AUSSIE MONTH with Nora James

 

AUSSIE MONTH with Nora James

 

Describe yourself in one word:
Human.

Tell us about Paris By Heart:
It’s  a story of second chances and true love in the city of light, an easy-to-read classic romance in which food and the senses play a big part as the hero is a chef. It’s also about cultural differences with an Australian heroine who reacts in ways that are sometimes an absolute mystery to the French hero. He, in turn, appears arrogant and unapproachable to her. And yet the attraction is irresistible. Perhaps the magic of the city has something to do with it.

What inspired this novel?
My life in Paris. I spent many years there and the city often referred to as the most romantic one in the world holds a special place in my heart – not just because of the fabulous architecture, the beautiful museums, the amazing food and the je ne sais quoi in the air, but because it’s where I met my husband. My husband and I still have family there as well as in other parts of France and like most people we were devastated to hear of the tragic events of November 2015.

What are you reading right now?
If I Stay by Gayle Forman, courtesy of my twelve year old daughter. I probably wouldn’t have picked it but I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list?
Dance the night away at the Carnival of Venice and hopefully recognise my husband under his mask!

Best thing about being an Aussie?
Hard to choose between the glorious beaches, the weather,  the relaxed lifestyle, the friendly people, the amazing wildlife, but I’ll go with being able to put your favorite undies back on five minutes after you’ve hung them out to dry.

What you want readers to know about the romance genre?
As long as there are people on this Earth, romance will exist because it taps into one of our most fundamental needs – to love and be loved.  It’s just as complex as any other genre and, in my opinion, is more varied  than most. It’s something authors and readers alike can embrace with pride. Shakespeare did.  Charlotte Brontë did. Why shouldn’t we?

What have you got in store for your readers in 2016?
Hopefully I’ll be releasing two more novels , one in Italy about discovering first love (with a twist), the other at the snow in Austria where two sisters  go on holidays to get away from the disastrous impact men have on their relationship, only to find the perfect lover to fight over.

What were your big achievements of 2015?
Here are my top four in no particular order. I’ll let you decide which should come first.

• Contributing in a small way to a widespread push to improve animal rights and seeing certain barbaric practices come to an end, such as the outlawing of cage eggs in the ACT, or the rehoming in sanctuaries of brutally beaten elephants in India.
• Raising a happy family.
• Paris By Heart making it to #1 on Amazon Australia’s list of bestsellers.
• Tidying the sock drawer and disposing of all stray socks in my possession.

 

 

Paris by Heart
Nora James

Elise Reid has spent years dreaming of learning to cook in Paris and saving all her money for it. When she arrives at the studio-apartment she has rented for the summer she finds it is above a cafe which employs Paul, a dark and delicious Frenchman who makes her go weak at the knees – until he snaps at her for not speaking French. She vows to stay away from the grumpy cook but his boss and owner of Elise’s apartment, Madame Brouard, notices their attraction and throws them together in what might be the most risqué of all recipes. What unfolds is a story of food, cultural discovery and sensuality in the most romantic city in the world. But will that be enough to bring together opposites who live over 14,000 kilometres apart and each carry baggage from a complicated past? Or will their heads rule their hearts and their burning desire for each other?

Website  |  Amazon AU  |  Escape Publishing

 

 

 

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