Sometimes I find a book that whets a thirst to read isn’t yet available in print or audiobook editions, thereby a quick way to satisfy my curiosity is to seek out more information about the story and/or the author whose penned the book itself! Being a tour hostess for Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours (or HFVBTs for short) held a bit of an advantage with this lovely historical new release, as I opted to host the author and an excerpt of her novel in lieu of having a print copy to review!
I appreciate being able to dig a bit deeper into the context of the story whilst trying to nestle out a bit about the author’s process towards writing the novel! Hopefully you will enjoy the questions I posed to Ms Turnquist and enjoy this small jaunt into the world she’s created on behalf of the Czechs of whom inspired her directly to set her novel in their country!
The red-headed Karin is strong-willed and determined, something she inherited from her father. She tries to keep her true nature a secret to avoid being deemed a traitor by those loyal to the king. Karin and her father butt heads over her duty to her family and the Czech Crown. She is then sequestered to the Royal Viscount’s hunting lodge.
Not aware of everything that is happening, she becomes the target of an individual with murderous intent. Her heart soon becomes entangled though her father intends to wed her to another. The turmoil inside Karin deepens and reflects the turmoil of her homeland, on the brink of the Hussite Wars.
Read an Excerpt of the Novel:
Karin’s eyes fluttered opened, and she knew her hold on consciousness was firm; the darkness would not come for her again. She sent up a silent prayer of gratitude as she drank in the sights, sounds, and sensations around her. As she already knew, she was in her quarters at the hunting lodge. Someone had changed her into a nightdress, and her hair fell loose around her. The nightshift and her hair clung to her as if her vision of swimming had been more than illusion. Her eyes adjusted, and what had seemed like incredible light before was now dim to her sight. Dark drapes had been drawn, and she could just faintly make out the sunlight in the window beyond.
To continue reading click the Spoiler button!
And, now our conversation begins. . .
What do you feel is the best reason to become an Indie writer and publish through a route that circumvents Major Trade? How was your personal journey towards publication uniquely your own?
Turnquist responds: I think many people don’t choose the traditional route because they are eager for the freedom and speed of Indie Publishing. I think what made my journey different is that I was what I call a “closet writer”. I had actually written four novels before I queried the first one – all without anyone but my husband’s knowledge really.
I liked how you differentiated yourself from other Historical Romance novelists wherein your stories are the traditional Hist Rom where the focus is on the relationship part of the romance but rather on the strength of the characters who are coming together quite unexpectedly in love. How did you approach capturing the romantic bits outside of the traditional settings other novelists like to entertain? I, personally do not expect anything to be tawdry but rather relationship-based vs rooted in lust which are the stories I avoid.
Turnquist responds: First, it probably helps that I don’t really read traditional romance novels. I want to capture meaningful romances that feel natural. There are many authors that do this successfully, in my opinion, who have inspired me. Michelle Moran, Francine Rivers, Jane Austen, Lucy Maud Montgomery to name a few.
You’re story is a lot of character driven focus and deepening insight into the human condition as it affects a young girl coming of age during the rise of a religious Civil War. How did you approach the backdrop of the story in regards to the action of the moment vs finding the balance to write a story centered on the introspective dynamics of Karin?
Turnquist responds: I did work to find that balance. The events playing in the background were meant to add color and movement to the story while the reader has the chance to dive into what is happening in Karin’s heart and mind.
Would you consider your novel to be more Historical Suspense (due to the elements of murderous intent) or Historical Romance (where there is greater empathsis on Karin’s beau and her life emerging out from the aftermath of war)?
Turnquist responds: The mystery is definitely, in my opinion, something that drives the story, but the romance is meant to hook the reader and draw them in.
What appealed to you to thread a plot of suspense into the undercurrent of the story?
Turnquist responds: The story really did need something to push it forward. I don’t know that I would say that it appealed to me as much as it presented itself to me. Some of the things in the story, I’m learning as a writer, almost write themselves in. Certain story-lines surprise me when they take a turn this way or that way. The appearance of this plot was very much like that.
Was it a way to explore the darker parts of humanity during that particular century or a way to cause a conflict to allow Karin to grow out from the adversity she would overcome?
Turnquist responds: Definitely more of the latter.
I applaud your tact to allow a well-known figure such as Jan Hus to remain a flickering of light in the background rather than to attempt to breathe life into him where he may or may not be recognised as the man who lived. Do you find writing historical persons of the past more complicated than the imagined characters who take a whisper to our imaginations and inspire us to tell their stories?
Turnquist responds: It all depends on the character and how significant they are in the story. My most recent work had to do with the Trail of Tears. I did choose to bring to life through the book, some of the men who actually lived during that period. None as renowned as Jan Hus. Not to say that they are less important, or to be respected any less, but it was not the same. However, the characters I created from my own imaginings, though they represented people that lived and suffered great atrocities and thusly, deserved a great deal of respect as I dealt with them, I had more liberties with.
Why do you think historical persons are so tricky to reincarnate through historical fiction?
Turnquist responds: Because different people have different ideas about them. Especially someone as revered as Jan Hus. It can also lock you in to the things this person said and did. For example – Is it heresy to put words in Jan Hus’s mouth that he didn’t say? It requires a great deal of respect and dedication to breathe life into a real person in a fictional story. Not a challenge I wanted to take on in my first novel.
As your work in Zoology is focused on Education and the general public, do you think your work observing the reactions of people at a zoo or an exhibit might have helped counter-balanced the psychology elements that go into creating full-bodied characters?
Turnquist responds: I do see a wide range of personalities, that is certainly true! I have always been a people watcher. And I think it has contributed to my writing characters’ interactions with each other and with their environments.
Did you ever notice someone you met through your work activities inspired a composite of a character?
Turnquist responds: I think my characters are bits and pieces of many people I have met and interacted with. There are few characters that I can point to and say “This is that person.”
As your writerly pursuits take-on different centuries and historical conflicts of the past, do you think you’ll find a niche in history where you’ll write more stories or do you enjoy being able to have the freedom to visit the eras in time which entreat your muse to reside?
Turnquist responds: There are different events in history that interest me. I do not and never will tout myself an expert in any one time period, as my interest truly lies in the happenings, the people that may have lived then, and the stories that come forth.
As a traveller what do you enjoy the most by centering yourself in the place your visiting?
Turnquist responds: Definitely experiencing the culture and seeing my own culture through their eyes. I think you can learn a lot about who you are by seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes.
How do you find you connect the most with a place you’ve only read about or loosely know of prior to your arrival?
Turnquist responds: Listening. Respecting. Opening myself up to something and someone that is different from myself.
What rooted you inside the Czech Republic to find a story emerge through your heart and imagination aside from the estate you visited where inspiration first struck?
Turnquist responds: The people. I taught English to college students at a summer camp there for several summers. My interactions with the people and the culture were no less than an absolutely amazing experience. I formed relationships that continue to this day.
What was it about the traditions and enriched history of the Czechs that solidified the story for you?
Turnquist responds: Their free spirits and pride rooted in who they were as Czechs. And their ability to overcome in the face of adversity. This country has been through so much. The least of which was not the invasion of Hitler and the atrocities that they as a people had to endure. Yet they persevered as a people. As a culture. And they are as strong as ever today.
I love the name “Bornekova” was this based on a family from Czech history or is it a name you created? I was curious about the etymology of the surname!
Turnquist responds: You know, it’s been a long time since the name came into being. I believe I was doing research on Czech surnames and came across it.
Are you planning to go on a book tour in the Czech Republic whilst meeting the people who inspired you to create the story within “The Lady Bornekova”?
Turnquist responds: There are no immediate plans to do so.
What do you hope their reactions will be?
Turnquist responds: I would hope that they would appreciate someone bringing this historical event to light for Americans who are unfamiliar with it.
Will you bring copies of the book in Czech?
Turnquist responds: I do not know if there are any plans to translate the book into Czech at the time.
What do you love to do to uplift your spirit when you are not writing or researching a story?
Turnquist responds: I enjoy many hobbies – reading, music (I sing and play the piano), I paint, but right now, most of the time when I’m not writing/researching I’m chasing down my three small children.
Visit the virtual road map of this blog tour:
Places to find the book:
Add to Riffle
Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance Fiction
Pages: 245
Published By: Clean Reads (previously Astraea Press) (@CleanReads_)
Available Formats: Ebook only
Converse via: #TheLadyBornekova
A mini-book trailer for “The Lady Bornekova” by Sara Turnquist
See what I’m hosting next on my Bookish Events page!
Be sure to visit my ‘lost interview’ with histfic author Alison McMahon!
Similar to blog tours where I feature book reviews, as I choose to highlight an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog. I provide the questions for interviews and topics for the guest posts; wherein I receive the responses back from publicists and authors directly. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them; I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers.
Kindly leave a comment or question for Ms Turnquist below!
{SOURCES: Cover art of “The Lady Bornekova”, book synopsis, author photograph of Sara R. Turnquist, author biography, book excerpt, the tour host badge & were all provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and used with permission. Conversastions with the Bookish banner created by Jorie in Canva. Tweets were able to be embedded by the codes provided by Twitter. The book trailer for “The Lady Bornekova” via Sara Turnquist had either URL share links or coding which made it possible to embed this media portal to this post, and I thank them for the opportunity to share more about this novel and the author who penned it. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Comment Box Banner made by Jorie in Canva.}
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