Iris is a great friend and fellow author from Australia! I must say I love her accent and her book is definitely on my TBR Pile! So without further ado…Here’s Iris!
It’s an absolute delight to be a guest on Lisa’s blog. Not only is my daughter a big fan of Lisa’s Spy series, but I like her motivational posts on how to get children to read.
I’m Iris Blobel, a fellow Astraea Press author, and I’m here to talk a little bit about my new book “New Beginnings”, the first in the trilogy of the Beginnings books.
The story is set in Hobart, Tasmania. It’s a small island just south of Australia. The more mature generation might remember Errol Flynn, the younger generation might know “The Mentalist” Simon Baker – well both of these talented actors were born in Tasmania!
When I took my mum to Tassie a few years back I was ready to move there, I loved it so much. The scenery, the vast wilderness, the beauty, and the wonderful people. My husband said no. The meanie!
And then I visited the island again last year and spent a weekend in Hobart. I wondered how it would be like to move there and adjust. The idea of inheriting a house came to mind. And because I love adding a little child to my stories, I did that as well. And considering that Hobart has a ghostly past, I added a tiny little bit of a mystery in it, too. Voila – the story was born. Of course I needed a bit of romance, and the hunk from across the road was just perfect.
I hope you all have a chance to one day come and visit this wonderful place! And thanks, Lisa, for hosting me today.
Blurb:
Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Levesque has been guardian to eight-year-old sister Mia since their mother’s death a few years ago. Luck comes their way when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know or have even heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator, and Sophie is afraid it’s all been a mistake.
As Mia settles well into her new school and life in general, Sophie is not only occupied by her search of what connected her to Clara, but also her new studies and the two men, who suddenly have become part of her daily life – Mark O’Connor, the lawyer representing Clara’s estate, and Zach, the hunk from across the road.
Tagline:
To believe in new beginnings is to trust in tomorrow
Links:
Astraea Press: http://astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=27261175
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-beginings-iris-blobel/1116794762?ean=2940148572381
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/349320
Bio:
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she actually had met her future husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only recently emerged, but now her laptop is a constant companion. Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters as well as her two dogs. Next to her job at a private school she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.
Excerpt:
Tracing the face of her mother with her finger on one of the photos, a tear escaped from her eye, and she silently prayed that after all they had gone through, nobody would take this house away from them. And silently blessed Ms. Bellinger.
“Tell me another story about Mum.” Mia’s hand on her shoulder startled her, and she turned.
“Hey, sweetie. You’re supposed to be asleep.” Sophie placed the camera next to their mother’s photo and took Mia in her arms.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“It’s been a long day. You should be falling asleep just like that.” And with that, she snapped her fingers.
Mia smiled and took the photo of her mother. “She looks beautiful.”
“She was beautiful. Just like you are.”
“Why did she die, Sophie? Why did she leave us?”
Sophie hugged her even closer and placed a kiss on her forehead. “She didn’t want to leave us, sweetie.” She felt the tears sting behind her eyes and closed them for a moment. It wasn’t always easy to be the older sister.
“You know what I always say. God needed another angel and took Mum.”
“I don’t like God,” Mia replied with more than a touch of wistfulness.
Sophie followed her sister’s eyes to the photo. Even though her heart agreed, she knew it wasn’t the right thing to agree to.
“Remember Father Tim Mahoney? I think he once told you that God’s got a plan. A plan for everyone and everything. Yet this plan is like the wind, and just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. You need to have faith and patience.”
Mia leaned closer and cradled her head into Sophie’s chest. Sophie felt the tiredness in the small body. “Remember what else he always said?”
“When life keeps you in the dark, you need to start looking for the stars.”
They both stood and walked over to the window and moved back the heavy curtains. They were lucky, and the stars were out in all their glory after the storm in the early afternoon. They even thought they saw the Southern Cross.
Thanks Iris for sharing your new release with us today! It’s definitely on my TBR pile!
