BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN - Maureen Lang - One Free Book

Bio:

Maureen Lang writes stories inspired by a love of history and romance. An avid reader herself, she’s figured out a way to write the stories she feels like reading. Maureen’s Inspirationals have earned various writing distinctions as a finalist for the Rita, Christy, and Carol Awards. In addition to investigating various eras in history (such as Victorian England, First World War, and America’s Gilded Age) Maureen loves taking research trips to get a feel for the settings of her novels. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, children, and Labrador retriever.

Why did you become an author?

I’ve been writing stories since I was ten, so I think that means storytelling is just part of who I am. But I did make the decision to pursue publication, which is perhaps different from an innate desire to tell stories. For me, I wanted the widest possible audience and the validation that comes with publication. I’ve been touched by stories my entire life, and I hope to touch other lives with my stories. That emotional connection from a well-crafted tale is a big part of why I wanted to join the publishing field as a creator of that emotional connectivity.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

I’d be a restaurant critic that would appeal to the average person, not especially sophisticated but honest and able to communicate the various flavors I’d experience. I doubt there is much money to be made in such a job, unless I was a syndicated columnist—and I guess the real “dream” part of the job would be not gaining any weight from eating all the time! I love going to a new restaurant but I’m never satisfied with tasting only one thing on the menu. I’d love to have someone offer me a little taste of everything, and to share what’s good (or not) about each new taste.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I believe I’m more enamored of the idea of history than actually wanting to be part of it. If I really had to choose to go back, I don’t think I’d go very far. I’m too spoiled by modern conveniences (flushing toilets, for example). However, if I could visit just long enough to see what life was really like in another era, I’d choose the Victorian times (better known as the Gilded Age here in America). People were so . . . polite! Everyone still expected people to have some kind of faith, and even though I’m sure the clothing was incredibly uncomfortable, it was so lovely I’d have liked to see crowds everywhere dressed so wonderfully.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

Believe it or not, I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon! I’d love to visit there.

I haven’t either. Maybe we could go together. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I’ve never been to the city of Prague, which is in the Czech Republic. I’m told that because it was never bombed during either of the World Wars that it’s somewhat similar to Belgium’s city of Brugge, which I have been to and loved. Brugge has many buildings that date back to the 12^th century—incredible to behold! I’d love to have that experience in another city, and from what I hear, Prague promises to provide that.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

That He has given me many tasks to complete while I’m here on this earth. I’d sometimes get frustrated when other things got in the way of my writing, as if writing was the only mission He had for me. But the truth is my life isn’t just about writing! I have a disabled son who needs full time care, and God has taught me that He’s given me this gift to write so I can take care of my son (and not work outside the home). My care-giving responsibilities don’t hinder my writing duties; God has given me the blessing of writing to go hand-in-hand with my other duties. I used to have my priorities backward. Being a caregiver is more important to God than my other work, because He’s a bigger fan of my son than He is of my books. J

Tell us about the featured book.

Bees In The Butterfly Garden is one of the most fun books I’ve worked on so far! It’s the story of Meg Davenport, who was raised in a fictitious but exclusive school for girls in the Gilded Age. Upon the death of her father, Meg learns he wasn’t the respectable businessman she believed him to be, but was really a thief. Determined to prove he’d been wrong to shut her away from who he really was all those years, Meg persuades (coerces) her father’s protégé, Ian Maguire, to accept her partnership and take up where her father left off. Ian knows the last thing her father would have wanted was for Meg to become a thief—but when she offers access to one of New York’s wealthiest families, he ignores his guilt and gives in to his greed. But who will catch Meg and Ian first? The Law? Or God?

Sounds totally intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

A young lady of impeccable decorum never appears outside her home unchaperoned, uncoiffed, ungloved, or unhappy. —Madame Marisse’s Handbook for Young Ladies

April 1879

Along the Upper Post Road, Connecticut

Freezing rain pelted Meg Davenport. Though her cloak was thoroughly sodden, along with the hem of her gingham skirt, she refused to think about her misery. This is my last chance. All the blasted rain in the sky won’t stop me now.

         A glimmer of warm hope stirred inside when she peered ahead instead of watching her own slippery steps. People, horses, carriages. She’d jumped from the back of a farm wagon nearly a mile ago when it had turned off the main road, and here at last was her first destination—the roadhouse near the train station.

         Meg hurried into the modest one-story building, squeezing through the crowd but keeping her hood so low that she could barely scout an opening in the room. Though she wanted to, she wouldn’t dare remove her wet cloak. She’d promised herself not to take any risk of being seen, at least not until reaching safe anonymity in the thick of New York City.

         So she clutched her travel bag to her chest and pressed on, hoping to find a spot against the wall. She didn’t worry her satchel would be grabbed as much as she feared that dropping it would mean certain trampling in an effort to retrieve it.

         It was warmer in here than waiting outside for the train; there was no doubt about that. But the smell of the place almost sent her back out anyway. Besides the odor of smoky wood from a fireplace and burnt onions from the kitchen, smells of many other sorts came from those who, like her, had sought shelter from an icy April rain. Such smells as Meg had never, in all her fourteen years, been subjected to. Unwashed bodies simply weren’t tolerated, even among the school staff with whom Meg was rarely allowed to mingle. How long would she have to wait for the train to take her on the next leg of her journey?

      Journey. The word tripped her thoughts. Flight was more fitting.

(Chapter One picks up after the rest of the Prologue, four years later when Meg is all grown up . . . and ready to take her father’s place as New York’s most successful thief.)

My copy has arrived, and I must get to it soon. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My blog is on my website, which I update every Monday.

www.maureenlang.com

I also blog every other Wednesday at Christians Read, a blog hosted by a variety of Christian authors.

http://christiansread.wordpress.com/

Thanks very much for having me, Lena! I always love visiting your popular blog.

And I love having you come by, Maureen.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy) - paperback
Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy) - Kindle

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