A SUMMER ON BELLEVUE AVENUE - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lorri. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take? There are still two more books to be released in my Agents of Espionage Series: Redeeming the Rake, where a vicar’s daughter saves a spy’s life, but his rogue tactics may destroy everything she values and steal her heart, and Relinquishing the Agent, about a gentleman spy on a mission to arrest a ring of resurrection men, must protect a beautiful bluestocking when women start disappearing.

After the series releases, I’m looking to pitch Wild Heart Books on an adventure-competition series resembling a Regency version of The Apprentice, The Amazing Race, and Wife Swap (but more like a life swap to keep it Christian-based). Otherwise, I’m entertaining a British deportation series where wrongfully charged heroes are transported to Australia and find redemption within a penal colony, or a Windward Island Series to match my prior Leeward Island Series. My creative juices are flowing! I love writing and am so blessed to have the opportunity. God is good.

Yes, He is. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them? I’m looking to attend ACFW’s conference in New Orleans and the Just Read Rendezvous conference, where readers meet writers in St. Louis. I don’t plan to speak, but I hope to either moderate or be on a panel at the Just Read Rendezvous conference as I did last year.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why? With my psychology background, I love characterization. I would hold a panel on how authors determine their character’s personality and use the traits to develop and push the plot, especially when the characteristics may be opposite their own (i.e., an introverted, detail-oriented author who writes about a flighty, extroverted heroine). Also, I’d ask them how birth order plays a role in the characters’ personalities and interactions, especially in sibling series and romantic relationships. Some authors who have done this well that I would love to interview on the panel would be Kristi Ann Hunter, Blossom Turner, Misty Beller, and Robin Patchen.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations? Connections are vital to being an author. We are an isolated bunch who sit alone in front of a computer. It’s essential to be part of writing organizations and critique groups. I’ve been a member of ACFW for ten years, and the people I’ve met through their conferences and the Northeast Chapter are why I’m published today. Friendships and networking have been invaluable. In the beginning, I soaked up how to improve my writing, but now I lean on my writer friends for encouragement, strategy, marketing tips, and when I get stuck in a plot hole. Writing is an “always be learning” process.            

That is so true. After 40 years in the business, I’m still learning. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? I’ve been a greeter at church for twenty years and ran the team for five years. Even though I’m introverted, I believe my unease in new situations allowed God to instill in me a heart to want new guests to feel welcome and at ease. I tell my team you never know how long a mother has prayed for her child to walk through these church doors, and we get to be like the prodigal son’s father waiting with wide-open arms to welcome them home.

I have also been an active member and leader of small groups for over twenty years. My husband and I currently help co-lead a marriage group where we’re the advanced couple (a nice way of saying we’re comparatively old), having now been married twenty-four years. We have a passion for helping couples succeed in marriage.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? 

My husband, John, has loved me through my faults, drawn me out of my shell, talked me off cliffs, and given me three wonderful boys.

My parents, who have also been my biggest cheerleaders, have taught me to work hard and be independent.

My friend and spiritual mother, Lynn Jamros, took my husband and me under her wing when we were baby Christians. She encouraged, challenged, and loved on me as a Jesus with skin on.

Pastor and Stacy Frye are my pastors, leaders, and friends. They’ve taught, inspired, and believed in me.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

Servant of Jesus

Devoted wife

Mother of Christ-following men

who carry on the charge.       

Tell us about the featured book. A Summer on Bellevue Avenue is the sixth installment of the Romance in the Gilded Age Resorts Series written by various Wild Heart Books authors. It was my first dive into America’s Gilded Age, and I loved it.

Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen—the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Then the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley’s oil company’s office in the middle of the night…and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.
Seeking solace from the growing scandal, Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows and sets about disproving the rumors while winning back Amanda’s trust. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As grievous events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive?

Please share the first page with us.

New York, New York

June 7, 1895

A scream and tumbling sound woke Wesley Astor Jansen. He jolted upright from his desk and swiped at the paper that stuck to his cheek.

Had he dreamed the noise? Who else was here?  

He tilted his ear up and listened, but in the office of Jansen and Sons Oil and Energy Engineering, not even the janitorial staff stirred. The oil lamp on the corner of his desk burned low. He flicked open his gold pocket watch and held it near the sputtering light.

Quarter after three in the morning. He snapped the lid shut and tucked the timepiece back into his suit pocket.

His copy of the signed marriage agreement he’d struggled for the better part of an hour to read though lay scattered across his desk. He gathered the pages into a pile and turned to file them in his side drawer.

Odd. The drawer stood open. Had he left it that way?

He slid the papers into the first folder, then closed and locked the compartment. It was late. He should head home. Light sparkled off the remaining bubbles still bursting in his half-finished champagne glass. He brought the glass over to the sideboard for the staff to clear.

It had been a solitary victory celebration after obtaining Mr. Klein’s blessing to marry his daughter—a hard-won feat. Mr. Klein’s ruthless business and social dealings sought one-sided advantages, but Wesley, too, could be relentless. A financial investment closed the deal with Klein & Co. manufacturing their line of motor cars with Jansen and Sons’ unique grade of gasoline. They both signed, and the only stipulation was for Wesley’s money to be returned if Amanda declined his offer of marriage.

Paying for his bride didn’t sit well with Wesley. If Amanda discovered what her father asked of him and the dollar amount, she’d be horrified. In the end, he’d have paid even more because he loved Amanda, and a Jansen-Klein business alliance would profit them both.

Grander festivities would take place tomorrow evening after he proposed and Amanda accepted.

Wesley yawned and ran his hand down his face. He’d been having some dream.   

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

LorriDudley.com

https://www.wildheartbooks.org/lorri-dudley.html

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lorri-dudley

Goodreads

Amazon

Thank you for sharing A Summer on Bellevue Avenue with my blog readers and me. I’ve always loved reading your books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Summer+on+Bellevue+Avenue&i=stripbooks&crid=51GFE7IEC8SE&sprefix=a+summer+on+bellevue+avenue+%2Cstripbooks%2C100&ref=nb_sb_noss

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

REVEALING THE TRUTH - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lorri. Why did you become an author? I’ve always loved stories and creative writing. When my children were young, I entertained myself while pushing them on the swings by coming up with various plot lines. I’d jot the scene ideas down in a notebook, and once my boys were no longer of an age when they were a constant danger to themselves, I sat down at my computer and started writing. It’s probably for the best that I didn’t entirely understand how hard the industry is to break into. Once I’d finished typing one book, I figured I’d made it this far. I should keep going because the author bug had bitten me. So I wrote two more books before heading to my first writing conference, which only strengthened my resolve. By then, writing had become such a joy and a creative outlet for me that I would have kept writing, whether published or not.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job? If I didn’t have to live in a city, I would have enjoyed being either a set designer or a museum curator. I love creating or restoring things and was the type of kid who’d stare with wide-eyed excitement after opening a fresh Crayola crayon box, sitting down with a pen and blank spiral notebook, or picking up a hammer and nails. I can only imagine God’s excitement when He created the heavens and the earth.  

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why? I would love to go back to Regency England, where my books take place, to see the interactions of the le bon ton or Beau Monde. I love the chivalry of the Regency Era, where honor and reputation were worth dueling over, and the romantic aspect of couples engaging in courtship at balls and country dances. Knowing myself, though, it would have to be toward the end of the era after indoor plumbing was invented. I’d struggle to become accustomed to using a chamber pot.  

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to? I’d love to see Alaska. Granted, I’m a warm-weather type of girl, but everyone I know who’s been to Alaska raves about the beauty of the glaciers and nature.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit? Ever since a Dutch publisher picked up my first series, I’ve wanted to travel to the Netherlands. My artistic side would love to visit the Van Gogh Museum, paint the windmills of Kinder Dijk or the tulip gardens of Keukenhof, or smell the lavender in the salt marshes of Texel Island. I’d love to cross the wooden bridges of Giethoorn or ice skate on its frozen canals in winter. So fun and inspiring!

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently? Letting go and trusting God is not only a theme that runs in Revealing the Truth but is also an area where God has been building me. There’s nothing like teaching two teenagers how to drive a car and get their license to actively apply trusting God with your heart (in my case, plural for the two boys.) This phase of my life has required a lot of praying, letting go, and letting God. I used to read these precious boys bedtime stories and rock to sleep, and now I have to let them out of the nest to fly on their own, which was harder than I anticipated. My oldest just graduated from high school and is off to college in the fall, so God continues to work on me.

Tell us about the featured book. The seeds of Revealing the Truth were first planted when I was in the seventh grade. I used to carry an idea notebook and jot down scenes whenever inspired. My mother found my old notebook a few years ago and mailed it to me. In it were faded pencil scrawls about a girl escaping into the cold night and collapsing. She’s taken in by kind passersby who nurse her back to health, only to be surprised when their handsome young son climbs in through her bedroom window and so enters Stephen into Katherine’s life. Here’s the back cover blurb:

When Katherine Jenkins is rescued from the side of the road, half-frozen and left for dead, her only option is to stay silent about her identity or risk being shipped back to her ruthless guardian, who will kill to get his hands on her inheritance and the famous Jenkins Lipizzaner horses. But even under the pretense of amnesia, she cannot shake the memory of her sister and Katherine’s need to reach her before their guardian, or his marauding bandits, finish her off. Will she be safe in the earl’s manor, or will the assailant climbing through her window be the death of her?

British spy, Stephen Hartington’s assignment to uncover an underground horse-thieving ring brings him home to his family’s manor, and the last thing he expected was to be struck with a candlestick upon climbing through the guest chamber window. The manor’s feisty and intriguing new house guest throws Stephen’s best-laid plans into turmoil and raises questions about the timing of her appearance, the convenience of her memory loss, and her impeccable riding skills. Could he be housing the horse thief he’d been ordered to capture—or worse, falling in love with her?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Katherine Ainsley Jenkins, the Countess of Dysart, inched along the edge of the stall past her favorite mare, who nudged her newly born colt to a stand.

The head groom lifted his cap and wiped his forehead. “’Twas was a long night, but mama and baby are doin’ fine.” He plopped his hat back on his head and dipped the corner. “Much obliged for your aid, Lady Dysart.”

Katherine mustered a weak smile and tightened the sash of her dressing robe. Distressed naying from her mare had roused her in the night, and the responsibilities of Steepleton Manor demanded she look into the disturbance. The delivery of the baby foal had been long and labored, and Katherine’s presence had been needed to calm the wearied mother.

Hay clung to Katherine’s hem as she stepped out of the stall, and she must smell like the stable, but she’d done it. Steepleton Manor welcomed its first new addition to their pedigree family since her parents’ passing. “Please let this be the beginning of Steepleton’s revival,” she whispered to the sunlight streaming in through the loft window. How many hours had she spent pouring over horse breeding books trying to keep her papa’s legacy of the famous Jenkins Lipizzaner horses going?

The hard slap of footfalls running outside the stable broke through the fog of her brain. Denton, the butler, skidded past the open stable doors into view. His highly polished shoes slid on the loose gravel, and he flailed his arms before coming to a halt. The whoosh of air swirled the sweet scent of hay under her nose. He righted himself with haste and tugged at the bottom of his jacket, dislodging any wrinkles.

Several of her father’s Lipizzaner horses leaned their necks out of the stall openings to see who approached.

It was uncharacteristic of her dignified butler to hurry. Her stomach twisted. The only other time she’d witnessed Denton this flustered had been the day he sought her out with the news of the deadly carriage accident that killed her parents. Please let Claire be safe. She placed a hand on a nearby post for her knees threatened to crumple. The second worst day after burying her parents had been packing Claire off to finishing school. As much as Katherine desired to hold her sister and continue to mourn their parents together, Claire deserved a chance to marry and lead a normal socialite’s life.

“Mr. Bainbridge has arrived early, my lady.” Denton stood at attention. The only sign of his recent sprint to the barn was his chest’s quick rise and fall.

Her grip on the post tightened, and although she wanted to lean against it with relief, there was too much to do. “Already? His letter stated he’d arrive at week’s end.” Her mind whirled in a thousand directions. Why had he come? What could he possibly want after shirking his guardianship duties for three years? One question screamed louder than the rest. Would he still act as crazed as he had after Madeline’s funeral?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Lorridudley.com  BookBub  Goodreads  Amazon  Wildheartbooks.org

Thank you, Lorri, for sharing Revealing the Truth with my blog readers. I love reading your books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=revealing+the+truth+lorri+dudley&i=stripbooks&crid=3U7O6BTLT1KVG&sprefix=Revealing+the+Truth+%2Cstripbooks%2C84&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_20

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE HEIR'S PREDICAMENT - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lorri. How did you come up with the idea for this story? The Heir’s Predicament is the last installment of the Leeward Island Series, and I had so many readers who loved the feral little girl character from The Captain’s Quest that I decided to write Maggie’s story. It was fun to ponder how a child who survived alone on an island would act after being molded into proper English society and the added change of returning to the Leeward Islands as an adult to trace her roots.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Robin Patchen – Robin is an expert in contemporary romantic suspense, and her stories make me want to drive up to New Hampshire to find the town of Nutfield because I feel I know all the characters so well. Robin has edited my books for years, and I don’t know what I would have done without her.

Andrew Huff – I worked with Andy at an ACFW conference. He’s hysterical and made volunteering a lot of fun. His Shepherd Cross Series holds you from page one and is action-packed suspense.

Heidi Chiavaroli – Heidi writes time slip, so this may be cheating a bit because half of her books are contemporary weaved with a historical plot. I’m fascinated by how she mingles the two stories and characters and keeps it all straight as she writes.

Susan May Warren – Susan writes compelling fiction stories with great heroes, and I’ve also read her non-fiction books on writing. I’d hang on her every word and try to absorb everything.

Jessica Kate – I’ve hung out with Jessica at an ACFW conference, and she is so much fun and has such a great Aussie accent that I’d be remiss not to have her on the invite list. Her stories are as vivacious and witty as she is.

Rachel Hauck – I love the redemptive qualities of her stories.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why? 

Erica Vetsch – Erica is the queen of everything Regency era, and we could probably talk tea for hours. (And I mean real tea not spilling the tea as my Gen Z children call gossiping).

Misty Beller – Misty is a sweetheart and a pillar in the historical genre not to mention a book marketing guru. I’d love to pick her brain and hear her Southern accent.

Heidi Chiavaroli – (I’m cheating again) Heidi is also a sweetheart and so welcoming that you feel like good friends within seconds of meeting. She is gifted at pulling emotion into her stories and recently won a Carol Award for her book Hope Beyond the Waves.

Lisa Bergren – Lisa also wrote a series set in the Leeward Islands but at an earlier time in the 1700’s. I think she and I would have a grand time comparing notes and reminiscing about our tropical writing adventures.

Abigail Wilson – Abigail writes in first person, which I find amazing, and adds a suspenseful, gothic element to her Regency writing style that is unique.

Lena Nelson Dooley – You’re a must-have on the list because of your industry experience and graciousness toward other authors, and our interactions have been a blast.

Thank you for including me in your list. I would totally enjoy attending. 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? The more I write, the more I feel in competition against myself. There’s a pressure that readers now hold higher expectations, and I have to outdo my previous books. I also must be careful not to form plots too similar to ones I’ve already written. I rewrote the ending of The Heir’s Predicament four different times. In one of the versions I’d written, the end, and then realized I had created the cliché of “The butler did it.” So, I changed it to have Samuel wrongfully arrested and thrown in jail, but that ending seemed too similar to book four. I can’t mention the others because I don’t want to give the book away, but I wrote the current ending while at a marriage retreat with my husband. Inspiration struck in the middle of the night, and to not wake my sleepy hubby, I grabbed my laptop, crawled into a (dry) bathtub, and finished in the wee morning hours.

Tell us about the featured book. In The Heir’s Predicament, Samuel Granville controls the answers to Maggie’s past and future, but she threatens his inheritance and his heart.
Maggie Prescott may not know her real name, the circumstances of her birth, or her father’s identity, but based on a song her shipwrecked birthmother taught her before she died, Maggie’s certain the answers lie on the island of Antigua. Unbeknownst to her beloved adopted family, she sends her maid to finishing school in her stead and convinces her uncle, Captain Anthony Middleton, to sail her to the Leeward Islands. Time is of the essence to discover her heritage before the next family gathering exposes her duplicity.
Lord Samuel Fredrick Harcourt Granville was groomed to inherit the Cardon title and lands, but the possession of his father’s temper has put Samuel’s future in jeopardy. After discovering his fiancée cavorting with his so-called friend, the ensuing altercation lands Samuel in court before of the House of Lords. As an example, for all aristocratic sons to quell their hedonistic living, the House of Lords banishes Samuel to the island of Antigua until he can prove he’s worthy of his privileged birth.
On the island, Samuel works to rein in his temper and revive a dying sugar plantation. Still, his return to England and all his efforts are threatened when a mysterious woman breaks into his island home, claiming to be the true heiress of the sugar plantation. Guilt, resentment, and fresh yearnings sizzle under the island sun as Maggie’s search uncovers a much greater treasure than either of them expected. 

            Please give us the first page of the book.

            “Shhh. Keep your voice down,” Maggie Prescott held her index finger to her lips. “Or this could become one big disaster.” The image of the prominent Lord Granville standing on his balcony earlier that morning with a wide-legged stance and his arms crossed, surveying his grounds with a sharp eye, popped into her mind. A prickling shiver walked up her spine. She’d avoided his notice during her first escapades to Greenview Manor, but the master of the house didn’t appear to be someone she wanted to cross.

“I’ve done some foolhardy things in my past, but dash it, this beats them all.” Her uncle’s white linen sleeves flapped in the breeze, and his blue eyes shone brightly despite his dark scowl. She still hadn’t grown accustomed to seeing him with facial hair, his tanned skin blending in with the light brown scruff.

Maggie hid her slippers underneath the wild tamarind bush and tilted her head back to examine the feat ahead. The large breadfruit tree looked sturdy enough, and it had held her weight on prior attempts. Surely it could accommodate her uncle, Captain Anthony Middleton’s, larger masculine frame.

She swallowed and planned her winding route among the limbs. There was no need to be concerned. Lord Granville was in the fields, directing his men until sundown as he did every day, even Sunday. She and her uncle would slip in, locate the diary, and be sailing back to London before nightfall.

“My gut’s rolling like waves before a storm.” Uncle Anthony shook his head. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

How can readers find you on the Internet? I can be found at:

www.lorridudley.com  

https://www.wildheartbooks.org/the-heirs-predicament.html 

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lorri-dudley

Thank you, Lorri, for sharing this book with us. I’ve loved every one of your books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Heirs-Predicament-Leeward-Islands/dp/194226559X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1676486670&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

THE MARQUIS'S PURSUIT - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

 

Welcome back, Lorri. Tell us about your salvation experience. I call my salvation “the drawer that saved me.” I grew up going to church, but once I was old enough, I decided to find my own way. Unfortunately, that meant tucking God away so I could pursue worldly fun. Thankfully, He didn’t give up on me as easily as I had given up on him.

My mom didn’t either. She would send me devotionals, prayers, and Christian books, including the Left Behind book by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins. For years, I shoved all of these items into a drawer. One day, I ran out of reading material. I opened the drawer and pulled out the Left Behind book. I’d barely made it through the first chapter when the realization startled me like a clap of thunder that I’d turned my back on God. I remember praying, “God, I’m so sorry. I don’t want to do this life without you.”

Even though I’d ignored Him for years, God was forgiving and ready to get back in the driver’s seat. I prayed for Him to help me find a church, and He moved my husband and me across the street (literally) from Connect Church, where we’ve now been members for over twenty years. I greet at the front door on Sundays, and when I see a new guest walking in, I always wonder how long a mother, friend, or relative prayed for them to pass through those doors.

Many of us have friends and family members we’ve been praying to come to know Jesus. Don’t give up. Keep filling their “drawer” because there will come a day when they open it, and God will step into the driver’s seat. God is patient and doesn’t want anyone to perish. His word does not come back void, and He hears the cry of our hearts. Of that, I am a testament.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? There are so many I would love to glean from, but here are my top four:

Misty Beller – because I’m so impressed by her work-life balance. She’s an author, publisher, marketing guru and still finds time to home school.

Erica Vetsch – because she has a passion for the Regency Era like no other and is a social media queen. Plus, we could chat over tea.

Heidi Chiavaroli & Jody Hedlund – I’ve gotten a chance to speak to them both at different conferences, and they are so inspiring, uplifting, and talented. They write historical but also other genres and are sweet, lovely women.

Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that. My first book launched in 2020, right before the world shut down, so my speaking ministry is in its infancy. I mentor and have spoken to a few groups within my church but mostly minister through my weekly blog of short inspirational messages. I would love to develop a broader speaking ministry in the future.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it? I tend to get myself into ridiculous situations, but this one, I credit myself with some fast thinking. I have three boys. With my third, I was working and had to pump breast milk to pack for daycare. I did my best to be discreet about pumping, but the older boys figured out it had something to do with breasts. One day, while at the grocery store, my middle son pointed up at a voluptuous woman in a snug dress and high heels and announced in his loudest voice, “Mommy, that woman has big pumps.” Every pore, nerve-ending, and cell in my body shrank in horror, but I blinked at the woman, scooped up my son’s hand, and said, “Yes, she has very nice shoes.” I turned him around, and we headed for the checkout line.

I love that story. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that? I tell people it takes fortitude, grit, and passion. There’s a wall I hit around 60,000 words where doubts plague me. I wonder if my manuscripts are any good, if I’m making any sense, and if people will hate it. I thought this would get easier after the first book, but then there’s the added pressure of questioning whether this book is as good as the last one. I’ve had to muscle through and keep my fingers on the keyboard.

Learning how to be a better writer and the process of getting published takes grit. One must constantly be seeking feedback, critiques, and criticism. It’s how we improve, but the process can be brutal. At first, I shed a lot of tears, but over time, I’ve learned to shake off the hurt and appreciate different perspectives. I’ve also worked on creatively finding solutions.

Writing is much easier when it’s a passion. If no one purchased my books, I would still write. It’s my creative outlet where I get to play pretend as a grown-up. The catharsis I gain from writing has helped me not to give up when in the valleys of the writing/publishing cycle.

Tell us about the featured book. The Marquis’s Pursuit is book five of the Leeward Island series but can be read as a standalone. In my first book, The Duke’s Refuge, we see Max as a spirited eight-year-old son of an island schoolmaster, who happens to be a duke in hiding. I couldn’t resist creating a mature grown-up Max and seeing how he grew into his role as a marquis. It was fun discovering what it would be like for him to return to the island he remembered as a child and the kind of woman who would capture his heart. Here’s the back cover copy:

As the son of a duke, Maxwell Oliver Weld, Marquis of Daventry, is allowed entry into the finest of London’s ballrooms, access to political figures, and advice from the best physicians. Yet, his wealth and contacts won’t heal his friend, Charlie, who’s dying from consumption. Hopeful for a miracle, Max persuades Charlie to sail across the Atlantic to stay in the Artesian Hotel on the island of Nevis and bathe in its famous healing springs. Max’s optimism is washed in doubt as the truth unravels about the hotel, its hot springs, and the beautiful caretaker.

The blaze of Evelyn Mairi Sheraton’s fiery side has long since been snuffed out. Hunted by a vengeful man from her past, only fortitude and the island’s sanctuary have kept Evelyn alive. She will do whatever it takes to keep her precious secret safe, even work for the demeaning Artesian Hotel owner, Edward Rousseau. However, when a jaunty marquis and his ailing friend arrive, sparks ignite, but Evelyn fears the revealing of her secrets will burn her to ash.

The elusive Evelyn may tend to Charlie’s well-being, but she stirs Max’s protective nature. He’d like nothing more than to remove her from the wretched employment of Edward Rousseau, yet that might endanger Charlie’s health even more. Refusing to give up on a miracle, Max waters her guarded heart, certain beauty will rise out of ashes. But when her secrets come to life, will love be worth the price?

Please give us the first page of the book.

“It’s as good a place as any to die.”

“Enough of such talk.” Careful to balance his movements and not rock the rowboat, Maxwell Oliver Weld rounded to face his closest mate from university, Charles Hayward. “We’re here to prove the physicians wrong.”

Charlie rubbed his chest as if to ease the soreness of his consumption-plagued lungs.

The gesture only solidified Max’s determination. “You’re going to show them God is a God of miracles despite their diagnosis.” God knew Max had tried everything in his power to heal his friend. Yet for all the authority that being the eldest son of the Duke of Linton and holding the title Marquis of Daventry afforded him, Charlie’s condition continued to grow worse. With God’s help, Nevis, and its famous healing springs, would save his friend from this terrible wasting disease.

The beloved island of Max’s youth welcomed them with its lush greenery, the colorful storefronts, and a promise of restored health. “Besides, sea air has already improved your constitution.” Max gripped the dinghy’s side as seasoned sailors propelled them from under the ship’s shadow. “Your face is tanned instead of sallow, and the daily strolls above deck have restored your energy. Nevis will improve your health even more. Look around you.”

Max gestured to the cloud-topped, sleepy island ascending out of the clear aquamarine waters. Its long stretch of white sand beaches outlined the isle like a sugared ring.

He inhaled the molasses scent floating on ocean breezes. “Smell the glorious sea air and feel the warm sun’s rays. It’s not only good for your health, it good for your soul.” He lifted his palms. The sun held such strength that its beams could have been weighed in ounces. “I told you coming to Nevis would be a splendid idea.”

A wave rocked the dinghy, throwing them off balance. Max grabbed the boat’s lip while Charlie gripped the bench seat. Crewmen from the main ship grunted as they pulled back on the oars. V’s of sweat darkened the backs of their shirts.

“You’d never get this close to paradise in England. It’s almost heaven.”

“Good.” Charlie quirked a smile. “Then, I won’t have far to travel.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.lorridudley.com

www.wildheartbooks.org

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Marquiss-Pursuit-Leeward-Island/dp/1942265484/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1647612857&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-marquiss-pursuit-lorri-dudley/1139465706?ean=9781942265481

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-marquis-s-pursuit

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1567447070

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-marquis-s-pursuit-the-leeward-islands-series-book-5-by-lorri-dudley

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58121822-the-marquis-s-pursuit?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=WczkRM8tdB&rank=1

Thank you, Lorri, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I loved the other four, and I’m eager to read this one.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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: https://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-marquiss-pursuit-lorri-dudley-one.html

THE CAPTAIN'S QUEST - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lorri. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? Writing an island series has allowed me to illustrate the lengths God is willing to go to reach His beloved children. He will meet you wherever you are, chase you to a far-off island, if need be, to get your attention. He sees you, and His love for you surpasses all knowledge and understanding. I often pray Ephesians 3:18 over my readers that they may grasp just how wide, long, high, and deep the love of Christ is for them. Some other sub-themes are fear, forgiveness, and surrender.

The Captain’s Quest touches on how God never leaves us. Priscilla struggles with the anxiety of being alone. She learns God's always with her, filling her with His strength to face her greatest fears together.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

The Marquis's Pursuit is the next in the series, where the story's hero is young Max (now grown-up) from my first book, The Duke's Refuge. He returns to Nevis for its healing springs in a desperate attempt to save his friend dying from consumption. Max's hopes wash away as secrets unravel about the hotel, its springs, and its beautiful caretaker. However, God works in mysterious ways, in this case, for love and redemption.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? I would love to have dinner with Bob Goff. After reading several of his books, my favorite being Love Does, and watching him speak online, I can imagine a night of holding my side due to uncontrollable laughter, followed by a call to action, and a sendoff with Godly purpose. He's hysterical in his delivery and has the craziest stories, driven by a passion for loving people and loving God, which coincides with my tag line: love because you are loved.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? I've always had a fascination with Deborah from the book of Judges. A wise prophetess, she not only shared God's word with the Israelites but stood on her faith and took action. I'd love to hear how she juggled work and home life and handled a leadership role in a male-dominated culture. Most of all, I'd like to ask her wisdom on raising boys into men since I have three of my own on the cusp of manhood. Deborah had warned Barak that the glory of battle would go to a woman because of his lack of faith. Barak had refused to go into battle without Deborah, and so God let the glory go to Jael, wife of a clan leader, who put a tent spike through the head of their enemy. I'd love to have the wisdom to forewarn my boys so they don't waver in their faith and can be bold leaders for God's kingdom, but also the insite to know when to step aside and let them learn from their own mistakes.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? Be tenacious. This is a challenging industry to break into, but there are readers out there who will love your stories. There were many times when I questioned God if I was trying to do something outside His will. But He was faithful, giving me just enough encouragement to keep going, whether it was placing in a contest or the lyrics of a worship song.

Use rejection to learn. I have a love/hate relationship with James 1:2-4, where it says to consider it pure joy when you face trials because the testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance will make us mature and complete, not lacking in anything. It's a lot easier to look back on the trials and appreciate how they helped you grow. There is nothing like feedback on your own writing to help you develop as a writer. Seek it out. I had to set aside the critiques sometimes for a day, sometimes for a month, to look at them objectively and learn from them. Take the time you need, but use the critiques wisely.

Use every opportunity. It can be scary, especially for introverts, to reach out to other writers, but it was an author friend who connected me with Misty Beller at Wild Heart Books, and I'm so glad she did. Writers conferences are great ways to congregate with other authors, but you must make the most of it—reach out, strike up conversations, reach out through social media afterward, read their books. I met all of my critique partners at conferences because I asked them if they'd be willing to swap some chapters.

Tell us about the featured book.

Pricilla Middleton is Lottie's friend from The Merchant's Yield.

Pricilla attends the Lemoore house party to establish a new friendship to fill the void of Lottie's departure. However, Priscilla's new friend lands Priscilla in a heap of trouble, and her only chance to keep from becoming a gossip column headline is to sneak aboard her brother's ship and pretend she'd been visiting him instead of taking part in the debacle. Before she can speak to her brother, the ship sets sail, and the captain is not at all who she expects.
Captain Tobias Prescott, son of an infamous war hero, has been assigned a critical mission to deploy warships in St. Kitts for battle in New Orleans. Unfortunately, his orders require him to assume command of Middleton's ship, and he must weigh anchor the instant the former captain is escorted down the gangplank. When they reach open waters, the last thing he expects is to find a woman hiding in the captain's cabin, yet his mission is too urgent to return her to England.
​The Middleton name has always brought Tobias trouble, and Pricilla is no exception. As the waters clear and the temperature warms, the danger escalates too. Yet Tobias discovers the intuitive and strong woman who struggles to hide her anxiety is nothing like her disloyal brother. He may lose the opportunity to help his country, but perhaps he can still save the woman who's rescued his heart.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Uncover the French infiltrators and compromise their mission.

Letter from his superiors to Admiral Middleton

England, November 18, 1814

Why did I agree to this? Priscilla Leah Middleton pressed her loo mask tighter against her face. Other dancer's skirts swirled around her like colorful pinwheels, roused by the music boisterous and emboldened by the anonymity gained from their striking costumes. Greek Gods, bright bird plumage, historical heroes, or her own Little Bo-peep costume did nothing to diminish unease pricking her conscience.

Was she that desperate for a close friendship, enough to relent to Nellie's whimsical woes of heartache? They'd only become acquainted in the past few months, and in that time, Nellie seemed determined to entangle them in a scandal.

The violinist concerto finished its movement, and dancers changed direction. Distracted, Priscilla would have continued straight, but her dance partner's robust frame saved her from embarrassing herself. She flashed her gratitude.

Her stately partner returned her smile, but even behind his mask, she could tell it didn't reach his eyes.

The rapping on her conscience intensified, bottling pressure. "It is quite a party, is it not?" she blurted, although conversing while dancing would be difficult.

"Quite." His gaze floated above her, scanning the room.

A flood gate of nervous prattle opened. "Does Lady Lemoore always entertain such interesting groups of people? I recognize politicians mixing with opera singers, military officers speaking to notorious rakes and gamblers. This is quite…"

"Indeed." A coldness shone in his gaze.

Her breath hitched. Had he taken offense to her statement? Perhaps he fit into a latter category. "I love a good party, dancing, meeting interesting people, matchmaking among friends. It's thrilling. Don't you agree?"

As though unaware she'd spoken, his attention drifted to the far corner.

At least she'd learned something about this man Nellie had insisted Priscilla partner for a dance—he wasn't a conservationist.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://lorridudley.com

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lorri-dudley

Facebook: https://facebook.com/lorri.dudley.14

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/lorridudley14/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lorridudley/?hl=en

Thank you, Lorri, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’ve loved the previous books in the series. I’m really looking forward to reading this one, too.

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/3wPvI6O - Paperback

https://amzn.to/3wMUbd5 - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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, 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: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

THE SUGAR BARON'S RING - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Bio: Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts, with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.

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

God is awesome, and I’m so blessed to be able to write. Wild Heart Books has signed me for another three books in the Leeward Island series. I’m already plotting and writing the next sequence. For a change, I plan in the future to create stories with the settings in the colder climate of Boston. Specifically, I’d like to write during the Boston Brahmin era when Harvard was a theology school, Boston represented “A city on a hill,” and increasing wealth through trade and a growing textile industry caused conflict between the philanthropic, Bostonian aristocrats and the industrious, self-starting immigrants.

Tell us a little about your family.

I have been married to an amazing God-fearing man whose strengths are the exact opposite of mine, which helps us complement each other well. He’s a visionary entrepreneur who runs several companies and reads business books and financial statements for fun. We have three amazing and active boys who each have very different personalities, even though we’ve tried to raise them the same. The one thing they have in common is that they all got their dad’s height.

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

Typically, I have a craft book (on writing) and a spiritual development book going at all times. I leave one in my car that I read while I’m waiting to pick up kids, and I have one that sits at the breakfast table. Due to focusing on writing deadlines, I’ve become a binge reader of fiction books, especially when traveling. I’ve been known to take down five or more books while on vacation. While reading, I’m noting character arcs, structure, and story layering. I’m not certain I’ll ever see a book the way I used to before I began writing. However, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

What are you working on right now?

Right now, The Captain’s Quest is my work-in-progress, which expands upon Lottie’s friend Priscilla from book two, The Merchant’s Yield. In this book, we get to explore a deserted isle in the British Virgin Islands. Priscilla Middleton attends a party to keep her friend out of trouble but winds up needing to avoid becoming a gossip column headline. She boards her brother’s ship to feign being in his company for the evening instead of taking part in the debacle. Before she can speak to her brother, he’s put on leave, the ship sets sail, and the man in charge is not at all who she expects. After that, book five (still to be titled) will be a follow up on the Duke’s son Max, from The Duke’s Refuge. Stay tuned…

It all sounds wonderful. What outside interests do you have?

Due to having three boys, I’ve learned to love all things sports and can now tell you what a half-nelson is in wrestling, a scrum in football, a pick in basketball, and what it means to go to X in lacrosse. When I’m not driving them to games and practices (which as of late I’ve had a break from), then I enjoy painting and pastels. I used to be an art teacher before I ventured out to start my dream of writing. Also, my husband and I are involved in our church and mentor young married couples, which we’ve discovered strengthens our marriage, too.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’ve always adored the island of Nevis and its sister island St. Kitts. I’ve been fortunate to travel to the Leeward Islands on a couple of occasions, and the natural beauty takes your breath away. In The Sugar Baron’s Ring, there is a stint in Bristol, England, which is a port where a lot of England’s sugar barons resided. I had fun showing the contrasts between the freedom of island life and the proper refinement of the British Quality, including the sights, smells, and customs. My favorite was Hannah’s childhood memory of servants as “the people who lived inside the walls.”

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Jesus would be my first choice, but if it had to be a historical figure in the era in which I write, I would choose Hannah More. A writer, abolitionist, fighter for the poor, and a woman of strong Christian convictions, she sought reform in a spiritually divided age. I would ask how she pushed to make traditional Christian values popular while remaining engaging and relevant. I’d like to thank her for investing in the lives of poor women and children, starting schools and teaching them in the parishes. And I’d love to hear stories of the dissention she faced in trying to convince secularists that religion would improve the quality of their laborers because they’d learn to be honest and industrious.

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

That the road to getting published is long, but a gratifying one. There are a lot of pieces that have to fall into place in the writing puzzle before a picture is formed, including industry trends. I have four full novels that served as my learning curve that may never leave my computer, and that’s okay. It’s part of the growing process.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

My boys have reached an age where I can no longer protect them from the world. I have to let them venture out to become their own persons, knowing that I did my best to train them up and trust God that they won’t depart from it. I’ve had to relinquish control and spend a lot more time on my knees during this new phase of life. It’s interesting how trust and releasing control will slip in as themes within my books as if I’m trying to teach myself a lesson.

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

Learn everything you can about the craft—read, go to conferences, and follow blogs on writing.

Don’t let criticism get you down. Read it, walk away, grieve a little if you need to, and then go back and learn from it. God can use it as a way to stretch you and keep your pride in check.

Pray for your publisher. God has a way of sending that blessing down the line.

Tell us about the featured book.

Hannah Rose Barrington is the island misfit. Orphaned at a young age, Hannah struggles to provide for her future, while her guardian, a weak-hearted island drunk, bleeds Hannah of her father’s inheritance. Caught between the classes of elite planters and white beggars, Hannah yearns to find a place to belong.

University life has never been Bradlee Granville’s forte. His only hope to graduate is to impress his professors by documenting his travels. After claiming unforeseeable circumstances, he delays his final exams and sets out early on his Grand Tour. However, when his ship wrecks off the coast of the Leeward Islands, Bradlee is left without means to return to England, a mounting deadline, and ruined journals.
​
When Hannah rescues passengers from a ship breaking apart in the bay, she’s unexpectedly drawn to the witty charm of one of the men. Helping him settle into island life will be a pleasure. However, as creditors, like sharks, begin to circle and her guardian’s desperation becomes life-threatening, Hannah finds herself in need of rescue. Will Bradlee look past her pitiful situation to see who she truly is—the sugar baron’s daughter?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Off the Coast of Nevis, Leeward Islands, March 1829

If he lost his journal, he lost his future. Bradlee Miles Granville’s hand grasped thin air as the leather-bound book slipped from his fingers. His writings were his only chance to prove he wasn’t an irresponsible disgrace to his family name. The journal landed with a thud and skidded across the weathered floorboards, dangerously close to the spilt tankard of ale. Bradlee’s shoulder slammed against the ship’s rail. He winced. The hull emitted a groan followed by the crack of splintering wood. The eerie sounds raised the hair on the back of his neck and tingled his scalp, distracting him from the pain.

“Zounds!” Colin Fitzroy pushed himself up from off the deck and frowned at the black stripe from the contents of Bradlee’s inkwell, now staining his white muslin shirt. Whether his impeccably groomed Gand Tour companion and valet swore due to the ship hitting bottom or over his ruined shirt was still to be determined.

  

The scraping of the ship’s bottom as it ground against what must have been a coral reef held the same pitch as fingernails down slate and continued for almost a full minute. The stench of ale and rum wafted under his nose, blending with the briny air. Inebriated sailors cursed as the contents of their tankards puddled about their feet. The billowing white sails deflated, and the familiar whistling of the wind ceased along with any forward progression.

The ship could merely be stranded on a reef, or it could be capsizing.

Blood surged through Bradlee’s veins, quickening his pulse. He hooked Colin under his arm, dragging him to a stand.

Colin’s eyes widened. “The ship didn’t just… Please tell me…” He raked a hand through his windblown hair and groaned.

Nice way to leave us wondering. How can readers find you on the Internet?

https://lorridudley.com/

https://www.wildheartbooks.org/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Barons-Ring-Leeward-Island-ebook/dp/B082MRWPQF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Barnes & Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sugar-barons-ring-lorri-dudley/1135493552?ean=2940163593354

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-sugar-baron-s-ring

Apple Store: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1491200041

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-leeward-islands-series-the-sugar-baron-s-ring-by-lorri-dudley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50700841-the-sugar-baron-s-ring?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=5nj4MOgBrX&rank=1

Thank you, Lorri, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to see where the story takes us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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, 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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE MERCHANT'S YIELD - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Bio: Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts, with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

Welcome back, Lorri. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Growing up reading Regency romance novels, I was enamored with the rules of the le bon ton and the chivalry of the era. I think novels should be an escape from everyday life (hence my tropical settings). Also, I believe in writing romance books that allow readers to empathize with a character through their comical mishaps and dramatic misunderstandings. It should depict a fallible human heart, one that can be made whole again by a merciful creator and remind us that we have hope for the same.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Hands down, it was the day I married my husband. God has blessed me with a soul mate, who is supportive and very loving. My favorite line of my husbands was when I asked him if it was unhealthy that we don’t argue much and he said, “When you’re in the trenches up against toddlers (or now teenagers), you don’t have time to pick lint off each other.” I love him.

How has being published changed your life?

I’m still pretty new to all this since my first book just released in January, but it’s been wonderful. I have an awesome publisher. Misty Beller and Wild Heart Books have been great to work with and have made the process of being published a rewarding experience. I never anticipated how much writing novels would bring me closer to people. I now have friends I’ve never even met face-to-face all over the United States other countries. I’ve been reconnected with friends who’ve moved away and distant family members who’ve become part of my launch team. I feel truly blessed.

What are you reading right now?

I usually have five or six books going at a time.

For research I’m reading Tales of Tortola and the British Virgin Islands by Florence Lewisohn, A History of the Virgin Islands by Isaac Dookhan, (You can probably guess where my next novel will take place), and The Definitive Book of Body Language because my heroine of book four is very observant.

For spiritual growth, I’m reading Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs because my husband and I mentor young couples. I’m also reading Frequency by Robert Morris.

For fun – I just finished Freedom in the Mountain Wind by Misty Beller a wonderful book about a woman helping to fulfill her father’s dream of walking in the steps of explorers Lewis and Clark. I also have on my nightstand The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli which is a timeslip linking back to the Boston Tea Party.

I’ve read Misty’s book, and Robert Morris is my pastor. What is your current work in progress?

The Captain’s Quest features Priscilla’s journey (who is the close friend of Lottie from The Merchant’s Yield.) Priscilla boards her brother’s ship only to discover, too late, that her brother has been relieved of command, and the ship has sailed. The new captain will not let an unexpected passenger keep him from fulfilling his critical naval mission. Tobias refuses to put the needs of one person above that of his crew until a sea squall knocks Priscilla overboard.

I can hardly wait for that one. What would be your dream vacation?

My dream vacation would be a Caribbean trip with friends. On my bucket list is to travel to all the islands mentioned in the Beach Boys’ song “Kokomo.” During the day, I’d get to relax and read on the beach and take romantic strolls with my hubby, but then get to enjoy the social comradery of dinner with friends. My husband’s company does this sort of thing as a rewards trip for his top sellers and producers, and it’s always been a great bonding experience. It was on one of these trips that I was introduced to a little island called St. Kitts, which became the setting for The Merchant’s Yield.

James and I have cruised in the western Caribbean twice, and that is the setting for my contemporary novel Never Say Never. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I initially chose the Leeward Islands because the Boston area where I live was buried under a record snowfall. We couldn’t even see over the walls of white that we’d shoveled to get down our walkway. I needed an escape, and so I traveled to the Caribbean in my stories. Now, I enjoy researching the various islands and finding one that stirs my creativity.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

My goodness, this question has wracked my brain. Other than my parents who live in the Southwest and I don’t get to see as often as I’d like (besides I couldn’t choose one over the other), I’d love to meet Debbie Murphy. Many people won’t know who she is, but Debbie is one of my devoted readers who’s been with me since I started my blog. She’s had a rough couple of years dealing with loss and family health issues, but even though she had so much going on, she’s been a great encouragement to me. I’d love to meet her in person and tell her face to face what a blessing she is.

I hope you get to meet her sometime. I have a number of fans I’d like to meet face-to-face. Occasionally, it happens. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Besides writing, I also dabble in painting. For a while, I was an art teacher at Metrowest Christian Academy for grades 1st through 5th and enjoyed seeing the kids proudly display their art projects. Now I help with my church’s set design for Vacation Bible School and putter around with a paintbrush. I particularly like painting portraits, and my favorite artist is American artist, Mary Cassatt, who often painted mothers and children as her subjects.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Time. I have had to squeeze in writing time wherever and whenever I can. I work for my husband’s business and I have three boys who I still have to cart to sports practices every night (at least up until the pandemic). I’ve been known to sit in the bleachers or on the floor of a wrestling room with my laptop typing away.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Stay the course! The writing industry is tough and competitive, but if you stick with it, honing your writing, learning from critiques, and building a readership, whether it be through a blog or other means, God will use you and your gift.   

Tell us about the featured book.

It was a marriage of inconvenience, but life has a wicked sense of humor.

Leeward Islands for a dance. But her one courageous act lands her in a compromising position. Forced to wed a stranger, Lottie leaves the only home she’s ever known to reside on the isle of St. Kitts.
​
Nathaniel Winthrop’s troubles are mounting, and the rumors of him being cursed are spreading. Due to the dwindling sugar crop, he risks everything to start his own shipping company. The last thing he needs is a wife, especially one with a weak constitution. Yellow fever has already claimed the lives of his mother and siblings. He must guard his heart against falling in love with this gentle beauty, knowing island life will be a death sentence.
​
No longer under her mother’s scrutiny, the newfound freedom of the island rejuvenates Lottie’s spirit. If her days on this earth are limited, then it’s time she lives life to the full. Now it’s up to her to prove that even though Nathan was coerced into marrying her, she’s the one he can’t live without.

Charlotte Amelia Etheridge has cowered to her mother’s sharp tongue and endless demands for the last time. In a fleeting moment of rebellion, she recklessly asks a foreigner from the

Sounds wonderful. Please give us the first page of the book.

London, England, May 1814

“Of course, the islander would come.”

Charlotte Amelia Etheridge stiffened at Mama’s acidic tone. She followed her mother’s gaze to the entrance of the Middleton’s modest ballroom where guests arrived in hordes of navy and formal black jackets bobbing amid a sea of colorful gowns. They filled the ballroom with boisterous chatter and a bouquet of expensive perfumes and colognes.

Mama flicked her fan in sharp increments. “Even dressed in English finery, he appears barbaric and uncivilized.”

           

Lottie focused on the landing where Nathanial Robert Winthrop bowed to Lord Gibbons and his wife. His large frame and broad shoulders dwarfed Lord Gibbons’s, making the average-height man appear slight in stature. Winthrop’s hand tossed back the coattail of his fitted charcoal jacket and tucked into his right pant pocket. He exuded a relaxed, casual self-assurance that uniquely contrasted with the pretentious lords and ladies of the Quality surrounding him. Their grandiose displays sought approval, a favor they would be hard-pressed to receive from her mother, for Lady Etheredge’s acerbic tongue could elevate or cut down a person with a single remark.

Winthrop nodded at something Gibbons said, and his teeth gleamed the same bright white as his cravat and shirt front.

Mama nodded in the direction of the gentlemen. “I will make certain Lord Gibbons reserves a dance for you. His mother owes me a favor.”

A favor. The jab struck its soft target, but Lottie had numbed to most of her mother’s verbal attacks.

“There she is now.” Mama stepped away to speak with Lady Gibbons.

Lottie plucked at the sides of her skirt and searched for Priscilla, her closest friend. The large mirrors reflected shimmering light from the overhead multi-tiered chandeliers and exposed her abandoned position. A retreat to the retiring rooms to freshen up might be in order.

Captain Anthony Middleton eyed her.

Lottie paused mid-step.

He weaved through the cluster of people to her side.

This was it. Her pulse leapt. How long had she fancied Pricilla’s handsome elder brother and dreamed of this moment?

“If it isn’t Little Lottie Ethridge.” The deep rich tone of Anthony’s voice sent a wave of tingles up her arm.

Lottie fought to subdue a grin she knew would cross the lines of decorum.

The boyishness in his face had disappeared, and he exuded virile sophistication in his navy captain’s jacket and highly polished boots. “It has been an age.”

She longed to say something witty like how she practiced in front of the mirror while he’d been at sea, but all that came to mind was, “Indeed.”

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Readers, here are links to the book.

The Merchant's Yield (The Leeward Island Series) - Paperback
The Merchant's Yield (The Leeward Island Series Book 2) - Kindle

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