Happy Australia Day weekend! I’m participating in the Book’d Out Australia Day Blog Hop. There are lots of giveaways at all the participating blogs, you can check out the list here. But first, read on for a chance to win two prizes from me! One is open internationally, and one is just for the Aussies. Contest closes midnight 27th Jan.

Fictional vs Real settings in books…

If you’ve read my books you’ll know that I’m a fan of using fictional settings. Out of the 7 books I have published, only 1 (Starstruck in Seattle) is set in a real place (Seattle, obviously!). However, my fictional settings are often based on real places, but I adjust them to suit the story I’m creating.

What I love about fictional settings is the ability to create something new and to put things where you want them! There is no risk of making a mistake, because you made up the town, so what you say goes! 😉 But you do have to keep track of what you’ve created, street names, where various landmarks are, etc, because if you write another book set in the same place you need to be able to recreate the setting for the new story. Take my Tarrin’s Bay series for example (based on the NSW south coast, Kiama mostly)… by the end of it there will be 12 books set in this small Australian coastal town, and I find as I write each one (currently working on book 4) that I’m creating new aspects of the town as I go.

Even though I love creating fictional settings, I am looking forward to writing other stories set in real places too. The research takes longer, but it’s a good way to learn more about a place, and books set in real places can be fun for the reader who then visits the place and can recognise locations featured in the book. I have never been to Seattle, but enjoyed learning about it via both Google and a Seattle local who helped me get the details right. Soon I’ll be working on a story set in Melbourne, Hollywood, and Paris. Maybe I’ll have to take  a few research trips, you know, just to get the details accurate! 😉

What are your favourite Australian settings that have been featured in books, or what is your favourite or ideal destination in Australia to visit? Let me know in the comments… 🙂

And now for the giveaways!

> GIVEAWAY #1 (Open worldwide)

Prize:

1 print copy of TIME FOR THE BEACH 3-in-1 Bestsellers, autographed by me and including my story THE JANUARY WISH, as well as NOBODY BUT HIM by Victoria Purman and HIDE & SEEK by Eliza Redgold.

Enter via this Rafflecopter link: a Rafflecopter giveaway

> GIVEAWAY #2 (Australian entrants only)

Prize:

1 limited edition vintage tote bag from Harlequin Australia (I had two so I’m giving one away! Front & back pictured), containing the following 4 books from Australian authors: LUNA TANGO by Alli Sinclair, THE OUTBACK HEART by Fiona Palmer, HOUSE FOR ALL SEASONS by Jenn J McLeod, and ASK ME TO STAY by Elise K Ackers.

Enter via this Rafflecopter link: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once you’ve entered, remember to visit the list of other participating blogs to enter more giveaways, HERE.

>>To check out my available books, visit this page. Like my Facebook page to keep up to date with my new releases and news.

>>You can also preorder my next Tarrin’s Bay book*, MIRACLE IN MARCH for the limited time price of only 99c at iTunes. *Although part of a linked series, this is a stand-alone story and can be read before or after the other two books available in the series; THE JANUARY WISH and FEBRUARY OR FOREVER.

Good luck! Winner notified via email and in the comments on this post within 7 days from 27th January.