Today I warmly welcome Cheryl Adnams to Behind the Pen with a few of her favourites. Cheryl is soon to release her first historical fiction novel, The Girl from Eureka. Over to you Cheryl…

What is your favourite…and why…

Character from one of your books?
I love all my characters, but I admit my latest heroine, gold miner Indy Wallace, stands out. She is such a “wholly, uncouth, unladylike brat” as my soldier hero calls her. But she is also kind and generous and brave. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in despite being a woman in a very male profession.

Scene from one of your books?
In “The Girl from Eureka” my hero is a red-coat soldier in a bar full of angry gold miners and a brawl starts. He believes it is his role to save the heroine and ends up throwing her unceremoniously down a garbage chute to get her out of the pub as all hell breaks loose around them. Her reaction to landing in a pigsty full of vegetable scraps is one of my favourite scenes.

Movie of all time?
That’s a tough one. I can be very eccentric in my movie tastes. For example, I love the Deadpool films and Monty Python is always a favourite. But I would probably say my favourite film of all time would be “The Philadelphia Story” with Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. It was a play originally but the dialogue by Philip Barry and the portrayal by the three main cast members and those in supporting roles is exquisite.

Book that you always keep a copy of and recommend to others?
“The Outsiders” by SE Hinton. It was the first book I fell madly in love with.

Fashion accessory that despite having plenty of, you still keep collecting?
Shoes. They always fit no matter how much chocolate you eat.

Drink that you enjoy everyday?
Hm. Can I say I drink wine every day? Is that naughty? I love a good South Australian red. Especially from the McLaren Vale where my Muller’s series of books are set. (sneaky plug)

Treat you indulge in?
Again, wine. (Wait, if it’s every day, is it a treat?)

Place to be?
Italy. Forever and always. But Positano on the Amalfi Coast in particular. Feels like home to me after 5 visits and I do have family there.

Person you admire?
No one person. So many people inspire me but I especially admire anyone who is brave or takes a risk to fulfill their dreams. Too often I wish I was braver.

Season of the year?
Summer! (Insert Olaf voice here! (Frozen movie for those who don’t get it)) I love summer. I love the beach and I love to swim. I’m a total water baby.

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About Cheryl:

Cheryl Adnams lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has published four Australian rural romance novels and a Christmas novella. Cheryl has a Diploma in Freelance Travel Writing and Photography and has lived and worked in the United States, Canada and spent two years with a tour company in Switzerland and Austria. Her passion for Italy, volcanology and cycling have made their way into her stories and her favourite writing retreats include Positano on the Amalfi Coast and Port Willunga Beach just south of Adelaide. When she’s not writing, Cheryl is still creating in her busy full time job as a trainer and learning designer.

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The Girl from Eureka

On the sun-drenched goldfields of Eureka, a wild colonial girl and an honour-bound soldier will break all the rules to claim a love worth more than gold …

Ballarat, Australia 1854

Gold miner Indy Wallace wants nothing more than to dig up enough gold to give her mother an easier life. Wild and reckless, and in trouble more often than not, Indy finds herself falling for handsome, chivalrous, British Army Lieutenant Will Marsh. But in the eyes of immigrant miners, soldiers are the enemy.

Will has been posted to Ballarat with a large contingent of Her Majesty’s Army to protect the Crown gold and keep the peace. But once he meets rebellious Indy, he doubt’s he’ll ever be at peace again. As Will and Indy’s attraction grows, their loyalties are tested when the unrest between miners and the military reaches breaking point.
On opposite sides of the escalating conflict, can their love survive their battle of ideals? And will any of them survive the battle of the Eureka Stockade?

Buy Links – up for pre-order now and released on 12 February 2019
Amazon.com.au
Amazom.com
Kobo
Itunes
GooglePlay