Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Lauralee Bliss!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Lauralee Bliss!

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on the release of your latest story as part of the Southern Belle Brides Collection. You’ve been part of several collections. How did that come about?

Lauralee: I began writing for Barbour Publishing back in 1997 with my first title, Mountaintop. Since then I have published over 25 novels and novellas, mostly with this house. Through my agent and networking with other authors, I was able to tie in to several collection ideas for Barbour, including The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and coming next year, The Erie Canal Brides Collection.

LM: Where did you find your inspiration for this story?

Lauralee: I have always been interested in Civil War history since childhood when my brother served as a reenactor and we traveled as a family to every battlefield. The interest continued into adulthood, and with my novella, The Belle of the Congaree, I wanted to portray the aftermath of war and the reunification of a divided nation. There is so much division today concerning our heritage that I felt it apropos to write a story that seeks to unite north and south, Union and Confederate and heal the wounds of battle. And such healing is still needed today, some 150 years later.

LM: The age old question for writers – are you a planner or a “pantster,” and what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Lauralee: I do some initial planning, but for certain the definition of pantster describes me. It can be nerve-wracking as I don’t know what will happen when I sit down to write. But then I allow the Holy Spirit to take control and let my mind go and the storyline flows. And it always amazes me what comes forth from an initial idea. It’s never what I had planned! That’s my favorite part of this process—that I can still be amazed at my stories, knowing God’s hand is in them all.

LM: Research plays a huge part in any book. Your stories are primarily historic fiction. How do you conduct your research, and have you learned anything unusual that you thought “this has to go in the book?

Lauralee: I try to do as much research as I can for my stories, including on-the-spot research if possible, which adds authenticity. A good writer friend, Tracie Peterson, also spoke wisely that authors should verify their research from several sources online not just one. And not rely on Wikipedia. I also find many good ideas for stories as I travel and visit historic sites. Long ago I visited Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, heard about the tuberculosis hospital built inside the cave on a cave tour and knew I HAD to write about it. And so I did.

LM: You’ve been writing for a while. How did you get started as a writer, and how did you decide to seek publication?

Lauralee: I debuted my books back in 1997, basing a novel on a favorite topic of mine – hiking, as I am an avid hiker. I also love to visit historic sites and writing stories with a historical focus. Back in the early nineties, I sent out many proposals and SASEs – and received many rejections in return. But I did not give up. It was my calling. I believed in it. I attended some conferences and researched to find out what publishers were buying. At that time Barbour had a very successful monthly book club, Heartsong Presents. I joined the book club, studied the writing and submitted. And there I landed my first contract. In 2017 I celebrated twenty years of publishing books for the adventurous at heart!

LM: Okay, here are some quickies:

Lauralee:

Favorite color: rose

Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere on a trail J

Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy. Who cannot love the idea of two hikers on an adventure! J

LM: LOL. What is your next project?

Lauralee: I just completed a novella for Barbour’s Erie Canal Brides Collection, set along the famous waterway that revolutionized our nation, releasing next spring. I am also finishing my nonfiction work about my adventures hiking the entire Florida Trail, set to release in 2019 through WhiteFire Publishing.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Lauralee:

Website:  http://www.lauraleebliss.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-of-Author-Lauralee-Bliss

Blog: http://www.blissfulwalk.com

Twitter:  @LauraleeBliss

Book Info:

The Southern Belle Brides Collection, where seven sweet and sassy ladies of yesterday experience romance in the southern states.

In my novella The Belle of the Congaree, Mason Bassinger reluctantly travels to war-torn South Carolina, seeking lands his carpetbagger brother can buy. Elisa Anderson barely survives after her family’s plantation is destroyed. She welcomes visits by the handsome and wealthy Mason, who makes the cottage by the Congaree feel like a home. But when Mason’s true purpose is revealed, will her heart be broken by betrayal?

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D46DP5K

Blog Tour: Red Sky Over America

Blog Tour: Red Sky Over America

About the Book

Title: Red Sky over America  
Author: Tamera Lynn Kraft  
Genre: Christian Historical Romance  
Release Date: February 11, 2018

In 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College, a school known for its radical ideas. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father about freeing his slaves. America’s classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it home to Ohio or live through the struggle.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts

Set during the turbulent time of the Civil War, Red Sky Over America is a powerful story that explores how the war divided families, churches, and communities because of different beliefs about states’ rights and slavery. Playing off the expression “Red sky at night, sailors delight…” the title does an excellent job of capturing the effect the time period had on America the character and America the country. I struggled a bit to relate to the protagonist, America, because she waffled between sticking to her convictions about abolition and adhering to social customs and her father’s mindset, but she was very much a product of her time. Several points of view were used to tell the story, including one of the slaves, which I enjoyed and effectively immersed me into the era and personal situations of the characters. Colloquial dialogue was used, but not to the point of being distracting. Even though I am well-versed in the Civil War era, I was unfamiliar with the role played by Ohio and Oberlin College. The author wove lots of interesting information throughout the story without being textbookish or dry. I was disappointed that every slave owner in the book was portrayed as evil and/or unfeeling and somewhat cliché. Because of the subject matter, there are periodic episodes of violence, and although difficult to read, are not gratuitous. This is the first in a series, and I look forward to the next book.

I received a copy of this book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a favorable review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest and has other novellas in print. She’s been married for 39 years to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and two grandchildren. Tamera has been a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire For Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist and has written children’s church curriculum. She is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

Guest posts from Tamera Lynn Kraft

100 Steps to Freedom

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Before the Civil War, Ohio had the largest Underground Railroad of any state in the Union. It is believed that every county in Ohio had a route. Many slaves would escape over the Ohio River and through Ohio on their way to Canada. This was a dangerous undertaking because, even though Ohio was a free state, the Fugitive Slave Law made it so anyone helping escaped slaves could be fined and jailed.

One small town, Ripley, Ohio, is believed to have helped more slaves escape than any town in Ohio. Ripley is located on the banks of the Ohio River across from Mason County, Kentucky.

One man who helped slaves escape was a freed black man named John Parker. Parker was educated by his master in Virginia and eventually bought his freedom. He traveled to Ohio and opened a foundry on Front Street facing the Ohio River. He was the first black man to earn a patent for one of the inventions he used in his foundry. At night, he would search the Ohio River looking for escaped slaves and helping them find their way to an Underground Railroad Station.

Rev. John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister, owned a house on top of a hill in Ripley. He built one hundred steps to the house that could be seen on the other side of the river. At night, he would light a lantern and hang it from the porch to signal slaves that it was safe to cross. It is estimated that over 2,000 slaves escaped through the Rankin House. None of them were ever recaptured. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote her famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, about the escape of the slave, Eliza, after hearing the story from Rev. Rankin.

Rev. John Rankin’s house is in my novel, Red Sky Over America. John Parker also is introduced as a minor character. The story takes place on the Ohio River in Kentucky across from Ripley where all these exciting events happened.

Oberlin College: A School Ahead of Its Time

My current novel series, Ladies of Oberlin, is about 3 women roommates who graduated from one of the most amazing colleges in American history, Oberlin College. Book 1, Red Sky Over America focuses on America, a woman attending Oberlin who is an abolitionist studying to become a missionary. The problem is her father is a slave owner. Here’s a little bit about this amazing college. 

Oberlin College, founded in 1833 in Northern Ohio, was a college ahead of its time in many ways. In 1835, it became the first college in the United States to regularly admit African Americans. It’s also the oldest co-educational college in the US. In 1837, it admitted four women, three of whom graduated and earned a college degree. Mary Jane Patterson, another Obeberlin graduate, became the first African American woman in 1862 to earn a Bachelor of Arts college degree.

One of Oberlin’s founders once bragged that “Oberlin is peculiar in that which is good”. Oberlin was peculiar in many ways in advancing the causes of the time. Charles Finney, the second president of the college, helped it earn its controversial reputation. He was the fiery evangelist of the Second Great Awakening, a Christian revivalist movement in the early and mid 1800s.

Oberlin College was the hotbed of abolitionist activity and a stop for the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. It was once called “the town that started the Civil War” because of its participation in the Oberlin Wellington Rescue in 1858. Slave catchers came to Oberlin to capture an escaped slave and return him to Kentucky. Most of the town came to the slave’s aid and rescued him. For their trouble, over twenty were arrested and put on trial for violating the Fugitive Slave Act. During the raid on Harper’s Ferry by John Brown, three men from Oberlin participated.

Oberlin College was also well known for the women who graduated from the college and participated in the suffrage and prohibition movements. Lucy Stone, considered a pioneer for the women’s movement, graduated from Oberlin College in 1847.

Oberlin was also very well known in the missionary movement of the late 1800s. Between 1860 and 1900, 90% of missionaries sent overseas by the American Missionary Society were graduates of Oberlin College. Between 1899 and 1901, thirteen missionaries from Oberlin were martyred during the Boxer Rebellion of China. An arch in Tappan Square at the center of Oberlin pays honor to their sacrifices.

Blog Stops

Here are Tamera's Remaining Blog Stops:

June 3: Ansel Book Blog

June 4: Artistic Nobody

June 4: Big Reader Site

June 5: Christian Author, J.E. Grace

June 6: Simple Harvest Reads

June 6: Reading is my Superpower

June 7: Two Points of Interest

June 7: Margaret Kazmierczak

June 8: A Baker's Perspective

June 9: Pause for Tales

June 9: Red Headed Book Lady

June 10: Bibliophile Reviews

June 11: Texas Book-aholic

June 11: Have a Wonderful Day

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tamera is giving away a themed basket with autographed books of Resurrection of Hope, Alice’s Notions, Red Sky Over America, a copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin (the book is mentioned in the novel) and a copy of Then Sings My Soul (stories about the hymns), plus a $10 Amazon Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cebb/red-sky-over-america-celebration-tour-giveaway

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Sandra Merville Hart

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Sandra Merville Hart

Linda:  Your latest book is the second in your Civil War Romance series. Where did you get the idea for your story?

Sandra: I had a feeling that there was a story waiting for me in Gettysburg. My husband and I went there to find it. We started at the battlefield where I found Tennessee regiments that fought the initial battle on the first day and were part of Pickett’s Charge. We attended ranger talks and tours. An idea began to form.

Gettysburg has many wonderful museums—we visited them. We took evening walking tours and walked the town’s streets around the “Diamond” where women and children lived through a nightmare. Then we returned to the battlefield.

Standing on Cemetery Ridge at dusk, I stared at the open field crossed by Pickett’s Charge. Though the land is peaceful now, it still tells a story. I also wanted to show what the townspeople endured. The idea for A Rebel in My House was born.

LM: You are an editor for DevoKids.com. How does that affect you as a writer?

Sandra: Besides editing the few submissions we receive, I write a lot of historical articles for DevoKids.com. The three main areas I write for on the site are Adventures in History, God’s World, and Holiday Traditions. This task has honed my skills for writing articles. Even a 200-300 word article requires research; I’ve become a better researcher. Learning where to find free images to enhance the post helped me for my own Historical Nibbles blog.

LM: Your website is full of fascinating historical information. Have you always enjoyed history or did something in your past spark an interest?

Sandra: Thank you! I’m thrilled that you like my blog. I had a great history teacher in high school. She brought history to life. It was the first time I thought of historical figures as people who struggled and triumphed as we all do. Then I took an elective in college for World War I. The teacher grabbed my attention the first night and held me spellbound with fascinating, behind-the-scenes, glimpses of the history.

My fascination with the Civil War began as a child with stories of brother against brother and father against son. I wanted to know more, even when in elementary school.

LM: Do you have an intriguing research story to share?

Sandra: When I went to research in Gettysburg for this novel, I decided to pay for a private ranger tour. I asked our Battlefield Guide, Clay Rebert, if there were any Tennessee regiments in the battle. I told him I was researching for a novel and didn’t have a clear idea of the story line yet. I study the history first and then the story solidifies. Our guide tailored the tour for my research and even missed part of his lunch hour. I had offered him my homemade chocolate chip cookies during the tour. He declined. My husband assured him that my cookies receive lots of compliments. He was very gracious and knowledgeable, answering all the questions I had at the time. When he missed part of lunch because of our tour, he accepted a couple of cookies and a bottled water. I hope that tided him over! 

LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?

Sandra: I write in my office. I turn on a box fan to mask background noise. That helps me focus.

LM: You seemed to have done a lot of traveling. If money were no object, what is your idea of the

ultimate vacation?

Sandra: Most of the traveling I’ve done has been for family vacations, conferences, and research. Often I don’t look for inspiration—it finds me. People and places with a history inspire me. Many stories fester for months and years before they enter my conscious thoughts. I’d love to tour Revolutionary War cities like Boston and Philadelphia. I’d also love to travel Route 66 at some point to see some of the family businesses that survived all these years. There’s a story idea there …

LM: What is your next project?

Sandra: Thanks for asking! I am writing a Civil War novel set primarily in Tennessee. A friend told me that a husband and wife served in the Confederate Army together. That sparked lots of research! An idea was born for a very different story. My working title for the new novel is A Lady in My Regiment.

LM: That sounds intriguing! Where can folks find you on the web?

Sandra: Thanks for hosting me, Linda! I’d love for folks to visit me on my blog, Historical Nibbles. I'd love to connect on Social Media too:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.m.hart.7
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sandra_M_Hart
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sandramhart7
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8445068.Sandra_Merville_Hart
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100329215443000389705/posts
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Merville-Hart/e/B00OBSJ3PU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Watch the trailer here

Buy the book! https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-House-Sandra-Merville-Hart/dp/1941103383/