I'm glad to welcome Susan back to the blog. So tell us, Susan, How did you come up with the idea for this story?My sisters and I visited Dover, New Hampshire, together and toured the last standing colonial garrison house there. I read a lot about the 1689 massacre, where half the village of Cochecho (now part of Dover) was captured or killed by Indians, including our ancestor Richard Otis, a blacksmith who was killed, and his daughter Judith, who was captured but rescued. I have written three books about young women captured during that time and later returned to the town. This book, A New Joy, is the second. The heroine, Jane Miller, honors a real young woman who endured captivity and determined never to undergo that experience again.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Wow. I think I’d invite my critique partners and friends, Darlene Franklin, Lynette Sowell, Lisa Harris, and some of the other authors from Heartsong Mysteries: Nancy Mehl, Dana Mentink and Lisa Ludwig. The “Spyglass Lane” gang has way too much fun when we get together.
Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Hm, Kelly Hake and her mom, Cathy, come to mind right away, Tracie Peterson, DiAnn Mills, Vickie McDonough … and you, Lena, because I know it would be a fun party if you came!
Thank you. That group would be fun. Maybe we need to do it. 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?
Right now, I am making my deadlines, but I have so little time for anything else it’s made me rethink my writing calendar for 2009. It’s important to guard your family time and also to have a little refresher time in between books. Time is also required for writing new proposal, revising the work in progress, doing i
nterviews, and other writing-related tasks.
nterviews, and other writing-related tasks.Tell us about the featured book.
In A New Joy, it’s 1694. Jane Miller has returned to New Hampshire from a life of captivity in Canada. Orphaned at a young age, she was indentured as a housemaid. During an Indian raid, she was captured and carried north where a loveless marriage was arranged for her. Now she is widowed and ransomed back to the colony, but she has no hope for a happy life. She would rather serve others and be safe than take risks.
Charles Gardner isn’t looking for a wife. He, too, once endured Indian captivity and is only beginning to rebuild his life. But he can’t keep himself from thinking about Jane. When her old master appears in town demanding that Jane return and serve out her interrupted indenture, Charles longs to help her. But can Jane endure a cool marriage and another encounter with hostile Indians? Does God have joy in store for those who remain faithful to Him?
Susan, how can readers find you on the Internet?
Come visit me at http://www.susanpagedavis.com/ . I love to hear from readers.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. But don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. I choose winners every Saturday. Because I have three book deadlines, I won't have as much time to hunt down winners. Here are some I'm still missing:
Mommyhood is thankless
Carly (fecarly){2 books}
Katie 8407
