Would You Rather (and More) with Tanya Eavenson + a Giveaway

Hello, reader friends. Welcome back! This week I'm excited to introduce you to author Tanya Eavenson! And she's generously offering one of our readers an Amazon gift card (you'll have to keep reading to find out those details, though).

Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/

Connect with Tanya

Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub





Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Tanya. I’m so excited to introduce you and your books to our visitors!

Let’s begin with a short round of Would You Rather. I promise that none of these are disgusting questions.

Aww, thanks for having me, Suzie! And I love the game Would You Rather! We play it all the time as a family and yes, some of the questions can get disgusting. The things my kids can think of eating is beyond me! 

SW: Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button on your life?

TE: Pause button. The reason, my life is very blessed where I am. I won’t change it for anything.

SW: Would you rather be stuck on a broken ski lift or in a broken elevator?

TE: Oh, my! Can I just say, I’m TERRIFIED of heights, but I’m also claustrophobic. I would be a mess in either situation. However, if I was to pick, I guess it would have to be the broken-down ski lift so I’d be able to breathe. Breathing is a good thing. LOL!

SW: Would you rather lose your keys or your cell phone? 

 

TE: Keys, hands down.




SW: Tell us a little about yourself. What does a typical day (if there is such a thing for an author) look like for you?

TE: Since most of Americas are sheltering in place from COVID-19, my typical day isn’t very normal. It’s hard to explain. My day job has allowed me to work from home, which is a blessing, but it’s a little hard to work with a house full of people. 😊 I’m sure several of your readers can relate! Then there’s writing, and for some reason with everything that’s going on, I’m not able to concentrate to put down on single word. I’ve decided instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything, I will give it to the Lord day by day. Honestly, now I have more peace as I sit at home with my family. God’s got this virus, He has my family, and my writing, He has everything is in the palm of His hand. 


SW: Yes, I know many of us can relate. It's hard to concentrate on routine right now. 

If you weren’t writing, what would your career involve?

TE: If I wasn’t writing, I’d have to say something with social media or with finances in some way. But honestly, I can’t see myself not writing. It’s a part of me. 


SW: What three books are at the top of your TBR?

TE:

1) Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano
2) Above the Fold by Rachel McDaniel
3) Loving the Mysterious Texan Series by Mary Connealy 


SW: I've read the first two and your are in for some laughs with Jen's book and some great banter in Rachel's. 

You’ve got a busy 2020 with a few book releases. How do you balance writing different stories in different settings and time periods?

TE: It’s a busy year for sure! For me it’s not hard to write different stories. Each story plot and character is different from one another, they’re easy to separate. The hardest part is not being able to write fast enough because a lot of my time is doing research. Yes, even for contemporary stories, there’s a lot of background work that takes place before writing that first word. 

Book One of the All Roads Lead to Texas series

SW: To Gain Forever in the Love is in the Air Romance Collection is your upcoming release (readers: this is only $0.99 until the May 10 release day so grab your preorder before the price goes up. More details and order links are below). Can you share a little about the collaboration process for a multi-author collection like this?

TE: It’s fun working with authors to make a project come alive. Having a vision and a goal is so important because there are many deadlines. My partner in crime, Candee Fick, and I, have taken different admin roles for this set, and we’ve had a great time getting to know one another. I love how God brings people together! I’ve certainly enjoyed getting to know these ladies and look forward to more projects in the future.


SW: I think we can all agree that we’re here because we love words and stories. There’s a lot that goes into those and life/the world is so different right now than any of us ever imagined. How can we pray for you during this season and even throughout the rest of the year?

TE: I certainly appreciate the prayers! Please pray that God will heal those with COVID-19 and protect the ones who do not. For my writing, that the words will flow. And in all things, God will be glorified. 

SW: Thank you so much for you time today, Tanya. It's been a pleasure chatting with you and getting better acquainted. We're praying for God's blessings for you this year.

About Love Is In The Air

All you have to do is look up.

This collection of five brand new romances is sure to send your heart soaring. Journey from Canada to Georgia and Colorado to Paris by way of Michigan as these couples find love is in the air. All they had to do was look up.

First Class Wrong Flight by Laura V. Hilton

Candi Walker is excited to attend her former college roommate’s wedding. At least it’s a direct flight across the country and the potential of messing up is next to impossible…until she crashes into a handsome pilot. Now it’s a dream-come-true or her worst nightmare.

Alex Kuklewski has one last flight before he attends his stepsister’s wedding. Desperate to escape his tagalong ex-girlfriend’s clutches, Alex prays that his future wife would drop into his path. And she does. Too bad he and Candi aren’t headed to the same destination.

Emotional baggage on both sides exceeds the weight limit, and the flight to happily-ever-after seems grounded. What will it take for them to launch true love into the air?

A Castle in the Clouds by Candee Fick

Aspiring romance novelist Miranda Scott has her head in the clouds and her nose buried in a book. Raised by a single mother, extravagant trips to castles overseas are only a fairy-tale…until a co-worker’s accident has her boarding a plane to teach creative writing on an all-expenses-paid school-sponsored trip. Family responsibilities kept Joshua Clark close to home, but it’s finally time for the history teacher to spread his wings. Hopefully his time chaperoning an overseas trip and seeing history in person will reveal what the next chapter holds.

However, falling in love surrounded by teenagers was never the plan.

Flying Into Love by Kathleen Rouser

Unable to say no when others need her, Talia Sampson took on her deceased aunt’s advice column and the care of her special needs niece. Then new veteran, Ben Tanner, shows up unexpected on her doorstep. Hurt many times, he wonders where home is. Talia isn’t happy finding a hot-air balloon with him, but she treasures the old journal with it. Ben hopes restoring her family’s antique will please her, until he discovers a secret that shatters his trust. And Talia hates flying. Will she trust God—and Ben—enough to go airborne?

To Gain Forever by Tanya Eavenson

Karianne Bennett, small-town wedding coordinator, has always believed in happily-ever-afters. That is, for everyone but herself. Her fiancé’s alcohol-related death put an end to her own dreams and turned her career into a weekly reminder of all she’s lost. Hope comes when she adopts a retired service dog and a newcomer catches her eye.

Trey Scott has been fascinated with fireworks since he was a boy. If he can land the account for a hot-air balloon festival in an out-of-state town, he’ll be that much closer to achieving his lifelong goal. But his dreams never included a beautiful dog walker who also happens to be the stranger he’s been praying over for years.

Written in the Clouds by Kathleen Friesen

A mysterious cloud formation, a nerve-wracking introduction for JR and Serena, an unexpected reunion for Jim and Blythe, a few traumatic memories, a pilot for the company plane, and another afraid of flying. Mix them together…and what in the world is God up to? Is it love at first flight?

Can love—for two generations—be written in the clouds?

 Amazon | D2D | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Goodreads

Giveaway

Tanya is giving one of our readers a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.

To enter, leave a comment and tell us one thing you are thankful for. Be sure and leave a way for us to contact you in case you are chosen as the winner.

Interview with Victoria Pitts Caine, Author of Cotton!

Hi! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today’s guest. ;-)

We are chatting with Victoria Pitts Caine, author of Cotton!

Victoria Pitts Caine is a native Californian and lives in the central portion of the state. Her varied interests include genealogy and exotic gemstone collecting both of which she’s incorporated into her novels.

The author has received recognition in both fiction and nonfiction from: Enduring Romance top 10 picks, William Saroyan Writing Conference, Byline Magazine, Writer’s Journal Magazine, Holt International Children’s Services Magazine, and The Southern California Genealogical Society. Her first novel, Alvarado Gold, was published in 2007 followed by three more as well as novellas and short stories in anthologies.

Victoria is a former staff technician in air pollution control. She is the mother of two daughters. Now retired from the work force, Victoria and her husband enjoy travel, cooking, and are self-appointed “foodies”.

Connect with Vicki Pitts Caine on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Author Page, or shoot her an email!

 Interview ~

First things first, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question... No pressure or anything. ;-)

Definitely coffee.

Whew! LOL! On to our second most important question: if you could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?

Probably Korean Barbeque – Bulgogi. Followed closely by chocolate cake.

I always seem to ask this question when I'm hungry, LOL! Sounds delicious! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

My office/spare bedroom. It’s usually quiet and it is the only space in the house that belongs to only me.

Those spaces are sacred! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?

Keeping things in the right order. I always write my books from beginning to end before I go back and edit. I never write a scene or even dialogue to use “somewhere” in the book. It keeps my thinking in a straight line. I apply that elsewhere, too. 

LOL! I can relate; I'm very particular about everything being in its place! What inspired you to write Cotton?

I’ve always wanted to go to Savannah, the setting of my latest release. I was able to do a little exploring researching the city via the internet.

That's so cool! I love to travel to new-to-me locations in a story! What led you to write in this genre?

I wanted to write clean adventure that I would like to read myself. The historical aspect and the romance were encouraged by a mentor teacher. 

Write what you want to read - yes! That motto leads to so many creative stories. What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

In this particular book, I’d hope readers understand there’s a pull from our past that we can’t deny and sometimes returning home is where we really need to be. 

That's wonderful! Home holds a special place in a person's heart. Can you tell us a little about your next project?

 I’m working on a cozy mystery set in the California foothills just a few miles from my home.

Love cozy mysteries! They are so much fun! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

 Ecclesiastics 3:1 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. 

That's a powerful verse! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds - mine - want to know. :-)

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner.

I'll have to check it out! 

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Victoria!

Check out Victoria Pitts Caine's latest release!

Running from a life of poverty, 16 year old Cotton Ramsey escapes the Savannah River bottomland to New York. Twenty years later, she has changed her name and runs a large pharmaceutical company, which belonged to the family of her late husband. When Beau Simpson, her first love, arrives to deliver the news of her daddy’s untimely death, the life she struggled to leave behind calls her home.

Available on Amazon!

Cotton is on sale for $.99 on Wednesday, November 28th through Thursday, November 29th!

Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer 

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Interview and GIVEAWAY with Joanna Davidson Politano

Hi guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today’s guest. ;-)

We are prying into the private life chatting with THE Joanna Davidson Politano, author of the amazing Lady Jayne Disappears (You can read my raving review here!) and A Rumored Fortune, which I am reading right now. IT'S AMAZING!

Joanna Davidson Politano spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Lady Jayne Disappears, released October 3 from Revell and A Rumored Fortune releases in July 2018. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods and shares stories that move her at www.jpdstories.com.

 

Connect with Joanna on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, too!

Interview ~

First things first, what is you go-to yummy drink when you sit down to read and/or write?

Ok, this is weird - grapefruit juice! I mostly drink water, but a real good and sweet pink grapefruit juice is my absolute favorite treat. I don't often do tea/coffee, but this tall glass of sugary goodness is my weakness.

I honestly did not expect that! Mind blown! Hahaha! What is your favorite snack when you sit down to read or write with your imaginary peeps?

Actually cereal is my go-to! It's a real easy snack to sit next to me and not drip on the couch. Cinnamon cereal of any kind is my fav. :-)

Cereal is a pretty common snack in my house, too! And I love all things cinnamon, much to my husband's dismay. Haha! Confession Time: do any of your characters have any of your own "odd" habits? Safe space. ;-)

Oh, definitely! My first heroine, Aurelie Harcourt in Lady Jayne Disappears, wrote the people around her into stories and while everyone recognized themselves in the stories, no one knew who was writing about them. I did the same thing in gradeschool when I was intensely bothered by certain kids being overlooked (they became superheroes in my little stories) and bullies never seeing justice (they saw payback in my stories too). I wrote them for myself, but somehow a few ended up circulating around the classroom and I was surprised at the impact it had on a few kids. So that was cool, and I was excited to play that out in a novel.

This is one of the coolest author-to-character quirks I've ever heard of! What inspired you to write your latest release, A Rumored Fortune?

Two real-life stories, actually. The mystery came from a family friend whose grandfather didn't trust the (highly corrupt) Italian banks...or his family, apparently. He hid his sizeable fortune and promised to tell them where it was before he died - but passed away quite young of a heart attack. In real life, the money was never found. I won't tell you if it plays out that way in the book! The romance was also inspired heavily by my own love story, from the time I first met my husband (and couldn't stand him) to the time I nearly speed-walked down the aisle toward the man of my dreams. I combined the two because the family friend in the mystery story is the one who convinced me to give my very Italian man a second look.

I love, love, love this! #allthehearts Such a cool look at the story behind the story! What is your favorite thing about writing in this genre?

To be honest, I'm not even sure what genre I write! I've seen it pop up in half a dozen different ones, and I'm fine with that. I just sat down to write for fun one day, and I let it flow into the type of story I wanted to read, complete with a little mystery, a little romance, and an atmospheric English country house. The mystery angle keeps me asking, "What's going on? What in the world??" and keeps me pressing forward to find out. The romance portions just delight my little heart.

Hahaha! Your stories do reach into a lot of genres, but that just makes them even more amazing! What is the hardest thing about writing in your super-genre (rabbit trail, but this should be a thing, yes?)?

It can be really hard to connect all the intricate pieces to make a full picture and have all the pieces work together. Although that's also the most fun part, because it's such a thrill to watch all the elements God's given me fit together to create a larger story than I'd imagined.

YESSS!!! It is awesome to see how God works the story! What message do you hope to convey to your readers with A Rumored Fortune?

I'd really love for people who are dry, or living in survival mode to find the difference between a full life and actually being full of life. It took me the length of this book project to reach a place where I was living well, and not being driven by daily tasks, attending to needs, and stomping out the flames of my to-do list. There's so much that God intends to communicate to us through vineyards, and I hope that people understand those Scripture passages - and what God says about how they receive life and grow fruit - so they know how to live more richly. It was such a needed "message," if I can call it that, for my young-mama heart while I faced a little burnout and exhaustion. Trying to keep up with life can be draining, and most of us KNOW there has to be something more out there.

 

Those are powerful truths that I know I need to be reminded about! <3 Can you tell us a little about your next project?

Of course! This is one I'm super excited about. The heroine is a rag vendor who switches places with her lookalike, who is a lady, and ends up in a very bookish romance. That's all I can say right now, but I think it may be my favorite - and most suspenseful - story yet.

I can't wait for this story!!! *squeals* What is your (current) favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

My guiding life verse is Matthew 6:33, about seeking God's kingdom first and letting everything else fall into place. Isaiah is my favorite book because it most clearly shows the duality of God's nature - the holy righteous judge and the protective, gracious father. Proverbs is currently slapping me upside the head and making me examine my speech and the heart from which it comes!

Oh, man! I have gotten many spiritual slaps from Proverbs! LOL! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds - mine - want to know! :-)

I'm reading an older novel called Edenbrooke and LOVING it. My last great read, however, was Kristy Cambron's The Lost Castle book, which is probably one of my favorites of all time.

LOVED The Lost Castle, and I'll have to check out Edenbrooke! *adds eight hundred and thirteenth book to Amazon cart*

Thank you for answering all my prying questions, Joanna! Such a blast talking with you! <3

Giveaway ~

Joanna has generously offered to giveaway one (1) copy of A Rumored Fortune.

 

Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they'll not soon forget.

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away one copy of A Rumored Fortune!

This giveaway is open internationally. If an international winner is drawn, they will receive an ebook. If a US winner is chosen, they will receive a print copy.

This giveaway will close on August 22nd, 2018, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer 

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

 

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
 

Interview with Author Angela Bell!!!

Hi guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today’s guest. ; )

Today, I am very excited for you guys to meet author Angela Bell! I met Angela at the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2016 conference! She's super nice and has the cutest hats and shoes! Serious shoe envy here, my friends.

 

Novelist Angela Bell is a 21st century lady with 19th century sensibilities. Her activities consist of reading voraciously, drinking copious amounts of tea, and writing letters with a fountain pen. She currently resides in the southern most region of Texas with pup Mr. Darcy and kitties Lizzie Bennett and Lord Sterling. One might describe Angela’s fictional scribblings as Historical Romance or as Victorian History and Steampunk Whimsy in a Romantic Blend. Whenever you need a respite from the 21st century hustle, please visit her cyber-space parlor www.AuthorAngelaBell.com.You can also connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest.

 

INTERVIEW ~

So, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question…

 

Definitely tea! I like to think of myself as a tea connoisseur—not because I’ve had any special education on the subject—but because it sounds fancy and official and marvelously superfluous. J

When I’m out and about, I love to splurge on a London Fog (AKA—Earl Grey tea crowned with foamy goodness!) and vanilla bean scones from Starbucks. Most of the time, however, I prepare loose leaf tea at home. My favorite blend of the hour is Scottish Afternoon, which I gush about at length in my latest blog post, 4 Scrumptious Teas Worth Savoring.

 

I've grown quite fond of tea, and that vanilla bean scone sounds AMAZING! Where is your favorite place to write? And why is that your favorite place to write?

 

I write at a small, corner desk tucked away in my bedroom because … it’s quiet. *tres dull*

I sometimes wish I were one of those authors who can write amongst the beauties of nature, or in a trendy coffee shop brimming with creative vibes, but my brain is too easily distracted. Put me outside, and I’ll end up imagining that the clouds are shaped like dancing ducklings. Put me in a coffee shop, and I’ll end up developing back-stories for the various customers. Alas, to get any words on the page, I require total silence.

 

I understand that! Sometimes quiet is best. Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?

 

I may have already covered this with my remarks about dancing ducklings and coffee shop characterization … but since I’m abundantly blessed in the oddities department, I suppose we can discuss another of my quirks. J

 

Let’s see . . . I like to narrate stuff. I often spout dialogue and internal monologue for inanimate objects, passing strangers, and of course, my cat. Because as one with bookish, writer tendencies I’m obligated to own a cat. And said cat is obligated to have a ridiculously long name. And since I write Victorian Historicals, said cat must also have a proper title of nobility. Thus, I narrate many riveting soliloquies for Lord Sinatra Sterling, the Earl of Grey.   

 

*ahem* We’d best move along before this author interview spirals into a crazy cat lady confessional.

 

From one crazy cat lady to another, your cat has a better name!  What inspired you to write The Best Man in Brookside?

 

Honestly? There wasn’t any big moment, event, or object that inspired this story. I was just brainstorming/day dreaming/praying while going about my everyday routine, and then I got an idea that stuck—a romance where The Count of Monte Cristo meets Jane Austen’s Emma. The characters started to take shape from there, and once I got the notion of including a steam-powered carrousel, the plot soon unfolded to the delight of my Steampunk loving heart.

 

 

 

 

Donovan Gallagher’s quest for gold is to vindicate his past and provide for his sister’s future. He returns to England and buys a large manor house next to Sophia Heyer’s grand home where he used to serve as valet. Thrown together on the village’s fair committee, can Donovan and Sophia form a peaceful truce? ~ The Best Man in Brookside by Angela Bell, part of The California Gold Rush Romance Collection.

 

One second, Angela. I need to address the crowd quite enthusiastically. Guys, get. this. book. Okay, back to you, Angela. 😉 What led you to write in this genre?

 

A long journey of trial and error. Since I started learning the craft of fiction I have written: YA Contemporary, YA Science Fiction, NA Steampunk, all before finally finding my niche of Victorian History and Steampunk Whimsy in a Romantic Blend.

 

I am fascinated by the Victorian Era—the fashion, the innovations, the nobility—and I love using the historical technologies as a basis for infusing a dash of whimsical imagination into my stories.  

 

I bounced from genre to genre, too. But I think your niche is utterly perfect! Seriously, guys. *looks at readers again* Angela’s Facebook page is a dream for my Victorian loving heart! Okay, that was the last time. Maybe. So Angela, what message do you hope to convey to your readers?

 

My prayer is to create stories that impart joy and hope. While my characters may experience harsh realities and brokenness, I never want The End to leave the reader feeling weighted down. Instead, my greatest desire is to use storytelling as a key that unlocks chains. I write to convey to readers—and myself—that we are never alone. Even when circumstances seem bleak and obstacles insurmountable, we have a loving Father who draws near to the broken-hearted and provides the joy and hope our hearts desperately need.

 

 

 

I love everything you just said, and I’m sending you virtual hugs right now. Can you tell us a little about your next project?

 

On November 1^st, my third novella will release in a collection from Barbour Publishing. I am quite giddy about this collection because all seven novellas are set in England, and the line-up of other authors is rather incredible! (I still can’t believe my name is listed among them!) AND the manor gracing our beautiful cover is none other than the BBC, white-shirt-in-the-lake, REAL Pemberley!!! *faints dead away*

 

*is revived with smelling salts*

 

Where was I? Oh yes, my contribution to the collection is entitled Masquerade Melody. Along with being my first Regency historical, it is also the most personal story I’ve written to date. I cannot wait for readers to meet these characters that are so dear to my heart!

 

 

 

 

Attending an obligatory summer at the whimsical Royal Pavilion, Adelaide Langley, a dutiful lady’s companion and gifted singer, strives to maintain the favor of her conniving cousin, while Colonel Walter Marlowe, the irritable Marquess of Glenmire and a skilled composer, just wants to be left alone. Can a masquerade melody bring them together? ~ Masquerade Melody by Angela Bell, part of TheRegency Brides Collection / Available for Pre-Order.

 

I always knew I’d need these smelling salts. *grins and tucks smelling salts away* And fangirl moment – OHMYGOSH! The REAL Pemberly!!! *squeals now that the danger has passed* Goodness, I love that cover! Now, this is one of my favorite questions. Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

 

In 2015, both of my grandmothers suddenly passed away from cancer—within eleven days of each other. As my family has walked together through the grieving process, I’ve often been drawn to this Psalm.

 

 

"When someone is hurting or brokenhearted,

the Eternal moves in close and revives him in his pain."

~ Psalm 34:18, (VOICE).

 

 

The notion of God moving in close to the brokenhearted is such an incredible comfort! Amazingly, He doesn't rebuke my angry whys or my brokenness. Nor does He shy away from my grief or my tears. Instead, He draws close to my shattered pieces and gently puts them back together.

 

 

 

YES! Man, our God is awesome! So inquiring minds (mine) want to know: what are you currently reading?

 

Right now, I’m reading Cranford by the brilliant Elizabeth Gaskell. This novella was originally published in serialization between 1851-1853, and let me tell you, it is abundant with charm and hilarity! I highly recommend it for those who enjoy British humor and all things Victorian.

 

*adds 413^th book to Amazon wishlist*

 

Thank you so much for hanging out with us today and for answering my crazy questions, Angela!

 

Thanks for stopping by my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer