I want my characters to be their unique selves, but I
definitely share different aspects of my characters. In my latest book, The
Duke’s Refuge, I also had a portion of Georgia ’s early tomboy traits. As a
child, I was always climbing trees and playing in creeks.
Something I learned from taking one of Allen Arnold’s
classes was a concept all my books share. He told us to name our three favorite
movies, and it would show us our theme of writing. My movies were all over the
place—Cinderella, Star Wars, and Indian Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark. It turns out, all three of these have an element of
the main character coming into their own and overcoming their fears, and all of
my books contain a similar thread.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
A while back on an awards trip to Los Cabos, my husband had
a golfing outing, so my sister-in-law (whose husband also works for the
company) and I decided to do a camel riding excursion. It seemed like fun until
we drove through two military checkpoints where men carried large weapons, and
we had to change buses. I began to think things like, if anything goes wrong,
we keep the ocean on our right, and eventually, we’ll make it back to the hotel.
As we stopped in front of the camels and men in full Arabian
garb, we found ourselves the only English-speaking participants other than the
tour guide, and we were expected to don turbans. Now I’m thinking, what did we
just join? The camel, King Louis, we rode was great, and praise God, we
survived to tell the tale, but I definitely wouldn’t take that risk again.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
It was while I was pushing my boys on the swings. When they
were little, I spent countless hours with them going back and forth on the
swings. I needed something to do to occupy my brain while I kept tempo with the
monotonous motion. Storylines popped into my brain and I had time to work out
the motivation, conflict, plot lines while my kids were happily playing.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read everything from Biblical historical romance to
speculative fiction. One of my favorite futuristic books is The Arena by Karen Hancock. One odd
thing is that I prefer to read fiction but listen to audiobooks for
non-fiction. Some of my favorite non-fiction authors are Bob Goff (Love Does), Mark Batterson (Chasing Lions), and Kyle Idleman (Don’t Give Up).
How do you keep your sanity
in our run, run, run world?
I haven’t mastered this at all, but I’ve learned God always
gets it done. No matter if I’m up to my eyeballs in work and waking up at four
a.m. to get edits done for a deadline, God has miraculously multiplied my time.
However, there are a lot of S.O.S. prayers going up.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Since I write historical, I have to choose names that are
appropriate for the time period, but I love names that can be shortened. It
works great in those personal moments when the hero slips and calls her a beloved
nickname.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
In writing, it was pumping out a three-book series and
balancing deadlines with life activities.
In life, it’s that my three boys are going up to be mature
young men with hearts for God. I couldn’t be prouder of them, although, God
gets the credit. There were a lot of days where I prayed, Lord, please don’t
let me mess them up.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’d choose to be a beaver. I know it sounds crazy, but hear
me out. Water rolls off a beaver’s back because of an oil their skin produces.
They can plug their ears to keep liquids out. They have strong social bonds,
and their big tail acts as a rudder. I’d love to let problems roll off my back
and close my ears to block out negative thoughts. I believe in strong
friendships to keep you going, and I need a good rudder to keep me aiming in
the right direction.
What is your favorite
food?
I can’t resist a Dairy Queen chocolate Reese’s peanut butter
cup blizzard. Yum!
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest roadblock was learning to deal with negative
critiques. I majored in psychology not creative writing, so I learned how to
write by trial and error. I submitted my writing to anyone who’d be willing to
read it, contests, beta readers, freelance editors, and I received back great
suggestions and sometimes brutal tough to swallow criticism. I’ve learned it’s
okay to mourn for a day so my brain can process, but that’s all I get. After
that I shake it off and see what I can glean from others’ wisdom. On the down
days, God was always faithful to give me something to see me through, whether
it was an encouraging text for a friend, an email from one of my blog readers,
or even encouraging lyrics from a song. He always knows just what I need to
keep sitting down at my keyboard.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Duke’s Refuge is meant to be a fish-out-of-water,
case-of-mistaken-identity, love triangle romance with a happily-ever-after. It
demonstrates how God’s love fervently pursues us, no matter how far we run, and
that sometimes, something we would never have chosen can bless us in a way we
would never have expected.
Georgia Lennox has traded in her boyish ways for pink gowns
and a coy smile to capture the eye of the Earl of Claremont. However, on the
day she's convinced the earl will propose, Georgia
is shipped off to the Leeward Islands to care
for her ailing father. But when she arrives on Nevis ,
the last thing she expects is to learn that her abrupt departure was not at her
father's bidding but that of the infuriating, yet captivating, island
schoolmaster. And now her plans may well be shipwrecked.
Harrison Wells is haunted by the memories of his deceased wife and hunted by the subsequent women who aspire to be the next Duchess of Linton. Desiring anonymity, he finds sanctuary in the Leewardisland of Nevis .
He's willing to sacrifice his ducal title for a schoolmaster's life and the
solace the island provides. That is until unrest finds its way to Nevis in a storm of pink chiffon—Miss Georgia Lennox.
Harrison Wells is haunted by the memories of his deceased wife and hunted by the subsequent women who aspire to be the next Duchess of Linton. Desiring anonymity, he finds sanctuary in the Leeward
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Nevis, British Leeward Islands
1814
“Moor the line!” the captain called out. Feet shuffled above
deck, and the echo of male grunts filled the air.
Georgia Evelyn Lennox straightened the skirt of her finest
muslin traveling dress. She’d saved this particular pale pink gown especially for
the day they would reach Nevis . Now, she
adjusted the sleeves with the same care a knight would prepare his armor for
battle.
She didn’t wear it to impress a specific person, certainly
not her father. Pink gowns had become her own kind of chain mail. Her bonnet,
embellished with pink silk flowers, transformed into her helmet. And her fan or
her frilly pink parasol—her shield.
She slid on her matching pink gloves, hooked her parasol
over her arm, and as best she could, inspected herself in her tiny handheld
mirror, looking for chinks in the pink armor. Satisfied, she opened the door,
but paused on the threshold.
“Aunt Tessa, it sounds as if we might be nearing Nevis . I’m going to climb aloft to speak with the
captain. Would you care for anything?”
“Dry land.” Aunt Tessa mumbled under the covers.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Webpage: lorridudley.com
Blog: lorridudley.com/blog/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorridudley14/
Thank you for sharing
this new book on my blog. Sounds like my favorite kind of novels.
Readers, here are links to the book.
The Duke's Refuge (The Leeward Island Series) - PaperbackThe Duke's Refuge (The Leeward Island Series Book 1) - Kindle
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15 comments:
Sounds like a great book! I love the cover!
Melanie Backus, Texas
I enjoyed the camel story but I’m sure that was scary. I wonder why the obsession with pink? It’s probably my least favorite color. I guess I’m definitely not a girly girl.
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Perrianne Askew
Austin, TX
Perrianne - Truthfully, I'm not much of a girlie girl either, which made it fun to try to write from the perspective of Georgia, a tomboy trying to fit in as a feminine woman to get into her mother's good graces. Being a mom of three boys, pink is almost unheard of in my household, but that's the best part of writing, getting to explore sides of ourselves we don't always see. Thank you for your comment and for reading the interview! Regards, Lorri Dudley
Thank you, Melanie!
What an interesting interview! I'll never look at a beaver quite the same again. lol Love the cover and description of The Duke's Refuge! Would love to read it!
Diana Flowers in SC
The Duke's Refuge sounds like a book I would love to read. I love Dairy Queen too!!
Beth from Iowa
Thank you, Diana! A beaver is definitely not as beautiful as a swan or bold like a lion, but in addition to what I mentioned, they are hardworking too. I just wish I had their carpentry skills. I received a B- in woodshop back in the day. I wrote a blog called "Leave It to Beavers" if you're interested in checking it out: https://lorridudley.com/leave-it-to-beavers/
Thank you, Rubynreba. There was nothing I craved more than a DQ blizzard when I was pregnant with my boys. I've been even known to drive during a snowstorm to get one. (Thankfully, our local DQ is open all year round.) Glad someone else loves them too. I hope you get a chance to check out my book. Thanks for commenting!
What a pretty cover. Would love to read on this cold evening in WV. Blessings
What a beautiful cover sounds like a great book would love to read it! Thank you for the chance Sarah Taylor Waterloo, Ohio
I love the cover. This book looks great!
Abigail in VA
Gorgeous cover! Sounds like a must read!
Caryl K in TEXAS
Historical Christian fiction is my favorite genre to read! The Duke's Refuge sounds wonderful! The cover is stunning!! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book!!!
Alison from MI
nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds intriguing! Thanks for sharing.
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
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