Hello Meradeth and thank
you very much for welcoming me on your blog today. I am delighted to have the
opportunity to talk about my new novel, A SPELL IN PROVENCE, which is shortly
to be released by Áccent Press.
A SPELL IN PROVENCE is a
contemporary romantic suspense, a new genre for me since I usually write
historical romances.
I first got the idea for
the plot during a family holiday in the South of France. It is obvious when you
travel through Provence that fountains were very important for locals. 'Water
is gold' says an old Provençal saying, and true enough, there are fountains
everywhere - some were very grand like in Aix-en-Provence, others a plain stone
trough with only an old tap spurting fresh water.
One fountain in particular
captured my imagination. It was in the lovely small town of Cassis near
Marseille, where we had stopped for an impromptu picnic. As soon as I saw it
and read its inscription in Latin, I knew I had the basis of a plot.
Provence is a wonderful
setting for a novel. There are so many hill-top villages and old farmhouses,
lavender and sunflower fields, and ancient Roman ruins...
Blurb
With few roots in England
and having just lost her job, Amy Carter decides to give up on home and start a
new life in France, spending her redundancy package turning an overgrown
Provençal farmhouse, Bellefontaine, into a successful hotel. Though she has big
plans for her new home, none of them involves falling in love – least of all
with Fabien Coste, the handsome but arrogant owner of a nearby château.
As romance blossoms, eerie and strange happenings in Bellefontaine hint at a
dark mystery of the Provençal countryside which dates back many centuries and
holds an entanglement between the ladies of Bellefontaine and the ducs de Coste
at its centre. As Amy works to unravel the mystery, she begins to wonder if it
may not just be her heart at risk, but her life too.
Buy Links:
A SPELL IN PROVENCE will
be available from Amazon in early January, 2015!
Originally from Lyon in France, Marie studied
History and Law at university there before moving to Lancashire in England
where she worked in a variety of jobs, from PA in a busy university department
to teacher of French in schools and colleges. Writing, however, was always her
passion, and she spends what little free time she has dreaming and making up
stories. Her historical romances ANGEL HEART and THE LION'S EMBRACE are
published by MuseItUp Publishing. A SPELL IN PROVENCE is her first contemporary
romance. It is published by Áccent Press.
Snippet
He looked down. The light of the rising sun played on his face and made his green eyes seem deep and warm. Time slowed down. The noise from the crowd became muffled and distant, and all she could hear was the crystalline spring water trickling in the old fountain. The spring that ran through the forest between Manoir Coste and Bellefontaine and bound hearts and lives together, or so the spell said …
Her heartbeat slowed, or maybe it stopped altogether. It was as if Fabien and she were alone. Desire, fear and another feeling she didn’t recognise overwhelmed her and made her dizzy.
A Spell in Provence sounds like one of those books you could curl up with on the couch with some snacks and a blanket and read straight through. Although romantic, it definitely has a sense of mysteriousness about it from reading the blurb. I love how Marie came about the idea from visiting the south of France. The surroundings seem divine. Best of luck with your wonderful book!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Gina for your wonderful comment. I do hope you enjoy A SPELL IN PROVENCE which should be released on Monday 5th January! Provence in a wonderful place, and a great setting for a novel.
Deletethis sounds wonderful, Marie. The cover is absolutely incredible.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Beth. Yes, I do love the cover too. It isn't however the original one (which was lovely too but had a more romantic and sunny feel to it). The publisher felt that this one would suit the mysterious events surrounding Bellefontaine better. I hope you enjoy the book.
DeleteWhat a beautiful cover! Provence sounds amazing! I am hoping to visit France this summer for a week and have never been before (we have a wedding in Poland so we are piggybacking the two trips). I may just have to get this one to read on the plane and get me in the mood for France. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great time in Poland (my father was Polish but I do not speak the language unfortunately!) and in Provence. I am sure you will love the region, the scenery and the food! Thank you very much for your kind comment.
DeleteI like that excerpt, Marie! I follow a number of photoblogs from various parts of France, and from time to time, fountains certainly do show up.
ReplyDeleteThank you William for visiting. I find fountains beautiful. I actually bought a wonderful book of watercolours all about the fountains of Provence when I was on holiday in Provence and it inspired me throughout the writing of A SPELL IN PROVENCE. Here is the link http://www.amazon.fr/Provence-fontaines-Ren%C3%A9-Bruni/dp/2841354148
DeleteI hope you enjoy the novel!
I love reading about what inspired authors to write their books. I'd love to visit that part of France.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great read.
You are right, Medeia. Inspiration is indeed a magical thing and we all find our ideas for stories in different things. For me, it can be a scenery, a painting, a song or a poem, or even just the name of a person or a place which I find intriguing! Thank you for visiting and for your kind comment.
DeleteI loved reading about your inspiration, Marie. It's a wonderful premise for a novel - intriguing and romantic. I'm so looking forward to release!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helena! I do hope you enjoy the story even if it is different from my other two, being a contemporary romance. Hopefully it will be released on Monday 5th January!
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ReplyDelete