Finishing July On A High

 

 

  July will soon be over, and I don’t know about wherever you are in the world, but here in Tenerife the weather is sizzling.

 Not being a sun worshipper, due to my Scottish skin burning easily, I hide inside at certain times of the day. Now, I should tell you that I don't have any other vampire traits like bursting into flames or crumbling into ash, and I can survive in sunlight.

On a more serious note, this month has been kind to me, and I truly am blessed. My upcoming release, Dawn Kisses, Sunset Pyjamas, has had its cover revealed, and the MS is at present in the hands of my Editor. A very exciting time for me.

I have completed the rewrite of a historical romance/cosy mystery and am in the throes of editing and polishing before submitting it, in the hope of publication. It requires a lot of editing; it wasn’t one of my best pieces of writing. I started it a few years ago, and it is a little rough around the edges. Hey, but we can’t be perfect all of the time. 

A second book featuring my beautiful island of Tenerife has been re-outlined, so my fingertips are the things that are sizzling at present.

With a few other things going on too, July has been a huge month for me. Striving to move onward and upward, amigos in August.

 

 

 

Dawn Kisses, Sunset Pyjamas COVER REVEAL

 

I wanted to share my great news: I have signed with Solstice Publishing, and my new Romance book will be available soon. It has been a very exciting time for me, and I will let you all know when it is released. To give you a hint at what the story is about, I have included the blurb.

COMING SOON

What if the assignment of a lifetime led you to the love of your life?

Travel writer Olivia journeys to the breathtaking island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, determined to uncover whether its beauty, culture, and heritage have survived the pressures of modern tourism. Following in the footsteps of a pioneering ancestor who documented the island more than a century ago, Olivia hopes to tell its story through a series of articles.

But some journeys change more than your perspective.

As she explores the island's hidden treasures with the help of a local travel specialist, Olivia finds herself captivated not only by Tenerife's stunning landscapes and rich history, but by a man who teaches her to embrace life's greatest adventures—and open her heart to love.

 

Romance

Stunning destinations

Family history

A journey of self-discovery

 

Coming Soon!

 

Dawn Kisses, Sunset Pyjamas

 

By Christina Rowell

 

Sometimes the most unforgettable destination isn't a place—it's a person.

 

 

Looking for books in other genres, check out the Solstice website and all the fabulous books and authors available on there.

Religious History in the Making

  

 

There is history in the making this week in the Canary Islands. Pope Leo XIV visits Tenerife today, finishing his official visit to Spain.  80,000 people are expected to attend the open-air mass in our capital, Santa Cruz. 

 

As islands, we receive many migrants of all ages. He wanted, in particular, to address the dangers these people face when sailing the rough Atlantic Ocean surrounding our islands in search of refuge, as well as the inhumane treatment they sometimes receive.

Addressing migrants and humanitarian organisations, he said, “Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border.” Pope Leo XIV 2026

Home from Home

 

When I started my love affair with the Canary Islands three decades ago, I was enchanted by what the eight islands had to offer, especially the island I now call home, Tenerife.
Moving 2700 miles was strange, but I believe life should be an adventure, and it certainly was that and still is. 

 When people asked why I moved to Tenerife, I said, strangely enough, although our languages differ, the Scots and Tenerfeños do have things in common. St Andrew is our patron saint, and both our national flags bear a St Andrew’s cross, a white saltire on a blue background. Both have devolved governments, though not independent countries, with powers that grant the inhabitants certain freedoms from their ruling countries. 

 Another thing we have in common is that both countries have breathtaking landscapes.

But, importantly for me, both native populations take pride in their heritage and culture and have warm, welcoming hearts.

 One thing I should say that differs greatly is the weather; the summer temperature in Scotland averages 19 degrees centigrade, while Tenerife averages a warmer 29 degrees centigrade.

So really, you can see that two countries have so much in common that it wasn’t so hard to make the move. 

A Moral Tale to Tell

 

The streets of Puerto de la Cruz in North Tenerife are something not to be missed if you visit the island. Filled with little bars and cafes, a mixture of tourists and friendly locals enjoying their morning coffee or a small glass of local afrutado wine, they animatedly chat or watch the world go by.

 

When their batteries have been recharged, it is time to take a stroll through the streets with its interesting mix of historical and modern buildings. Streets where you can fill your lungs with wonderful, clean, fresh air, immersing yourself in the culture and heritage of the Portuenses.

 

For writers, poets and literary buffs, the grand old house on Calle San Juan and the corner of Calle Iriarte is a must. A typical-looking Canarian building, but it is the history hidden behind four walls that is interesting.

 

Casa Iriarte, yellow in colour with its wooden balconies, is like many others in the city to look at; this house, built in the late 18th century, belonged to the Iriarte family. A family of linguists, scholars and diplomats.

 

Casa Iriarte

One member of the family, Tomás Iriarte, was a prominent poet, playwright, linguist and composer of fables, and is held in reverence in the city, with the local public library bearing his name. His book of 67 fables was published in 1782 and continues to be used as a teaching tool. The tales are dominated by the animal world. One such fable is titled El Burro Flautista, translated as the Flute-playing Donkey, and like the others in the book, it has a moral tale to tell.

 

 

 

The local library is named after the greatly admired Tomás Iriarte, and I believe. Having a library named after you would be a place that any writer would happily be remembered posthumously.

A Name Fitting Of A King

     

     Looking good at the age of 75 is hard work, especially if you are celebrating your birthday in the public eye. Things began to bulge, sag, and deep lines started to appear some years back. Out came the filler, and the bulges and sags were tucked away carefully by the hands of an expert. It is no different if you are a human or a building; we all need a little help sometimes.

    That is what happened to the Hotel Grand Mencey Santa Cruz some years ago: the professionals moved in. Restoring this prestigious hotel to retain its character and originality.
This fabulous hotel has been opening its doors to Kings, queens, musicians and film stars for the last 75 years and will continue to do so. Because its beauty and grandeur are unmistakable and unforgettable.

    Film greats such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophie Loren and Matt Damon have stayed there. The city of Santa Cruz itself is regularly used as a film location, and many undisclosed stars of all nationalities stay there or visit its fabulous restaurants.
A hotel worth the name Mencey, the title given to the Gaunche rulers of the separate kingdoms within the island of Tenerife before the Spanish conquest.

 

    To celebrate its 75th birthday, I wanted to share with you some photos I took on a visit a little while ago.

    I hope you enjoy.

New Year has Dawned

    

 

    A new year has dawned, and I decided it was time to unburden clutter from a cabinet that had been groaning and sighing for a very long time. It is where I keep notebooks, pens, in fact, most of my stationery. 
What I had forgotten about was a file buried under a pile of empty folders, which surprisingly contained multiple pages of A4 pads filled with outlines and chapters from two incomplete manuscripts.

    Now, I find this inspiring, especially when one of the outlines is for a sequel to the book I am writing at present, and another, which is a sequel to another book I finished a long time ago. A book that I submitted to lots of agents with no luck, so I filed it away, promising myself that I would do a rewrite at some point. Hmm, never did. 

    Therefore, once my current project is finished and edited, I will have plenty to get on with in 2026.

    Have a happy one, stay positive and productive in whatever you are doing and wherever you are.