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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere! Fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and chat awhile!

If you'd like to know a little more about 'Yours Truly' - I've been interviewed HERE

29 June 2009

Stop and Smell The Roses Blog Bouquet

Welcome to The Wild Rose Press's 'Stop and Smell The Roses' day.

For those who haven't visited my blog before, I’m Hywela Lyn and I write futuristic and fantasy romance. I currently have three titles available with The Wild Rose Press: STARQUEST, DANCING WITH FATE and a sequel to 'Starquest', just released, 'CHILDREN OF THE MIST.' You can read excerpts at my website - and don't forget to check out my trailers at the top of this page. I also have a short story entitled 'A Bargain With Death' (Not nearly as dark as it sounds') available as a FREE READ, so it will cost nothing more than a little of your time.

If you'd like to register for my 'occasional' newsletter at my website you'll be able to keep up with my latest news snippets and exclusive members contests, and I promise not to inundate your mailbox!

Onto the subject of today's post. I'm proud to be part of the 'Smell The Roses' Bouquet' event. I love flowers, don't you? They are so colourful and cheerful and really brighten up ones life with their beautiful petals and sweet scents. After all, what would summer be without them? They're given to cheer up somone who's sick, to wish a 'Happy Birthday' or Anniversary, as a gift from a lover to the object of his affections or just to show someone that you care.
Even if you don't have a garden or only a very small one (like me) you can still grow flowers in containers or a windowbox. I love containers, I have quite a collection of them on my pateo; some of them are in the picture above, and although our small garden has flower borders, I love being able to move the containers around as I want them, and to be able to replant them as the flowers die down. Apart from being so bright and colourful, in bouquets or in gardens, a single flower can also be very romantic, as my heroine in ' Starquest realised when she learnt the significance of the rarest flower in the universe, an Anraatian blue rose.

In the follow up to 'Starquest', 'Children Of The Mist,' I've tried to convey a sense of beauty in the landscape, and give an idea of the varieties of colour on a rather unhospitable world. Although the story is set on a snowy, cold planet, the flowers manage to thrive in a seemingly unwelcome climate. Here's a brief excerpt.

At last, Gladsheim came into view. Vidarh drew in his breath. The city was even more beautiful than the stories had led him to believe. The mist, which still swirled over the mountains, had not yet reached the settlement. The setting suns cast a golden glow, suffused with touches of pink and crimson. Elegant houses, ranged around a long, narrow lake beneath snow-capped peaks, stood bathed in the ethereal light. Mosaic paths wound between tinkling fountains, and shrubs and flowers grew in profusion, despite the fine sprinkling of snow on the ground.

Vidarh was still gazing around in awe, when Gullin came to his pony's head and held the bridle for him to dismount.

Come, you must be tired after your journey. You need to change and then we'll eat, and you can meet everyone. Vidarh was happy to alight from the saddle and hand the reins to a girl, who also held Tamarith's pony. As she and a young man led their mounts away, Vidarh followed Gullin and Tamarith across the delicate bridge, which spanned the lake. Unseen bells tinkled, the sound drifting on the slight wind, and the bridge itself coruscated with all the colours of the spectrum, in the radiance of the two sunsets.

To be put in the drawing to win my prize in this contest, your choice of any pdf book on the Wild Rose Press website: www.thewildrosepress.com and a pack of some promotional goodies, including one of only a few special 'Starquest' pens, just leave a comment on this blog, telling me what your favourite flower is, and why.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll run over to the blogs of the other authors participating in this the second of TWRP's Stop and Smell the Roses Blog Bouquet. There are lots of great prizes on offer. (Don't forget to add your email address to your comment, so we can contact you if you're a winner.)

Here is the full list of participating authors.

http://amberleighwilliams.blogspot.com/
http://www.authorsstudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.bettyhanawa.blogspot.com/
http://www.christineclemetson.blogspot.com/
http://www.findagreatromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/lesmora/apps/blog/
http://www.freewebs.com/teriwilson/apps/blog/
http://www.grgiall.blogspot.com/
http://www.hywelalyn.blogspot.com/
http://www.jennfrancesca.blogspot.com/
http://www.joycemoore.blogspot.com/
http://www.lianalaverentz.blogspot.com/
http://www.lindahopelee.blogspot.com/
http://www.lje1.wordpress.com/
http://www.noveltrails.blogspot.com/
http://www.plotsandthoughts.blogspot.com/
http://www.tanyahanson.blogspot.com/
http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com/
http://www.traveltheages.blogspot.com/
http://www.willtravelforromance.blogspot.com/

Note: Don't forget to check back after the contest closes to see if you’ve won. I will post the winner on 30th June.
and I hope you enjoy the contest, good luck.
Have a great summer and don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

Thanks, Lyn

STARQUEST


Posted by Hywela Lyn at 12:00 am

40 comments:

  1. Anonymous29 June 2009 at 08:37

    your blog is good .
    I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Skhye29 June 2009 at 12:33

    Love your container garden! Here in the dessicating heat, my garden requires LOTS of my venturing out into the furnace to turn on the sprinklers. But the plants are still alive!

    Wonderful description in that excerpt, Lyn. Have a fabulous week.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous29 June 2009 at 13:22

    Leave it to you to have such a beautiful post. :) You are so artistic! Hope you get lots of sniffers to stop by and smell the roses. :)

    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  4. Christine Clemetson29 June 2009 at 13:40

    I love your post, Lyn. I just bought a flat of impatiens and I think rather than making two big boxes, which I usually do, I might put them in smaller containers that I can move around the deck and front porch. Good idea.

    I really enjoyed your excerpt too..

    ReplyDelete
  5. P.L. Parker29 June 2009 at 14:05

    Morning Lyn:

    A gardener like me! I have a huge yard and flowers everywhere, sometimes too much to keep up with, but they are pretty.

    Patsy
    P. L. Parker

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 14:25

    Skhye, thanks for dropping by, yes, it's pretty hot here too. A sprinkler system would be a luxury, but we did just invest in a new hosepipe! LOL

    Miss Mae, thanks so much for your kin comments, so glad you liked the post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tricia Schneider29 June 2009 at 14:26

    My garden is still a Work In Progress. I'm still learning through trial and error. My favorite flowers are roses. There is just something so enchanting about a rose. My second favorite is jasmine. I love the smell of it. Your container garden is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 14:27

    Christine and Patsy

    Hi, thanks for calling by. Christine, I love impatience. Such a pretty, obliging little flower. They'll happily grow anywhere with a bit of love and attention, won't they!

    Patsy, I now what you mean about 'keeping up'. As well as a little back garden, I have a front one too, but as you say, flowers are so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 14:28

    Hi Tricia,

    Thanks so much. I have to agree, roses are beautiful - I have some lovely dark red rose bushes in my border and I love them. Jsmine, does have such a gorgeous scent, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mona Risk29 June 2009 at 15:12

    What a colorful little garden. Graet excerpt.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cate Masters29 June 2009 at 18:39

    Great post, Lyn! Loved the excerpt. And your garden pic! I love all flowers, but am partial to irises. (I'd pick snapdragons if they weren't an annual!)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Marianne Evans29 June 2009 at 19:25

    Super size congrats on Children of the Mist, Lyn! And I agree with the others who have observed, your blog just looks so durn PRETTY!! :-) I've enjoyed stopping by!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Karen H29 June 2009 at 19:34

    Love your container garden and I especially like the water feature! While I love roses, I'd have to say my absolute favorite flower is a Peony..so easy to grow and they make such a grand statement when placed in a beautiful vase.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lauri29 June 2009 at 19:51

    My favorite flowers are carnations, because they last so long. HOWEVER, it's hard to beat the beauty of a rose.

    I like the picture of your flower pot garden! Really neat!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wendi Zwaduk and Megan Slayer29 June 2009 at 19:59

    I'm a flower nut. If there are daisies, I'm good. They provide such beauty and inspiration1!

    Great blog.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Susan Macatee29 June 2009 at 20:47

    Hi, Lyn!

    My favorite flowers are geraniums, because they bloom and re-bloom all summer long and are very low maintenance, so don't make me work so hard to keep them looking good. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kaylea Cross29 June 2009 at 21:11

    Hi Lyn! I love your patio garden picture. I'm an avid gardener myself, and it seems to be taking up a lot of my "writing time" right now becasue the weather's so nice. Best of luck with all your books, and thanks for being so supportive of all us fellow roses. Happy writing!
    PS I have pics of my garden on my blog at www.kayleacross.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jennette Green29 June 2009 at 21:55

    Hi Lyn!

    I love roses, too. In fact, I have two favorites, and they happen to grow in my yard, LOL.

    One is a purple rose, and the other is a dark red velvet one that smells absolutely heavenly.

    Have a wonderful week! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:36

    Hi Mona amd Cate.thanks so much for stopping by. Irises are so elegant, aren't they Cate. I especially love the purple ones.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:38

    Hi Marianne

    Thanks so much for the congrats and your lovely comments on my Blog, so glad you like it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:40

    Hi Karen

    Thanks so much - yes I love my little water feature. It sounds so refreshing on a hot, sunny day. (And it's solar powered so it's energy saving too. (I just have to stop the birds bathing in it - they have their own little pool.)

    We have some lovely rich red peonies by the front door, I do agree, they're lovely flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:41

    Hi Lauri, thanks so much, glad you like my contianers - actually the picture only shows about half of them - I get a bit carried away!

    Yes carnations are gorgeous - but then, as you say, so are roses.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:42

    Hi wendy

    Thanks for stopping by - yes daisies are very much underated I feel, they're so simple - yet so pure and pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:43

    Hi Susan

    Yers, I have some geraniums too, and they're such vivid colours. I agree with you, dthey don't ask much in the way of care, do they!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:51

    Hi Kaylea
    Yes, I know what you mean about gardening taking away from writing time - but then it does one good to be away from the pc for a while too!

    I popped over to your blog. You have a beautiful home and your garden is lovely. Are those lilac trees? We have a very large one in the corner of our garden, and it's beautiful. Just wish the flowers lasted a little longer!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hywela Lyn29 June 2009 at 22:59

    Jennette,

    Thanks so much for popping in. Your purple and dark red roses sound lovely, my very favourite colours for a rose!

    You have a great week too!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tanya Hanson30 June 2009 at 00:06

    Hi Lyn, what a beautiful blog. I just got done deadhead my iceberg roses so am late sniffing roses today.

    Happy creating!
    ~Tanya
    www.tanyahanson.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Helen Pilz30 June 2009 at 01:35

    Beautiful flowers. Do you have a lot of rain where you live in Wales. I lived in Dublin for two year and the precipitation and rich soil made for a productive veggie and flower garden. I live in the US but still have relatives in the Swansea area. Hope all your animals are doing well!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Linda Banche30 June 2009 at 01:52

    Hi Lyn, I love your flower pictures. A gardener I am not, so I appreciate those who do garden.

    ReplyDelete
  30. L M Gonzalez30 June 2009 at 02:15

    Your garden is so pretty. I'd love to be able to have a garden, maybe someday.

    I like roses and lilies.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Betty Hanawa30 June 2009 at 02:47

    What lovely descriptions. My favorite flower is our Texas bluebonnets. My birth month flower is Lilies of the Valley. This past weekend I found a lamp in a used furniture store with Lilies of the Valley painted on it and it was only $3. I love a bargain.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Babyblue2230 June 2009 at 04:47

    Hey Hywela,
    What a great post!
    My favorite flower is the Blue Iris, Why because I just absolutely love the color blue and my BF has been getting them for me forever :-D

    ~Afshan
    Afshan522@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 13:03

    Hi Tanya, Thanks so much for your comment. Yes, deadheading - a necessary but timeconsumig operation. (A bit like editing really LOL)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 13:07

    Hi Helen. Yes, Wales has its fair share of rain (it's what keeps it so green I always say.) It also has beautiful sunny weather though. Unfortunately I don't live in Wales at the moment, I'm in a village in England, but I do hope to go back 'home' to Wales eventually. My horses don't mind the hot weather we're having at the momen, but my dog is finding it a bit too warm I think.

    Thanks for dropping by and commenting.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 13:08

    Thanks Linda.

    I don't call myself an expert gardener by any means, but I do get a thrill out of seeing things grow.

    Since the picture of my container plants was taken, my stargazer lilies have opened out and they're glorious!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 13:11

    Thanks for your comment, LM. I hope you get your wish of a garden one day, it's very therapeutic!

    Yes, roses and lilies are glorious. Mydark red roses are gorgeous and I'll have to post a pictureof my lilies now they've opened.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 13:14

    Hi Betty. We don't have bluebonnets ove here, but a friend sent me some pics and they are so pretty. (A bit like our English bluebells I think)

    Lilies of the valley were my Aunt's (who raised my sister and myself) favourite flower and she loved the perfume.

    I have a little clump of them in my garden and they are so pretty and pure looking. Your lamp sounds lovely, and what a bargain!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 13:16

    Hi Baby Blue. Yes, I'm rather fond of blue too and blue irises are gorgeous!

    Thanks so much for your kind comment, glad you enjoyed the post.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Suzanne Brandyn Author30 June 2009 at 15:49

    Love the flowers Lyn,
    Very bright and colourful. Also the flower pot idea, a great idea.
    My favourite flower is a hibiscus, then an Iris, then a rose. lol.. But I like most flowers.

    Suzanne :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hywela Lyn30 June 2009 at 22:11

    Hi Suzanne, thanks for stopping by.

    Yes, the rose and the Iris seem to be very popular, but the hibiscus is beautiful too. I agree though, all flowers are lovely.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to leave a comment.

Each and every one is really appreciated! Although I might not make it to reply on your blog, if you leave your blog address I will try to check it out and will always do my best to leave an answer to your comment here. So do come back and check it you can.
Lyn

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