ON THE EDGE by Author Claire Glllies *Virtual Book Tour* *Giveaway*

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is pleased to welcome Author Claire Gillies and her new release, On The Edge, to the blog. You can find all of the blog stops at Goddess Fish Promotions. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. The entry form can be found at the bottom of this post.

Since this is Claire’s first visit to Notes, we thought we’d start with some (nosey) questions.

 

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

 

Is your book based on real-life experience or a figment of your imagination?

Some aspects of the book are from real life. I was in a job I disliked and at a crossroads in my life, I knew I wanted to be creative but didn't know what. I was hitting the age where you're supposed to know what you want to do with your life! So, this is what Cat faces at the beginning of the book and she decides to move to a remote island, pretty much what my husband and I decided to do - live in the Orkney Isles. I can relate to Cat but she is a figment of my imagination!

Is the setting for your book real? If so, have you been there? If it’s fictitious, is there somewhere real that you’ve used as a model?

This place is real. The Orkneys are a cluster of isles off the northern coast of Scotland and I was lucky to call it my home for a time. We moved from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne city life to the other side of the world, it was a huge change - I didn’t really know what to expect! As soon as I landed on the island I was confronted with a horror of “what have I done?!” But in no time, I fell in love with my surroundings and I wanted to capture the feeling of freedom that I felt living in Orkney.

 

If you could trade places with one of the characters from your book, who would it be and why?

Oh I think Jess. I have a soft spot for her (Cat's friend on the island). She has an idyllic life - owning an art gallery by the sea and being an artist too. She’s her own boss, and chose her own path.  She exhibits her work in the gallery and is a big reason why Cat starts to paint again.

Orkney is an inspiring place to live, a lot of artists live there because of the ever-changing light.

If you listen to music while you write, what are the top three songs on your playlist?

I love music, I'm a fan of indie, psychedelic, folk and classical music. But when I'm writing I usually get distracted by singing. I love movie soundtracks, and particularly will go back to Far from the Madding Crowd, Away and Back (TV movie about geese) and Little Women (1994) soundtrack. But right now, I stick on a playlist from YouTube - the Ambient World channel and their music mixes of Downton Abbey, Skyrim and Harry Potter (Dumbledore's office) are my favs. I love to escape in music while writing.

 

About the Book

 

Catherine MacGregor spends life daydreaming her way out of the perils of a dead-end job, and a dwindling love-life. Rather than face imminent redundancy, Cat finds herself giving up her life in the city, and moving to a remote Scottish island for a fresh start.

Unlocking her passion for art, things have never looked better, until the handsome but elusive musician Patrick Flannagan takes to the stage, complicating her best-laid plans.

Cat’s past could be catching up with her at last. Can she unlock her own secrets, and learn to love again, in time to save her brave new beginnings?

 On the Edge is available exclusively on Amazon

The book is on sale for only $0.99

 

Enjoy an Excerpt

 

Maybe she was a terrible friend, and didn’t give people enough time to be themselves?  Johnny was going through a crisis in love and here she was making all sorts of assumptions about what he wanted from life.  She stepped out into the road and at that moment her stiletto heel caught in the cat’s-eye in the middle of the road, making her trip and fall.  It was at that exact moment a van turned the corner, speeding towards her.  Cat stared helplessly at the fast-approaching vehicle; it was too late for her to move, and she closed her eyes thinking this was the moment she would die.  Her mum’s eyes flashed in her mind and then… no pain came.  The van had stopped, just in time, right in front of a cowering Cat who looked up at it, terrified.  Patrick got out of the driver's side.

“Cat...! Are you OK?”

Cat got to her knees and couldn’t help the rage from building inside her.  “What is the matter with you, you could’ve killed me?” She pressed her hands onto the cold tarmac road and slowly got up.

“I’m sorry...” Patrick tried to help her up but she shrugged him off.  “I didn’t expect to see someone lying in the middle of the road...?” He put his hands up letting her compose herself.

“You were driving really fast!” Cat looked at her bleeding knees and wanted to cry.  But she was determined not to cry in front of this individual, that was all she needed.

 

Meet the Author

Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland, Claire’s homeland continues to be a stream of inspiration for her. A clothing designer too, Claire (Lorna) creates one-off bespoke garments using Scottish tweeds and tartans.

Claire currently splits her time between Scotland and Australia with her lovely Irish husband. She is a cat lover (without the cat) and can be found either drinking coffee, researching the best cake haunts, or watching yet another costume drama!

Claire's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

 

Enter the Giveaway

 

Claire Gillies will be awarding a signed copy of the book. (International) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ ~ ~

As always, it’s been my pleasure hosting Claire today. Please come back again tomorrow for another author, book, and giveaway.

Nancy