Hiya cyber surfers!

The lovely and talented author, Nancy Jardine, is well on the road to success with multiple titles to her credit, including her newest, Topaz Eyes, but she also knows how frustrating the journey can be at times.

You know what? I’ll let her explain. Welcome, Nancy. It’s all yours, sweetie!

So, I’m driving along the dual carriageway (divided highway) quite contentedly, the light snow that’s falling not too much of an interruption to my travel, the road surface having been gritted and cleared not long since. The temperature is fluctuating just above, or on zero, therefore, at the moment that means there’s no risk of it freezing up and becoming a skate park. The sky is still pitch black, but that’s not something I need to worry about since the queue of red tail lights in front of me illuminate the dark just adequately. I’m not driving through a built-up area so there is no prospect of street lighting for miles, yet.

The ‘slow’ lane traffic is ticking along, though I am very aware of those in the ‘fast’ lane who are determined to burn up their tyres – even given the climate conditions.

Ah! The white confetti that’s drifting down is sticking more to the windscreen now and the wiper blade is struggling to keep the glass clear. What was a wet road surface is now becoming limited to two deepening tyre tracks for my lane, and two very churned up ones for the fast lane. Not so good. I’m easing back on the accelerator and keeping my distance greater between my bonnet and the car in front.

Chug, chug, chug. Putter, putter, putter. The rutted snow tracks are becoming more of quagmire as I approach the steep incline that’s called The Tyrebagger. Some of the heavy vehicles- the trucks and vans – that always accompany me on my twice weekly journey are slowing down. Those red tail lights I mentioned already are now almost at a standstill near the brow of the hill. There’s no point in me trying to pull out into the fast lane. That, too, is now like a lava flow that’s come all the way down a volcano and is a cooling molasses mess at the bottom, going all squiggly and popping and bubbling everywhere.

At 6.30 a.m. the road is always pretty busy, but it’s generally a steady kind of traffic that I encounter. Not so right now. I’m crawling up the incline, nobody going anywhere fast. When I reach the top my speed increases just a little, and then a bit more. Unfortunately that means that the truck that’s now in front of me is kicking up all sorts of muck. I can’t go back and I’m only making a messy move forward. I soon reach the usual city bound traffic- and that’s even worse-at the first major roundabout junction which heads out to both the airport and all the subsidiary commerce and industry that’s usually peripheral to an airport. Stop, start, stop, start – move two car lengths – and so on.

I’ll tell you when I reach my destination!

That will be when I actually get this WIP–a sequel to my 5* rated historical The Beltane Choice -of mine completed.  When the journey’s over, and I’ll be at the point where I can relax.

And you know, the same story sort of applies with regard to my promoting of books already published last year. I’ve joined many different social media to try to get the word out but have been idling in the ‘learn how to do it all properly’ stakes. I want to learn everything new but am still stuck in that traffic queue on a snowy road.

How’s the journey of your WIP going these days? And the marketing of your published work? I’d love to know… *smiles and waves and wonders if you get my drift?*

Many thanks Mac for inviting me here today. I maybe now feel more energized having let loose with all that! *Wink*

So, have you heard about my latest ancestral mystery novel called TOPAZ EYES, yet? If not, maybe Mac will allow me to share a little with you today?

Oh, Nancy, I was hoping you’d share a little about Topaz Eyes with us!

Topaz Eyes Blurb:

A peculiar invitation to Heidelberg embroils Keira Drummond in the search for a mysterious collection of extraordinary jewels once owned by a Mughal Emperor; a hoard that was last known to be in the possession of Amsterdam resident, Geertje Hoogeveen, in 1910.

Who among the progeny of Geertje – hitherto unfamiliar third cousins brought together for the quest – can Keira rely on? Distrust and suspicion among them is rife.

Which one is greedy, and determined enough, to hire thugs to tail her… and worse… as she travels to Vienna and Minnesota?  Can Keira even trust Teun Zeger – a Californian she is becoming very drawn to – as they pair up to unearth the jewellery?

As they follow a trail of clues, will they uncover the full collection before the hired gun kills them? Details remain furtive and undisclosed until danger and death forces their exposure. And who harbours the ultimate mystery item that is even more precious than the Mughal jewels?

Greed, suspicion and murder are balanced by growing family loyalty, trust, and love.

Excerpt:
“Would you ditch the mystery, Jensen, and just enlighten me as to what you think I have that interests you? And tell me why you couldn’t have asked for it in the letter you sent to me? I came here of my own free will – granted – but I’m not hanging around any longer if you’re going to drag this out, for I’m damned sure I’ve no idea what you’re referring to.”
Jensen’s reply lacked emotion, his face a blank screen, his gaze focused on Teun as Keira regarded the by-play.
“Teun. It may come as a surprise to you, but you actually know more about this invitation than Keira. At least you knew from my letter I had something of family interest you might be glad to take back to the USA with you. Keira had no such suggestion made to her.”
Tension rose in the room, which didn’t only radiate from Teun.
Keira sat uneasy, also unwilling to be in the dark any longer. “Would you please explain why you think I may have something you want, Herr Amsel?” She found herself reluctant to use his first name, considering the antagonism now mounting.
“All in good time, Keira. And please call me Jensen. I don’t set out to be anyone’s enemy. I believe each of you can provide access to items belonging to the collection. All the pieces are likely to vary in monetary value but, viewed as a complete entity, it will make an impressive display. It’s a historic set… and unique.”

Author bio:
An ex-primary teacher, Nancy Jardine, lives in the fabulous castle country of Aberdeenshire – Scotland. Her husband is a great cook; just as well or they’d starve.  Twice weekly she child minds her toddler granddaughter, not good days for any new writing to be done, but seeing the little one grow is precious time spent. Ancestry research is an intermittent hobby: neglecting her large garden in favour of writing is becoming the norm. Activity weekends with her extended family are prized since they give her great fodder for new writing.

A lover of history, it sneaks into most of her writing along with many of the fantastic world locations she has been fortunate to visit. Her published work to date has been two non fiction history related projects; two contemporary ancestral mysteries; one light-hearted contemporary romance mystery and a historical novel. She has been published by The Wild Rose Press and Crooked Cat Publishing

Author and buy details:
http://nancyjardine.blogspot.com   http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com    http://facebook.com/nancy.jardine.56    Twitter @nansjar
Other places as Nancy Jardine: Goodreads, LinkeIn, Google+

Topaz Eyes is available from: Amazon | Smashwords and Waterstones e-book store.

Book trailer YouTube video for Topaz Eyes can be viewed at Youtube

Other books and YouTube videos by Nancy Jardine can be seen on her author page at Amazon