Tell
us a little about your family. I’m married to Dwayne, my high school
sweetheart. We have a grown son and one grandson who is 15. I am the third
daughter of five children, so I love big families, too. We raised our son in
the country to give him those special experiences with cows, horses, and
planting things that I enjoyed when growing up on a farm. Now my husband and I
live closer in town in a subdivision. Animals and growing things? We are “down
to” two tomato plants in a bucket and a small rose garden to tend and enjoy.
And we get to love on my sister’s baby goats she raises on her nearby farm.
Has
your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how? I usually advise
aspiring writers to read in their genres, and I still do myself. But at times,
to rest my brain, I like to read something different, like mysteries and
biographies.
What
are you working on right now? I am working on Book 6 in our Charleston
Brides historical romance Series. The working title is, The Gamekeeper’s
Reluctant Bride. I think it will be my most interesting story so far!
What
outside interests do you have? My husband and I are active in a local
congregation, in an exercise program at our local gym, and I coordinate an
internet prayer task force to pray for our leaders and crisis developments. I
also enjoy baking, gardening, and hiking.
How
do you choose your settings for each book? They usually come to me with the
first idea for a book—and all my books so far start out in my favorite historic
city, Charleston, South Carolina. Southern plantations, sailing ships, horses,
children, and dogs are always a part, as well as gardens, tea time, adventure,
and of course, lots of romantic encounters between my hero and heroine!
If
you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Of
course, we could quickly say Jesus Christ, but I invite His presence daily, and
He never leaves me. So, I’d say our early president, Thomas Jefferson, who
plays a big part in my current release, The Lieutenant’s Secret Love.
Most people are not aware that our first American president, George Washington,
due to the financial straits of our fledgling nation, disbanded the small navy
we had after the American Revolution of 1776. And we ended up paying thousands
of dollars to Barbary pirates for the safety of our merchant ships in the
Mediterranean and for ransom for our poor sailors captured into slavery. Thomas
Jefferson decided we must have a navy, a strong one. He didn’t coin but he
certainly lived the slogan, “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute.”
During his presidency (and described in my novel) our young U.S. Navy and
Marines defeated the Tripoli Barbary pirates and made our new navy one to be
reckoned with all over the world. I love writing about our nation’s history,
which is constantly interspersed with God’s intervention.
What
is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels? I wish I had known
how long it was going to take to learn how to write well and get a novel
published! I have a blog series and class I’ve taught to writers to encourage
them, “My Journey to a Book Contract.” It can be found at this link: https://bit.ly/3d4W1xf
What
new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now? He’s teaching me
more patience, gentleness, and compassion for the many hurting, confused around
us. We must take time to reach out. He’s also teaching me (again) the principle
of “first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear” Mark 11:28. I
encourage troubled people believing for a breakthrough in healing, or in the
life of a relative, or for financial breakthrough, to watch for the first,
little green blade of progress and to praise God right then as if one can see
the entire thing done. This illustrates a supernatural growth principle in the
kingdom, according to Jesus, in the earlier verse. I also see my novels in this
growth pattern and stay encouraged.
What
are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful? Here are the five
steps from my above blog of getting to a book contract:
1)
NEVER Give Up! (I wrote the first draft of my first novel 30 years before
gaining a contract. Life and ministry took the driver’s seat until God opened
the door.)
2)
Hone your craft - a big, continuing step
3)
Attend conferences and network with writing groups
4)
Learn how to submit to editors and agents
5)
Help other writers. When you sow help, you will reap it when you need it.
Tell
us about the featured book. I had a great time researching and writing
The Lieutenant’s Secret Love. Here’s the blurb:
An
exposed family secret changed her life forever and blindsided his Marine heart.
U.S.
Marine Lieutenant Adam White, harbors a secret—more confidential than
patrolling the Caribbean for French corsairs, more threatening than the fight
against Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean. Adam carries a personal, burning
secret in his heart. He's fallen in love with Hannah since discovering she is
not his blood sister. And the thought that she might only ever see him as her
loving big brother may be the greatest threat to him yet.
As
the Charleston men seek to win Hannah’s heart, she never loses touch with the
man who had been her older brother. The man her heart can’t help seeing in a
whole new light. But when Adam’s squadron sets out for the Mediterranean on the
most dangerous mission of his life, only God can keep him—and their love—alive.
Please
give us the first page of the book.
Charleston
1784
The
dark lines of the master’s brow and his loud drunken command shot tremors
through Ezekiel as he stood in the doorway of the master’s study. Cuddling a
newborn wrapped in a blanket in his black, bony arms, he lowered his head, and
a long, heavy breath gushed from his lips.
“I
said take that baby and leave it far out in the woods to die. I’ll not have
another female in my house. This ‘pose to be a son.” Carter Seymour’s harsh
words echoed through the plantation house. He sat forward behind his desk and
pointed his finger. “You hear me, boy? Don’t think I’m too drunk to mean this.”
He slumped back in his chair where he’d spent the night as his wife struggled
to give birth before she died.
“But,
sirrah. She’s a healthy one. A real blessing on this Good Friday.” Ezekiel’s
large hands shook, holding the small bundle from the previous night’s birthing.
He bent his gray head down to look once more at the girl child with her curly
blond wisp of hair, wrapped in a Seymour white baby blanket. “I’se real sorry
about Miz Seymour. And look, this baby’s got that crooked little finger just
like her mama.” He held up a little hand with its miniature fingers spread. The
smallest finger on the left hand bent at the middle joint.
Seymour’s
eyes widened when he saw the peculiar trait of his wife. “Take it out of my
house. I never want to see it again,” he thundered, and reached for his whiskey
bottle.
The
child stiffened at the loud, angry words, and Ezekiel clasped her closer. He
looked down at the tiny infant wrapped in the lacy covering with a C and S
embroidered on one corner.
The
little one whimpered and pushed a tiny fist toward her rosebud mouth. Her face
wrinkled, and she began to cry. Turning, he stumbled out the door, shaken in
mind and heart. He had no choice but to obey his master. His old heart hammered
in his chest and made his legs heavy and slow.
Ezekiel
passed down the long hall lined with servants who’d heard the master’s loud,
drunken command and the babe now weeping. The maids and footmen stared at him
with rounded eyes and stunned faces.
He
walked through to the kitchen where his wife Molly stood wringing her hands.
Tears streamed down her face. She handed him a sugar tit she had dipped in
milk. Ezekiel gave it to the baby, whose tiny mouth stopped in the middle of a
sob and latched on the little ball of old linen with a spoonful of sandy sugar
gathered in its center. He headed out the back entrance of the large house and
swiped a tear that trickled down his weathered cheek before it dripped from his
chin onto the little one in his arms.
Leaving
the plantation grounds, he trudged deep into the woods. Scents of pine, sweet
cedar, and the damp earthy smell of decomposing leaves flowed around him and
the child. The morning sun moved higher in the sky with the promise of more
heat to come. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from
his brow.
The
baby slept after the sugar tit ran out, but soon awakened and cried. He fell
down on his knees next to a dirt road at the edge of the forest. “Lord Jesus,
you knows I don’t want this baby to die. I ain’t no murderer. I needs your
help. I’se in a terrible place on this Good Friday ‘fore yo Resurrection, Lord.
Show me what to do.”
How
can readers find you on the Internet?
Author
website: http://wwwelvamartin.com
FB:
http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin
Thank
you, Elva, for sharing The Lieutenant’s Secret Love with my blog readers
and me. I’ve loved reading your books.
Readers, here’s a
link to the book.
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