Love Inspired Historicals discussion
Monthly Author Q&A
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Q&A with May 2012 Authors!
Good Question Deborah I want to know too.I always wonder how authors writing a series go about it and how you do the brainstorming etc.
My question is whats an interesting fact you learnt in your research that surprised or took you by surprise? (I hope that makes sense having trouble getting it out right)
Mod
Thanks Deborah, As a reader I learn so much from books and books that have some facts in them or set during some trial or something are great. With the Irish Brides. My grandfathers, grandparents left Ireland during the Potato famine and went to Scotland before coming here. His father was born in Scotland. I love reading books set in Ireland or about the Irish.
Continuities are fun to read and fun to write! Waving hello to Renee . . . love the covers of this series!
I agree that the covers of these books are beautiful. I'd also like to know how authors collaborate to organize a series like this. And I always something new from a historical novel!
everyone is here early, I have the set already so dont put me in your drawing-I loved reading about these three sisters and the three authors did great job of making it seem as if it were just one. was going to ask why 3 authors and not just one but you have answered above. I am hoping down the road their may be a story of the three boys that were stowaways, seems like their story needs to be told.
Mod
Definitely a Dream Team! I had the good fortune to work on a continuity project with Cheryl several years ago and it was such a great creative experience. As a reader what I like about multi-author series is being able to read those connected stories in quick succession without losing a favorite author off the shelves for ages while she does it all herself.
Can you tell us more about your hero? The fact that he owns a chocolate company makes me love him already! I need to go google Alex O'Loughlin.
Deborah wrote: "When I found out Cheryl St. John and Winnie Griggs would be involved I knew I was in for a fun, rewarding ride!!!Definitely a Dream Team! I had the good fortune to work on a continuity project wi..."
Deborah - Alex O'Loughlin. *drools* He's one of the actors in CBS's Hawaii 5-0 series. I've seen him in several different shows. He's adorable.
Renee - I've read the book and loved it. Actually I've read almost all of your LIH novels. I think it's amazing how you as authors can flesh out a series like this and have each book stand alone, but work with the others.
Hi Renee - Was your information on your heroine as little/vague as for your hero? Were you given the reason for her leaving Ireland, or did you choose it?I really enjoyed the "After the Storm" series, by the way...Oh & I hope your son's wedding went well!
Vigorously agreeing that these covers are nothing short of amazing. It was a delight to work with Renee and Winnie on these stories.
Dawn wrote:Definitely a Dream Team!
Love that! lol
And so true.
Ranae, but remember Mr Blacks finance returned before end of book and everyone was so upset for a bit, I loved reading these stories. wont say how and why but it works out...
Renee wrote: "Hi Ausjenny!!! Your question makes perfect sense! Before I get to the answer I wanted to explain how the brainstorming process went on this series. One Cheryl, Winnie and I read through the outl..."thanks renee, thats cool about the chocolate mills, didn't know they were important back then either (it could make a good book set in the war telling its importance).
Deborah wrote: "When I found out Cheryl St. John and Winnie Griggs would be involved I knew I was in for a fun, rewarding ride!!!Definitely a Dream Team! I had the good fortune to work on a continuity project wi..."
Deborah Alex O'Loughlin is in Hawaii 5-0 and is actually an Aussie.
I haven't any of these books yet but I am really wanting them.I am learning alot here. I didn't realise you would be given vague outlines. I know with some other collaborations like the Barbour novella's the authors put in a submission.
I like this idea where you have a vague outline but didn't realise you would be given some more details thats cool.
Are the characters from the 3 books in each book?
Mod
Obviously I need to start watching Hawaii 5-0!
Deborah wrote: "Deborah Alex O'Loughlin is in Hawaii 5-0 and is actually an Aussie.Obviously I need to start watching Hawaii 5-0! "
Kaye Dacus also used him as a template for one of her hero's
Hi everyone! I'm stoping in just to say that I think the covers on these three books are GORGEOUS!!!! And I love all three of these authors... I agree... it was a Dream team!!!
I loved the sound of the series when I saw it and just got the first two books today, along with some others. I don't know have any questions but I am really excited to start this series. I need to get my hands on the last book so I can start the series.
Deborah wrote: "Deborah Alex O'Loughlin is in Hawaii 5-0 and is actually an Aussie.Obviously I need to start watching Hawaii 5-0! "
Yes Deborah you do! LOL.
I'm currently reading the third one.
Renee I've got a question for you. How did you decide on the twins and what they'd be like?
Mod
Allie, I love the idea of a book set during the era of World War I. I haven't seen many of those, but I suspect after the second season of Downton Abbey they may become much more popular. What made you choose that time period for your book?
Hi Allie, I have read a few interviews and blog posts on this book. I love the way you incorporated your passion for knitting into this book.What sort of research did you do for this book? Have you found there were many men who knitted?
Did you have family or friends who had a war time romance that helped inspire this story?I don't have a WW1 story, but during WW2 my granddad (a farmer) was a member of the Home Guard here in Britain - If you've seen Dad's Army you'll know about the Home Guard! Apparently Granddad & his comrades used to play tricks on their leader too! My grandma was with the Land Girls, helping the farmers as all other hired men were now at war, & was stationed in Suffolk where Granddad lived, so that was how my grandparents met...& lived happily ever after!
Morning everyone! There was an epademic mentioned in the blurb for the book. Is the epademic mentioned the 1918 Flu? If I think of any other questions I'll post them.
Mod
I wondered about the flu epidemic too, Laura. What a dramatic historical event to use!
I set the book in WWI because originally I was thinking of doing two books--one on WWI and the second in WWII. I'd done a historical set in 1906 (MISSION OF HOPE) and wanted to come forward a bit in time. The Great War has such epic tales and the world changed so dramatically during that time that is has served as a wonderful backdrop for my characters.
Deborah wrote: "Good Tuesday morning, everyone! Today Allie Pleiter will be dropping by to answer questions about her May book Homefront Hero.Allie, I love the idea of a book set during the era of World War I. ..."
I originally had two books--one WWI and one WWII--in mind. The more research I did the more intriguing I found the time period. I'd done a historical set in 1906 (MISSION OF HOPE), and wanted to move forward a bit in time, and The Great War is such an epic era that it made a wonderful backdrop for my characters.
Ausjenny wrote: "What sort of research did you do for this book? Have you found there were many men who knitted? I started by wandering through military museums, looking for, as I put it, "a thread to pull." My stories always seem to spring from one detail, an object, etc. The knitting came from a WWII sweater that was handknit according to a Red Cross pattern. A little research uncovered the sock knitting campaign done by the Red Cross in WWI--trench-foot was devastating the boys overseas and wool socks were essential. When I uncovered a tiny detail about an effort to get boys to knit because the women and children currently participating still couldn't meet the demand, I dreamed up the publicity campaign in the book (it has not historical basis). In answer to your question, knitting was used as therapy, especially for "shell shock," and I have a haunting photo of a sunken-faced soldier holding yarn and needles that I used for he basis of Private Carson.
Wendy wrote: "Did you have family or friends who had a war time romance that helped inspire this story?No, I have no military family at all, so I had to dig around a lot, including a visit to Jackson Army Base (Camp Jackson in the book) to get a feel for things. I poured through dozens of camp newsletters and photographs from the time, and letters home from soldiers. What an experience to actually hold a letter from a 1917 soldier to his wife!
Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance wrote: "Morning everyone! There was an epademic mentioned in the blurb for the book. Is the epademic mentioned the 1918 Flu? If I think of any other questions I'll post them."Yes, the 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic is a crucial element in the book. I've heard from many readers whose parents or grandparents were lost in the epidemic...that's something I hadn't realized would connect so strongly with readers. It really was an extraordinary time when the country faced monumental challenges.
Allie wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Did you have family or friends who had a war time romance that helped inspire this story?No, I have no military family at all, so I had to dig around a lot, including a visit to Jac..."
That trip to Jackson Army Base sounds great!
Mod
One of my favorite LM Montgomery books is Rilla of Ingleside Anne of Green Gable's family during WW1, so I'm delighted to see an inspirational romance set during that era.
Hi Allie, Stopping by to wave hello! The 1918 Flu Epidemic is a great setting. With modern medicine and antibiotics, we don't appreciate how scary disease could be...can still be. Looking forward to the story!
I know WW1 changed the course of Australia forever. Its when we came into our own as a nation. We basically lost a generation of men in the war. I had 2 Great uncles who died in WW1, one in Gallipoli and the other in Belgium.
Allie I loved the book. My cousin currently has it and I might not see it come back to me. LOL.Did you plan the epidemic portion to have some characters get sick and others not? How could those exposed like they were not get sick?
Mod
The same with Canada, AusJenny. I'm not sure if the poem "In Flanders Fields" is as well known throughout the world as it is here. It was written by a Canadian doctor who served in WW1.
Yes Deborah we know the Flanders Fields poem well. I have grown flanders poppies here and they flower for rememberance day. Dawn Im not Allie but like in all epidemics not all will get sick. Like with diphtheria some will get it and others are carries and this was the same with the flu. Its like that with the swine flu not all who were in contact with it got the flu. Mum has never had the chicken pox although she shared a bed with sisters who had it, was around my brother and I when we had it. also we looked after a friends children who had it and she never got it.
Deborah wrote: "The Great War has such epic tales and the world changed so dramatically during that time that is has served as a wonderful backdrop for my characters.One of my favorite LM Montgomery books is Ril..."
Rilla of Ingleside is one of my favourites too!
Deborah wrote: "I know WW1 changed the course of Australia forever. Its when we came into our own as a nation.The same with Canada, AusJenny. I'm not sure if the poem "In Flanders Fields" is as well known throug..."
We know "In Flander's Field" in UK too, & each November I wear my poppy with pride.
Hi Wyndy, several years ago I was doing a web design course and did a page for flanders poppies.http://www.beauty4ashes.org/ausjenny/...
Ausjenny wrote: "Hi Wyndy, several years ago I was doing a web design course and did a page for flanders poppies.http://www.beauty4ashes.org/ausjenny/..."
Love the page!
Here in UK The British Legion at the end of October start selling artificial poppies to wear in your lapel from then until Remembrance Day. The funds they raise help & support current servicemen & their families. Do you have something like that in Australia?
Mod
Beautiful! I knew the poem was a big deal in this country because the author was a Canadian, but I wasn't sure if it was the same elsewhere.
Mod
I know you've written other books, but this is your debut with Love Inspired Historical, right? Can you tell us a little bit about how you came to write for LIH?
Dawn wrote: "Allie I loved the book. My cousin currently has it and I might not see it come back to me. LOL.Did you plan the epidemic portion to have some characters get sick and others not? How could those e..."
Dawn, that's what so baffled doctors about the Spanish Influenza. Young, healthy men got sick. Others didn't. Science was just learning about microbial medicine--we hadn't yet truly differentiated between viruses and bacteria. And influenza in the past had never been so fatal. People really did think it was the end of the world, and no one knew how to react. No one really knew (then) why those who survived did while others died. Some died quickly, others held on for days or even weeks. The randomness made for a lot of drama, that's for sure.
Allie this comment reminds me of reading how so many babies died at childbirth in early years mainly because drs did not wash their hands enough. so sad.
Deborah wrote: "It's Wednesday and our featured author today is Rhonda Gibson, who's May book for LIH is The Marshal's Promise. Welcome, Rhonda!I know you've written other books, but this is your debut with Love..."
Good morning Deborah! I'm glad to be here this morning.
I have always wanted to write for Harlequin. So I started submitting early on when they opened the LI line. Then I sold to Barbour and got a little sidetracked with other contracts. My agent asked me one day where I wanted to see my writing career go, my immediate answer was I want to write LI books. She and I began to target LI. Since I write both contemporary and historical, I tried both lines. But, my all time love has been historical romance. Thankfully, Tina James, my editor, saw that and asked to see another historical. We submitted The Marshal's Promise and Tina offered us a contract. I'm so very happy she did!
Hi Rhonda, I love to read about mail order brides, seems like this one went awry and maybe it is a good thing for the marshall, does he have a past that needs to come out, why is she a mail order bride? I want to read this one.
Paula-O wrote: "Hi Rhonda, I love to read about mail order brides, seems like this one went awry and maybe it is a good thing for the marshall, does he have a past that needs to come out, why is she a mail order ..."Hi Paula,
All heroes have a past and yes his does. US Marshal's jobs are dangerous. Seth is afraid to love for fear that the woman he loves would be in danger. I'm not sure how much to tell about it because I don't want to spoil it for the readers. I will tell you Rebecca is a mail-order bride because she looks a lot like her mother, her mother has died and her step-mother wants her out of the house, Rebecca assumes it's because she reminds her father of her mother.
Mod
Love Inspired Historicals
Books mentioned in this topic
The Marshal's Promise (other topics)The Homesteader's Sweetheart (other topics)
The Homesteader's Sweetheart (other topics)
The Marshal's Promise (other topics)
Homefront Hero (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Rhonda Gibson (other topics)Lacy Williams (other topics)
Lacy Williams (other topics)
Rhonda Gibson (other topics)
Allie Pleiter (other topics)
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Thanks to Renee for kicking things off! Her May book, Mistaken Bride is the second of the Irish Brides trilogy.
To start things off, my question is about something that always fascinates me - the story behind the story. Can you tell us a little bit about how the Irish Brides series came about? Did the editors approach you, Cheryl and Winnie or did you go to them with the idea? What was it like working on connected stories with two other authors?