THE GOLDEN BRAID - Melanie Dickerson - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve loved Melanie’s books since the first one. She has been writing Young Adult books that are retelling of fairy tales as historical novels set in the middle ages. I don’t know why they are called YA novels, because I believe they are novels for all ages. I know you’ll love this one, too.

BIO: Historical romance author Melanie Dickerson earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has taught students with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee. She has also taught English in Germany and Ukraine. Dickerson has won numerous awards, including the 2012 Carol Award in young adult fiction and the 2010 National Readers’ Choice Award for best first book. Her novels The Healer’s Apprentice and The Merchant’s Daughter were both Christy Award finalists. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two guinea pigs near Huntsville, Alabama. Connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and her website, www.MelanieDickerson.com

Welcome back, Melanie. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

That’s a pretty interesting story, Lena. I had in mind to write a Rapunzel story at some point, though no definite plan. And then one day on Facebook, one of my friends made a suggestion about a heroine. I think it may have been for my book, The Princess Spy. But I told her No, the heroine was going to be Valten and Gabe’s oldest sister, Margaretha. But the more I thought about her suggestion, which had previously never occurred to me, the more I realized what a great heroine she would make for a Rapunzel story. The heroine’s identity and the Rapunzel story quickly came together in my mind. So that’s how it started. And that friend’s name was Terry Bell, whom I did not know personally, but we have since become good friends. I even got to visit her last May when I went to Dallas for the RT Booklovers Convention.

That is awesome. If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Oh, Lena, this a cruel question!!! There are so many Christian authors that I would love to get to know better (might even wish I was BFFs with, but that might sound stalker-ish). Some I would invite are Betsy St. Amant, Janice Thompson, Mary Jane Hathaway, Katherine Reay, Tina Russo Radcliffe, Amy Matayo, because they all seem fun and interesting. I could go on and on, truly.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

This is even harder, since I’m already friends with so many. Kristy Cambron, Mary Connealy, Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, Pepper Basham, Tamera Alexander. Again, these are already ladies that I admire, and many of them I already know are funny and sweet. Funny and sweet, my two favorite qualities in a friend.

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Isn’t it so true, Lena? Most people never have an inkling of the struggles. At this very moment (and this could easily change) my biggest problem is just trying to find the time and the FOCUS to get everything done by the deadlines. But this is of course not the worst problem a writer could have! I just worry a little bit about burn-out.

I so understand. Tell us about the featured book.

The Golden Braid is a Rapunzel story set in Medieval Germany, a new story in the Hagenheim series, also known as the Fairy Tale Romance series. It’s very romantic, but is also a sort of coming-of-age kind of story about a 19-yr-old girl who has been dominated all her life by her overprotective mother. Rapunzel learns and grows and breaks out of her rut, and by the end of the story, she’s in a much different place, in every way, than when she started out.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Late winter, 1413, the village of Ottelfelt, Southwest of Hagenheim, the Holy Roman Empire

“Rapunzel, I wish to marry you.”

At that moment, Mother revealed herself from behind the well in the center of the village, her lips pressed tightly together.

The look Mother fixed on Wendel Gotekens was the one that always made Rapunzel’s stomach churn.

Rapunzel shuffled backward on the rutted dirt road, “I am afraid I cannot marry you.”

“Why not?” He leaned toward her, his wavy hair unusually tame and looking suspiciously like he rubbed it with grease. “I have as much land as the other villagers. I even have two goats and five chickens. Not many people in Ottelfelt have both goats and chickens.”

She silently repeated the words an old woman had once told her. The truth is kinder than a lie.

“I do not wish to marry you, Wendel.” She had once seen him unleash his ill temper on one of his goats when it ran away from him. That alone would have been enough to make her lose interest in him, if she had ever felt any.

He opened his mouth as if to protest further, but he became aware of Mother’s presence and turned toward her.

I love that opening. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I'm on facebook a lot, and I have a personal page https://www.facebook.com/melanie.dickerson.author

as well as an author page https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks

and I am happy to interact with readers on either.

I’m also on twitter https://twitter.com/melanieauthor

And now Pinterest too https://www.pinterest.com/dickerson3046/

Thank you, Melanie, for visiting with us again with this new book. I always love having you.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Golden Braid - Christianbook.com (Best price today)
The Golden Braid - Amazon
The Golden Braid - Kindle

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