Release of "Forever After" by Paisley Kirkpatrick

 

RELEASE DAY PARTY!

 

I love a new book. Don't you? I especially love it when a long-awaited book, of a favored series, releases. Today, my friend Paisley Kirkpatrick's third book of her historical Paradise Pines Series releases--FOREVER AFTER. I've got her here today to celebrate and to also share a bit of her third book. Paisley used to laugh at how my characters came to me. She told me a while back she wasn't laughing any more. So, Paisley, do tell... Meanwhile, have a slice of cake and a cup of coffee. It's early still, we'll have the champagne later. 

 

Thanks for having me, Vonnie. I see you were baking again. You know how I love strawberries. I thought today would never get here. I am thrilled to introduce my third book. Because of this series' connection to my ancestors, each book has become a project of my heart.

I think the connection to you is one of the reasons I love this series. Here, have a slice of cake.

 

Thanks! Have you ever wondered where your story ideas come from? It is the one question people ask me the most. Until a very strange and quite remarkable occurrence happened while I wrote Forever After, I had no idea I might have someone living in my head helping me.

One of my great, great grandparents might just be the answer.

 

Oh, do tell! First, have some coffee to wash down that dry cake.  Cream? Sugar?

 

Both, please.

 

Charles Kirkpatrick was a doctor who left Illinois and traveled across country on a wagon train in 1849. He kept a journal which is now kept under glass in the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley, in California. I can understand why it's considered five-star quality. He was quite literate and wrote a lot of what he saw and what happened around him.

 

 

I am lucky enough to have a copy of the journal and was able to share a lot of what he put on the pages in my second story, Marriage Bargain. At the time I felt blessed to have help from one of my ancestors.

His wife, Mary Kirkpatrick, wrote seven stories under the name of Mary Kirke. She is supposedly the first woman to have stories published in a magazine.

 

Whoot! A feminine trial blazer. I love it!

 

When I finally settled down and read through one of the five 3-inch thick binders of genealogy my Mother assembled, I was about halfway through writing Forever After. My heroine traveled to San Francisco on a ship without luggage and she suffered greatly from nausea. When I read my great, great grandmother's first story published in a magazine, I was caught off guard when I found two of her sentences were written verbatim to mine. Also, the scene was under the same circumstances as mine -- on a ship to San Francisco, no luggage, and constantly plagued with nausea. Eerie, spooky, unbelievable - these were the words running through my head. How could this have happen? In all fairness, I couldn't leave my story similar to hers so I ultimately did change the scene somewhat so we can both take credit for what we've written.

 

Oh, Paisley, that just gives me chills. Here have some chocolate.  I brought some home from Germany.

Mmmm, these are great! At my next Sacramento Valley Rose chapter meeting our guest speaker spoke about past lives. I told her what had happened to me and asked if I could have inherited my great, great grandmother's memories. She agreed it was possible, but thought it was more than likely I inherited Mary Kirke.

On one other note, when I read the last two sentences of my great, great grandmother's story I cried and I still get emotional telling you about them. She was standing on the wharf at San Francisco Harbor. She had just arrived after sailing from the east coast to San Francisco and was waiting for the man she was to marry to meet her. She felt his hand on her shoulder and knew she was home. I have tears telling it again.

I have no idea how her words got in my head, but if it is true and she is living in there giving me plots, I am not complaining. I have no idea where my ideas come from or why this time period and the gold country has always been important to me, but it's a gift and I intend to always nurture it. 

 

Wow, Paisley. Just wow! Time top pop the champagne cork. A story like this deserves some bubbly. Let's toast to your third book, to great sales and positive reviews. Did you bring a copy of the cover? Your publisher does great covers. I just love them.

 

Thanks. Everyone at Desert Breeze Publishing has treated me so well.  

 

BLURB: 

Abandoned by her sisters, her father in jail, Marinda Benjamin takes on the care of her ailing mother the best way possible -- working for an unscrupulous man with the power to crush her.  Forced to spy on a decent man, Marinda's honesty saves her virtue and revenge restores her self-respect.

When Ethan Braddock discovers his brother's poker pot cleaning his private office, he jumps to the right conclusion -- she's there to spy for his nemesis. Ethan can't help but find her irresistible. In spite of what his heart tells him, his brain reserves judgment on her character. Until he unravels the mystery of her connection to Danforth, trust is the one thing he can't allow himself. For that, she'll have to prove herself.

Marinda Benjamin won't marry until she finds the forever after kind of love. Has the man she's dreamed of loving been beside her all along?

 

 

Have some fruit, ladies. We're eating more fresh fruits and vegies around here thanks to the diabetes. Now, Paisley, share your excerpt with us. I can't wait!

EXCERPT:

 Fulton County, Illinois

August 1850

 

"I'll bet this little lady against whatever you've got in your hand."

A sudden hush stifled all the noise in the Hidey Hole Saloon. Master against novice. Who would win? Then quiet snickers began to echo off the wood walls. The regulars of the saloon moved in for a closer look.

Marinda Benjamin stared around at all the patrons who just witnessed her humiliation by Danforth's claim. She latched onto the back of her employer's chair to steady her crumbling nerves. Jonas Danforth had bet her, body and soul, in a card game.

Fancy women dressed in garish attire crowded around the poker table. Some stared at her with pity while a few sneered in obvious enjoyment of seeing another Benjamin sister fall from grace.

She wracked her brain for a way of preventing the ridiculous bet, but she knew Danforth held all the cards. Yet she had to stop this travesty. "Enough!" She stepped up beside his chair. "You can't do--"

The menace in Danforth's glare as he looked at her stopped her from saying more.

A malicious sneer marred his face. "As long as I hold the loan on your house, you'll do as I say. Is that clear?"

She wanted to run, but her feet refused to move. She wanted to speak her piece, as she always did, but now was not the time. So instead, she held her head high. She refused to allow Jonas Danforth to see her frustration. He had broken her father's spirit. He would not break hers.

The town's mischief-maker sat across from Danforth. Patrick Braddock glanced her way. "She looks like she might be worth five twenty-dollar gold eagles and I could use a servant. I call your bet. Let's see what ya got."

The knot in her stomach tightened.

Danforth put his concentration back to the table. He placed three kings on the table -- a heart, a diamond, and a spade. He leaned back and twirled his waxed mustache around his pinky finger. The smirk he directed her way turned her blood cold.

 

BUY LINKS:

 

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Pines-Forever-After-ebook/dp/B00FK8BWAO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380674597&sr=8-3&keywords=paisley+kirkpatrick

 

 

Desert Breeze

http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/paradise-pines-forever-after-epub

 

 

WHEW! WE HAVE PARTIED HEARTY TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF FOREVER AFTER. PAISLEY, WISHING YOU GREAT SALES, MY FRIEND!

Passion's Vision by Mary Adair

Folks, I'm excited to have historical author Mary Adair at Vintage Vonnie. Don't you just love her smile? Something about it says, Step closer. Let me whisper secrets so we can giggle about everyone else, 'cause you know we're all right. Mary's here to talk about her books set in the early era of America's history. Carolina Cherokee Natives are featured. My youngest son's mother-in-law is a descendant of these Carolina Cherokees. Both of my husband's grandmothers were Native. One was Monacan and the other Tutalo, of the Cherokee tribe in southern Virginia. (I'm not sure I spelled that correctly). So you know I'll have to have this entire series.

****



Thanks to Vonnie Davis for having me as her guest. And to thank you readers for reading my post, I’ll give away an e-book of PASSION’S VISION to one person who leaves a comment.

When I decided to try my hand at writing, I did what many other aspiring authors do…I looked back at my family history for a story. To my disappointment, there was nothing very exciting in my family line.  I haven’t given up on my family. I’m sure there is a story there somewhere. But…when I turned my attention to my husband’s family…WOW…I found a character on whom I just could not turn my back. This man inspired the Passion Series.

Again, like many other aspiring authors, I read everything I could find on this ancestor of my husband’s.  I read, took notes on the palm of my hand, the back of my hand, on my wrist, grocery store tabloids, gum wrappers, tiny notepads, anything I could get my hands on. I even carried a tiny recorder.  I just had to do this because there is no timetable or appropriate location for inspiration. It just happens.  During my more organized moments, I created a file to keep track of any historical events pertinent to my story. I created a basic outline containing interesting, exciting, death-defying and romantic escapades of my hero that I was sure would thrill my readers

This ancestor is James Adair who wrote, as I understand it, the first book outlining the lives of several Native American tribes. At the time I was researching this book, Adair's HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS, was difficult to find but I located an old copy. I used his book as one of my sources for research on the time as well as research on the man himself.

I must admit, much of my own romantic imagination went into creating James Fitz-Gerald. PASSION'S VISION is a fictional story about the love that grew between an agent of King George II and a Cherokee woman warrior. Thanks to Adair's book, I feel I was able to bring to life a time in history that was filled with adversity, pain, and adventure as well as pride, justice and a love for community and nature that sometimes feels lost in the world today.

 

Book two in the series, PASSION'S PRICE, continues the Fitz-Gerald’s family with Golden Dawn. Dawn is the daughter of James Fitz-Gerald and New Moon.  Her hair is fair and her eyes blue, but any resemblance to her European ancestry stops there. She grows up to be a warrior with the skill and determination of her mother. She also has her mother’s gift of vision.  I love stories of strong women. To me a woman can be strong in so many ways. The female heart is as fierce, determined and strong as any man’s, but it also holds a tenderness all its own.  New Moon and Golden Dawn are such women.

In book three, PASSION'S PROMISE, the story continues with Johnny Cloud. John is the son of Raven Cloud and Golden Dawn. Like his grandfather, James-Fitzgerald and his mother, Golden Dawn, Johnny possesses the warrior’s heart. He made a promise and he will fulfill it, not because it was a promise, but because he will not die before all he holds dear is safe.

 

Here’s the blurb for PASSION’S VISION:

Passion's Vision takes place in the mid 1700's in the Carolina Cherokee villages. James Fitz-Gerald is an agent for the Court of King George II. James is on an undercover mission from the King when he arrives in the Cherokee village, Chota Town. He knows this mission will be his most difficult with the lives of both white families and Native Americans in the balance. With this responsibility weighing heavily on him, the furthest thought from his mind is a romantic entanglement. That is, until his life is saved by a proud and beautiful Cherokee woman.

New Moon, sister to Chief Dancing Cloud, is a warrior in her own right. She hardly notices the white man whose life she saves in battle. But when James arrives in her village, she is reminded of the troubling visions sent to her by the Great Spirit. She determines within her heart, even after a vision from the Great Spirit telling her otherwise, she will never belong to a white man, and most assuredly not to this one her villagers call Red Panther.

PASSION’S VISION is the story of the love and respect that grows between an agent for the Court of King George II and a Cherokee Princess. Their lives are destined to be filled with adventure and triumph, sometimes with loss and pain, but always with passion.

Here’s an excerpt from PASSION’S VISION:

New Moon stood before the open doorway of her summer lodge and peered into the dark interior. Behind her she could hear the excitement of the village; it crawled over her skin like a thousand ants. She breathed deeply of the scent of wood smoke and roasting meat, but not even the comforting aromas that spoke of the safety of her home could quiet the uneasiness of her spirit.

His hair was the deep rich color of the great river’s clay. Every nerve, every sense, told her he was the one. She could feel him now, drawing closer.

As if in response to her thoughts, the village quieted. Even the dogs that had moments before been yelping suddenly stilled. She did not have to turn around to know they were watching him. He would at this moment be coming through the gate of the tall wooden wall surrounding their community.

***

James studied the tall timber walls on either side of them as they moved slowly through the narrow gateway. He had heard that the forts of the frontier were patterned after the design of the Cherokee’s walled villages. Above, standing guard along the tall wall, were warriors whose job it was to watch over the coming and going of the villagers and visitors.

Once all were through the gate, he pulled back lightly on the reins and his large stallion halted. From his vantage spot he had a clear view of the village. Unlike the plains Indian who lived in tents, these people lived in wooden lodges. Each wooden or summer lodge had a smaller domed structure beside it used for sleeping in the winter.

He saw the Peace Chief exit his lodge. Their eyes met briefly and James grinned as he looked away. His friend Dancing Cloud would not have shown surprise if he’d shown up in his village with a traveling circus, complete with clowns and dancing bears. Why would his expression be any different at seeing him dressed as a trader and riding double with Thomas?

As Dancing Cloud made his way in their direction, James let his gaze move from one detail of the village to another until his eyes focused on the straight, stiff back of a woman.

Something about her stance piqued his interest. Not one other person in the village stood with his back turned toward the new arrivals. In fact, the entire citizenship moved in their direction. Everyone…except her.

He tilted his head to one side and contemplated her behavior. She was doing nothing he could discern. Just standing there, waiting. For him? His skin tingled.

The buy links for PASSION’S VISION are

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/238620

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Passions-Vision-Series-ebook/dp/B006QQ0LVA/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371940548&sr=1-2&keywords=Mary+A+Adair

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passions-vision-mary-adair/1102609965?ean=2940045005364

About the author:

Mary A. Adair is an Amazon bestselling author of Native American romance, including the poignant PASSION’S VISION, recipient of the Betty Hendricks Award. Mary did extensive research on several Native American tribes for the 18^th century setting of her books. One of her many sources for learning about the rich Cherokee culture of that period was a book written in the mid 1700s by James Adair, an ancestor of her husband.

 

Mary is also the author of CAPTIVE SPIRITS, a young adult fantasy. Her day job life has been as a registered laboratory technician in radiology and phlebotomy. After spending most of her life as a Texan, she now lives in Eastern Oklahoma with her husband and their menagerie of animals.

Links:

Website www.maryadair.com

Blog http://authormaryadair.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ma.adair.5

Twitter @MaryAdairdotcom

 

I'm Having DejaVu and So Are You!

If you're a regular visitor to my blog, you're probably thinking didn't Vonnie just post this? In a way, yes, but this post includes an additional star. **SQUEE!** You see, I'd nominated the talented Sarah Grimm for Blog of the Year Award, and when she chose her blogs to nominate, mine was included in her list.

Sarah's like that, you know--personable, supportive and very appreciative of people in her life. I count myself as being very blessed to be included in her circle of online writing friends. So, believe me when I say she has this marvelous ability to write deep emotion. Emotions so sensually thick they wrap around you like a plump down comforter, making you hate to reach the story's end where you'll have to leave the warmth of the comforter to step into the often cold reality of life. Sarah's blog is http://www.authorsarahgrimm.blogspot.com/ Stop by to visit her. Get to know her, if you don't already.

This award is unlike other awards that you can only add to your blog once. This award can be updated with additional stars. For every time your blog is nominated, you get to add an additional star.

There are a total of “6” stars to collect. Which means that you can check out your favorite blogs—and even if they have already been given the award by someone else—you can still make your opinion count and pass it on to them again and help them (or me) reach the maximum of “6” stars.

The rules of the award are simple:

1. Select the blogs you think deserve the 2012 Blog of the Year Award.

2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen—there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required and present them with this award.

3. Please include a link back to this page: Blog of the Year Award. http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-rewards/blog-of-the-year-award/ and include these rules in your post. (Please don’t alter the rules or the badge!)

4. Let the blogs(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the rules with them.

5. You can now join our Facebook page – click the link here. ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award (http://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear/) and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.

Here are the blogs I've chosen to receive this award:


SUSAN MACATEE is one of my favorite historical authors. I love that she's so generous in sharing the fruits of all her historical research from corsets to button hooks to medical practices of the day. Mention history to Susan and she is instantly your friend. She's an expert on the Civil War era, a time I've always loved reading about. Her blog-- http://susanmacatee.wordpress.com/ --is always an interesting place to visit to get your 19th century historical fix.

http://chickswagger.com/ I love the way these young chicks think! Simply love it! Their blog is a fresh-air dose of reality infused with sass, snark and sixty feet of attitude. I've yet to read a blog post at Chick Swagger that didn't make me both laugh and look at things in a fresh light. Simply love these writers and their take on life--MISTY DIETZ, JOSIE MATTHEWS, RACHAEL SLATE, RENEE ANN MILLER and JODIE ROPER. If I were thirty years younger, I'd get down on my arthritic knees and beg--BEG!!--these chicks to let me swagger along with 'em.

For a couple years now, JENNIFER JAKES blog -- http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/ -- has been my go to spot on Monday mornings. Her Man Candy Monday feature has made me drool more than I should admit. Sigh, folks, simply sighhhhhh. One of the many things I love about Jennifer, other than her writing talent, is her selfless promotion of other writers. She's had me guest on her blog several times. Jennifer has written one of my favorite heros of all time. Rafe's Redemption, y'all. Just sayin'...

The King Must Die

I have the lovely N. Gemini Sasson visiting us today, talking about her new release, The Kind Must Die. She is also the author of The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy: Book I), Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy: Book II), The Honor Due a King (The Bruce Trilogy: Book III) and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist for Historical Fiction). She holds a M.S. in Biology from Wright State University where she ran cross country on athletic scholarship. She has worked as an aquatic toxicologist, an environmental engineer, a teacher and a track and cross country coach.

A longtime breeder and judge of Australian Shepherds, her articles on bobtail genetics have been translated into seven languages.

·         What is your life like away from the computer? Tell us something about your household.

‘Crazy-busy’ is the best way to describe things at our house. Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sedate and routine would bore more to tears! My husband and I are serial remodelers, if you can call rehabbing two houses that. We’ve done everything from flooring and fencing, to gutting entire rooms of their drywall down to the studs. We’re also longtime breeders of Australian Shepherds and currently own seven dogs. We used to be very involved in showing and training in agility, herding and conformation, but our travel time eventually got snatched up by an active pair of kids. Our son and daughter are in college now, but both compete in racewalking in track and field for their schools. We’re the type of parents who go to every event our kids are in that we can, so our Saturdays are often spent at track meets, no matter what the weather. Former tracksters ourselves, we love living vicariously through them now. When I’m not working on the house, training dogs or at a race, I can be found in the garden pulling weeds. It’s very relaxing and great therapy – a nice change of pace. Stepping away from the computer frequently is necessary for my sanity. My best ideas for stories come to me when I’m thinking about other things entirely.

·         What is your writing schedule like?

Schedule? You mean people actually write on a schedule? I’m not sure how I could manage that. All I can say is that my hours and productivity level vary a lot. Some days, when The Muse is being generous, I start at 9 a.m. and work until 11 p.m. But that’s not until I get at least halfway through writing a book and I know where I’m going with it. The beginning can be a slog, in which all kinds of distractions (scraping the algae off the fish tank glass, cleaning the grout in the shower, dusting the nicknack shelf) are all screaming at me to get done just in case a visitor drops by, even though no one ever does. I eschew (love that word, been waiting to use it for weeks) the daily word count concept. Instead, I aim for chapter completion and pencil that in on my calendar. It’s important I have flexibility in my ‘schedule’, so some days I work like a maniac, some days I simply attend to life in all its craziness.

·         Do you ever dream of writing in a different genre?

I plan on doing just that. Like a lot of people, my tastes are somewhat eclectic. I’m more interested in an engaging story with characters who overcome obstacles and grow emotionally than I am in the specifics of any single genre. I love historical settings, and the past provides me with a ready-made framework for my novels, but adhering to actual events also comes with its limitations. I do plan on branching out and welcome the opportunity to connect  with readers who may not find history relevant to their own modern lives. I enjoy books that reach us on a very basic, emotional level, like Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain and Bruce Cameron’s A Dog’s Purpose.

·         What part of the writing process brings you the most pleasure? The most angst?

Being ‘in the flow’ of a story is the most exhilarating. By that, I mean the stage after it’s already well-plotted, the characters have begun to flesh out and you know them well enough that they are telling you what happens next. It’s like being possessed, only in a good way. Oddly, I also like the stage when the first rough draft is completed and the heavy edits are going on. I enjoy smoothing over the little burrs and pulling it all together to get to the finished product. Getting closure is very motivating.

The hardest part for me is just starting a new project. It’s daunting knowing how many months it’s going to take and that I’m going to hit walls along the way. It reminds me of beginning a major home remodeling project: You know it’s going to take time and effort and it’s never, never as easy as you think it should be, even though you’ve done it before.

·         What are you currently working on?

Good question! Well, there are stacks of chapters scattered on my living room floor of a 15^th century historical novel about the Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr, but I also have a notebook of ideas whispering my name, beckoning to me. One of those epiphanies came to me in the shower the other day. Let me just say it entails a castle on the Scottish coast, past lives and impossible choices.

·         Has your road to publication been a walk in the park or a steep mountain climb? Give us some details?

Definitely a mountain climb, but more of a looooong gradual one. My road to publication is something I never would have envisioned ten years ago, but I’m thrilled it worked out the way it has. Originally, I went the traditional route, which is query, query, query, submit, get an agent, and then submit to publishers, wait, wait, wait. We came close a couple of times. Alas, the stars did not align in our favor. At that point, I had four books under my belt and was in the midst of writing what eventually became The King Must Die. I had to decide whether to finish it and go through the long traditional process again or try something new. I talked it over with my agent and decided to self-publish. I re-wrote all four books, put them through rigorous editing, learned about digital publishing and went for it, blindly I might add. It was excruciatingly slow-going at first. I was happy to sell a hundred books  by my fourth month and figured it wouldn’t go much beyond that. Somehow, magically it seems, sales snowballed and I’m now creeping up on 50,000 books sold worldwide.

·         Tell us about your current release…or soon to be release.

The King Must Die is the sequel to Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Historical Fiction Silver Medal), although either book can be read as a standalone. When I came across references to Isabella while researching my Robert the Bruce trilogy, I couldn’t believe other novelists hadn’t pounced on her story before. At the outset of The King Must Die, it’s 1326 and Isabella and her lover Mortimer have invaded England, ousted Edward II from the throne and put Isabella’s son in his place. Soon after, the former king is found dead in his cell and the mystery of it haunts Isabella’s conscience. She’s torn between standing by Mortimer and her love for her son.

Thanks a million for having me, Vonnie, and letting me talk about my crazy writing life!

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Folks, follow the tour and comment; the more YOU comment, the better YOUR chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/04/virtual-book-tour-king-must-die-by-n.html

BLURB:

What is done cannot be undone.

England, 1326. Edward II has been dethroned. Queen Isabella and her lover, Sir Roger Mortimer, are at the pinnacle of their power.

Fated to rule, Isabella’s son becomes King Edward III at the callow age of fourteen. Young Edward, however, must bide his time as the loyal son until he can break the shackles of his minority and dissolve the regency council which dictates his every action.

When the former king is found mysteriously dead in his cell, the truth becomes obscured and Isabella can no longer trust her own memory . . . or confide in those closest to her. Meanwhile, she struggles to keep her beloved Mortimer at her side and gain yet another crown—France’s—for the son who no longer trusts her.

Amidst a maelstrom of shifting loyalties, accusations of murder propel England to the brink of civil war.

In the sequel to Isabeau, secrecy and treason, conspiracy and revenge once again overtake England. The future rests in the hands of a mother and son whose bonds have reached a breaking point.

Isabella – Westminster, February, 1327

The reminder that I was still married to Edward of Caernarvon stung like an open cut, fresh and deep down to the vein. Except for the sharp whistling of my indrawn breath, the room was silent. Bishop Orleton must have sensed the tension between Mortimer and me, for he excused himself, closing the door firmly behind him.

I turned away to face the row of windows, the world beyond dark with night. In moments, Mortimer’s arms encircled my waist from behind, tugging me gently against him. I kept my body stiff, tempering my resolve against his nearness, but already my knees were weakening beneath me.

“Isabeau ... sweet heaven of mine.” Light fingers traced over my hips, wandering slowly up toward my ribs. His breath stirred on my neck, a fiery breeze of longing. “Let me hold you tonight, hour upon hour, until the dawn.”

I shook my head, even as I felt myself wanting to yield, to abandon all. “I’m afraid, Roger.”

      He turned me around, his lips brushing against the crown of my hair, over my ear, the slope of my shoulder. Not until my breathing slowed and I half-closed my eyes, waiting for more, did he lift his head to speak. A smirk, hinting of something sinister, flashed across his mouth. Or perhaps I merely imagined it? His thumb stroked tenderly at my cheek, soothing away my worries. “Afraid of what—that he’ll go free? You needn’t worry, my love. I’ll make sure he never has the chance.”

 

Links:

Web site: http://www.ngeminisasson.com

Blog: http://ngeminisasson.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NGeminiSasson

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NGeminiSasson

 Folks, I've read this book. I love a good learning experience and Gemini holds nothing back. Her research shines as she weaves a tapestry of greed, power struggles, betrayal and love. But what makes her historical powerful are the flesh and blood characters, full of foibles and passions, that grab you by the throat and compel you to read on. Her descriptions are so richly detailed you are drawn into the era. I highly recommend this story.

GEORGIE LEE -- Historical Romance Author

My guest today is historical romance writer, Georgie Lee, author of Mask of the Gladiator. All writers do research and some of them, like me, do it rather willy-nilly with no direction or focus. Georgie has agreed to share some of her research tips with us.

~ Get Ready to Delve Into Research ~

I am a non-fiction history fanatic and I have been since junior high. I’m not saying I didn’t read my share of Sweet Valley High or Flowers in the Attic, but I was probably the only one in my class devouring tomes on Tudor England or ancient Egypt. I’m so familiar with the historical section of the library that, depending on what I’m working on, I know instantly whether to head for the 930s or the 940s. For my ancient Rome novella, Mask of the Gladiator, I headed straight to the 930s and delved into the tense days surrounding the assassination of Emperor Caligula.

 

Not everyone is as big a history buff as I am or as eager to crack open a history book. However, if you’ve ever visited an old home or heard a great snippet of local lore and thought “That would make a great story,” get ready to delve into some non-fiction. To help you take the plunge, I’ve compiled a few tips to get you started.

So, let’s begin.

First, learn about the era. Choose some overview books and delve in to the politics, people and feel of a time period. For instance, if you know you want to write a book set in France, you’ll find a very different country under Louis XIV than Louis XVI. Also, understanding the bigger picture can help you craft your story. Your characters will have a very different experience in Versailles France than they will in Revolutionary France.

 

Now that you know about an era, pinpoint the date the story takes place then narrow down your research. Discover who was and wasn’t alive at the time and what did and didn’t exist. Learn about the politics and current events and the thoughts and ideas influencing people’s lives. Study the art and architecture, get a real sense of what it was like to live during that exact moment in time.

 

Once you know your date, learn about the details of daily life. Everything from the food and clothes to the language and daily rituals will help you craft your story and make the characters more believable. Also, when your plot hits a sticking point, a little research can go a long way to helping get your story back on track.

 

Speaking of tracking, don’t forget to keep track of your research. Take detailed notes along with the book title and page number and make sure to keep it organized. Collect it in a binder or post it to a note taking website. You never know when an editor will ask a question and you’ll have to back up your answer with your research.

 

I hope you enjoyed this brief primer on research and that it helps you get started. Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts and ideas. I always enjoy hearing about and learning from other people’s methods.

Mask of the Gladiator

By Georgie Lee

Rome, 41 AD

Livia Duronius is driven to seek out a gladiator after watching him triumph in the Colosseum. His touch arouses a sense of hope she hasn't felt since Rome fell under the tyrannical rule of Caligula—and her late husband betrayed her. Though in danger of losing more than her heart, she vows to see him again, even after she learns her uncle has arranged her marriage to a senator.

Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.

When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costs—even from the lecherous eyes of the emperor...

Bio

A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of the entertainment industry.

Her traditional Regency, Lady’s Wager and her contemporary novella Rock ‘n’ Roll Reunion are both available from Ellora’s Cave Blush. Labor Relations, a contemporary romance of Hollywood is currently available from Avalon Books. Mask of the Gladiator, a novella of ancient Rome is now available from Carina Press. Look for her novel of love in the golden age of Hollywood from Avalon Books in 2012.

When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit www.georgie-lee.comfor more information about Georgie and her novels.

Social Media Links

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Georgie-Lee/1118655216

Twitter: @GeorgieLeeBooks

Buy Links

Mask of the Gladiator - http://ebooks.carinapress.com/1C1CE451-9420-4E12-8657-AE8CE6C6F330/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=561AB37C-9999-418D-A4DB-219BD27E7D11