Alli Sinclair Will Dance Into Your Heart With Her Well-Traveled Tales

I’m super exited to welcome Aussie author Alli Sinclair to Get Lost in a Story. The cover of Alli’s debut romance novel, Luna Tango, is so sumptuous, I actually voted for it against my own book in a book cover competition in Australia a couple of years ago! And sumptuous is a perfect way to describe the words in her wonderful love stories. 

About Alli...

Alli Sinclair is a multi award-winning author of books that combine travel, mystery, and romance. An adventurer at heart, Alli has climbed some of the world’s highest mountains and immersed herself in an array of exotic destinations, cultures, and languages. Alli’s stories capture the romance and thrill of exploring new destinations and cultures that also take readers on a journey of discovery. 

Connect with Alli via her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, Amazon, Goodreads, or join her VIP Club that has giveaways and competitions especially for members by signing up here.

Amid the vivid beauty of Granada, a woman entrusted with unraveling a family secret will discover the truth about her heritage--and the alluring promise of love…

When her beloved grandmother falls ill, Charlotte Kavanagh will do whatever she asks of her—even if it means traveling to a country that broke her abuela's heart. Can an unsigned painting of a flamenco dancer unlock the secrets of her grandmother's youth in Spain? To find the answers she needs, Charlotte must convince the charismatic and gifted musician, Mateo Vives to introduce her to a secluded gypsy clan.

The enigmatic Mateo speaks the true language of flamenco, a culture Charlotte must learn to appreciate if she wants to understand her grandmother's past--and the flamenco legend that has moved souls to beauty, and bodies to the heights of passion. As Mateo leads her into the captivating world of the music and the dance, Charlotte embraces her own long-denied creative gift and the possibility of a future rich with joy…

Read a little, buy the book...

Professor Fonseca sat behind her desk and turned on the reading light as she studied the painting from various angles. She squinted, widened her eyes, brought it close then moved it away.

Clasping her hands in front, Charlotte stood awkwardly, unsure whether to stand or sit on the expensive-looking reading chair.

Placing the glasses on the top of her head, the professor said quietly, “Syeria Mesa Flores Giménez.”

“Pardon?” Charlotte shuffled closer.

“Syeria Mesa Flores Giménez,” Professor Fonseca said louder. “This painting is close to one hundred years old. Look at this.” She pointed at the thick strokes of orange, red, and yellow flames. “See the way the paint curves up instead of laying flat on the canvas? This is her signature style. It truly is unique.” Placing a finger near the bottom corner on the left-hand side, she said, “This small rip, what is the story?”

“I don’t know. The painting has been buried in a trunk under a pile of blankets for decades. My grandmother asked me to retrieve it only a few days ago.”

“It has not been on show?” Professor Fonseca’s eyes widened. “A painting of this historical value should never be hidden.”

“For Abuela, it’s the emotional value that’s important.” A lump formed in Charlotte’s throat as she recalled the last time she’d been with her grandmother. The buzz of the hospital had faded into the distance as they’d held hands in silence, their love for each other warming the cold, sterile room.

Tapping her fingers on her thighs, Charlotte asked, “Any idea why it wasn’t signed?”

“This Syeria, she never put her signature on the paintings because she believed her art was the collaboration between her heart and soul and nature. A team effort, you might say. Many people think they have an original Syeria Mesa Flores Giménez, but it is only a fake. But this”—the professor smiled with appreciation—“this is the real thing. I would bet my career on it.”

“Do you have any idea who the dancer is?”

“No, I do not, but I will say this is linked to La Leyenda del Fuego, the ‘Legend of the Fire’. You know it?”

“I’m afraid I’m not well-versed on my Spanish legends.” Yet another aspect of Spain Abuela could have passed on, but chose not to. 

“It is a shame you do not know much about your heritage, but you could be forgiven in this case. The legend is more of the obscure type, known in the region of Granada and commonly heard in gitano, gypsy, circles. See this?” The professor pointed to the woman dancer clad in a deep red dress, her ample cleavage only slightly exposed. With a simple red rose tucked behind her ear, her thick dark hair flowed down her back and her skirt caught the breeze. Her large, brown eyes looked toward the stars twinkling in the inky sky and her arms reached upward, as if giving thanks. The woman’s long legs stretched out as she leapt over the campfire, her red shoes matching the dress.

Charlotte cleared her throat. “Is there additional information you can give me, or steer me toward, to find out more about this artist?”

“There are some important things you must know first.” The professor glanced at the old-fashioned clock, then drew her brows together. “I will need to be fast. I cannot keep my students waiting.”

Under the Spanish Stars is available via Kensington Books, Barnes& Noble,  Amazon, iBooks, Google Play and Kobo. 

Let's Talk... 

AVRIL: What’s a typical reading week for you? 
ALLI: I deliberately have a handbag that allows me to carry at least one or two books as I spend a lot of time ferrying my kids to and from sports and other after school activities. I’m a sneak-reader, as in I try to sneak in reading whenever, and wherever I can! I like to read at least a few chapters every night but of course, if the book is really engrossing, those few chapters expand and I wake up with glassy eyes in the morning but I’m happy because I allowed myself “just one more chapter”!

AVRIL: I know the setting plays an important role in your novels. Can you explain why?

ALLI: Travel and learning about other cultures is a big part of who I am and what I love so it is only natural for me to write stories that explore these topics. Also, a lot of readers enjoy immersing themselves in a destination that is either new to them or one they’ve visited and loved and want to revisit again, even if it’s on the pages of a book. I love how incorporating the culture and history of a place can have such a large impact on my characters and give them some difficult challenges and chances to learn and grow. And of course, reading a book set in a foreign destination is a fun way to travel without needing a passport or getting jetlag!

AVRIL: The romance of dance features heavily in your stories – is dance something that’s been a part of your life?

ALLI: I spent over twenty years learning various forms of dance and when I travel, I love to immerse myself in the music and dance of that culture. Dance, like painting, writing and other art forms, is a wonderful way for people to express their emotions and tell their stories. As my books are not just geographical, but emotional journeys, weaving dance into my character’s lives seems very natural and is a great way to portray what is going inside the character without them having to say it out loud. 

AVRIL: Do you have particular character types, tropes or themes that draw you in – either as a reader or a writer?

ALLI: I do love writing foreign heroes as I find them quite intriguing, and, let’s be honest – very sexy! I also love the complicated relationships between families, especially across different generations, and how someone’s mistake in the past can come back and haunt another family member generations later. I also love reading books about countries I haven’t travelled to. There’s nothing better than being whisked away to an exotic world with intriguing characters!

AVRIL: What are some of the best things reviewers have said about your novels?

ALLI: Under The Spanish Stars is a glorious tale of love, family, history and culture that will transport you to far off lands and lift your spirits to dance to the poetry captured on the page. – Beauty and Lace Book Club

Heart-thumping romance and mystery. Sinclair brings all the senses together to give her romance a soul that’s alive on and off the pages. – Write Note Reviews

I love romance novels. I love all kinds of dancing. I love sexy guys with sexy accents. If you love these too, then grab yourself one of Alli’s novels and swoon along with me. – Hey Said Renee

AVRIL: What’s in store in 2017?  
ALLI: July 2017 will see the release of Under the Parisian Sky, a story set in Paris that combines a present-day storyline with 1917 Paris and centres around the Ballets Russes. This story transports readers into a magical world where Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel, and Henri Matisse lived and created their beautiful work. It’s a story about love, grief, and forgiveness, especially with one’s self.

I’ll be working on books due out in 2018 and 2019 (I like to be ahead of schedule!) and I’ll also be trying my hand with a new genre of fiction for younger readers. I’m looking forward to flexing my writerly muscles and diving into that new challenge.

AVRIL: As a romance reader, what’s your pet hate?

ALLI: People who dismiss the romance genre as “fluffy” or “unrealistic” without having actually read a few romances drives me crazy! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, and not everyone is going to like the same genre, but I would never dream about saying something negative about a genre I’ve never read. Getting off my soapbox now! 

What's your favourite dance - to either watch or do! Let us know in the comments and enter the draw to win an e-copy of Alli Sinclair's Under The Spanish Stars!  

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