After her plans for the future are shattered by the revelation that her fiancé has married another, a young woman finds both love and danger in the Texas Hill Country as she and the sheriff struggle to unravel the town’s secrets and unmask a murderer.Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free e-copy of Coming Home ~ A Tiny House Collection, featuring the novella, Love is Sweeter in Sugar Hill, by Ane Mulligan, is:
donvelma@...
Congratulations! I'll forward your email address to Ane, and we'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.
And now let's meet novelist Amanda Cabot, author of the historical romance, A Stolen Heart (Revell, March 2017).
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels including the Texas Dreams trilogy, the Westward Winds series, the Texas Crossroad trilogy, and Christmas Roses.A former director of Information Technology, she has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. Amanda is delighted to now be a fulltime writer of Christian romances, living happily ever after with her husband in Wyoming.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.
I enjoy sewing and make most of my own clothes as well as dressing dolls for the local women’s shelter.
How kind that you use your talent for the shelter.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of A Stolen Heart.
From afar, Cimarron Creek seems like an idyllic town tucked in the Texas Hill Country. But when former schoolteacher Lydia Crawford steps onto its dusty streets in 1880, she finds a town with a deep-seated resentment of Northerners—like her. Lydia won’t let that get her down, though. All will be well when she’s reunited with her fiancé. But when she discovers he has disappeared—and that he left behind a pregnant wife—Lydia is at a loss about what to do next.
The handsome sheriff urges her to trust him, but can she trust anyone in this town where secrets are as prevalent as bluebonnets in spring?
What is it about Lydia that will make your readers care about her?
Lydia’s an ordinary woman caught in an extraordinary situation, and – like most women – she learns that she’s stronger than she realized.
What kind of brainstorming do you do at the beginning of your novels?
I start by choosing a setting – in this case the Texas Hill Country – then ask myself what kind of people would live there and what problems would they encounter.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?
I just finished Irene Hannon’s Sandpiper Cove and absolutely loved it. It’s a story that tugged on my heartstrings. The hero’s situation is almost heartbreaking, and even though I knew she’d give him a happy ending, I wasn’t sure how that would happen.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the first draft (my least favorite part of the writing process) of A Tender Hope, the third of the Cimarron Creek books. Even though I don’t enjoy writing first drafts, I’m excited about this book, because this is where all the plot points are resolved and the last of Cimarron Creek’s secrets are revealed.
Where else can readers find you online?
www.amandacabot.com
amandajoycabot.blogspot.com
The book can be purchased via the following button:
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
What is the most important thing you look for in an historical romance?
Thanks, Amanda, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book.
Readers, Amanda has offered to give away a signed copy of her book next week. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Amanda's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.
Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.
Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE
10 comments:
I always enjoy Amanda's books and look forward to the Hill Country setting in this one, as I have visited there a number of times, particularly in the Spring wildflower season. Question - what do I look for - good historical research of the location, believable characters, if not familiar with author I pay even more attention to the cover and synopsis on the back, and the first few pages or certainly the first chapter to be clear and draw me into the story.
I am a current subscriber to the newsletter, also. Thanks! dobeworld at sbcglobal dot net
In historical novels I like to find accuracy in the time period written about. I enjoy fiction but I also like to learn a little real history at the same time. Speech, cliches and phrases need to be of that time period especially.
Thank you for the chance to win your book.
I am a subcriber.
tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
I like reading historical fiction because I enjoy reading about history. You can always tell when an author has really done his or her research.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
I love history and enjoy learning something new about the settings in a historical novel. I appreciate the research that goes into that process.
Look forward to reading this one!
Thanks for the chance to win. I'm a subscriber. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
The setting.That the history is true to facts.
dkstevensneAT outlook DOT(COM)
I'm a subscriber :)
The most important thing for me in a historical novel is that it be accurate to the period it is set in. I love it when the the author has really done their research and I can get totally immersed in the setting and learn more about history at the same time.
I am already a subscriber. debbiewilder (at) comcast (dot) net
The most important thing for me in a historical romance is an interesting historical story woven into a good romance. Hmm... I think that is actually two things. :)
The premise of this book sounds pretty interesting. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!
momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com
this sounds wonderful. sounds like a true test in trusting. which is what we are to do with Jesus and many times fail. the most important thing in a romance historical book is: is the history portrayed accurate? and will I learn something about faith, etc. that I can apply to my life?
quilting(dash)lady(at)Comcast(dot)net
Ladies -- I was fascinated by your comments, because they echo my own. When I'm reading an historical novel, I want to feel as if I'm back in that time period. That means that I want the author to share bits of history -- not so much that I feel as if I'm reading a text book, but enough that I get a flavor for what was happening outside the characters' lives -- and I want to feel that the dialogue is authentic. I remember reading a novel set in the Middle Ages that referred to Teflon. Really? That was enough to make me stop reading it. Most of the time, the anachronisms are more subtle, but the fact that some heroines seem to be 21st century women in historic costume bothers me. Life was different in the 19th century, and I want the books to reflect those differences.
Off my soapbox now. Thank you all for commenting.
I'm with you Amanda . I don't like modern phrases in a historical. I ran across one that had a baseball reference , something like covering all the bases, in a time period that did not suit. Thanks for being authentic!
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