THE WINEMAKERS BLOG TOUR - AUTHOR GUEST POST, FAVORITE WINE GADGETS BY JAN MORAN & GIVEAWAY

Every wine aficionado has favorite cache of tools, so I thought I’d share mine on this stop on The Winemakers 

novel tour, though none of the high-tech gadgets were available in the 1920s or 1950s when the story takes place. I’ve had my share of frustrating moments wrangling corks and fishing floaters from fine wine, or stashing and rotating white wine in the freezer for a quick chill. With these implements, those trials are a thing of the past.

So, what are my favorite wine-related gadgets and accoutrements? Here’s a list of items I can’t live without: 

1. The Vertical Rabbit wine bottle opener, fast and easy, and lovely in red 

2. Soft-sided wine botas for the beach, such as GSI Outdoors Soft Sided Wine Carafe 

3. Vinnebago or Corkcicle chilled wine holders, great for poolside 

4. Wine gems or wine pearls to freeze for pretty, ice-free instant chilled whites 

5. Erasable wine pens, such as Schmancy pens, to label guest wine glasses  

6. Coravin for those who like to savor one fine glass with dinner, and that’s all 

PERIOD & MORE PERIOD: 7 REASONS TO LOVE GRANTCHESTER - SERIES 2 DVD IS OUT!

James Norton as Sidney Chambers in Grantchester 

Canon Sidney Chambers

I don't know what it is with Mr Chambers (James Norton) when it comes to women (aside: including me). It's a mystery  (aside: no, it isn't, if you take a proper look at the pictures above and below) . They all fall for him, while he barely notices them or their interest in him. Canon Sidney Chambers is so distant from the archetype of vicars we've had on TV so far: he is lovely, clever, good-looking. His strength is his compassion, his distinctive sign is that he is a good man in a bad world.  He isn't flawless, he has a temper, drinks a lot of whisky, loves jazz and a game of cricket,  is haunted by his war memories and tormented by an impossible love. To cut it short, we have a romantic hero wearing a clerical collar, instead of a funny caricature with false teeth and a silly voice. (aside: I have a crush on James Norton's voice and accent).  

"We're talking about wine, and crime, and love. Sometimes I think there is nothing we cannot say to each other."

JULIAN FELLOWES' BELGRAVIA PROGRESSIVE BLOG TOUR - RECAP & REVIEW OF EPISODE 3: FAMILY TIES + GIVEAWAY!

Released in 11 weekly installments, each episode of Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia will conclude with twists, turns and cliff-hanger endings popularized by the novels of Dickens, Gaskell and Conan Doyle in the nineteenth century. Delivered directly to your cell phone, tablet or desktop via a brand new app, you can read the text or listen to the audio recording narrated by acclaimed British actress Juliet Stevenson, or jump between the two. In addition, you will have access to the exclusive bonus features available only through the app including: history, fashion, food & drink, culture and more that will frame the story while immersing you into the character’s sphere.

Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia is  the story of a secret. A secret that unravels behind the porticoed doors of London's grandest postcode. Set in the 1840s when the upper echelons of society began to rub shoulders with the emerging industrial nouveau riche, Belgravia is people by a rich cast of characters. But the story begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond's new legendary ball, one family's life will change forever.

I’m really honoured to be part of this progressive tour promoting Fellowes’ Belgravia project. I loved Downton Abbey and have been missing all the beautiful characters in it since it ended with the last Christmas special on 26^th December 2015. Reading Belgravia is something  new and different , of course, but it is a way to experience similar emotions.  Join us in this awesome tour, discover more about the story and the characters in Belgravia, leave your comments to enter the grand giveaway contest.

BOOK REVIEW - CALL TO JUNO, A TALE OF ANCIENT ROME BY ELISABETH STORRS

Book Blurb

Four unforgettable characters are tested during a war between Rome and Etruscan Veii.

Caecilia has long been torn between her birthplace of Rome and her adopted city of Veii. Yet faced with mounting danger to her husband, children, and Etruscan freedoms, will her call to destroy Rome succeed?

Pinna has clawed her way from prostitute to the concubine of the Roman general Camillus. Deeply in love, can she exert her own power to survive the threat of exposure by those who know her sordid past?

Semni, a servant, seeks forgiveness for a past betrayal. Will she redeem herself so she can marry the man she loves?

Marcus, a Roman tribune, is tormented by unrequited love for another soldier. Can he find strength to choose between his cousin Caecilia and his fidelity to Rome?

Who will overcome the treachery of mortals and gods?

Call to Juno is the third book in the series A Tale of Ancient Rome, which includes The Wedding Shroud and The Golden Dice.

"Remember how you once told me Rome and Veii are like two unrequited lovers? Only twelve miles apart across the Tiber. They are but a god's footstep away. Both desires to possess the other - only Rome wishes to be the husband and make Veii submit as the wife." 

Book review

Tales of Ancient Rome is a historical fiction series set in the early Roman Republic and the little known civilization of Etruria. The saga follows the lives and loves of three women; Caecilia, Pinna and Semni, who must survive a ten year siege between two bitter enemies with courage, wit and wiles.

PERIOD & MORE PERIOD - WELCOME BACK, OUTLANDER, THOUGH ... THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY

One more review

I know we are all a bit dizzy having moved from droughtlander to this flood of new inebriating images, events, stories from the Outlander world, but let me add my own musings to the general euphoria,  will you? I promise I’ll be brief.  As brief as a talkative English teacher + enthusiastic  fan of the series can reasonably be. The following ramblings will make sense only if you’ve seen episode one of series 2. So... spoilers ahead, I’m afraid.

MY KIDS GROW UP AND THEY ARE PRETTY SPECIAL: VERONICA & THE BEST CONSEQUENCE OF STUDYING

Veronica and her Erasmus mates in Innsbruck

To grow up and find your own place in the world is never easy, especially because that is something you start doing when you are a teenager, which is a very complicated moment in everybody’s life. Well, complicated as well as exciting.  This series of posts dedicated to my former students and their after-school experiences has the aim to help my present students to become more aware of what expects them out there once they leave the safe environment of high school and to give them suggestions and advice on how to brace themselves.

Today it is Veronica’s turn. She’s had quite a brilliant academic career so far. She can be a model,  an inspiring example with her will strength and unsatiable curiosity. Recently, she was even awarded a very special prize by the President of the Italian Republic,  Sergio Mattarella. 

Hi! I’m Veronica and Mrs Spila was my English teacher, though only during my last year at grammar school. I spent a nice period there and I was really satisfied. My school career was quite brilliant and I got my degree with the highest grade… but not because I love studying… just thanks to my willpower.

In my life I’ve often changed my mind about what I wanted to do in the future. When I was in  middle school, my dream was to become an archaeologist. This is why I chose grammar school. But I loved also literature, reading good books and writing, too. So I thought “why not a journalist?”. Yes, good idea. But I loved cinema, as well. So I decided I might have been a film critic.
 Actually,  I’ve always loved lots of things,  but none was my “true love” and, in short, after leaving high school, I decided to study Economy at University.

You maybe wonder why. At that moment it was a very simple decision actually, because I knew exactly what I wanted in my life: I wanted to be a manager. Not an easy goal, but that  was my ambition.

BOOKS, BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - 2016 ROMANTIC TIMES (RT) CONVENTION & INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR VICKI LEIGH

A giant book fair is a dream come true for book lovers. Books, books and more books! Authors, events, chats, gadgets, meetings: it's going to be amazing. RT Book Lovers Convention and Fair 2016 will be held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas from April 12  to 17. There will be a special Teen Day on Saturday 16th when teenagers and young readers will have the chance to meet their favourite YA authors, play games and if under-18 win a bag staffed of awesome gadgets. 

Vicki Leigh, YA and NA author, will be one of the hundreds awesome writers participating in the events and ready to meet their fans. She accepted to answer five quick questions about her latest release and her expectations for the upcoming RT event. 

1. What inspired Catch Me When I Fall?

 When I first began to brainstorm this book, I pulled on my own experiences with nightmares. There had already been so many fantastic books written about angels, so instead I asked what-if questions: What if those who guarded us weren't angels but people who'd sacrificed themselves to save others? And what if nightmares weren't in our heads but actual creatures that fed off our fears? From those two questions—and research the Native American lore on dreamcatchers—my story was born!

2. Even though Catch me When I Fall is paranormal fantasy do you find you bring personal experiences into your writing at all?

ALL THEIR MINDS IN TANDEM - INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DAVID SANGER

Hello David and welcome to FLY HIGH! I’ve got so many questions for you but, don’t worry, I know I must cut my interview short. What about 10 questions? The first one is: how do you feel at being promoting your debut novel? Have you always wanted to be a writer? 

Hello and thanks for having me! I feel a mixture of excitement and strangeness. I worked in publishing for just over six years so it’s odd to be on the other side of things right now and promoting my book instead. I gave my parents headaches with the amount of different careers I wanted – animator, journalist and actor to name a few. Then I wrote something whilst at university and in one way or another it seemed to embody the other career choices. It took a few more years before I started writing full time but when I did I realised it was something I couldn’t do without.

I’m fond of historical fiction, period movies and costume drama series. But, what about you? How does it come that you started with a novel set in the past? 

I too love historical fiction and movies. I think there’s something extraordinary to stepping into a world that could easily be science fiction – far flung politics, clothes, food, attitudes, etc. – yet it’s something we have a faint purchase on; it’s in our collective past. If someone asked me to write a contemporary novel about 30-somethings today, even though I am one, I would struggle. I find a comfort in the past and the interest the research provokes is its own motivation.

BOOK UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: PHAEDRA PATRICK, 'THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER' + GIVEAWAY

Out today! A delightful and poignant debut that is poised to be a global sensation with foreign rights sold in 15 countries and 13 languages.

Perfect for fans of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

A Joyous celebration of life's infinite possibilities.

If you followed  Harold Fry on his unlikely pilgrimage or you shed a tear at the opening scene of the film Up, get ready to join Arthur Pepper on a search to know his wife and a journey to find himself. 

Sixty-nine year old Yorkshireman Arthur Pepper lives a simple life. He gets up at 7.30 am, just as he did when his wife of 40 years, Miriam, was alive. He eats his breakfast, waters his plant, Frederica, and doesn’t speak to anyone unless it is absolutely necessary. But on the first anniversary of Miriam's death, something changes.

When he finally makes himself sort through Miriam's wardrobe Arthur finds an unfamiliar gold charm bracelet. Upon closer examination, he finds a telephone number on the underside of a gold elephant charm and on a whim, he picks up the phone. 

SPOTLIGHT ON ... A FRIENDLY ENGAGEMENT BY CHRISTINE WARNER + GIVEAWAY

About the Book

A Friendly Engagement (Friends First - Book 1)

by Christine Warner
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: June 23, 2015
Length: 298 Pages

What's a little engagement between friends?

Omar Esterly is married to his job. But when Omar sets his sights on a potential, family-oriented client, his confirmed bachelorhood becomes a problem. Fortunately, his friend and employee, Devi Boss, has the perfect plan...

Okay, so it wasn't exactly Devi's plan to become her friend's fake fiancée. Lies aren't her style. However, Omar offers her a big, beautiful raise - enough to track down the missing father she's never known - and Devi reluctantly agrees to the whole engagement hoax...

This was supposed to be a no-strings-attached win-win for both Devi and Omar, but when they cross the line between friendship and...well, something more, Devi realizes she's made a huge mistake that just might cost her both job and friend - falling for her fiancé.

UNEVEN EXCHANGE BLOG TOUR - 7 QUESTIONS FOR AUTHOR S.K. DERBAN + GREAT GIVEAWAY

About the book

Like fire and ice, Alexandra Callet's life runs hot and cold. At the age of thirty-three, Alexandra owns a stunning home and a successful interior design company. But she is in love with her business partner, Jake Taylor, and he doesn't even seem to realize she's a woman. She should be on top of the world, but instead she feels dragged down by the void in her heart. Hoping for answers, she decides a trip to Mexico might soothe her soul.

Jake Taylor only pretends to be a confirmed bachelor. Jake has been entranced by Alexandra's determination and exotic beauty since the moment they met, but she has no idea how he feels. He considers confessing his love, but fears jeopardizing their friendship and business. He's caught in a web of pretending he doesn't care, and doesn't see a way out of it. Alexandra is recruited for a dangerous mission. Following her trip to Mexico, her resemblance to a member of an assassin's family leads Alexandra to be recruited by the DEA. Her training leaves her distracted, and her business begins to suffer. Jake notices her sudden change, and feels her slipping both personally and professionally beyond his reach.

Should he finally take the chance...before it's too late? After all, he has nothing to lose. However, when Alexandra returns to Mexico for her mission, things go terribly wrong. Will she be able to find the strength to fight and escape the peaceful haven that has now become her prison?

Or will Jake lose Alexandra forever...

ALWAYS BE WRITING

(by guest blogger John Montana) 

 Many times I hear writers say they are stuck or are in a writers slump, because no ideas are coming or they don’t know what to write. They want an original idea for a film that nobody has ever seen before. They want the next great original idea that rocks the film world. Some of them will wait for years for that inspiration for the next great film. Now…you might get angry with me for saying this, or you will probably vehemently disagree, but I don’t think this should be your goal. Of course it can be a dream that this happens, but most likely the story in some form has already been told before. Don’t sweat it!!! Really, don’t let it prevent you from writing. Just write… let the words just flow out of you. Edit it all later. Write gobble-dee-gook, write crap, write anything. Just! Write! You can worry about judging it after you are finished. 

When you are done you can go in and create a story that will inspire you to film. Think of it this way… A sculptor starts with a huge block of stone. This is your “gobble-dee-gook”. Then begin to slowly carve away the stuff that you don’t need. Carefully reveal the story you want to tell. In the end you will have something that you will be excited about putting on film. So don’t be obsessed with telling an original story or have an idea that nobody has thought of before. Because ninety nine times out of one hundred… its been done before.