It is my pleasure to have a guest post from (well-traveled) author Tina Christopher who shares...
My Cunning Plan to Visit All the Continents
by Tina Christopher
Hello there! I’m so delighted to visit.
Thank you for having me, ELF.
I love to travel. Not too long ago I took
stock and realised I’ve made it to four continents so far. That leaves three,
but as I will never ever want to visit Antarctica (I severely dislike the
cold;), there’re really only two continents left.
I grew up in Europe and had plenty of
opportunity to explore. Some of my favourite destinations include Rome, Nice
and the Costa del Sol. I’ve also taken a lovely trip to the Sweden and cycled
around the south of Ireland.
It’s funny how you never appreciate what
you’re surrounded by. While living in Germany and England all I wanted to do
was go and visit North America. Now that I live in Toronto I wish I had taken
more time to appreciate the beauty in my back garden.
A few years ago (I will not say how many
because it’s always a bit of a shock to realise how much time has passed;) I
spent three months in South Africa as a conservation volunteer. This meant I saw
the game reserves I stayed at from a very different perspective. You could say
I had a bit of a behind-the-scenes view. One of my favourite memories is the
first time I saw an elephant and that time when Mummy rhino introduced baby
rhino to one of the single males roaming the reserve. At another location I
injected a hyena with a vitamin boost before it was transported to a new site
and saw the strength of vultures up close and personal.
As a tween living in Germany I read an
author who unfortunately was never translated into English. Federica de Cesco
was married to a Japanese photographer and must have lived in every country on
the planet (or that's what it felt like to me;). She wrote YA fiction set across
the world (I’d definitely call her the Queen of Diversity), but her books set
in Japan in particular took my breath away. I read about Japan’s history, their customs
and dreamed of visiting. My opportunity came a few years ago when a friend was
living in Hong Kong. I went to visit her and on my way back stopped in Tokyo
and Kyoto for just over a week. It was utterly incredible! I would love to go
back and see more of the country.
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GENRE: alternative history, steampunk, erotic
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BLURB:
Clara Redbeck has one goal: to prove to the sods at work—and to herself—that the best man for the job can be a woman. To do that, she must prevent a traitor from blowing London to bits. If only the dashing first mate of the dirigible she’d been tasked to plunder didn’t set her aflame.
Garrett Dewhurst has one goal: to execute the coup of a lifetime. His plans do not include a spanking dalliance with the most intriguing woman he has ever met.
With each encounter, the fire between them burns hotter and their need grows stronger. Finally, the cramped cabin aboard the Bismarck becomes their intimate playground, where Garrett introduces Clara to the pleasure of submission and they explore their passion in every way possible.
Clara and Garrett want a future together, but each holds a secret that if revealed could cost them everything. When danger closes in, they have to choose between protecting themselves or the whole of London.
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EXCERPT
She didn’t respond. Instead she studied him from the tips of his boots to the top of his head and every inch in between. Heat spread through his body, unexpected and not completely welcome.
Then she mirrored his stance right down to the raised eyebrow.
Unable to help himself, he smiled.
It had been a very, very long time since a woman had intrigued him after exchanging just a few sentences. She took his breath away and made him want to laugh. Judging by her frown, this was not the response she’d expected.
Garrett turned to Jens. “I believe you have other passengers to look after. I’ll take care of Miss Riesenbeck and anything she may require.”
Jens nodded. He bowed to both of them and practically ran away.
“I don’t know if I should be insulted at the speed of his departure or pat his cheek.”
Garrett chuckled. “Neither. I just think you are too much woman for him. He wouldn’t know how to handle you.”
She widened her eyes. “And you do?”
He curved his lips and knew his smile carried an edge. “Would you like me to prove it?”
She scrutinized him, leaving him hanging on the lip of the abyss, waiting for her response.
“Give me the tour Jens had promised to escort me on, and I will let you know at the end.”
Challenge curled through him. He bowed lightly but continued to hold her gaze captive. “Please step into my cargo hold.”
Her smile lit up her face. Her beauty was not conventional, but in that moment, it grabbed him by the throat. “Said the spider to the fly.”
“Will you step into my web?”
She turned around and threw a glance over her shoulder. “That has yet to be determined.” She strode to the door, and Garrett fell into step behind her.
Amazon link
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tina Christopher spent her early years flitting across the Channel between Germany and England. After touring the world extensively—from hanging out with elephants in South Africa to hiking through the wilderness in Alaska—she finally laid down roots in Toronto. Although Canada’s winters may be frigid, Tina’s characters are anything but!
Like most writers, Tina often hears voices in her head, but it took the encouragement of an editor friend to have her actually put fingers to keyboard. While those first stories will never see the light of day, she’s subsequently honed her craft and learned to build not just worlds, but entire galaxies. History has always been an area of interest for her, and she’s enjoys few things more than imagining what could happen when history and future meet.
When not imagining far-away worlds and scorching-hot encounters, Tina can be found on her sofa working through her never-ending TBR pile or venturing into the real world—whether to a nearby café or a passport-required destination. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America Toronto chapter and looks forward to where her characters take her next!
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The tour dates can be found here
