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Monday, February 21, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR: Rachel Bailey

Today’s guest author lives with her own personal hero and four furry friends named Oliver, Dougal, Jazmine and Fergus. She also editor of Hearts Talk, the Romance Writers of Australia monthly magazine and a recipient of the RWA Lynne Wilding Meritorious Service Award.

Please welcome RWAussie Desire romance author & LoveCat DownUnder blogger, Rachel Bailey!

Rachel, tell us a little about yourself.
I live on the Queensland coast and I write for Silhouette Desire.

Things I love (in no particular order): dogs, cows, chocolate, Jane Austen, cats, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, sticky date pudding, comedies (books & movies), sleeping in, and sunshowers.

What sparks your creativity?
Besides coffee and chocolate? ;)

Music, definitely, and to capitalise on that, I create a play list for each book I write. In fact, I'm writing a book set in Charleston at the moment, so if anyone has any suggestions of songs that evoke the southern US states, I'd love to hear about them!

So far I've got some country music (Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum & Rascal Flats), and the song 'Summertime', plus James Taylor's 'Carolina in My Mind'. I desperately need some more.

What do you think it is about your genre that readers find fascinating?
The emotional intensity. When I read romance, I'm looking for emotional stimulation. I want to be taken on an emotional journey: they'll make me cry with a touching scene, they'll make me worried for the characters, and they'll take me on the magical ride of falling in love.

Also, I think many readers find people inherently interesting, and romance allows us to really peek inside the life of another person, to walk a mile in their shoes.

Your latest release, MILLION-DOLLAR AMNESIA SCANDAL, has already hit the shelves in the US and is due out in Australia/New Zealand in March 2011, can you tell us about it?
 
An accident left April Fairchild with no memory, ownership of a multi-million dollar hotel and the nagging sense something wasn't quite right in her life. It also brought her intensely sexy businessman Seth Kentrell, whose late brother had left her the property. Seth believed her a gold digger - and how could April deny it, when she couldn't even remember her name? Now Seth was ready to play hardball to get the hotel back.

But April knew enough to refuse to sign over the property until her memory returned. And if that meant Seth needed to persuade her... well, that was something she could enjoy! At least until the whole truth came out...


What I wanted to do with this book was write a heroine with amnesia, so someone who knew nothing about herself, who's falling in love with a man who hadn’t met her before the accident - so he knows nothing about her either. Also, the heroine is a famous jazz singer / pianist, so everyone *thinks* they know things about her. That seemed like a recipe for fun to me. :)

Can you share a few fun facts about the geographic location where your novel takes place?
This setting - a lighthouse and hotel on the Connecticut coast - was heaps of fun.

It's the first book I'd written that was set somewhere I hadn’t been, so I spent heaps of time looking at photos on the net, reading blogs by people in the area, researching what constellations would be in the night sky, etc.

(And luckily my editors in New York are close to my setting because one of them picked up that I'd said the ocean was azure blue - she wrote on the manuscript that she dreamed of oceans that colour, but the water there was a grey blue. So even after all the research, a touch of Australia almost crept in.)

I know you have a menagerie of four-legged furry friends, so do you have a pet that keeps you company when you write?
Dougal
I have four dogs who are great writing companions. I've managed to sneak Oliver into one book - THE BLACKMAILED BRIDE'S SECRET CHILD, which also featured my mother's dog, Misty.

A cat who was part of my family a few years ago, Winston, makes a cameo in my October 2011 book, THE SECRET HEIR'S REUNION BID. And I'm currently working out if one of my other dogs can make their way into my Charleston book. Wish me luck!

Rachel, it's been a pleasure interviewing you, thanks for visiting!

If you'd like to leave a comment by 6pm, Saturday 26th February 2011, you'll go into a draw for Rachel's latest release, MILLION-DOLLAR AMNESIA SCANDAL, or one of her back-list.

To find out more about Rachel, please visit her website or call in at the LoveCats DownUnder blog or follow her on Facebook.

Rachel's other books:




37 comments:

  1. Hi Kylie, Hello Rachel,

    I'm so glad to learn something new about HM&B Desire Author Rachel!

    It's interesting to know that the MILLION-DOLLAR AMNESIA SCANDAL is set at a lighthouse. It will be an interesting and enjoyable read, because Rachel's romances are emotional roller-coasters which satisfy!

    Thanks Kylie, for bringing Rachel to us.

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  2. Great to hear about the new book, Rachel.

    Dougal is gorgeous. I just wanna throw a ball for him.

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  3. I've seen your picture so many times on Heart's Talk, I feel I almost know you. Lovely to find out a bit more about you and your stories.

    If you're still looking for music, Alan Jackson is about as southern as they come. There''s also a catchy little George Strait tune called "River of Love" you can find on You Tube.

    Cheers
    Chris Taylor

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  4. Nas, thanks for the kind words. :)

    Yep, the hotel where most of the book takes place has a lighthouse. I've always loved lighthouses so it was very cool to be able to set some scenes in one!

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  5. Janni, if you threw the ball for Dougal, he'd probably adopt you. Though he can be quite judgmental about a person's ability - we usually hit the ball with a tennis racquet for him, and if I hit a bad shot, he stands there with his head on the side, looking at me. I can see he's thinking, "That's the best you could do?" And Jazzie May then gets the ball because Dougal was too busy being shocked at my lack of talent.

    With his coaching, my game has improved out of sight. Don't want to disappoint Dougal. =)

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  6. Hi Chris - actually, I've just handed Hearts Talk over to the fabulous AJ Macpherson who is doing a fabulous job, but it's nice to meet you too!

    Oooh, thanks for the tips - I'll go listen to some snippets and report back. Excellent. :)

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  7. Hi Nas, you must get up so early!

    Janni, Dougal is a honey, isn't he? That expression on his face is so full of life!

    Chris! Hey! I like Rach's idea of a sound track for a book. I once listened to Shania Twain albums over and over when I was writing one of my mss. Many of her song lyrics resonated with one of my characters. Weird combination as I was writing a post-apocalyptic romance at the time. LOL

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  8. Kylie, I have a Shania Twain song on this soundtrack too: You're Still The One. I think a great thing about Country music is the lyrics are usually more of a ballad, so they can suit any genre.

    Ooooh, a post-apocalyptic romance? Any future plans for it? :)

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  9. Hi Rachel and Kylie,
    loved the interview, and Rach, I can't wait to read this one. I love amnesia stories (presently writing a fantasy one) and that your heroine is also musically gifted, an added bonus!
    I too can vouch for her emotionally charged characters :))

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  10. Mel, a fantasy story with amnesia? Fascinating. I'll keep an eye out for it. :) Thanks for the sweet words!

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  11. Hey Mel! There's nothing like word of mouth recommendations of a good book, eh?

    Rach, the post-apocalyptic romance is one that will never see the light of day again unless I salvage the storyline and rewrite the whole thing.

    It's one I wrote in my late teens/early 20's, thought it was the best thing since sliced bread and now is only worth sabotaging. It's got a good premise but not much else. LOL

    I can't wait to find the time to do it. It's one of my favourite stories.

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  12. Hey, Rachel and Kylie!

    Woohoo, Rachel! I'm looking forward to April and Seth's gorgeous story hitting the shelves DownUnder! Not long now!

    A song I've associated with Southern USA because it was used for the miniseries, The Civil War, is the gorgeous and haunting Ashokan Farewell.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hyoYQ7EMdY&feature=related

    Or try this one but the Dixie Chicks - Ready to Run...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a9mx1IVZzU&feature=related

    :)
    Sharon

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  13. Sharon, so glad you could drop in.

    Rach, you're going to end up with a play list a mile long, I think! LOL

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  14. Hey Rachel! (waving madly)....loved the interview ladies. and that photo of Dougal is so cute....

    You have said lighthouse and amnesia Rachel, that sounds like a wonderful recipe to me. Can't wait until it's on the shelves her in Oz.

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  15. Woof! Thx Kylie for hosting one of the nicest people I've never met LOL. Rach, hope to meet you before you write book 44!!!!

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  16. Sharon, thanks for the recommendations! I went and listened to some Dixie Chicks but I bought a different one: I Believe In Love. Sounds good.

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  17. Helen, Dougal prefers to be told that he's a fine looking dog. He's far too sophisticated for cute, lol. Sometimes we'll say or do something with him and he'll huff at us. I'm sure he's saying, I'm *not* a puppy. His humans are fairly high maintenance...

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  18. Jenn, I had to pause and think when I read your comment - it seems like we have met! Lol. Maybe at this year's RWA conference? You going to Melbourne?

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  19. Hi Rachel and Kylie,
    Sorry I'm so late to the party here! I have a good excuse. I won Rachel's lighthouse amnesia book on lovecats and it kept me up last night (or should that be this morning)!!

    Nice interview. So glad you got the gorgeous Dougal to smile at us so nicely.

    Cath

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  20. Cath, what great timing that the book arrived the day before this party! Sorry about keeping you up late though. ;)

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  21. Eleni, so glad you're enjoying the interviews! I've had heaps of fun asking the questions and seeing what responses my guests come up with!

    Jenn, you're going to have to rectify not meeting Rachel next conference.

    Hi, Cath, you're not late! And so glad to hear that Rachel's book kept you up to the wee, small hours! That's what an author likes to hear.

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  22. Lovely interview, as always on Kylie's blog!

    Congrats on your latest release, Rachel. It looks fabulous.

    I love your playlist idea. I have to admit to replaying Bonnie Tyler's 'I Need a Hero' a hundred time during my last book but a whole list might work better.

    And Zeus says hi to Dougal -he's another ball obsessed hound...

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  23. Helene, "I Need A Hero" is a great theme song. The thing I like about a whole list is there are always some love songs, and some angsty songs, and some sad songs, etc, so I can replay one song in particular over and over for a scene, or I can play the whole thing through for an overall effect.

    When I was writing the scene in this book where April's memory comes back, I put Muse's Egogenesis Part 1 on repeat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZD0yp-E0rw It was already on the playlist, but was perfect for that scene.

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  24. I forgot to reply to Zeus! Zeus, I'm afraid Dougal isn't particularly social, especially with dogs who might steal his ball, but Jazzie May is here and wanting to send a big lick your way. (She's a little boy crazy and spends half her life going from one brother to the next, licking them. Drives them crazy.)

    Jazzie would like to direct Zeus's attention to her photo: http://www.rachelbailey.com/about.html and invite him to come and stay anytime.

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  25. Hi Rachel - A lovely post from a lovely lady. Well done on your writing success. I can't wait to get my copy in March.

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  26. Thanks for such sweet words, Bron. Hey, isn't today the release day for Invitation to Ruin? Congratulations!!

    I love the first line from the blurb: One Good Lady is About to Go Bad... :)

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  27. And now my blog becomes a match making site for dogs??? Ahh, true love, romance no matter the world we live in - I suppose I can live with that! *grin*

    Zeus and Jazzie May - I wonder what their romance book would be titled? The Canine Love Match? Zeus & Jazzie's Howl-emoon? The Hot Diggity-Dawg's Date?

    Helene & Bron, thanks for dropping in. Bron, not long to wait for a copy of Rachel's book now.

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  28. Oooh, Kylie and Rach together,
    Two of my favorite people in the whole world smiling together on the same blog- Yippee!
    Can't wait to read your new book, Rach, and I love lighthouses,
    Something fascinating about them and the people who live in them, isn't there?
    Suzi

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  29. Hey Suzi, glad you could drop by! The lighthouse keepers of days gone by, particularly the ones on an island rather than the mainland, must have found the experience very isolating and lonely. Certainly would make a good premise for a mail-order bride, only one for the light-house keeper!

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  30. Hi Rachel,
    I LOVE a good amnesia story and I can't wait to read this one too!! I love your books. So rich, such great characters.

    Great blog, Kylie!
    HUGS to two great people!!

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  31. Thanks, Serena, I'm glad you enjoyed Rachel's interview!

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  32. Suzi, you always make me laugh!

    I blogged about lighthouses a few weeks ago at the LoveCats and I was surprised how many people are *really* into lighthouses. One commenter collects lighthouse postcards from all over the world (cool hobby!). Someone else pointed me to the organization for people who love lighthouses - they go on tours of them. Sounds like fun!

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  33. Serena, you say the sweetest things - which shows what a lovely person you are. :)

    Cool that you like a good amnesia story - Robyn Grady has one out this month in Australia too: Amnesiac Ex, Unforgettable Vows. I've read it and it's fabulous!

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  34. Popping in very late here - sorry Rach and Kylie. Not sure how I missed an interview with the divine Ms R.

    I think every story could use a dog, Rach, so I am sure there is a way of getting one of your fur people into the story :)

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  35. Lovely to see you here, Anita! Re: the dog - you're right. I'm on it. ;)

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  36. Hi Rachel!

    Love the premise! I must say I love Lady Antebellum's album, too. Hubby plays it constantly. And Lonestar and Gary Allen... LOL. I think he has an obsession *vbg*.

    Can't wait to read this one.

    Cheers,
    Michelle

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  37. Hey, Michelle & Anita, you're not late! You made it at exactly the time you were supposed to. Thanks for calling in and saying hi to Rachel! :-)

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