Tirza Schaefer: Romance Author & Goddess Facilitator
Blurb
This time, Tirza Schaefer heads east to a little Bulgarian village at the coast of the Black Sea, not too far from Burgas. Keturah is an author from London who is running away from a life she doesn’t want anymore and an ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend who are stifling her to death. She has plans to stay in an apartment overlooking the Black Sea and simply work on her book. Then she meets Luben, the driver who takes her to the apartment from Burgas airport, and her resolve as to staying away from all men falters.
However, you can run from others, but never from yourself. The London situation catches up to her in unexpected ways and Keturah has to take a hard look at herself and determine how she wants her life to look like and whom she wants in it. Luben helps her in this and without noticing at first, points out not only their cultural differences to her, but also differences in their outlook on life. After a beach party, however, Keturah starts to see things more clearly.
If only there wasn’t this publishing contract that could destroy all she has gained.
The Book's Creation
It was quite an unusual way of how this book was created. It wasn’t the normal kind of spinning stories in my head. It began with one of my goals for 2016, which was to have 25 books out and published by the end of the year. I published 12 the previous year, 2015, and had 13 to go. So I wrote a lot. I achieved my goal that one of those books would be a children’s book, which was how How Picasso Makes You A Genius (published book #23) was created.
And then I sat here, thinking of where my next novel would take me, so I went within for the answer, tapping into my own inner wisdom. I'd got an answer. Loud and clear, it rang in my head, a single word: Bulgaria!
I’ve never really looked behind the former Iron Curtain, the Eastern Bloc had never held any particular interest to me. I had no idea why, of all places in the world, Bulgaria was the answer. But I didn’t question. Okay, I did. But my inner voice remained unwavering, adamant it had to be Bulgaria. I probed in my memory what I knew about Bulgaria and drew pretty much a blank. Somewhere in Eastern Europe, probably Mediterranean coastline (nope, as I found out later, it was only the Black Sea), capital Sofia. That was all I knew. Needless to say, I had to learn a lot more to be able to create a coherent story in this location.
I started to research country, people, traditional music, architecture and LGBT rights, geography, demography, education, medical care and mentality. I learned that Bulgaria is close to the Mediterranean, but that the coastline is actually a fairly thin strip of Greece and the only coastal stretches Bulgaria has is bordering the Black Sea. I learned that Sofia is right at the other end and if you wish to fly to the coast, you don’t land there, but in Burgas airport. The countryside is rural and people are traditional.
I got ideas about a little village where old men discover the internet, where men invite women for dinner and don’t expect to have sex at the end of it and where people live in communities where they spend their entire lives with each other and need to work on having good relationships, because life, as opposed to the anonymity of a metropolitan city, would be unbearable if you were at war with every other villager living around you.
As much as I saw the love and mutual support, I also saw the suffering of those who didn’t fit in, who were different. So the hero received a lesbian sister in my story and the problems of people accepting others with a non-straight sexual orientation were not highlighted, but mentioned. Yes, Balcony Above The Sea is still a romance novel, but it goes way beyond that. It whisks you away into a different world and through the storyline unfolding, you learn about a country that most people probably don’t know much about.
There is no lecture, there is conversation between characters, people getting to know each other and opening up, sharing their pain, but supporting each other in changing this into joy, from the young gay man who learns that his inclination is not unnatural to the old man from a small fishing village, who gets excited about having his picture taken and posted in the internet for the world to see.
And while the female lead falls in love with our hero, she learns that if you run from yourself, you’ll always catch up with your own problems – unless you face them! Writing this book has opened a new world to me, even the researching of the lead characters’ names, Luben and Keturah, was special and held beautiful surprises. And while my characters went on a journey of not only travel but also self-discovery, in writing it, I discovered a whole new world I had not known about before. And who knows, I may one day find myself getting off a plane at a Bulgarian airport. The country has certainly made it on my bucket list.
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Reviews for Balcony Above the Sea
I have no idea why the author suddenly decided to travel to Bulgaria behind the former Iron Curtain and explore another, very different culture but it totally works! This book is incredibly entertaining, deeply moving and I love how much heart Schaefer put not only in her main characters but also the supporting ones.
There are the two old fishermen who find the internet hilarious, the male MC's sister who lives in a marital-like relationship with her female partner whom she is not allowed to marry and the lawyer who seems to untangle quite a bit of chaos on paper. But most of all, I love Luben's, the male MC's old-world conservative charm and ideals that are mixed with a loving, open heart and the conviction of a visionary.
Nowadays, things - and people - are so easy-come-easy-go, it is equally refreshing and challenging to encounter a man with such a high moral code and honour as this man who would be at home in a book set 200 years prior to the present, yet is perfectly placed here in his devotion to the happiness of his sister, her partner and their friends. I also love that there is so much sizzle between the two MCs.
The steam is definitely sizzling and burning ever brighter. And that scene at the beach party - hm-hmmm! - not to mention the poetry. And again, it should be set a couple of centuries prior but totally fits into the present. I was going up in flames reading that and I usually run the other way when I hear poetry mentioned. This book was such a surprise on so many levels and it all worked out in perfect beauty and synchronicity!
Tuari Eagleswing, Reader
* * *
Another Good One
This is so romantic, lifelike and believable. We’ve all had weird things going on with ex-partners and wanted to run away. Only you can’t run away from yourself, can you? This woman finds out, even though she’s met a beautiful, gorgeous man in Bulgaria, where’s she’s run to from London. But then she takes a stance, not only for herself but also for LGBT rights.
And more of the author’s beautiful poetry is to be found in this book as well. Sizzling. And I laughed tears at the old fishermen and the new internet connection in their local café.
You just have to read it to believe it. So much going on and at the same time, it flows so easily. I love the author’s style!
Karen Bennett, Amazon
* * *
A delightful story in an Old World setting
This is a delightful love story about a young woman escaping from her life in London where her ex-boyfriend and his new love have left her disappointed with men.
Keturah arrives to Burgas where a lovely second-floor apartment with a balcony overlooking the spectacular Bulgarian Black Sea coast promises the perfect retreat where she will have peace of mind to think things over and time to write her book.
The last thing she is looking for is a relationship, but she didn’t expect Luben, and the life-changing journey she would experience in his company.
The onset of modern technology within ‘Old World’ culture is evident and we find that the same controversies, differences and problems exist no matter where in the world we are. Ultimately we all need and want to be accepted, respected and most of all loved for who we are.
C.S. Catlin, Author
* * *
Oh sexy Luben
This is the story of Keturah and Luben. Keturah is an author who is travelling to help get her next novel written and Luben is a sexy local who helps show her around.
I love the exotic setting in this novel and how the characters come together. The sex is hot and the relationship is plutonic. Another great read by Tirza.
Lyndsay Whitlock, Author
* * *
Highly recommended
This book is an extremely interesting and imaginative read. I particularly loved the style of the book and it made sure to grab me from the very beginning and hold my attention to the very end. It's an extremely fast-paced book full of adventure. The characters were very inventive and they make sure to engage you from the start.
This book can be enjoyed time and time again. I highly recommend it and I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Will definitely recommend it to all friends and family.
Dark Raven Reviews, Reader
* * *
Delightful reading
Absolutely loved Tirzas book! Couldn’t put it down, read it in a day. Will definitely be reading a lot more !! Tirza recommended this as a first introductory read into her fabulous books.
Ms. C. Thornalley, Reader
* * *
Very good, original, exciting and a great read!
This time, Tirza Schaefer heads east to a little Bulgarian village at the coast of the Black Sea, not too far from Burgas. Keturah is an author from London who is running away from a life she doesn’t want anymore and an ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend who are stifling her to death. She has plans to stay in an apartment overlooking the Black Sea and simply work on her book. Then she meets Luben, the driver who takes her to the apartment from Burgas airport, and her resolve as to staying away from all men falters.
However, you can run from others, but never from yourself. The London situation catches up to her in unexpected ways and Keturah has to take a hard look at herself and determine how she wants her life to look like and whom she wants in it. Luben helps her in this and without noticing at first, points out not only their cultural differences to her but also differences in their outlook on life. After a beach party, however, Keturah starts to see things more clearly.
Kaitlin, Reader