Enchanted Isle is a historical romance about a young woman who visits England's magical Lake District in the 1950s and begins to uncover what happened to a treasure lost in an abandoned amusement park there.Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of The Case of the Clobbered Cad, by Debra Marvin, is:
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Congratulations! We'll get your e-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 chat with novelist Melanie Dobson, author of the historical romance, Enchanted Isle (Waterfall Press, August 2017).
Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson's excuse to explore abandoned houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and journals. She enjoys stitching together historical and time-slip stories, and her novels have won awards for historical romance, romantic suspense, and historical fiction.Melanie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two teen daughters.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.
I love hidden places, and I enjoy exploring the world both aboveground and underground by climbing and crawling through caves.
Just reading "crawling through caves" triggers my claustrophobia! That's very cool that you enjoy that.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Enchanted Isle.
My main character in Enchanted Isle is an aspiring photographer named Jenny who sees beauty in unexpected places. With paper and a pen, I built an amusement park from the 1930s for her to explore, set on an island in England’s magical Lake District with a dozen old rides inspired by the sea—a wooden roller coaster that once surfed through the trees, a boat excursion around sunken ships in an ocean cave, and the Magic Lagoon, a merry-go-round with brightly colored sea creatures instead of horses, the eaves of the carousel plated with gold leaf and stained glass.In the novel, Jenny and a British man named Adrian search together for ancient coins his father purportedly hid on the island. As she learns the legends in this district, Jenny begins to discover beauty among the ruins of the park and she ultimately determines to restore all that’s been lost—the hidden treasure, shattered dreams, and relationships broken in years past after one of the park’s owners disappeared.
That's a fascinating premise, Melanie.
What is it about Jenny that will make your readers care about her?
Jenny is a unique young woman with a vivid imagination. Her grandfather is a domineering man, but her widowed mother wants Jenny to use the gifts that God has given her. In this novel, Jenny decides to embrace who God made her to be and her unique gifts ultimately lead to beauty and restoration.
What is the most positive thing you can tell my readers about the state of Christian fiction today?
When I was younger, there weren’t many novels being written that were founded in themes of faith. We are so blessed today to have a variety of well-written inspirational novels available online and through bookstores. As a writer, I’m continually grateful for the opportunity to be able to share the stories that God has placed in my heart.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?
I really enjoyed reading Lisa Wingate’s time-slip novel Before We Were Yours. I like stories that slip between the past and present, and I thought Lisa did a remarkable job pulling readers into her powerful fictional account of a true, heart-wrenching story from the mid-1900s.
Lisa's book has done so well, too! I'll have to put that on my massive TBR list.
And, readers, in case that term, time-slip, is new to you, time-slip is a plot in which a person or group of people seem to travel through time within the novel. Time-slip brings together different points in time, so events from one time might be experienced at another time.
What are you working on now, Melanie?
Fifteen years ago my husband and I backpacked across Europe, and our favorite place to explore was Hallstatt in Austria with its medieval village, alpine lake and castle. I’m now writing a time-slip story about Jewish heirlooms hidden near Hallstatt during World War II. The historical plot is about a young man and woman who determine to help their Jewish friends hide what the Nazis were trying to steal away. In the contemporary story, my main character discovers a list in an old book that connects her with the Austrian woman who was hiding this treasure for her friends—a woman who is guarding a secret of her own.
Where else can readers find you online?
The best places to find me online are on my website www.melaniedobson.com, Facebook), and Goodreads.
The book can be purchased online via the following button:
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
I love stories! I’d enjoy hearing something miraculous or surprising that God has done in your journey.
I look forward to hearing those stories too! I'll post one of my own in the comments section.
Thanks, Melanie, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Melanie has offered to give away a signed copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Melanie'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. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).
Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.
Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven
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
6 comments:
Have you ever tried geo-cache? Sounds like something you’d enjoy.
God worked it out where I caught my breast cancer at an early stage. I am a six yr survivor. Now I’m caring for my mother who is in her last days here on earth. She will soon fly to her forever home with the Lord.
Gail Hollingsworth
tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
How wonderful, Gail, that the Lord guided you with your cancer! I'm so glad you're able to be there for your mother in her final days, rather than the other way around, which would have been so, so difficult for her. So your survival was a bit of a double miracle. I lost my mom this year, but it is good to keep reflecting on the fact that she is in her "forever home with the Lord." It softens the grief.
Thanks so much for sharing a bit of your story, Gail! What a blessing that you are able to share this season with your mother. I haven't tried geo-cacheing but my sister really enjoys it. I do love to explore!
I think God is still working things out with me. We're looking for a new church home and it's really been a (mostly) positive experience. We are close to making a decision after 4 months. Surprisingly, we are contemplating a large church, which we said would never happen. Thank you for the interview & giveaway opportunity.
perrianne[dot]askew[at]me[dot]com
The Lord has been so faithful. I'm blessed by those He has placed in my life. He continues to perfect ALL that concerns me.
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
One of several miraculous blessings I experienced was years ago, when I was very young and driving home alone very late from a night of dancing at a Washington DC club with friends. There was a serial assaulter at large in my town, and my car broke down on a road that was pitch black once my car lights were off. Woods on either side of the road, no traffic. I became terrified (this was before cell phones). One car pulled up and offered me a ride. It was full of young men, but I saw no other cars at all and was afraid no one else would come along. I prayed quickly and almost got in the car, but suddenly another car pulled up. It just so happened to be the very kind couple who lived in the apartment right next to mine. The "coincidence" was mind-blowing. I truly felt the hand of God in that moment. I don't know what might have happened if they hadn't arrived.
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