Saturday, December 01, 2012

The Winter Wife

This December is very special for me. It's twenty years this month when my first book, An Image of You, was published and I'm going to be celebrating. Later in the month there will be a gift for all my readers and supporters, but I'm also going to have fun talking about some fabulous Christmas books by authors who have become friends over the years - authors whose work I love. Today I'm thrilled to have as my guest, the wonderful Anna Campbell.

Anna writes amazing historical novels that keep me totally captivated and her latest full length book, Seven Nights in the Rogue's Bed is sitting on top of my tbr pile right now!

But it's Christmas, so she's here to tell you about a fabulous Christmas novella, The Winter Wife, that is hot from cyberspace!

That lovely cover is just calling out to me!





Liz, huge congratulations on your 20th anniversary. Thank you for having me as your guest today.

I can’t begin to tell you how much reading pleasure you’ve given me with your beautiful love stories. You’ve made me cry too! And laugh! And sigh. And swoon. And close the book with that unique satisfaction that only a perfect romance novel can deliver. Anyone who picks up one of your books is in for a real treat (which lures me to mention one of my particular favourites of yours – TEMPTED BY TROUBLE, the ice-cream truck book, delicious as pistachio gelato!). Here’s to the next 20 years!

I’m nowhere near the seasoned veteran of romance writing that Liz is, but December 2012 marks a bit of a milestone for me. I’m dipping my toe into the indie publishing pond with a Christmas-themed historical novella called THE WINTER WIFE.

THE WINTER WIFE is an expanded version of a long short story that I wrote a couple of years ago for THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF REGENCY ROMANCE. I’d always wanted to revisit the characters and give them a bit more breathing room without the length restrictions that the Mammoth people necessarily have to apply.

This was also my first reunion story, which is a theme I love in romances (and it’s a theme Liz handles beautifully!). Added to which I’d missed a major opportunity first time round – the original was set on a snowy evening in Yorkshire in December and I’ve always wanted to write a Christmas story. Transforming “Upon a Midnight Clear” into THE WINTER WIFE allowed me to set the story on Christmas Eve – what better date to choose for a story about forgiveness, reconciliation, new beginnings and lost love found?

Here’s the blurb:

Will a chance meeting on Christmas Eve…

Alicia Sinclair, Countess of Kinvarra, cannot believe that fate has been so cruel as to strand her on the snowy Yorkshire moors with her estranged husband as her only hope of rescue. During their rare encounters, the arrogant earl and his countess act like hostile strangers. Now that Alicia has fallen into Kinvarra’s power, will he seek revenge for her desertion? Or does the dark, passionate man she once adored have entirely different plans for his headstrong wife?

..deliver a second chance at love?

Sebastian Sinclair, Earl of Kinvarra, has spent ten wretched years regretting the mistakes he made with his young bride, but after long separation, the barriers between them are insurmountable. Until an unexpected encounter one stormy night makes him wonder if the barriers of mistrust and thwarted desire are so insurmountable after all. When winter weather traps Sebastian and his proud, lovely wife in an isolated inn, could the earl and his headstrong countess have a Christmas miracle in store?

You can read an excerpt on my website here

THE WINTER WIFE is available at all good e-book sellers, including Amazon

So are you a fan of Christmas romances? Or is it bah humbug all the way to the turkey table for you? Do you have any favourite Christmas romances? I’ve got a download of THE WINTER WIFE, a Christmas novella, for one commenter today.

Good luck! And wishing you all the joy of the season!

48 comments:

Julie B. said...

Congratulations, Liz on 20 years of writing wonderfully emotional, poignant and feel-good romances. I've read a large number of them and loved every single one. Yours is one of the first names I recommend whenever someone asks me for a recommendation and I can't wait to get stuck into your ebook releases and I am counting down the days until your next Riva.

I love Anna's historicals too (Midnight's Wild Passion and Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed are on my Kindle)and I adore Christmas romances. Off the top of my head, I love Jessica Hart's Kissing Santa, Penny Jordan's His Christmas Fantasy, Annie Burrows' A Countess by Christmas and Liz's Christmas Angel for the Billionaire. Oh, and Louise Allen's Moonlight and Mistletoe, Kate Hardy's A Christmas Knight, Sarah Morgan's Snowbound Marriage Miracle...I think I'd better stop now or I'll be here all day!

Liz Fielding said...

Thanks, Julie!

I love Anna's books, too. The Winter Wife went live on Amazon today and I downloaded it immediately!

Kat Sheridan said...

Oh, I do love reconciliation stories, and how perfect to have it also be a Christmas story! Looks like this one is going to be wonderful! And congrats to Liz as well!

brwneyedbeauty said...

One of my favorite themes is reunited lovers. This novella sounds right up my alley. I love Christmas, but I've never really liked books set around Christmas. Even with my favorite authors, I feel like their writing is different when it's set around the Holidays.

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Liz! Thanks again for having me as your guest today. Really excited to be here to launch your 20th anniversary celebrations!

Anna Campbell said...

Julie, lovely to meet another fan of Liz's writing. I love her books! And thanks for picking up my books - much appreciated! Great selection of Christmas romances! One of my favourites is actually another novella called THIS WICKED GIFT by Courtney Milan. Amazing how much emotion she packs into the short space in that one.

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Liz, thanks for downloading The Winter Wife - as you know, I only got the cover the day before yesterday. Keep looking at it and drooling! Which is a much less attractive picture than the one on the cover! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Thanks so much, Kat. I really enjoy reading reunion and reconciliation stories too but I'd never actually written one until I did The Winter Wife. It's such a different dynamic when they're already in love at the start compared to falling in love with a stranger.

Anna Campbell said...

Ooh, interesting comment, Brown Eyed Beauty. I like the world is bright and jolly feeling you get at the end of a Christmas romance. Actually one of my favourites is Liz's wonderful Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto. Love the department store scenes in that one. I still have fond memories of all the Christmas decorations in London from when I lived there.

Connie said...

I love Christmas stories and have a number of them so far this year. I'm looking forward to reading "The Winter Wife" as well. When I first saw it, I thought, "Well if it's written by Anna, it HAS to be good!"

Caren Crane said...

Hello, Liz and Anna! I simply adore Christmas romances. I started reading them in October this year, because I couldn't wait until after Thanksgiving! I have downloaded The Winter Wife already and can't wait to read it. I am thrilled to have a Christmas tale from such an incredibly taleneted author!

Liz, super congrats on your 20-year career so far. Given how wildly publishing has changed over the years, your longevity is a real testament to your talent!

Jo Robertson said...

Congratulations on your 20th anniversary, Liz, and yay to Anna for her Christmas novella release. I'm reading it now and love Alicia and Kinvarra!

I adore Christmas stories; may favorite have always been Mary Balogh's lively, somewhate sentimental, Christmas events.

Anna Campbell said...

Caren, I'd love Liz's take on how publishing has changed in the past 20 years. It would be fascinating.

Thanks for swinging by and thanks for downloading The Winter Wife. I hope you enjoy it!

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, I love Mary Balogh's Christmas novellas. There's one in that same anthology as the Courtney Milan that I recommended and it's lovely. Great choice, Jo! Thanks for downloading Winter Wife - so glad you're enjoying it.

Annie West said...

Hi Anna, and congratulations on the release of 'The Winter Wife'. Having read it I can say readers will love this special story!

I had never really got into the way of reading Christmas romances until a couple of years ago when I was away in the week before Christmas and I'd picked up a Christmas romance by one of my favourite authors and then couldn't put it down! We had some things planned for those few days away and I almost missed out because I was too busy finishing the marvellous story. And the author? You guessed it - Liz Fielding! Now I love a great Christmas romance and have started looking for them in stores.

Nancy Northcott said...

Liz, congratulatuions on a stellar career! I hope it rolls for another 20 years.

Anna, I already have The Winter Wife and am looking forward to it. I have a weakness for Christmas romances and tend to keep them, re-reading in later years.

Cassondra Murray said...

Hello Anna!

Wooot! A Christmas story from my one of my favorite writers ever!

I LOVE Christmas stories. And while I don't like novellas in general, I DO like Christmas novellas. They seem just right for the season--a short feel-good read in the midst of craziness of the season. And sometimes, these are all I DO that's Christmasy. Some years I'm so busy we don't even get to put up a tree, so these little visits to the season are the only thing I get, and they're so important to me for that reason.

I'm so excited about this! And congrats on your venture into the e-world on your own!

Cassondra Murray said...

Hmmmm...tried to post this but had trouble. If this ends up a dupe, I apologize.

I wanted to say Congratulations Liz on this milestone, and for so many years of wonderful stories!

Christie Kelley said...

Congrats on 20 years, Liz!

Anna, I read your story in the Mammoth Book of Regency and can't wait to read the extended version.

Congrats!

Anna Campbell said...

Annie, lovely to see you here. I know we're both great Liz F fans! Interesting about you being an accidental Christmas romance fan. Actually just thought of another really good one - CHRISTMAS AT CANDLEBARK FARM by Michelle Douglas. One of those gamut of emotions ones, you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll have a lovely happy glow at the end.

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, thank you so much, Connie. It's definitely a bite-sized story which suits my reading patterns at this time of year. So busy yet I still like to get my romance fix! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Nancy, thank you so much for picking up The Winter Wife. I always take a break between Christmas and New Year (well, except for last year when I was on a killer deadline). I'm so looking forward to reading your RENEGADE then! Been watching all the great buzz and salivating at the thought of settling down with the story.

Anna Campbell said...

Thanks, Cassondra. And thanks for the congrats on dipping a toe into the indie pond. There's so many exciting developments in publishing at the moment - such a great variety out there right now! I agree with you about the shorter length being just right for this time of year. Everybody's running around like mad chickens!

Anna Campbell said...

Cassondra, you came through loud and clear.

Anna Campbell said...

Christie, really enjoyed your story in the Regency anthology too. Isn't that a great way to get a wide selection of wonderful Regency stories? Thanks for saying you're looking forward to reading TWW again!

Christina Brooke said...

Hello, Liz and happy 20th! What a wonderful achievement. Anna, I'm so looking forward to The Winter Wife. You know how much I enjoyed Upon a Midnight Clear.

I don't mind what the season is, I will always rush to the store to buy your historicals!

bn100 said...

Congrats! I like Christmas books.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Liz! Happy, happy 20th! I'm so thrilled for you, and may you celebrate many, many more. (And we'll be celebrating all those faboo books you'll be writing! Grins)

Anna, I'm so excited about this lovely Christmas tale. Like Cassondra, and others, I adore a Christmas story. In fact, one that I've hung on to for years and frequently reread as a comfort read is called A Christmas Affair by Joan Overfield (I think she's just recently returned to writing after a long hiatus!) And Jo Beverly's Christmas Angel. Grins.

Again, congrats Liz, and WOOHOO, Anna!

Sharon Archer said...

Hi Liz and Anna!

Liz, HUGE congratulations on your 20 years of writing your fabulous books! What an amazing milestone!

Anna, I have your novella sitting on my Kindle TBR! The cover is gorgeous and I can't wait to read this expanded version of Alicia and Sebastian's story. I think the Christmas setting will be the perfect complement.

I'm a definite fan of Christmas stories - there's extra layers of emotion and expectation somehow.

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks, Christina! I feel with Rogue and this one, there's been a deluge of AC historicals lately! Thanks for swinging by - love the new cover, by the way!

Anna Campbell said...

Thanks, BN. Glad to meet another fan of Christmas romances!

Anna Campbell said...

Jeanne, lovely to see you! So glad you're looking forward to reading THE WINTER WIFE. I don't know Joan Overfield - must check her out. See if you can find Liz's Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto - it's another charmer.

Anna Campbell said...

Sharon, I love stories about reconciliation and forgiveness at this time of year. It's what Christmas is about really, isn't it? Loving your neighbour? Especially if your neighbour is a handsome duke or earl! LOL! So glad you're looking forward to revisiting this story. I think it reads much better with the bit of extra fat on it - gave me a chance to dig deeper into the emotion than the shorter length.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Anna! I'll be on the lookout for Liz's Stiletto book. Also, started The Winter Wife, but had to put it down lest I burn dinner. Snork!! Engrossing, as always, and really good!!!

Vanessa Barneveld said...

Congratulations on your 20th anniversary, Liz! What a fantastic achievement.

And, Anna, congrats to you on the release 'The Winter Wife'. I'm in love with that cover and especially the Sebastian. :)

Kandy Shepherd said...

Congratulations Liz on your 20th anniversary--what a milestone to celebrate! I have read your books over the years and always enjoyed them.
Congratulations to you, too, Anna on THE WINTER WIFE. After finishing your wonderful SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED, I thought I might have to wait for a while until your next story. How nice to be able to download your novella (which I have done) and know I have a guaranteed good read waiting for me.
I love Christmas romances, especially those set in snow and chill--a fantasy at this hot, sticky time Down Under.
I have very fond memories of snowy winters spent in England--the holidays, that is, it wasn't such fun battling icy roads to get to work! But that's the fantasy of it isn't it, and I know your estranged hero and heroine of THE WINTER WIFE will take every opportunity for scorching encounters!
All the best for the festive season to Liz and Anna--I'm hoping for lots of reading time and I wish the same for you!

Anna Campbell said...

Jeanne, how wonderful (for me anyway!) that you nearly burned dinner reading WW! I'm so pleased with the cover - it's the first time I've been responsible for putting one together. And hey, you gotta love a soft-talking Scotsman! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Ha ha, Vanessa, I see my soft-talking Scotsman is working for you too. How wonderful. Thank you!

Anna Campbell said...

Kandy, thank you so much for swinging by to say that you enjoyed Rogue - hope you have fun with Winter Wife now. I think you're right about our fantasy Christmas still being snow and ice in spite of the fact that it's about a million degrees here! What strikes me as strange is that I didn't seize the chance to make Upon a Midnight Clear a Christmas story from the start - come on, the title comes from a Christmas carol! Talk about something so obvious, it pokes you in the eye! ;-)

chey said...

I like Christmas romances!

Angie M said...

I love Christmas stories and start reading them the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks for the giveaway!

Anna Campbell said...

Me too, Chey! Good luck in the draw!

Anna Campbell said...

Angie, I've got to say end of Nov/December is my Christmas romance season too. Sounds like we're both fans of a good Christmas story! Thanks for swinging by!

Liz Fielding said...

Anna, I read The Winter Wife last night while the dh was watching the England/New Zealand rugby match. Absolutely enchanted. Great start to the Christmas season.

Liz Fielding said...

Thanks so much to everyone for all the congratulations and good wishes - very much appreciated. I hope you all have a fabulous holiday season and a wonderful new year.

Anna Campbell said...

Liz, thank you so much, means a lot to me! So glad you liked it!!! xxx

Anna Campbell said...

Liz, congratulations again! And thank you for having me as your guest today. I've had a lovely time talking Christmas romances - topped off by you saying how much you enjoyed The Winter Wife!

Don't forget to check back to see who won the download of the e-book!

Liz Fielding said...

Thanks everyone for joining in the Christmas fun and for all the good wishes.

We have a winner! Angie Malone's name has been drawn from the magic hat for a copy of Anna's lovely novella, The Winter Wife. Angie, can you email Anna at anna at annacampbell dot info

There will be other guests during the month so - and a chance to download Old Desires for free - if you have a moment during this crazy month, do drop by.