THE PIRATE LORD
By
Vanda Vadas
Can love for his beautiful, aristocratic captive rescue Miles from
his lust for revenge?
A family tragedy steeped in deceit and betrayal saw Lady Eloise
Blakely vow never to fall victim to a man's charms, let alone invite him into
her bed. Until fate swept her aboard a pirate's ship and into its captain's
embrace.
Yet when he reveals a dark secret, her lover becomes her enemy...
Ten years ago, Miles Zachary Fenton was framed for murder. For so
long he has fought to clear his name and reclaim his dukedom. Now, when both
appear to be just within reach, he is forced to abduct a meddling beauty, one
who wreaks havoc with his emotions and complicates his plans.
Author’s Inspirations
Mary Anne, it’s an absolute honour
and a pleasure to be invited back to your blog site. Thank you!
It’s fair to say that I should
credit Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson for sparking my interest and
long-held fascination with pirates. You see, for my seventh birthday, my friend
gifted me a book, A Child’s Garden of
Verses. One of the sixty-five poems contained therein is titled, A Pirate’s Story. When I first read the
poem my childhood imagination flew off the radar. I still have that treasured gift.
Fast forward years (and years!)
later . . . I received offers from three publishing houses to e-publish my
debut book, THE PIRATE LORD. My publisher of choice? Penguin Random House
Australia. A few months after the book was published I re-read A Child’s Garden of Verses and noted
that (cue music for the Twilight Zone) it had been published by Penguin Books
Australia!
So, what were some of the real-life inspirations
behind the scenes in THE PIRATE LORD – a story of tragedy, murder, deceit,
betrayal, revenge, and the inevitable blossoming of love?
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many
memorable places around the globe including Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire,
England. It was the inspiration behind my opening scene in Chapter One. Imagine
if you will, a magnificent house and grounds with dramatic 16th
century French architecture and grand rooms. The heroine, Lady Eloise Blakely,
seeks a moment’s solitude outside, away from the celebrations of her birthday
ball when she is confronted by a man who . . .
. . . stood
at the foot of the terrace steps. Their eyes met. It was not so much his
presence that disturbed her, but rather his attire, illuminated well enough by
the sconces placed intermittently up the balustrade.
Knee-high
boots, breeches and shirt melded into one stark splash of black. Ebony hair,
neatly tied in a queue, fell past his collar. A wide, black satin mask
concealed the upper portion of his features, leaving only the tip of his nose,
mouth and jaw exposed. He glanced surreptitiously to his left, towards the
gardens, then back at her, past her shoulder, and re-settled his gaze on her
face.
Fans of Winston Graham’s novels (or the TV
series) POLDARK, will recall Cornwall’s picturesque coastline. My travels have
taken me to the edge of these granite cliffs where I filled my lungs with crisp,
blustery air. I could taste and smell the salty brine as I looked out over the
Atlantic Ocean and swept my gaze over the shoreline where waves crashed against
jagged rocks. I marvelled at the seagulls, much
larger than our Aussie breed! This experience, together with the colourful local
history, inspired and enriched my scenes set on the Cornwall coast. THE PIRATE LORD explains to his captive . . .
‘We
stand at one of many isolated landing places well known to the smuggling
brethren. My crew and I do not concern ourselves with the alcohol that lays
weighted to the ocean beds. Nor do we disturb the contraband hidden deep inside
these coastal caves.’
As you would expect, a book about pirates most
likely includes scenes aboard a ship. When Batavia, a replica of the Dutch East
Indiaman, was brought to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, I
saw it as the perfect opportunity to step on board and grasp a glimpse of what
it might have been like for those above and below deck on a 17th
century ship. Inspiration struck for a scene where the ship’s cook enlightens Lady
Elouise about daily victuals.
‘But,’
he continued, ‘if we’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes
to rations, then you might just find one of these on your plate.’ He casually
lifted the spoon from the broth, tapped it on the edge of the pot and pointed
it at her feet.
Eloise
looked down to see a large rat scurry beneath her skirts. She reacted in the
manner of a madwoman, stomping on the floor and screaming as if Cook had taken
the cleaver to her neck.
A
cacophony of female shrieks and raucous male laughter filled the galley.
Another opportunity
presented itself when my husband and I took a cruise around the Caribbean
islands. I scribbled countless pages of notes and took photos and videos of the
flora and fauna, of old sugar mills and plantation houses. Being there and
taking it all in was the perfect way to see and sense my surrounds just as Eloise
does . . .
Two
large mountains jutted out from the ground at either end of the island. A
valley stretched in between. Sand whiter than blanched almonds edged the
shores. Her gaze swept the layers of colour, from the lush green vegetation and
sun-bleached sands, to the vast blue-green of the ocean. She sniffed the warm
air, a fragrant mixture of sweet florals, spice and earthy plant life.
On the island of Dominica, we walked through a
lush green tropical rainforest to find a breathtaking hidden jewel with its
beautiful waterfall, aptly named Emerald Pool. This was inspiration at its best
and I knew I’d found the perfect location for a pivotal, intimate love scene in
my book.
Enjoy!
Links to Purchase
About the author
Before
residing in Australia, Vanda’s birthplace and early childhood years were spent
in Papua New Guinea. At the age of eleven, a holiday in England sparked an
interest in the days of old. Castles, ruins, and discovering Jane Austen novels
inspired a life-long interest in all things historical, a passion that later
kick-started Vanda’s desire to write historical romance.
Vanda
has studied and worked in the field of Education, teaching English Literacy and
Numeracy to children and adults. She’s also worked as a recruitment consultant
and as a PA.
Vanda
and her husband live on the Gold Coast in Queensland where they enjoy walks
along world-renowned beaches or a quiet getaway to the lush hills of the
Hinterland.
Useful Links
Website:
http://www.vandavadas.com/
Facebook:
Vanda Vadas Author
Twitter: @Vanda_Vadas
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx