I was privileged to read the manuscript for an endorsement, so I've been looking forward to this interview. Welcome, Dianna and Sally. I know this is a
collaboration. How did this story come about?
DC: Several years
ago, an acquisitions editor had seen Last
of the Mohicans and asked for a trilogy in that time period. By the time I’d submitted it, another editor
held that position and wasn’t interested in that time period, so I tabled it
until recently when I asked Sally to co-author with me. Barbour liked the idea and bought it.
SL: Dianna and I
had already collaborated on a Revolutionary War Series and wanted to go farther
back in time to earlier circumstances that helped bring about our nation’s struggle
for freedom.
Did you find it easy
to work together on it?
DC: Yes. We’ve worked together before, and were more
experienced about not getting in each other’s way this time—especially me
getting in Sally’s way.
SL: I’ve always
found it easy to work with Dianna. She brings out the best in me.
How did collaborating
with this team impact you?
DC: For me, it
took away the stress of getting the novel word-perfect. Plus, I was free from being involved in the
editorial process unless there was a plot or historical question.
SL: Collaborating
has taught me to be flexible in writing.
What is the hardest
thing about writing as a team?
DC: Because I do
the basic research, plot, and rough draft and Sally does descriptions, a lot of
the dialogue and the polished manuscript, I’ve learned not to read each chapter
for my added input or clarifications until after the last chapter is
finished. I find I’m more objective
then. I used to nit-pick far too much.
SL: Once in
awhile Dianna will come up with a character I don’t particularly care for. But
as I get into the story that feeling lessens and usually goes away entirely.
What are you reading
right now?
DC: Aside from my
weekly Bible study book, I’m mostly reading whatever research I can find on the
French & Indian war period—not very exciting stuff unless you’re a history
buff like me.
SL: Lots of research
for our own story and two current releases: Summer
of Promise, by Amanda Cabot and Where
Wildflowers Bloom, by Ann Shorey.
How did you choose
your characters’ names?
DC: Originally I
had Rose of Sharon, Marah of the Waters (a switch on the Waters of Marah) and
Lily of the Valley, all Biblical names.
Sally didn’t care for Marah because Marah means bitter, so she suggested
Mariah instead. The other names, I find searching through the phone book. Sally chooses a lot of the names, and she has
a book of names for babies.
SL: When writing
historicals, we try to find names that fit the time period, often using Bible
names to make sure they’ll work.
Would you want to
work on another book together?
DC: Sure. We each get to be creative yet have more time
for our families, church and friends.
SL: Absolutely! I
really love working with Dianna. She comes up with wonderful story lines.
What do you want to
tell us about the book?
DC: We tried to
be as historically accurate as possible without boring our readers. We hope the readers will get as caught up in
the adventure, romance, and spiritual awakenings of Rose and Nate as we did
bringing them to life in a very precarious time.
SL: We hope
readers will be able to see the hand of God at work in the founding of this
great nation and respect the valiant souls who ventured forth into the unknown
to bring the light of the Gospel to the New World .
When I write historical
novels, I try to be historically accurate, too. Please give us the first page
of the book.
The rat-tat-tat of the brass door knocker echoed eerily
through the spacious house.
Kneeling on the
kitchen’s stone floor, Rose Harwood started. Oh, no. Please, not now. She dropped the scrub brush into the
bucket and scrambled to her feet, wiping her hands on her long work apron. The
pungent odor of lye soap clung stubbornly to them, but she could do nothing
about that at the moment. Perhaps the caller would not notice the smell—or
worse, her red hands. Never before had she undertaken such menial labor.
Even as she tore
off the soiled apron, her frantic gaze searched worktables and shelves until it
landed on the spice chest. Mexican vanilla beans could mask the scent. But
no…she could not justify the ruination of something so costly to replace.
Especially now.
The knocker
rapped several more times. Louder. More insistent.
“Do calm
yourself, Rose.” Clasping her hands together, she hiked her chin with new
resolve. “I simply shan’t go to the door.”
But that wouldn’t
do either…
Where can our readers
find you on the Internet?
DC: The quickest
way would probably be my email address. dcrawford6@bak.rr.com Barbour Books has a site for our books and us
as authors, too. As far as facebook
goes, I’m still trying to get the hang of it in my spare time, which means I
don’t try very hard.
SL: I’m on Facebook and can be emailed at sallylaity@yahoo.comThank you, Dianna and Sally, for the fun interview.
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