A Moment With… Carla Luna

I am very pleased to be welcoming Carla Luna to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Field Rules.

What happens in the field, stays in the field. Or does it?

After the disastrous way her first archaeological dig ended, graduate student Olivia Sanchez abandoned her dreams of working in the field. Now, thanks to a last-minute teaching opportunity in Cyprus, she’ll get another chance to explore ancient history firsthand. This time, failure isn’t an option.

But digging up the past takes on a whole new meaning when she’s forced to team up with her ex, shovel bum Rick Langston. 

For years, Rick has proven his archaeological skills all over the Mediterranean. But with no graduate degree—and a habit of attracting trouble—his reputation could use a little rehab. All he has to do is play by the rules while he’s in Cyprus and he’ll secure a coveted recommendation for his next job. Until Olivia resurfaces like a cursed relic from the past.

Given that their last fling nearly led to their academic ruin, Olivia and Rick can’t afford to repeat their past mistakes. But as they work together under the scorching Mediterranean sun, the heat between them proves impossible to ignore.

*****

To talk about the story behind her novel, Field Rules, it’s over to Carla Luna…

Of all the books I’ve written, Field Rules might be the one closest to my heart. That’s because many of the adventures and mishaps experienced by Olivia Sanchez—the protagonist of Field Rules—actually happened to me.

By the time I was in my second year at the University of Victoria (in Canada), I’d already decided I wanted to be an archaeologist. For years, I’d been fascinated with ancient history, particularly the Greeks and the Egyptians. Though I’d already been on one dig, it had been close to home, at a site in Southern California. For my next project, I wanted something outside of my comfort zone. After my parents generously offered to pay for my plane fare, I signed up for a six-week archaeological field school on the island of Cyprus, located in the Eastern Mediterranean.

To say I was woefully unprepared is an understatement. First of all, the conditions were rougher than I expected. Not only were we housed in an old building that lacked air conditioning and hot water, we also slept outside on camp cots, washed our clothes in pottery buckets, and woke at 5:30 each morning. Our first few weeks were spent learning how to conduct ground surveys, which amounted to tromping around in the hills all day looking for artifacts. We were meant to find our way using just a compass and a map, which I found to be a huge challenge since I lack a sense of direction. Unused to the searing heat, I got a wicked sunburn, a skin rash, and a touch of heat exhaustion. I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to hack it that I spent a few nights crying myself to sleep.

With time, I adjusted to the heat, the conditions, and the hard work. In return, I got a killer tan and a sense of pride from pushing myself past my limits. Since everyone at the field school lived and worked together, we bonded quickly and developed our own in-jokes. Whenever we had a day off, we enjoyed it together, usually at one of the nearby beaches. By the time we started the excavation portion of field school, I no longer worried that I was out of my element. If anything, I was excited to start digging. During the three weeks we spent excavating the ruins of a Roman villa, I felt like I was truly experiencing ancient history firsthand.

Among the friendships I made while I was in Cyprus, there was one that stood out. Just like Olivia in Field Rules, I fell in love with a fellow archaeology student who charmed me with his guitar. Though ours was only a dig romance, and not meant for anything long-term, it was fun while it lasted. Even if that fling is now a distant memory, it contributed to my overall recollection of an amazing summer in Cyprus.

About Carla Luna: 

Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice.

A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories.

When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes.

Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Vancouver Island, she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her feisty Siberian cat.

 Say hello to Carla via her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and BookBub. 

Click to buy Field Rules on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble (Nook,) Apple and Books to Read. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.