Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Let’s play Is It True with today’s guest, Joanie MacNeil author of December Heat Wave, a contemporary romance. This is a game with yes and no questions. Writers can elaborate on answers as much as they choose.

December Heat Wave by Joanie MacNeil

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Following the death of her husband, Nicolette Oliver concentrates on re-establishing her career as a dancer, though still dealing with emotional issues relating to her life with Mark. When his friend appears on her doorstep, Nicolette honors her late husband’s invitation and invites Jake to stay.
Jake Harrigan has always been attracted to Nic and sees her as untouchable, even though she is now on her own. They are opposites, their lives and expectations literally worlds apart. Drawn into a romantic interlude, the parting is difficult when Jake returns to Europe to resume his career as TV news journalist and Nic moves to Sydney to begin rehearsals for the show that will resurrect her career.
Jake returns to Australia to see Nic again and also to finalize details with his network to sail around the world making documentaries. Will Jake follow his heart and ask Nic to give up all that she’s worked for and sail away with him?

Is it true:

this is your first book?
No, though I wrote this book early in my career.
this book is part of a series?
No.
you lost sleep while writing this book?
Yes, probably. I tend to lose sleep whenever I’m writing a book.
you did research for this book?
Some. I’d briefly visited the area where I set the story, though had to do a little more research for the setting.
My hero’s career as a photo journalist was inspired by watching TV news and articles I’d read.
My heroine was inspired by a dance performance I watched. I just had to write my heroine as a dancer resurrecting her career following a personal tragedy. I also based the visuals for the lead male dancer on one I’d seen in the show. Fantastic performances and I wish I still had the DVD.
some characters in this book are not human? (pets for example)
All characters are human. No pets.
this book has more than one genre?
Strictly contemporary romance
you speak more than one language?
I did learn German so long ago that I’ve forgotten most of it, and I was never a fluent speaker of the language
you grew up where you live now?
At seventeen, I left home to live in Brisbane which was over an hour away by train in those days. Living in the city meant I could walk to work in ten minutes, so much easier than the two hour plus train travel, and waiting to catch a bus home from the station, especially on cold winter nights.Then at twenty, I moved interstate and have lived in the same city since then, except for about five years where I lived in a little country town. A new experience, but again, a considerable commute each day, this time by car. I thought it ironic that I began my working career with a long daily bus and train journey and ended that career with at least two hour drive each day, and the same early mornings. Exhausting.
you love to read?
Yes. As well as romance I love to read Icelandic Noir. I’m a fan of Ragnar Jónasson’s novels.
you are never late?
I endeavour not to be late. I dislike being late when people are depending on me to keep an appointment on time, and vice versa.
you love pizza?
Yes, but it doesn’t like me. I have an intolerance to all grains so pizza is a no-no for me.
you love sushi?
I have tasted sushi in the past, some nice, some not so good. Now it is a no-no for me because of the rice. I was never a big fan of sushi anyway.
you have a pet?
No. With one Veteran husband, three adult children and their partners, one adult stepson, and four young grandsons, who needs pets?

Where to buy December Heat Wave

Publisher BWL Publishing Inc. http://www.bookswelove.net/authors/macneil-joanie-romance-australia/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JQRDGTK
Universal book link https://www.books2read.com/joaniemacneil-DecemberHeatWave

Joanie MacNeil Social Media

An Australian author of contemporary romance, her novels are a mix of sweet and sexy feel-good stories, most set in Australia. Joanie loves to travel and has visited parts of the world she never dreamed she’d see. From the UK to US; Italy, Croatia, Spain and Portugal; Tunisia, where she took a camel ride into the Sahara desert; Morocco, Paris; the Baltic Capitals, Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands; Noumea, and late in 2018, Iceland and Wales. A summary of her visit to Iceland and link to a Writing Retreat in Wales is on her news page. In mid October this year, she boarded a cruise ship in Southampton, UK, calling into two ports in France; Lisbon, and Barcelona; Gibraltar, then travelling through the Greek Islands,visiting Malta and Rhodes before sailing through the Suez Canal; continuing to Singapore, disembarking on 28 November. Who would have thought that 38 days on the high seas would fly by so fast?
Home, family and friends are important to her. She has blended these elements into some of her stories.
Website www.joaniemacneil.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/JoanieMacneil
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/romanceauthorjoaniemacneil/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com.au/joaniemacneil/romance-author-joanie-macneil/
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JQRDGTK