Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Author Interview: Penelope’s Ghost by Goldie Alexander

Penelope’s Ghost
Goldie Alexander

Genre: Paranormal/Romantic Suspense/Contemporary
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Date of Publication: April 9th 2014



Book Description:
Haunted. Haunting. Redeemed.

When Lisa Harbinger takes a job as nanny to a prestigious Australian family, she gets more than she bargained for: two spoilt children, vengeful ghosts, a long-unsolved mystery and a blazing passion she and her enigmatic boss are unable to deny.

 ARe | Amazon | Smashwords

  
Excerpt:
“He fell in love with someone else,” Richard repeated thoughtfully. “Was she a friend of yours?”
It must be time to confess. What he would think of me after that, I didn’t dare consider. “Actually, she was a he. Simon fell in love with Robert and finally admitted he was gay.”
Richard’s eyebrows shot up. “Married to someone as lovely and intelligent as you? That’s almost impossible to believe.”
Lovely? Intelligent? Not knowing how to respond to these compliments I said quickly, “I think Simon always knew he was gay. Even when he married me, he was just in denial. I was too dumb to wake up to it.”
“When you did realise, how did it make you feel?”
“Angry. Miserable. Then totally stupid,” I answered. “There were so many hints, but I kept on ignoring them.” Then I dared to venture, as the atmosphere between us was definitely pulsing, “He was never interested in sex.”
His face blank, Richard turned to the next page of the book we were sharing, then another. In the pause I heard an owl hoot and the wind rustle a branch against the window.
At last he put down the book. “Never interested in sex. That mean you’re not? Let’s find out.” With this, he placed one arm around my waist and with the other hand tilted my head so I faced him. Then he carefully and delicately placed his mouth over mine.

PRFL would like to extend a very warm welcome to Goldie Alexander, author of Penelope's Ghost. Goldie, 1.      I love your cover for Penelope’s Ghost do you do all your covers by yourself?
If only. Can’t design for nuts! The clever folk at Boroughs Publishing Group did this for me. Perhaps I sent a few ideas their way and then they were able to transpose them into something that catches the eye.

 Seeing how romance novels are all about the perfect or not so perfect sexy man how steamy do you like your sex scenes? Not just your books but books you read?
      I have always thought that some things should be left to the readers’ imagination, which is why I don’t write erotica. It’s the lead up to sex that is most exciting and titillating. And, of course, my heroes have to be sexy and slightly imperfect so this will add to my plot. My heroines are sexy deep inside though this has to be brought out as the story continues. I want my readers to identify with them. How would they react in a similar situation?

            What keeps you doing what you do, writing? What’s your favorite part of writing/creating?
I am always being asked why I write. Frankly, can’t think of anything else I want to do except maybe run my own TV show and become rich and famous. My favorite part of writing is when I have created a scene and it actually seems to work. My least favorite is re-reading what I have written after the book comes out as there is always something that could have been ‘better.’

Trying to write a book is not small issue but it has to be harder to send your work into the world for others to enjoy. What was your largest obstacle you had to overcome to get where you are today?
I teach creative writing and mentor many emerging authors. I tell them to take all rejections ‘on the chin’ and to keep on going. Just because one submissions editor doesn’t like your novel doesn’t mean another won’t. But over the years each time I received the standard ‘dear author rejection,’ I’d grit my teeth and think about using it to line the toilet walls. Do Americans talks about ‘toilets?’ Maybe you use another word like ‘john.’

Phone, neighbors, kids that use to be the only distraction when writing at home. What is the largest distraction for you?
The refrigerator. Too easy when something isn’t quite working to walk into the kitchen and consider what is inside. Also, because I work from home, too many friends and relatives think this isn’t ‘real work,’ and, therefore, I could be using my time more profitably like helping out with other jobs. But I am very task driven and selfish when it comes to using my time. Over the years I have refused to be swayed into becoming ‘general helper’ and I think this ‘bloody mindedness’ has finally paid off.

After all the work you have done with children/young adult books thank you for coming over to the darkside. What made you write paranormal romance instead of any other genre?
Because it is such fun to try something new. Over the years I have written in almost every genre except TV and film scripts and graphic novels. (read question one for reasons). My first four books for young adults were Romances so I was really returning to home territory. When I look back at my YA historical fiction, there is always a romance in them even if they don’t always work out. Using ghosts in a story adds to the mystery which also adds to the plot. Writing a Paranormal Romance was my next inevitable step as an author.

 When you tell others that you wrote a romance book what is the most common reaction?
      They look somewhat bemused. Some even look appalled as if writing Romance should be a deeply held secret like picking at your cuticles. Then I tell them that more Romance novels are sold than any other genre, they nod knowingly. But does it really matter what other people think? I want to know to know what my readers think. If I can take them out of their everyday lives and they want to keep on reading, that’s all that matters in the end.

            What is something about you that is funny/entertaining/interesting?
I am often accused of being a terrible gossip and I love listening to other people’s stories. Gossip is what creates character s and that’s what I write about. I don’t gossip maliciously, but I listen very carefully to people talking on their cell phones when I’m on a bus or a tram and try to fill in the gaps at the other end.

I believe that each book is a gateway to another world. If you could escape into any book world which would you choose? It doesn’t have to be your own.
Because women had always been treated rather meanly in most other centuries this is a hard question to answer. Perhaps I would like to go far into the future, though the worlds in those books are usually dystopian. Or perhaps back into novels written about ancient Egypt or Rome - but only if I have a very important position and am not a slave.

Thank you for interviewing me. I hope readers will pick up Penelope’s Ghost and enjoy reading it. 

Thank you so much for joining us today, Goldie. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with Penelope's Ghost.


About the Author:

 Goldie Alexander has published over 75 books plus many prize winning short stories and articles. For children she is best known for, "My Australian Story: Surviving Sydney Cove", now in its 10th edition. Amongst recent work are three collections of short stories: ‘Killer Virus’, ‘My Horrible Cousins’ and ‘Space Footy”. 
Her latest novels for Young Adult include ‘The Youngest Cameleer’, ‘In Hades’ a verse novel, and ‘That Stranger next Door’. For middle grade readers: ‘eSide: A Journey into Cyberspace’. ‘ Cybertrix: 2043, and ‘Neptunia’, and the Junior novel ‘Gallipoli Medals’. She has authored the how-to-write ‘Mentoring Your Memoir’, facilitates creative writing workshops and mentors emerging authors.

Author Links:
Tour Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a 10-book subscription to the Lunchbox Romance line.
The ten-book subscription will provide the winner with a new Lunchbox Romance every two weeks. Lunchbox Romances are "delicious short Romances consumable during the lunch hour."

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