It’s time, the stars will realign
Please stay strong, you’re going to be fine
Don’t doubt yourself, don’t wait for a sign
It’s now, claim this moment, say you’re mine
 
It’s time, take a leap of faith
To sink the ship you need to bite the bait
Don’t waver, put an end to the long wait
You’ve been ready for so long, don’t hesitate
 
It’s time, sound the bugle and hunt
Face the music, jump and master the stunt
Don’t weaken, push onwards with a grunt
Let your light shine, refuse to be shunned
 
It’s time, take to the stage and act
You’re unique and invincible, it’s a fact
Take a breath, brace yourself for impact
You’ll receive what you willingly attract
 
It’s time, every end is also a new start
This is your opportunity to prove you’re smart
Aim for the bull’s-eye when you throw your dart
You hold the reins, don’t let them pull your cart
 
It’s time, I can sense change in the air
Your chance will come, use it fair and square
Struggle on, even if you’re a little worse for wear
It’s an endless circle, there’s hope everywhere
 
It’s time, the wheel of fortune turns
Shine brighter, feed the flame that burns
Listen to your heart as it dreams and yearns
Keep your mind alert as it longs and learns
 
It’s time, carpe diem, seize the day
You’ll pull through in the end, come what may
Walk on with courage, and find your own way
Let the wind of change blow and carry you away
 
It’s time, things will never be the same
Play your hand, don’t give up on winning the game
Leave behind all the sorrow, guilt, fear and shame
This is your destiny to tame and your life to claim
 
© Devika Fernando

​Flashback 2016
 
For many of us, 2016 didn’t just fly by, but also brought a lot of sadness and shocks. I want to use this post to focus on some good things that happened to me in 2016, and to be grateful for having made it through another year.
 
In March, I published my 2nd international romance novel Seduced in Spain. It was another small dream come true, as I had always wanted to use Spain as a setting. I fell in love with the hero along the way (though Daniel from Saved in Sri Lanka appealed to me even more). This novel was all about second chances and being strong without losing all your vulnerability.
 
I used this year to try out another sub-genre (besides paranormal romance, romantic suspense and interracial romance): royal romance. It was a challenge but also wonderful to write. I had the chance to create my own kingdoms, using real countries as inspiration. And immersing myself in all the royal grandeur, swooning over modern-day princes and writing some of my strongest heroines to date was amazing. Book 1 (The Prince’s Special Bride) came out in July, Book 2 (The Prince’s Stubborn Bride) released in October, and I finished writing and editing Book 3 (The Prince’s Surprise Bride) too. It will release end of January, so I can carry a bit of 2016’s magic into the new year.
 
As usual, I wrote a few poems too. You can read one here. The others were posted on Facebook.
 
On a non-writing side, I also made many new friends online and had some lovely offline encounters with amazing people this year. First, I met a school friend from Germany whom I hadn’t seen in 10 years – and we had a lovely time, sharing old memories and making new ones. Then, throughout the year, I had the chance to welcome 3 visitors from India here (all of them not only wonderful Facebook friends but also writers). I’m hoping 2017 will bring many more visitors – especially as my husband and I are planning to finish and open our B&B.
 
Last but not least, I read a zillion books. Here are ten great ones that left a lasting impression (many others did too).

• Escape from Sudan (Lust, Money & Murder, Book 9) by Mike Wells
• Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
• Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride by Kandy Shepherd
• A Vow to Secure His Legacy by Annie West
• Long Way Home by Susanne Bellamy
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Knitted Tales by Rubina Ramesh
• Scavenger’s Mission by Liza O’Connor
• The Collector by Nora Roberts
• Second Chance at Forever by Summerita Rhayne

 
Here’s wishing that 2017 will also be filled with books and friends. Happy New Year!

The Book Club and author Adite Banerjie have asked “What does safe zone mean to you?” Here’s my answer.
 
I graduated from German high school in mid-2016 and then migrated to Sri Lanka with my parents. It was a huge step for me as I had only ever been there for short holidays and was used to the European way of life. Suddenly living in a struggling Asian country where everything seemed louder, dirtier, more public, more complicated and decidedly hotter was like being thrown head-long into a No Safe Zone – especially as I was (still am) an introvert and had previously hardly done more than study and read.
 
What helped me? Reading. I used the very few, precious German paperbacks that I had brought with me to anchor myself, to soothe my nerves with something familiar which made me temporarily forget all the changes. And then I progressed to books I bought in Sri Lanka, some international and some by local authors, to get a different look at things. Writing into a diary and reading my thoughts put into words helped me too. So books became my Safe Zone and made it easier for me to settle down on this exotic little island in the Indian Ocean. And then I fell in love…but that’s a different story. ;-)
 

You can buy the romantic suspense novel “No Safe Zone” by the fabulous Adite Banerjie here and read my 5-star review for it here.

​When you read (or write) a book, do you imagine the characters as real people? Do you close your eyes and picture how they would look according to the descriptions? Do you compare them to actors, singers or other famous people?
 
I sometimes do, especially if I need a bit of inspiration or during editing when the story comes alive again in a different way. To date, my favourite hero was Daniel the Irishman from my multicultural romance novel SAVED IN SRI LANKA (inspired by Tom Hiddleston and Michael Fassbender), though I’m really fond of Alejandro from SEDUCED IN SPAIN too. And now that I’m deep into my new Royal Romance series, the charming princes have stolen my heart.
Here’s a quick look at how I imagine Prince Christian from THE PRINCE’S SPECIAL BRIDE (Book 1, already released), Prince Sebastian from THE PRINCE’S STUBBORN BRIDE (Book 2, available for pre-order) and Prince Erik from THE PRINCE’S SURPRISE BRIDE (Book 3, coming soon).
​

​I see my first prince as a charmer once he has let his guard down, caring and honest, confident in a quiet way. Full of sophistication, grace and royalty as well as loyalty. It takes him some time to realize that rules and decorum aren’t everything, but once he accepts that he’s in love with Marie, he stays true to his feelings. He’s tall and slender, with just a bit of fine-toned muscles. Brown-haired and green-eyed, he isn’t overly alpha but can sometimes be compared to Mr. Darcy. All his life, Prince Christian put duty first and closed himself off, but once his sister and her friend get to him, he shows his true self – without losing his responsibility.
 
When I think of Prince Christian, Tom Hiddleston and Jude Law come to my mind. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark isn’t far off the mark either.

Although I have a really soft spot for Prince Christian, I think I love Prince Sebastian even more. Maybe that’s because I’ve just finished the manuscript for the book and enjoyed writing him and Princess Olivia so much. He’s an alpha male, exuding confidence and power with a slightly roguish edge despite his inherently regal demeanour. As a rebel of sorts who doesn’t want to be a prince and who spends most of his time with adventure across the globe, Prince Sebastian has a very masculine air to him. On most days, he ditches formal attire in favour of jeans and dark, casual clothes, but he can wear the hell out of a suit if necessary. Dark-haired and dark-eyed, with almost always a stubble or scruff, he loves to tease and please and he’s one of my sexiest heroes.
 
When I think of Prince Sebastian, David Gandy and Henry Cavill come to my mind. Incidentally, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden fits the bill too.

I wanted something different yet again for my third royal romance, and this idea practically jumped into my head. I can’t wait to write about Prince Erik, who is from a kingdom in the north of Europe and looks like a modern-day Norse god. Tall, blond and blue-eyed, he’s an intriguing mix of boyish charm and strong will, confidence and wry humour. He comes from a country where the women are in power – his twin sister is the ruler – and he knows how to treat women with respect. He’s kind and intelligent, and because he’s got such a sunshine smile, people tend to underestimate him. But if you anger him, he’ll unleash a fury you wouldn’t expect. What I love about him is that he pays such attention to detail and wants to protect and care for the one woman who captures his heart – which just so happens to be a German journalist who is kidnapped alongside him.
 
When I think of Prince Erik, Alexander Skarsgård and Bradley Cooper (dyed blonde) come to my mind. Also, any model with a Norse look.

My first royal romance novel The Prince's Special Bride was released on July 29th, and I couldn't be more excited. So, I want to share some 'behind the book' tidbits and my inspiration. You can find the blurb and buy links here.
​

​I've always been fascinated by royalty - must be my European side. I have fond memories from my years in Germany when I was glued to the television while royal after dashing royal got married. What I found especially intriguing even those days - long before I started writing romance novels - was a union between a prince or princess and a 'common' person just like you and me.

Ever since I became a romance novelist, this idea was lurking in the background that I need to make this modern-day magic come alive. It's such an interesting premise, of both parties coming from almost different world and having so much to learn, to meet in the middle and believe in their love.
 
Several months ago, a post on Facebook really caught my attention and gave me the final push to start on the Royal Romance series. It was about women of color who had married royals / aristocrats from around the world: http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/royal-report-6-regal-black-women-from-around-the-world/
​I found other posts on the internet too, such as this one: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2338458/Pictured-Bride-set-Britains-black-marchioness-marriage-aristocratic-father-law-snubbed-row-erotic-paintings.html
​
As I love writing multicultural romance novels, the idea sparked something inside me. Marie, the heroine of The Prince’s Special Bride might not be “black” in the literal sense, but her background and skin color are among the many issues that make her love story more interesting and complicated.
​
​Here are two short excerpts from the book where the topic crops up:
 
Marie used the maid’s absence to get dressed, picking the only other dress she owned. It was a white summer dress reaching her knees, decorated with huge blue and yellow flowers, the skirt flowing loosely while the waist was accentuated by a narrow white belt. As it was a sleeveless dress, she combined it with a white bolero and prayed it would be acceptable. Somehow, being the only woman in trousers was too awkward. She didn’t care that the whiteness of the dress brought out her light brown skin, though. Taming her curls in a ponytail with a white ribbon, she slipped into matching white sandals, aware that her outfit would still be one of the most colorful in the palace as everyone else seemed to favor pastels, unicolor or well-matched ensembles without bright patterns.
She spent the next hour happily touring the palace in Susan’s wake, making quite a few heads turn despite the politeness everyone seemed to breathe like oxygen. A few women tittered and whispered in a pretty unladylike manner, several men stopped to stare at her from the corner of their eyes. Holding her head up high, Marie pretended not to notice, although it nettled her that most probably none of the fair-skinned guests were attracting so much attention.
 
* * *
 
She stood her ground, liking it how his tall, finely muscled frame blocked out the sun.
He was looking intently at her, as if expecting an answer. Well, why not be honest?
“The palace is truly magnificent, and I’m honored to be its guest, but I have to say I feel more at home in the garden.”
“I can see that.” His gaze roved over her, taking in her discarded sandals and the curls she knew must have escaped her ponytail.
“It’s an exceptionally fine garden,” she added, feeling the odd need to justify her being here.
Christian nodded once. “So it is. And you are free to come and go in it as you wish, even if you should disrupt the work by doing so.”
Was there any reproach in his tone? Marie squinted, but his next remark sent her defenses up.
“But perhaps you should wear a hat the next time?”
She raised her chin defiantly. “Why, so I don’t get even blacker and ‘disrupt’ the goings on of the palace?”
He looked taken aback. “I didn’t mean it like that, Ma…Miss Kemei. There is nothing wrong with your skin color at all.”
The intensity of his gaze and the rough edge to his voice slid through her like a knife through melted butter. She shouldn’t like it so much that he approved of her complexion…if it was even the truth and not mere flattering or trying not to lose his face. Had he almost called her by her first name, out in the open? The incident from last night made her skin flush more than the warmth around her had.
Stepping back a little so that she was bathed in sunlight again, he added in a mild, careful voice, “The Taragonian sun can be quite harsh. Most women here wear a hat if they’re out and about.”
Marie resisted the urge to shield her eyes from the glare and prove him right. “I am not most women,” she said evenly.

​My blog was nominated (again) for the LIEBSTER AWARD. Thank you, Marie Lavender – amazingly talented author of romance in various genres, supportive friend, and incredibly active blogger! Here’s her post, do check it out.

​1.     Post the award on your blog.
2.    Thank the blogger who gave you this award and link back to their blog.
3.    Answer 11 questions given by your presenter.
4.    Nominate 11 bloggers who you feel deserve this award.
5.    Think of 11 questions for the nominees.

1. If money wasn’t an option, where in the world would you visit?
Gosh, there are so many countries I’d like to visit: India, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, Spain, Maldives, New Zealand, Italy, the list goes on…

2. Describe yourself using three words.
Creative, caring chocoholic ;-)

3. As a child, how did you answer that age old question: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’
First I wanted to be a brain surgeon (when I was so small I barely knew what a brain is), then a writer.

4. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five things would you need with you to survive or remain sane?
A laptop with internet (does that count as 2?), a diary and pen (okay, another 2) and a cat or dog.

5. Do you have any pets? Children? Plants?
Currently 2 cats and 4 dogs (and ornamental fishes). No children. Lots of plants in the garden (including fruit trees, roses, bougainvillea and jasmine), but those are hubby’s domain.

6. What do you do outside of your job for fun?
I read. Oh, and I read. Did I mention that I read? *lol*

7. What was the last book you read? What types do you usually read?
“Werewolves of Chicago: Curragh” by Faleena Hopkins. My favourite genre is romance in all its forms, but there’s basically no genre I don’t read. Sometimes I’ll indulge in fantasy or get carried away by mystery.

8. What is your favorite meal, either at a restaurant or at home?
Pizza at a restaurant, pasta at home (both rare treats for me here in Sri Lanka).

9. Do you often listen to music? What kind?
I used to, and sing along (out of tune, but hey). Now I hardly ever listen to music, apart from some Sundays when I catch a music bug and go through a whole list of old favourites. I prefer pop and rock, mostly ballads. Latin music is also great, and sometimes I relax with classical tunes.

10. If you could describe it succinctly, what would your life motto be
Hmmm… Never give up!

11. Give us one fact your blog readers might not know about you.
I almost ended up going to university in Australia, but then love and marriage caught me by surprise – and I don’t regret my decision.

1. If you could choose any job in the world, what would you want to do for a living?
2. Is there a book you wish you had written?
3. If you had to choose a spirit animal, which would it be?
4. Have you traveled anywhere you immediately fell in love with?
5. What are your favourite books?
6. What’s your biggest strength?
7. What are you scared of?
8. If you could resurrect one dead person, who would you bring back to life?
9. How would you describe me?
10. Complete the following sentence: Reading means…
11. How do you spend your weekends?

1. Sundari Venkatraman - http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.com/
2. Susanne Bellamy - http://www.susannebellamy.com/
3. Liza O’Connor - http://www.lizaoconnor.com/
4. Alisha Guenzel - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012108066447
5. Summerita Rhayne - https://summeritarhayne.com/blog/
6. Rubina Ramesh - http://www.rubinaramesh.com/
7. Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff - http://www.njkinnysblog.com/
8. Sid Balachandran - http://www.iwrotethose.com/
9. Jami Gold - http://jamigold.com/blog/
10. Melissa Foster - http://www.melissafoster.com/
11. Jen Bradlee - https://jenbradlee.com/blog-posts-2/

​I love learning about other countries and experiencing them virtually, though I hardly ever make real trips. Most of my ‘traveling’ is actually ‘armchair traveling’ through books. And it’s just as much fun whisking my readers away to exotic locations. So hold on tight, you’re in for a ride!
​

​I started my international / multicultural / interracial series “Romance Round the World” with Saved in Sri Lanka. That choice was easy because Sri Lanka is my second home country and I’ve been waiting for a chance to ‘show it off’. The plot circles around Sepalika, who is a Sri Lankan tour guide, and Daniel, who is a tourist from Ireland. By making Sepalika a tour guide, it was easy to take the leading pair on a trip around this beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, describing the scenery and sights. Places like Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Galle feature in the book. Many of my readers have said it’s the perfect mix of travelogue and romance novel.
​

A country I’ve always been fascinated by is Spain, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. I studied Spanish at high school for 5 years and loved it, and a dear friend of mine is Spanish. So setting a novel there felt right. Seduced in Spain takes the couple (and the reader) through various picturesque regions of the Mediterranean country, from Valencia to Barcelona, from the cities to the coast and to a charming village nestled among vineyards. Though I’ve never been to Spain, research for the novel made me feel like a proper tourist. As usual, snippets of the language spoken in the country where the book is set make things more authentic.
​

Although the first book of the FIRE TRILOGY, “Playing with Fire”, is set in America, the heroine Felicia – a fire witch – and the hero Joshua – an ice wizard – travel to Iceland for Book 2 and Book 3. “Dancing with Fire” and “Living with Fire” are filled with adventures in this fascinating country in the north of Europe. Many people ask me why I chose Iceland, and my answer is this: It’s not called the ‘land of fire and ice’ for nothing! Research for the novel was more intense than for any of my other novels, and it left me with a deep fascination for the country. All those volcanoes, all those waterfalls, all that rough natural beauty… If you read the books of the trilogy, you’ll realize how I’ve incorporated nature and made it come alive in the story, almost as if the setting were another character. You can download Book 1 for free, but the real ‘journey’ starts in Books 2 and 3.

I've long dreamed of visiting Scotland, Ireland, and England. That's one of the reasons why I chose the latter country as the setting for the first book in my "Inn Love" series, Tantalizing Temptations. It's set mostly in a charming cottage in the idyllic Lake District with its beautiful landscapes and quaint villages. And of course, it has a proper English gentleman as the hero (one of my favourites to write)! Prepare yourselves for tea, lots of mentions of 'darling' and another lovely stereotype or two...
​

​A country not many can resist writing about is France with its rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and fascinating language. A large part of the romantic suspense novel Forbidden that I coauthored with Mike Wells is set in Nice and Paris, two completely opposite parts of France. The setting further illustrates how out of her depth Jane is and how radically her life changes. Other settings appear in the book too, all of them important and chosen for a reason, among them England and Switzerland. You can download Book 1 for free, but the real ‘journey’ starts in Books 2 and 3.
Books 4 to 6 form the "Lady Sotheby's Curse" trilogy and explore even more countries, among them Spain and Switzerland.
​

​I’m planning on more novels in the “Romance Round the World” series. And this month, Book 2 of the "Inn Love" series will release: Hidden Hopes is set in the Canadian Rockies, as Canada is on my bucket list. Book 3 will most probably take my readers to Italy.

​Love is in the air… which is probably why I am even more focused on romance right now. “Seduced in Spain”, my next contemporary romance novel, is with my beta readers, and I can’t wait to start writing my new series of small-town romance set in Misty Springs. But for now, let’s celebrate LOVE. I’ve been wondering how the couples from my romance novels would celebrate Valentine’s Day, so here are some ideas.
Special thanks goes to my writer friend Ronald – also an admin of the Facebook group The Society of English Literature – whose post got my mind whirring.

​Cathy has faced a lot of trouble and left an abusive relationship behind when she meets Michael. With his help, she makes her dream come true and opens her own bakery. So for Valentine’s Day, she surprises her Prince Charming with Valentine’s Day Cupcakes! She’s opted for Vanilla Love Cupcakes with White Chocolate Truffle Centers. You can find the sinfully delicious recipe here.
 
Michael is a gardener and naturally loves everything connected to plants. So instead of buying fancy jewelry or unimaginative chocolate, he gifts the love of his life with a very unusual bouquet. It’s the meaning more than the beauty that counts: He includes heliotrope for endless love, forget-me-nots, goldenrod for encouragement, jasmine for sweet love, lavender for devotion, myrtle for the emblem of marriage, violet for faithfulness, red tulips as a declaration of love, and honeysuckle for strong bonds.

​Nadia fell in love with the enigmatic, brooding hero Lucas – tall, dark, and handsome indeed – who moved in next door with his daughter Melody. It took both of them a while, but they’ve jumped over their shadows and admitted to their true feelings. On their first Valentine’s Day, Melody has planned a surprise for her favorite two people in the world: She has used her pocket money to buy them a gift voucher for a romantic weekend getaway in a Golden Oak Cottage in Blackwood Forest in England.

​Sepalika and Daniel from Sri Lanka and Ireland are living proof that love knows no boundaries and transcends nationalities. While Valentine’s Day is only slowly catching on in Sri Lanka, Daniel doesn’t let this chance slip to surprise his love. He starts with breakfast in bed, then spends the day reading his favorite love poems to her because they both love literature. He cooks her a romantic dinner that includes typical Irish food – and for desserts he presents her with two tickets for a romantic holiday in Australia. If you’ve read the book, you’ll know why he chose Australia of all countries.

​What do you think, who had the best idea? And how are YOU spending this Valentine’s Day?

I ended 2015 on a creative note by finishing the first draft for my upcoming contemporary romance novel "Seduced in Spain", part of the "Romance Round the World" series that also contains "Saved in Sri Lanka". And today I started 2016 on an equally creative note by writing a poem.

​A new year, a new start
Put your best foot forward
Make a wish in your heart
That you’ll find your mission
That you’ll play your part
That you’ll expand your vision
That you’ll be real smart
 
A new year, new hopes and dreams
Don’t forget this time
That not everything is what it seems
And make your own decisions
Don’t let others get you down
Keep your chin up
Wear your smile like a crown
So others see you as a shining example
Dare to be different and shine
Be your own light in the dark
Speak up, don’t just pretend you’re fine
Make everyone see your worth
And value yourself because you matter
Don’t worry about what you can’t change
But strive to make your life better
By giving it all you have
Carpe diem, seize the day
Live in the here and now
Believe in yourself, come what may
And you’ll make it through somehow
 
A new year, a new start
Use every chance you get
Make a wish in your heart
That you’ll come out on top
That you’ll jump the hurdles
That you won’t give up
That you’ll be real smart
 
© Devika Fernando

Personally, 2015 hasn’t been an easy year. I lost my mother-in-law after various ups and downs. You can read a poem I dedicated to her here. There were also huge expenses to face because we’re building a house. On the other hand, there were happy moments too, of course. Just thinking of my 3 puppies warms my heart. And I made new friends, learned new things, read great books.
 
Book-wise, 2015 was exciting and kind to me.

• The year started with a bang because Mike Wells and I published our FORBDDEN Trilogy, a coauthored romantic thriller that went on to become a bestseller.
• Shortly after that, I made another dream come true by publishing a novel set in Sri Lanka, where part of my roots lie. SAVED IN SRI LANKA is very close to my heart and many readers have told me they felt as if they had visited the island through the book. I really wanted to write an interracial / multicultural romance novel, and this was my first try and the kick-off to the Romance Round the World series.
• A short story of mine with a magical / paranormal twist was included in a multi-author anthology by Faraaz Kazi. You can read “Return to Escapeland” in the eBook or paperbook version of “LOVE: Lots Of Volatile Emotions”.
• I participated in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for the first time, writing one blog post each day during April in alphabetical order about the topic LOVE. If you search my blog for “A to Z Challenge”, the posts will pop up.
• I stuck to my plan and wrote more poems. You can read some of them here, here, and here.
• I became an Amazon bestselling author with several of my novels, including my debut “When I See Your Face”, which can be downloaded for free here.
• In December, I published Books 2 and 3 to my paranormal romance novel “Playing with Fire”. The complete FIRE TRILOGY is now out, and I’m proud of it.

​​So, what’s in store 2016? Of course I can’t be sure what will happen, but I have planned a few things.

• I want to finish “Seduced in Spain” by January. It’s another contemporary romance novel for the Romance Round the World series and I’m having huge fun writing it.
• Stay tuned for a new series of rural romance that has taken shape in my mind and won’t leave me alone. I can’t wait to share more about the EAGLY SPRINGS novels!
• The first novel of the WATER Trilogy is calling me back. I wrote about half of it before giving in to Felicia’s (the main character’s) complaints and getting the FIRE Trilogy out first. It’s called “Deep Water” and features my definition of mermaids.

 
As for general New Year’s resolutions, I don’t really ‘do’ those because I don’t need the dawn of a new year to make plans, initiate changes or follow through with something. I want to share more about Sri Lanka on social media, and I want to buy and read more paperbacks again. Watch out for the posts tagged #OnlyInSriLanka on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Feel free to share in the comments what made 2015 special to you, and what you’ve planned for 2016. HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!