Another in a series of blogs spotlighting some of the marvels I’ve come across as I’ve travelled the world researching my books. The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, is situated on Seraglio Point, a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. It’s a truly memorable complex with the haunting mystery of sultans and harems still about it, and I made it the centre for Renzi’s exotic adventure in Pasha. Istanbul is a magical city with many splendid sights but one of my most vivid memories of my visit there is standing on a wing of the sultan’s private quarters in the Topkapi looking out at the vista. To the left is Europe, to the right Asia. Directly in front is the Bosporus leading to Russia. Turn around and there’s the Sea of Marmara leading to Mediterranean and western world. And at your feet the Golden Horn..

More and more these days an author must be involved in promotion and marketing of his or her books. As well as participating in the social media scene maintaining an up-to-date website is essential. This year has been a busy year for me in terms of reviews, interviews and guest blogs. I always enjoy meeting readers and chatting about my books but it’s often a bit of a balancing act between promotional activities and research/writing. Fortunately, I have a literary partner, Kathy, who keeps an eagle eye on my work in progress and the daily word count…