BENEATH THE BLACKBERRY MOON - April W Gardner - One Free Book or Ebook

April W Gardner

aprilmarieg@gmail.com

Featuring Beneath the Blackberry Moon

Kindle and Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/h6vxwuy

Welcome back, April. What writing news do you have?

I’m happy to announce that my latest historical romance, Beneath the Blackberry Moon, is FREE to subscribers! My newsletter is for new release announcements only, so your inbox won’t be flooded. Enjoy this gift from me!

INSTANTLY RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY HERE: http://tinyurl.com/pbse7u6  

Kindle and Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/h6vxwuy

God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Indeed He has! My horizon has several new books on it. Better than Fiction releases in a few weeks, and it’s also going to available for free to subscribers. You can sign up here! http://eepurl.com/bB7fvT

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband is the best the United State Air Force has to offer. Eighteen years of service and counting. Couldn’t be more proud of my airman! I also have two amazing kids (son 14 and daughter 12) whom I homeschool. Our two German Shepherds complete the family. They keep up hopping and happy!

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Oh my goodness, yes. I read tons of nonfiction books for historical research, and I love every minute of it. I also am more critical of fiction, which isn’t necessarily a good thing...

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I’m writing the next in the Creek Country Saga called Drawn by the Frost Moon. Can’t wait to share this amazing story! It’s taken straight from the pages of history and is deeply romantic.

What outside interests do you have?

You mean there is a world away from my laptop?? LOL My outside world includes my church family and any activities my kids have going on in the youth group.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Mainly, I dig around in history books for interesting and little-known events that happened during the early 1800s in the Southeastern U.S. and involved the Muscogee Indians. Then I base my plot around that event.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I wish I had known it’s a skill that takes many, many years to learn. Yes, it requires natural ability, but it’s also a learned process that requires patience and humility.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

He’s reminded me lately just how faithful He is!

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Start compiling an email list! I wish, wish, wish I had started fourteen years ago instead of one year ago, LOL

Don’t become a pest by annoying your friends and family. Reach outside of that circle. Find new readers.

Have fun! Don’t sweat the small stuff. J

Tell us about the featured book.

Beneath the Blackberry Moon is the story of my heart. It’s really one book under three separate titles. The first is the one I give away free to subscribers.

It is set during the Creek War of 1813-14 and is a sweeping romance that absconds with the reader, taking her to a Native American world most Americans don’t know even existed.

Here’s a little about it:

Adela McGirth has never feared her neighbors, the Creek Indians, but a suspicious encounter with a steely eyed warrior shakes her confidence. Her dread soon becomes reality, but no fort is strong enough to hold off a party of warriors who fear nothing but the loss of their ancient ways.

Big Warrior Totka Hadjo, a Red Stick bound by honor to preserve his heritage, enters his toughest battles yet—the fight for love, the invasion of fear, and the inescapable ashes of each. The war was simpler before his enemy became a beautiful face with a gentle warrior’s spirit he cannot resist.

War, captivity, hunger that will not be denied. And a blackberry moon with enough pull to endure the test of time.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Tensaw Settlements, present-day Alabama

Blackberry Moon (June) 1813

From inside the cool, shadowy wood, Totka Lawe squinted into a bright meadow. Its broad sea of undulating bromegrass lay empty. Deceptive. He tuned his senses to the cold fingers of foreboding walking up his spine. His own fingers clenched both the wooden war club tucked into his belt and the lead rope of the packhorse snuffling at his ear.

Go through, or around?

Eight other warriors deliberated beside him, but it was his sister’s husband, Nokose, who would have the final say. Grandmother Sun neared the end of her trek, bringing to a close the delegation’s first day on the return trail to their talwa, Kossati, their Upper Creek village. One more sleep in land occupied by whites, followed by another two in Creek country. Then home.

He swatted a mosquito from his ear and waited for Nokose to speak. Sweat coursed a line from his roached hair over the bare side of his head and down his neck. He shifted his weight to hide his impatience.

With each passing day, their mission grew more burdensome, their cargo more loathsome. The old wound in Totka’s leg throbbed, but he pushed beyond it and centered the load more squarely across his packhorse’s flank. The scents of horseflesh and leather failed to soothe him as he flicked glances through the trees.

This was white man’s land. For a little while longer. Soon, the Red Sticks would engage in war and then the land would be theirs once again.

At a stirring behind them, Totka stroked the sleek upper limb of his unstrung bow. No smelly, cumbersome musket for him. He peered into the murky shrubs. The darkness that descended held more than night. It seethed with intolerance and distrust so thick it could be measured in every narrowed gaze, in every unspoken word.

Totka no longer questioned whether he’d chosen the correct faction. For better or worse, he’d staked his claim with the Red Sticks. The scarlet feather tied to his hair had sealed it.

All he lacked was another battle, another feat of courage or extraordinary achievement, or another few scalps—white or red—to adorn the red pole in Kossati’s council square. Any one of those would bring his name before the council and, if the spirits wished, earn him higher rank.

The mare tossed her head and sidestepped, shoving him into a thorny bush, then swung back in the opposite direction. Feeding off his nervous handling most likely.

As he extricated himself from the shrub, the hem of his long-shirt snagged on a briar and ripped. Singing Grass, his elder sister, would have choice words for him.

“Ho, ho,” he cooed, shadowing the horse’s steps. He stroked her sweaty, quivering shoulder, but she stretched and strained against the tether. Head high, she rolled her eyes, revealing the whites, but Totka held firm.

The animal had tested his patience from sunup, and he anticipated hobbling her and brushing the day’s dust from his leggings.

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.aprilgardner.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/AprilGardnerBooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprilWGardner

Thank you, April, for sharing this new book series with us.

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