Interview & Giveaway with Tina Scott

Welcome to the second week of the blog tour for Tina Scott's soon-to-be-released debut historical novel, Farewell, My Denmark! I am delighted to host an interview with Tina here at JDP NEWS this week.  Tina is also giving away a copy of her novel (June publication date), along with a $10 Target gift card. For a chance to win, leave a comment on this interview. For additional chances to win, Tweet or Facebook this giveaway and leave a comment here, letting Tina know you've Facebooked or Tweeted. Tina will be checking out the comments and will select a winner at 5 PM PST on Friday (April 19). BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO TINA CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN! (An international winner will receive an e-book only. Sorry.)

JDP: Welcome, Tina! Please tell us a little about your historical novel.

Tina: I’d love to.

A failed engagement sets seventeen-year-old Catherine Erichsen on a faith-building journey of self discovery as she follows her parents and other Mormon Saints on the 1863 immigration to America. When precious heirlooms start disappearing aboard the John J. Boyd, Catherine nearly loses her life at the hand of thieving sailors and fears she won’t live long enough to fulfill the desires of her heart.

JDP: Farewell, My Denmark is set in 1863. Is there a particular reason you chose that year?

Tina: This is the year that one set of my ancestors emigrated from Denmark aboard the John J. Boyd.

JDP: So there’s a link to your own family history. That’s exciting! What did you find most fascinating about this time period? 

Tina: It was a time of transition for modern technology. Bicycles had been invented, but chances that a farm girl would have seen one were slim. They traveled by train part of the way, but many of the immigrants, I’m sure, had never seen a train before they stepped aboard, and so many of their experiences were different and exciting.

JDP: I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for Farewell, My Denmark?

Tina: I got my information from a variety of sources. My family history gave me the idea for the story. I found other immigrants’ histories in the Mormon Immigration Index to broaden my perspective on their experience, I resourced a few books, and the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I went to Denmark where I visited the Den Fynske Landsby, or Funen Village. It is here that they’ve brought antique homes and buildings from various regions of Denmark and turned it into an open air museum, and give snippets of their peasant history.

JDP: Oh, wow, can you see me turning green? That’s envy, because I would LOVE to visit this “village,” and I’m not even Danish. Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

Tina: Going there in person trumps anything else. *grin*

JDP: Indeed it would! Are there any historical figures from the era who particularly intrigue you?

Tina: I would have to say Hans Christian Andersen. I grew up hearing his stories and loving them. And, when I was young, Danny Kaye starred in a movie about HCA, which I watched with delight.

JDP: Oh, that was a favorite movie of my dad’s and mine, too! Absolutely loved it! In fact, one of the songs from it has a link to my current WIP. (How’s that for a coincidence?) What inspired you to write Farewell, My Denmark?

Tina: There are so many well written stories about the American pioneers, but I hadn’t encountered any on the Danish pioneers. I feel that their stories are unique and interesting, and deserve to be told.

JDP: I agree. (In full disclosure, I read an early version of Farewell, My Denmark and am currently reading a second book of Tina’s, also set in Denmark, and I confess, I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring this “less told” aspect of LDS history.)  Are you working on any new projects? (Well, I kinda gave that away now, didn’t I. LOL!)

Tina: *Laughs* I forgive you. Yes, I’m in the middle of writing a story about Catherine’s sister who ends up staying in Denmark.

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of Farewell, My Denmark?

Tina: Farewell, My Denmark will be available in June on Amazon, Kindle, and Smashwords.

JDP: Thank you for joining us today, Tina.

Now remember, for a chance to win a copy of Farewell, My Denmark along with a $10 Target gift certificate, leave a comment on this interview. Tweet and/or Facebook for additional entries before 5 PM EST, Friday April 19. REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Author Interview & Giveaway: "A Lady by Any Other Name," by Jennifer Kitchens

Today I have an interview with a lovely new Regency romance author, Jennifer Kitchens, and a giveaway for her debut romance, A Lady by Any Other Name. Stay tuned at the end of the interview for a chance to win a PDF copy of her book.

JDP: How long have you been reading Regency romances?

Jennifer: More years than I care to admit.  As a young teen, we would often take vacations to my Grandmother’s cabin where there wasn’t much to do but walk around outside, watch old movies, and play games. She had a great little collection of regency romances and I often found myself drawn to the bookshelf to pick out a new romance adventure. I’ve been reading them ever since.

JDP: What was the first Regency romance you ever read?

Jennifer: I’m not sure I remember. It was probably by Georgette Heyer though. I read a lot of hers first before branching out to find other wonderful authors.

JDP: My readers know I love Georgette Heyer, too! When did you first realize you wanted to write Regency romances?

Jennifer: A few years ago my husband encouraged me to write out some of the many stories that were rattling around in my head. As I started thinking seriously about it, the only genre that really called to me was regency romance because I love them so much. There is a lot to play with in this time period with the Napoleonic war, the war of 1812, British dealings with India and the Caribbean, the rising of the middle class, and more.  You can have spies, war heroes, political reform, and more in addition to dealing with strict rules of society and class.  With so much to play with, there are unlimited options to write with.

JDP: Which Regency romance authors have most influenced you in your love for the Regency period?

Jennifer: All of them. J  Of course I’ll have to say Georgette Heyer was a big influence on me when I was younger. To be honest, there aren’t too many other authors which I read more than one or two books, so there are so many I couldn’t name. I often have looked to those who were published about a decade ago, but there has been a recent resurgence of regency romances and I am enjoying them as well.

JDP: Since I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels, could you tell us a little about how you researched the Regency era for A Lady by Any Other Name?

Jennifer: A lot of my research comes from reading hundreds of regency romances to get a general feel of the time period and how the people and society is viewed in literature. To get more technical, I have done research online of course. There are some good websites and Wikipedia should be every researcher’s best friend. There are a few books I used, some more helpful than others. Putting it all together helped me create a plausible and realistic background for my story.

JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite Regency romance research books or other resources?

Jennifer: My favorite book was What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. http://www.amazon.com/Austen-Charles-Dickens-Whist-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0671882368

This is a wonderful source for all aspects of society and everyday life. 

I’m not sure I have anything else that I would really cite as something I referred to often. Like I said, I often used my own knowledge from Regency literature and complemented it with Google searches and Wikipedia articles.

JDP: Do you have an all-time favorite Regency romance?

Jennifer: What a hard question!  I think I would have to say either The Twelve Days of Christmas by Regina Scott or The Substitute Bridegroom by Charlotte Louise Dolan. Fabulous books!

JDP: Ooo, thanks for the tips! I’ll check those books out. What inspired you to write A Lady by Any Other Name?

Jennifer: My husband was my motivation all along the way. Without his encouragement, I probably would have quit twice.  I also found that the book itself was its own inspiration. I often found that if I would re-read something I wrote, I would fall in love with it again and want to keep reading it, but as I hadn’t finished it yet I would have to write it myself. J  Then I would have to keep writing because I wanted to have the story keep going. 

JDP: Tell us a little bit about A Lady by Any Other Name. (You can share your book blurb here if you want)

JENNIFER: A Woman in Hiding

Nicole Farrington’s life had never been easy, but it had always been bearable. At least it had been until now. Faced with a horrible marriage her step-brother has contracted for her, she will do anything to get away.  She’ll run…run to anyone who might be able to help her. But running blindly down an unknown path may take her to an unexpected destination.

A Man Seeking Answers

Julian Huntington, Earl of Foxley, wants nothing more than to have his carefree life back. Now he is left with a title, a child, and a future that he never expected would be his. He refuses to believe his brother’s death was an accident, no matter what people say. Someone killed him and Julian plans to find out who and why. Maybe then he can go on with his life…his brother’s life. Will the answers he seeks be enough, or will he find love to be a worthier goal?

JDP: What project are you working on next?

Jennifer: I am working on another regency romance right now. It’s set during Christmas-time (a favorite of mine) and involves a bit of mystery and a lot of crazy relatives. I am really having fun with this one and I hope to be able to finish it before too long so I can share it with all of you!

JDP: I’m looking forward to that! Where can readers obtain a copy of A Lady by Any Other Name?

Jennifer: CreateSpace (Paperback): https://www.createspace.com/3901091

Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/Lady-By-Any-Other-Name/dp/1477612416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344526465&sr=8-1&keywords=a+lady+by+any+other+name

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Any-Other-Name-ebook/dp/B008H2Z7VK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344526465&sr=8-2&keywords=a+lady+by+any+other+name

Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-lady-by-any-other-name-jennifer-kitchens/1111978555

JDP: Thank you so much for joining us today! 

You can read a short excerpt from A Lady by Any Other Name on my latest Tuesday Teaser post.

More about Jennifer! : Jennifer Kitchens is a life-long lover of romance novels. She started reading Regency romances as a teenager and hasn’t stopped. She is the founder and sole reviewer for Clean Romance Reviews. When she isn’t writing and reading, she is raising her young children and dating her husband. Visit Jennifer’s author website, her review blog, and follow her on Facebook.

Okay, now for the giveaway. Jennifer is offering a PDF version of A Lady by Any Other Name to one lucky reader of this interview! (Yes, that means that international entries are welcome!) Deadline is August 29. Winner will be drawn August 30. Enter via Rafflecopter below.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

USA entries only

Entrants must be 18 years or older

Entries may be left in a comment or sent via email to jdipastena@yahoo.com

Winners will be selected on August 30, 2012. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.

Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded

Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview and Giveaway: Zenobia - Birth of a Legend, by Russ Wallace

Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, by Russ Wallace, was brought to my attention by a writer friend who knew of my interest in history. I was eager for an opportunity to read it, as after the Middle Ages, ancient history is one of my favorite time periods to read about. I found Zenobia in Mr. Wallace’s book a highly sympathetic character that I wanted to find out more about. This book had me so intrigued with various historical threads that I kept pausing in my reading to zip over to Wikipedia (thank you, iPad!) to read more about the great library at Alexandria (including a list of ancient head librarians and an ancient cataloguing system that was not fully replaced until the 19th century Dewey Decimal System), the legends about Nimrod (which in turn led me to the fascinating legends about additional sons of the Biblical Noah, including the Greek Titans...who knew? LOL), etc. I felt my knowledge, as well as my enjoyment, vastly expanded by the time I reached the end. Which is not really the end, as this is the first in a series covering the life of this historical figure, Zenobia. (Zenobia – Birth of a Legend was provided to me free of charge by the author, but this in no way influenced this brief review.)

Mr. Wallace kindly agreed to an interview and has offered to give away a hard cover copy of Zenobia to one lucky reader of my blog. So stay tuned at the end of this interview to find out how you can enter for a chance to win!

JDP: Tell us a little about your historical novel, Zenobia – Birth of a Legend.

Russ:  THE HISTORY: In the third century a girl of uncommon abilities was born in the desert wilderness of Syria. Rescued from death by her courageous mother, Zenobia masqueraded as a boy to stay alive.

  

Brilliant and beautiful, Zenobia developed into a military and political genius, the likes of which the world had never seen. When she gained sole control of the second most powerful army on earth, she set her sights on the greatest conquest of all -- Rome!

  

Book one in the series is a coming of age saga of Zenobia's life from age nine to fifteen. It sets the stage for her amazing rise to power.

  

By the way, the book just won an IPPY (Independent Publisher) Award for Historical Fiction, so the judges must have felt that the historical component was strong.

 THE STORY: Young Zenobia dreams of becoming a warrior, a serious problem for a girl born into a male-dominated desert tribe. She has been forced to conceal her gender to preserve her life! Her deception is unmasked, leading to an incredible turn of events.

  

The deadly warrior skills that Zenobia develops prove their worth in several gripping encounters. She appears unaware of a legend beginning to grow about her.

  

Her wise mother envisions a different life for her daughter -- that of a scholar -- and takes her to Egypt for an education. Here a conflict of desires surges in Zenobia, for she finds that she loves both paths. As she feeds an emerging hunger for justice, the stirrings of a future political and strategic genius begin to manifest themselves.

  

Classes on critical thinking and law train the intellectual prowess of Zenobia, while other courses cultivate her social consciousness. For a time, her warrior world recedes into the background.

  

Growing into young womanhood, Zenobia feels an awakening attraction to two very different males -- a vibrant young warrior from her own tribe and a brilliant bachelor scholar whose analytical mind cannot resist the pull of the most intriguing female he has ever met.

  

Meanwhile, Zenobia learns of the annual horse race in Alexandria. She decides to enter her powerful mare against the highly-bred stallions of the East. The power of a legend influences the surprising course of the contest to its thundering conclusion.

JDP: What inspired you to write Zenobia?

Russ: To me, Zenobia is the most fascinating woman who ever lived and one of the most captivating figures in history. Here’s why: She survived a decree of infanticide and grew into a deadly, dynamic warrior of extraordinary beauty who spoke five languages. She marched with the regular troops, developing a tremendous rapport with her fellow warriors.

None of that, however, got her into the history books. Zenobia developed into a political and military genius, the like of which the world had never seen in a woman! At 27 years of age, she came into control of the second most powerful army in the world. From this base she enlisted brilliant associates to fulfill her dream – the conquest of Rome, the greatest empire in history.

  

The more I studied her story, the more it seduced me – I wanted to fill it in, to write it. I decided it would require a series of novels to do justice to her saga.

JDP: Zenobia is set in Syria in the 3rd Century? What did you find most fascinating about this setting and time period?

Russ: It was a time of upheaval, politically, intellectually, and religiously. Rome had a series of weak emperors, which brewed rebellions. A Parthian emperor, Shapur, invaded the eastern end of the Roman Empire and for the first (and only) time, the Roman emperor himself was captured. A radical rabbi from Palestine, Jesus of Nazareth, had turned the religious world upside down and his teachings were gaining momentum. Alexandria and Athens and Rome were the intellectual centers of the world, where some of the greatest minds of all time taught. Onto this scene strode a young girl who was destined to upstage them all, with the exception of Jesus.

JDP: I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for Zenobia? 

Russ: I began with the internet, where there is a wealth of information. Next, I obtained books, like the history of Palmyra or Tadmor, where Zenobia came to rule as Queen, written by Richard Stoneman (Palmyra and Its Empire: Zenobia’s Revolt Against Rome).

  

Then I read fictionalized accounts of her life. When I first saw how many there were, I thought that I was entering the game too late. However, after reading some I realized that their view of Zenobia differed greatly from my own view. Finally, I secured some of the highly specific works about the era.

JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

Russ: I used Wikipedia for a lot of basic research, but then I checked the information using other sources. I went to Google.com to locate specialized books on the period. And I read historical and fictional accounts of her life. Even the writers from her time do not agree on some important points, however.

JDP: Are there any historical figures, besides Zenobia herself, from the era who particularly intrigue you? 

Russ: Without doubt, the top would be Cassius Dionysius Longinus. He had one of the most brilliant minds in history. Some called him a living encyclopedia, and he studied everything. I have him instructing Zenobia’s favorite class, Critical Thinking, in book one, but this may not have actually happened.

  

What is certain is that he became her top advisor when she became queen and de facto ruler of Tadmor. He joined her campaign to overthrow Rome, lending his formidable analytical powers to her political and strategic skills. 

  

Most readers will enjoy the intellectual interplay between them, which really takes off in book two. He is intrigued by the toughness and brilliance of his beautiful pupil, while at the same time he fears her reckless daring puts her at risk. After Zenobia herself, Longinus was my favorite character to develop and work with.

  

Aurelian, the new Roman Emperor, is another great personality. A battle-hardened general of decades of military campaigns, he cannot believe that a woman thinks she can actually threaten Rome – until he meets her in war!

JDP: Are you working on any new projects?

Russ: Book two in the Zenobia series, Zenobia – Challenging the Legend will be released later this year.

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of your books?

Geode Press: http://geodepress.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=zenobia-birth+of+a+legend

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94629

More about Russ! : Russ Wallace is a long-time student of history and religion. He employs a vivid imagination to fill in the life of Zenobia, a real historical figure and one of the most fascinating women who ever lived. He is working on future books in the Zenobia series.

Read more about Russ and his books on his website and blog, and follow him on Facebook.

Now for the giveaway! For a chance to win a hard cover copy of Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post with your email address so I can contact you if you win. If you forget to leave your email address, I’ll have to draw another winner, so don’t forget that part, it’s important. (If Blogger won’t let you leave a comment, you may email your entry to jdipastena@yahoo.com.) Deadline to enter is August 8, 2012, midnight, PST. USA entries only, please.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

USA entries only

Entrants must be 18 years or older

Entries may be left in a comment or sent via email to jdipastena@yahoo.com

Winners will be selected on August 8, 2012. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.

Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded

Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

Author Interview and Giveaway with Holly Bush

Today we have an interview with Holly Bush, who writes about the Western United States in the late 1800s. She's graciously agreed to give away a copy of her historical romance, Romancing Olive, at the end of the interview, so stay tuned for details!

JDP: Thank you for joining us today, Holly.

Holly: Hello Joyce and thanks for having me.

JDP: Tell us a little about your historical romance, Romancing Olive.

Holly: Spinster librarian, Olive Wilkins, is shocked to learn of her brother’s violent death at a saloon gaming table. Compelled to rescue and raise his children, Olive travels to Ohio, intending to return to her Philadelphia home with her niece and nephew. Little does she know that the children have come to love their caretaker, widower Jacob Butler. Will Olive return home without them or learn to love Jacob as well?

JDP: Romancing Olive is set in 1891. Is there a particular reason you chose that year?

Holly: Yes, actually there is. At one point in the book, Olive asks a friend to ship her new Singer sewing machine from her home in Philadelphia to Ohio so that she can quickly make clothing for her niece and nephew and Jacob’s children. Singer machines were first manufactured in 1851 but became much more popular towards the end of the century. Train travel was still the most typical means of transportation and the Civil War had been over for 15 years.

JDP: What did you find most fascinating about this time period? 

Holly: The U.S. was settled but not tamed. We were on the cusp of the industrial revolution which would bring huge changes to a mostly agrarian lifestyle. But at that time war wounds would have been healing, and a small town culture flourished prior to the automobile. This was a happy period for the U.S.

JDP: I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for Romancing Olive?

Holly: I read about the time I’m writing about, historical facts and events, and then I like to read about the mundane or not famous during that period. That’s always where characters get fleshed out. What did the average women or mother do during her day? How many children went to school? What was a holiday tradition? What did families do to relax or for entertainment?

JDP: Those are all excellent questions when trying to find ways to bring characters and a historical era to life. Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

Holly: I’m on the board of my local library so I spend some time there reading general history books. And of course I use the internet for much of my research. I’ve found Wikipedia to be an amazingly accurate source. College libraries are often completely on-line now as well and are a great source for me.

JDP: Are there any historical figures from the era of Romancing Olive who particularly intrigue you?

Holly: It was an era of the Average Joe.

JDP: What inspired you to write Romancing Olive?

Holly: I had picture in my head of Olive riding on the train to Spencer, looking out the window and imagining her brother had been a model citizen, terrified to raise his children yet ready to face the challenge. Those fears paled in comparison to the reality she was forced to deal with on her arrival. There’s something about those huge turns in one’s life where comfort ends and a new world begins that is both terrifying and exhilarating. For Olive, it was a catharsis.

JDP: Are you working on any new projects?

Holly: I’m working on a women’s fiction book that is untitled and about 30,000 words in length at this point. About 50,000 or so more words to go!

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of your books?

Holly: Romancing Olive is available at Good Reads, Amazon and Nook Book. I have 3 other historical romances that I will be making available over the next 6 months. 

JDP: How exciting! Then your readers have a lot to look forward to. :-) Thank you again for joining us today.

More about Holly! : Holly Bush was born in western Pennsylvania to two avid readers. There was not a room in her home that did not hold a full bookcase. She worked in the hospitality industry, owning a restaurant for twenty years and recently worked as the sales and marketing director in the hospitality/tourism industry and is credited with building traffic to capacity for a local farm tour, bringing guests from twenty-two states, booked two years out.  Holly has been a marketing consultant to start-up businesses and has done public speaking on the subject.

Holly has been writing all of her life and is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, particularly political and historical works. She has written four romance novels, all set in the U.S. West in the mid 1800’s. She frequently attends writing conferences, and has always been a member of a writer’s group.

Holly is a gardener, a news junkie, and vice-president of her local library board and loves to spend time near the ocean. She is the proud mother of two daughters and the wife of a man more than a few years her junior. Visit Holly's website at www.hollybushbooks.com to learn more about her and her books.


Now for the giveaway! Holly is offering an e-copy of Romancing Olive to one lucky reader who leaves a comment on this interview. Be sure to include your email address so I'll know how to contact you if you win. Deadlines for entries is February 26, midnight PST.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

USA entries only

Entrants must be 18 years or older

Entries may be left in a comment or sent via email to jdipastena@yahoo.com

Prize: 1 e-copy of Romancing Olive, by Holly Bush, retail value $2.99.

The number or eligible entries received determines the odds of winning

Winners will be selected on February 27. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.

Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded

Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com or PO Box 673, Kearny, AZ 85137

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

Author Interview & Giveaway with Felicia Rogers

It’s been awhile since I’ve held an author interview and giveaway, but I have one today with Felicia Rogers, who writes sweet romances. Stay tuned after the interview to learn how you can win a copy of Felicia’s inspirational historical suspense novel, There Your Heart Will Be Also. (E-book, PDF)

JDP: Welcome, Felicia! There Your Heart Will Be Also is set in the 1550s, during the reign of Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII. What did you find most fascinating about this time period?

Felicia: The most fascinating thing about this time period for me was discovering the Wedding Ceremony.  While I was researching for my book, it came to my attention that the wedding ceremony we use today originated in the Common Book of Prayer.  This book was written by Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and accepted by Edward VI in 1558-1559.

JDP: I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for There Your Heart Will Be Also?

Felicia: How I researched information for my novel was by using internet sources such as Wikipedia.  I also used Foxes’ Book of Martyrs, and the Bible.

JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

Felicia: Two research books or resources I use on every book I write are the Holy Bible and Wikipedia.  I do use other materials depending on what I’m looking for.  One book I wrote recently concerned flowers in a different country.  I used various websites to answer those questions but I couldn’t point to anyone in particular. Also, two books that I use regularly are Scotland, The story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson and King and Queens of England and Scotland by Plantagenet Somerset Fry.

  

JDP: Are there any historical figures from the era of There Your Heart Will Be Also who particularly intrigue you?

Felicia: There is no way I could pick one historical figure from this time in history and say they alone intrigued me.  From Henry VIII until the end of Elizabeth I’s reign there is one interesting figure after another.  From young Lady Jane Grey taking the throne for right at a week only to be ousted by Mary and eventually beheaded for the attempt, to Mary Queen of Scots who desired the throne at eighteen yet was beheaded before achieving her goal. 

The entire monarchy of the time intrigues me.

JDP: What inspired you to write There Your Heart Will Be Also?

Felicia: My inspiration for There Your Heart Will Be Also is hard to pin point.  I had just stopped reading a wonderful series of historical romance novels and I emailed my cousin, who is a genius with words, and asked her if she would like to write a novel together.  She agreed.

So I sat down and began writing bits and pieces of a story and sent them along to her.  Due to a busy schedule she was unable to help with the project and in the end I finished the entire story alone. 

The book honestly started out as something vastly different from what is has become.  In the beginning, I only wanted to see if I could actually come up with a complete story.  Could I get from the beginning to the end and have something that still made sense.  But overtime my ideas changed and developed into wanting something more.  Something that if put out there I would be proud to say was mine.

I guess you could say I took a little bit of all my knowledge combined it with what I like in a book and thus my story a born.  

JDP: Tell us a little bit about There Your Heart Will Be Also.

Felicia: Only daughter of an English lord, Sarra of Greenbriar, is used to getting her way. So when her father passes and the King begins sending suitors, she feels justified in taking matters into her own hands. Through a series of harmless pranks, Sarra works to keep the potential husbands at bay.

Cedric MacNeil is a Scotsman that has lost it all. Death claimed his parents and jealousy claimed his entitled position as Laird of his clan. Since his mother was a familiar of the English court, he leaves his native land and heads to England to fight on behalf of the English King. Tournaments are won, earning honor and glory for the crown. Cedric’s reward is the opportunity to gain what he wants most in this life, land.

But as he gets to know Sarra, he realizes he might get more than he bargained for.

JDP: Are you working on any new projects?

Felicia: Currently, I’m editing a chick-lit and a contemporary inspirational romance which should be out close to the first of 2012.

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of your books? 

Felicia: Copies of my books can be obtained at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press, Bookstrand, and other ebook retailers.

JDP: Thank you for visiting us today, Felicia. It was delightful to get to know a little about you and your book.

More about Felicia! : Felicia Rogers, born and raised in the southern part of the United States, is a Christian wife and mother. She is just your average, ordinary woman, with a side interest-- writing. For eleven years, every waking moment of her life was consumed with changing diapers, wiping noses, and kissing scrapes. But now that her children have grown and she enjoys a modicum of freedom, in addition to taking care of hearth and home, she writes!  She enjoys adding a flavor of realism and humor to her all too real romance stories. For what is love without a little laughter! Read more about Felicia and her books at http://feliciarogersauthor.webs.com/

Okay, now for the giveaway! Felicia is giving away 1 PDF copy of There Your Heart Will Be Also. I’ve been alerted to new rules (well, new to me) for conducting such things as giveaways, so all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your email address so I’ll know how to contact you if you win. Since this is a PDF, the giveaway is open to International entries. The deadline to comment is January 29, midnight PST. I’ll draw and announce a winner on January 30.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

Entrants must be 18 years or older

Giveaway opens January 23, 2012 and runs through January 29, 2012

Entries may be left in a comment or sent via email to jdipastena@yahoo.com

Prize: 1 PDF copy of There Your Heart Will Be Also, by Felicia Rogers, retail value $2.99.

The number or eligible entries received determines the odds of winning

Winners will be selected on January 30. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.

Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded

Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com or PO Box 673, Kearny, AZ 85137

Legal venue: Arizona (no, this doesn't mean you have to be from Arizona to enter!)

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW