I've had a few people ask me about my choice of genre, so I thought I would explain it.
I knew from the beginning that I never wanted to write anything that wasn't appropriate for a young adult or religious audience. As a teenager, we were encouraged to read AR books from the high school library. Well, that was fine and good, but I'm a hopeless romantic. My mom had a huge collection of Historical Romance novels (Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsey...) and I wanted to read them terribly. They were beautiful and intriguing with elegant words from a time long ago when chivalry was alive. Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer and I started reading them. After reading a couple I realized why the local high school bookshelves weren't full of Historical Romance novels. Obviously, they aren't really suited for teenagers. It was a true bummer. So, I raced to get all of my AR points each semester so I could spend the rest of my time reading Historical Romance.
Like most people, when I started writing, I wanted to write the type of book that I would be drawn to read. "Easy," I thought, "I'll just write Historical Romance." However, I wasn't comfortable writing the love scenes. So, I thought, "Why can't I write exactly what I always wanted to read?" Besides, I try to be as Christianly as possible but I didn't want to write about Amish people. Well, that's why I write the way I do. So, you can consider them Young Adult with a Historical Romance feel. Or, Historical Romance made appropriate for a Young Adult Audience. Or, Christian Fiction. Or, Love Inspired. Or, Young Adult Christian Love Inspired Historical Romance.
Ta-da!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
About "My Knightly Dreams"
Once again in the off the wall genre of "Young Adult/New Adult/Historical Romance/Christian Fiction/Love Inspired"... My Knightly Dreams was my first actual manuscript to write. I started this one in the winter of 2010. At the time, I had quit working at the last bank I ever worked for and couldn't wait to get back into my passion of writing. I'll give you the whole spill of how I started writing and quit banking on another day! Here is the summary of My Knightly Dreams:
Now eligible for courtship, many men hope to be the lucky groom selected to marry the Duke and Duchess of Crawley's beautiful daughter, Farren Montbassen. Farren only considers one man acceptable- a notorious knight enjoying a carefree life with little interest in the prospect of marriage. Sir Patton Caswell cannot help but be intrigued by the beauty and grace of the spirited young woman. Everything seems to be falling into place until a rejected suitor and his father decide to take matters of Farren’s marriage into their own hands.
The forthcoming Marquess of Farnborough, Bayard Norshire, plans to scare Farren into marriage by giving her an ultimatum- marriage, or the death of her family. By kidnapping the Duke and Duchess of Crawley, Bayard thinks he holds their young daughter’s future in his hands. Sent to the rescue by King Edward III, Patton takes Farren on a journey of a lifetime to save the Duke and Duchess before Farren is forced into marriage with the despicable young Marquess.
Now eligible for courtship, many men hope to be the lucky groom selected to marry the Duke and Duchess of Crawley's beautiful daughter, Farren Montbassen. Farren only considers one man acceptable- a notorious knight enjoying a carefree life with little interest in the prospect of marriage. Sir Patton Caswell cannot help but be intrigued by the beauty and grace of the spirited young woman. Everything seems to be falling into place until a rejected suitor and his father decide to take matters of Farren’s marriage into their own hands.
The forthcoming Marquess of Farnborough, Bayard Norshire, plans to scare Farren into marriage by giving her an ultimatum- marriage, or the death of her family. By kidnapping the Duke and Duchess of Crawley, Bayard thinks he holds their young daughter’s future in his hands. Sent to the rescue by King Edward III, Patton takes Farren on a journey of a lifetime to save the Duke and Duchess before Farren is forced into marriage with the despicable young Marquess.
If you want a sweet, heartwarming read with plenty of adventure, this one is for you. Paperback on Amazon, E-book on Kindle and Nook. Go buy and enjoy! Thanks for the support.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
About "At Least I'm Pretty"
Hello all,
I started writing At Least I'm Pretty in the fall of 2011, shortly after our family relocated to Tyndall AFB, in Panama City, Florida. This manuscript is the third that I wrote, but the first to actually be published. When you think of At Least I'm Pretty, along with many of my other novels, think Historical Romance meets Young Adult meets Christian Fiction. I know, I know, that's quite a mixture. Let me explain. If you took a Historical Romance novel and made it "age appropriate" for the Young Adult audience then added in a few hints of the edgy Christian Fiction world, you would have one of my novels. No Amish included, however. Understand? I'm sure I'll explain in a later blog why that genre is for me. Anyway, here's a summary of At Least I'm Pretty:
Prince Dimitrie seems to have tough luck waiting for him around every corner. His most recent problems, a dangerous clan of gypsies threatening his life and his father presenting an ultimatum that he must marry within thirty days or lose his crown to his vehement sister, completely exasperate the young man. However, things appear to turn around when he unexpectedly meets a beautiful and seemingly eligible bride in a neighboring village. The fascinating and mysterious young woman steals his heart but with his history of bad breaks he cannot help but wonder if the captivating beauty is too good to be true.
Emerald Baillie is growing weary in her ploy to intimidate the supercilious Prince of Moldavia into releasing her imprisoned brothers. The stunning Duchess of Little Egypt confidently leads her life as gypsy royalty but trying to guide a large group of wayward menaces and keep them out of trouble proves tiresome, even for the poised young woman. With all the pressure resting on her shoulders she panics more and more each day. Fortunately for Emerald, Prince Dimitrie unintentionally makes her search for revenge against him much easier. However, sticking to her mischievous plan by abandoning all emotion and guilt is not as simple when her heart becomes involved.
At Least I'm Pretty is available on Amazon, Kindle and Nook. Go buy it! Rate it! Enjoy.
I started writing At Least I'm Pretty in the fall of 2011, shortly after our family relocated to Tyndall AFB, in Panama City, Florida. This manuscript is the third that I wrote, but the first to actually be published. When you think of At Least I'm Pretty, along with many of my other novels, think Historical Romance meets Young Adult meets Christian Fiction. I know, I know, that's quite a mixture. Let me explain. If you took a Historical Romance novel and made it "age appropriate" for the Young Adult audience then added in a few hints of the edgy Christian Fiction world, you would have one of my novels. No Amish included, however. Understand? I'm sure I'll explain in a later blog why that genre is for me. Anyway, here's a summary of At Least I'm Pretty:
Prince Dimitrie seems to have tough luck waiting for him around every corner. His most recent problems, a dangerous clan of gypsies threatening his life and his father presenting an ultimatum that he must marry within thirty days or lose his crown to his vehement sister, completely exasperate the young man. However, things appear to turn around when he unexpectedly meets a beautiful and seemingly eligible bride in a neighboring village. The fascinating and mysterious young woman steals his heart but with his history of bad breaks he cannot help but wonder if the captivating beauty is too good to be true.
Emerald Baillie is growing weary in her ploy to intimidate the supercilious Prince of Moldavia into releasing her imprisoned brothers. The stunning Duchess of Little Egypt confidently leads her life as gypsy royalty but trying to guide a large group of wayward menaces and keep them out of trouble proves tiresome, even for the poised young woman. With all the pressure resting on her shoulders she panics more and more each day. Fortunately for Emerald, Prince Dimitrie unintentionally makes her search for revenge against him much easier. However, sticking to her mischievous plan by abandoning all emotion and guilt is not as simple when her heart becomes involved.
At Least I'm Pretty is available on Amazon, Kindle and Nook. Go buy it! Rate it! Enjoy.
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