote it about twelve years ago – it took about a year to research and another year to write.

King Harold II died on October 14^th 1066 defending England against invasion by Duke William of  Normandy, and Harold is my hero.

Having finished my Arthurian Trilogy (The Kingmaking, Pendragon’s Banner and Shadow of the King) I had to decide what subject  to write about next. Two things convinced me to do the Chosen King (Harold)

I went on a day trip to see the site where the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066. While walking the battlefield, going down the hill, I suddenly felt that if I turned around I would see King Harold’s army on  the ridge, ready to fight.

An exhilarating but somewhat scary moment!

Shortly after, I dreamt the scene that became chapter two, where Earl Harold was riding beside the River Lea with his brothers and father and saw for the first time the woman who was to become the love of his life – Edyth Swanneck.

Well, I just had to write the novel.

I wrote the story because I was fed up with history books starting with the Norman Conquest, and the idea that the Normans were good for England. They weren’t. William had no right to the throne and Harold was our legitimate, crowned King.

I stripped the Norman version of Norman propaganda and told the story that led to the Battle of Hastings from the English point of view.

It is a novel of love and life; of battle and betrayal….  a story based on history, but with the gaps filled in by intuition, imagination and emotion.

I am also co-scriptwriter to the UK movie 1066 – which is currently in pre production – a very exciting project!

Wow - I didn't realize that about the movie and that IS definitely exciting.

Q2.  Please share one surprising thing about your experience writing this book, or about your research efforts.

Helen: I had, before I started to write, intended to be more neutral about the conflict between the English and the Normans - while researching I was aware that I did not much like William, but when it came to writing his scenes, getting to know him, to live inside his skin as it were, I realized how much I utterly loath the man!

Some scenes I found hard to write as the dislike was difficult to overcome. I reckon there is something in my ancestry that makes me hate him so!

I have to say how impressed I was with the depth of the personalities.  You really have a gift for that.

Q3.  How does writing historical fiction (The Forever Queen and The Chosen King) compare with writing paranormal (Sea Witch and your “pirate series”)? What are the main differences, and what do these forms of writing have in common?

Helen:  Oh there is one very big difference *laugh*; my hero in the Pirate Series - Jesamiah Acorne – gets to stay alive at the end of the book!

My research and style of writing is the same, although I do not go so deep with background detail with the Sea Witch Voyages, as they are more action adventure as opposed to historical fiction. I do also take a little “poetic licence” with a few facts – but that is the nice thing about writing “make believe” as opposed to “real thing”.

My sailing detail is as accurate as I can get it though, thanks to maritime author James L. Nelson who is my nautical editor.

My aim with the Sea Witch Voyages is to write an entertaining and enjoyable read, one that is a mixture of the Pirates of the Caribbean, Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series, Hornblower and Indian Jones all rolled into one – in other words a darn good, typical sailor’s yarn.

I enjoy researching and interpreting the known facts.  Putting flesh and bone on the basic skeleton - the conjectured bits that join fact and fiction together – is also an enjoyable, challenge.

Interpreting why things happened, and what made people in the past do the things they did and turning those into a believable, readable novel is the skill of a writer. But, equally, I enjoy making up the pure adventure of the Sea Witch Voyages. The restrictions of sticking to fact is lifted, the freedom of sailing away with a boatload of imagination is such fun to write – and I hope, to read!.

I am also enjoying the freedom to explore my main characters in Sea Witch – especially Jesamiah and his woman, Tiola, a white witch. Because I am not restricted by their being real characters who did real things in the past I can develop them as I want…. although both of them are revealing hidden surprises as I write each new book, which is so exciting!

I see with your description of the Sea Witch series that I will have to read them. They sound lively and fun.

Q4.  Do your characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?

Helen:  Oh yes, very much so! As I said above, I decided to write Chosen King / Harold because of a dream. I often heard Arthur while writing the Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy – and as for Jesamiah…. Well it’s quite nice knowing I have my very own eye-candy dish of a pirate standing behind my right shoulder. I often hear him laugh, and I get the occasional grumble when I’m not writing a chapter fast enough. I had the same for Arthur. Harold was more of a patient gentleman though. All I had from him was a polite reminding cough when the writing was going too slow. Me? A demented scribbler? Never!

Ha! I can just picture them over your shoulder now!

Q5.  Do you have any rituals that help you get in the mood to sit down and write?

I can’t write if something needs doing – I can’t concentrate if I know I have something like these blog questions to answer, for instance. So I usually get “work” done first in the day then settle down to write, research or edit in the afternoon or evening.

That sounds like a nice plan. I always seem to be doing my blog "work" at night.

Q6.  Do any of your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing? (Do you include any of your animals?)

Helen:  I’ve often based scenes with horses on my own and my daughter’s horses. In Chosen King, Edyth Swanneck’s pony trips and she tumbles off. That is very much from life! The cats and dogs that appear are based on experience as well – in Shadow of the King a dog falls over a waterfall; that really happened to our dog, Nesta, just as it was written.

I find some of your scenes seem so real that it doesn't surprise me they might be based on real personal happenings.

Q7. Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?

Helen:  Oh story I think. Why? Because as a reader  I have always found the story to be important – the escapism into the depth of the tale, the excitement of what is going to happen in the next chapter or at the end.

A book is a door into another world; if the story fails to grab the imagination and propel you through that door for five minutes, an hour – several hours, then the book isn’t doing what it should be doing: transporting you to “elsewhere”.

Very well said. I love to escape into another world in my reading!

Q8.  What do you hope your readers get out of your books?

Helen: I very much hope they get the same enjoyment as I did in writing them. My main characters are my friends, to me they are not just people from the past or make believe pirates. They exist – not on this plain, maybe, but they do exist.

I hope readers fall in love with my heroes, detest the bad guys, shout with laughter at the amusing bits, and weep tears at the sad scenes.

I am not too much of a weeper but I dreaded reading the end of Chosen King because I knew I would be crying.

Q9.  Are you likely to wake in the middle of the night with a fantastic idea for a character or a plot? And what do you do when you wake up like that?

Helen:  Often, although I get most of my ideas in the shower; must be the swirl of ozone triggering the little grey cells, (as Poirot calls them)!

I’ve a pretty good memory for my plot and story, so I usually remember. I have been known to get up at some unmentionable hour and start writing though, or sit here at my desk not realizing that it is two in the afternoon and I am still only draped in a towel and my hair has long since dried beyond combing!

Oops. I hope you don't get unexpected visitors at the door in that condition. :-)

Q10.  How involved do you get in and do you enjoy doing the promotion side of selling the book to the public?

Helen:  I am very involved with promotion, especially for the Sea Witch Voyages, as for those I am only with a small independent publishing house in the UK and they do not have the huge resources of Sourcebooks Inc.

I thoroughly enjoy “chatting” to and meeting people on Facebook and Twitter. I have made many new friends because of my books through the Internet – and that is just so fantastic! It’s nice to know that people are out there reading my books and falling head over heels for my hero, but it’s even nicer making new, interesting, lovely friends. I am so, so lucky!

Promoting isn't always easy and it is wonderful that you enjoy the sharing with your audience.

Q11.  What was the first book you ever read OR what books made you want to be a writer?

Helen:  The first book I can remember was one of the Little Grey Rabbit books  by Alison Uttley. I remember coming out of the library clutching it so tightly because it was one I hadn’t read (or had read to me) I was about 4.  The books that made me want to write were a series of pony books by Ruby Fergusson – and Rosemary Sutcliff’s fabulous Roman Britain stories. Her way with words is just breathtaking.

Those are all new to me and I may just have to look them up. Maybe read Little Grey Rabbit to my granddaughter.

Q12. What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?

Helen:  I am currently working my way through C. W, Gortner’s historical novels; TV I watch very little of, but I enjoy good quiz shows, Foyle’s War, Morse and Lewis. I usually have Mike Oldfield on the stereo, especially Tubular Bells II & III, and his Music of the Spheres. I also listen to the soundtrack from Master and Commander and Last of the Mohicans when I’m writing. Very evocative (and my favourite movies).

I love the music from Last of the Mohicans too. I think it is haunting.

Q13. What is something unique about you that you would share with your readers?

Helen:  Gosh, giving away my secrets here! Of an evening, when it has turned dark I like plugging in the lights that are out in the garden (yard) just beyond my office window. They are Christmas outdoor lights really, all in a lovely royal blue. I also often light a few candles. Its so relaxing to have these twinkling away while I’m writing.

There you go - a dreamy setting for other world writing.

Q14.  If you could have the readers finish a sentence, what would it be??

Helen:  Harold slowly looked up, it was an effort, for he was so angry, so very angry with being betrayed…..

THANK YOU!

Helen:  No – thank you!