TO CAPTURE HER HEART - Rebecca DiMarino - One Free Book, Plus More

Welcome back, Rebecca. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I always thought I’d write suspense, but when I discovered my roots and a passion to discover my past, the Southold, Long Island stories took over my imagination, and I just had to write them! And what I’ve found is, I love writing about real women who were heroic during a time when often they had no voice.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I had three happiest days when each of my daughters was born – but I will say that when my agent called and said “You have a contract offer,” that came close!

How has being published changed your life?

It’s made me more disciplined. I write better under pressure so I like the deadlines. It reminds me to seek God in the morning and depend on Him throughout my writing day. And the real blessing in that is it spills over to every aspect of my life. It also was a dream of mine, so it’s given me a sense of accomplishing a goal.

What are you reading right now?

I just got back from the International Christian Retail Show where I met Kate Breslin and received a copy of her novel, For Such a Time. I started it on the plane and did not want to put it down when we landed!

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on the edits for book #3 of The Southold Chronicles. My working title for this book was Pure Patience, because it is Patience Terry’s story – a fictitious character who came over from England with the Hortons on The Swallow. I love this story!

What would be your dream vacation?

Right now it would be to return to England and visit Mowsley, the little hamlet where Barnabas and Mary wed. I’ve walked the roads with Google Earth, but I want to sit in the 14th century church that still exists and look through the same stained glass window the Hortons did.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Each of my three novels is set in Southold, Long Island, New York. Barnabas Horton was one of thirteen founding fathers of the town, and Mary was the courageous woman by his side.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

That’s hard, but I think it would be fun to spend an evening with Debbie Macomber and find out all the behind-the-scenes tidbits in Cedar Cove, and maybe swap recipes while we devour a slice of Pumpkin Tea Cake with Honey Cream. She is a master of making setting a character (right along with Jan Karon), and I would love the chance to soak up anything she could share about her writing journey and technique.

She was the keynote speaker at ACFW’s second Denver conference. I didn’t get to spend an evening with her, but I did get to meet her and have my picture taken with her. I love her books. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to bake and garden, but travel is a passion of mine. I don’t go as much as I used to, but I do love to get out and about.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Time management. I overcome it by starting early in the day (often before dawn) and spending time with God first.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write your passion, not the trends. If you try to write what’s “hot” without the passion, you will be like hundreds of other great writers hoping to break in. So write your passion, write it well by studying the craft, and connect through writer’s groups and conferences.

Tell us about the featured book.

While researching book one, A Place In His Heart, I uncovered a gold nugget of information about the Montaukett Indian princess, Heather Flower. Her groom was killed on their wedding day, and she was kidnapped by a rival Connecticut tribe. An Englishman paid her ransom. I wanted to use that bit of information in my first book, but it was the wrong decade. But I loved the story so much that I made her my heroine of book two, To Capture Her Heart! The story picks up after her ransom is paid.

Please give us the first page of the book.

June 21, 1653

The thunder of a thousand hooves pounded in her ears and she buried her head beneath her tethered hands. She muted the noise with her arms pressed against her ears. Heather Flower sat very still. She remembered the childhood game peekaboo. She’d believed if she could not see her mother, her mother could not see her.

But this was not a game. Her legs, bound at the ankles, were drawn up under her skirt, and her knees trembled as she lowered her covered head till her forehead touched them. A pool of quiet tears soaked the soft, beaded deerskin.

Sudden silence, save for the occasional snort from the winded horses, or the soft swish of their tails, brought intense fear. Her body shook as she tried to draw herself into the smallest mound possible. The restraints dug into her slender wrists, but her lips were sealed together in a thin line and not a cry escaped.

The footfalls approaching were not the tread of her Indian captors. A leather-clad hand lifted her chin, and her heart quaked in her chest. Her throat constricted until it ached as she gathered her courage and lifted her eyes.

“Hallo! You are Heather Flower, the daughter of the Great Sachem, Wyandanch?” His posture bore no malice but was instead gentle, kind. She dared to hope he would not harm her.

Her chin quivered in the cup of his glove, her moist lashes fluttered, but her voice was strong. “I am Quashawam, the Heather Flower of Montauk.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at www.RebeccaDeMarino.com  and please join me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRebeccaDeMarino or Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/RebeccaDeMarino.  

Thank you so much, Lena! It has been fun to be with you again!

Thank you, Rebecca, for allowing me to share your new book with my blog readers. I have new readers all the time, and many times, they haven’t heard of the author I’m featuring. They love to fine new authors to read.

Dear Readers, Revell has a special giveaway for this book release:

To Capture Her Heart Book Launch

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
To Capture Her Heart - Christianbook,com
To Capture Her Heart: A Novel (The Southold Chronicles) - Amazon
To Capture Her Heart (The Southold Chronicles Book #2): A Novel - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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