Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Flawed Characters


Flawed Characters





 The inspiration for MY DEAREST FRIEND came from a dream, and when I examined it, I found the beginnings of a story. However, I had not envisioned my hero as a flawed character, but as his story unfolded,  it became obvious that he was as mortal as any man and therefore not perfect.

     He is a passionate man who loves deeply and protects fiercely but within that passion he harbors a jealous nature, which only comes to the fore when he mistakenly believes his wife to be duplicitous, as was his first love.  Despite the fact that his heart lies broken, his jealousy renders him blind and deaf to reason and thus drives him to doubt the wife he loves beyond all else.  A wife for whom he would willingly give his life.

     This doubt drives them asunder and it’s not until reason finally comes into being that he acknowledges his true feelings – he is, after all, only human and  susceptible to human failings.

     In all my writing, I stay true to nature and create flawed characters.  No one is completely perfect and these faults, along with everything that is good within us, make us what we are, so why not so with our fictitious characters – it makes them more believable and adds depth to their story.

     I love my flawed heroes and hope my readers do too.


Sunday, 14 August 2011

My Dearest Friend Virtual Book Tours Starts August 15th!

The My Dearest Friend Virtual Book Tour begins on Monday, August 15th!



Robert Blake, Duke of Lear, is a man of intense emotions who loves deeply and protects fiercely. Devastated and wracked with guilt by the death of his younger brother, Stefan, in the Peninsular War, he readily agrees to aid Jane Chandler to bring her seriously wounded brother back from Portugal.
Much against Jane’s wishes, he decides to accompany her and together they embark on the hazardous mission to retrieve the young soldier. However, the journey holds many revelations, not least of all the abiding friendship and growing love between the two travelers.
That special love is put severely to the test by the treachery that awaits them upon their return to England, when a tenant of Jane’s former home invades their lives, maliciously creating jealousy and misunderstandings for his own nefarious reasons.
Can their friendship and love conquer the emotions that threaten to tear them asunder?

My Dearest Friend Tour Schedule


Monday, August 15th
Book spotlighted at Books, Products and More!
Tuesday, August 16th
Guest blogging at The Hot Author Report
Wednesday, August 17th
Interviewed at Examiner
Interviewed at Blogcriticsbooks
Thursday, August 18th
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Book spotlighted at The Plot
Friday, August 19th
Character interviewed at The Plot
Book spotlighted at Broowaha
Monday, August 22nd
Book reviewed at Debbie’s Book Bag
Tuesday, August 23rd
Book reviewed at The Book Connection
Wednesday, August 24th
Guest blogging at Literal Exposure
Thursday, August 25th
Book reviewed at A Book Lover Forever
Friday, August 26th
Book reviewed at The Hot Author Report

You can read an excerpt on Hazel's website at 
http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/excerpt-mdf.htm


Posted by Cheryl C. Malandrinos, Pump Up Your Book

Consequence Virtual Book Tour - Week 2

The second week of the Consequence Virtual Book Tour has ended. Here is a list of stops in case you missed it.


Monday, August 8th
Interviewed at As the Pages Turn
Tuesday, August 9th
Book reviewed at Reviews by Molly
Thursday, August 11th
Interviewed at Paperback Writer
Book reviewed at The Hot Author Report
Friday, August 12th
Book reviewed at Life in Review
Book reviewed at A Book Lover Forever

Look for the My Dearest Friend Virtual Book Tour to start on Monday, August 15th. For more information, please visit http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2011/07/18/my-dearest-friend-virtual-book-tour-august-2011/

Posted by Cheryl C. Malandrinos, Pump Up Your Book

Monday, 8 August 2011

Consequence Virtual Book Tour - Week 1

The Consequence Virtual Book Tour is underway. Here is a list of tour stops from last week in case you missed them:

Monday, August 1st
Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
Tuesday, August 2nd
Book reviewed at Debbie’s Book Bag
Wednesday, August 3rd
Book reviewed at Broken Teepee
Thursday, August 4th
Book spotlighted at The Plot
Interviewed at One Writer’s Journey
Friday, August 5th
Character interviewed at The Plot
Book reviewed at Words I Write Crazy

For more information about Hazel and her books, please visit http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/. You can view information about her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2011/07/18/consequence-virtual-book-tour-august-2011/


Posted by Cheryl C. Malandrinos, Pump Up Your Book

Monday, 25 July 2011

Consequence Virtual Book Tour Starts - August 1st


In the wake of a duel, Marcel Blake, the Duke of Lear, an infamous rake and gamester, leaves London to visit his cousin in Paris. Here he meets and falls in love with Julie, the British ambassador’s daughter. Thinking she would be horrified if she learned of his reputation, Marcel fights the attraction; but when he is wounded while saving her from the unwanted advances of a less-than-desirable would-be suitor, Marcel finds that she returns his affections.
Ultimately, vengeance conspires against them; at their wedding reception, Julie is maliciously informed of Marcel’s previous life of misdeeds, and she’s led to believe that he only married her to please the king. With this insurmountable gulf suddenly between them, will Marcel prove his reformation, woo his wife, and find happiness with her, or is the sudden desolation in Julie’s heart impossible to overcome? Have Marcel’s games finally caught up to him for good?

Consequence Virtual Book Tour Schedule



Monday, August 1st
Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
Tuesday, August 2nd
Book reviewed at Debbie’s Book Bagbooks
Wednesday, August 3rd
Book reviewed at Broken Teepee
Thursday, August 4th
Book spotlighted at The Plot
Interviewed at One Writer’s Journey
Friday, August 5th
Character interviewed at The Plot
Book reviewed at Words I Write Crazy
Monday, August 8th
Interviewed at As the Pages Turn
Tuesday, August 9th
Book reviewed at Reviews by Molly
Wednesday, August 10th
Book reviewed at A Book Lover Forever
Thursday, August 11th
Interviewed at Paperback Writer
Book reviewed at The Hot Author Report
Friday, August 12th
Book reviewed at Life in Review

You can read an excerpt from Consequence at Hazel's website:  

http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/excerpt-consequence.htm



Posted by: Cheryl Malandrinos, Pump Up Your Book

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

New Releases

Consequence by Hazel Statham: Book Cover          'My Dearest Friend'  by 'Hazel Statham'
Thank you for visiting my blog and welcome to my world of historical romance. 


There’s good news for those of you who are waiting to hear of The Dukes of Lear trilogy.  CONSEQUENCE, the first book in the series, which starts in 1746 with Marcel Blake, Duke of Lear, is now available on pre-order from Barnes & Noble at a special web price and also from Amazon.com. It’s my second release through Avalon Books and I have another, FOR LOVE OF SARAH, due out with them sometime next year.


DOMINIC, the middle book of the trilogy, is still available as both e-book and paperback from Wings ePress, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Fictionwise etc.


The third book, MY DEAREST FRIEND,(Robert Blake, Duke of Lear), which completes the series, has found a new home with Write Words and is now available as an e-book from all the main e-book suppliers and will be available in paperback format in December.
Although the books are related, they are stand alone stories and can be read in any order

LIZZIE’S RAKE released through The Wild Rose Press, and HIS SHADOWED HEART, from Wings ePress, as well as being available in the USA, are now also available in the UK through Amazon.co.uk  Both books are also available as  e-books and paperbacks.

My website provides information about my books, short excerpts, reviews and some information about me – Hazel, the author. I hope you enjoy my website and you are more than welcome to email me at any time. I thoroughly enjoy my readers’ comments and promise to answer all my mail.

Hoping you enjoy your visit.
Hazel