Fiona’s Blog | Fiona McArthur

My First Sheikh ..and the editor smiled.

Not known for steamy love scenes I had a load of fun with my first ficticious sheikhdom, the principality of Zandorro, and of course my gorgeous sheikh, Zafar. I’m still not known for steamy love scenes
but Zafar has never met a woman like Carmen and he’s not quite sure he understands her. Or the way this midwife expects her ladies to be treated.

Lovely review on millsandboon.co.uk site, “Mrs McArthur further expands her horizons and successfully branches into “sheikh” territory in this highly enjoyable and well-paced story using her first hand knowledge of midwifery to good effect.

I would perhaps have liked a slightly larger proportion of medical content but it still hits the spot.

10 out of 10″
Gotta be happy with that.

FALLING FOR THE SHEIKH SHE SHOULDN’T comes out in March 2012 in the UK, and April in Aus and North America. Available in print and ebook.

Posted by Fiona on Feb 10, 2012 in Fiona's Blog, On the Shelves, Women's Fiction

My Hero’s Retirement

I‘ve been sitting here this morning writing a bush ballad for my husband which I’ll read out tonight, and I thought I’d share some of the thoughts I’ve had as I remember Ian’s journey. I’ve know him since I was seventeen, and it’s his farewell tonight from work as an ambulance officer. He’ll see lots of friends who’ve been there with him but it’s not a wake for the bad jobs, or pain from times past. It’s a celebration of how ordinary people can make a difference.

In 1976, Ian started as the first male nurse at Sutherland Hospital in a very women dominated time in Sydney. I saw this tall gorgeous man across a room at a nurse’s party, when I started my training a year later and by the way, he’s still tall and gorgeous. I used to go and watch his band play in pubs. The Highwater Band. Always did have a soft spot for drummers.

He started in the ambulance in 1980, the year we got married, think Kings Cross, and Underbelly, and ladies of the night because that was his area until we moved to the north coast in 1984. With a baby crawling around the house and another on the way we loved the country, and the people, and the fact that you could even park outside your work.

Still seven shifts in a row, and now there was ‘call’ which meant for six of those nights the phone rang constantly when he got home from work but he always understood the price. And the babies multiplied in the meantime, so he minded four and then five boys when I worked on his days off.

Ian always cared for frightened friends and relatives at a household in the night, dazed and walking wounded from an accident, an IV line inserted through a truck window, I remember seeing that rope line down a cliff face at Crescent Head on the TV and shuddering, because I knew he hated heights. Two bravery citations, like his colleagues in all of the emergency services, countless times he’s acted above an beyond duty, compassionate and calm. He’s an amazing guy, and despite the toll, always aware of the impact of tragedy on people around him.

Then there’s the impish side. Bizarre jobs that gave him such a chance for fun, and that deadpan face as he strung people along, hooked on a grain of truth before he reeled them in. People smile when they see him, they see his integrity, his sense of humour and a man who just wants to help, and did so much, as well as lighten the world.

And I’m so proud of him
xx Fi

Posted by Fiona on Jan 27, 2012 in Fiona's Blog

Orient Express Venice To London

Boarding at Venice

Home again now but couldn’t not mention our last great adventure. With compliments to the bucket list of Alison Roberts for the idea.

Bar car complete with baby grand piano and Rosie

We boarded the Venice Simplon Orient Express on Wednesday morning, settled into our carriage with a glass of champagne and then sped through the Italian countryside and into Austria.Our first brief stop was in Innsbruck in Austria.

Time for a few deep breathes of mountain air, a walk along the platform and back, and

Fi and Wolfgang at Innsbruck

then back into the train with the assistance of Wolfgang our steward to ‘dress’ for dinner.

And we mean formally. In fitting deference to a bygone era, the

the original wood panelling and velvet furnishings, pre-dinner drinks in the bar car were served by Hugh, dressed in a white tuxedo of course.

Then it was back to the bar car before we returned to our cabin which Wolfgang had transformed into a cosy sleeping compartment. Rocking to sleep to the distant clatter of rail wheels is something I can recommend. So is lying back on the pillows at sunrise watching the world speed by as you sip your Earl Grey.

Then it was on to Calais after lunch for our bus transfer through the tunnel to England and back onto the Pullman carriages of the early 1900s to take us to Victoria station. The Simplon Venice to London Orient Express. A magic journey designed to savour the moments not rush from one to the next.

Posted by Fiona on Oct 25, 2011 in Fiona's Blog

Gondolas and Gorgeous Glass

Venice is incredible, and frantically busy and full of shops
that sell Murano glass and every corner has a place to take a picture.

Just floating past a canal and saw this shop window

But the first morning it was cold so had to buy a warm hat. Unfortunately the Gondolier didn’t want to wear his. Quite a cute stripey number but here’s two other gondaliers with theirs on.

Then there’s the little bridges and paths and just another enticing direction to wander off to.

Have to say my favourite place was Venice, coming in at dawn seventeen stories up on a ship. So magical as the islands became more beautiful every minute. BTW my heroine is drinking Mimosa too in her scene.

But Venice was even more special because of a lovely lady we met in Matera, Marie Ohanesian Nardin and her gondalier husband, Roberto. There is something pretty special to pull in after a gonldola ride and be greeted by a handsome smiling man who knows you by name in a foreign city. I’m a sucker for it.

We had the most incredible lunch at their special restaurant and coffee later, Italian style standing in the coffee shop. Marie was a superb guide, no language problems for us with her there, and knew the city and her secrets. Then of course there were the two lovelygondoliers she’d arranged who showed us Venice from the water.

Two, because we wanted to see both the morning and the night face of this beautiful city. I didn’t know you had to be born in venice to be a gondolier. Marie has written a book about gondoliers and falling in love with Venice and I can’t wait to hear it’s been snapped up so I can read it because she has such an affinity for the place and the people. If you’d like to know more check out her blogspot at italytolosangelesandback.blogspot.com/

So thank you, Marie and Roberto.

Posted by Fiona on Oct 22, 2011 in Fiona's Blog

Venice

Venice.

I don’t know where to start. We sailed in just after dawn,
started with a break wall, then an island, then many islands and the magic
began.

: The start of so many islands.

I stood at the front of the ship, supposed to be sitting decorously
for breakfast but just couldn’t. A gorgeous waiter followed me with my coffee
and then insisted he take a picture for me.