Clare Austin Day

Hello, Clare. Thanks for including me in your blog tour. Tell us a little bit about how you became an author.

I just love to tell stories and I have a vivid fantasy life. When I was very young, I made up stories and poems and told them to my dogs and horse as it didn’t feel safe to tell them to the humans around me. Then when I was eight, my neighbor encouraged me to write a story and send it to a publisher. We sent it to Doubleday. I wish I had that rejection letter. It was encouraging. I never let the dream completely die, even though my life took many turns before I came back to the love of writing.

That's a lovely story. I'm sure all of your fans are glad you started writing again. Can you think of 3 things that would surprise the readers to learn about you?

Two of my horses were born into my lap.
I am neurotically private.
My legal first name is Máire (pronounced Mora). I go by Clare because I don’t like it when people call me Marie by mistake.

Being neurotically private is hard for an author. I struggle with that too. What do you think makes a book a page turner?

Empathy with characters and impeccable timing are essential. A book is like a good piece of music. It needs rhythm, harmony and, though there are moments of dissonance, it must resolve in a satisfying way. If I can use the violin as an example, when a note is played in perfect pitch, other strings on the instrument resonate, creating a brilliant balance of sound. A book that is perfectly pitched should ring clear in the heart and mind of the reader.

That's a lovely description. Can you describe the time you first realized you were a “real” writer?

It was when I finished my first manuscript. It was called Land of Ahhs and was almost four hundred pages of everything I ever thought I could toss into a story. I wrote it in a month and after that I felt I could keep writing forever. Just to make sure it wasn’t my only story, I wrote three more full length novels that year. Butterfly was the fourth book but my first sale. I was traveling in Ireland shortly after signing my contract and I remember someone asking me what I did for a living. I said “I’m an author.” Wow…that really felt grand.

How would you define your writing?

My writing style has been described as lyrical. That doesn’t surprise me, as I am a musician. I love words… the sound of words… and I like to put them together in beautiful and interesting combinations. Sometimes this gets me in trouble and I end up editing out unnecessary verbiage. I like to elicit emotions from my readers whether that be laughter or tears. I also have been told that though my novels are classified as “romance” they tend to cut across genres to include literary fiction and women’s fiction. I also have a number of male readers, but I don’t know if they talk about reading romance novels when they are in the locker room with the guys!

In my opinion crossing genres makes any book better. What are your future goals for your writing?

I have two books in progress now. Selkie’s Song is the third book in the Fadό Trilogy and Rosy Again is a romantic comedy set in a small fishing village in Ireland. After those are wrapped up, I plan to write a series of mystery/suspense novels featuring two characters from Angel’s Share. When I was writing that second Fadό book, I loved working with Campbell and Tripp, the two FBI agents. They need their own series. Another project I will finish is my novel about the Women’s Air Service Pilots of WWII. The title is Ground Effect and it reflects my love of aviation and the gallant women who were pioneers of the early era of flight.

Wonderful plans, Clare. Would you share your links so we can find you on the web?

www.clareaustin.wordpress.com
www.clareaustin.com
authorclare@gmail.com

We’d love to read an excerpt from you new release. Be sure to include a buy link so we can get the book.



Back cover blub…

Kate Aiello has spent her entire life trying to please others—her three brothers, her Italian mamma and her husband of twenty-five years. It isn’t insult enough she is turning fifty, and left at the side of life’s road by her philandering husband. Now she has to contend with her body’s betrayal…hot flashes!

The plain truth hits her with each thermostatic aberration—she has never been first in anyone’s life, including her own.

Brandon Sullivan has been on a downward spiral since the death of his beloved wife. Now he is a man desperate to save himself from impending financial ruin, loss of his farm and his life’s dream. He needs to get into the winner’s circle by spring or he’ll be just another poor, landless Irishmen downing his pints and bragging about the good ol’ days.

Sparks fly when Italian attitude meets Irish temper. Add two big crazy families, a barn full of horses and one woman’s menopausal hot flashes and the probability for combustion increases exponentially.

What will Kate and Brandon risk for a second chance at love?


Short excerpt from Hot Flash

“So, Katie, tell me…why riding lessons?”

“It’s Kate.” She corrected him.

“What?” He looked genuinely confused.

“Kate…my name…it’s Kate, not Katie.” She wasn’t sure why it bothered her he liked to call her that. Maybe it felt a little too personal. Jeffrey had never called her anything but Catherine.

“Ah and why not? Katie suits you well, a good name for a beautiful woman.”

Nervous laughter welled up in her. “You have that ‘charming Irishman’ thing down to a fine science don’t you? Go ahead, call me anything you want.” Obviously, the man had his own opinions. It was most likely fruitless to try and correct him. She should have resented it, but his arrogance fit him like those breeches he wore. From another man, his attitude would have felt patronizing, but coming from him it was...well…titillating.

He said nothing, just looked directly into her eyes and smiled a slow, lazy grin that made Kate shiver deep in her bones.

What is being said about Hot Flash….
"Sexy but sensitive, powerful but poignant--HOT FLASH is not your daughter's romance! This is a story for real women. Savor every word!"
~Award-Winning Author, Deb Stover

All my current books are available in print and digital formats. If you would like an autographed copy please go to my website buy link http://www.clareaustin.com/books.html if you use PayPal or contact me at AuthorClare@gmail.com

Most online booksellers have both digital and trade paperback editions of my novels or you can order from www.thewildrosepress.com

Thank you for having me on your blog today.
Clare