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Hi Penelope! Welcome to The Diamond Mine.
Can you tell us a little about your book?
Love’s Gift is set 1903. It is the story of Amaranth Beach, who is Chinese and burdened by her ethnicity due to the Chinese Exclusion Acts. Abandoned on a beach as a newborn and raised in an orphanage, she is a skilled secretary, but the threat of deportation looms constantly and all employers turn her away... until Mrs. Tildon of Sea Haven, New Jersey, hires her.
Soon after Amaranth' s arrival, she discovers that the Tildon family secrets run deep— a reprobate father, a long-lost brother, an obnoxious maid who is never fired for her behavior, and William the son who worries too much about what people will think.
When a series of alarming events occur, it' s up to Amaranth and William to unravel the secrets that threaten to destroy the Tildon family.
Can Amaranth heal the family' s divisions with her faith? Or will a greater danger threaten them all?
Sounds like a wonderful read!!
How did you get your idea for this story?
The idea of the Chinese orphans came to me due to my husband’s fascination with trains. From him, I learned about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Chinese laborers were recruited to come to this country to help build the railroad. They were given lower wages than the whites plus their work in tunneling through the Sierra Nevada Mountains was the most dangerous. Yet, they were excluded from the famous photograph that marked the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in Utah, which was celebrated by the hammering of the Golden Spike.
Unfortunately, the Chinese became victims of racial prejudice and in 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese laborers from entering the United States. The Chinese already in this country were not allowed to become citizens. In fact, Chinese people in this country needed to carry residency papers with them at all times. Otherwise, they could be sent to China.
Wow. I didn't know that.
So, what made you decide to be a writer?
I was nine years old when I decided I was going to write a book. I wrote it on yellow legal paper with green ink and I illustrated it, too. That ‘s when I found out I loved writing.
What was your first story?
That first story was about a young girl who could fly. She wasn’t a super heroine, but it was definitely a paranormal. I realized it wasn’t good enough for publication, but I intended to write a book that would be published eventually. And I did.
Sounds like you've always had a great imagination.
Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?
I always start with a very loose outline, which is subject to change as I write. I’m probably more of a pantser than plotter, but I do need a general idea of where I’m going with the story.
Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?
One of my favorite themes is injustice. That’s why I wanted to write about Amaranth in Love’s Gift. In Patriot’s Courage, I pointed out some of the injustice aimed at the Native Americans.
Yes, I remember that! Another great story of yours.
Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?
Most of my characters are usually composites. I will take a variety of traits from people I know and form a different person who fits what I need for my story. However, there are a few characters I based entirely on some truly wonderful people I have known. I will not reveal who they are though.
Smart girl!! :)
Do your characters ever surprise you?
My characters do have minds of their own. So, sometimes they go off and do things their way, which is usually for the best. I don’t mind.
Agreed!
Do you have a favorite character in your books?
I’ve written quite a few books at this point. The characters in those books are like children to me. I love them all—except for the villains, of course.
What are you working on now?
At the moment, I’m revising an older book. The rights were returned to me by the publisher and I’d like to reissue it. But once that’s finished, I’d like to write another historical romance. I need to do more research first. I enjoy research. History is fun.
I agree completely. I love the research for a historical story.
Thanks so much for doing this interview! And now readers, here's a bit more about Penelope, along with her links. And remember to leave a comment to be entered for the giveaway!
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Kobo
Apple
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