An Exotic, Romantic Adventure: Holiday in Paradise

I'd like to introduce Holiday in Paradise, an S. Cuppari Romance Mini. For a little romantic adventure, check it out. Purchase links and a book trailer link is listed below.

 

Holiday in Paradise:

 

Sabina Calli is in Vanuatu for a summer holiday. Two of her friends tag along for the week but when they return home to new jobs, Sabina's future is left undecided. That is, until her summer holiday turns into a hunt for treasure - Star of the Sea, a precious diamond that belongs to the Vanuatu people.

Max Callaway is living the bachelor life as he takes in the surf and works at the local bar. But it is not all a bed of roses as he sees suspicious behavior from his boss, Steveo, in connection to the Star of the Sea. He joins forces with Sabina to find it. Can this diamond bring them closer together or is it too hot to handle?

ABOUT THIS SUMMER SERIES

"S. Cuppari Romance Minis" is a new romance line dedicated to reading romances on the go as they are romance novellas jam-packed with romance, mystery and adventure and are based in exotic locations around the world.

AVAILABLE AT:

Print Store: www.scupparipublisher.com
Digital Store: scupparipublisher.selz.com
International store: www.lulu.com/spotlight/scuppari
Facebook Store: http://www.facebook.com/SCuppari

Watch the Book Trailer Here

Front Porch Romance Tailgate Blog Hop

My publisher, Front Porch Romance, is having a Tailgate Blog Hop featuring their fabulous authors, including me. Please check out their blog for information on incredible giveaways!! My book, Charity's Heart, will be one of the prizes, so go to the Front Porch Romance Blog to enter!!

Here's a brief blurb about Charity's Heart:

Charity Llewellyn, 19, looks forward to her wedding, but upon learning that her intended groom is Mathias Baptiste, the immoral son of a wealthy banker, she runs away from home to avoid the betrothal. Angry at her attempt, her father appoints a handsome and mysterious man, Alexander Sutton, as her constant chaperone.

Furious, Charity plots an escape with help from her friend Lillian, although that leads to involvement in an unsolved 20-year old murder and a shallow burial of human bones. As she tries to unravel the secrets of the old murder, she meets a frightening man who could be Jack the Ripper.

But that’s not her only obstacle. As she and Alexander grow closer, she learns a dark secret he’s been keeping and when Mathias finds them together, he’s overcome with rage and will stop at nothing to get her back, not even murder.


Here is just one of the reviews posted on Amazon:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Purity of "Charity's Heart" June 20, 2013

By Susan Marie Molloy

Format:Kindle Edition

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Charity's Heart
"Charity's bedroom windowpane was chilled and wet from the cold evening air . . .she was locked inside the house like a prisoner . . . [h]er position was to marry well and provide an heir to the Llewellyns."

Sofia Diana Gabel's opening lines to "Charity's Heart" grabbed me and kept me wanting to know more about Charity, her stifling life, her friends, her enemies, and life in 1880s London.
I cannot say enough positive comments about this novel and the author. I wished I could read it through in one sitting, but other components in life forced me to break it up in segments, to read when I knew my time would be interrupted.

Gabel's writing style is perfect for this type of romance novel. She writes with clarity, beautiful descriptions, correct tone, and she conveys her characters' emotions so well that the reader experiences the controlling nature, cruelty, intrigue, heartache, the up-and-down-adventuares, true friendships, and love right along with them. One -- one of many -- passages haunts me, yet is in a way, comforting: "When the clouds, parted, the scant moonlight revealed sadness in Alexander's eyes." I saw this, I felt this. The emotion came through perfectly in the overall description.

Gabel has 1880s London down pat: the societal structure, language, the current events, clothing, and character names. Indeed, this novel briefly reminded me of Anthony Trollope and his novels of British society.

Indeed, I felt I was right there with Charity, Lilian, Hiram, James, Alexander, et al, through good and bad. I did not feel like an intruder to this novel, but rather, an invisible participant.

What I most liked about "Charity's Heart" is how Gabel showed every emotion, every scene, every problem, every resolution with such beauty that the reader is left to form the picture in his/her mind; enough was left to the imagination to make this a truly lovely romance novel -- and the surprise ending was the piece de resistence! I smiled and was happy with that sparkling ending.

I highly recommend "Charity's Heart" by Sofia Diana Gabel. I have it set aside, ready for another reading this summer; but this time, I'm setting aside enough hours to read it through straight!

Interview with Children's Book Author Sharon C. Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m honored to have today’s interview with Sharon C. Williams, author of the children’s book Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure. Welcome, Sharon!

 

 

Can you give us a brief bio so the readers can better understand you and your background?

 

Growing up, I never thought of becoming a writer. To me, it was for people who had the skills to transfer amazing ideas onto paper. My husband, however, mentioned to one of our friends that he felt I wrote really well. Soon, I started thinking of a story in my head, and it just would not go away.  In 2009, while recovering from two surgeries, I started placing my thoughts on paper. It’s been a wild ride since then.

 

I tend to write long hand. The low-tech method is harder with my disability but I feel more creative and the flow works better for me this way. I have used this technique to complete a multitude of short stories, a novelette, and a children’s book. It still amazes me how writing has taken over my life.

 

Two of my short stories were published in the anthology, Cassandra's Roadhouse. My children's book, Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure, was released by Fountain Blue Publishing, on Sept. 7th of this year.

 

I love to read, take pictures, sketch, walk, exercise, go to the movies, and listen to music. I’m a budding bird watcher, and knit on the side. I am a huge fan of all sports, and especially of baseball, basketball, hockey, and football.

 

I’m a native of New England, raised in Northern Maine and live in North Carolina with my husband and son. I’m owned by a flock of eight birds and have a B.S. Degree in Chemistry.

 

What inspired you to write the book?

 

Hearing for the longest time, “Write on what you know” I came up with an idea of writing a book based on my Amazon parrot, Jasper.  Having been with us since 1999 I have had years of learning how this animal ticks and his quirks around us. He gave me so much material. All I had to do was write the story and infuse Jasper into it.

 

What was your approach to writing it

 

I write everything by long hand. I have found my creativity truly flows better this way.  I didn't create an outline or worked on my character development. In the Fall of 2009 I had two unrelated surgeries within weeks of each other. Being stuck in bed for a while I decided to take the time to start writing. There was no rhyme or reason or scheme of things. I just started and kept at it until I wrote the famous words, The End.

 

How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?

 

It took me under three months to write the first draft which consisted of a little over 3000 words.  Once it was completed I let it sit there for a few months. Not being in a writer's group at that time or knowing any writer I started to seek any potential groups in the Spring of 2010.  It did not take long as a writer's group was soon forming out of the local library.  Soon afterwards a second group formed in town. Sharing a few chapters of my manuscript with the members I started the tedious job of editing and revising my manuscript while starting on volume two. Months went by as suggestions and rewrites came and went. By the end of 2010 I was nearing my final revision.  The year 2011 prove uneventful as life took over and I had to concentrate on more pressing matters.

 

Deciding to test the open waters, in 2012, I started to submit the book to potential publishing houses in hopes of getting a nibble. What I got was rejection letters but they were laced with compliments and encouragement. But one stood out. A publisher had requested the entire manuscript saying I would know in 4-6 weeks since they were a small press. Three months came and still no word.

 

Reaching out to the company they stated that it was taking so long for they were going back and forth on whether to pick it up. But in the end it was a no. In that rejection letter there were listed three reasons why the book was turned down. I was encouraged to work on the areas mentioned and to resubmit.

 

I did just that. What happened was a manuscript that started out at just a little over 3000 words ended up as one that was slightly under 10,000.  That meant more revisions and editing to get it in the place it needed to be.

 

That brought me to July of 2012.  I took a small break from this book and started to work on other projects. Starting fresh in 2013 I started to actively submit the new and revised book. It was picked up by a small press out of San Francisco in March of this year.

 

Congratulations! Can you tell us a little about your book and if you have had book signings or readings?

 

The title of my book is Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure. It is a children's chapter book.

 

Synopsis: Jasper, the Amazon parrot, is no ordinary bird. He lives within the rainforest, whose secrets he’s eager to explore. He loves his life, his home, and his family - grateful for the blessings he’s discovered. Learning how to fly, he learns to appreciate the world around him. When he meets a spider monkey with a penchant for food and a laid back attitude named Charlie, he realizes he’s in for an adventure he never thought possible. Exploring the boundaries of the forest, Jasper soon understands that there is more to the world around him. Most especially the strange new creatures that have come to live there

 

My book came out September 7<sup>th</sup> of this year however I have the possibility of two book signings in the upcoming months.  One of my writing groups was meeting at a coffee shop. When it was over the manager asked what the meeting was about. When we told him we were authors he asked if any of us had a book coming out. When I told him I did, he mentioned his coffee shop had hosted in the past book signings and asked if I would be interested. A few weeks later two fellow writers were meeting at a different coffee shop. Again the manager asked them what they were discussing. They brought up my name and book and he wondered if I would be interested in hosting a book signing there.

 

So I am in the process of making those happen.

 

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for budding writers?

 

Don't be afraid to write outside the box or your comfort level. Explore photo and

written prompts. Any critique you receive, always remember you can take some or take none. At the end of the day it is your story.  And for me a rejection letter is a badge of honor.

 

What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?

 

I am working on a paranormal short story. The first attempt at this genre. The writing group that I started is putting together a book of short stories to publish hopefully later this year.  But I am also preparing for NaNoWriMo 2013. This will be my third straight year of participating. I won in 2011 and 2012.

 

What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job, if you have one? Also, how long on the average do you write each day?

 

The best time for me to write actually varies. I keep a small notebook with me always just in case an idea or the mood hits me. I don't have a set time to work. However, when I am writing for NaNoWriMo I tend to write early in the morning so I can get it out of the way. Else the day and life will take me away from it being successful. How long I write varies. However, if there is a thought or scene in my head that needs to be written down, I can write for hours.

 

Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?

 

Absolutely. What doesn't help is I am the only writer in my family so it is hard for them to understand what one goes through when one is an author.  What has helped me is the writer groups that are located in my area. Plus I also started my own. Who better understand what you are going through than another writer? It helps break the monotony but it also gives me a chance to exchange ideas and encouragement.

 

What is your website and where can readers purchase your book or books?

 

My website is:

 

www.newenglandmuse.wordpress.com

 

Where my book can be purchased:

Fountain Blue Publishing:

Signed copies are available here

http://www.fountainbluepublishing.com/book-store.html

 

Amazon

Soft cover/e-book:

http://tinyurl.com/msjvkxw

 

Print hard cover:

http://tinyurl.com/lwhk9z3

 

Barnes and Noble:

Hardcopy and e-book:

http://tinyurl.com/lj2w4ll

 

Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/354935

 

 

Author social media

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewEngland_Muse

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Sharon-C-Williams/195232693863109

Linked:

http://tinyurl.com/mdgt5s7

 

Pinterest

http://www.pinterest.com/newenglandmuse/boards/

 

Goodreads:

 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7078132.Sharon_C_Williams

 

Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CSAFL8Q

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Hop for Tara Fox Hall and her Promise Me Series

Author Tara Fox Hall has released another installment of her Promise Me series, Taken for His Own. You can check it out at Amazon.

Biography

Tara Fox Hall is an OSHA-certified safety and health inspector at a metal fabrication shop in upstate New York. She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics with a double minor in chemistry and biology from Binghamton University.

Tara's writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series, as well as other novellas. She also coauthored the essay "The Allure of the Serial Killer," published in Serial Killers - Philosophy for Everyone: Being and Killing (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

 

 A little about Taken For His Own:

After learning Theo is alive, Sar immediately embarks on a mission to find him. Reunited, the lovers return to New York, Danial, Terian and Theo uneasily combining forces to protect Sar from Al's assassins who still seek her. But when Sar is taken prisoner in an all-out attack, only one man can save her—her old adversary, Devlin.

Interview With Author Maggie Bishop; her writing and her new novel One Shot Too Many

SDG: Welcome, Maggie. Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

MB: Certainly. I hike, ski, garden, swim, explore and write in the mountains of North Carolina where I settled in 1993 with my husband and cat. Every time we travel, we seek out other mountains but none are as exciting as the ancient Appalachians. When asked, "What do you do?", my answer is, "Entertain with word pictures."

SDG: That's a great answer! What inspired you to write this mystery series?

MB: I started with romance and turned to murder. My second novel had a cold case mystery and I became hooked on CSI and TV. Jemma chase is the main character in Murder at Blue Falls (1st in the Appalachian Adventure Mystery Series) and I couldn't let her go. My publisher liked the idea of a mystery series and I wanted to keep the same two main characters. Detective Tucker came to me when I was vacationing at the beach with my parents. While up early one morning and sitting on the balcony overlooking the ocean, a small deer walked by in the dune grass. Shortly, a bob cat followed. Detective Tucker flowed through my fingers and onto the page at that moment. My mind's eye saw him clearly but his motivations only come out when I'm actually writing.

SDG: What a wonderful story. What was your approach to writing it (did it just flow or did you use an outline or other preparatory method)?

MB: Once, I outlined a book and became bored with it because I already knew the ending. Lesson learned-my writing has to entertain me during the process so I'm 90% pantser (write by the seat of my pants). Most of the time, I don't know who committed the crime until the last third of the book, which means more revisions.

SDG: I know exactly what you mean. How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?

MB: It usually takes me a year to complete a novel. The first draft is mainly action and dialogue and is written while sitting on my sofa putting ink on paper. I work in spurts, which is not the most efficient method of writing. The much revised second draft comes when I keyboard it to my computer.

SDG: Can you tell us a little about your series and if you have had book signings or readings?

MB: The publishing industry is changing and I don't do as many book signings and readings as I did five years ago. Most of my "appearances" now are on the web.

The Start: In Murder at Blue Falls, when her horse finds a body, CSI wannabe Jemma starts to investigate, Detective Tucker comes in and it twists and turns from there.

And Then: Since pay is low in the mountains, Jemma has more than one job and is also a carpenter. In Perfect for Framing, trouble's a-brewing in the Property Owners Association where greed and a lust for power lead to murder in a clash of personal versus public needs.

Now: The photography group meets at Blue Falls Guest Ranch and soon there is One Shot Too Many which features Detective Tucker with yesterday's regret, leading to today's deadly fix.

SDG: What an interesting concept for a series! Is your family supportive of your writing and what do they think about your writing career?

MB: My husband doesn't read fiction (gasp!) but supports me in every endeavor. My parents are readers-so much so they became recurring minor characters in my novels.

SDG: That must be fun! Do you have any advice or words or wisdom for novice writers?

MB: Turn off the internal critic and write one scene. Don't reread it. Then write another scene. Keep doing that until you realize you are having fun creating.

SDG: Excellent advice. What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?

MB: The working title of my next mystery in the Appalachia Adventure series is "Drilled by the Chef". There's a murder at a cook-off at Blue Falls Dude Ranch and Jemma Chase's new TomBoy carpentry tools make her a strong suspect.

SDG: Uh-oh! Can't wait to see how she gets out of that one. What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job, if you have one? Also, how long on average do you write each day?

MB: I wish I had a typical writing day. I write in spurts of two months. Way in advance, I begin thinking about my characters and plot. The setting is in the mountains of North Carolina which is perfect with the hollars and high peaks, the visitor attractions and sports, and the unpredictability of the weather. I liken it to the pressure built up behind a mountain damn-my head keeps filling up with a sense of what the characters will be going through. No details, just the anticipation of emotions and action. Once I have the emotional space and projects in the real world put off, I open the flood gates and write. I awake and begin writing long hand the next scene between fixing my, and my husband's, breakfast and lunch, feeding the birds and tending to the cat. Once my husband is off to work, I continue writing either long hand or at the computer.

After a few hours, I do a half hour on the elliptical machine, have lunch and return to writing. While exercising, my mind is on the story. I love it. This is the grand, expanding part of the whole experience of creating these people and events. The first two hours in the morning (5-7) are spent on the internet at various sites authors need to keep up with in order to market books. The creative work on my manuscript is from 9 to noon. Sometimes I'll work in the afternoon for a couple of hours. My brain shuts down at 5, so it's crucial that I write in the morning. I manage to arrange writing days 3 to 4 times a week.

SDG: That sounds like a schedule that works very well for you. Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?

MB: Yes, writing is a solitary endeavor so I started High Country Writers in 1995 and now have an extensive group of writer friends throughout the North Carolina-Tennessee section of the Appalachians.

SDG: Wow! That's terrific and a great way to get feedback and build friendships. What is your website and where can readers purchase your books?

MB:

Amazon listing for all my books: http://dld.bz/maggiebishopamazon
My website is: http://maggiebishop1.tripod.com
Blog (shared with four other writers) is: http://damesofdialogue.wordpress.com

SDG: Do you have anything else you'd like to say?

MB: Readers ask, "Why do you use real people as minor characters?" I live in the South where uniqueness is more than tolerated, it's encouraged. It helps avoid using stereotypes. Plus it's fun for them and me. You read about them and see them in movies but I live near them, know them, enjoy them. Including myself, so I'm in my books like Alfred Hitchcock is in his movies.

SDG: What are your other social media sites?

MB: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maggiebishop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggiebishop
"like" my Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/appalachian-adventure-mysteries/58689791452http://

SDG: Thank you so much, Maggie, for the interview and I wish you the best of luck with your books.



 

Interview with author Monica Garry-Allen talking about her writing, including her latest work, The Makeover.

SDG: Great to have you as a guest, Monica. How about a little background about yourself?   MGA: Hi, my name is Monica Garry-Allen. I'm a writer and lover of all things romantic. I reside in southern Mississippi with my husband. When I'm not listening to the characters in my head and jotting down their adventures, I'm busy working as a Clinical Laboratory Technician. I love to travel, preferably with my husband, so he can do all of the driving. I enjoy time with my family, who are just as silly as I am. I have no children...yet, wish me luck! My hobbies are reading, writing and shopping, though I hate trying on clothing. If I wasn't a writer or a Laboratory Professional, I would probably be a Secret Agent. But that's the beauty of being a writer: you can create you own world and be whoever you want to be. In my imaginary world, I am the Queen and my siblings are my minions.   SDG: Wow. That's a busy life. What inspired you to write this book?   MGA: My co-workers, lol. My co-workers and I are all corky and we say some of the lamest things during our eight hours together at work. Hanging with those ladies every day inspired me to write a series of short stories about nerd girls who love hard!   SDG: That sounds like a lot of fun. What was your approach to writing it (did it just flow or did you use an outline or other preparatory method)?   MGA: I let it flow. I usually write a synopsis of the story, but I rarely stick to it. I let my characters tell the story then I go back and edit it.   SDG: How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?   MGA: About two months on and off. I got distracted a few times during the process.   SDG: That's extremely fast! Can you tell us a little about your book?   MGA: The Makeover is a fun romantic comedy full of love, laughter and lipstick. It follows the life of April Parson and her two best friends as they realize that life outside of college is not as easy as people make it out to be. They thought they left bullies behind when they graduated high school, but they find out that adults can be just as mean. With the help of her best friends, April learns to be strong and stand up for herself. She also finds love and a new pair of high heels during her journey!   SDG: Well, who doesn't love a great pair of heels? Is your family supportive of your writing and what do they think about your writing career?   MGA: My husband and my family are super supportive. My sisters love reading my rough drafts and helping me brainstorm. My hubby is not a big reader, but he loves listening to me tell him what my characters are up to. On my release day for The Makeover, he got me a cake, a card, and made me breakfast in bed.   SDG: Okay, that's the best husband ever! Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for beginner writers?   MGA: Study the craft. Read and write as much as you can. If you can, attend writers workshops and conventions and always surround yourself with positive people. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do this.   SDG: Excellent advice. What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?   MGA: I'm working on book two of my Nerd Girls Love Hard series and I'm also working on my Christmas novella.    SDG: Like I said before, you really are busy. What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job? Also, how long on average do you write each day?   MGA: I usually write in the mornings! I'm an early bird. I wake up, get myself together, fix me a pot of coffee and get to writing. I write for about two-three hours then it's time for me to get ready to clock in at my day job. By the time I come home from work I'm too tired to even think about writing, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about my characters!    SDG: Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?   MGA: It is a very lonely occupation. Though my husband supports my career, he doesn't understand why I enjoy sitting in front o my computer for hours at a time typing away. It amazes him that I would rather work on my story than go outside...into the real world. LOL!   SDG: I feel the same way. What is your website and where can readers purchase your book or books?   MGA: My website is: http://mgarryallen.wordpress.com I blog at: http://mgarrallen.wordpress.com My books can be purchased at: www.frontporchromance.com and from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIIKP2O You can find me on Twitter @monicagarry And my Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/monicagarryallen?ref=hl   SDG: Thank you so much, Monica, for taking the time for this interview. I look forward to reading all of your stories!

My historical, bawdy novella, The Indisputable Legend of Thomas Parr, is now available from Smashwords until June 1st for free download! Use coupon code: DU65H

This is a story based on the real Thomas Parr. A simple gentleman rumored to have lived to the age of 150 in Shropshire, England. Supposedly, he had the 'vigor' of a much younger man and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London upon his death.

I had fun with the story, trying to imagine what a man like Thomas would be like.

Interview with author Jane Godman talking about her writing, including her historical romance The Rebels’ Promise.


SDG: Welcome, Jane and thank you for taking the time to do the interview. Can you give a little background about yourself?


JG: I’m delighted to be here. I am an avid reader of historical romances, and have always enjoyed writing (I still have a copy of the medieval novel I wrote, in felt tip pen, aged 14!). 

My romances are set in the Georgian era - from the wild passion of the Jacobite rebellion to the charm and formality of the Regency - with heroes and heroines you fall instantly in love with, fascinating and amusing supporting characters and luscious settings.

I live in England and love to travel to European cities which are steeped in history and romance. Venice, Dubrovnik and Vienna are amongst my favourites. I am a teacher, married to a lovely man, mum to two grown up children and slave to a spoilt-brat cat.


SDG: What inspired you to write this book?


JG: I was ten when I read ‘Murder Most Royal’ by Jean Plaidy and I was instantly hooked on British and European history. 

At the age of twelve, I discovered a tattered Georgette Heyer novel on my mum’s bookshelf. I devoured it in a day and I was spellbound. It was ‘These Old Shades’, which is set in the mid-1700s. As much as I love Regency novels, I find myself drawn to the earlier Georgian era. I think it’s because the characters have more opportunities to misbehave. It was a scandalous time (think Les Liaisons Dangereuses) and I love the fashions! Give me a hero in a cloak and a powdered wig.

I am captivated by the way great writers of historical romance use dialogue to skilfully set the scene. I also love it when the historical setting is so real it becomes another character, transporting you effortlessly back in time. 

I am English but I was born in Scotland and the Jacobite rebellion has always fascinated me. The idea for The Rebel’s Promise arose out of the true historical fact that Bonnie Prince Charlie’s troops marched as far south as Derby. If he had achieved his aim of reaching London and reclaiming the crown, British history would have looked very different. But I also wondered how the arrival of the Jacobites affected the everyday lives of people in Derbyshire. My heroine, Rosie Delacourt, is a country girl whose quiet life is thrown into turmoil when she helps an injured rebel lord to escape the king’s men.


SDG: What was your approach to writing it (did it just flow or did you use an outline or other preparatory method)?


JG: I started with a plan but I always find that the story takes on a life of its own! I always know my hero and heroine well when I start a story but I’m surprised by the way my secondary characters (or supporting cast, as I prefer to think of them) start vying for my attention. That happened very early with The Rebel’s Promise and now I get more questions about Bella and Perry, who were only ever meant to be bit part players, than I do about Jack and Rosie!


SDG: How long did it take to write the complete novel from first draft to edited final?


JG: Six months. I’m not a quick writer and I am an absolute perfectionist. Every detail has to be right. I never feel I’ve ‘finished’ a novel. If I’m not really disciplined I could go on forever making changes and editing particular scenes. So I have to be stern with myself and say ‘That’s it. It’s done’.


SDG: Can you tell us a little about your book and if you have had book signings or readings?


JG: The Rebels’ Promise is a love story based around the true events of 1745, when Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army attempted to reclaim the British crown. It was a turbulent time and the rebels got as far as Derby before they turned back across the Scottish border. 

Rosie Delacourt is an English girl from a well-to-do family, whose quiet life is turned upside down when she rescues an injured Jacobite. Rosie has never met anyone quite like Jack before. He’s handsome, dashing, charming and, even though he is at death’s door when the story begins, he flirts outrageously with her! 

It’s inevitable that they will fall in love, but Jack is wanted for treason and King George’s troops come looking for him. The lovers share one bittersweet night together before he leaves. 

Jack promises to return - “Rosie, my heart, my dearest love. I swear that, once I have secured the king’s pardon, I will come back for you and make you my wife.” – but Rosie doesn’t know if she will ever see him again. 

Momentous events are shaping across the border and Bonnie Prince Charlie is defeated in battle. The rebels are in disarray and the prince himself goes into hiding. Back in Derbyshire, Rosie has her own problems. She is being blackmailed by Sir Clive Sheridan, a man who lusts after her body and her fortune. When the news comes that Jack has been killed at Culloden, she faces a stark choice: marry Clive or she, and her young brother, will go to the gallows as traitors.

Jack, meanwhile, has secured a pardon, and he returns to fulfil his promise. When he hears that Rosie is to marry the very man who betrayed him, he is devastated. But Rosie cannot tell him the truth. To do so would mean certain death for both of them. 

It seems the only feelings which remain between them now are bitterness and anger. However, when danger throws them together again, Jack and Rosie are reminded of tenderness they once shared.

I love Jack and Rosie to bits. Both of them are funny, feisty and likable. But ‘The Rebel’s Promise’ also has a great supporting cast. Sir Clive Sheridan (boo, hiss!) is the dastardly villain you love to hate while Harry, Bella and Perry definitely deserve their own sequels (watch this space …). Even Harry’s dog adds something extra to the story!

I wanted to create a magical world in which the reader feels part so I’ve loved getting comments that tell me I’ve succeeded. Readers have said that it’s like a historical soap opera (or Downton Abbey set a few centuries earlier). There has been some on-line debate about who would play the main characters in a film or mini-series. I’m quite liking the suggestion of Rob James-Collier as the foppish Sir Peregrine Pomeroy!  

I haven’t done any book signings or readings but I have loved doing guest blogs to promote my book, and my favourite promotional activity has been making my own book trailer, which is on Youtube.


SDG: That sounds like an incredible book! Is your family supportive of your writing and what do they think about your writing career?
 

JG: They are really proud of me! I use a pseudonym because of my ‘day job’ so they can’t boast about me as much as they would like to but my husband tells everyone he knows to go out and buy my book. I would love to say that writing is my ‘career’ but I have another, very time consuming career, so I would rather say writing is my ‘passion’.


SDG: Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for budding writers?


JG: What are you waiting for? If you have a story to tell, get it written down and get it out there! I think you also have to ‘tune out’ some critiques. Everyone has their own personal preferences and you can’t please everyone. As a writer, you have to be true to yourself and write what you believe in, not what you think other people want to read.


SDG: What are you working on now? Is it in the same genre?


JG: My next historical romance is close to completion. The Corsair’s Revenge is set about six years after the end of The Rebel’s Promise. It’s not quite a sequel but there are some familiar faces in it! It is book number two in the Powder and Patch Collection.

The story begins when Caro Trelawn is on the way to her wedding. She never arrives. Instead she is kidnapped by a notorious brigand known as Le Corsaire and taken aboard his ship. The story is played out along the wild Cornish coast, into the elegant salons of Paris and ends in the slums of London’s St Giles. 

As in The Rebel’s Promise, there is adventure alongside the main romantic plot, a great supporting cast of characters … and, this time, there is an unexpected twist at the end! 

I’m also working on a novella. In Sir Peregrine’s Wager, we discover what happens to Bella and Perry (two of those great supporting characters from The Rebel’s Promise).


SDG: What is the best time for you to write and does it ever interfere with your day job, if you have one? Also, how long on average do you write each day?


JG: I am a morning person, and I do mean early morning! I think I should have been a farmer’s wife because I’m awake at about 5 am every day. The downside of that is that I’m fit for nothing by 9 pm. The peaceful, early morning quiet is my writing time. 


SDG: Is writing, to you, a lonely occupation?


JG: Yes, because no-one else in my family – except my cat – is awake at that time.


The Rebel’s Promise book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK4w-ci2bU4


Purchase links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Rebels-Promise-ebook/dp/B00BVCZT6G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368564473&sr=8-1&keywords=rebel%27s+promise+jane+godman


All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-therebel039spromise-1053355-160.html

 Front Porch Romance (publisher’s website): 

http://www.frontporchromance.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_20&products_id=188&zenid=m5d8prl7vhiv7i7b9icjk26905


SDG: Do you have anything else you’d like to say?


JG: I’d like to mention the Front Porch Romance team, especially Madison Connors, the CEO, who is really enthusiastic and energetic. She really supports and encourages her authors. There are some great books coming out from Front Porch Romance by a fantastic, talented group of authors and I’m very proud to be part of that.  

SDG: Author website/social media sites:


JG: I love to hear from readers and can be contacted at:


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Godman-Author/

https://twitter.com/JaneGodman

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6923685.Jane_Godman

 My blog is here:

http://georgianromancewriter.blogspot.co.uk/