And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is: Rowena Beaumont Cherry is one of those authors who have led a life that could parallel a novel.
Rowena attended Cambridge University, taught at an exclusive boarding school, and spent summer vacations in Spain. She met her husband, an auto designer, in London. You would think that getting married would mean a slower pace, but in Rowena's case it was just the opposite. Her husband's job meant travelling all over the world and experiencing things many of us could only dream of. Staying in the best hotels and riding in the pace car at the Indy 500 are just a couple. And, for this new author, it was "fantastic inspiration for romance novel scenes and alien-world building." Visit Rowena at her website: http://www.rowenacherry.com/index.php Below is my interview with Rowena. Take special note of the contest she announces with a special prize. She also tells readers how they can obtain an autographed bookplate for her new release, FORCED MATE. Thanks Rowena!
The last line of FORCED MATE is what decided the issue. In a romance, the hero and heroine save the world (or whatever), and then they declare (or prove) their love for each other. In a science fiction, they get the romantic business out of the way…then they save the world. Back in 1997 I entered the Chesapeake Romance Writers of America Chapter’s Last Line contest. My last line was awarded “Most Poignant Last Line.” I wasn’t about to change an award winning last line, so that settled it. FORCED MATE was a romance.
This is why the Cerne Giant scene is important to me, and to my story. I do hope this prehistoric nude figure does not confuse or offend my gentle readers, and that they will visit my website to take a look at the original “His Mightiness” and his 30 linear foot erection crudely delineated in chalk ditches. (here's the link for that particular page: http://www.rowenacherry.com/excerpt_03.php) Apparently, his outlines can found by dowsing. Of course, with deep trenches dug there, the dowsing isn’t necessary, but the implication is that the original trench-diggers used dowsing to create the shapes. I’ve read that the original Freemasons, who traveled freely across Europe like independent building contractors, used dowsing techniques in order to determine the most favorable sites for cathedrals and churches… and for the village stocks. The church or cathedral spire would be built over a vortex to promote the most spiritually uplifting experience for worshippers. This also explains why ancient church doors are in odd locations, and why church walls are often not straight. The stocks or dungeons would be placed in the most naturally depressing sites. I am told that I have a natural gift, unlike the daughter of the man who showed me how to dowse, but I very much doubt that I’d be able to find an oil well!?
My hero, Tarrant-Arragon has the ever-popular nobleman’s dilemma you find in Regency romances, only I raise the ante a little. Tarrant-Arragon is a god-Emperor’s only son and heir, and he is a djinn with some pretty spectacular powers when he chooses to use them. He needs to produce at least one legitimate son to secure the succession, therefore he has to marry or “take a mate,” as he would put it. There are a couple of sometimes-fatal flaws in the Royal bloodline, so he wants the best possible breeding stock for his heir's mother, and he wants to be certain that his heir is his son. The young woman he selects—partly because she has some psychic abilities that he’d like added to the royal gene pool—is his sworn enemy, has powerful protectors, and is engaged to his best friend (who really is NOT his best friend). Oh, and she has been brought up with modern day Anglo-American values. She is not about to embrace a civilization where galaxy-going Fleets set their watches by the Empress’s menstrual cycles.
It seems appropriate, given that in FORCED MATE two “Kings” vie for possession—and the love—of one female. Once a week, I teach a group of gifted six year olds to play chess. I also draw, both for pleasure—and to teach my child to draw—and as part of my writing. I may draw diagrams of complicated solar systems to be sure that I remember where the sun is in the right place for every scene, where and when there are--or should be--eclipses. Also, if a love scene or a clinch, is involved I tend to sketch the protagonists so that I remember where all the necessary body parts are.
If I want to write, I need to get up at 4.30am.
I am quite certain that I shall have an alien Emperor who is delightfully insulting to his subjects, and they will love him for it. The mundane truth is that Prince Phillip called me a cow because I had come from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and Guernsey is famous for its beautiful cows. Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney all have (or had) their own unique cows, which are “golden” and famous for their exceptionally yellow, creamy butter. There was a cow-napping book written—Operation Venus, I think it was called—about an attempt to save an Alderney cow from Hitler during the Second World War. The reason I was at Buckingham Palace was to be awarded my Gold Level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, along with dozens of other Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award achievers. In the 1960s the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was a wholesome King Of The Jungle type project (except that no one got eliminated by a civil service equivalent of Nasty Nigel), requiring a minimum of eighteen months of dedication, perseverance, athleticism, endurance, adventure, and all-round excellence as well as some “good works”.
If I may, I would like to announce that I am running a contest of skill and creativity to promote FORCED MATE and to stimulate some interest in the sequel provisionally titled INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL. What IS the secret, glow-in-the-dark tattoo on Prince Djetthro-Jason's penis? Is it a word? A map? A plane? One reader's suggestion may be used in the sequel to FORCED MATE. One great prize! For full details, rules, entry form etc, visit www.rowenacherry.com around Nov 1st>> I should also like to mention that although FORCED MATE won’t be in bookstores until Election Day, November 2nd, it is already being pre-sold at www.barnesandnoble.com, and that I will give away an autographed bookplate to anyone who requests it (with SASE, please) before October 28th: Send to: P.O. Box 554 |
She grew up on the British isle of Guernsey which, in itself, sounds like fertile ground for the imagination. A small island, about half the size of Washington D.C., in the English Channel, it has buildings dating back to the 13th century. Victor Hugo wrote about a haunted house on the island in the 1800's. Rowena describes it as "a mystical, idyllic setting with its prehistoric earth-goddess statues, Tudor Martello towers, underground gun emplacements, and legends of faery men." After reading a bit about the island, I can believe it.
