Today I’m having a glass of Pino Grigio with the charming Zara Stoneley from Chesire and we’re talking about her latest release, Country Affairs. I’ve never had a glass of Pino Grigio, so I had to find out what to expect – this is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir variety, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name (gris meaning “gray” in French) but the grapes can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance.
So I’m obvisouly missing out on a great wine and will have to see what is available in South Africa!
Before we hear about Zara’s new story, let’s see her answers to my questions:
A. Quickies
- Tea or wine? Wine! Preferably a nice Pinot Grigio. (Or coffee if it’s too early for alcohol.)
- Read or jog? Read – I’d love to pretend I’d choose jog. But I wouldn’t.
- Cats or dogs? Both.
- Heels or flats? Heels to go out, flats when I’m scurrying around in the day – I always seem to end up having to run everywhere!
- Boxers or briefs? Briefs 😉
- Milk, dark or white chocolate – dark please.
- Sweet or savoury – it does depend on what’s on offer, if we go out for a meal I’m as likely to go for a starter as a dessert if I have to choose between. But I find it very hard to say no to chocolate.
- Sea or mountains – tricky one, I really do love both. If I had to choose it would probably be mountains (with a lake!).
B. Five likes and five dislikes
Likes –
- A lovely sunny day. Everything seems better when the sun shines!
- Happy people; contented positive people make life worth living. And of course, seeing my family happy is the best bit.
- Animals – they lower your blood pressure and lengthen your life. And horse-riding and dog-walking are an excellent way of exercising. I’ve always loved animals and can’t imagine life without a pet of some kind or other.
- A good book or film, uninterrupted. It’s good to escape to a different place now and again.
- Sitting on the beach with my other half people watching.
Dislikes –
- People who criticize just for the sake of it, or hold grudges. Life is too short.
- Pineapple – I love sweet and sour but have to pick the pineapple bits out. It is one of the few fruits I don’t like.
- Getting older – it’s not the getting older, but the side effects. Like back pain and frozen shoulders, and not being able to party like I used to (well I can party, but not get up the next morning!).
- Swimming – I love the sea it inspires me, but it doesn’t seem to like me. So I observe from a distance.
- Planting and trimming stuff is my type of gardening, not weeding. Weeds are pests.
C. Three things on your bucket list
Ride in the Canadian Rockies.
Write a bestseller (is that a bit predictable?)
Attend my son’s graduation (he’s due to start University this year).
D. What triggered this specific story?
Sitting on the beach in Barcelona, and wondering what would happen if my Australian surfer Todd decided to go looking for Lottie again.
In Stable Mates she split up with him on a Barcelona beach when he was arrested. She sorted out her life and moved on… but in Country Affairs he makes a surprise appearance. Why? And what effect will it have on the life she’s destined for as Lady of the Manor?
Blurb:
Country Affairs – Zara Stoneley
‘A great treat for readers who love their books jam-packed with sexy men and horses.’ Bestselling author Fiona Walker
Welcome back to Tippermere for the wedding of the year…
Scatty but loveable Lottie Brinkley is famous throughout the village for her disorganised personality so when she steps up to plan the perfect wedding the only likely outcome is disaster.
And when her globetrotting, love cheat of an ex, Todd, literally crashes the wedding on a not-so-noble steed things definitely look set to take a turn for the scandalous! As rumours of why he’s back spread through the village quicker than the stable girl can drop her knickers, is Lottie’s future with sexy eventer Rory Steel about to fall at the next fence?
With a wave of unexpected pregnancies, steamy shenanigans in the hay and a farrier with more than shoeing horses on his mind, will Lottie ever be ready to take on the coveted title of Lady of the Manor and restore the Estate to its former glory?
As the heart of the village, Tipping House Estate, makes its move into the 21st Century, pulses start to race in a novel packed full of charm, hunky stallions (the guys that is), and a daring plan that just has to succeed…
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Thanks so much for having a glass of wine with me Zara. Sitting on a beach in Barcelona … Sounds like many more stories can follow from that one line 🙂 All the best with this one, Zara – holding thumbs for another best-seller!
