Jennifer around the web:
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Jennifer: The research! The inspiration for The Convenient Bride came from a trip to
Venice I made a few years ago. I’d been to Italy a number of times before, but
never made it to Venice. I love Italy but never expected to be so overwhelmed
with the beauty and history of the famous canal city. As soon as I floated down the Grand Canal
surrounded by Baroque and Gothic buildings I knew I’d set my next book in that
magical place.
Nas: What
do you think makes a good story?
Jennifer: I believe a great story makes you feel
something - joy, sadness, anger,
anticipation...it plays with your emotions.
I love a book that builds such compelling characters and convincing
worlds, whether it’s fantasy such as Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings or a
contemporary romance, that you can’t wait to dive back in each day.
Nas: You
write about exotic places – what is your ideal holiday destination?
Jennifer: I’m lucky enough to have travelled the
world, mostly as part of my jobs prior to becoming a romance writer. The hotels
I describe in The Convenient Bride
have aspects of the places I’ve stayed at.
Interestingly, my taste in holidays is eclectic. For example, I’ve just booked a six-day
Tasmanian walking holiday which includes carrying my own pack but also love the
full-on pampered luxury of 5-star hotels
in a big cities like New York, London or Paris. Just don’t send me on a beach
holiday. I can’t stand sitting still, so the idea of lying on a beach or by the
pool all day makes me twitchy!
Nas: Anywhere
you haven’t travelled you would like to go?
Jennifer: Although I’ve visited Spain a few
times, I’ve never been to the northwest. I’d love to walk the one thousand year old pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in the
Cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela. The walk is known in English as the Way of St. James and in
Spanish as the Camino de Santiago. It takes around 30 days to complete the
trek. One day…
Nas: What
one item do you always pack when you travel?
Jennifer: Clothes that don’t need ironing!
Nas: Tell
us a little about your current release …..
Jennifer: The Convenient
Bride is my debut book published by Penguin’s new
digital-first imprint Destiny Romance.
In keeping with her part of the
bargain, Sienna travels to Venice to be with Antonio, who introduces her to a
life of great luxury and opulence. As befits the fiancée of the famous Antonio
Moretti, Sienna is given a new wardrobe of designer gowns and outfits and
instructed exactly how to behave when out in public. But after thinking he can
manipulate her at will, Antonio begins to realize he has seriously
underestimated Sienna, her intelligence, her skills, her courage – and her
beauty. Unexpectedly, Sienna gets too close and when she discovers his dark
secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel.
Destiny has done you the most beautiful, modern cover. How lucky we are to finally have romance selling here. Congratulations on your release, Jennifer. Wishing you many sales and great success.
ReplyDeleteHi Cathleen,
DeleteThank you for reading and for your comment!
'clothes that don't need ironing' = my kind of person! I sold my iron and ironing board at a garage sale several years ago and haven't missed either a bit. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nas!
Hi Carol!
DeleteAttaGirl! Selling off the ironing board! Thank you for reading and for your comment!
Jennifer sounds like a great traveling partner! I call dibs on the next trip! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd her work looks great---thanks for this, Nas!
Hi Morgan!
DeleteThank you for reading and for your comment!
Thanks Cathleen. Yes, I love all the Destiny covers!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Romance Book Paradise, Jennifer! Congratulations on the release of your THE CONVENIENT BRIDE!
DeleteWow Carol, selling your iron and ironing board - that is very impressive. Something I will inspire to.
ReplyDeleteThanks Morgan. I do love travelling!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I read the whole post, but I'm not sure I really read it. I got a bit distracted by "floating down the Grand Canal". That sounds heavenly. I can imagine it would inspire a fab romance!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny!
DeleteWelcome! Thanks for coming by to read this post!
I so loved Venice, Jenny. All the cliches about the city are true, it really is so romantic!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, as a world traveller, most books I read must have some exotic element in them.
ReplyDeleteI've spent some wonderful times in Venice. And I'm writing a novella set during the carnivale. Also have written a short story on walking a section of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage.
I love the sound of your book. Will look forward to reading it.
Denise
I hope the Camino was as wonderful as I imagine it to be, Denise. Isn't travel a wonderful way to become inspired. I hope you enjoy The Convenient Bride and believe I've been able to capture the essence of that magical place.
ReplyDeleteHi Denise!
DeleteThank you for reading and for your comment!
A woman after my own heart. I haven't owned an iron for soooo many years. LOL Wash-n-wear it the only way to fly (or walk, drive, sail or camp) Although I have travelled extensively overseas, Venice has been the one place I have been unable to face as my husband and I had our trip planned but he sadly passed the year before we were going. After 10 years of reading, watching, sighing over Venice, I am finally ready to travel there on my own - and I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Santiago de Compostela walk
So sorry to hear about your husband, Natasha. Totally understand why you delayed a visit to Venice. When I visited the city, I left my husband and kids at home in Australia and went with some girlfriends. It was wonderful. I hope your trip to Venice is just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHi Natasha!
DeleteThanks for sharing. Hope you enjoy when you make the trip to Venice!
Venice is enough to inspire anyone! There's something very Italian about Venice. It's half under water and the rising damp must be chronic, yet it is at the same time home to some of the most magnificent buildings and art in the world. Both of which are taken as just part of life by the Italians. I always feel, in Italy, as though what's for dinner is more important than what's coming tomorrow. I'm sure that's one reason why people love going there on holiday! Best of luck with the book, Jenn. Don't put me in the draw - I've already read it and enjoyed it very much!
ReplyDeleteI hear you about dinner!! I am such a foodie and Italian is my favourite, along with French, Spanish, Thai...you get the picture.
ReplyDeleteHi Imelda!
DeleteThanks for coming by and reading this post and for your comment!
Best of luck with the book, Jenn! You can't go past Venice for romance. This sounds like a ripper read complimented with a beautiful cover.
ReplyDeleteHi Nas! (Waving)
Hi Juanita!
DeleteI so agree with you. An awesome story with a superb cover, The Convenient Bride will steal a readers heart!
Sounds like a wonderful novel. I'd love to travel. Venice! That would be so awesome. At least being able to visit those places in a book is a real treat. Thanks, ladies.
ReplyDeleteHi Joylene,
DeleteI always love to travel the world via books! But then to go and see all those exotic places in reality would be a dream come true!
Sounds like a great book! I have a hard time sitting around doing nothing, too. My vacations are usually packed with things to do. Thanks for telling us about your book!
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry!
DeleteThank you for reading and for your comment!
Thanks Juanita. I love the Destiny Romance covers!!
ReplyDeleteI tried very hard to capture the essence of being in Venice, Joylene. So I hope some of the magic of the city in there on the page.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Sherry. Give me a holiday with action and lots to do.
My daughter went to Venice this summer. All her pix and her recollections make me want to hop on a plane right now. Great setting. Best of luck to Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leslie. I know the feeling. I dreamed of visiting Venice for a long time before I actually made it.
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie!
DeleteI would also so love to visit Venice one day! Thank you for reading and for your comment!
Hi Jennifer and Nas,
ReplyDeleteJennifer I identify with what you said about liking different types of vacations.
I've enjoyed luxury hotels as well as holidays where it was necessary to rough it. They're all enjoyable in their own way.
Exactly, Maria. Love a bit of variety.
ReplyDeleteHi Maria!
DeleteYep, I agree with you! Vacations are vacations, if you have a good travelling partner and don't get stressed with other factors, you will enjoy it!
Congrats to Jennifer - how exciting that she's traveled to so many exotic places!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. I was lucky enough to have a job that took me all over the world.
ReplyDeleteSusan, you should see Jennifer's bio:
Delete"Some career highlights include launching Guinness beer in Russia; reaching 40 million people through a publicity campaign that ‘gave away’ a pub in Ireland, testing new cars on a speedway in Japan and launching the Ford Ka brand in Australia."
Isn't that impressive or what?
Sounds like a great book! I love that the author got the idea while traveling to Venice! I love to travel- but I haven't been to Italy (or Spain). Fun interview!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Hi Jess!
DeleteThanks for reading this post and for your comment!
It is very handy when you get ideas during your travels, Jess. I just have to ensure I always have a notebook on me otherwise I can forget a really good idea (which is infuriating!!)
DeleteCongrats, Jennifer! I do love Venice.
ReplyDeleteHi Talli!
DeleteThanks for coming by! Ohhh! Romantic Venice!
Thanks, Talli. Venice is such an amazing place.
DeleteI was in Venice last month and can certainly see why you were inspired!
ReplyDeleteYou lucky thing, Shelley!! I hope it wasn't flooded when you were there.
ReplyDeleteTerrific interview, Nas and Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds good, and the love of travel you seem to have would certainly contribute to that!
Thanks William. I do love discovering new places.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Jennifer on her debut.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit Venice. I love how travelling fills me with new emotions and ideas.
I feel the same way, Medeia.
ReplyDeleteSo it has been very tough to pick a winner. All the comments have been so fabulous!! However, the winner of The Convenient Bride just has to be Carol K. Giving away your iron is so impressive. I aspire to do that one day!!! To receive The Convenient Bride, just visit my website - www.jenniferstgeorge.com - and fill out the contact form.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nas so much for hosting me. It's been lots of fun!!!
Congratulations to Carol! Thanks to all my lovely friends for coming by to chat with Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Jennifer for the giveaway and being here chatting with us!