GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY: with Megan Johns

Romantic Places

Having recently blogged about the importance of settings in creative writing, I would like to share one of my personally favourite romantic places.

As a lover of mountains and open spaces, Austria with its cable cars and rack and pinion railways, its musical associations with the Sound of Music and Mozart, is a firm favourite. However, a lesser-known gem is its southernmost province, Carinthia, offering a more tranquil setting with the added benefit of plenty of sunshine.

This is a province of over a thousand lakes, of which the largest is Lake Worthersee at 17 km long. The water here is reputedly so clean that you can drink it and, at summer temperatures of 25 C, as warm as a tepid bath. To simply find a shady spot and sit gazing over the expanse of water glistening like a blue-green diamond is so mentally restoring. Every now and then, a splash will confirm a body plunging into the water for a cooling swim, an occasional water-skier might flash past, or a rowing boat drift languidly by, and above it all the horn of the lake steamer intermittently cuts though the air like a trumpet fanfare. A feeling of serenity lifts you to a different plane as you absorb the atmosphere and sense all your cares tangibly ebb away.

The lake became a favoured summer retreat for Austria’s aristocracy in the 19^th century and it still attracts the rich and famous with some exclusive hotels and romantic lake villas. However, my preference is to stay in a landhaus in a slightly elevated position which affords beautiful views over the landscape on balmy summer evenings. Eating out on a flower-bedecked terrace, gazing across the lake towards the floodlit Gothic church at Maria Worth nestling on its peninsula, is a magical sight renowned for inspiring many composers by virtue of its sheer beauty. Small wonder that couples from all over the world travel here to get married. The distant backdrop of mountains form a spectral outline and, to the north, the resorts of Velden and Portschach glitter like jewels, although their promise of night life holds little temptation when there are such riches here. 

The continental climate translates into a Mediterranean atmosphere - very friendly, welcoming people and excellent cuisine, essentially rich and flavoursome, yet also mild. A typical meal in the landhaus might be mushroom soup with cream and herbs followed by melt-in-the-mouth roast veal with a side buffet and then perhaps a bilberry dessert. Pleasantly replete, guests sip after-dinner coffees on the terrace and the gentle hum of their voices melts into the soft background sounds of a folk music CD . A few children might play on the grass then, as night falls, disappear indoors to play a board game. Some couples might drift away, perhaps to bed, or maybe to take a boat to a night club or the casino. Others, like us, remain to sit beneath the stars and drink in the intoxicating alpine air. There is an almost ethereal quality which is perfect for the melding of souls.

All around the province are mountains offering a dramatic contrast, notably Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, and the old city of Klagenfurt offers many cultural attractions, with its beautifully restored Renaissance buildings and their charming arcaded courtyards that provide an esoteric setting in which to enjoy the mandatory kaffee und kuchen.

It is a truly magical region which, mercifully, has escaped the clutches of mass tourism. Hopefully, it will remain one of Austria’s hidden gems for many years to come.

Photo of the church at Maria Worth can be found here. 

Question : What are your favourite places and why?

THE PATH OF INNOCENCE
Innocence invites protection, yet we might be smarter to protect ourselves against it...
BEWARE The Path of Innocence
Format: ebook
Length: 270 pages
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher:  Devine Destinies   
Author: MEGAN JOHNS
www.megan-johns.com

EuroReviews 5 stars Superb characterization, grammatically refreshing, well written, emotionally charged and quite insightful on what drives a man or woman to be what they are and who they are, Megan Johns' "Path of Innocence" restored my faith in Romance novels like no one else could. Without a doubt, it's a MUST read!

Read more about Megan  at her interview :  

http://www.alternative-read.com/meganjohns.htm

A CHANCE TO WIN ONE COPY OF THE PATH OF INNOCENCEOpen to ALL entrants. Closes MIDNIGHT THURSDAY 15th JULY 2010 - Winner announced THE FOLLOWING DAY!

1. To enter - please follow the AR blog (publicly) Thank you!
2. Leave a comment for the author here.
3. Make sure you also leave your email address, too.

That's it. Good luck!  FOR EXTRA ENTRIES - ONE ENTRY PER COMMENT:As usual you may comment on the review, Tweet (@Sassy_Brit), Digg , add this comp to your blog, sign the AR Guest book! use the "Share This" button, etc, just come back here to let me know you have - for extra entries. Now you can even follow us on google Buzz and Buzz an entry over to us! It's even quicker than tweeting if you have gmail. Thank you! However you spread the word, just come back and let me know.

Each separate comment (with email address) = 1 extra entry!  

If you don't add your email address, I can't be sure you want to be entered into the competition or if you are just commenting.  

NB I've lost past address book entries during the changeover period, when I didn't realise the link I was previously giving out was the old address book link. So sorry if your entry is no longer there! 
Please feel free to add a new entry though! 
Each new entry is a new giveaway entry!
 ======================================

JUNE 2010 - Please welcome ROXANA SHIRAZI our Author in the Spotlight!
WIN! WIN! WIN!> DON'T forget to enter our other competitions while you are here!

WINParanormal Romance by Teal Ceagh - Ends 24th June 2010

AUTHORS/PUBLICISTS post your PRin the AR YAHOO CHAT GROUP! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alternative-Read.com: The "Inside Story" by Sassy Brit and her Gang! ~http://www.twibes.com/group/READERSandREVIEWERS~Chat and Promo Group~WHAT'S ON YOUR DESK WEDNESDAY? Book Blog Meme!~We are actively seeking staff!~FaceBook~LibraryThing~AmazonUK~GoodReads~ Technorati Categories:Book Review, FREE Books, Competition, Blog,Media, Press Release, Author,Podcast, Interview,Book News, Reviews,Reviewers, WitchGiggles, Aris, Lucille Perkins Robinson, Devlin O'Neill, Clayton Bye,Angelika Devlyn, Michael,Ella Blackhart, Bo Perkins,Giveaway,Yahoo Group, Guest Blog, Publisher, Newsletter, Stumbleupon, MySpace, Promo, alternative-read.com