Yes, I’ve been battling with finding a cover for A Piece of My Heart that I love. And here it is!

The romance writing community in South Africa (ROSA) is an intimate, inclusive open sharing and learning one. The Cape Town chapter started getting together between conferences and it was in this context that I met Dorothy two years ago.

At the time she was writing but was not yet published – so I am thrilled today to be interviewing her on my blog as a published author and introducing her debut novel Love at Last.

(As I’m in England, we did a loo-ong Whatsapp call – it was great!)

How does it feel to finally have your first book baby out in the world?

I’m excited, nervous – there’s a moment where you ask yourself: what have done?? You always hope it will be well received – and I’m blown away with the reviews and feedback so far.

What is Love at Last about – in one sentence?

It’s all bout heartbreak, finding love and… sex scenes!

What has been the best part of the publishing journey so far?

Good question, I think – how well its been received. You hope that what you write will gel with readers. That’s been awesome. The moment the book went live – was quite a moment.

What has been the worst?

Marketing – it’s not my strong point. Having to put myself out there.

This is my favourite review on Amazon…

I read this to her:

This is the first book that I have read by Dorothy. I loved it. There was suspense, heart wrenching moments, romance and love. The beginning has you gripped wanting to know who and what is going to happen. I absolutely love Adam. From the very beginning he is caring and sweet. Willow suffers something no one should ever go through. But she ends up with a little happiness. Adam and Willow meet up 4 years after first meeting and things are still strong between them. But will they get through the past that is still after Willow. This was a wonderful written book from beginning to end. Absolutely loved the storyline and the characters. Willow was so strong through everything no matter how much she wanted to break down. I highly recommend reading this one.

How does that make you feel?

Wow – oh wow. Tearful…  its just amazing when readers get it.

What you can expect from Love at Last

A romance that offers a complex heroine – and a second chance at love.

All I can say is – go buy this book! Give a local author some love. BUY IT HERE.

Since January was my “free trial month” to 2019, I only really started working on my goals in February. And one of the things I really wanted to get to was updating the cover of “A Piece of My Heart”. Although 2016, when the book was first published, wasn’t so long ago, I have, of late, started feeling disconnected from the previous cover.

So here it is! The new cover.

A Piece of My Heart is still permanently FREE on Amazon – so go and get it! I

Here’s wishing you a fabulous start to 2019!

A Piece of My Heart may very well be the love story of Victoria, a South African born farm girl and Alkan, a Turkish businessman, but to me, the places and settings of the story are as much part of the romance as the relationship between these two seemingly mis-matched characters.

The story starts in Chiba, Japan…

In 2002 I spent 4 weeks doing sight seeing in Japan and in 2003 I packed my suitcase for an even longer adventure: teaching English as a foreign language. Where my first trip was like a no strings attached fling, perfect because I wasn’t there long enough to experience anything bad, my second stint felt a lot like marriage. The honeymoon was over just few weeks in and I soon found myself battling the icy Japanese winter and living an apartment smaller than my father’s garage.  A life severely different to the one I was used to back home, in South Africa. But I’d be lying if I said that I did not fall in love with Japan, despite how hard it was to be there alone, not speaking the language and knowing no-one. I made friends. I loved my job and culture and I learned to read menus – that saved me!

Istanbul, Turkey

A three day layover in Istanbul in 2002 turned into a 7 day holiday in one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been in. I loved how ancient it was. Call me crazy, but walking along those cobbled roads, visiting Blue Mosque and Aya Sofia, it’s almost like you can feel history. All the energy that’s been expended there, the then and the now, feels meshed into one. It’s an Old world with New people. During my visit I went to numerous kilim shops, tasted more flavours of Turkish Delight that I knew existed and drank apple tea at least six times a day.

 

 

Stellenbosch, South Africa

I spent five years studying at the University in Stellenbosch, but it was only after my return to SA after a year in Japan, that I really starting exploring the winelands. In 2010 I joined a wine club and soon I was not just drinking wine for leisure, but spending many happy hours developing my palate for wine, researching and learning. I’ve had countless tutored tastings since then and been fortunate enough to meet and interview various winemakers for my tourism blog. My keen interest in wine has developed into a kind of work-hobby which has been an amazing career journey too.

Tafelsig, the farm Victoria is from in A Piece of My Heart is a fictional place, but Chateau Beau Belle, as well as Boschkloof, which are mentioned by name, are very real. (And if you ever find yourself in the Stellenbosch wine region, I highly recommend that you visit these places for their extraordinary wines). I chose to mention these specific wineries for one reason only: I love their Shiraz, and that’s saying a lot because Shiraz is not my favourite wine varietal. At Beau Belle, my favourite wine is their Reserve Shiraz (and more recently I’ve taken a liking to their easy drinking chenin blanc called the Cooper), while at Boschkloof the Epilogue is one of those award winning reds which are always sold out. In which case, the Conclusion is another great choice from their premium range. I mention all of this very much by the way as no-one has paid me to mention these places, they are simply places I like and wines I have REALLY liked.

I hope that has given you some insights into the inspiration for the setting for A Piece of My Heart.

Happy reading,

 

 

 

 

 

I love that Janis Joplin’s Piece of My Heart could have been Victoria’s own words…Music often manages to marry our emotions to words, don’t you agree?

Place your pre-order for the exclusive paperback edition here before 10 April and take advantage of the opportunity to nominate TWO special people in your life to receive FREE DIGITAL copies of A Piece of My Heart <3