RESCUE IN THE WILDERNESS - Andrea Byrd - One Free Book
Welcome to my blog, Andrea. Tell us how much of yourself you write into yourcharacters. In a way, I think it is almost impossible not to allow some ofyour own self to slip into your characters. But often times, my femalecharacters are much more of who I wish I was or could be than who I am myself.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Oh,this one is downright embarrassing. I met one of my favorite authors at awriter’s conference/book festival. My husband had met her and spoken with her,telling her about my books while I was attending the writer’s conference. WhenI came out, he told me about it and that she was interested in my books. Well,I had brought copies of a couple with me… so without introduction or preamble…I walked right up and handed them to her! I think I said something along thelines of, “These are for you.” I was (and still am) so embarrassed and myhusband will never let me live down that moment! Though, we have met the authoragain since then and she was still just as sweet as ever!
When did you first discover that you were a writer? Inmiddle school. In 6th and 7th grade, I had a teacher who helped transform myabsolute disdain of writing into a love of writing. I have been writing eversince.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoyreading. I am a little boring because I mainly read historical ChristianFiction. I especially prefer those set in the 1800s and WWII, but there is somerange outside of that and I read some nonfiction as well.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Sanity?Haha, I am not sure that I do!
How do you choose your characters’ names? I look forhistorically and regionally appropriate names, take names from my own ancestors,and also have the readers in my reader group help.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Outside of my marriage and my family, it would mostdefinitely be becoming a traditionally published author. This has been a dreamof mine for over half my life.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Probablya black bear. Generally quiet and reclusive with a love for nature and berries,but definitely protective of my family.
What is your favorite food? I have been going throughsome dietary changes, so it is difficult to say. But I do especially loveberries, particularly blackberries (both wild and tame).
I love berries, too. What is the problem with writingthat was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Length and complexity.This is an area in which I am still growing and learning but reading Susan MayWarren’s The Story Equation was really pivotal for me. That bookcontained some wonderful information on how to dive deeper with my stories andcharacters.
Tell us about the featured book. William Cole cannot forget the cruel burden he carries, notwith the pock marks that serve as an outward reminder. Riddled with guilt, he assumedthe solitary life of a long hunter, traveling into the wilds of Kentucky eachyear. But his quiet existence is changed in an instant when, sitting in atavern, he overhears a man offering his daughter—and her virtue—to the winnerof the next round of cards. William’s integrity and desire for redemption willnot allow him to sit idly by while such an injustice occurs. Lucinda Gillespie has suffered from an inexplicable illnessher entire life. Her father, embarrassed by her condition, has subjected her toa lonely existence of abuse and confinement. But faced with the ultimatebetrayal on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Lucinda quickly realizes hertrust is better placed in his hands of the mysterious man who appears at herdoor. Especially when he offers her the one thing she never thought would bewithin her grasp—freedom.
In the blink of an eye, both lives change as they begin thedifficult, danger-fraught journey westward on the Wilderness Trail. But canthey overcome their own perceptions of themselves to find love and the life Godcreated them for?
Please give us the first page of the book.
November 11, 1779—ABINGDON, VA
Every fiber of William’s being fought his presence in theroom. His wandering feet itched to feel the soft, uneven terrain of a narrowgame trail. His body craved fresh, untainted air and endless expanses of land,free of the confines of human society. Instead, his moccasin-covered footbounced nervously on a hard wooden floor as he willed himself to remain seatedamong the sweaty, unwashed men as they imbibed spirits.
From his place in the corner of the tavern, he watched theroom from under the brim of the leather hat that never left his head. Just ason the trail, his hazel eyes were ever scanning for danger. The crowd wasunusually raucous—undoubtedly due to the sudden arrival of crisp fall air. Themuscle across the top of William’s shoulders rippled, and the hair on the back ofhis neck stood up, as
How can readers find you on the Internet? The best placeto find me is on Facebook in my reader group, The Reader’s Nest.
Thank you, Andrea, for sharing this book with my blog readers.I know they will love it.
Readers,here’s a link to the book.
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