Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 35
May 5, 2021
Faith L. Justice Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiciton #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @faithljustice @raggedymoonbooks @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to feature Faith L. Justice as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from April 26th – May 7th 2021. Faith L. Justice is the author of the biographical historical fiction, Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome (The Theodosian Women, Book Two), which will be released by Raggedy Moon Books on 24th May 2020 (354 pages). The audiobook (12 hrs 41 min) was released on 19th February 2021.
Below are highlights of Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome (The Theodosian Women, Book Two), Faith L. Justice’s biography, and an excerpt of her book.
HIGHLIGHTS: DAWN EMPRESS: A NOVEL OF IMPERIAL ROME
Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome
The Theodosian Women, Book Two
By Faith L. Justice
Audiobook narrated by Kathleen Li
As Rome reels under barbarian assaults, a young girl must step up.
After the Emperor’s unexpected death, ambitious men eye the Eastern Roman throne occupied by seven-year-old Theodosius II. His older sister Pulcheria faces a stark choice: she must find allies and take control of the Eastern court or doom the imperial children to a life of obscurity—or worse. Beloved by the people and respected by the Church, Pulcheria forges her own path to power. Can her piety and steely will protect her brother from military assassins, heretic bishops, scheming eunuchs and—most insidious of all—a beautiful, intelligent bride? Or will she lose all in the trying?
Dawn Empress tells the little-known and remarkable story of Pulcheria Augusta, 5th century Empress of Eastern Rome. Her accomplishments rival those of Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great as she sets the stage for the dawn of the Byzantine Empire. Don’t miss this “gripping tale” (Kirkus Reviews); a “deftly written and impressively entertaining historical novel” (Midwest Book Reviews). Historical Novel Reviews calls Dawn Empress an “outstanding novel…highly recommended” and awarded it the coveted Editor’s Choice.
Buy Links:
Print/eBook
Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU Barnes & Noble Waterstones Kobo Apple Books Smashwords Books A Million Scribd
Audiobook
Audible iTunes: Nook Audiobook Google Play Kobo Audio BingeBooks Chirp Scribd
AUTHOR BIO: FAITH L. JUSTICE
Faith L. Justice writes award-winning historical novels, short stories, and articles in Brooklyn, New York where she lives with her family and the requisite gaggle of cats. Her work has appeared in Salon.com, Writer’s Digest, The Copperfield Review, and many more publications. She is Chair of the New York City chapter of the Historical Novel Society, and Associate Editor for Space and Time Magazine. She co-founded a writer’s workshop many more years ago than she likes to admit. For fun, she digs in the dirt—her garden and various archaeological sites.
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EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 13Constantinople, September 420
Paulinus led Theodosius further into the villa, sending servants ahead to announce their presence. “Quietly. The emperor is a guest and doesn’t want a fuss.”
They passed through the atrium into a formal garden complete with fountains and colonnaded sides. Small groups congregated wherever there was seating. Trampled rosemary and mint lightly scented the air. Servants mingled with the guests, carrying trays of small delicacies and flagons of wine.
A short dark man bustled up to them, bowing low.
“Asclepiodotus,” Theo acknowledged.
“Your Serenity does my humble home much honor.”
A plump woman with improbable red hair followed Asclepiodotus, practically throwing herself to her knees. Their actions drew the attention of other guests. Theo did not wish to be recognized and fawned over. He raised the women with a hand under her elbow. “Please. I’m not here as your emperor. Treat me as you would any other guest.”
“Thank you, Augustus.” The woman blinked large brown eyes.
“May I present my wife, Doria?” her husband offered. This time she curtsied.
“You have a lovely wife and home, Asclepiodotus.” Theo gave both a slight bow.
His host signaled a servant. “Get the emp…my guest a goblet of our best Thracian wine. See to his needs personally for as long as he stays.”
Paulinus stifled a cough. “Theo, perhaps I can introduce you to some of the other guests?”
“Of course!” Asclepiodotus backed away. “You’ll find quite an interesting mix. May I suggest you start with Olympiodorus? He is holding forth under the grape arbor about his visit to the Hunnic court. I’m sure our guest will find him most amusing. He is also a poet and historian.”
Paulinus guided Theo to a small gathering listening to a balding middle-aged man with the robust frame and the deeply tanned face of an outdoorsman. “…the court was in an uproar. I barely arrived and King Donatus dead! Of course his successor, King Charaton, accused me of spying and murder. Only quick talking and the magnificence of the emperor’s gifts kept me from the Huns’ wrath.”
Theo recognized the man as the historian tasked with documenting his reign. He didn’t look like a scholar. That Olympiodorus acted as a diplomat and befriended Asclepiodotus, head of the imperial agents, led Theo to one conclusion. A spy! He never got to talk to the agents in the field. This was, indeed, going to be an interesting party!
Olympiodorus caught Theo’s gaze. His eyes widened. Theo shook his head slightly.
“Tell us of your sea adventures.” A lovely girl diverted Olympiodorus by grabbing his arm. “I never tire of hearing those stories.”
The diplomat continued his tales of wandering and perils at sea. Theo’s attention strayed to the girl. She could have modeled for a statue of Venus, her face and form a perfect example of classic beauty: heart-shaped face with large, wide-spaced eyes, small nose and bowed lips. From her golden curls to her neat toes, Theo couldn’t avert his gaze.
“Who is she?” he whispered to Paulinus.
“Athenais. Aclepiodotus’ niece. Her brothers serve in your provincial governments—Thrace and Illyricum, if I remember right.” Paulinus gave Athenais an appraising glance. “Lovely, isn’t she?”
“I’ve never seen such beauty.” Theo felt a wave of heat radiate from his groin to his face—an unaccustomed pleasurable pain. He curled his hands into fists, digging his nails into his palms, trying to fight this sinful lust. “She’s not like the girls in my sister’s court.” Theo sometimes thought Pulcheria chose the women who attended her for their plainness, as well as their dedication to God.
“Athenais is not an empty-headed fool, like some women,” Paulinus said. “Her father held a chair in rhetoric at the Athens Academy and allowed her to attend lectures in philosophy. She’s also an accomplished poet.”
“Will you introduce us?” Theo spied his personal servant lurking with a goblet of wine, grabbed it, and gulped. The smooth vintage took the edge off his nervousness.
“Of course.” His friend grinned.
Olympiodorus finished his tale as Paulinus approached arm-in-arm with Theo. “Well met, Olympiodorus.” He dropped Theo’s arm, bowing slightly to the girl. “Athenais, may I present my good friend Theo?”
“My pleasure.” Eyes wide, she bowed, but otherwise did not acknowledge his rank. Her deep blue eyes bordered on violet. “Theo, do you like poetry?”
“Yes! Very much,” he managed to get out, though his tongue seemed swollen to twice its size.
“Then you’ve come to the right place. My friend,” she nodded to Olympiodorus, “will be reciting some of his work later. It’s quite good.”
Theo smiled until he thought his face would crack. Paulinus nudged him in the ribs. “I…uh…I understand you write verse as well.”
“I only dabble.” She lowered her lashes and shrugged delicate shoulders.
“I’d love to hear some.” Theo stood tongue-tied, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet.
Paulinus stepped forward, taking both by the elbow. “Perhaps this is too public a place.” He led them to an alcove shaded by a fig tree. “Sit here and get acquainted. I’ll send the servant.”
Theo didn’t notice Paulinus’ exit. He barely heard Athenais’ next remark from the blood roaring in his ears. “Uh, what did you say?”
“I asked where you had been earlier. You’re dressed for riding.” Athenais’ blue eyes sparkled.
“Inspecting the troops. It’s my responsibility, you know.” Theo wanted to bite off his tongue as the words came out of his mouth. She’ll think you a pompous ass, you fool!
He caught a whiff of sweat and horses. Oh, God, I stink!
He nearly got up to run out, but the servant appeared with goblets. Theo grabbed one to gulp. Now she thinks you are a drunk, you lackwit! He set the goblet aside, took a deep breath.
Athenais smiled and his heart nearly stopped. “I’ve always admired people who learned to ride. I’m afraid my exercise is confined to walking and wielding a pen.”
“I enjoy riding, but I find wielding a pen to be more satisfying. Some of my friends call me ‘the calligrapher.’”
“How delightful! What do you copy?”
“Mostly ancient texts. Some Holy Fathers, some historians.” Theo’s breathing slowed as he talked about his favorite hobby.
“I’d love to see your work sometime.”
“I’d love to show you.” He nearly lost himself again in her blue eyes. A horrible thought surfaced. “Are you visiting your uncle? For how long?”
Her face fell into sorrowful lines. “My father died last year. Uncle Asclepiodotus and Aunt Doria were kind enough to take me in.”
Though his heart soared at the news she would not be leaving soon, he recognized the grief of her loss. “I’m so sorry to have invoked painful memories.”
“I miss him very much.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “My mother died when I was quite young, and he was both father and mother to me.”
Theo heard a raucous squawk behind him.
Athenais looked up, startled. Then a smile lit up her face. “Olympiodorus has brought out his pet parrot. He is most amusing and can sing in several languages. I like when he dances.”
“Then, by all means, let us go watch this wondrous bird.” Theo stood, held out his hand, and accompanied Athenais back to the grape arbor.
Paulinus assured him later the parrot put on quite a show. Theo could only remember Athenais’ blue eyes and laughing smiles.
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April 25, 2021
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger Two Fatherlands Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #WW2 #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @ckalyna @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to feature Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from April 19th – April 30th, 2021. Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is the author of the historical fiction (WW2) novel, Two Fatherlands (The Reschen Valley Series Part 4) which was released by Inktreks/Lucyk-Berger Publisher on April 13, 2021 (636 pages).
Below are highlights of Two Fatherlands, Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger’s author biography, and an excerpt of her book.
Highlights: Two Fatherlands
Two Fatherlands
The Reschen Valley Series (Part 4)
by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger
It’s a dangerous time to be a dissident…
1938. Italy. Since saving Angelo Grimani’s life 18 years earlier, Katharina is grappling with how their lives have since been entwined. Construction on the Reschen Lake reservoir begins and the Reschen Valley community is torn apart into two fronts – those who want to stay no matter what comes, and those who hold out hope that Hitler will bring Tyrol back into the fold.
Back in Bolzano, Angelo finds one fascist politician who may have the power to help Katharina and her community, but there is a group of corrupt players eager to have a piece of him. When they realise that Angelo and Katharina are joining forces, they turn to a strategy of conquering and dividing to weaken both the community and Angelo’s efforts.
Meanwhile, the daughter Angelo shares with Katharina – Annamarie – has fled to Austria to pursue her acting career but the past she is running away from lands her directly into the arms of a new adversary: the Nazis. She goes as far as Berlin, and as far as Goebbels, to pursue her dreams, only to realise that Germany is darker than any place she’s been before.
Angelo puts aside his prejudices and seeks alliances with old enemies; Katharina finds ingenious ways to preserve what is left of her community, and Annamarie wrests herself from the black forces of Nazism with plans to return home. But when Hitler and Mussolini present the Tyroleans with “The Option”, the residents are forced to choose between Italian and German nationhood with no guarantee that they will be able to stay in Tyrol at all!
Out of the ruins of war, will they be able to find their way back to one another and pick up the pieces?
This blockbuster finale will keep readers glued to the pages. Early readers are calling it, “…engrossing”, “…enlightening” and “…both a heartbreaking and uplifting end to this incredible series!”
Buy Links:
Universal Link • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Indigo • Kobo • iBooks • Mondadori • Angus & Robertson
Author Bio: Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is an American author living in Austria. Her focus is on historical fiction. She has been a managing editor for a magazine publishing house, has worked as an editor, and has won several awards for her travel narrative, flash fiction and short stories. She lives with her husband in a “Grizzly Adams” hut in the Alps, just as she’d always dreamt she would when she was a child.
Social Media Links:
Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn • Goodreads • Amazon Author Page • BookBub
Excerpt: Two FatherlandsChapter 1Graun, April 1938
Katharina was fixing the wiring on the chicken coop when she heard the gunfire. From below the ridge, surprised shrieks, like panicked birds startled from the brush. A second shot. Silence.
By the time she came around to the front of the house, Manuel appeared at the top of the road, furiously pushing the bicycle pedals. Even from a distance, she saw the way her youngest son’s face was pulled tight with sorrow. Bernd and he had been racing up and down the farm road, cheering one another on as they took turns with the bicycle. It had been a scene of peace and unity, of a normalcy so distant these last months that it nearly made everything all right again. Surely, Katharina thought, that squealing had simply come from something Florian had not properly oiled. Manuel was probably distressed because he thought he might have broken the old contraption.
Before he reached the barnyard, Manuel jumped off and dropped the bicycle to the ground—exactly what his father had told him not to do—before throwing himself on Katharina.
“Mutti! They shot Hildi!”
“Who did?” But before Manuel could name the Italian police guards, Katharina was already running for the ridge.
Behind her, a tool clattered in the workshop, where Florian was mending the pushcart wheel, but she did not stop to see whether her husband was on her heels. She had to reach the carabinieri before they hurt anyone else.
At last sight, Katharina had seen Hildi’s black-and-white tail swinging wildly in circles as she had chased after Bernd on the bicycle. Hildi—God knew how much Bernd loved that dog—had kept up with him, but not because she’d been on a lead. Bernd must have removed it.
When she reached the scene, a policeman was fastening handcuffs onto Bernd. Her son’s head drooped over his heaving chest. Katharina rushed at the two policemen, intent on pulling her son out of their grips, but at the sight of the prostrate dog in the field, she pulled up short and covered her mouth.
“Sentite, è davvero necessario?” she demanded. Was this necessary?
Florian now pushed towards the carabinieri, hands up. “Vi prego, he’s upset about the dog.”
“Yes,” Katharina reasoned with the smaller policeman, “you’ve shot his dog. Naturally he’s upset.”
With a crushed expression, Bernd looked down at Hildi, then up at Katharina. He wrenched himself from the policemen’s hold. There were always two of them: one to read and one to write—that was the joke. By the way they gripped Katharina’s son again and shook him into stillness, however, these two made it clear they were not joking.
“He came after us,” the shorter one replied, indignant. “He’s not allowed to strike at the police.” To Bernd, he added, “You know that. This is not the first time you’ve crossed the line of the law.”
Katharina started again, as did Florian, the two of them talking over each other.
“Don’t you dare beg them,” Bernd growled in German. Behind those eyes—so much like his great-grandfather’s had been—anger flared dark blue.
The policemen swung Bernd to the road and marched him towards town.
Katharina rushed for her boy, but Florian pulled her back. She twisted out of her husband’s grip, his interference making it all the more urgent that she fight harder. She grabbed the first policeman by the arm and pleaded again for Bernd’s release.
“Please! Fine us. The dog should have been on a lead, I know. We’ll pay whatever you want. Just don’t take my son to Captain Basso.”
The man’s expression wavered. “Signora Steinhauser, my mother is a lioness too. I’ll tell you what I tell her: you cannot fix everything for your children. Bernd is old enough to take responsibility for his actions, for his life.”
Katharina glared at him.
“Take the dog,” the presumptuous policeman said. “Bury it. Then come to the station and pick up your son. But only after he has learned his lesson.”
Florian came to her side and muttered something, but she wasn’t listening. She watched the two carabinieri stride off with her son still defiant between them. Florian then marched back up the road and to the farm.
Katharina followed her husband, Manuel, at her side. Only a few weeks ago, the authorities had fetched Florian in the middle of the night. He’d undergone questioning—questioning that had chilled Katharina. Captain Basso had made it clear that the authorities had information about the family, information that Katharina and Florian had carefully kept from the boys. Florian said Basso had seemed disappointed, angry even, that Florian had not reacted more surprised or vehement about Basso’s knowledge. Katharina could easily imagine the police captain would break open the truth to Bernd.
By the time she reached the top of the road, Florian had disappeared into the workshop. He returned with his hat.
“I’ll take care of this,” he said.
“I’m coming with you.”
He put a hand against her shoulder before she could move into the house. “Stay here.” He indicated the ridge. “You and Manuel should bury Hildi. I’ll come back with Bernd.”
“I want to go with you.”
“You offered to pay a fine. I’m going to need the emergency money.”
It wasn’t just Hildi running around without a lead. Accosting a carabinieri was a serious matter. Bernd could be sent to prison, as far as to Bolzano, unless they could pay. Katharina knew Vincenzo Basso well enough to know they could never pay enough to keep him quiet. He’d had his reasons for testing Florian. Divide et impera. Divide and conquer. That was Basso’s tactic. His and the other Fascists’.
“I’ll get the tin.” Katharina went into the house.
Above the stove, tucked away in the alcove, was the container of matches and the extra lire they’d saved for a rainy day. Florian would also need Bernd’s papers. She took the tin into the sitting room with her and pulled open the drawer of the writing credenza, removed the envelope with all their documents, and found Bernd’s. Before she put the envelope back, she noticed the edge of a picture frame sticking out from between old letters and newspaper clippings. Puzzled, she reached for it and then remembered. She dropped her hand.
That frame was empty now. It had once held the photo of Annamarie dressed in her blue-gingham smock and a white blouse. Katharina recalled the beginning of her daughter’s smile, the reason for it. Manuel and Bernd had dashed out, dressed up in capes and silly hats, swinging wooden swords and trying to get their older sister to laugh over made-up rhymes. Beyond that moment—beyond that photo—Katharina remembered her daughter’s eyes yearning for something far away, remembered how that child loved to run, bounding through the fields, abandoning her chores. How many times had that girl scorched the milk? She remembered her daughter’s crushed expression, the shame on Annamarie’s face, the day she’d returned from Bolzano, hoping for forgiveness. Instead, it was Katharina who had begged to be forgiven, and denied it.
Annamarie. She was in Innsbruck, across the border now, leaving Katharina and Florian to wrestle with the past, with the lies that had compounded over the years and that Annamarie had learned about in the most heartbreaking revelation.
The frame was empty, the photo in Angelo Grimani’s possession. Katharina had pleaded with him to search for their daughter, to be more than a politician and to finally take responsibility. He’d returned empty handed, remorseful, and far too late.
She stuffed the envelope into the drawer and slammed it shut, angry now. At the carabinieri. At Bernd. At the dog. At Florian for refurbishing the cursed bicycle. At herself, most of all, for all that she had managed to undo in the last year.
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April 22, 2021
Welcome to Day 10 of #RRBC’S ’20 WC&BE SPONSORS BLOG TOUR! @RRBC_Org @enigmaseries
It is my pleasure to feature co-authors, Charles V. Breakfield and Roxanne E. Burkey [Breakfield and Burkey], on Day 10 as part of the RRBC’S ’20 WC&BE SPONSORS BLOG TOUR. They are the co-authors of the techno-thriller, The Enigma Wraith (Book 4 The Enigma Series).
Below are highlights of The Enigma Wraith, a trailer of this book, and the co-author biographies of Breakfield and Burkey.
HIGHTLIGHTS: THE ENIGMA WRAITH
Destructive code from the darknet is holding cities, banks, and power grids hostage!
A mysterious pair of cyber pirates, known as Mephisto and Callisto, launch a plot to deliver destructive software payloads for computer domination. Their agenda looks like blackmail for financial gain, but their true goals are far more menacing and devastating.
Random events at a hydroelectric plant, a financial institution, and a winery seem connected by an insidious virus hack attacking system vulnerabilities. This wraith strikes then vanishes without a trace.
Are these all a glimpse of the new viral danger of the Ghost Code designed for mass devastation everywhere on the globe?
In an intriguing game of digital cat and mouse with assassins from the Darknet has R-Group’s technology experts, Jacob, Petra, and Quip, pitted against their most nefarious enemies to date. Stretching their considerable talents to the max, they struggle to track down the source of the Ghost Code and craft a solution that will secure global technology infrastructure.
Purchase Link:
BOOK TRAILERCO-AUTHORS BIO: BREAKFIELD AND BURKEY
The award-winning authors, Breakfield and Burkey, serve up yet another captivating techno-thriller. They blend real technology laced with travel, romance, and humor to fight the cyber pirates and defeat the looming catastrophe.
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Thank you for supporting the books and authors along the RRBC ’20 WC&BE SPONSORS BLOG TOUR! These authors are generous in their support of others so we want to show our support of them in return. You may follow along each day of the tour by visiting the tour’s home page. Be sure to leave a comment below to ensure that you have a chance at winning a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
April 18, 2021
KAREN HEENAN AUTHOR OF SONGBIRD THE COFFEE POT BOOK CLUB BLOG TOUR #HistoricalFiction #Tudor #Songbird #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @karen_heenan @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to feature Karen Heenan as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from April 12th – April 23rd, 2021. Karen Heenan is the author of the historical fiction novel, Songbird (The Tudor Court Series, Book I) which was released by Authors4Authors Publishing Cooperative on November 3, 2019 (300 pages).
Below are highlights of Songbird, Karen Heenan’s author biography, and my 5-star review of her book.
HIGHLIGHTS: SONGBIRD
SONGBIRD
(The Tudor Court, Book I)
By Karen Heenan
She has the voice of an angel…
But one false note could send her back to her old life of poverty.
After her father sells her to Henry VIII, ten-year-old Bess builds a new life as a royal minstrel, and earns the nickname “the king’s songbird.”
She comes of age in the dangerous Tudor court, where the stakes are always high, and where politics, heartbreak, and disease threaten everyone from the king to the lowliest musician.
Her world has only one constant: Tom, her first and dearest friend. But when Bess intrigues with Anne Boleyn and strains against the restrictions of life at court, will she discover that the biggest risk of all is listening to her own stubborn heart?
The e-book of Songbird has been reduced to £0.99 [$0.99 USA; $1.49 Canada] during this promotion.
Buy Links Books:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Barnes and Noble • Kobo
Audiobook Buy Links:
Audible • Authors Direct • Nook • Hoopla • Apple Books • Kobo • Scribd • Google Play • Amazon
AUTHOR BIO: KAREN HEENAN
Karen Heenan was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She fell in love with books and stories before she could read, and has wanted to write for nearly as long. After far too many years in a cubicle, she set herself free to follow her dreams—which include gardening, sewing, traveling and, of course, lots of writing.
She lives in Lansdowne, PA, not far from Philadelphia, with two cats and a very patient husband, and is always hard at work on her next book.
Connect with Karen:
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest • Book Bub • Amazon • Goodreads
BOOK REVIEW: SONGBIRD (THE TUDOR COURT, BOOK 1)Rating: 5 of 5 stars
The opening sentence in Songbird by Karen Heenan immediately sets the dark tone of Renaissance England and hooks you into the story: Two days before my tenth birthday, my father sold me to the King of England. The historical novel, Songbird (The Tudor Court, Book 1), is set in the backdrop of King Henry VIII’s court and has an element of romance. The story begins when Bethan’s impoverished father presents her to King Henry VIII to audition for an elite group of singers and musicians that entertain the court. A young musician, Tom, offers to accompany her on a string instrument to help her relax as she sings and brings out the quality of her singing voice. The courtiers hush as she sings like a songbird, more to the young musician for whom she feels an instant connection. Her father relinquishes Bethan at a high price to the King. Tom shows her kindness and helps her to adjust to a new family of minstrels at the court. He gives her the pseudonym Bess Llewelyn, more befitting of her Welsh background. The story spans from her coming-of-age teen years to her maturation as an adult. She is caught up in the decadence of courtly life and the lure of passion, dismissing Tom’s strong feelings for her. Consequences of past and present reckless liaisons collide when Beth must come to terms with her place in life and relationships.
Author Karen Heenan is a gifted storyteller who has written a spelling-binding novel from the first-person perceptive of Bethan, a musical servant behind the scenes in the King’s court. Bethan’s underlying beauty, similar to Anne Boleyn enthralls men. Impetuous, she often lives for the moment and gives no thought to how her reckless action and words affect others. Devastated by her father’s abandonment, Bethan struggles to understand how she fits in the world. I particularly empathize with Tom, whose mother, a prostitute, sells him as a choir boy to the King. Losing his boyish voice at a young age, Tom has to play an instrument and compose music to remain at court. He is Betha’s soulmate, always there to support and advise her. But she dismisses his loyalty and feelings in pursuit of loftier passions. Yet, he has limits on what he will accept from her unrequited love.
Though the novel centers around Beth and Tom, you can also get caught up in the lives of memorable secondary characters. It reminds me somewhat of the Downtown Abbey series that shows the lives of both the aristocratic family members and their servants. Although there is a romantic component to the story, it also explores the consequences of social inequities and injustices forced on children born out of wedlock due to reckless dalliances of nobles with women beneath their status. This theme parallels the national consequences from King Henry’s break with tradition to divorce Queen Catherine of Aragon in favor of marrying Anne Boleyn.
Songbird is a multi-layered story that weaves in various characters and their sub-plots into a tapestry rich with themes of love, revenge, coming-of-age, perseverance, and redemption. For the most part, the writing style, descriptions, and pacing are eloquent and lyrical like a song. One example of a unique and vivid description is how Beth perceives the King when she first meets him as follows: The giant was immense, and from his bright hair to the tissue-like fabric that made up his costume, he seemed to be fashion entirely of gold. A memorable quote that resonated with me is as follows: A cat may look at a king, but it upsets the natural order of things when the King looks at the cat.
Songbird by Karen Heenan is a richly-layered story with engaging, memorable characters that will keep a reader turning the pages to find out what happens next. It is a journey back in time to Renaissance England with universal themes of love, self-discovery, and redemption relevant to modern times. Highly Recommended.
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April 14, 2021
Josephine Greenland Embers Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #YoungAdult #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @greenland_jm @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to feature Josephine Greenland as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from March 18 – May 20, 2021. Josephine Greenland is the author of the Young Adult / Crime / Mystery novel, Embers, which was released by Unbound Publisher on 4 March 2021 (336 pages).
Below are highlights of Embers, Josephine Greenland’s author biography, and her inspiration behind writing the book.
HIGHLIGHTS: EMBERS
Embers
by Josephine Greenland
Two siblings, one crime. One long-buried secret.
17-year-old Ellen never wanted a holiday. What is there to do in a mining town in the northernmost corner of the country, with no one but her brother Simon – a boy with Asperger’s and obsessed with detective stories – for company?
Nothing, until they stumble upon a horrifying crime scene that brings them into a generations-long conflict between the townspeople and the native Sami. When the police dismiss Simon’s findings, he decides to track down the perpetrator himself. Ellen reluctantly helps, drawn in by a link between the crime and the siblings’ own past. What started off as a tedious holiday soon escalates into a dangerous journey through hatred, lies and self-discovery that makes Ellen question not only the relationship to her parents, but also her own identity.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Waterstones • UK Bookshop
AUTHOR BIO: JOSEPHINE GREENLAND
Josephine is a Swedish-British writer from Sweden, currently working as an English teacher in Edinburgh. She has a BA in English from the University of Exeter, and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham. She started writing novels at the age of nine, but only began writing seriously in English while at university, for her first creative writing course (2015). Since then, she’s had 14 short stories published, won two competitions and been shortlisted twice. Embers is her first novel, inspired by her travels in northern Sweden with her brother, and was her dissertation project for her MA. When not writing, she enjoys playing music, jogging, hiking, and discussing literature with her cat.
Social Media Links:
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Guest Post: The Inspiration Behind Your Book
Sammi Flag
There are two main points of inspiration that first triggered me to write Embers back in 2017, during an Arvon writing retreat in Devon, England. The first is the true crime that took place not far from the mining town where my brother and I stayed in northern Sweden during our interrailing holiday the same year. Two teenaged girls discovered a circle of reindeer bodies (decapitated and with their legs chopped off) laid out almost in a ritualistic fashion, in the forest. The culprit was never found. I was shocked and horrified by the gruesomeness of the crime and that anyone in their right mind could commit such an act. This opened my eyes to the hate crime committed against the Sami – the indigenous population of northern Scandinavia and Russia who traditionally made a living out of reindeer herding. I watched two documentaries on Youtube; one by the investigative journalism programme Cold Facts (Kalla Fakta) which discussed the various crimes that reindeer herders have to put up with on a daily basis, and one about the general life of the forest Sami who keep their reindeer in the woods all year round (rather than going up into the mountains during summer), and how their lifestyle is being affected by the forest, infrastructure and iron ore industries.
Shaman Drug
Sun Symbol
The other point of inspiration, which gives the novel its mystic character, is Sami folklore. Intrigued by the ritual circle the reindeer bodies had been laid out in the crime, I researched ritual sites and came across the concept of a seit – a holy place – and the shaman drum (which is featured on the book’s front cover, etched into the forest landscape). The drum was traditionally used to predict the future, and featured a map of the cosmos, with the sun in its centre. As is uncovered later in the novel, the sun and its role in Sami religion become of key significance. The symbol, a form of a cross, is also featured in the title on the book cover. The mystical aspect to the crime also impacts the relationship between the siblings. As Ellen and Simon investigate the reindeer killing, they uncover a link to their own Sami heritage from their grandfather, and between the crime scene and Sami folklore. While Ellen is keen to pursue this lead, Simon dismisses it as a distraction from the main investigation.
As well as these two features, the general landscape of northern Sweden with the mountains and the forest was also a key inspiration, as it inspired the depictions of the setting in my novel, and also the dark, brooding, mystic atmosphere.
Lappland Gate
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April 7, 2021
Virginia Crow The Year We Lived Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #TheYearWeLived #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub
It is my pleasure to feature Virginia Crow as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from April 5th – April 17th, 2021. Virginia Crow is the author of the historical fiction novel, The Year We Lived, which will be released by CrowvusPublisher on April 10, 2021 (350 pages).
Below are highlights of The Year We Lived, Virginia Crow’s author biography, and an excerpt from the book.
The Year We Lived
by Virginia Crow
It is 1074, 8 years after the fateful Battle of Hastings. Lord Henry De Bois is determined to find the secret community of Robert, an Anglo-Saxon thane. Despite his fervour, all his attempts are met with failure.
When he captures Robert’s young sister, Edith, events are set in motion, affecting everyone involved. Edith is forced into a terrible world of cruelty and deceit, but finds friendship there too.
Will Robert ever learn why Henry hates him so much? Will Edith’s new-found friendships be enough to save her from De Bois? And who is the mysterious stranger in the reedbed who can disappear at will?
A gripping historical fiction with an astonishing twist!
Order Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU • Barnes and Noble • Waterstones • Kobo • Smashwords • Crowvus
Author Bio: Virginia Crow
Virginia grew up in Orkney, using the breath-taking scenery to fuel her imagination and the writing fire within her. Her favourite genres to write are fantasy and historical fiction, sometimes mixing the two together such as her newly-published book “Caledon”. She enjoys swashbuckling stories such as the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and is still waiting for a screen adaption that lives up to the book!
When she’s not writing, Virginia is usually to be found teaching music, and obtained her MLitt in “History of the Highlands and Islands” last year. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of music, especially as a tool of inspiration. She also helps out with the John O’Groats Book Festival which is celebrating its 3rd year this April.
She now lives in the far flung corner of Scotland, soaking in inspiration from the rugged cliffs and miles of sandy beaches. She loves cheese, music and films, but hates mushrooms.
Social Media Links:
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Publisher • BookBub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
EXCERPT: THE YEAR WE LIVED
All around Robert was the half-light of dappled sunlight. The trees overhead reached high up to the sun, but the scrub of the lower branches obscured his line of vision. There was movement to his left, subtle and subdued, but it was enough to make him turn. He had left the paths hours ago. He only vaguely knew where he was going and how to return to the Hall on the lakeside. But there had been something which had beckoned him further into the forest. Sliding back the bowstring so it was both tense enough to grip and loose enough to avoid strain, he stalked in the direction of the gentle movement.
He had been hunting since he was six, accompanying his father on hunts before he led his own. He knew it was not yet time to be looking for food in the forest, but his heart would not accept such reason. He paused as the sound became louder, and he crouched down so that he was sitting on his haunches. High ferns covered his view, and he waited a moment: he had seen too many hunts lost by impatient huntsmen. Now, he ducked under the low, sprawling branch of an oak and rose to his feet slowly. The forest was thicker here. Dense leafy branches crisscrossed above him, and he took a moment to focus on his prey.
He felt his mouth fall open as his eyes rested on the milky hide of a deer. It did not appear to have noticed him, although its ears pointed forwards and then back at regular intervals. It was rooting through the debris of the forest floor, kicking its hoof to help it forage. It was crowned with elegant antlers and it lifted its head to sniff the air, more like a dog than a deer.
Robert pulled back the string of the bow.
He was about to release the arrow when the stag turned to face him. The large dark-eyed gaze looked alien and wrong in the pale creature and he took in a sharp breath at the peculiar feeling the animal was trying to communicate with him. Spellbound, he lowered the bow as he noticed a bloody scar on the creature’s front quarters. The stag straightened its neck before shaking its head, its ears twitching long after its head was stationary. It continued to hold his gaze before it gave a low, booming roar and trotted into the forest. The wound did not hinder it, and nor did the hunter.
For many seconds, which turned to minutes, Robert stared in the direction the creature had gone. In sixteen years of hunting, he had never seen such an animal. He returned the arrow to his quiver and lowered his bow while he straightened to his full height. Turning, he found he was no longer alone. Sweyn stood there, his expression as dumbfounded as Robert’s own.
“You let it go, Robert.”
“You saw it?” Robert asked, making his voice as clear as he could.
Sweyn nodded. “The creature of the king. Some would say the throne belonged to he who had it.”
“Then, if you saw it, you also let it go. There are times when the hunt will yield the most, though you may return empty-handed.”
Sweyn gave a slight smile and nodded. “You are growing more like your father with every day.”
“I try, Sweyn.” Robert returned his expression with a broad smile. “I will not see our people trampled and forgotten in the surge of Norman inhabitation. That was what drove him to Hastings. It was to protect us.”
“If you fight for the king,” Sweyn said softly, “then you fight for his people. You have never blamed me for his death, Robert, but I was sent to protect him.”
“You were his finest warrior, Sweyn,” Robert sighed, unstringing his bow in the certainty he would not be drawing it again on this hunt. “Now you are mine. But I’m afraid the Normans do not value such skills in combat. Our only way to protect ourselves and our people is to remain unseen and obscure.”
“Then you don’t mean to fight de Bois?” Sweyn asked in disbelief. “What you said to the changeling, I thought you meant to confront de Bois for what he has done to Liebling Edith.”
“I do,” Robert said, displaying none of his inner turmoil. “But it must be on my own lands, not his. I shall fight him from the shadows. I don’t expect you to join me, Sweyn, for it’s almost an assassin’s life.”
“I swore to your father-”
“I know,” Robert interrupted. They walked in silence for a moment before he continued. “Dunstan will help me, Sweyn. He has the skills for this, but not the heart. I have the heart for this but not the skills.”
“You have both, Robert. That I knew how to find you does not mean any Norman would. You do not need the son of a fairy to help you.”
“I trust him.”
There was no room in Robert’s tone for Sweyn to argue and they walked on in silence. They found their voices as they journey back towards the Hall, where it sat wrapped in the safety of forest and marsh, with the huge lake at the foot of the hill to the east. The lake fed the river and the marshes before they, in turn, fed into the mighty sea, across which both Robert’s mother and enemy had come. He walked most days down to the side of the lake and would stare out across its calm surface, seeking its depths as it reflected the heavens and wishing he knew the extents of these things, contemplating how they corresponded to himself. Was he always to skate the surface of the world, questioning what depths he could reach while he stared, dreaming of heaven?
With a renewed spring in his step, he left the Hall and collected his long fishing spear, walking out in the direction of the lake.
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April 5, 2021
Apollo’s Raven Book 2021 Excellence Award Winner for Fantasy
I am incredibly excited to announce that I have been recognized as a Book Excellence Award Winner for my novel, Apollo’s Raven (Book 1: Curse of Clansmen and Kings), in the Fantasy Category.
Out of hundreds of books that were entered into the Book Excellence Awards competition, my book was selected for its high-quality writing, design, and overall market appeal.
To view my complete award listing, you can visit: Award Listing
Apollo’s Raven was released in 2017, and it is about a dark prophecy that threatens the fates of a Celtic warrior princess and her people. She must find a way to break the curse but is torn with her forbidden love for the Roman enemy and loyalty to her family and kingdom. The award-winning epic tale sweeps you into sorcery, political intrigue, and betrayal in Ancient Rome and Britannia.
The book is perfect for adult readers who love the mixed genre of Historical Fiction / Fantasy similar to Game of Throne, Outlander, and Mists of Avalon.
You can get a copy for yourself at:
I greatly appreciate everyone’s support in my journey as an author.
Best regards,
Linnea Tanner
March 31, 2021
H D Coulter Book Title: Ropewalk: Rebellion. Love. Survival The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #Ropewalk #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @coulter_hd @maryanneyarde
FEATURED AUTHOR: H D COULTER
It is my pleasure to feature H D Coulter as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from March 22 – April 2, 2021. H D Coulter is the author of the historical fiction novel, Ropewalk: Rebellion. Love. Survival [The Ropewalk Series (Book 1)], which was independently released by the author on 23 November 2020 (243 pages).
Below are highlights of Ropewalk: Rebellion. Love. Survival, H D Coulter’s author biography, and her inspiration behind writing the book.
HIGHLIGHTS: ROPEWALK: REBELLION. LOVE. SURVIVAL
ROPEWALK: REBELLION. LOVE. SURVIVAL
The Ropewalk Series (Book 1)
by H D Coulter
The North of England, 1831.
The working class are gathering. Rebellion is stirring, and the people are divided.
Beatrice Lightfoot, a young woman fighting her own personal rebellion, is looking for an opportunity to change her luck. When she gains the attention of the enigmatic Captain Hanley, he offers her a tantalising deal to attend the May Day dance. She accepts, unaware of the true price of her own free will.
Her subsequent entanglement with Joshua Mason, the son of a local merchant, draws all three into a destructive and dangerous relationship, which threatens to drag Beatrice, and all she knows into darkness.
Now, Beatrice must choose between rebellion, love and survival before all is lost, and the Northern uprising changes her world forever.
The e-book of Ropewalk: Rebellion. Love. Survival has been reduced to £0.99 during this promotion. Signed copies of the paperbacks are available at Hayley’s website – https://hdcoulter.com/
Buy Links:
Amazon UK ∗ Amazon US ∗ Universal Link to Other Bookshops
COMING SOON!
SAVING GRACE: DECEPTION. OBSESSION. REDEMPTION
The Ropewalk Series (Book 2)
by H D Coulter
Beacon Hill, Boston. 1832.
“You are innocent. You are loved. You are mine.”
After surviving the brutal attack and barely escaping death at Lancaster Castle, Beatrice Mason attempts to build a new life with her husband Joshua across the Atlantic in Beacon Hill. But, as Beatrice struggles to cope with the pregnancy and vivid nightmares, she questions whether she is worthy of redemption.
Determined to put the past behind her after the birth of her daughter Grace, Bea embraces her newfound roles of motherhood and being a wife. Nevertheless, when she meets Sarah Bateman, their friendship draws Bea towards the underground abolitionist movement, despite the dangerous secrets it poses. Whilst concealed in the shadows, Captain Victor Hanley returns, obsessed with revenge and the desire to lay claim to what is his, exposes deceptions and doubts as he threatens their newly established happiness.
Now, Beatrice must find the strength to fight once more and save Grace, even if it costs her life.
Preorder Links:
Amazon UK ∗ Amazon US ∗ Universal Link to Other Bookshops:
AUTHOR BIO: H D CoulterHayley was born and raised in the lake district and across Cumbria. From a young age, Hayley loved learning about history, visiting castles and discovering local stories from the past. Hayley and her partner lived in Ulverston for three years and spent her weekends walking along the Ropewalk and down by the old harbour. She became inspired by the spirit of the area and stories that had taken place along the historic streets.
As a teacher, Hayley had loved the art of storytelling by studying drama and theatre. The power of the written word, how it can transport the reader to another world or even another time in history. But it wasn’t until living in Ulverston did she discover a story worth telling. From that point, the characters became alive and she fell in love with the story.
Social Media Links:
What was the inspiration behind Ropewalk?
I’d first like to thank Linnea Tanner for inviting me to guest post during the blog tour for Ropewalk: Rebellion. Love. Survival.
I am constantly inspired by history, discovering parts of the past I didn’t know about and fuelling the fire to research.
‘You don’t know where you are going until you know where you have been.’
I find it fascinating to look back and research into certain time frames and how someone can discover additional evidence, and it changes the whole narrative of what we thought about that time. But it also reflects how important story telling is, from a painting on the cave walls, to Mr Peeps diaries in 1500s, to plays and novels. A modern reflection of life for the author, but to us it varies from an idealistic view of the world to a realistic observation.
My first love would be from novelists around 1800s, who give a snippet of life during that time. A handful of novels have had an affected on me; ‘North and South’, ‘Persuasion’, ‘Jane Eyre’, ‘Far from the madding crowd’, and ‘Jamaica Inn.’ I find myself consumed by the world the novelist created, believing I know the characters as if I have had umpteen conversations with them. Or I’ve been inspired by the historical novelist in today’s publishing market in the way of Philippa Gregory, Kate Mosse, and Diane Setterfield to name a few.
However, Ropewalk didn’t manifest in my mind’s eyes until one night I had a dream of a woman called Beatrice and a man called Joshua. When I woke the dream was still there and I could replay scenes as if I had watched a film the night before. Over the next couple of days and weeks, the more I walked around Ulverston, the people became real. I researched the Ropewalk, feeling drawn to it at the weekend, then the canal followed by the time frame and the social injustice. I researched it to the point the characters became flesh and blood. When I walked down Market street, it wasn’t 2014 (the year I started the novel); it was 1831.
I plotted out the story as I would do breaking down a play or beats in a film. I would imagine the scene and the characters in my head, describing the tiny details as I zoomed in and out. For me as a writer, the most important aspect to a novel is that it feels natural in events, dialogue, action and reaction. Beatrice’s background: she is a young woman who lives with her parents in a small hamlet with her five younger brothers and sisters. They run a growing business, but she helps to bring in extra money by creating lace to sell whilst attending a small vegetable patch, a cow, catching rabbits and other animals in snares. It has taught her to live off the land when money is tight, but despite that, she has a fire inside of her to helping others, dreams of adventures and escaping. That is her baseline, her norm, so what happens after that point needs to be a natural reaction, especially if you add several dynamics which take place to turn her world upside down. That is something which drew me to the novels listed above. The situations, the place, and characters in the novels seem realistic. How Jane Eyre sees the same kindred spirit in herself as in Mr Rochester and how he longs for her innocence compared to his wife’s insanity. Or North and South, the comparison between the gentry and the poor, the industrial town and the countryside, the fight the workers display against the leisure of the rich and so on.
The research led me to the Reformers and the power they were gaining in the north. How over the course of 50 years Ulverston became an industrial port compared to its quiet past. It was a contender for trade bringing factories, mills, gentry and the poor. Then after 50 years the railroad arrived, linking in Barrow port to the fells and across the sands to Lancaster, avoiding Ulverston and the need for the canal.
Each of the principal characters represents an element that was happening in the country. Bob Lightfoot, the ropemaker, which was a cottage industry, fought for his rights, like so many of his childhood friends working the mills, shipyards, canal. Beatrice Lightfoot, having her father’s spirit, dreamt of change but is oppressed by the conformity of the time and societal class division. Joshua Mason, the son of a local merchant who became gentry and part of the family who built the canal, sees the plight of the workers thanks to Beatrice. Captain Hanley is a complex character, a sailor like so many men passing through Ulverston and effected from past trading routes including the slave trade, becomes obsessed with Beatrice. Whilst Ulverston itself, the nucleus for change but unable to cope with the demand. These threads come together during a volatile period and form the complex tapestry of Ropewalk.
Instagram: @coffeepotbookclub
March 25, 2021
Renee Yancy The Test of Gold Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalRomance #TheTestOfGold #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @YancyRenee @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to feature Renee Yancy as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held from March 15th – March 26th 2021. Renee Yancy is the author of the Historical Romance, The Test of Gold (Hearts of Gold, Book 1), which was released by Vinspire Publishing on March 15, 2021 (335 pages).
Below are highlights of The Test of Gold, Renee Yancy’s biography, and an excerpt from her book.
HIGHLIGHTS: THE TEST OF GOLD
The Test of Gold
(Hearts of Gold, Book 1)
By Renee Yancy
Raised in the shadow of a mother who defied convention, but won’t allow her own daughter the right to make the same choices, heiress Evangeline Lindenmayer has been groomed since childhood to marry into the British aristocracy.
When Lindy challenges her mother’s long-laid plans by falling in love with a poor seminary student, the explosion is bigger than the Brooklyn Bridge fireworks on Independence Day.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes and Noble
AUTHOR BIO: RENEE YANCY
Renee Yancy is a history and archaeology nut who writes the kind of historical fiction she loves to read – stories filled with historical detail that immerse you in another place and time. When she isn’t writing historical fiction or traveling to see the places her characters have lived, she can be found in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband and two rescue mutts named Ellie and Charlie.
Connect with Renee:
Website • Twitter • Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • Pinterest • Book Bub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
EXCERPT: THE TEST OF GOLD
April 1897, New York City
Evangeline Lindenmayer slipped through the marble halls toward her favorite room at 660 Fifth Avenue. Somehow the library had escaped the lavish attention to detail Mama and her architect had opulently bestowed on the other 149 rooms in the chateau.
The massive oak doors opened on well-oiled hinges, and the papery scent of books and leather enveloped Lindy. Sunlight streamed through the leaded glass windows and sparked off the gold lettering on the book spines. Her shoulders relaxed, and she gave a contented sigh. Such riches! In a lifetime, she could never read all the books here.
Her copy of Robinson Crusoe lay in the overstuffed chair where she’d left it the previous afternoon. Her mother had summoned her just as Robinson had been enslaved by a Moorish pirate. And one didn’t disobey Vera Lindenmayer. Lindy had waited all day to discover his fate. Curling in the chair, she lost herself in seventeenth-century Africa.
Sometime later, she closed the book and sighed. “Is all well?” A tousled blond head peeked over the back of a leather Chesterfield sofa, and then a young man sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“Oh!” Lindy dropped the book and sprang to her feet, her hand at her throat. “Who might you be? What are you doing here?”
The man stood hastily and clutched a book against his black frockcoat. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I must have fallen asleep.”
“You did startle me, sir. And an unwelcome shock it was too!”
He reddened and took a step back. “Please forgive me. My name is Jack Winthrop.” He glanced at the bookshelves. “Mr. Lindenmayer has kindly offered me the use of his excellent library while I’m studying for the ministry at Union Theological Seminary.” He gulped and ran a finger around his collar.
“Oh.” That sounds like Papa, with his tender heart.
“I’m also taking classes at Columbia, where the new anthropology department has recently opened.”
Lindy’s mouth fell open. Not one but two colleges. Does the fellow even know how fortunate he was? Oh, to have been born a man. It isn’t fair.
“Please accept my heartfelt apologies for startling you, Miss…”
“Lindenmayer. Evangeline Lindenmayer.”
“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Lindenmayer.”
“Winthrop, you said? Are you related to Reverend Joseph Winthrop at St. Thomas?”
The young man nodded. “He is my uncle.”
Lindy examined him a moment. The edges of his sleeves were shabby and his blond hair a trifle too long, falling over his collar, but something undeniably attractive about him telegraphed itself to her. “I recognize you now. You usually sit at the back of the church.”
Mr. Winthrop nodded. “That’s right.” He retrieved his hat off the sofa. “I’ll be going now. Sorry to intrude.”
Lindy laughed. He looks like a dog caught with the Sunday roast in his paws. “Don’t leave, Mr. Winthrop, you won’t be disturbing anyone. The only books Papa reads concern the care and breeding of horses, and my mother never comes in here. I’m the only one who frequents it with regularity. But aren’t you going to be frightfully busy with classes at two different colleges?”
His face brightened. “I thrive on it, actually. It’s a great privilege to attend both the university and the seminary. My uncle has generously made it possible.”
“Do you have other family besides your uncle?”
“My mother.”
“I don’t believe I’ve seen her with you.”
A shadow darkened his face. “She isn’t well. Not strong enough to attend the service on Sunday morning.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. And your father?”
Mr. Winthrop smiled faintly. “My father died when I was seven, and Uncle Winthrop took us in. My father was his younger brother.” He crossed the distance between them and plucked her book off the floor. “Allow me.” He glanced at the title before he handed it to her. “What did you think of Mr. Crusoe’s adventures?”
My, he’s tall. Lindy sank onto her chair as a qualm went through her middle. Mama would have a conniption if she knew a man like Jack Winthrop was given permission to use the library. Having a conversation with a man Lindy hadn’t been officially introduced to wasn’t done in society circles. But he’s not exactly in my social class, and he did introduce himself. Quite nicely at that. And I’m seldom able to discuss books with anyone. She pushed the thought of her mother firmly out of her head. “Won’t you sit down, Mr. Winthrop?”
March 19, 2021
#RRBC #MARCH” SPOTLIGHT” #Author, Robbie Cheadle @bakeandwrite @RRBC_Org #RRBCSA
It is my pleasure to feature the South African author, Robbie Cheadle, as part of the #RRBC #MARCH” SPOTLIGHT” #Author blog tour. Robbie Cheadle is the author of Open a New Door: A Collection of Poems. Below is her guest blog, youtube reading, book blurb, and author bio.
BLOG POST:
A sister is … is my first attempt at a metaphorical poem where every line of the poem compares the opening person or item to something else. I had great fun composing this poem about my sisters and our relationships.
About A sister is …A sister is… is the first metaphorical poem I ever attempted. My son, Gregory, learned about this type of poem at school and I watched him write his one for a school assignment with great interest. My sister’s 40th birthday was approaching at the time and I penned this poem to share at the event. It was a lovely way of expressing the conflicting thoughts and feelings experienced by four sisters.
A sister is …a thief, stealing attention that is rightfully yours;a port in a storm, when your house of cards falls;a fountain of knowledge – your problems, not hers;
a megaphone whose voice is louder than yours;an expert on everything you try for the first time;a comedian who’ll dance and make you laugh till you cry;
a clothes horse, ‘specially when she’s borrowed your clothes;
a home where your children are always welcome;a confidant with whom you share secrets and hopes;
a purse to help you out of a bind;a competitor who always shines brighter than you;
an advisor when your spirit is battered and bruised;a shoulder to cry on when life lets you down;
a beauty queen, who’s face is fairer than yours;a diary of shared memories, the old and the new;
a voice of reason, when yours has taken a day off;a provider of wine, in good times and bad;an embarrassment who recalls your drunken antics;
an artist, who’ll make up your face, if you beg;the best thing anyone could ask for.
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BOOK BLURB:
Open a New Door is a poetic peep into the life of poet, Robbie Cheadle, who lives in South Africa.
The book is divided into four categories: God bless Africa, God bless my family and friends, God bless me and God bless corporates and work. Each part is sub-divided into the good, the bad and the ugly of the two poets’ experiences, presented in rhyming verse, free-style, haiku and tanka, in each of these categories and include colourful depictions of the poet’s thoughts and emotions.
The purpose of this book of poetry is encapsulated in the following tanka and haiku poems:
What drives me to write?
To share my innermost thoughts
The answer is clear
It’s my personal attempt
To make some sense of this world.
Inspiration blossoms
Like the unfurling petals
Of the Desert Rose
AUTHOR BIO:
Roberta Eaton Cheadle has published nine children’s books under the name of Robbie Cheadle. She has branched into writing for adults and young adults and, in order to clearly separate her children’s books from her adult books, is writing for older readers under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. Roberta Eaton Cheadle has published two novels for YA and adult readers and has contributed to seven anthologies.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Robbie Cheadle
Thank you for dropping by to support Robbie along her tour. To follow along with the rest of her 7-day tour, please visit the “SPOTLIGHT” Author forum on the RRBC site and don’t forget to pick up a copy of her book above! Lastly, we ask that you LIKE and SHARE this post, as well as the “SPOTLIGHT” Author page, to your social media, to enhance Robbie’s support!
