This week, we're welcoming author Terry Irene Blain, whose novel KENTUCKY GREEN is set in the 18th century and takes readers into the wilds of the Kentucky Territory. The author will offer a free copy of the book to a lucky blog visitor - please be sure to leave your email address in the comments. Here's the blurb:
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The young widow was beautiful and determined, but the months of travel involved in her plan would be too hard. Without the general’s order Dan would have told any woman no, but April especially. His secret would destroy her—or she might destroy him. April’s kiss was like the country itself. Restless and sweet, it promised a love that denied every boundary and looked only to freedom and the future.
**Q&A with Terry Irene Blain**
Learn more about author Terry Irene Blain:
Why did you choose to write in this
time period?
I grew
up reading historical novels, and one of my favorites was The Kentuckians by
Janice Holt Giles which takes place in Kentucky during the American
Revolutions. In succeeding books Giles
follows her character’s families as they move west. And while her stories aren't labeled as romance,
they do contain a strong romantic element.
And one of my favorite movies is The Last of the Mohicans, so my
characters have essentially the same costumes.
I like the ‘frontier’ aspect as it took a man and a woman working
together to survive and make a home. My
first writing instructor said to write what you like, so I chose the Kentucky
frontier.
How much research did you have to
do?
I had
all the basics as I have a BA and MA in History, and taught American History
and Western Civilization at the college.
The research I did was mostly costumes as since it was a romance, the
clothes had a good chance of coming off.
And to make sure the physical aspects were correct, seeing what was
physically there in 1794. Things like
the ferry across the Susquehanna River.
For me, research is fun and easy and I end up with more information that
I actually use in the novel.
Is writing or story-telling easier
for you?
For
me, the story-telling is easier. I think
this comes from teaching history, where you really are telling as story. You tell about Henry VII and all his wives,
or about George Washington and the American Revolution, or the hoplite phalanx
and how it connects to democracy. When
you can make your lecture around a person/character or an event, you can relate
it to something that resonates with the student. I can ‘see’ the story I’m writing in my head
and never am really sure that I get what I see translated on to the page so
that the reader sees exactly what I see.
And I guess the reader doesn't have to see exactly what I see, as long
as they enjoy the story.
Did you always want to write? What’s the first thing you wrote?
I’m
not one of those people who always wanted to write. I did always want to be a History
teacher. When I was teaching everyone
said ‘you should write a book’. But I’m
a terrible typist and had to pay someone to type my Master’s. Then my husband bought a computer/word
processor, and I had no excuse. So being
an academic, took a class, and started writing a historical romance. Other than the Master’s the first ms. I wrote
was Kentucky Green.
What is your favorite part of writing?
The best part of writing? When
you feel the story coming together, you really know your characters, and the
story seems easy to write. I like writing the first draft, but I do a lot of
character studies and storyboarding/plotting before I start the ms.
What is your least favorite part of writing?
Actually getting my butt in
the chair and my fingers on the keyboard.
I really like the writing process once I get there, but getting there?
Just getting started each day can be a pain. I remember when I first started
writing, one of the published authors said she knew she was avoiding getting
started when she decided to pluck her eyebrows instead. So guess it not such an odd thing to have
getting started the hardest part. Weird, huh?
Learn more about author Terry Irene Blain:
