CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE AUTHOR JOANIE MACNEIL IS INSPIRED BY THE GREEK ISLAND OF RHODES

Joanie Macneil is an Australian author of contemporary romance. Her novels are a mix of sweet and sexy feel-good stories. Though most are set in Australia, she loves to travel and has set some of her stories in places she’s visited. Learn more about Joanie and her books at her website.  

Choosing the right setting for a story

My latest release, Mandraki Magic, is a sweet romance, set in the medieval Old Town on the Greek Island of Rhodes.

 

Originally, I planned to write the novella with a summer beach theme and a touch of magic as part of an anthology for my writers’ group. When the project folded, I wrote the story anyway.

 

I wanted to keep the theme, but when the elements of the story wouldn’t gel, I decided to switch location. What better place for romance than the walled Old Town with its many historical gates? Though I’d visited Rhodes a few months prior, I hadn’t previously considered setting my story there.

 

The colorful and narrow stone streets lined with boutiques, eateries, and other tourist shops provided an ideal setting. The small restaurant where we stopped for lunch offered outdoor seating and an opportunity to relax and soak up the sunshine and atmosphere while observing passers-by. The venue where my major characters worked was based loosely on this restaurant and its location.

 

The yummy Greek salad of olives, salad vegetables, and feta cheese was both tasty and healthy. Some patrons were in for a surprise when they ordered jugs of beer. The amber liquid, served in clear glass boots, caused quite a commotion, both for cost and the unusual serving vessel.

 

I soaked up the local life in that section of the Old Town as I walked further along the street and surrounding areas. Beneath a huge spreading tree, brightly colored macaws perched in wait for admiring tourists. Cats ran from everywhere at the sound of loud banging, nearby traders calling them for dinner. This added to the ambience of the setting for Mandraki Magic.

 

Character images from Pinterest and my own photos as background helped bring the story and setting to life.

 

About Rhodes

The island of Rhodes is mountainous and rugged with many beautiful, isolated, sandy beaches. Anthony Quinn Beach (or Bay) was named for the actor who featured in the movie Guns of Navarone. Some of the scenes were filmed on Rhodes. Along the coast, the tourist hotels and amusements were closed as the summer was almost over. That seemed premature given the weather was still perfect and warm.

 

Though there is much to see in the Old Town with its ancient buildings, busy shopping streets and colorful locals, my visit was too short to cover them all.

 

Maybe one day I’ll return to explore more of the historical sites.

 

Information on Rhodes can be found at the following sites:

Rhodes has a long and colourful history. The island is also known as The Island of the Knights, named after the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who ruled the island from 1310 to 1522. Historically, Rhodes island was very famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_of_Rhodes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_Ancient_World

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortifications_of_Rhodes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site

 

More of the ancient history of Rhodes can be found here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes

 

Mandraki Magic

A Holiday Romance, Book 1

Is Jazzy’s first love the right man for her? Settled in her new life on the Greek Island of Rhodes, her peaceful existence is shattered at the unexpected arrival of her former love. What is Finn's real reason for being on Rhodes?

Madame Aesha, Love Psychic, Palm Reader and Mystical Practitioner helps Jazzy sort through her confused emotions, with a few magical twists along the way, and an unforeseen love interest. But Jazzy is quite capable of making her own decisions about her future.

 

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#TRAVEL TO THE SAPPHIRE COAST OF AUSTRALIA WITH ROMANCE AUTHOR JOANIE MACNEIL

Joanie MacNeil is an Australian contemporary romance author of sweet and sexy feel-good stories. She loves to travel and has visited parts of the world she never dreamed she’d see. Learn more about Joanie and her books at her website.

Why did you choose the Sapphire Coast as the setting for your book?

At the beginning of my writing journey, and when the children were young, our family would occasionally escape Canberra’s icy winter chill for a weekend break in a slightly more temperate climate. My son and daughters would go fishing with their dad while I sat nearby in the sand with pen and paper. After dinner, I’d type my notes on my borrowed laptop. These weekends were time out for me as well as family time. Escapism. And isn’t that why we like to read romance novels?

The setting inspired me to write my first novel, Loving Nick…Again, as the area is diverse in scenery, from coast to mountains, lakes, state forest, and lovely little historical villages…something a little bit different from my life in the city. I love the ocean and just couldn’t get enough of that wonderful fresh sea air and relaxed coastal lifestyle away from the daily grind. What better way to write descriptions and setting than when you are actually seeing them for real; hearing the lap of the water while walking along the lake’s edge; listening to possums clambering over the roof of the caravan, or seeing them sitting around the base of a large tree when walking through the van park at night. I can still hear the wind blowing through the tops of the enormous eucalyptus trees.

As a result of those weekends, I set two more novels around that same area, the northern end of the Sapphire Coast…Sapphire Kisses and my latest release, Sweet Temptations.

The settings for my stories are loosely based in and around the locations mentioned and I’ve also changed a couple of place names.

My current work in progress is set along Haywards Beach which begins at Camel Rock Surf Beach and curves three kilometres south to Haywards Point, where my hero lives.

Some interesting snippets about the areas mentioned in my stories.

The Sapphire Coast

Positioned along the far south coast of New South Wales, this coastal paradise is known for its clean beaches and clear water. From Canberra, where I live, it’s a three-hour drive over the mountains, or a six to seven-hour drive from either Sydney or Melbourne.

Bermagui

A thriving little town situated on Horseshoe Bay and famous for its deep-sea fishing and fishing competitions. Its name apparently stems from the Aboriginal word ‘Bermaguee’ which means ‘boat with no paddle’.

The caravan park in Bermagui is named after the American author, Zane Grey, not because of his fame as a western novelist, but because he wrote about his big game fishing experiences in Australia.

Cobargo

A quaint township of craft shops, a short drive inland from Bermagui, and situated on the Princes Highway. There’s no sea breeze here so it can be extremely hot in summer. Settlement in Cobargo began around the 1860s. Cobargo is an Aboriginal meaning ‘Grandfather’.

Wallaga Lake is home of Umbarra, the black duck, and is the largest lake in southern NSW.

There are many charming and picturesque little towns and villages spread throughout the Sapphire Coast region. For photos and more information, visit http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/the-region/towns/

Sweet Temptations

Zachary Cordell returns to the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales to search for his estranged father’s young widow. Zac is certain that Elizabeth Marshall married his father for his money and he wants revenge.

Elizabeth is looking for a quiet lifestyle away from the notoriety the press associated with her name following the death of her husband. All she wants is a quiet, secure home in her old hometown. When her uncle Max recommends Zac as a handyman, she is nervous about hiring a drifter. She soon begins to trust him and finds herself attracted to Zac. Little does she know his relationship to her late husband, his reasons for coming to the coastal area, or the sweet temptations which will follow.

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#TRAVEL TO VENICE, ITALY WITH GUEST AUTHOR JOANIE MacNEIL

One of the many ships that cruised by our hotel
via the Canale di San Marco

Australian romance author, Joanie MacNeil, writes short contemporary romances: a blend of sweet, sexy, heart-warming stories about new love and second chances.  One of her favorite pastimes is travelling with her own romantic hero. Learn more about Joanie and her books at her website.

Venice, Italy, October 2013

I had been to Venice before, very briefly, visiting the usual tourist attractions: a glass-blowing demonstration at the Murano Glass Factory where the beautiful, intricate designs of the softly coloured chandeliers were like nothing I’d ever seen before. Other attractions: St. Mark’s Square and the magnificent Basilica di San Marco; the Doges’ Palace and Bridge of Sighs; also to be enjoyed, a gondola ride complete with serenade along the Grand Canal and into the hidden waterways that wind through the city. Across the water, the conversation and laughter of the gondoliers echoed in the narrow passages, adding to the atmosphere.

This time, we arrived in Venice via a coach tour from Zagreb through Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia and the Dalmatian coast. In Venice we did all those touristy things again as part of the coach tour. Our accommodation for two nights was in a monastery converted to a hotel, on the opposite side of the Great Basin to St. Mark’s Square.

The Basin is the body of water where the Grand Canal and Canale della Giudecca flow into Canale di San Marco. On stepping out of the hotel on the first morning, we were mesmerized by the sight of an enormous cruise ship making its way down the Canale della Giudecca. For a moment, the ship appeared to be coming straight at us before following the slight curve in the canal, through the Great Basin and out to sea. Little did we know that watching these ships come and go would become a bit addictive. The stateliness of the modern cruise ships against the grandeur of the ancient Venetian architecture was a sight to behold.

Once we’d left the tour, we transferred to another hotel about a 10-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, a good choice as our room overlooked the sparkling aqua-blue waters of the Great Basin. This hotel had its own private dock at the back door, which made for a very easy transfer via water taxi. We spent a week in Venice, and each time we walked from our hotel to the busy tourist area, and back again at the end of the day, we battled through the constant crowds over the many small bridges spanning the canals.

I had been to the Rialto Bridge on my previous visit, and wanted to take my husband there. On our daily explorations, we wandered around the narrow streets, taking in the sights and sounds, getting side-tracked and finding interesting eateries and shops, and along the way discovering lovely little courtyards tucked away in quiet areas. We did find the bridge, worth the walk through the narrow crowded maze.

A peaceful place to sit and dream in Venice, Italy 

On the last day, we had time to spare before the water taxi took us to our cruise ship. We wandered in the opposite direction away from the tourist areas and found ourselves in a quiet residential area surrounding a lovely big park, lots of tall trees, and beautiful homes. A pleasant place to sit and relax away from the tourist hubbub. The naval training college, off limits to all but naval personnel, is located beyond the residential area at the end of the island.

One of the highlights of our stay was watching the cruise ships glide past our hotel window, four within 90 minutes on one occasion, on their way out to sea. We would lean out of the window and reach out, feeling that we could almost touch them. An amazing sight. One day as we sat by the water having lunch, we were thrilled to see the ship we were to board next day glide past us on its way to the dock. Probably the fact that the upcoming cruise was my first added to the excitement.

The major waterways of Venice are so cluttered with water taxis, barges, and a range of other craft in between, some such tiny boats. To see the cruise ships amongst much smaller craft dotting and criss-crossing across the basin is a remarkable, if not a breath-holding sight.

We were due to leave Venice at 1.00am, and made the effort to be on deck so that we could see the city by night. I anticipated lots of pretty lights showcasing the pathways and the intrigue of the city itself, but instead, there were few lights, and Venice on the whole was in darkness.

As we waved our goodbyes to Venice, we looked forward to our cruise around the Mediterranean and the new places we’d visit.

Desperate and Dateless

Neither Zoe O’Malley nor Liam Reynolds consider themselves desperate or dateless, but fate intervenes when each independently receives a ticket to the Desperate and Dateless Ball and their lives become irretrievably entangled. Can they live by their golden rule—never mix business with pleasure?

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