THE RUTHLESS GROOM
In each of my
books I like to include something
a little different to what I’ve done
before, whether in setting or a character’s
occupation or maybe just a quirky
trait or an interest or hobby that
is their passion. In The Ruthless
Groom I didn’t set
out to include a different urban
location (Melbourne) or different
interests (horse-racing, fly-fishing,
the motor bike, the chocolate)
or occupations (my medical student
heroine) or even the Tim Tams.
They all happened during the
writing because they fit.
Take Alex Carlisle’s passion
for thoroughbred racing, which is
known as the “Sport of Kings.” How
appropriate for the eldest of my “princes.” And
how perfect when I realized it
fit:
(a) the book’s setting
in and around Melbourne,
the capital of the state of Victoria
and Australia’s second
largest city (after Sydney.)
(b) the book’s time frame,
from late September through October
and November, which coincides
with Melbourne’s spring
racing carnival
(c) that carnival’s culmination
with the Melbourne
Cup!
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Now,
The Cup is (arguably) Australia’s
most iconic event and I loved
the chance to include it in one
of my books…even if Zara
didn’t get to don a hat
and go to the big day! The big
day, by the way, is ALWAYS the
first Tuesday in November. It’s
known as “the race that
stops a nation” because
such a large percentage of Australians
stop work (or take the day off!)
to watch the telecast. Every
workplace runs a sweepstakes
and a staggering amount of money
is bet on the race. Especially
when you consider how darn difficult
it is to pick the winner!
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Those lucky people who do
go to Flemington, go in party
mode. Many frock up in gorgeous
dresses (with hats, of course)
and their men wear suits. Others
treat it at a fancy-dress occasion.
They enjoy boot parties in
the car park and fashions-in-the-field
judging. Very few of them actually
see more than a fleeting glimpse
of the race--a rush of motion
and color, the roar of the
crowd and the thundering of
ninety-odd hoofbeats. The Melbourne
Cup may be Australia’s
richest ($5.1 million) and
one of the world’s most
famous and challenging horse
races, but its enormous popularity
transcends that. It is, indeed,
an icon.
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Two significant chunks of action in The
Ruthless Groom take place outside
Melbourne. I did take some liberties
with this setting, using a combination
of the Dandenongs and
more isolated hilly areas further east
of the city. In essence, I created
my own location for the little cabin
a couple of hours from Melbourne, but
this picture of the Dandenongs gives
an idea of the trees and the road I
had in mind when writing those scenes.
As for the fly-fishing: my apologies
to any keen anglers if I didn’t
get that cast correct. It’s straight
from internet research.
 A
final note: this isn’t the first
book where I have attempted to include
that other fabulous Aussie icon, the Tim
Tam. Previously the editors have
changed my Tim Tams to a more generic
chocolate term, but this time they
let it stand. This is my tenth book
for Silhouette Desire, so I think that’s
fitting, don’t you?
And finally, here is a map showing where
the Australian scenes in The Rich Stranger
take place.
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