Thank you so much for inviting me to your lovely blog,
Pauline – it’s always a pleasure to chat to you, even if it’s only through
cyberspace!
Romy, it’s all my pleasure, so do help yourself to a
glass of bubble, make yourself comfortable and them tell me all about your latest book
and why Cyprus?
The third novella in my Aphrodite and Adonis series set on
Cyprus, The Aphrodite Assignment,
has just been released in e-book by Tirgearr Publishing. I had never intended
writing a series but when I submitted the first very short novella, The Aphrodite Touch, my publisher asked
me to consider making it a series. What author could resist such a challenge?
The second novella, The Adonis Touch,
was slightly longer and this third one is longer again.
I’ve been fascinated with Greek mythology since school days
and while I wanted to write a contemporary romance (as opposed to my other
historical romance), I wanted to include a touch of mystery, adventure or
fantasy along with the love story. We visited Cyprus, known as Aphrodite’s
Island, many years ago and I was immediately captivated by its romance, history
and legend. There are so many references to Aphrodite that my imagination was
fired as I wandered amongst the ruins and beauty spots, dreaming that the
goddess still walked beside the locals and tourists. And so my fictional series
was born.
Each novella features a different human couple who arrive on
Cyprus in either spring or summer. Mischievous Aphrodite persuades Adonis to
play a game during these two seasons, where they choose to help a specific
couple reach a new stage in their relationship. In The Aphrodite Assignment, Bryony and Richard are not yet a couple
but have previous family history. In this novella, I’ve also introduced one or
two other gods and goddesses to create some variety in the storyline.
Although Aphrodite is the goddess of love and took many
lovers of her own, I especially felt drawn to the references involving Adonis.
Some say he was completely mortal but other ancient writers suggest he was a
demi-god. The fun part of writing fiction of course is that you can make up
your own rules! More importantly for my series, Aphrodite was wildly in love
with him. Adonis is also mentioned a lot on Cyprus and I was delighted to
discover – after I’d written a sexy scene there in the second novella - that he
and Aphrodite used to meet at Aphrodite’s Baths. Why shouldn’t they still appear there at
times? I did say this was partly a fantasy romance, didn’t I!
Cyprus itself is an island in the Mediterranean, roughly
situated between Greece, Turkey, Syria and Israel. It is mainly divided into
two: the Greek part in the south and Turkish in the north. My series is set in
and around Paphos, in Greek Cyprus – an area very much identified with
Aphrodite. According to Homer, Aphrodite was born at the rocks along the coast
from Paphos, known as Petra Tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s birthplace). Here’s how Homer
describes it in his Odysssey VIII:
‘Laughter-loving Aphrodite went to Cyprus, to Paphos. The
moist breeze of zephyr brought her there on the waves of the sea, with a noise
of thunder, among the soft foam, and the gold-dressed Horä (beautiful women priestesses)
received her with joy.’ You might know the famous Botticelli painting that
depicts this scene, although he calls her by her Roman name, Venus.
I used this beauty spot for a scene in the first novella, as
well as the Tombs of the Kings. In the latest novella, I’ve taken my human
couple to couple of different spots on the island and each time I write about
Cyprus, I can’t wait to return there and explore some more of this beautiful
island. I hope the reader will enjoy the romance and mythology through the
series.
Blurb and Links for The
Aphrodite Assignment by Romy Gemmell
Blurb
Bryony Marshall has the assignment of a lifetime: to check
out the new apartments on Cyprus, Aphrodite’s island, for her travel company.
But she hadn’t reckoned on her contact being Richard Harrison, former teenage
crush and her older sister’s ex-fiancé, and her renewed feelings for him.
Aphrodite and Adonis plan to encourage the budding romance
between Bryony and Richard but the goddess Athena brings them unwelcome news:
Aphrodite must return to Olympus with the other gods for a council with Zeus.
Can the mythological couple bring the humans together within the limited time
left to both couples?
Buy Links
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BFV7ILG
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BFV7ILG
Social Media
Website: http://www.rosemarygemmell.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Romy-Gemmell/1422387704702586
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RosemaryGemmell
2 comments:
Thanks so much for this, Pauline - much appreciated!
It's wonderful to have you here and you must come back again soon. x
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