Hi Dana, Welcome to Café Cala.

It’s great to have you visit Café Cala. I’ve been making cranberry and almond biscotti this morning. Would you like tea or coffee with yours?Hi

Maggie, thanks so much for having me here. Mmmm, cranberry and almond biscotti, sounds divine! I’ll have mine with an Earl Grey tea please.

1 Where did you get the idea for The Venetian Affair?

Venetian Affair came from a number of different sources. I had already thought of my character, Helen, her personality, her life etc. I wanted to put her in the most colourful, most romantic and amazing spot in the entire world in direct contrast to her own life. Venice was perfect!

2 What have you found most rewarding about your writing?

Firstly, completing something that I started for once. So often I try things and let them go by the wayside. Writing is the only thing I’ve ever kept going with. Tied with that are the amazing friends I’ve made when I started my journey. And I keep meeting more each year. Fabulous!

3 How did you start writing?

My DH once told me I should write a book, because I read so many of them. I thought that was a great idea!

4 What would you say has helped you most?

Joining the Romance Writers of Australia, hands down. The organisation is completely devoted to helping you achieve publication with a range of tools, contacts, industry know-how and that all important annual conference. I can’t recommend it enough. That and my critique partners. They are gold!

5 What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on my second submission to Destiny Romance, due to submit early January.

6 What advice would you offer aspiring writers?

Join the RWA! Like NOW! Enter the competitions. Then enter some more and then enter more after that. Competitions give you that all important feedback that is so crucial to honing your skill. And join a writers group or find a critique partner.

7 Which authors do you enjoy reading?

I like a range of authors; Christina Dodd, Lisa Kleypas, Robyn Donald, JR Ward, Karen Marie Moning, Meljean Brook, Anne Stuart, Robert Holdstock, Robin Hobb, Douglas Adams, Stephanie Laurens…too many to name here!

Excerpt…
Her thoughts whirling, Helen rubbed her forehead and tugged at her hand but he refused to let go. ‘Are you hurt anywhere else?’ he asked in Italian.
‘No,’ she answered in his language, tugging on her hand again. Once more, he refused to let go. Looking down, she felt her bones melt, that feminine awareness and something deeper, something more primal, spreading through her. Her blood stained the long fingers that cradled her hand. He carefully wrapped a pristine white handkerchief around the wound, staunching the seeping blood. ‘You will need to see a doctor,’ he informed her. Before she could reply, voices shouted nearby and the three police officers left quickly, leaving them alone.
‘Thank you for your help, I’ll call for the ambulance.’
The man didn’t move, but watched her in the half-light of the alley, still cradling her bloodstained hand. For a moment their eyes met and myriad half-formed sentences traipsed through Helen’s mind, gone before she could explain the connection she felt. It was bigger than words – like something invisible had engulfed the both of them, binding them together with an irrevocable bond. The breath stuck in her throat…

You can purchase A Venetian Affair from iTunes, Kobo, Amazon US, Amazon AUS and BigW eBooks to name a few sites. It’s also available on Google Play as well as directly from Destiny Romance.

Please visit me at Facebook or Twitter. Would love to connect! Thanks again, Maggie, for hosting me today!

My pleasure, Dana. Love your book!