Tell us how much of yourself you write into your
characters.
There is a
lot of me in May Lynn ,
my lead character. I don’t want to give away a plot element in the story, but
May Lynn and I
share a similar experience. I use a lot of my emotions and thoughts to make her
seem more real.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I always
call places or items by the wrong name. I’m sure this will some day affect my
novels. For example, if I want to go to Pizza Hut, I will tell my husband I’m
going to Papa John’s
When did you first discover that you were a
writer?
Ever since
I was a child, I have written books. I first wrote A Time to Say Goodbye when
I was 17. In elementary school, I used to write children’s books and illustrate
them. I even shaped the books to look like real books. So I don’t think I ever
discovered I was one. I just always assumed I was one.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you
enjoy reading.
The joke
with my husband and friends is I write really sad and depressing stories.
However, I want my books to be light romance novels. One of my favorite authors
is Karen Witemeyer. I just love the Short
Straw Bride. I’m known for looking at the end of books to make sure the
hero and heroine get together before purchasing it. If they don’t, I almost
always put the book back on the shelf.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run
world?
I fantasize.
Sounds crazy, but I process my life problems by day-dreaming about how my
characters would handle a situation. Michael and May Lynn have been through a
lot with me. I also pray and rely on my husband. Without my husband, I wouldn’t
be the person I am.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
Michael
has always been a favorite name of mine. I always wanted to marry a Michael. For
your information, I married a Ryan. Usually, I just start sprouting out names
until I land on one. May Lynn ,
I actually made up. It started out as Malien, but my loving family made fun of
it until I decided to change it. They all love May Lynn.
What is the accomplishment that you are most
proud of?
Being
married for almost 11 years. I’m young. I married my husband at 22. We have
been together ever since. All my friends can’t believe we have been married for
so long.
If you were an animal, which one would you be,
and why?
I would be
a cat. It just seems so nice being fat and sleeping all day and no one thinks
it’s wrong.
What is your favorite food?
Salads
covered in cheese, croutons, bacon bits, and lots of salad dressing etc. You
know all the unhealthy stuff.
What is the problem with writing that was your
greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Getting past my pride so I would take
correction from others. As soon as I wrote it, I thought my novel was awesome. When
I began to rewrite it, I fought guidance from more experienced writers. I have
had to swallow a lot of pride to follow direction. I still have my moments of
pride but God is working on it.
Tell us about the featured book.
A Time to
Say Goodbye
is primarily about how God leads us down certain paths. May Lynn and Michael
both have preconceived notions on how their lives should be, but God throws
them a couple of curve balls along the way to help them become the people He
desires them to be.
Please give us the first page of the book.
A lady
should always have five minutes of peace. May Lynn Whitley pushed through the
glass doors and made her way to the end of the porch, squeezing the rail. And
she needed that peace. It wasn’t too much to ask. Her stiff limbs loosened, her
eyes closed, and she leaned against the porch rail. A light breeze blew by,
cooling her face and making a few curls bounce off her cheek. She opened her
eyes. Darkness hid the barren heath that spread out before her. An utter contrast to her garden
full of lavender roses back home in North
Carolina . That garden was a perfect escape.
The sound
of a male’s voice too low to understand made her stiffen. May Lynn glanced at the glass doors as Mr.
Hopkins walked by with his new bride on his arm. She exhaled. It wasn’t Richard with more sharp words for
her. May Lynn
ran a hand over the silk skirt of her dress, the fabric felt cool to her touch.
What could be so offensive about the color burgundy? Even her father
thought this dress would be perfect for tonight. But Richard hated it
nonetheless. She should have chosen blue. He loved the color. May Lynn shook her head,
making a few curls bounce against her cheeks. She must try harder to win
Richard’s favor. Her future depended on it.
May Lynn
pushed back her shoulders and tipped her nose in the air. She had best go
inside before he came looking for her, again.
“When will
this ball end?” she mumbled as she grabbed the skirt of her gown, lifting the
hem away from her slippers, and headed back to the ballroom. May Lynn slipped around
several small gatherings of young ladies chatting amongst themselves and
footmen bearing platters of cheese and fruit crumpets. A wisp of raspberry
scent floated by her.
She
spotted her mother smoothing the skirt of her dark brown silk taffeta gown,
which accented her pepper-gray hair. She looked diminutive against the large
red tapestries with ornate gold threaded tulips that completely covered the
walls. Her pa and fiancé stood nearby but were engrossed in conversation.
As she
approached them, Richard looked her way, his eyes narrowing. “Where have you
been, my dear?” His blond curly hair made the red tint of his face stand out.
May Lynn squeezed the fabric
of her skirt. How could she
deflect his temper before he made a scene? Her mother’s words filled her mind. Always
be submissive to soften a man’s mood. “I’m sorry, dear, the ballroom is
too warm. I just went outside for some fresh air.”
“Were you
looking at the stars again?” His face relaxed and he turned to her mother.
“Your daughter, Mrs. Whitley, finds the English sky fascinating, though I do not
see the difference between it and that of our own.”
“Now,
she’s always looking at the view from home,” her mother replied.
“Yes,
women love the simple things of life,” he said.
May Lynn bit her bottom lip,
forcing herself not to roll her eyes. And men loved nothing. Nothing but their
accomplishments. At least the stars and the rest of nature didn’t vanish at a
moment’s notice.
A smile
spread across her mother’s face. “It helps us be….”
“Richard,
have you heard any news about La Jane?” her father asked.
May Lynn glanced at her
mother, who just folded her hands in front of her, almost disappearing as the
conversation continued without her. Her face took on a blank look. Yes, it was
time for them to be quiet. May Lynn
shook her head and gazed around the larger parlor that had been turned into a
ballroom for tonight.
“Right
now, sir, the plantation is doing just fine.…”
Punch
could moisten her dry mouth. May Lynn
looked at a table complete with crystal glasses full of punch, a large crystal
bowl, and light pink flowers. A young woman dancing with a gentleman glided
past the table. Her beige dress blended with the other gowns of rose red and
lavender, with white or gold lace trimmings and little puffy sleeves.
Pa spoke,
“I hope it won’t….”
May Lynn turned away, but then
quickly turned back in the direction of the dancing couples. Who was that? Off
in the distance with her neighbors the Jacobs stood a young man who appeared
out of place. But why? He wore the clothes of a gentleman, a black coat with a
tail and a red vest. He’d brushed his dark hair back. May Lynn slanted her head. He held his glass too
low, and he gripped it instead of holding it with his fingertips. She looked at
Richard’s hand as he held his glass with the right grip. The stranger must not
be a gentleman, but who could he be? Perhaps, a friend of the Jacobs. She
touched the shoulder of her fiancé.
“Yes, my
dear,” Richard said, stopping in mid-sentence. His eyes narrowed again as he
stretched his mouth into a thin line.
So much
for diverting his temper. May Lynn
took a deep breath and let it out in a smooth stream. “I’m sorry to interrupt.
It’s just, I haven’t spoken with the Jacobs yet.”
A smirk
crossed his face. “My dear, you haven’t spoken with most of our guests.”
May Lynn clenched her hands
into fists. Of course, he would mention her shortcomings. But she must not show
her anger. That would only make things worse. May Lynn tipped her head to the side and batted
her lashes, relying on an old trick she learned from finishing school.
He looked
away and held out his arm. “Pardon us, my future wife wishes to visit.”
May Lynn placed her hand on it
as a chill rippled over her. Tomorrow, he would have a long list of social
mishaps to speak to her about, but she wouldn’t dwell on that now. She tilted
her chin upward and walked toward the Jacobs with her fiancé at her side.
Mrs.
Jacobs tapped the young man on the shoulder with her fan and then pointed to a
circle of young women drinking punch. Was she encouraging him to talk to one of
the girls? The young man glanced at the girls and shrugged his shoulders. He
must be shy.
The
Jacobs’ small group turned to them as Richard stepped to Mr. Jacobs’s side and
held out his hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs, I am so glad you could come,” Richard
said.
Mr. Jacobs
gripped Richard’s hand. “Mr. Crumin.” Miss Whitley, it’s a delight to be your
guest.”
He nodded
towards both of them. His dark brown tie brought out the blue in his warm,
welcoming eyes.
May Lynn smiled, glancing at
the young man, who stood a step back from the Jacobs, still clenching the
glass. He had a youthful handsomeness. His face was free of any hard lines, and
he had high cheekbones like an aristocrat.
“Oh excuse
me.” Mr. Jacobs extended a hand towards the young man. “Let me introduce you to
Michael Thompson. He’s visiting with us before he journeys back to his
birthplace of North Carolina .”
“We’re
from North Carolina , just vacationing in Dorset .” Richard said. “Isn’t it a beautiful state?”
A smile
stretched across his face. “Sir, I have no memory of it. I spent most of my
life in Africa and the last four years at a seminary school in England .
Now I plan to return and work at a church in the mountains near a town called Henderson .”
May Lynn opened her fan and
waved it in front of her face. His speech was almost perfect except for his
slight accent. It sounded British, but yet his African accent sounded deeper when he pronounced
his vowels.
“Then you
have been robbed of its magnificence.” Richard raised his glass.
Mr.
Thompson raised his glass to Richard’s. “And I can’t wait to see it.”
A girl
tripped making May Lynn look past Mr. Thompson. Had she drank too much of the
punch? Mr. Thompson must have noticed her gaze because he glanced over his
shoulder.
“Miss
Whitley, do you enjoy dancing?” he asked, looking at her, their gazes
connecting.
May Lynn ’s bottom lip dropped
as something sharp ran through her. Placing her hand over her heart, she took a
deep breath. His eyes were so beautiful, a dark blue full of some kind of
lightness. She looked away, focusing on the gold buttons of his jacket. “I like
the movement of it. I guess you could say I enjoy studying things.”
Mr.
Thompson placed his hands behind his back. “My mother taught me and some of the
village girls to dance. She said it was a skill I’d need in order to attract a
young lady.”
“Young
ladies do enjoy it,” Richard said, his eyes trailing over Mr. Thompson’s head.
“You should dance with May Lynn .
It’ll allow me some time to talk business with Mr. Jacobs. I have some matters
I need to address with him that would only bore her.”
May Lynn shook her head. How
easily he could dismiss her.
“Shall
we?” Mr. Thompson held out his hand.
May Lynn stole a glance at his
outstretched fingers, before inching her hand into his. His large hand closed
around hers, holding it like a captured butterfly. They made their way to the
center of the parlor.
With her
other hand, she fanned her face. Her cheeks burned like she had spent all day
in the sun and every part of her felt jittery. Something about the young man at
her side unnerved her. But what could it be?
She turned
to face, Mr. Thompson who placed one hand a little too high on her arm and took
her other hand. She smiled and pulled his hand to the proper place on her
elbow.
“Sorry.” A
faint smile crossed his face and his high cheekbones flushed red.
May Lynn chuckled. “Bless your
heart. We all make mistakes every now and then.”
His eyes
filled with a twinkle. “I’m glad you understand.”
They began
to move though not in time with the music. He didn’t know the steps very well,
and would always move a second after she did. She tried to guide him, but soon
gave up and they just waltzed to their own tempo. She looked at his face. His
crimson cheeks made his dark blue eyes stand out. They looked as innocent as a child’s.
“You move
much smoother than the village girls,” he said.
“Now, Mr.
Thompson, what do you mean by village girls?”
“The girls
who are natives of Africa .”
“Like the
help back home?”
“Yes.” His
tone dropped. He pushed his lips into a narrow line.
May Lynn took a deep breath. A
thick tension filled the space between them. “My father owns many darkies on
our plantation.”
“And how
are they?” he asked.
“They’re
fine, and quite happy. Well provided for, I would say.”
“Is that
so?” He laughed as he leaned his head back a little, rolling his eyes.
May Lynn dropped her gaze.
What did he find so amusing? Didn’t he realize how rude he appeared? But
perhaps he didn’t. He would not have been exposed to proper society in an
African colony. She bent her head to the side. His oddness intrigued her. If he
was cultivated like a gentleman, all the belles in America would compete for his
attention.
They
danced until the music ended, and May Lynn stepped away from him, fanning
herself with her hand.
“Are you
too warm?” he asked.
“Yes, I
could use some fresh air. Would you like to go to the courtyard? I’d love to
hear about your experience in Africa .”
“That
would be pleasant.”
May Lynn folded her hands in
front of her while he looked off to the side. She giggled. Poor thing. He had
no idea what to do. Mr. Thompson was like a child thrown into a game for the
first time. “You’re supposed to escort me.”
Mr. Thompson blushed again and held out his
arm to her. She placed her right hand on his arm, and they walked outside to
the garden, stopping at a stone bench. Several rose bushes flanked the seat and
petals decorated the cobblestone walkway around it. Overhead burned an oil
lamp, giving the area an angelic glow. Off in the distance water trickled from
a fountain creating a slight murmur. May Lynn
sat down, and Mr. Thompson stood in front of her, looking at the steamy glass
door -- his broad back and shoulders facing her.
“You seem
nervous,” she said.
“I was
just wondering if this is improper.”
“It’s all
right. We’re just in the courtyard. Everyone can see us through the glass
door.” She pointed at it, just as a couple glided by.
He turned
back towards her. The light from the lamp caught his eyes, accenting them. May Lynn bit down on her
bottom lip and looked away. She best not focus on those eyes or she wouldn’t be
able to piece together one sentence.
“I’m
sorry. I don’t know the customs. I haven’t spent much time with the upper
class.”
She
smiled. “It’s all right. When we attend balls, I usually end up outside. I just
find the air too stuffy during large gatherings.”
He nodded
and looked at the ground, kicking a pebble. “Are you and Mr. Crumin betrothed?”
“Yes, the
wedding will be next Spring.”
“Are you
looking forward to it?”
May Lynn sighed. “It will be
splendid.” Something heavy grew in her. It’d be a challenge until death parted
them. She just needed to remember the sole benefit of this marriage. It would
keep her family out of the ruthless hands of creditors, wanting to strip them
of everything and leaving them to starve.
Mr.
Thompson gazed at the stars. “This is my first ball.”
“Why? Did
you not attend any when you were at seminary?”
He shook
his head. “I went to a small conservative school that taught dancing was
frivolous. I’m only here at the insistence of the Jacobs.”
May Lynn folded her hands in
her lap and looked at the clear sky, studying the stars. She found the Little
Dipper, but couldn’t find its bigger counterpart. “It’s not hard to learn the
nature of these parties. Everybody will talk about the same subjects. My mother
and some of the women will talk about my engagement or the latest fashions. My
father and Richard will talk about cotton or the rising price of a decent field
hand. The same music will be played in the same order. It always is. There are
a lot of parties at home.”
“I’ve
heard those conversations and others.” Mr. Thompson pushed his lips into a thin
line again.
He kept
making that face when she mentioned the help. Did he follow the Jacobs’ new
beliefs on slavery? He had grown up among heathens. If he did then he probably
wouldn’t approve of her way of life. May Lynn
ran a finger down a crack in the bench, brushing a lone rose petal off. The
idea that he would find something repulsive about her, didn’t sit well. Maybe
she could make him understand. “We provide....”
“Darling.”
Richard appeared at the door. “I was wondering where you were. There are guests
who would like to meet you.”
The smile
disappeared. At least she had five minutes this time. She turned towards
Richard, noticing how he clenched the glass door. She was entertaining a guest.
Didn’t he at least approve of that? Nothing else. Besides, didn’t he need to be
free of her so he could talk business with Mr. Jacobs? “Mr. Thompson and I were
talking about his experiences in Africa .”
“Well
come, my dear.” Richard held out his hand.
May Lynn went to her fiancé,
but smiled at Mr. Thompson over her shoulder. “I hope we can finish our
conversation later.”
“Maybe at
some other time,” he said, not even turning to look at her but focusing on the
fountain.
May Lynn nodded and then
walked with Richard into the ballroom. Yes, they would have to talk later, and
she would make him understand that the Abolitionists lie. He just couldn’t be
left with an unfavorable impression of her.
Thank you, Josie, for sharing your debut novel with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Time to Say Goodbye (Abolitionists Chronicles.) (Volume 1) - Amazon
A Time To Say Goodbye (The Abolitionist Chronicles) - Kindle
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24 comments:
What a wonderful introduction to A Time to Say Goodbye! I became so engrossed in reading and was quite disappointed when I had to stop. I can't wait to read more about May Lynn and what becomes of her relationships with Richard and Michael!
Britney Adams, Texas
texaggs2000@gmail.com
would love to win. Angela from KY
Thanks for the interview and intro to J M Downey!
Patty in SC
Hey Ladies,
thanks for entering to win the book. It's so nerve wracking to put your baby out there.
Enjoyable interview, would love to win.
Lourdes Long Island, NY
I agree with the author- I love a happy ending! I'm also a young bride- married at 19 and we just celebrated our 13th anniversary :) Thanks for sharing the interview!
Heidi, CA
Would love to win.
A TIME TO SAY GOODBYE promises to be such a fantastic story. Loved the page thank you.
Mary P
QWLD AUSTRALIA
thanks for chance to win this book
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Sign me up!
Kandra in OK
kandrajane@bellsouth.net
Wow! What an introduction to a story. It would seem that young lady is in for a miserable life with a cruel, uncaring man an their wedding is months away. The story line hints of how women are treated and the conflict between slavery and abolition. It features no less than my home state of North Carolina. :) This sounds like an interesting read.
I would love a chance to win. Thanks for the interview. Carol from AL
This is the first I have heard of this book. Sounds great!
Amy C
VA
thanks guys for your wonderful comments. I hope you all enjoy the book. Michael is one of my favorite characters. I love the heros who have some unhero characteristics.
Would love to win.
Katie J. from FL
I know I would enjoy the book. I really enjoyed the interview. Please enter my name in the drawing. Thank you, Judy Cooper, in Louisiana.
Enter Me!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com
I would love to win,Enter me!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway and God Bless!
Sarah Richmond
N.C.
I would love to read about May Lynn. Love the Name
Tonja in Virginia
I enjoyed your interview - love the storyline & would love to read/win the book. Thanks!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
North Central Ky.
I want to finish the story! :-)
Stephanie
Binghamton, NY
mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com
This book looks Fantastic! Love the cover!!! Please enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.
Sounds like a great story!
Jasmine in MT
This looks really good! I love the characters and plot, not to mention the gorgeous cover! I'm in MN.
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