Portrait of a Lady in a Blue Dress

I saw this painting with a group of other Russian paintings pictured in a magazine. The painter was Konstantin Somov. The paintings were to be auctioned at Sotheby's, London. Something about the woman's face and manner intrigued me so much I knew I had to write a book with her as the heroine. I have written the first scene and given her a name.

To make the summer time interesting I am having a contest and anyone can enter. No entry fees. This is an opportunity to try your hand at writing an opening paragraph of a book featuring the Lady in the Blue Dress. Who is she? Is she interesting to you?

Here's what you have to do. Write an opening paragraph - 250 words - a few more if you require them to finish the scene properly. The opening paragraph has to hook the reader into turning the page and the next page.

Don't be shy. I am the only one who will read the entries. So everyone will be treated fairly, I won't be judging your entries for their brilliance. I will have a lucky draw and the winner will receive a copy of my historical romance, A Very Difficult Man. Send your entries to me at:

anita.birt@gmail.com I will acknowledge them. My promise to you - your name and e-mail address will not be shared with anyone else. I'll keep this contest going for three weeks. To-day is July 18. Lots of time to write your scene. Have fun.

Anita

www.anitabirt.com

Too Young To Die

I am shamelessly promoting my romantic suspense novel, TOO YOUNG TO DIE, published by Cerridwen Press. It has had four fabulous reviews and I shall quote from each one! Should you want to read the complete reviews you can find them on the review sites. So, here goes.

Manic Readers - featured review. "Oh my, talk about suspense and action all the way. TOO Y OUNG TO DIE is a roller coaster of adrenaline, bullets flying everywhere and a big strong gorgeous guy to protect you ... Anita Birt does a beautiful job in this action packed story as she keeps your heart running with Ellie wondering if her life will ever be back to normal. Reviewed by Lena

Simply Romance Reviews - "In TOO YOUNG TO DIE by Anita Birt, you get a superb book with a hook that grabs you from the first paragraph. Definitely a book you DO NOT WANT TO MISS. ... The twists and turns in this book kept me turning pages left and right well into the wee hours of the morning ... the characters have great personalities that radiate from them and I found myself rooting from to be safe, run fast and get the bad guys." Reviewed by Toni

The Romance Studio, overall rating Five Hearts. "Too Young to Die is a very good suspense romance to read. From the first pages of the book you are caught up in Ellie's liefe as it took an unexpected turn that she never saw coming. Taking care of her young charge, Niki became her number one priority, sometimes even above her own needs. Meeting up with Jack was a god send. Without his help, she and the baby, Niki, could have died ... he was her only hope to survive until the truth came out ... It made me stop and think what I would have done if I had been in her shoes." Reviewed by Margo Arthur

Romance Reviews Today "As Too Young To Die opens, Nanny Ellie Paxton is being held hostage in a remote area of the Cascade Mountains by an unknown group of men who threaten to kill her and the baby in her care. They are after the password for her employer's computer for some unexplained reason. When the men leave her alone for a moment, Ellie sees the chance to escape with little Niki. Her flight from the kidnappers lands her in the path of Jack Merano. Is he friend or foe? ... With this heart stopping opening, Too Young To Die, is a thrill a minute as Ellie and Jack embark on a race for their lives ... if you are looking for a thrilling suspense with a scorching romance, then you can't miss with TOO YOUNG TO DIE." Reviewed by Patti Fischer.

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Anita Birt

www.anitabirt.com