Day Four ~ Mel Teshco

My third guest for day four is Ellora's Cave and Nocturne Bites author, Mel Teshco who writes scorching stories of awesomely hot vampires, werewolves and gargoyles! Mel and I have been friends for a couple of years but only met for real in Sydney - hooray for Sydney!! And now over to Mel!

Seasons and our Characters

I love the changing of the seasons, the cold, the heat, the ‘just right’ temperatures. I love the way we adjust our lives accordingly. Summer is the beach, loads of mowing, and late night barbeques. Autumn and Spring (Fall) is catch-up gardening, outdoor chores and horse-riding. Winter is snuggles with hubby, big woolly jumpers, DVDs, a roaring fire (unfortunately I haven’t got one – just envisioning) and big servings of hot stew.

These same seasons can also impact our writing. Right off the bat I think of summer as first love on a tropical island. Winter is a romantic interlude inside a snug log cabin with snow falling gently outside. Autumn/Spring I imagine lovers reunited, cuddling on the park bench in a carpet of leaves or underneath a branch heavy with fragrant blossoms.

In my latest werewolf story, MOON THRALL (yet to be released) my characters are affected by the drought, the lack of water. In fact, it’s pivotal to the hero and heroine coming together.

These seasons have a major impact on the present/contemporary times in our stories, and historically too, perhaps even more so. Take for example (g) Christina Phillips book, FORBIDDEN, which is set in Roman times. The Romans didn’t have the luxury of reverse cycle air-conditioning, of heaters and electric blankets. They had to rely on their tunics and Pallas (long cloaks), and they presumably added or discarded their layers, dependent on the seasons.

Winter is coming to its end now. I’m going to miss my jumpers and trackies...but I am looking forward to nice long warm days and iced drinks by the pool...

I’d love to giveaway a copy of Ice-Cold Lover or my upcoming release Carnal Moon (or any backlist titles) to a commenter who has read/wrote a book where the season has been integral to the hero and heroine getting together.

And huge congrats to Mel, who's just had official word that Carnal Moon has a release date of 28th October! Yay!! Can't wait! So for a chance to win one of Mel's red-hot books, tell us about a book you've read/wrote where the season has been integral to the hero and heroine getting together.