Happy Saturday! Are you looking for a great summer read for the cottage or back deck? 

I have just the book for you! I recently read this lovely Highlander romance from Harlequin Historicals. It’s been a while since I’ve read one and this story totally enamoured me. Here’s what you need to know…

When Royce wakes with no memories and suddenly blind, his situation seems dire. The only thing he remembers is being attacked by shadowy figures…but not the beautiful woman who came to his rescue. Now Iona MacKenzie’s every touch drives Royce wild. But when news of a manhunt for him reaches them, Royce must uncover his past if he has any chance of saving himself—and the woman he’s falling for…

Here’s my Review:

The post A Book Review of “A Laird Without A Past” by Historical Romance Author Jeanine Englert appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome to the blog, Colleen! Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a New Englander by birth, but I met and married a Southerner in college. Since we married, I’ve lived more of my life in the South than I did in New England, although I don’t consider myself Southern. Warren is my own real-life hero! I love horses and have been privileged to own several horses from the time I was young. Right now, I’m down to one horse, Monty, who is an affectionate sweetheart. I also love antiques and have filled my house with them. My son tells me I live in a museum.

Can you please share with us what your latest book is about?

Warrior’s Heart is a second chance at love story. Della and Wild Wind meet in Book 2, Wounded Heart, when he captures her in a raid. At that time, her heart is already given to Shane, his Cheyenne half brother. It isn’t until Book 3 that their romance can fully develop, although she’s grieving for her dead husband. Also there was much hostility in those days toward the tribes, which complicates Wild Wind’s life.

What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?

I think my love for writing developed from my love of reading. When I was younger, I fell in love with many fictional characters. I yearned to create my own fictional people and give them adventures, so I did. My mother tells me I wrote my first story in third grade. When I was in grammar school, I’d write a long story in daily installments, and my friends would read the latest installment on the bus on the way home from school. I wrote novels all through high school, and now I’m doing the thing that I love!

Were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?

Actually, the entire premise for Warrior’s Heart came as a surprise. I originally didn’t plan to write Wild Wind’s story. I planned for Book 3 in my series to feature another character. However, Wild Wind is such a powerful person, he was in my head demanding that I tell his story. I wasn’t getting anywhere with my other idea, so I scrapped that and gave in to Wild Wind. As I worked on a plot for Wild Wind’s story, I never intended for Della and Wild Wind to marry.

She and Shane Hunter had married, and I planned to give Wild Wind another love interest. Once again, Wild Wind took control and tossed out my ideas for his story. He absolutely refused to love the lady I’d created for him. Wild Wind insisted that he already loved Della and refused to love anyone else. Since Della and Shane were married, I had to make her a widow in Book 3 to allow Wild Wind and her to have a romance. Once I gave in to him on this point, their story came together and flew off the page.

I love it when that happens! Who was your favorite character to create?

Although I love the characters in all my books, Wild Wind was definitely my favorite character. From the very beginning, he became almost larger than life and took control of the plot. Even when he was introduced in the last third of Wounded Heart, he dominated the story. I had to be careful not to let him overshadow Shane, who was the hero in Book 2. By the time he had his own story in Warrior’s Heart, he was a powerful person who dominated the plot and didn’t let circumstances control him. I fell in love with him!

How did you come up with the names of your hero and/or heroine?

I researched popular female Victorian names to get Della’s name. The name “Della” seemed to suit the character that I was creating, so I chose that one for her. As for Wild Wind, I researched male Cheyenne names and found that one for him. Since I wanted his character to be a man who would disregard white society’s law and order and become a fearsome Dog Soldier, “Wild Wind” fit the criteria. Once I gave him that name, he lived up to it!

What does your family think of your writing?

My writing is definitely a family project. I have two daughters-in-law who are trained in art and design. One of my daughters-in-law helps me with my newsletter design and develops the announcements for my book signings. The other one creates my bookmarks and other swag. My sons lend their technical skills where I need them, especially with my newsletter. And my husband listens to my story ideas, sympathizes with my setbacks, takes me on countless research trips, and cheerfully eats sandwiches or leftovers when I don’t have time to cook supper because I’m immersed in one of my manuscripts.

You’re so lucky! Can I borrow your son for my newsletter? Just kidding! What’s next for you as an author?

I’ve sent the manuscript for Book 5 to my editor. Book 5, Valiant Heart, is the final book in my Frontier Hearts Saga. Now I’m developing ideas and doing research for my next series.

You’ve been on quite a journey with this series! Here’s the cover and back blurb for Warrior Heart:

Della Hunter is struggling to adjust to her new life as a widow and be a single parent to her young son. Her world is further complicated when the man she almost married seven years before rides back into her life.

Wild Wind, her late husband’s half-brother, is a Cheyenne chieftain and a Dog Soldier of fearsome reputation. He no longer fights the soldiers, but he can’t tolerate a life on the reservation, so he makes the dangerous trek into the white man’s world. He comes to the Slash L ranch looking for work.

As he takes his brother’s place training horses on the Slash L, he must navigate two cultures and make his way in a society hostile to the tribes. During the years they were separated, his love for Della never wavered. While she grieves for Shane, he determines to woo and win her. Can he bridge the gap between his two worlds, and can he find it in his heart to love Della’s God as she does?

Please share your favourite excerpt from your book!

This is part of the scene at the beginning of Warrior’s Heart, where Della and Wild Wind meet again after a seven-year separation. Della is visiting Shane’s grave, and Wild Wind comes to the Slash L ranch looking for work.

“The rider halted mere yards from her. Recognition punched Della in the chest. She hadn’t seen this man in almost seven years, yet she knew him. Wild Wind. Shane’s half-brother sat his mount almost within touching distance.

For silent moments, Wild Wind stared down at her. An eagle feather fluttered from a lock of his long, dark hair. A fringed buckskin shirt and leather leggings molded his muscular frame. A rifle slung over his shoulder hung from a leather strap.

The years they’d spent apart hadn’t tempered his arrogance. He sat tall and erect upon his mount, head unbowed, his lean features expressionless. At last, he spoke. “Lona.”

Hearing him utter the name he’d given her years ago took her back to the weeks she’d spent in his Cheyenne village. Weeks when she’d thought she’d marry him, if Shane didn’t rescue her first. Remembering the more recent tales she’d heard of Wild Wind and his Dog Soldiers fighting the army in bloody raids during the last six years reminded her that this man had a reputation as a fearsome warrior. “Wild Wind. Do you come in peace?”

©2021 Colleen Hall

Wow! Here’s where people can buy Warriors Heart, and check out the rest of the series:

https://amzn.to/39K1yvF

If you’d like to connect with Colleen you can find her online here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenHallRomance

Website: https://www.colleenhallromance.com/

Newsletter: Readers can sign up for my newsletter from my website.

If you’d like to ask Colleen anything about her western series or her writing in general, please leave a comment for her.  Do you read westerns? What is your favourite decade from the 1800’s?

The post Author Interview with Colleen Hall – Frontier Hearts Saga Series reaches 5 books appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

The post Author Interview and Giveaway with Wendy Wilson Spooner appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome to the Blog, Nola! Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Thanks for inviting me on the blog today, Laurie. I was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, but I’ve lived in a large inland town in southeast Queensland for more than 30 years. My husband Tim and I were both lecturers at the local university for more than 20 years. In 2013 we left those jobs and started a home-based freelance writing and editing business called The Write Flourish. Since then, I’ve focused more on my writing and I’m enjoying the freedom of being more creative. I write fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, and have had more than 150 short pieces published. Scattered is my first novel.

Describe your story in 5 sentences or less:

Nineteen-year-old Maggie sets sail for Nova Scotia in 1882 to search for her young brother and sister who were mistakenly sent to Canada as part of the Home Children Migrant Scheme. She’s shipwrecked en route, and the trail to find her siblings has gone cold by the time she reaches Halifax. An industrialist offers her assistance, but he has his own reasons for keeping Maggie’s siblings from her. With the help of a dashing newspaperman, she starts sorting through the secrets and lies, but lives will be on the line as they continue their quest. There’s adventure, mystery, and romance along the way, and Maggie has to learn to trust God no matter the outcome.

What is the inspiration behind your story?

The story was inspired by two separate incidents on a trip to Canada in 2012. First, I learned that Sable Island was known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic because more than 350 ships had been wrecked there. They weren’t running tours to Sable Island at the time, but I became fascinated with the shipwrecks, the lifesaving station and its colony of wild horses. Then when we went to Prince Edward Island, I heard about a man called John Willoughby who had helped reunite many of the descendants of the British Home Children with their families. It took me a while to work out how I could weave all of those elements into a plot, but the seeds of the story were planted.

What book do you wish you would have written?

I may as well start at the top and say To Kill a Mockingbird. I read it as 16-year-old because it was required reading for school, but I loved it. Coming from Australia, I knew very little about the Civil Rights Movement at that stage, and it was an eye-opener for me. I could feel the injustice as an innocent man was convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. The subplot with Boo Radley also touched me because it showed how easy it is to misjudge someone because they’re different. To write a book that challenges injustice and still resonates with readers decades later would be my dream.

Were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?

As the story is set in 1882, I was always discovering something new. Some of them were pleasant surprises, but others had me pulling my hair out. For example, for the first few years that I was writing Scattered, my villain was going to operate a trade route between Halifax and Boston. Then I discovered almost by chance that there were high tariffs at the time, making it unlikely that he would embark on such a venture. So I had to do a lot of research to work out where he could have gone instead. In the end, I think it worked out better for the plot, but I had to completely rewrite large chunks of the story.

Who was your favorite character to create?

I’d have to say my heroine, Maggie. She has depths of resilience she never dreamed she could have. As I got to know her better and saw her working through the many obstacles placed in her path, it also made me wonder what I would do in her situation. She has to grapple with God and come to accept that when things are at rock bottom, He is the one who will never let her down. I think it’s a lesson we all need to learn at some point.

Are you a plotter or a panster?

I’m a tweener. I like to have the main plot points in place so that I know where I’m heading, but I also like some of it to emerge organically as I write. I’m trying to do more plotting for my next novel before I begin, but I’ll never be the kind of person who has it all mapped out in minute detail beforehand.

Are you part of a writing group?

Yes, and I couldn’t get by without them. My main writing group, The Quirky Quills, have been with me through thick and thin and we’ve all encouraged each other on our writing journeys. We all live in the same town, so manage to catch up regularly. However, I’m also involved in some wonderfully supportive Christian online communities—Christian Writers Downunder, Omega Writers, and Australasian Christian Writers.

What’s next for you as an author?

I’m currently plotting a sequel that will take place 13 years after the first novel. I don’t want to say too much at this stage, but the heroine will be one of the secondary characters from Book 1. I also have some smaller projects on the go, including a series of devotions on lessons learned from COVID-19 that we can take with us into the future.

Here is Nola’s stunning cover for SCATTERED and a brief excerpt:

This section is from Chapter 1:

The lifeboat slammed into the water, bow first, sending a wash of white foam over their feet. The stern slapped down a second later, jolting Maggie sideways. Essie and Ruby howled, but Maggie could do little except hold them. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t breathe.

The rope attached to the stern snapped and recoiled like an angry snake. Maggie’s head whipped around to the bow where one remaining line tethered the lifeboat. Each wave twisted their stricken vessel, threatening to smash it against the crippled Excelsior.

‘I can’t free the line.’ Higgins leaned over the side to get a better reach. ‘It must be snagged.’

A surge of water rammed the lifeboat, crushing Higgins against the side of the ship. A cry ripped from Maggie’s lips as she reached for him. The line released. Higgins slid into the murky sea.

Mrs Plowhurst beat her chest with her hands. ‘We’re doomed. We’re all doomed.’ Maggie’s heartbeat ratcheted up. The lifeboat’s oars were still on the deck of the Excelsior, and she and Mrs Plowhurst were adrift with the children. There were no words to offer. No hope to give.

Bubbling foam cascaded over their feet. The lifeboat twisted and jerked, each wave propelling them away from the ship. Mrs Plowhurst scrunched her face up like a sponge. ‘I’m not ready to meet my Maker.’ She tucked her arms around her heaving bosom and rocked back and forth.

Edward crawled towards Maggie, putting distance between himself and his hysterical mother.

‘We’ll be all right, ma’am,’ Maggie said. ‘They’ll launch the other boat and come after us.’ As soon as the words left her mouth, Maggie knew they were untrue. There was a gaping hole in the ship’s hull a little above the waterline. Their lifeboat was drifting further and further away. No one could rescue them.

A roar rumbled across the sea. Maggie squinted through the pre-dawn haze as the ghostly silhouette of the Excelsior broke in two. The stern reared up before plunging beneath the waves.

The orange splash of daybreak set the ocean ablaze, the captain and remaining crew lost to its fiery cauldron.

Here’s the back cover copy of the book:

To lose her family was unthinkable …

To find them will take a miracle.

While working in Europe, nineteen-year-old Maggie never dreamed that her family would be ripped apart and scattered across the sea, with her young brother and sister sent to Canada as part of the Home Children Migrant Scheme.

Desperation sends Maggie on a search from England to Canada, with a harrowing shipwreck leaving her stranded on Sable Island. Eventually arriving in Halifax, Maggie is devastated to discover the trail to find her sister and brother has gone cold.

An offer of help from industrialist Thaddeus Tharaday seems like an answer to prayer, but is the wealthy Tharaday her benefactor or nemesis?

With the help of a dashing newspaper reporter, Maggie begins to unravel the web of deceit surrounding her siblings’ disappearance. However, the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her quest becomes.

With lives on the line and the threat of everything she loves being torn away, can Maggie entrust the scattered pieces of her heart to the one who will never leave?

Set in Victorian-era Nova Scotia, Scattered weaves together elements of mystery, adventure, faith and romance to take readers on a journey of hope and courage that will resonate with their hearts today.

You can find Nola online here:

Website: www.nolalorraine.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolalorraine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nolalorraine1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/nolalorraine1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20499007.Nola_Lorraine

You can buy SCATTERED here:

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Scattered-Nola-Lorraine-ebook/dp/B08CCSVGY3/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Book Depository – https://www.bookdepository.com/Scattered-Nola-Lorraine/9781922135506

Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scattered-nola-lorraine/1137329715?ean=9781922135506

OR you can WIN a free PRINT copy by leaving a comment below…have you ever heard of the Home Children Migrant Scheme? This was still going on in the mid-1900’s. My own husband’s paternal grandparents came over as older children and met when they were teenagers working on Canadian farms. Join in on the conversation!

The post Author Interview & Giveaway with Nola Lorraine appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome to the blog today, Linda. What is the inspiration behind your story?

After reading Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series about the three Paxton brothers, I decided to write a series about three sisters. Because of a long career in Human Resources, I am intrigued by the impact WWII had on women in the workplace, so I read lots of memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies. I wanted the sisters to hold atypical jobs to shine the light on some of the lesser known ways women served during the war. While perusing my bookshelves to figure out what direction to take with my story, I saw my copy of Sisterhood of Spies by Elizabeth McIntosh who joined the Office of Strategic Services in 1943 and conducted operations against the Japanese in Burma and China. Having written a book set in occupied Paris last year, I decided to go back to that location with my spies.

What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?

I’ve been writing since I was about seven or eight years old when my parents gave me a huge notebook (featuring a bouquet of pencils on the cover) and a package of pens. I filled that notebook and continued to make up stories. I even ran a family newspaper for a little while. I love the process of crafting sentences to create an image or thought.

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find time in your day to write?

I have a full time job as the dining and catering manager for a boarding high school. I’m a morning person, so I make time to write before I leave for work. I’m usually at my desk by 6:00 giving me about ninety minutes to write. Fortunately, I only live three miles from work, so I don’t lose time commuting. On Wednesdays, I work the night shift, so I write until lunchtime. Editing is done in the evenings, and blogging on the weekends.

Who was your favorite character to create?

I loved writing Emily. She’s a conglomeration of people, one of whom was in the Netflix reality show “Churchill’s Secret Agents: The New Recruits” that aired in 2018. In the program, fourteen contestants went through the same training as Britain’s Special Operations Executive spies, and I found myself rooting for one young woman who everyone was convinced wouldn’t make the grade. She had a tenacity and grit that made up for her lack of physical stature, passing the course with flying colors. She immediately came to mind when I was thinking about the characteristics I wanted Emily to have. As the youngest of the three sisters, Emily also has a lot to prove, giving her additional gumption.

How did you come up with the names of your hero and/or heroine?

I own several 1940’s high school and college yearbooks that I use to find character names. Yearbooks are one of my favorite used bookstore treasures.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m definitely a plotter. I create an extensive (15-25 pages) scene by scene outline that includes point of view, date, day of the week, weather, events of the time period, and “hook.” That’s not to say my characters don’t occasionally wander off in directions I didn’t plan, but for the most part my story follows the outline. I also create a spreadsheet for the main and secondary characters that includes personal histories, physical characteristics, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and fears.

What are your three favorite books?

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof, Until June by Barbara Britton, and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. All three of these books moved me to the extent the characters have remained with me. I’ve reread The Lady and Redeeming Love several times. Until June just came out, but I know I will also reread it.

What’s next for you as an author?

In addition to Love at First Flight, a WWII romance that released on September 15, I’m excited to share that I’m part of several multi-author projects which are series of books written by numerous authors and connected by a common theme. Legacy of Love is part of the Keepers of the Light series and comes out in November, and A Bride for Seamus is part of the Proxy Bride series and will be out in December. Both are set in the late 1800s. During 2021 I’ll be publishing more World War II era books as well as participate in additional multi-author series.

Here is the stunning cover of Love at First Flight, along with an excerpt for you to enjoy:

Gerard Lucas swallowed a grin. He couldn’t let Emily Strealer see how much he enjoyed her discomfort. Since seeing her name on the roster two days ago, he’d had time to adjust to the knowledge of their paths crossing again. Stunned at the thought of the gorgeous young woman parachuting behind enemy lines, he reviewed her file to determine why the agency selected her.

He’d recognized the woman’s intelligence on the plane, but her record spoke volumes about her potential. Her language skills and knowledge of the French people were impeccable, and her aptitude scores were higher than every student. Her fine motor skills exceeded his own. She excelled on the intuition tests and passed the psychology evaluation with flying colors.

All well and good, but would she be able to kill a man with her bare hands?

Probably not. Her timidity on the plane during takeoff and the turbulence incident didn’t bode well. Better for her to fail here and sent home than to put her in a situation from which she couldn’t recover.

“Welcome, everyone. Congratulations on making it this far. You’re among the brightest America has to offer, and we appreciate your willingness to serve. Most of your training has been book learning, but that’s about to change. The next five weeks will be the most physically challenging of the course, probably more demanding than you’ve ever experienced.” His gaze swept the room, then he zeroed in on Miss Strealer. “This training will make the difference between whether you live or die in the field.”

Her eyes widened, and her eyebrows shot up.

He had to give her credit for maintaining her composure. She didn’t gasp or go pale like some of the other female students. Did she have the fortitude for this after all?

“Anyone want to back out? No one will blame you if you’re unwilling to put your life on the line.” He pointed to a pair of women in the back who had exchanged a fearful glance. “How about you ladies? Want to stay?”

“Yes, sir.” They spoke in unison.

They wouldn’t last the week. “Fine.” He gestured to a smug-looking young man lounging in his chair. “What about you, tough guy? Think you’ve got what it takes?”

“Absolutely. I’m from the Bowery. Nothing more dangerous than that.”

Gerard narrowed his eyes. “We’ll see.” He sauntered forward until he stood inches from Miss Strealer then peered down his nose at her. “And you? Can you handle crawling in the dirt, running for hours wearing a pack, or escaping detection from tracker dogs?”

She sat up, ramrod straight, and glared at him. “Yes, sir. Any reason to believe I can’t?”

“That remains to be seen.”

Her face pinked, but she continued to stare him down. She seemed to have gumption, but would her grit and spunk be enough to keep her alive longer than the six-week average lifespan of a radio operator?

He rubbed his hands together. “All right, enough conversation. Let’s get cracking.” Gerard clicked on the overhead projector then dimmed the lights. Moving to the screen, he poked a photograph of a small building. “The first topic we’re going to discuss is how to attack an enemy-occupied house. Needless to say, surprise is crucial in these situations. Without it, your mission has a great chance of failure.”

Holding up his thumb, he said, “First, there must be a detailed preliminary reconnaissance of the approaches to the house and the house itself.” His index finger went up. “Second, there must be a definite plan of action to which everyone adheres. No mavericks, no gunslingers.” Gerard shot a look at the New Yorker. “Got that, Bowery?”

The recruit nodded.

Gerard clapped his hands, the sound sharp in the silence. “Now, if the group is going to avoid casualties, speed and aggression must be used as soon as the action begins. Lastly, it is essential that every allowance be made by the leader for the original plan to go awry. Be prepared for the worst, because if something can go wrong, there’s a strong possibility it will. That’s when your real mettle comes into play.”

With a flourish, he stabbed the windows and door on the house’s image then swapped the Mylar sheet with a photograph of the back of the building. “Lots of ways into this place. Who has an idea about the means of ingress?”

“One of the windows in the back?” A timid suggestion rose from the middle of the group.

“Nope, you’re dead. No one can enter quickly, and you’re an easy target as soon as you get in. More often than not, you have to jump down when entering through a window.”

“The roof. Definitely the roof.”

“Excellent, Bowery. It’s the most advantageous route because you can drive the enemy lower, and he can’t roll any grenades on top of you. However, before you congratulate yourself, be aware it’s next to impossible to get there undetected because you’re bound to make noise. So, you’re probably dead, too.”

Miss Strealer raised her hand.

“What say you, Miss Strealer?”

She licked her lips.

He blinked so as not to stare at her alluring mouth. Get a grip, Lucas. “Well?”

“Uh, the back door because it’s less likely to be defended, at least as strongly as the front?”

“Is that a question or a statement? Seems like a definite maybe.”

Her left eyebrow rose, and her chin jutted out. “A statement. Most times the back has better coverage because the landscaping isn’t as trimmed or well cared for.”

“Very good. If you can’t enter via a skylight in the roof, the back door is your second best option.” He tossed a glance at her. “Congratulations, Miss Strealer. You’re not dead…yet.”

You can buy this wonderful story here: Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B086696351

Where can readers find you online?

Website/blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Newsletter signup (receive a free short story): https://mailchi.mp/74bb7b34c9c2/lindashentonmatchettnewsletter

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

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Shenton-Matchett/e/B01DNB54S0

BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author_linda_matchett

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

Twitter: @lindasmatchett

Readers, Linda is giving away an ebook copy of her book to one lucky commentator! Do you read WWII fiction, and what have been your favourite books so far?

The post Author Interview and Giveaway with Linda Matchett appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome to my blog, Barbara! Please, tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m a wife and a mom who enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. I also enjoy history. My first Historical released over the summer.

I live in Wisconsin, but my father was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He met my mom when his flight squadron was in San Francisco doing joint maneuvers with the U.S. Air Force. My childhood vacations were spent on Vancouver Island with family.

Can you describe your story in 5 sentences or less?

Josephine is a seamstress extraordinaire devoted to her family and a complicated veteran.

Geoff is a wounded warrior who needs a delicate push to grab hold of life again.

Riley is an abandoned dog who finds a home in the making.

What is the inspiration behind your story?

For my twentieth wedding anniversary, my family took a cruise to Alaska. We traveled to the Taku Glacier Lodge outside of Juneau on a cruise ship excursion. While we ate lunch in the lodge, I heard how a WWI veteran and his caregiver had stayed in the lodge after the war. The pair was cut off from Juneau when the Taku River froze during winter. A man and a woman alone in a lodge? That is how the story of “Until June” began.

What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?

I have always enjoyed writing stories. I was the kid in class that when the teacher gave a writing assignment, my mind was off thinking of stories to write while my classmates groaned. Throughout my schooling, no one ever mentioned going into writing as a career. Many years later, I was teaching chapel to elementary students. I had kindergarten through fifth grade all at one time. I spent a lot of time modifying curriculum about Bible stories for the vast age range I taught. One day I prayed, “Lord, hit me with some creativity.” God did. I wrote my lessons and continued writing novels. I didn’t start writing Biblical Fiction until my fourth manuscript and that was the first book that received a publishing contract.

Were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?

I have worked on “Until June” for over ten years. It was the second novel that I finished, but I had a lot to learn about the craft of writing and the publishing business before the manuscript would be good enough to sell.  Through conversations with literary agents and writing friends, I learned my characters were too far apart in age, their stay at the lodge was too long (originally 3 years), and I had to end my chapters with conflict. All my chapters ended with my characters going to bed. Boring endings mean a reader can put your book down and never pick it up again.

The title also changed over the years. “Left for Dead Lodge” was the original title and makes one think of a horror movie. “War Torn Hearts” came next. My Mom loved this one. I finally settled on “Until June” because Josephine agrees to take care of Geoff at the lodge until June. Enough time for the pandemic of 1918 to pass.

Are you part of a writing group?

Yes, definitely. If you are an aspiring author, don’t be afraid to let other writers read your story. Trusted critique partners can offer insight and help with your plot or characters. You do not want an editor or agent to be the first person reading your manuscript.

I find writing groups through my professional organizations and contacts with other writers. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of my writing friends. They keep me motivated and give fantastic advice to help my story be the best it can be.

What’s next for you as an author?

A vacation—literally. I have had three books release in 2020 which has made life pretty busy. I am working on another Biblical story and doing promotion for my last release (Until June) since the print release was delayed due to Covid-19.

Here is the lovely cover of Until June, along with a short excerpt:

Josephine bunched up her pillow and tried not to think of anything. Not swears from an injured man. Not the ache from her injury. Not the confrontation with her stepfather. Nothing. Going home and getting back to work on her patterns was her responsibility.

“Water girl?”

She bolted into a sitting position and immediately regretted the sudden movement. She knew that haggard voice. Had she misunderstood the summons? She listened intently as if for the squeak of a mouse.

The man called to her again.

Oh, why did she listen? She knew why. Few were the nights her mother didn’t call out from pain.

Her hand trembled slightly as she poured a glass of water. For a few minutes, she stared at the glass. The last time she played nurse the man had shouted at her. She didn’t even know what some of the names meant. Looking at the ceiling, she said, “Remember this, Lord.”

A quick peek into the hallway showed no sign of a wayward Mrs. Prescott. She shuffled carefully toward the stranger’s door and positioned herself near the entrance to his dimly lit room.

“You came,” he said, his voice strangled and rough.

“I came to ease my conscience and to get some sleep.” She offered him the water glass. He took it from her but didn’t drink.

“I need two white pills.” He pointed to a metal box on top of a tall armoire. “My caretaker’s sick.”

“I can’t,” she said. “I’ll get in trouble.’’

“It’s just an aspirin, Runt. Read the label.”

How dare he insult her? Josephine crossed her arms, crushing all the mail-order bows on her gown, and drew to her full height—five feet nothing.

“I am not a runt.”

“Short hair, short body, short legs, you’re a runt. Now, get me that pill.” He pushed his body higher against the headboard. “Do it,” he demanded. “I hurt.” His tone softened.

An upholstered chair sat next to the armoire. Couldn’t he—? Her hand tingled with memory. I didn’t touch a long leg. She hesitated as her pulse hammered against her veins.

Do it. Don’t. Do it. Don’t. Do it. Don’t.

She met his gaunt-eyed gaze and carefully climbed onto the chair. The last thing she needed was to fall and hit her head again. She reached for the metal box and opened it. Rows of bottles and a stack of syringes filled the little chest. She picked up a copper tinted bottle from the left-hand side.

“It’s on the right,” he coached. “Don’t mess with that bottle. The doctor counts those narcotics. If you give me any more of that tonight, you may not get out of here alive.”

You can buy this book here: 

Purchase link on Amazon (Canada).

Where can readers find you online?

I have a website www.barbarambritton.com and I am active on Facebook and Twitter. I also have a Goodreads profile. I love to hear from readers.

Thanks so much for being here today, Barbara! A question for readers:

Have you been somewhere on vacation that would make a great story?

The post Author Interview with Barbara Britton appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Hi! I’m a grandma to four living in south Texas with my husband. I’m originally a science teacher, but my passion for education has morphed into bringing history to life through historical fiction. I hope that if you learn something along the way, it will be painless!

But my main passion is for the gospel. I craft my stories around core gospel truths, not in a “preachy” way, but in a way that it suitable to the time and place. My first historical fiction novel answers the question, what would it have been like to live during the great revival of the 1740s?

My new release, The Heart of Courage, is a sequel to this first book, a stand-alone set during the French and Indian War. Three individuals, one a Shawnee Indian, face the conflict of war. They also face internal battles, spiritual and emotional. There’s romance in the story, too, but it’s low-level and clean—appropriate for the time period.

When I wrote the first book, The Shenandoah Road, I had the idea that it would be the first in a trilogy, tied together by a single family in the Shenandoah Valley. Courage takes that second spot, and I hope to write a book set during the Revolutionary War time period.

When I began my research for Courage, I was slapped in the face by a problem. The Indian raids against the settlers were sometimes horrific. There was a particular event that bothered me for days. Have you ever read a news account that stuck in your mind? It was like that. I couldn’t gloss over this stuff—but if I were truthful, the Native Americans would look like savages.

So I created a Shawnee point-of-view character, and he became my favorite character to write. I had to dive into Shawnee history and culture. And just use my imagination, because we don’t have Shawnee diaries or journals. Not from that time period. All is second-hand, from captives’ stories and so forth. A challenge! I enjoy reading fiction with Native American characters myself. I hope my readers enjoy Red Hawk and Grandmother as much as I did.

Here’s a short excerpt from The Heart of Courage:

James Paxton is studying for the ministry, but when war breaks out, he joins Washington and Braddock’s army. He is injured in the battle now known as “Braddock’s defeat.”

James was falling. He slammed into something hard and searing pain jolted him awake. The rattle of tongue and axle, clop-clop of hooves surrounded him. A wagon—he was in a moving wagon. A groan issued from a man next to him.

Above him stars circled. Or maybe they weren’t circling. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, and slowly the dizziness subsided. The darkness was profound. He raised his left arm, strangely heavy, and touched the side of the wagon, the familiar texture of wood rough under his hand. His right hand felt instinctively for his rifle. No rifle, only fabric. Someone’s coat.

He drifted off again. Tomahawks flashed, and flies landed on Halkett’s face. Where was Red? Where was Russell? He needed to cover Russell.

Someone sobbed near his feet. James blinked, trying to emerge from the fog. There was no moon, that’s why it was so dark. A miasma of sulfuric gunpowder, metallic blood, and stale sweat filled his nose. Rustling, moans, and curses marked the presence of soldiers not far away. The army was on the march—at night? The trail was difficult even during the day.

Where was Russell? The last thing he remembered was McKee’s dead face. James’s stomach cramped just thinking of it. Losing Mac was one thing; he was convinced the man had peace with God. But McKee? It didn’t bear thinking about.

And all the others … no, he couldn’t think about them either.

James sensed the presence of several men clinging to the end of the wagon as if for support or guidance. He didn’t blame them. How anyone could find the way in this hellish darkness he could not fathom.

The sobbing intensified.

“Shut up,” someone growled near the source of the cries. “You will bring the savages down upon us.” A thin thread of panic suffused the voice.

The wagon halted. The harness jingled and an animal gave a familiar grunt. A mule was pulling the cart. James seized on the thought. Mules were canny, sure-footed creatures. A good thing.

Where was his own mule? Had she survived?

Muttering broke out into an argument somewhere.

“Come this way.” Washington’s voice rose above the rest.

His back screamed in pain as the wagon jolted into motion. A new smell choked him, the smell of the outhouse. James thrust down his nausea.

Eerie sounds swelled and ebbed away, the sounds of wounded soldiers. James heard one distinctive cry for water. Moans and grunts, and once, the scream of a horse. A pistol shot. An injured beast put out of its misery.

Help … Lord.

James couldn’t seem to pray. Panic and despair chased the army, and all he could do was strain for glimpses of the stars. But even they seemed cold and hard.

A strange sound floated over the groaning. A melody? A meetinghouse tune.

“God is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid …”

The familiar psalter tune diminished, then surged in strength.

“Though hills amidst the seas be cast …”

It was Russell’s voice. James mouthed the words, his lips stiff and cracked.

“God is in the midst of her …” No one shushed the man.

James clung to the words, a slender thread of truth and sanity in the horror-filled night.

The sobbing ceased at his feet.

When my book launch is behind me I think I will find my neglected duster. My house suffers when things get crazy, but my husband supports me. I’m also a member of a group under the aegis of ACFW and belong to a local chapter. When I run across someone with an itch to write, I tell them to join a critique group of some sort. Of course when I write something it sounds great to me. But my choice of words is only half of the communication process. Did I actually deposit my story into your head?

I love feedback from readers, even if it’s not all positive. I also have a newsletter in which I give my readers updates and alert them to special deals. To sign up or to get in touch you can go to https://www.lynnetagawa.com/

Buy links:

The Heart of Courage (the Russells book 2): https://amzn.to/3ajxMKs

The Shenandoah Road (the Russells book 1): https://amzn.to/2XVm0kA

Do you enjoy reading about this period of American history? What do you enjoy most about reading historical novels with diverse characters?

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