We have a winner for Anna C. Bowling's ORPHANS IN THE STORM guest blog. She's giving away a copy to:
RachieG!
Contact Anna to give her your address. The book must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought! Congratulations!
This week we're talking with long-time contributor Anna C. Bowling about her latest release from Awe-Struck Press, ORPHANS IN THE STORM. Welcome!
The Hidden Countess:
A black robe brought Jonnet Killey to the Isle of Man and a black robe would take her away to the noble English family she has never known.
The King's Man:
All Simon Burke wants is to carry out his mission to return Jonnet to her birth mother and secure the funds to help finance Charles Stuart's return to British soil.
An Adventure in Exile:
A new life awaits Jonnet, with a mother on the brink of madness and a treacherous uncle who will stop at nothing to keep Jonnet's inheritance to himself. While the end of exile nears, danger mounts. Can Simon and Jonnet depend on their new found love to sustain them while the storm of treachery rages around them?
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So, how did you get started with this latest project?
Every novel has a story of how it came to be, and ORPHANS IN THE STORM does owe a tip of the hat to a roleplaying game that didn't work. A friend had been wanting me to play for a while, and gave me some parameters for the game. My character had to be a native of the British Isles, but not English, Scots or Irish. Hmm, that would mostly leave Welsh or Manx. I'd never done much research on the Isle of Man, but what the heck, it was for a game...only it wasn't.
Due to various vicissitudes of life, the game, which had a fantasy element, didn't pan out, but my character, who introduced herself right off as Jonnet, wasn't quite done with me. She was, however, done with the fantasy element, and by this time, the Isle of Man had begun to pull me in like the yellow fog known as Mananan's Cloak. Which is how Jonnet first sets eyes on Simon Burke, a hero who definitely made an impression on me. Though I borrowed his family name from a favorite character in a classic old school romance, Simon is very much his own man, driven by an unflagging sense of right and wrong, and weighed down by regret. When these two met, I knew I'd found my next couple and they would lead me somewhere special.
What is different about the research for this book?
British Isles historicals have always been my first love, but another project with a collaborator fanned the flame of my interest in Dutch history, and as things would have it, British and Dutch history met in a very convenient time and place for Jonnet and Simon to begin their journey. I've always loved English Civil War historicals by authors such as Bertrice Small and Valerie Sherwood, so the chance to write one of my own was too good to pass up. I wanted to do something different, though, and so Jonnet and Simon's view of the conflict is from a special seat on the fringes.
The impoverished Charles II took refuge during his exile in the Low Countries, where his sister was queen, sometimes in her good graces, sometimes not. Loyal British subjects like my Simon Burke marshaled all the resources they could to fund Charles' return to British soil, and that sparked the perfect way for Simon and Jonnet to meet.
You have a special connection to your heroine in this story, yes? What is it?
Yes, Jonnet has a rather personal connection to me, because we are both adopted. While I have met a birth relative (Hi, Sally!)I know it's likely I may not meet others, and I wanted to explore something we don't often see in fictional depictions of reunions of birth parent and child; when things don't go well. Jonnet has always longed to meet her birth family, but her mother, Jacoba, trapped by grief and madness in a world of her own, can't see Jonnet for the fantasy she's woven of her ideal child. Not to mention an uncle who will stop at nothing to get what he believes is his.
Many of my stories deal with themes of identity, and of course a story dealing with the English Restoration is a natural for themes of, well, restoration. Here, Jonnet grapples with the question of what makes her, her. Is it nature or nurture or a bit of both, and how will she deal with receiving a birthright she didn't know she had? Simon must learn to let crippling guilt go if he is to accomplish anything of value, and the rest of their families in Dutch exile face the prospect of returning to an England vastly different from the one they left. I hope you will consider joining Jonnet, Simon and company on their adventure.
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Thanks, Anna! ORPHANS IN THE STORM is available now through Awe-Struck Press, but leave a comment or question for Anna and you'll be entered in a drawing for a free copy. We'll pick a winner next Sunday. Good luck!
Carrie Lofty was featured last week on Mama Writers, a fun new blog for writers who balance their work against the daily trials of motherhood. And just for fun, Carrie and her partners in crime were featured in April's issue of RT for their pastiche short stories.
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Join us Sunday when author Anna C. Bowling will be here to talk about her 17th century romance ORPHANS IN THE STORM. Don't miss it!
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We'll also draw the winner of Emily Bryan's VEXING THE VISCOUNT. There's still time to leave a comment for your shot at winning!
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Have a good weekend! If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie. See you next week...
This Sunday, we'll be helping Anna C. Bowling celebrate the release of her newest romance from Awe-Struck, ORPHANS IN THE STORM. Until Sunday, enjoy this excerpt!
The Hidden Countess:
A black robe brought Jonnet Killey to the Isle of Man and a black robe would take her away to the noble English family she has never known.
The King's Man:
All Simon Burke wants is to carry out his mission to return Jonnet to her birth mother and secure the funds to help finance Charles Stuart's return to British soil.
An Adventure in Exile:
A new life awaits Jonnet, with a mother on the brink of madness and a treacherous uncle who will stop at nothing to keep Jonnet's inheritance to himself. While the end of exile nears, danger mounts. Can Simon and Jonnet depend on their new found love to sustain them while the storm of treachery rages around them?
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At sea, en route to the Netherlands
1659
Simon advanced on the plaid-swathed bundle of woman that stood at the rail, still and stalwart. "We have a cloak for you below." He bit back the rest. Jacoba Albyn had sent a fine cloak, a lady's cloak, but Jonnet never wore it. Dark brown woolen with enough fur trim that it might belong to a respectable merchant's wife. There were dozens, hundreds of such cloaks in Breda, or England, or all the world. It was a world in which a blanket of bright yellows and blues was a good as a bonfire. Yet no seamstress or furrier could dress Jonnet in something as fine as that blanket looked now.
"I know." The wind tugged stray wisps of reddish gold about her face. Her knuckles grew white where she clutched the edges of her wrap together. "I wanted to be Jonnet one more time."
"You will always be Jonnet."
The eyes she turned on him were wide and mournful as a scolded dog. "No. It is Easter Hastings who must step off this ship. Easter Hastings who will be welcomed with open arms. Easter Hastings who will fetch a fine purse from Englishmen loyal and true. God bless Easter Hastings, for I do not know who she is."
Simon folded her into his arms and felt her tremble. Her whole body shook as she fit her head into the space between his shoulder and chin. "You will always be Jonnet to me." In that moment, he knew it to be true. "As generous as your," he could no longer say mother, "Lady Albyn has been, no matter how good a teacher Eben may be, nobody can change the way God made you." Nor would I wish it. The shaking lessened as he spoke, so he continued. "My wild Manx Jonnet, tart-tongued and stubborn and strong." And beautiful. So very beautiful.
Jonnet braced both hands on the front of his coat before she pulled back. "But that is not what she will pay for. If I could talk to her the way I talk to you, I could bear that. I fear we will have nothing in common. Mother Mawd and I knew," small white teeth bit down into her lower lip. "Know each other. We have a history. With Lady Albyn," she sounded out the name as she often did, as though making sure she had it right. "All I have is this." She drew the small leather volume from the folds of her blanket.
"You've read more." The ribbon marker was nearly at the end now. She held it like an offering he was loathe to take, and yet he did. His hand brushed against hers, fingertips on knuckle for a heartbeat longer than needed. Her hand was as chilled as the air, but the pulse beneath the skin was steady. "Worry solves nothing."
"Action. I know. What action do I take next? What if she turns me away because I am not what she wanted? My feet are hard and my skin is brown and I would not know her if I passed her on the street. I would go home if I could, now, today." Jonnet shut her eyes, lashes wet against her cheeks.
Simon swallowed. She could, if she wanted. What man could refuse a request from those eyes, that lilt of her voice? As for coin, she had a name to barter now, and enough of noble ways to give at least an illusion of means. "Will you?" Father God, make her say no.
She took in a ragged breath and met his gaze. "I cannot. Something in me has changed. I have to do this. She is in here. The woman who bore me is in here, and whatever else she may be, she is a mother. If I had a chance," she broke off, took in a sharp breath. "A chance to bring one of Mother Mawd's babes back to her for one day, for her to hold them one more time, I could not deny her that."
"And so you will give that to Lady Albyn?"
Her nod was his only answer.
He looked over her head at the line of tall, slender houses coming into view. "We have a few days before that. You'll meet my sisters first, and my mother." And father, but she would not be there for that. Nor would he be there for what followed. A month ago, even a week, the thought would not have troubled him, and now would it not be the same as leaving one of his own hands? He shut off the thought. Any more down that road, and he would not sleep a minute until well into summer.
The mission was still the same, deliver the woman, collect the money, bring it to Charles Stuart. Only the man to carry it out had changed. I will be back as soon as I can, he wanted to tell her, but he could not give a word that might be broken before it even left his tongue. This was for England, and none of their lives were their own to give. "You will be all anyone could ask for," he managed instead.
Jonnet rewarded him with a tremulous smile. She dashed the back of her hand across her eyes that were now rimmed with red. "Will you promise to remind me who I am if I start to forget? If Easter Hastings must live, will you help me make sure Jonnet Killey doesn't fade away?"
The answer sprang so readily that it was a mere breath before Simon covered Jonnet's mouth with his own. "Always."
Carrie Lofty's article "The Trials and Triumphs of Unusual Historicals" was published this week in the RWA's Romance Writers Report. You can read the article here.
If you're a new reader joining us for the first time after seeing the article, welcome! Our readership stats have doubled since this time last year, so we hope interest in unusual historicals is growing!
To our new readers, the site schedule is as follows: themed historical posts on Monday-Wednesday; excerpts on Thursday; announcements on Friday; and interviews with book giveaways on Sundays. You can see the calendar of our upcoming posts and guest spots here. Check it out and see if your favorite unusual historical author will be interviewed soon. If you have suggestions about who to interview, or if you're an author who writes unusual historicals, please email Carrie.
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In addition, Carrie has just posted her November contest. Win a $25 gift certificate from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, plus a copy of WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS when it's released on December 2.
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Texty Ladies will be featuring a four-part workshop on plotting by Jacquie Rogers starting Monday, November 3rd, and lasting all through the month. Plot your book and win a prize!
Also, the Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues pet pictures contest final round begins November 1st, so drop by Jacquie's contest page and vote for your favorite!
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Although it's not a historical, we're excited for Jean Adams as she releases A PLACE OF HEALING this week through The Wild Rose Press. Here's the blurb:
Holly Spicer has vengeance on her mind. She wants to get the men who murdered her partner and she'll see it through even if it kills her. She travels to a secluded beach to calm her mind and plan her revenge.
Sexy psychologist turned movie star, Adam Benedict, is determined to stop her. He must call on his old training to keep the courageous cop alive. But nothing, not even Adam's love can stop her.
Can Holly's troubled soul find peace? Can she find her healing place in Adam's arms?
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Anna C. Bowling's March 2009 release ORPHANS IN THE STORM has a gorgeous cover. Here's the blurb:
The Hidden Countess: A black robe brought Jonnet Killey to the Isle of Man and a black robe would take her away to the noble English family she has never known.
The King's Man: All Simon Burke wants is to carry out his mission to return Jonnet to her birth mother and secure the funds to help finance Charles Stuart’s return to British soil.
An Adventure in Exile: A new life awaits Jonnet, with a mother on the brink of madness and a treacherous uncle who will stop at nothing to keep Jonnet's inheritance to himself. While the end of exile nears, danger mounts. Can Simon and Jonnet depend on their newfound love to sustain them while the storm of treachery rages around them?
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Join us Sunday when our guest author will be new Unusual Historicals contributor Elizabeth Lane. Elizabeth will be talking about her latest release THE BORROWED BRIDE, set in Colorado in 1899.
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We'll also draw the winner of Terry Blain's KENTUCKY GREEN. There's still time to leave a comment for your shot at winning!
***
Have a good weekend. If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie. See you next week...
Carrie Lofty was featured last week on Mama Writers, a fun new blog for writers who balance their work against the daily trials of motherhood. And just for fun, Carrie and her partners in crime were featured in April's issue of RT for their pastiche short stories. 
Join us Sunday when author Anna C. Bowling will be here to talk about her 17th century romance ORPHANS IN THE STORM. Don't miss it!
Anna C. Bowling's March 2009 release ORPHANS IN THE STORM has a gorgeous cover. Here's the blurb:
Join us Sunday when our guest author will be new Unusual Historicals contributor Elizabeth Lane. Elizabeth will be talking about her latest release THE BORROWED BRIDE, set in Colorado in 1899.