Showing posts with label Morag McKendrick Pippin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morag McKendrick Pippin. Show all posts

08 May 2008

Thursday Thirteen: In Honor of Mother's Day

By Morag McKendrick Pippin

Thirteen Quotes in Honor of Mother's Day

1) A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done.
~Author Unknown

2) Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
~Anne Taylor

3) There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.
~Chinese Proverb

4) The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men--from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

5) God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.
~Jewish Proverb

6) When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
~Sophia Loren

7) The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

8) All mothers are working mothers.
~Author Unknown

9) Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper

10) It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge.
~Phyllis Diller

11) Women's Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It's the men who are discriminated against. They can't bear children. And no one's likely to do anything about that.
~Golda Meir

12) Mother--that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.
~T. DeWitt Talmage

13) All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.
~Oscar Wilde

02 May 2008

Weekly Announcements - 2 May 08

Erastes has received a passel of good reviews, this first about Standish:
Erastes thrusts us back into post-Napoleonic Europe in STANDISH, with vivid scenic descriptions and lively period language. He has created a story that readers will enjoy not just because of his style of writing, which is fabulous all onto itself, but because of the lessons learned by two incredibly written characters. This is a story to be read and embraced. ~ Literary Nymphs Reviews
This one is about the anthology Night Moves:
The authors of NIGHT MOVES have brought us four fantastic stories about vampires. While each story presents characters with an allure that keeps readers begging for more; the similarities will end there. ...There is no weak link in this anthology. ~ Literary Nymphs Reviews
And finally, a review for her short story in the anthology J is for Jealousy:
In "Fire and Ice" the inimitable Erastes tells a torrid tale of homosexual passion. Erastes writes erotica like Oscar Wilde with an erection: mingling wit and wisdom with the power to engage and excite. Regardless of a reader's sex or sexuality, "Fire and Ice" should be received as an outstanding story, well told, and unarguably erotic. It will warm and cool in equal measures. ~ Ashley Lister of Erotica Readers
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Erastes has also made another sale, this time to Perseus Books. Transgressions, a gay English Civil War romance, will be published in Spring 2009. Congratulations!

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Faery Special RomancesMorag McKendrick Pippin has used her Hawaiian home to her advantage, landing a part as an extra in the "Lost" movie. But the part does come with a 5am start time...

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Join us Sunday when Jacquie Rogers will be discussing Faery Special Romances, and giving away a free copy and some other lovely goodies!

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To celebrate the release of Bonnie Vanak's newest Dorchester Egyptian historical, The Scorpion and the Seducer, we'll be drawing the winner of The Falcon and the Dove signed by cover model John DeSalvo. You have until Sunday morning to leave a comment or ask a question for your chance to win!

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Have a good weekend. If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie. See you next week...

21 March 2008

Weekly Announcements - 21 March 08

Congratulations to Morag McKendrick Pippin and Jennifer Mueller, both of whom had books included in DABWAHA (Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors), a March Madness-style book tournament. Morag's Perfidia and Jennifer's Samburu Hills were both included among the tournament's eight historical category selections. Even though Perfidia lost to Juliet Landon's The Warlord's Mistress and Samburu Hills lost to Julie Anne Long's The Secret to Seduction, it's a really cool honor to have been selected as one of the eight best historical romances of 2007. Congratulations!

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Come help Carrie decide what to do with her TBR pile!

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Broken Hero by Anne WhitfieldAnne Whitfield's newest release, Broken Hero, has received a great new review from Brenda Talley of The Romance Studio.
Anne Whitfield has done it again. She quickly became one on my 'must read' list. ... Ms. Whitfield has taken a plot with horrible situations and deplorable conditions and made a beautifully intricate story which will grab the heart of her readers. ... I highly recommend this story to anyone who is interested in WWII and the scenery around this part of England.
Broken Hero will be released in print this April, or you can purchase it as an ebook here.

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Erastes has sold a novella called "Hard & Fast," a gay regency, to Linden Bay Romance. It will appear in an anthology of three stories, all gay historicals with fellow m/m writers Lee Rowan, whose story is Victorian, and Charlie Cochrane, whose story is about 1920s undergraduates. Congratulations, Erastes!

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We'll also draw the winner for Marianne LaCroix's new release, Pirate's Mistress, which includes two full-length pirate novels, "Crossed Swords" and "Sea Hawk's Mistress". Don't miss out! Leave a comment for your chance to win.

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Have a good weekend. If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie! See you next week...

10 January 2008

Thursday 13: Modern Conveniences

By Morag McKendrick Pippin

Thirteen Modern Everyday Conveniences Not Available Until the Late 20th Century

1) Electric can opener
2) Electric ice crusher
3) Push button TV remote control
4) Remote vehicle starter
5) Automatic garage door opener
6) Infrared burglar alarm
7) Home garbage compacter
8) Sink garbage disposal
9) Battery operated personal fan
10) Laser pointers
11) Robotic vacuum cleaner
12) Digital electronic equipment
13) Microwave ovens

Which one can't you live without? Any not listed here?



13 December 2007

Thursday 13: The Holiday Season

By Morag McKendrick Pippin

Thirteen Things I love about the Holiday Season:

1) Christmas is my birthday so I get a cake all to myself with lots of butter cream frosting!
2) The wonderful holiday spirit
3) Christmas carols
4) Christmas movies
5) Attending holiday parties
6) Shopping the merchandise that comes in only for the holidays
7) Staying in touch with family and friends
8) Sending and receiving cards
9) Indulging in candies rarely eaten outside of the holiday season
10) Choosing special gifts for special people
11) Decorating the house
12) Remembering Christmas past
13) Spending time with loved ones

What are your favorite things about this time of year?

22 November 2007

Thursday 13: Thanksgiving


By Morag McKendrick Pippin

These are my favorite Thanksgiving dishes:

1) Stuffing!
2) Candied Yams
3) Garlic Mashed Potatoes
4) Ginger Glazed Carrots
5) Buttered Brussel Sprouts
6) Deviled Eggs
7) Celery stuffed with Peanut Butter
8) Cotswold Cheese and Crackers
9) Pecan Pie
10) Key Lime Pie
11) Sticky Pudding
12) Fresh Strawberries
13) Champagne!

What are your favorites?

07 September 2007

5 Cup Review From Coffee Time Romance

Perfidia by Elspeth McKendrick
PERFIDIA
Morag McKendrick Pippin
Rating: 5 cups

Sophia de Havilland is a young woman who fled her native England when she walked in on her betrothed having sex with another man. She lives with her aunt in Berlin, Germany. Hitler rules Germany with an iron hand and Sophia is one of his favored Aryan misses. However all is not as it seems, and when Sophia is introduced to a handsome half American SS officer, it is not long before she begins to see the light in more ways than one with his help. Her emotions regarding him are mixed, but the attraction is definitely there.

Karl Von Richten is playing a dangerous game. Embroiled deeply in SS politics and one of Hitler's right hand men, he also helps "undesirables" escape Germany to a better life. He truly cares for Sophie almost from the beginning and tries in subtle ways to show her that Hitler and his plans for Germany are bad. In the process he falls for her hard, but feels he cannot truly have her, at least not in any permanent sense.

When Sophie's aunt wants to escape Germany and return to England, Sophie goes to Karl for help. Karl arranges for Sophie's aunt to get away, but in return he asks Sophie to pose as his mistress. Worried that he will want more from her than she is willing to give, at first she is unsure. However, when he assures her she will not be expected to be intimate with him, and that it will help to protect her from the SS figuring out the truth about her aunt, she goes along with it. Karl slowly but surely educates Sophie on what the Third Reich is really doing and it is only a short time before Sophie is helping him. But Karl has a greedy half-brother who wants his home, his lands and his title and who will stop at nothing to get them, even if it means turning his own brother in. Will Sophie and Karl be able to defeat this evil man?

Perfidia is an action packed book that gives a very detailed look at the Third Reich, and all the atrocities and corruption that the regime engendered. The reader is easily able to follow Sophie's progress from supporter of Hitler to rebel and spy as the clues are laid out one by one. The author does a splendid job of showing that not all German officers agreed with Hitler. Karl is mesmerizing as the SS officer who wants his country back and who will do anything to see that goal accomplished. Historically accurate down to the last detail, this book gives a bird's eye view into a world that unless you were actually there would be hard to understand, and yet Ms. Pippin pulls it off beautifully. I highly recommend this book both for its romance and history.

Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

06 September 2007

Perfidia Winner

We have two winners for Morag's Perfidia release party: Carol B. and Miki. Contact Morag by e-mail to get her your home addresses. Stop back later to let us know what you thought of her newest book. Congratulations!

UPDATE: Since Carol B. already has her copy, the runner-up winner is Jeanne!

05 September 2007

5 Stars From Cata Romance!

Perfidia by Elspeth McKendrick
PERFIDIA by Elspeth McKendrick
Reviews
Love Spell
Genre: historical
ISBN: 0505527391
Page Count: 320
Price: $6.99
Reviewer: Donna Zapf
Sensuality Rating: Sizzling
Star Rating: 5 Stars

Elspeth McKendrick, a new pen name for a favorite author, creatively weaves the atrocities of WWII Germany with a timeless romance forged by a love that is tested beyond human endurance.

Sophie de Havilland left England for good when she discovered her fiance in a compromising position with another man. She arrived in Germany to live with her widowed aunt just as the Third Reich came into power. Sophie openly admired the social changes that appeared to revitalize Germany. But even as she enjoyed the pleasures of the aristocracy, the real evil that was the German Nazis and especially the Gestapo was reveled to her. Her aunt begs Sophie to find some way to leave Germany and it just so happens that a German SS officer is willing to help, if Sophie remains with him as his pretend lover.

Sturmbannfhrer Barron Karl von Richten is not what he seems. Sophie is mesmerized by his piercing blue eyes and his handsome face but what does he really want of her. Karl assures Sophie that he will not touch her physically and only wants a ruse to keep other women away. All officers are expected to "breed" well and often, thus women are always being pushed on them. Sophie and her friends tread a perilous existence keeping in favor with the elite of the party but what of Karl, is he capable of perfidy? He has too many secrets and they are beginning to involve Sophie.

PERFIDIA, a nail-biting, edge of your seat, romantic thriller that had me steadily turning pages and blocking out the world while I raced to the conclusion, is the debut novel of talented Elspeth McKendrick. Captivating characters and a creative storyline that just would not let me go make PERFIDIA a riveting read. Personally, stories that intertwine history with fictionalized author creations are my favorite. The author must investigate, invent and immerse her readers in order to make the story come to life and Ms. McKendrick does that to perfection. The progressively budding romance between Karl and Sophie melted my heart and had me weeping as they suffered together for what they believed, trusting each other and ultimately willing to die for each other. Elspeth McKendrick has won a loyal fan with PERFIDIA, a most fascinating book.

Release date September 2007

01 September 2007

Welcome to September

Welcome to September! We're working on a few changes here at Unusual Historicals, so September will be a month of change for us. In the meantime, we'll continue to offer informational and unusual posts about our quirky search through history. Hope you stay tuned and come along with us!

Now go comment on Morag's post for the chance to win her newest release.

Then, go read a review on Dear Author about Anna C. Bowling's short "It's Never Too Late". Good job, Anna!

27 August 2007

Perfidia Release Party

In lieu of regular posts this week, we're hosting a party for one of our contributors. Morag McKendrick Pippen, w/a Elspeth McKendrick, releases her novel Perfidia today! What follows is more about the book, a Q&A with Morag, and the chance to win free books...

Morag's previous two books were published by Dorchester's Leisure imprint: Blood Moon Over Bengal and Blood Moon Over Britain, a HOLT Medallion winner. Perfidia, as part of the Love Spell line, is available now from all good booksellers. Here's the Amazon link.

Elspeth McKendrick's PERFIDIA
PERFIDIA
"To you,
my heart cries out 'Perfidia,'
for I find you, the love of my life,
in someone else's arms..."

Sophie de Havilland fled London and her past, vowing never to return. In Germany she sought solace, with her aunt, and couldn't help but admire how the Third Reich had reclaimed a country so near ruin. But soon the veneer crumbled. Beneath the frenetic nightlife of 1939 Berlin, the swirling parties with the dashing SS in their night-black uniforms and their beautiful dames, she saw cancer growing. Stories of an impossible nature—terrible stories, terrible crimes—she began to believe.

These Nazis were Germany's demon lover: handsome, fearsome, faithless, murderous. Her aunt had been right to seek escape. But, was it possible? One man offered hope: a handsome half-American. But while his spicy scent and strong arms seduced her with safety, the lightning on his collar and his searing blue eyes reminded her that sometimes the handsomest faces hid perfidious intent.

Question & Answers with Morag

What makes Perfidia different from the two other historicals you've written?
Probably more violence (from the Gestapo), no sugar coating and a more serious theme.

What was the response from your editor or agent when you proposed this novel?
He (my editor) said I surprised him and he's rarely surprised. Also, that it was a powerful story.

How did you talk them past any concerns?
He said my readers would probably overlook the violence because they'd be too addicted to the story to mind very much.

What is the most challenging part about writing 20th century historicals?
What I would find challenging is writing a contemporary, paranormal, or erotica. Early 20th century seems to come naturally to me.

What about this book in particular?
It was difficult not to be depressed writing this everyday. I don't think it's depressing to read, but I had a lot of research to to which was pretty horrific.

What advice would you give to anyone trying to write or sell 20th century historicals?
Visit antique and collectibles stores. One can learn a lot about how people lived. Go to museums with early 20th century antiquities. Watch old movies. Read books in the time period. Acquire old magazines at garage sales and antique shows/stores. Talk to people who lived in those times. Write the best story you can.

What is your favorite genre or period to read?
Early 20th century or contemporary and romantic suspense.

Favorite book from the past year?
HIDING FROM THE LIGHT by Barbara Erskine

Five books from your TBR pile?
VANISH by Karen Robards
DAUGHTERS OF FIRE by Barbara Erskine
THE MEPHISTO CLUB by Tess Gerritsen
RICOCHET by Sandra Brown
WHITE HOT by Sandra Brown


Give us a tidbit of history that surprised you when researching Perfidia.
That many Germans escaped Germany by going on workers holidays to occupied Denmark then taking the ferry to Sweden.

Tell us what part of Perfidia is your favorite: the scene or element that, when you read it, leaves you feeling most satisfied?
I can't tell you -- it would give away an important plot point!

What's up next for you?
A contemporary supernatural thriller set in Scotland (on my agent's advice).

Thanks, Morag! And good luck with this new release. For those of you living in paradise, Morag is in the midst of planning book signings in Hawaii, where she lives. More information will be posted on her website.

WIN A COPY! For every fifteen comments we receive to this post, we're giving away a signed copy of PERFIDIA. Just tell us how you heard about Unusual Historicals OR your thoughts about a romance set in 1939 Berlin. Comments close at midnight on September 4th, at which time I'll draw up to FIVE random winners and announce their names the next day. Unusual Historicals authors are ineligible to win, but we can make comments!

Go! Spread the word!