New erotic romance hits the shelves

Better-known for her thrillers, Mackenzie says that writing her second romance novel was fun and easy. Breathless, departing from the humorously erotic style of her first romance, Folly, while retaining the sensuality was inspired, according to Mackenzie, by an idea “along the lines of what happens if an immovable object meets an irresistible force”.

The novel’s heroine, Erin Mitchell, whose new husband is beginning to show a darker, jealous side, is stranded at a gorgeous game lodge with an equally magnificent man, Nicholas de Lanoy, who just happens to have saved her life. Breathless, according to its author, is the story of Erin’s attempts to resist Nicholas’ advances and hide her situation from her husband – and her failure on both counts.

In a small, cosy gathering at Skoobs on 16 September, Mackenzie drew laughter with her tongue-in-cheek discussion of this unashamedly romantic novel, as well as interest with a reading of one brief, titillating extract in which Erin and Nicholas share their first “utterly sensual” kiss.

Answering questions from the audience, Mackenzie explained that she enjoys writing romance because identification with its heroines and their experience of falling in love is thoroughly enjoyable.

“I can’t plot too much,” Mackenzie went on to reveal of her writing process.

“Your personality is very important to the way you write… your excitement is what’s going to keep the words coming… It’s important to respect your way of doing the creative process because finishing a book is very difficult.”