Valentine’s Day #OzRomance showcase: Eva Scott

Welcome, Eva Scott!

Describe yourself in one word:
Determined.

What is your background with regard to writing?
I worked as a free-lance writer for an outdoor magazine for a while and wrote public reports for the health industry.  All of it boringly like school assignments.  Then, when I fell pregnant with my son, I thought I’d have a go at writing fiction.  I haven’t looked back!

When did you first begin writing with a view of embarking on a career as a published author?
It was 2011 – the year of the big floods.  All that rain kept me indoors over the summer so writing was the perfect pastime.

Tell us about the first book you wrote.
The Reluctant Wedding Planner was very much an experiment to see if I could write a novel.  I sent it in to the Romance Writers of Australia’s Emerald award and managed to place fourth.  Oh! If only I’d understood POV properly I might have actually placed!  One of many great lessons learned.

What is your writing routine?
My writing routine is catch-as-catch-can.  I have a three year old boy who demands my attention so I must be clever about weaving my writing around his activities and needs.  I’ve become rather good at it I think measured by the two thousand words I can squeeze out in a day, if I’m not feeling lazy.

Where does your interest in Ancient Rome stem from?
From afternoons spent with my grandfather who had piles of National Geographic magazines and a penchant for storytelling.  My mother always had an interest in history too so for me it’s always something which has been with me.

Can you share with our readers one piece of historical information about Ancient Rome that has special meaning to you?
The fact Romans had wrist watches – I kid you not!  The watches consisted of little sun dials strapped to their wrists a la Fred Flintstone.  Hilarious!  If I made it up people would say it was farfetched but it’s completely true!

Do you have a personal travel story in Rome or Italy that you’d like to share with us?
I adore Italy.  I worked for an Italian gentleman when I lived in Great Britain.  I got to visit Pompeii twice – it never gets tired.  As for Rome, there are so many memories I cherish.  There is a special energy about the city.  Crazy roads, glorious monuments, spectacular art, stylish inhabitants, and fabulous food.  Passion, exuberance and great coffee.

The one book that you’ve read over and over is…
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  I know it’s a corny answer but the truth is Miss Austen just kicks it out of the park!

What book has changed your opinion/stance on something important to you, and why?
Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore.  This book didn’t change my opinions as such, as much as it enlightened them.  Suddenly I got it – why the world is like it is.  Crazy how one city can influence world events for thousands of years.  If you’re interested in reading it (and it’s a cracker of a book) I suggest you get the ebook version.  The paper version is so large and heavy it will give you wrist strain!

Biggest accomplishment to date:
Wow!  Tough question.  Things that really challenged me and stretched me as a person were travelling alone in my early twenties (I can still taste the fear the first time I got off the plane in Paris straight from Brisbane all alone with terribly high school French).  Acquiring my degree (Anthropology major) while working full time.  Ridiculous notion – like a sort of horrible boot camp for an over-achiever.  I was exhausted by the end of the four years.  And maybe going off to live by myself in Papua New Guinea.  Everyone told me I was nuts – including my GP who predicted a dire ending for me.  She was wrong!  And I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

What’s next for you?
Apart from toilet training my toddler? Now that would be an awesome achievement!  I am currently editing a contemporary outback romance which I hope to release this year.  And I’m two thirds through another Roman novel.  This one follows the adventures of Alexandra who is the sister of Barbarian Bride’s hero, Lucius.  She’s so much fun I couldn’t part with her.

Confessions of an Author:

Can you share with us something that we’d be shocked to know about you?
I once gave out the medals for the Mens Ice Skating event at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane back in 2001.  I guess that’s not very shocking huh?  Maybe the fact I was perfectly drunk at the time might beef it up.  I was there as a VIP guest so was quite merrily enjoying the VIP lounge with everyone else when an official asked me if I’d fancy awarding the medals as the person who was supposed to do it hadn’t turned up.  Not one to turn down an adventure, I said yes.  Those boys have tight butts, let me tell you!

What do you find easiest to write? And, the hardest?
Easiest to write is definitely the historical stories.  They just flow.  The hardest are the contemporary stories.  It’s like getting blood out of a stone by comparison and I don’t know why.

Favourite travel experience?
Hawaii.  Although Western Canada comes a close second.  I’ve been to Hawaii several times now.  I was blessed to be able to hike out on Kilauea when she was erupting.  What a magic experience that was!

Favourite fictional character:
Another super tough question.  I’ve just spent fifteen minutes looking at my bookcase trying to find an answer.  Just when I think I have one I change my mind.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list:
See the Aurora Borealis.

Milk or dark chocolate?
Dark.

Red, white, bubbly?
Red.

Salty or sweet?
Salty.

Beach or mountains?
Beach.

Give or receive?
Give.

 

Find Eva online:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

 

Barbarian Bride
Eva Scott

On the bloody ground of the Colosseum, she fights to save her life. In the treacherous boxes above, he fights to save their love.

Though Klara didn’t love the man who was to be her husband, she didn’t want him murdered, and she vows to track down the man who committed the crime. Sickened that she’d been attracted to the mysterious Roman, Klara tracks Lucius Aurelius to the fringes of the Roman Empire, only to find that they’ve both been trapped in a clever plot to overthrow Klara’s father, the Chief of the Huns.

Klara is separated from Lucius, captured by slavers and sold to a gladiator school. She is the only one who can save herself, by fighting for her freedom. Lucius can ensure her battle is easier, but only by sacrificing himself. How much is he willing to give up for the fiery woman he’s come to love?

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