To celebrate the fact I surfed the internet (geddit) to find a picture to illustrate this post and found this fabulously atmospheric photograph of Watergate Bay in Cornwall. Now, not only was Watergate Bay the inspiration for my original story (I was boogie-boarding on that beach last summer), but the photo here has a lone surfer on the beach below the cliffs (where Rye's fictional mansion sits) and it was taken in October, which is when my opening scene is set. So how cool is that? I got in touch with the photographer Nick Reader, who has very kindly allowed me to use his beautiful photograph here.
Nick does landscape and wedding photography in Cornwall and, surprise, surprise, is a keen surfer... The coincidences just keep piling up don't they. I've included a link to his wedding photography site, his blog and his landscape site (which is going live shortly) so check it out. There's some really gorgeous photos on them which give a real ambience for the story.
I also wanted to alert any aspiring authors here (and I know there's a few of you!!) to the fact that I'm taking part in Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction again this year. I'm offering an author critique of a first chapter and synopsis of a manuscript aimed at Harlequin Presents (ie Modern or Modern Heat). At the moment it's going for $17 so it could be a mighty good deal. You can bid here. There's also lots of great offerings from the Pink Heart Society and a load of authors, editors, agents etc.
