Cathie Dunn writes...

I'm delighted to host historical fiction author and good friend, Vanessa Couchman , on my blog today. Not only is Vanessa an exceptional writer – her stories are full of intriguing plots and dramatic settings –, she is also a fellow author with Ocelot Press , our successful author cooperative.  In her Tales of Corsica series, Vanessa brings historic the island of Corsica to life in her immersive novels, The Corsican Widow  and The House at Zaronza .  This June, The Corsican Widow is Book of the Month in our Ocelot Press Readers Group on Facebook. Feel free to join us there for our latest news and chats, and some great giveaways! But now, discover her inspiration for the novels, and prepare to follow Vanessa to Corsica! The Corsican Widow Vanessa Couchman Historical Fiction An inspiring Corsican village The island of the island  Corsica is a place apart, but the peninsula of Cap Corse has an even more distinctive feel. Corsicans call it “the island of the island”. T...

I’m so excited.  Today is the day when Doorways to the Past is published. ~happy dance~ A collection of short stories and character interviews by five Ocelot Press authors – Sue Barnard , Vanessa Couchman , Nancy Jardine , Jennifer C. Wilson , and me – with a foreword by our newest Ocelot, Yvonne Marjot , Doorways to the Past takes you on a journey encompassing 2,000 years! My own contributions are an interview with Nanthild from Love Lost in Time, and a short story linked to Dark Deceit, with the Empress Matilda (literally) walking on thin ice. But I do love all the other stories and interviews. So many fascinating characters, and you can get a real sense of the times they (fictionally or really) inhabited. If you're around later on this afternoon, 5pm-7pm UK time, 6pm-8pm CET, and 1pm-3pm EST, then stop by at our virtual launch event on Facebook where you can win some great prizes! Just click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/372655283704981/...

Welcome to this second instalment in our Meet the Ocelots Blog Hop! We hope you enjoy our posts and meeting our characters. I’m delighted to introduce you to a handsome, well-mannered Frenchman, Frédéric Grandcourt. He is an important character in Vanessa Couchman ’s wonderful novel, Overture , which tells us about how Marie-Thérèse, a country girl from rural Aveyron, ends up in Paris and pursues her love of singing. You can discover which role Frédéric plays in Marie-Thérèse’s life in the book. It’s well worth a read! I’m welcoming him into my salon which I have designed to meet his approval. Imagine beautiful French furnishings, cushioned chairs and chaise longues and damask drapes surrounding the double doors to the garden.  Bonjour, Frédéric. How lovely to meet you! I have heard many great things about you from Marie-Thérèse. Please make yourself comfortable.  May I offer you a refreshment?  Frédéric: Thank you, Madame, or may I call you ...

My good author friend and fellow Ocelot Press writer, Vanessa Couchman , has an offer for readers who love historical fiction set in beautiful places. Her novel, The Corsican Widow , is set on the island of Corsica. I thought it might be a treat for followers of My Place... Well worth a read! The Corsican Widow reduced to 99p on Amazon Kindle for a short time only Ocelot Press author Vanessa Couchman’s historical novel  The Corsican Widow   is taking part in an Amazon Countdown deal, starting on Friday 16 th November . Normally priced at £2.99/$3.99, the book will be reduced to 99p/99¢ on Friday and Saturday, rising by increments to the full price on Monday 19 th November. The novel is the latest in the Tales of Corsica series, stories inspired by and set in the same house on the enchanting island of Corsica. The Corsican Widow  is a sweeping tale of love, injustice and vengeance, set in the 18th century. Valeria Peretti must marry a muc...

Today, I welcome back my author friend, Vanessa Couchman , whose wonderful stories take you to rural France, in particular to the beautiful rugged Mediterranean island of Corsica. Reading her novels makes me want to visit, and I will, one day.  So, for now, escape this rainy autumn day to your summer destination – to Nonza on Corsica!  ~~~ Nonza, Corsica: Inspiration by Chance Sometimes you feel your footsteps are steered in a certain direction. We discovered the captivating Mediterranean island of Corsica in 2003. With its majestic, mountainous scenery and its clear blue waters and miles of beaches, it’s a wonderful place to spend a holiday.  Nonza, Corsica   But I soon found that Corsica is much more than just a holiday location. It also has a fascinating history and culture, stemming from its strategic position in the Mediterranean and its island customs. The island has been invaded and occupied countless times over thousands of years. Intermitten...

Hello again, Today, I'll be a guest at the new book launch by historical fiction author and friend, Vanessa Couchman . The second title in her Tales of Corsica series, The Corsican Widow , is released today under a new banner, Ocelot Press (a small cooperative of historical fiction / romance and mystery writers), and I'm looking forward to reading it. In the meantime, please join us over on Facebook at Vanessa's online launch party, where you'll also find other historical fiction author friends Nancy Jardine and Jennifer Wilson ’guesting'. Plus, you'll discover lots about the beautiful island of Corsica, a place I've yet to visit, but it's on my list. And...there's going to be several chances to win fabulous prizes! 😎 See you there: https://www.facebook.com/events/2042948519301426/

Hello again, friends! It’s time to share my post in a fascinating blog hop I’m taking part in: the Meet My Main Character historical fiction writers’ blog hop. I have been tagged by author, Vanessa Couchman . Vanessa lives in France and has published a range of short stories, mostly in the much-acclaimed Writers Abroad anthologies. Her first full-length novel, The House at Zaronza , a tale of love and loss in Corsica during World War I, is due to be released on 29th July 2014 by Crooked Cat Publishing. Right, diving it. I found it a tough one to choose between Rory Cameron, my Scottish hero in Highland Arms , or Geoffrey de Mortagne, troubled under-sheriff of Gloucestershire in   Dark Deceit . Geoffrey won by a whisker… 1)    What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? My male main character in Dark Deceit is Geoffrey de Mortagne. He is a fictional under-sheriff of Gloucestershire during an early English civil...