Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Guest blogger - Hazel Statham


We'd like to welcome Hazel Statham to the blog today.





Thank you so much, ladies, for inviting me once more onto you blog. Previously, my visit coincided with the publication of LIZZIE’S RAKE, but now I’m touring to promote my new Avalon release, THE PORTRAIT.





Inspiration for THE PORTRAIT came to me from a song whilst watching the film ‘Hawks’, which is the story of two young men dying of cancer, but determined to enjoy life whilst they can. In the song, the singer utters the words ‘I want to be the man that you think I am’, which, in the theme of the film, translates into wishing he was strong and healthy for his girlfriend’s sake. I took that thought and translated it into a hero returning from war with devastating wounds.




When he had joined the ranks of those fighting against Napoleon, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, had recently entered into an arranged betrothed with Lady Jennifer Lynton, but a cannonball wreaked such damage on his noble frame that he had no desire to continue with the marriage. In other words, he wanted to be the man she thought he was, not the wreck he perceived himself to have become.






However, during the campaigns, it was seen that he relied greatly on a miniature he carried and it was to this he clung during his time spent recovering in a convent on the Portuguese border.

For differing reasons, Lady Jennifer had also decided to end the engagement. She felt slighted that Edward’s letters had been impersonal with little but trivialities in their content. Why should she trot down the isle with a man she hardly knew and made no attempt to inform her of his injuries?

Will Edward find happiness with the girl in the portrait or will he stay firm in his resolve not to wed? His head dictates on course, his heart another!

If you have time, please read an excerpt at the link below

http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/excerpt-the-portrait.htm

Regards to all,

Hazel Statham

Hazel Statham lives in England and has been writing on and off since she was fifteen. Initially she was influenced by Austen, the Brontës, and Sabatini but when she turned seventeen, Georgette Heyer opened up the romance and elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She immediately knew she had found her eras and wanted nothing more than to re-create them in her work.
Her latest book is the Regency romance novel, The Portrait, released by Avalon Books in August 2010.
Hazel lives with her husband, Terry, and a beautiful Labrador named Mollie. Apart from writing, her other ruling passion is animals, and until recently she acted as treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities.
You can visit her online at www.hazel-statham.co.uk and her blog at http://hazelstatham.blogspot.com/

10 comments:

Amanda said...

Thanks for coming along, Hazel, the book sounds like a really good read.

Hazel said...

Many thanks for allowing me to participate on the blog, Amanda. It is very much appreciated.

After one false start, 'The Portrait' has finally made it into print and I am delighted by its reception so far.

If you do get to read the book, I hope you enjoy Edward and Jennifer's story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Regards to all,

Hazel

Cheryl said...

Thanks for hosting Hazel today. This ends her virtual book tour, one that was filled with many wonderful reviews.

I hope your readers will take a moment to check it out.

Cheryl

Louise Allen said...

That sounds a fascinating plot, Hazel. I love military heroes

Jane Jackson said...

A touching story, Hazel, and fascinating to learn what inspired it. Wishing you every success.

Jane Odiwe said...

Good Luck with your book, Hazel. I hope it brings much success!

Nicola Cornick said...

Lovely to see you here, Hazel, and what an intriguing premise for a book.

lynneconnolly said...

Lovely to hear from you, Hazel! The Portrait is a really good traditional Regency read.

Hazel said...

Lovely to be here too, Nicola. It's great to be amongst like-minded authors who enjoy writing about the Regency and Georgian eras as much as I do. These are such elegantly romantic times that the writer is never short of inspiration.

Hope your dogs are still doing well,

Hazel

Hazel said...

Hi Lynne. Yes, you were the first to read THE PORTRAIT when it was originally contracted, although at that point it didn't achieve publication due to closure.

It's so kind of you to remember it.

Hazel