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Congratulations to Kaye Dobbie who is a finalist in the 2017 RUBY Awards, nominated for Mackenzie Crossing<\/em><\/a>! We chat with her about her nominated book, how she reacted when she found out she was a finalist, and her advice for aspiring authors.<\/p>\n Congratulations, you\u2019re a finalist in the 2017 RUBY Awards! How did you react when you found out you were a finalist?<\/strong><\/p>\n I sat down at my computer early in the morning, ready to start work, and realised I had an email from RWA. When I read it I was thrilled, but at that stage there was no one to tell apart from the cat!<\/p>\n Please tell us about the story you\u2019ve been nominated for. Did you have a secret alternative title while you were writing it?<\/strong><\/p>\n I am nominated in the mainstream book with Romantic Elements section. My book, Mackenzie Crossing<\/em><\/a>, tells two stories. In 1997 Skye is searching for her grandfather, Neville, a photographer who vanished in the Victorian Alps during the Black Friday bushfires. In 1939 Neville is looking for the perfect photo. Neville was once a British WW1 soldier, and because of his experiences, no longer feels comfortable in everyday life. In the isolated mountains he finds Georgie, a young woman also hiding from her past. Skye and Neville\u2019s stories interconnect despite a gap of 60 years.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t have a secret alternative title, apart from very early on, when it was Next Book. It sounds boring and practical, but all of my books are Next Book to begin with.<\/p>\n Do you write romance books in secret, or are you loud and proud?<\/strong><\/p>\n Most books have relationships of some kind in them, and mine are no different. My stories, with their past-present timelines, show how love can blossom no matter what the circumstances, and how that often changes the course of the characters\u2019 lives. So yes, loud and proud.<\/p>\n Headless washboard abs, a torrid embrace, the sprawling homestead, an elegantly dressed d\u00e9colletage, or a vaguely kinky object against a dark background \u2013 what\u2019s your favourite type of romance cover and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n My covers reflect the stories I am telling, which are not strictly romances. That said, I do read many romances and I prefer subtle, but it\u2019s purely a matter of choice.<\/p>\n What is the secret life of a romance writer? What goes on between you and your keyboard (or quill) behind closed doors?<\/strong><\/p>\n The secret life of a writer is probably far less exciting than you might think. When I am on a deadline, it can mean late nights and early mornings at the keyboard and not much else. When I am not writing I like to catch up on all the television and books I\u2019ve been denying myself while I work.<\/p>\n Do you remember the first romance you read, the one that inspired you to continue reading and writing in this genre?<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if they are strictly romances, but certainly there is romance in them. Daphne du Maurier\u2019s Rebecca<\/em><\/a>, Frenchman\u2019s Creek<\/em><\/a> and Jamaica Inn<\/em><\/a>, Mary Stewart,<\/a> Diana Norman<\/a>, Georgette Heyer<\/a>\u2026all favourites. I love to escape into history.<\/p>\n\n\t\t![\"Mackenzie](\"https:\/\/blog.booktopia.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kaye-in-blog-1.jpg\" "\\"Mackenzie")
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