Louise Gouge's Secret PLUS 2 GIVEAWAYS!

Please welcome my friend and wonderful author, Louise Gouge to my blog. Her and Laurie Kingery have new LIH releases and will be sharing fun posts this week. If you missed Laurie's be sure to scroll on down past Louise's! They will each be giving away a copy of their book. Be sure to read on down to see how to enter. And be sure to comment on both posts for more chances of winning! 

I loved reading all of the comments about cowboys you all have written in response to Laurie Kingery’s post (below). I’ll tell you a secret. Because of Laurie’s wonderful story, The Outlaw’s Lady, I began writing westerns for Love Inspired Historical! But that was a little later, after LIH published my Revolutionary War and Regency books.

 

My first LIH story was Love Thine Enemy. As a lover of my country’s history, I have always appreciated the sacrifices made by the Patriots in the thirteen colonies that broke away from England. When I was searching for an idea to write for LIH, I learned that there actually were more than thirteen English colonies. As it turns out, East Florida was a refuge for those pesky Loyalists who fled the war. So, our LIH stories being, well, love inspired, and love stories needing conflict, I thought the perfect romance should be between a Loyalist and a Patriot. Then I created an interesting supporting cast of characters, and fun and excitement ensued.

 

Here’s the story: The tropics of colonial Florida are far removed from America’s Revolution. Still, Rachel Folger’s loyalties remain with Boston’s patriots. Handsome plantation owner Frederick Moberly’s faithfulness to the Crown is as certain as his admiration for Rachel—but for the sake of harmony, he’ll keep his sympathies hidden. After all, the war is too far distant to truly touch them...isn’t it? A betrayal of Rachel’s trust divides the pair, leaving Frederick to question the true meaning of faith in God and in country. Inspired by Rachel to see life, liberty, and love through His eyes, Frederick must harness his faith and courage to claim the woman he loves before war tears them apart.

GIVEAWAY: Ask Louise a question or tell her who you'd think you would be if you lived during the Revolutionary War. Would you be loyal to the Crown or would you be loyal to the new country?

Why I Write Cowboy Historicals by Laurie Kingery PLUS 2 GIVEAWAYS!

Please welcome Laurie Kingery to my blog today. Her and Louise Gouge have new LIH releases and will be sharing fun posts this week. They will each be giving away a copy of their book. Be sure to read on down to see how to enter in the giveaways!

WHY I LOVE WRITING COWBOY HISTORICALS

I started my writing career (writing as Laurie Grant) for the now defunct publisher Leisure and chose the early English and French medieval period as my era. Continuing with the former Warner publishing and then Harlequin Historicals, I continued with the medieval era, but I am a native Texan by birth, and that heritage began to appeal to me more and more. 

Why?  The American cowboy hero has all the chivalry of the knights of old with none of the title snobbery of medieval society.  He did not need to come from a castle – – often he came from nothing and his parents were no one of note. He might be illiterate, but that didn’t prevent him from being noble of character. Though somewhat idealized in our novels, admittedly,  the cowboy had a code of honor not unlike the knight, especially in regard to the treatment of ladies. They defended themselves and civilization, such as it was, from outlaws and savage Indians, much as the knights fought outlaws of that time, Vikings, and would-be invaders from other countries, and if one was fortunate, he might win the hand (and lands) of a fair lady who might of been higher in station than the knight had been. Thus he might have risen in status from a mere knight to a lord, such as a baron or earl. The American cowboy did not wear mail or armor as the medieval knight did, so he was obviously more vulnerable to the dangers of arrows and bullets. Both medieval and 1800’s America had more defined roles for men and women than what we are familiar with today, as most women, with the exception of teachers, storekeepers, and nurses remained in the home until marriage. 

I believe the hero of THE OUTLAW’S LADY,  Sandoval Parrish, has all the characteristics of the cowboy hero and medieval knight, though in the beginning of my story, heroine Tess Hennessy hardly sees him as chivalrous! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did writing it. 




GIVEAWAY:  Ask Laurie a question or tell us why you love reading about cowboys to enter in the giveaway.

Fun With Kathy and 3 great giveaways!

Please welcome my critique partner, best friend, and awesome author, Kathleen L Maher to my blog this week! Kathy is giving away to two lucky winners choice of her Shenandoah books. And I am giving away a folded book art. Read on down to find out how to enter.

Where are you right now (LVR, DR, Bathroom) and what are you wearing? You have to tell the truth.

2012:

I am actually dressed before 7 AM today! It’s a small miracle. I have on denim capris, an orange cotton embroidered tee and my Third Day zip-up hoodie. And purple fuzzy slippers. They’re hideous and comfy as all get out.

NOW:

I’m in my living room, and I am wearing brown pants, a brown and sage shirt and sage sweater. Another miracle to be dressed early in the day. I’m winning at life. What can I say? 😉

Debbie Lynne: Drat! I thought today was going to be PJ day!

What is the funniest, strangest, or most interesting thing you have learned when doing research?

2012:

I was doing research on Charleston during the Civil War, so I had my ears open for all things related. I was listening to the radio and heard my local weatherman talk about the strangest weather incident he’d ever heard. He claims to say that a live alligator, fully grown, fell from the sky and landed downtown Charleston in 1862. Can you imagine the rumors of apocalypse that must have circulated? Just today I read on Yahoo news about a two-foot shark that fell out of the sky on a golf course in California. They think an osprey dropped it. Why can’t it be money, falling on my lawn? Twenties and fifties would be lovely. Or gold. I’ll take gold as long as nobody gets hurt when it falls.

NOW:

I can’t top that. But a close second is a Civil War soldier I once read about. He was shot as he had one leg up in his saddle stirrup, standing at his horse’s side. He died instantly, and rigor mortis somehow froze him in that position.

Debbie Lynne: Good Grief! I can just hear the officer that found him and taps him on the shoulder. ‘Soldier, what are you scared stiff?’

If you were told you were being sent back to live in the 19th Century, and you could bring one thing from today, what would that be?

2012:

I know everyone says toothpaste and deodorant, and that is a good answer. So besides those, I would bring photos of our modern marvels like airplanes and space travel. I figure it will be a great conversation starter, if it doesn’t get me burned at the stake for sorcery!

NOW:

Chocolate. Don’t judge me. And my husband. I don’t travel well without either.

Debbie Lynne: Good thing you are bringing him along with you in June when you come to see me. I’ll send chocolate ahead. 😉

What is something that very few people know about you?

2012:

Hmmm, I am relatively unknown, so pretty much everything! Heehee Okay. Most people don’t know that I used to have a really good singing voice. In high school I had the privilege of attending New York State School Music Association’s All State choir two years in a row. We stayed at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills, the same place where Sinatra and so many others have sung. It was a real thrill. But asthma and chronic allergies have eroded that voice from what it once was. I still love to sing along to Kari Jobe and Kutless and Tenth Avenue North, among my favorites. Just not where others can hear me. LOL

NOW:

Yeah, I’m still a relative unknown. 😉 But those who know me now would probably find it hard to believe I was once young and thin. I find it hard to believe myself.

Debbie Lynne: Don’t let her fool you! Her name and books are growing in popularity every day! She’s still a young chickadee. And she is beautiful inside and out!

What is your favorite material item that you own (examples: ipod, Gone with the Wind book, grandmother’s rocking chair)

2012:

My home.

It has creaky floors and a slowly shifting foundation and a roof that will need replacing, but I am so very thankful to God for my home. We were once homeless as a family when my husband was out of work, and I appreciate the miracle it is to live here in a beautiful small town where crime is rare and the church bells chime three times a day, and where I can tend my gardens and watch my children play in safety. I wish everyone that blessing.

NOW:

Same. And it has a new roof, by a miracle provision of God.

Debbie Lynne: Except now it is her grandchildren playing in the yard.  

What one novel did you read that made you want to be a part of the story?

2012:

None. Honestly, I think that is why I write. I’ve read books that I love, but none of the characters ever did what I would have and that made me want to write myself in their shoes, to explore a story world with my own imagination rather than only getting to see what the author shows. That is why there is so much of me in each character I write.

NOW:

Burning Sky by Lori Benton. I was haunted by the boy that lives in the woods. I want to go there and adopt him. Feed him a good meal. Give him a warm bed. And show him kindness and appreciation for his bravery.

Debbie Lynne: She proves my point. She’s beautiful inside and out.

If you could live in any time period other than the one we live in, when and where would that be and why?

2012:
I am fascinated by the end times. A little fearful, too, to be honest, with all the tension and hate of the world converging on little Israel to annihilate her. But if these aren’t the end times already, I would wish to be in the generation that gets to witness the Lord’s return and to be taken up to meet Him in the air. What could be more fabulous than that?

NOW:

Any time my mom was still alive, and I could tell her how much I appreciate her. Yeah, my eyes are leaking.

Debbie Lynne: Awe. But you will see her again and the cool thing is it could be in your 2012 time period to live in pick!

If you were writing a book about your life what would the title be?

2012:

Not Perfect Yet

NOW:

Still Not Perfect

Debbie Lynne: But Pretty Darn Close

Thanks for having me on your blog, Debbie Lynne. Both then and now. 😉

________________________________________

Kathleen L. Maher has had an infatuation with books and fictional heroes ever since her preschool crush, Peter Rabbit. “Love Brick by Brick,” a novella with her hometown’s history, appeared in BARBOUR’s 2018 Victorian Christmas Brides collection. Her Civil War romance The Abolitionist’s Daughter released in 2018 and Book 2, The Chaplain’s Daughter in 2019. She has another novella coming out in Barbour’s schoolteacher collection Lessons on Love in Oct 2019. Kathleen shares an old farmhouse in upstate New York with her husband, children, and a small zoo.

Follow Kathleen

on the group history blog the 8^th of every month: https://www.hhhistory.com/

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/KLMaherAuthor/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kathleenlmaher/boards/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2531698-kathleen-l

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-l-maher

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/kathleenlmaher

I’m offering a GIVEAWAY of winner’s choice of my books. I’ll give an e-copy to two winners, randomly selected, of either Book 1 The Abolitionist’s Daughter, or Book 2 (in Sons of the Shenandoah Series), The Chaplain’s Daughter.

To enter, answer this interview question:

If you could go back in time and change a historical event, where and when would that be, and what would you hope would be the outcome?

You can get bonus entries by following me on any of those media sites listed above or signing up for my newsletter. I don’t have a live link to sign up, so leave your email addy in the comment and I’ll add you manually. Let me know your total # of entries in the comments.

Okay, a good luck!

 A feisty army laundress must disarm a grieving Confederate Captain’s pride to win his heart.

Twin brothers part ways over a fiery social crusader. Can love mend fences burned by war? 

Book art folded with love by me, Debbie Lynne!