Monday, January 08, 2018

IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING (A Bouquet of Brides Collection) - Pegg Thomas - One Free Print or Ebook, plus More

Dear Readers, this is a new author to this blog. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Pegg, and later in the year, we’ll have stories in the same novella collection Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides.

Welcome, Pegg. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Quite a bit with this story. In Sheep’s Clothing in A Bouquet of Brides Collection is about a spinner and weaver who lives in Milford, Connecticut, in 1702. I’m a spinner and although I’m primarily a knitter, I have done some weaving too. There are also sheep in my story. I’ve been raising sheep since 1993. I chose Milford to set the story in because I discovered the town while researching my family tree. My family has roots there in the 1700s.

What fun. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Golly. How to judge which thing is quirkier than all the others?! I recently bought an antique spinning wheel. I’ve restored it to working condition and in my research have established that it is around 200 years old.

Cool. I love authentic antiques that work. When did you first discover that you were a writer?
My grandma told me many, many years ago that I should write a book. This was back when a long-distance phone call wasn’t in the budget. I guess my letters were a bit … um … lengthy. It was always in the back of my mind to do it, but I didn’t get started in earnest until the dreaded empty nest, when I needed something to do.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Historical fiction is my first love, hands down. I also read a lot of historical romance but I enjoy an occasional fantasy, a western or two, and I still enjoy an engaging biography.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I refuse to run, run, run. I prefer to saunter through life. My husband and I are happy to scale back and keep things simple. Our idea of a good time is camping—preferably some place without wifi or cell phones. We live on a small hobby farm, growing much of what we eat. We’re not off the grid, but we could slide off pretty easily.

Sounds wonderful to me. How do you choose your characters’ names?
I don’t have set formula for that, but since I write historical stories, I like to check the census for the closest year and place to where I set my story. I’ll pick a last name from there and look to see what first names were popular. Sometimes I just mix and match what I find in the census, sometimes I only use the last name.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Being a wife and mother.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Oh, probably a grizzly bear. I’d rather be at the top of the food chain.

What is your favorite food?
Bread. Pretty much any type at all. So as you can rightly guess, I’m not a gluten-free gal.

People shouldn’t eat gluten-free unless they have a real physical problem with gluten. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Fear of failure. I’m not sure I’ve totally overcome it yet. Writers conferences helped the most. Without attending those, I don’t think I would have achieved my goal of being traditionally published.

Tell us about the featured book.
A Bouquet of Brides is a collection of seven historical romance stories with heroines who have a flower for their first name. My story, In Sheep’s Clothing, is the very last. It could be an alphabetical thing … but I like to think they just saved the best for last. My story is about a woman who has been jilted and left a spinster—in more ways than one—and a handsome young journeyman fuller who moves to town. Both have something to hide and both need to let it go, but it’s an orphan lamb that brings them together.

Sounds wonderful. Please give us the first page of the book.
April 10, 1702—Milford, Connecticut
With a final snip, another layer of guilt fell into Yarrow Fenn’s lap. It landed amid the soft folds of wool from her loom. This cloth was quite possibly the best she’d ever made. She ran her fingers over the loosely woven threads. Once finished at the fulling mill, it would make a splendid gown. But not for her. The guilt pressed against her chest, tightening her shoulders. The traveling peddler would buy this bolt of cloth when he arrived in a few weeks. He’d sell it in Boston—in direct conflict with the king’s law.

She cast a glance out the window, the sun already well above the horizon. Pushing aside the guilt, she folded her cloth into a flat bolt. After several futile attempts to tame her wayward hair under its linen cap, she pinned her straw hat over the top and slipped on her shawl before gathering the newly woven cloth into her arms.

Her room on the back of the saltbox-style house had its own entrance. She nudged the door shut behind her with her foot, then hurried around the front of the house. She was neither quick nor quiet enough.

“Where are you going?” Pennyroyal, Yarrow’s younger sister, stood in the front doorway with her hands on her eighteen-year-old hips, her belly straining against the pleats of her apron.

“’Tis the opening day of Tucker’s Fulling Mill.” That Penny could forget the main topic of conversation after church yesterday, the opening of the mill and the impending arrival of the new journeyman fuller, testified to her preoccupation with the coming babe.

“I had quite forgotten.” Penny pressed the back of her wrist to her forehead. “Hurry back. I feel poorly again today. You shall need to start supper.” She shut the door.

Pray the babe would come soon. Penny, ever the spoiled youngest of the three sisters, had bordered on tyrannical these past few weeks. But one must make allowances at a time like this. Yarrow shrugged and walked on.

Their house rested on the northern edge of Milford. Yarrow followed the road toward town. When she turned onto the main road, the steeply pitched roof of the new fulling mill on Beaver Creek was just visible. Excitement bubbled and eclipsed, for the moment, her guilt.
 
How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers, Pegg has a special giveaway:
To celebrate the release of In Sheep’s Clothing, I’m giving away one of my signature wool shawls. My shawls are made of wool from my sheep. I shear the sheep, wash, dye, card, spin, and knit them. They are 100% hand made in the U.S.A. To enter the drawing, simply sign up for my newsletter.

Thank you, Pegg, for sharing this new book with us. I’m eager to read it, and I know my readers are, too.

Readers, here are links to the book.
A Bouquet of Brides - Christianbook.com
A Bouquet of Brides Romance Collection: For Seven Bachelors, This Bouquet of Brides Means a Happily Ever After -  Amazon paperback
A Bouquet of Brides Romance Collection: For Seven Bachelors, This Bouquet of Brides Means a Happily Ever After - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book, your choice of either a print or ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

38 comments:

Wendy Newcomb said...

I have seen that this book was coming out and am so looking forward to reading it, I love the novella's as there are sometimes new authors and great short stories. "In Sheep's Clothing" sounds like a good one, so excited for the chance to win a print copy of this book.

Wendy in South Sioux City, NE

wfnren at aol dot com

Pegg Thomas said...

Thank you for stopping by, Wendy. The Barbour collections have helped quite a few of us get our foot in the door of the publishing world. And they are good stories!

Jane said...

The Collections are always so good! Thank you for the interesting introduction and background on the book. I could really relate as I do genealogy and have done quite a bit of research in the 1700's in the US in relation to that, plus I enjoy antiques. Jane in TX.

Pegg Thomas said...

My office is filled with antiques. I have my 200-year-old spinning wheel, an oak chair that is over 100 years old, and my old Singer sewing machine cabinet that is probably 80 or so years old. Around the house, I have an older Wheeler and Wilson treadle sewing machine that pre-dates the Singer Company and a couple of dressers over 100 years old. I use everything but the Wheeler and Wilson and I hope someday to get that restored to usefulness.

Lane Hill House said...

Hi Pegg and Lena, Having to look up what a journeyman fuller would be, I am finding interesting information about the making of cloth ~ especially Irish servants would have the know-how as a dyer or shearman. They may have been owned by others, but they had the skill. I love historicals and would like to read "In Sheep's Clothing" hoping to learn more about the weaver's craft and those nearby! Love the texture of these Collections from the ruffled edges to the off-white page color easy on the eyes. I would like the print copy! I have memories of the shearers coming to my uncle's farm when I was "a wee lass." Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House in Missouri

Pegg Thomas said...

"A wee lass" and your name point to an Irish heritage. Like all the cultures in and around the British Isles, sheep were indispensable and working with wool was taught from a very young age. There's a young girl in my story learning to card wool, something all the children would have been taught.

Cherie J said...

I also have some wonderful antique pieces that I love so I can relate. Although, my collection is not as extensive as yours. "In Sheep's Clothing" sounds really good.

Cherie, FL

Pegg Thomas said...

I hope you get a copy and can read it.

Melanie Backus said...

I love collections and this one sounds wonderful! Thank you for the opportunity. Melanie Backus, Tx

Natalya Lakhno said...

Pegg, welcome and congratulations on the book release!!!
You are a new author to me :) Sounds like an interesting read!
Lena, thank you for the interview!

Natalya Lakhno from Citrus Heights, CA

Pegg Thomas said...

This is only my second book. I have two more releasing later this year, including the collection I'm in with Lena that will release in November. The theme of that one is Great Lakes Lighthouses. Another theme near and dear to my heart.

Dianna said...

I enjoyed the author interview! Our family likes to go camping, too.
Dianna (TN)

Elly said...

I've been looking forward to this collection! Also, SO cool that you go through 100% of the process of making those shaws by yourself!
Elly -Indiana-

Abigail Mitchell said...

Can't wait to read this! Signed up for your newsletter Pegg! :) The shawl is beautiful!
Abigail in VA

Pegg Thomas said...

Thanks, ladies! Happy to meet you here on Lena's blog.

MJSH said...

Looks like a great collection of novellas! And making the shawl from scratch sounds so interesting!

MH from NJ

Vera Godley said...

Pegg Thomas is an author new to me but I love historic reads. And I definitely believe the shorter novellas and compilation of novellas into books has a place on one's bookshelf. Often they allow the reader to escape their cares for a short while without the 300+ page commitment of a lengther and more involved book. I'd love to read your story.

Vera in the middle of North Carolina

Kay Garrett said...

Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I love learning about new authors themselves as well as the books they write.



"In Sheep’s Clothing" absolutely sounds like the best was saved for last. I love the fact that it was an orphan lamb that brought them together. I've love to read this story as well as the rest of the stories in "A Bouquet of Brides".

Thanks for the chance to win a print copy of this book!
Kay from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net

kim hansen said...

Sounds good. Lincoln Nebraska.

Pegg Thomas said...

Thank you, ladies! It's so nice to connect with readers who haven't seen/read/heard of me before.

VanG said...

What a delightful interview! Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with us, Pegg. Your book sounds great, and I would love to win a print copy. Thanks for the giveaway. Blessings on you as you continue to write. 😊
VanG in NC

Patty said...

It's been a while since I have read a story set this far back in America's history... thanks for the interview and giveaway ladies!

Patty in SC

Paula Shreckhise said...

This one looks great! I love this time period . It would be awesome to win a copy and I look forward to reading this collection.

Robin in NC said...

This book sounds wonderful! I signed up for your newsletter Pegg. What a beautiful shawl! Thanks for sharing with us!

Robin in NC

Pegg Thomas said...

Thank you, everyone. You sure make a newbie feel welcome. :)

Vivian Furbay said...

Beautiful shawl you have pictures! That's a lot of work just to make one. Would enjoy winning a print copy and reading this book also. Vivian Furbay of CO

Caryl Kane said...

I love these collections! Thank you for the chance to win!

Caryl K in Texas!

Pegg Thomas said...

Thank you, ladies!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a chance to win

Abby B said...

Oh this looks like such a great collection!!

Pegg Thomas said...

Thank you!

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Pegg, you are one busy lady! I look forward to reading this book and the one that you and Lena will have later.
Thanks for this giveaway!
Blessings,
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway for the print copy!!
Conway SC.

Paula Shreckhise said...

I forgot to say I live in MO thanks again. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

Beth Gillihan said...

I love these kind of book collections! Beautiful shawl. I look forward to reading this collection. I signed up for your newsletter. A print or e-book would be great. Thanks for the chance to win!

Beth in Montana

Pegg Thomas said...

Thanks for all the nice comments! Shawl drawing is on January 31st, so there's still time to sign up for my newsletter and enter.

KayM said...

I love the Barbour Books' novella collections. Thank you for the opportunity to win this one.
Tennessee

Shelia64 said...

looks and sounds like a good read! Shelia from Mississippi