Nell Dixon introduces her latest release.

An Uncivil War is the new release from multi award winning author, Nell Dixon.


Overworked, over budget and just so not over him! Kate would like an engagement ring from Steve but instead he's lumbered them with a thirteenth renovation project, and doing up Myrtle Cottage disturbs a ghost from the English Civil War who has romance troubles of her own.


~An Uncivil War was formerly published as Renovation, Renovation, Renovation by Myrmidon Press~

Writing Renovation, Renovation, Renovation was challenging in many ways. The dual storyline, Mary Ann’s story from 1643 and Kate’s story in the present day both had to work together. The research for the present day story of Kate, her sister Lou and the current story of Myrtle Cottage involved looking at everything from boy bands to planning regulations, séances to tracing the history of a property through time. Then there was Vegas weddings, the Osmonds and international crime so lots of things to consider.

Just to make things harder, for Mary Ann’s story, the research involved looking at the English Civil war, key battles, clothes, food, lifestyles and Myrtle Cottage as it would have been when it was barely a hundred years old.

To ensure accuracy I visited the archaeological dig at Shakespeare’s house at Stratford Upon Avon, went to a Civil War re-enactment at Kenilworth Castle with the Sealed Knot society and studied volumes of books on history and costumes.

I handled cooking pots and samplers, examined bonnets and skirts and studied medicines and uses of herbs. The scent of lavender plays a big part in the story, both in the past and in the present day.

Here’s a taster:
Large white cabbage butterflies flapped around the weed ridden bed of herbs and fat, lazy bumble bees droned amongst the white daisies and blue lobelia that spilled all over the stone flags of the patio. It was too nice to wait inside the cottage so I wandered around the neglected flowerbeds, wondering where the lavender scent that I’d noticed the previous day had come from.

Sage, thyme and rosemary straggled out onto the path and Mr Flibble lay stretched out and content in a sunny patch amongst the mint. There was no sign of any lavender, just bindweed, nettles and a rampant bed of foxgloves.

I poked around in the undergrowth with the handle of a broom. A lavender bush must be lurking somewhere. I found nothing. 

© Nell Dixon 2013

Amazon UK          Amazon    

 
Author Bio:

Nell Dixon is a Black Country author, married to the same man for over twenty-five years she has three daughters, a tank of tropical fish and a cactus called Spike. Winner of the RNA’s prestigious Romance Prize in 2007 and 2010, she writes warm-hearted contemporary romance for a number of publishers in the US and the UK including Myrmidon Press, Samhain Publishing, Little Black Dress, Astraea Press, E-Scape Press and Freya’s Bower.

Find her at http://www.nelldixon.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nell-Dixon/228642037151856

Or Twitter @NellDixon

Nell Dixon is visiting us today.

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog today.
You're very welcome :-)
For those who don’t know me, my name is Nell Dixon and I’m a multi-award winning UK author writing contemporary romance with a dash of humour and a dollop of suspense. My latest release is a single title chick lit suspense called Radio Gaga.

Here’s the blurb!
Over the airwaves everyone can hear you scream!

Radio researcher and part-time presenter Chloe Lark is certain her big show biz break is just around the corner. Live it Up radio may not be the big time, but surely - one day soon - fame will come her way. And, if she could convince the hunky guy next door to give her a chance, her love life might improve too.

Ex-soldier Ben isn’t sure if his new ‘Z’ list celebrity neighbour is crazy or on medication. Either way he’s looking for a quiet life out of the spotlight. The last thing he needs is an accident prone media hungry blonde complete with mystery stalker. Problem is - Chloe doesn’t seem to have received that particular memo…

~~~

In my wisdom I’ve allowed myself to be interviewed by Chloe Lark - heroine of Radio Gaga for her new show - Challenge Chloe.

CL - Well, hello Nell, it’s nice to be the one in charge at last!

ND - Thank you for inviting me here, Chloe.

 

CL - What gave you the idea to set a book in a radio station? Especially one like Live it Up! Radio?

 

ND - Well, I’ve worked with reporters at Radio WM and at the BBC and I thought their job was interesting. All the different types of shows, the adverts in commercial radio and the different kinds of listeners.

 

CL - off mike - Blimey, you must not have listened to Live it Up - mind you no one under seventy does.

 

CL - back on mike - Yes, Live it Up Radio has a wide range of music and offers great opportunities for advertisers (pulls face). Have you ever fancied working in a radio station, Nell?

 

ND - Not really. I think I’m better sticking to writing. I just like researching different jobs.

 

CL - I’ve had lots of different jobs before I came here. I’ve got the opportunity to be part of a new TV series. Have you ever been on TV?

 

ND - Part of me has. My right arm made an appearance only a few weeks ago on the kids BBC TV programme - Mr Bloom - handing a child a plant. That’s my claim to TV fame. I don’t expect I’ll get mobbed in the street for that appearance.

 

CL - Yes, fame can have a downside as I’ve discovered, thanks to my mysterious admirer. Someone keeps leaving roses and messages on my car. It’s a bit unnerving (she shivers) Have you ever had anything like that happen to you?

 

ND - I’ve encountered a troll on the net who follows me around and keeps leaving poison messages on any reviews I make or receive. You just have to feel sorry for people like that and hope they get the medical attention they obviously need.

 

CL - I know what you mean. That’s a bit creepy. How about the fun stuff? Have you ever had something nice happen if someone’s recognised you? I got free entry to a club’s VIP area and champagne.

 

ND - Nothing that good - laughing. I’ve signed books in all kinds of weird places though. The funniest was one for a lady who was convinced my characters were real.

 

CL - laughing - that must have been odd - almost as odd as being interviewed by a fictional character. Well, thanks for being interviewed Nell, and good luck with Radio Gaga. - where can we get the book?

 

ND - It’s available from http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Gaga-ebook/dp/B00BK7TY7C/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_GS4P

And http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radio-Gaga-ebook/dp/B00BK7TY7C/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2_6E46

 

And you can find me and chat to me at all these places too Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/nelldixonauthor 

Twitter - @NellDixon

Blog - http://nelldixonrw.blogspot.co.uk/
Website - http://www.nelldixon.com