I truly would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has dropped by over the past week to *vote!* on the hour in which #ChocLitSaturdays the weekly Twitter chat will meet! I have appreciated your feedback and have had the difficult choice in sorting out what to trust more: the top vote cast in the Poll itself OR knowing the reality of the time zones! Therefore, let me break everything down and let you know how I came to my conclusion!
The final results of the Poll:
Screen Capture of Poll Results to determine #ChocLitSaturdays Twitter Chat Hour
And, therein lies the dilemma for me!
California | New York | London | Europe | Australia
8a | 11a | 4p | 5p | 1a = 30%
9a | Noon | 5p | 6p | 2a
10a | 1p | 6p | 7p | 3a = 15%
11a | 2p | 7p | 8p | 4a
1p | 4p | 9p | 10p | 6a
Noon | 3p | 8p | 9p | 5a
3p | 6p | 11p | Midnight | 8a
5p | 8p | 1a | 2a | 10a = 15%
Of the majority votes, my own personal inclination is to host #ChocLitSaturdays at either 11a OR 1p as it is more agreeable for my own time zone. Of the two choices, I cannot in my heart host the chat at 1p because asking someone in Australia or New Zealand to pop online after 3a in the morning is beyond inconsiderate! Moreso, I could theoretically yield to 11a as being a night owl (and many writers will agree with me!) 1a is not too late for a chat if you are regularly up past midnight!
On the flipside, as a lot of ChocLit authors are located in England, the reverse is equally plausible if the chat is held at 8p, as it would be 1a for them! My heart tells me that a more convenient hour for everyone concerned is actually going to be:
#ChocLitSaturdays Twitter Chat & Blog Feature of Jorie Loves A Story
My Inspiration for #ChocLitSaturdays Twitter Chat:
By uniting readers & writers alike in a conversation where we can talk about why we love Romance and the kind of stories which encourage our spirits & hearts, as much as give us a calming balm when we sit down to read. I know the chat will expand and grow as time shifts forward however, I’d love to invite ChocLit authors to drop in if they were available to do so, as much as welcome other writers to join in on the fun too! I see it as a celebration of Romance for all that Romance offers but at the same time have it a bit hinged to the book I am reviewing that particular Saturday and use the themes inside the novel as a jumping off point of what to talk about in the Romance field in general.
I have been wanting to incorporate what the tagline on my #ChocLitSaturdays badge declares: romance, chocolate, and a cuppa tea is simply divine on the weekends! I’d love to talk and share about our favourite bits of chocolate, romance reads, and which cuppa tea or tea latte works brilliantly with the book in our hands! I’d like to start off the chat with the focus on the recent ChocLit novel I read and then, segue from there to talk about the themes inside it before going into the Romance genre as a broad stroke of conversation. Again, I’d like to offer the authors of ChocLit a chance to drop in and converse with us as well.
And, I look forward to seeing you on the morrow: 26 April, 2014! We will be discussing the thematic complexity of “The Maid of Milan” as well as delving into how other romance writers have treated the same elements of psychological suspense & the depth of deceit. Be sure to read my book review ahead of joining in on the conversation as a ‘head’s up’! Thank you for your support!
The following is a guide to know when the book reviews will alight on my blog!
{Sources: #ChocLitSaturdays collage was created by Jorie in PicMonkey. Book Covers for ChocLit novels provided by ChocLitUK and used with permission. Jorie Loves A Story badge created by Ravven, with edits by Jorie in Fotoflexer. Screen capture of #ChocLitSaturdays Poll results via PollDaddy.com provided by keyboard shortcuts & edited in PicMonkey. #ChocLitSaturdays Twitter Chat Badge created by Jorie in PicMonkey.}
Today, it is a pure honour and joy to welcome back to Jorie Loves A Story, Ms. Sandra Leesmith! Of whom was featured previously in a Book Cover Reveal post as on the 14th of March, “Love’s Promises” was not yet on a blog tour but being revealed to the literary world as its cover was ready to make its début!
I was quite excited to participate in my first event hosted by Ms. Amber Stokes of Editing Through the Seasons, and I could not have hoped for a better day! The conversations which ignited in the comment threads simply warmed my heart, as I am always striving towards making Jorie Loves A Story a happy hearted place for readers and writers to alight, whilst conversing about books, bookish culture, and the authors we appreciate discovering!
This was a particularly joyous day as an author I dearly appreciated also dropped by for a quick visit, Ms. Julie Lessman! (author of the Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart in San Francisco series) When I was asked by Ms. Stokes to participate in the blog book tour for “Love’s Promises” I was simply overjoyed I could ask to Interview Ms. Leesmith and by a suggestion of Ms. Stokes to focus a bit more on the snippets of a larger conversation her and I had only just touched the generalities on during her Cover Reveal!
Let me share what I am referencing:
INSPIRATION BEHIND MY INTERVIEW:
{14 March, 2014}
Ms. Leesmith: I really do like having print copies so probably will do it. Lately though even at book fairs, (I was recently at the Chocolate Affair in Glendale, AZ) most of my sales were kindle. Young people especially want to use their e-readers and I guess they are better for the environment. The old publishing paradigm was such a waste. At least with print on demand, you don’t have more books printed than are being used or bought.
So keep positive. A print copy might sail your way after all. smile
Jorie: I am hearing murmurs to that effect in some regions (as far as young adult readers seeking digital copies) but then, in other regions in the States I am learning that there is a falling back to reading traditional books; as the culture of the Indie bookshoppe is undergoing a Renaissance where readers are appreciating the ability to converse and gather! I find this to be both humbling and uplifting, as it goes back to how I grew up appreciating the interactions at bookshoppes! In regards to the environment, I have been proactive in seeking how publishers can lower the footprint of carbon in the making of books as well as the footprint of distribution. Some of my findings are already out there and known; such as using non-old growth forest paper, Eco-friendly inks (ex. vegetable ink), and of course, I have a few personal ideas about how to make hardbacks more environmentally sound. I love how some publishers (esp Indies) are going carbon-neutral for production by implementing green energy on behalf of their printing side of the ledger! Renewable energy sources excite me for their ability to shift traditional industries into an era of new green freedom! I don’t believe the old paradigm is dead completely, because I do believe in print books being alleviated to a new level of green by changing how we focus on book production and the ‘ingredients’ in which go into book printing! :) And, that *excites!* me!! :)
Ms. Leesmith: Okay okay, you talked me into it. I was on the fence about printing the book and have several friends who prefer the print. So I will contact Lena and she will get it going. She does a fantastic job so I can’t complain there.
And yay for you on promoting the “green”. The old paradigm was CRAZY. I mean printing 100,000 books and throwing away what didn’t sell. yikes. That just breaks my heart to think of all those books burning away. And the waste. But you are right. The changes are not complete, but they are on their way and that is a good thing.
Jorie: Oh, my dear stars, seriously!? I feel rather chuffed then! I hadn’t expected to alter your stance on this, but felt encouraged to broach how I think publishing is making strides towards change which can be not only be more efficient but positive for our collective futures! :) Yes, I do agree one of the downfalls of discarding the books is that they were never put into the hands of those who could benefit by reading them! :( I felt there was a disconnect between waste and recycling the books into programs and charities for literary outreach! A bit like how restaurants and grocery stores had to shift their thinking towards day-old bread and pastries!? I get excited about where positive progress in the 21st Century is leading all of us! :)
Ms. Leesmith: And yes, what a concept to recycle and use what was formerly thrown away. I love the changes coming about with new ideas and new ways of thinking. Seriously we have to think about these things. Waste is not God’s plan is it? We are so blessed so we should take care not to lose those blessings.
For Monica Scott, building her late father’s house at Lake Tahoe isn’t an option—it’s a necessary distraction from confusing memories and an uncertain future. But a handsome planner working for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is keeping Monica from moving forward with the project. Never mind that he’s young and charming with a great sense of humor. No one is going to stop Monica from making her father’s dream—and her own—a reality.
All Greg Linsey wants is for his work to mean something. His job at TRPA gives him the opportunity to fight for the environment he loves and make a difference in his small corner of the world. But with the sophisticated Monica Scott’s arrival, his dedication is tested as never before, especially when Monica turns to his unscrupulous nemesis for assistance. As Greg and Monica’s animosity turns into something far sweeter, can they learn to accept each other’s promises and avoid the growing danger to their lives and hearts?
Author Biography:
SANDRA LEESMITH loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and her books at sandraleesmith.com.
Book Cover Designer Biography:
LENA GOLDFINCH writes fantasy and romance for teens and adults. She’s a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it’s a novel, novella, or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Elements of romance, fantasy, and mystery have a way of creeping into her writing, even when she’s writing something light and contemporary like her latest releases, Haunting Joy and Take a Picture. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests. She lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. Learn more about Lena and her books atlenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.
Hi Jorie, and thank you for inviting me to join you on your wonderful blog.
You have some very intriguing questions.
I have been environmentally conscience about our footprint on Earth since I was a young child, which took on a new height of awareness when I met an Environmentalist in the 5th grade who spoke about the plight of the natural resources with a focus on the Amazon in Brazil. Coincidentally, this was the same year I saw the motion picture “Medicine Man,” which had a deep impact on me. What were the roots and impetus of your own heart’s focus on the environment?
Leesmith responds: Interesting question, and I love hearing how your journey began. My parents used to take us camping every year, and they instilled in me a love of animals and their habitat. I grew up in California where moderate temperatures year round allowed me to spend most of my free time outdoors. Add my marriage to a biologist who spends every spare moment outdoors, and it becomes clear how my love for nature and the environment formed naturally.
What was the seedling idea that inspired you to etch out a thread of narrative with a focus on preservation and conservation within “Love’s Promises”?
Leesmith responds: My husband and I purchased a house at Lake Tahoe—a fixer-upper. When we began projects to renovate, we ran into the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. The agency caused a setback to our projects, but we both were intrigued and impressed with the purpose and goal of the agency to preserve the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe.
I write romance and I try to find interesting occupations to bring a refreshing element into the basic plot of boy-meets-girl. It is even more fun when the occupation can add to the conflict. The people at the TRPA were very helpful in helping me develop conflict and plot.
As you first started to feel the ink slip out of the pen and create characters living inside worlds of your own imagination, did you find yourself drawn to knitting together stories which had a social action awareness or was this something that developed organically?
Leesmith responds: I’ve always enjoyed books that have a subtle social message. I think that is why I end up writing stories with a social message. Maybe it’s the teacher in me. I don’t purposely set out to write a social message, but social issues are what interest me, so I end up including them in my writing. So I guess you would have to say I develop them organically.
I have noticed a shift towards more environmentally sound building practices (green building), retrofitting renovations, and a more plausible shift towards offering green building supplies & materials. Did you incorporate these into your back-story, or were these part of what inspired the focus on a low impact build within the story? Do you feel that as we move forward green building supplies will become more affordable rather than cost prohibitive?
Leesmith responds: The policies set forth by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency were revolutionary in the early eighties when I encountered them for the first time. Their innovative ideas inspired me to focus on the low impact build within the story. I am not an economist, but I would imagine if green building supplies are required and consequently mass-produced, they would come down in price.
Extending from here, when I hosted your Cover Reveal, we started to talk about the changing tides n the publishing industry to have a focus on creating environmentally sound books within the trade. At the heart of the conversation we were each murmuring a nod towards how encouraging this practice is for those who do not want to negatively affect our fragile world. Have you found resources to drop the impact from a self-published author’s point of view, or is it still limited to publishers who can implement the changes? (either independent or mainstream)
Leesmith responds: Personally, I think the change in the publishing world is long overdue. It is a struggle at this time because of the extreme paradigm shift going on. It is difficult to not only change the paradigm for the publishers and authors, but the readers need to shift also. For example, readers used to go into bookstores and see physical books, read the back covers, and then decide which ones to purchase. With the advent of e-pubbing, the reader isn’t quite sure where to look for new books or new authors. Blogs featuring reviews have blossomed. GoodReads is a source for those who know about it and understand it. But it takes awhile for the general public to shift their buying paradigm.
It has been much easier for the publisher and author to shift to print on demand and e-book publishing. These are so cost-effective and, as you pointed out, low impact on the environment—specifically trees—that the shift to actually produce a book using these new methods has become relatively easy. What is difficult is the seller-buyer relationship. How do these publishers and authors make their product known? This shift is in constant flux and change, which is both frustrating and extremely exciting. There is so much change going on it makes one’s head spin to keep up.
What inspires my heart towards the changes that are upcoming, is that we do not have to become a completely digitalised world of readers. There are key steps to take to either become carbon-neutral, or by making smaller changes such as tree-neutral or non-old growth forest sourced papers, vegetable dye inks, and non-off gassing glues for binding purposes. Do you see more readers starting to pay attention to how books are produced and feeling celebratory when they find publishers who are taking a stand for a new green-minded publishing platform? Or, do you feel this is limited to writers and publishers who see a healthier way to produce print books in a more environmentally ethical way?
Leesmith responds: Well as much as I would love to think publishers, readers, and authors are thinking of these issues, I doubt that most even know it is an issue to consider. Most authors and publishers are trying to figure out how to market their work and frankly, I don’t think offering environmental friendly products means much to them. I could be wrong and sincerely hope I am, but in my experience, the environmental issues just don’t resonate with most people, especially if they impact their pocketbook or their plans.
Do you think the mind-set has been that if its not digitally published it is not green? And, if this is true, how then, can we as readers and as writers lead the movement forward by championing green practices for print books? Especially considering that not every reader is physically able to read digital books?
Leesmith responds: Hmmm great question. I imagine that just like with every aspect of awareness of the environment and our responsibility to care for this planet—our life support system—we need to continue to educate the public. Maybe when a reader becomes aware that there are such things as green practices for printing books, they might try to be more supportive of the practices.
What kinds of stories enlivened your heart first as a child and then as an adult? Which branches of literature do you find yourself leaning towards? Whom would you consider your favourite authors and the books they penned which still leave you ruminative!?
Leesmith responds: I skipped most books that children read and went right to my mother’s books, which were mostly romance and historical. My favorites though of the children’s books were animal stories like Black Beauty, White Fang, Old Yeller, etc.
For me, I started to notice that my path towards being a reader was directly hinged to being a voracious reader from a young age. Do you think most writers feel an intuitive inclination to write whilst wrapped up in the happiness of reading? What do you think guides us in this direction, or what do you feel guided you?
Leesmith responds: I do believe that most writers are or were voracious readers. They are easily caught up in a world of make-believe or into a quest for knowledge. I also believe that most voracious readers were so from an early age. Reading is an important source of information, entertainment, and joy.
Writing on the other hand is a gift. Not everyone is cut out to write, and it can be quite painful. It is a craft that can be learned, but getting into the true grit of characterization and creation of a story is in my opinion a gift we are born with. I enjoy good music, but I can’t carry a tune to save my life. I enjoy good art, but I can barely draw stick figures. But I can dream up stories in my head. I’ve been a daydreamer from as far back as I can remember. I consider it a gift and am thankful to have it.
The setting for “Love’s Promises” is situated in Lake Tahoe, which is known for needing a pulse of attention on its growth and development which will allow its residents to be stewards of the land rather than consumers who hurt its natural beauty. In your research, did you find the general populace was in agreement with protecting the natural resources, or did you find them to be a bit indifferent? I ask as I tend to find most areas of natural beauty are caught between the balance of protection and living in the moment for what works for the majority.
Leesmith responds: I think many visitors are indifferent to the environment issues. However, any tourists who are interested in the outdoors and participate will be educated. Most hiking trails post signs with instructions on preserving the environment. Many of the roadside rests and points of interest have displays showing the environmental issues. So people who stop to read these informative brochures, posters, information boards, etc., will become aware.
Anyone who lives in the Lake Tahoe area or tries to build will definitely learn and be concerned about the issues. They will be like Monica, who was forced to learn what impact her plans would have and which plans would be allowed.
What do you feel is Lake Tahoe’s greatest blessing? And, what is their greatest concern?
Leesmith responds: Lake Tahoe’s greatest blessing and their greatest concern are the same. The environmental beauty with all of the features that attract tourists are what blesses the area. But damage to the delicate eco-system and preserving the natural beauty is their biggest concern.
Despite the overwhelming odds to bring more green into the world of publishing, what has been one observation of positive change that you have thus far seen?
Leesmith responds: When I go to books festivals and book sales, I find I sell fewer and fewer print books. Most people smile and tell me they read from their Kindle or e-reader. I don’t think this change is because of environmental concerns though. I think they are just easier to manage and books are cheaper. Economics still drives production.
You appear to live in harmony with the natural world each chance you can. Do you enjoy walking out in nature? What are your favourite species of birds and/or wildlife to encounter whilst you’re in their living habitats? Do you take a camera with you as I do?
Leesmith responds: I love nature and the outdoors. I get rather grumpy if I can’t get outside for at least part of my day. I am blessed to have lived in temperate climates where this is possible all year round. I love to hike and walk in mountains, the desert, the valleys, the beach—wherever I am. I am delighted beyond measure when I spot the local wildlife. While at Lake Tahoe we saw black bears, deer, coyotes, foxes, squirrels, and chipmunks. There were many species of birds and raptors to enjoy, however you surely won’t miss the raucous noise of the Steller’s jays. Their bright blue color and silly antics are very entertaining.
What is your greatest joy as a writer!?
Leesmith responds: I think my greatest joy as a writer is the ability to get lost in another world and make things come out with a happy ending—something we can’t always do in real life. My family all tell me it’s because my characters are the only people who listen to what I say. (Being the oldest child and a teacher, I’ve been known to be rather bossy. However, what they all fail to tell you is they all are great at ignoring me.) This makes me chuckle anyway. I’m sure it goes deeper than that. My husband likes me writing stories because then I’m not writing him a honey-do list.
You’re quite welcome, Ms. Leesmith! It was an absolute pleasure having you back whilst having the ability to carry-on a conversation which was a bit in-progress since we last conversed! I welcomed the chance to get to speak to you about green publishing practices and green-living principles. So much in fact, that it sparked a renewed interest in re-seeking out all the lovely links I had saved on my computer which has been in the graveyard since late 2013! I had a special folder I was keeping updated for green publishers and information on how publishing was starting to enact greener practices as well as how revolutionary the printing & inking sources were starting to be reflective of keeping our books environmentally friendly! I was overjoyed finding that there are far more websites and publishers making headway towards a green future for the bookish soul in all of us with an environmental conscience! And, the best part of all is that everything I have uncovered has lead me realise that my own heart’s dream of finding a way to keep books in print format has already arrived!
How thankful I am that my tour stop today is hosted on *Earth Day!* A day in which my heart overflows with the hope of what lies ahead in the future as each of us endeavours to grow in mindfulness & chooses to seek out those who are like-minded and astute towards environmental protection and change of conscience in commerce practice! Happy Earth Day, dear hearts! Go out and hug a tree! Listen to it whisper a ‘hallo’! And, remember to continue to love books in print format for there are changes on the horizon which will give us the ability to print them in a kind way which has no impact on the trees which grant us life! Rescue out of print books and previously read books from used bookshoppes! Spread the love and give books as gifts! And, remember, always find a bookish ear to sit alongside whilst enjoying a cuppa tea and chatting merrily about what you’ve recently read!
Kindly note: in addition to this short list of resources for green-minded practices & the champion of eco-friendly resources in publishing & printing of books, I have also included two additional resources: the last two links are green building & business contacts as much as in the Related Articles are hand-selected published documents which continue the conversation forward. Including finding mainstream publishers who are adverting their Sustainability & Green practices which are already in effect. Kindly know each post I include “Related Articles” those were not selected by a computer, they were hand-selected by me! I read each one & felt it was necessary to include the links for reading after you had concluded my own blog post.
Previously I hosted “Love’s Promises” Book Cover Reveal. And, I look forward to reviewing Love’s Promises when the novel is released in a print edition!Stay tuned!
Similar to blog tours, when I feature a showcase for an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog.
I am curious to learn what your thoughts and impressions are on how publishing is making strides towards greening the publication and printing of books? Have you started to notice the labels and badges of certification of green printing practices like I have started to see included in print editions? (i.e. ChocLitUK novels carry the badge for FSC certification) Do you feel like I do that there is plausible hope that we can continue to read print books in a world in which being more environmentally conscience is part of how we can carry the torch for being economically tree-neutral? I have also started to research finding which publishers and/or printers are aligning their companies to adopt carbon-neutral practices by implementing green energy for their production. I find it to be quite the exciting time in publishing and I welcome your thoughts, observations, and conversation in the comment threads!
Kindly share sites and links for both mainstream & indie publishers whose green practices I might not have highlighted in this Post. As well as any other green-minded websites you think would be of interest to me! I will be updating my linkage in my sidebar once I compile all the links together! Thank you in advance!
{SOURCES: Cover art of “Loves Promises”, author & illustrator photographs, book synopsis, and publicity badge were all provided by Editing Through The Seasons and used with permission. Author Interview badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Dividers provided by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com. Tweets were embedded due to the codes Twitter provided.}
{ I keep a Press & Publishers List via Twitter; green or otherwise, as this is an on-going methodology of change happening right now in publishing. All change requires patience. IF I have been remiss & you know of a publisher I might enjoy keeping a tab on, please include their twitter handle & the reason why you think it would be a good fit for me to check out in the comment threads! Likewise, if you’d like to subscribe to my list on twitter, please do! }
@JLovesAStory@SLeesmithAuthor love to. I noticed you included me in your tweet. Thanx, I started 24 years ago, 20th anniversary of Earthday — Greg Barber (@GreenPrinter) April 22, 2014
I wanted to create a bit of a niche on Jorie Loves A Story to showcase romance fiction steeped in relationships, courtships, and the breadth of marriage enveloped by honestly written characters whose lives not only endear you to them but they nestle into your heart as their story is being read! I am always seeking relationship-based romance which strikes a chord within my mind’s eye as well as my heart! I’m a romantic optimist, and I love curling into a romance where I can be swept inside the past, as history becomes lit alive in the fullness of the narrative and I can wander amongst the supporting cast observing the principal characters fall in love and sort out if they are a proper match for each other! I love how an Indie Publisher like ChocLitUK is such a positive alternative for those of us who do not identify ourselves as girls and women who read ‘chick-lit’. I appreciate the stories which alight in my hands from ChocLit as much as I appreciate the inspirational romances I gravitate towards because there is a certain level of depth to both outlets in romance which encourage my spirits and gives me a beautiful story to absorb! Whilst sorting out how promote my book reviews on behalf of ChocLit, I coined the phrase “ChocLitSaturdays”, which is a nod to the fact my ChocLit reviews & features debut on ‘a Saturday’ but further to the point that on the ‘weekend’ we want to dip into a world wholly ideal and romantic during our hours off from the work week!
Available Formats: Paperback & E-Book Page Count: 356
Acquired Book By: Although I am a regular reviewer for ChocLitUK, I am usually happily surprised by a tucked in chocolate scented pencils with the books which arrive by their distributor IPM (International Publisher’s Marketing). The book they surprised me with is The Maid of Milan penned by my very first ChocLit novelist I consumed! Ms. Beverley Eikli wrote the smashingly brilliant The Reluctant Bride! I have decided to read this unexpected ChocLit novel for my next ChocLitSaturdays – the 19th of April! Therefore, I received a complimentary copy of The Maid of Milan from ChocLit via IPM (International Publisher’s Marketing) in exchange for an honest review! I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Intrigued to Read:
Although I am quick to lament my adoration and appreciation of uplifting and inspiring romances, there is another part of me that is quite bemused by the darker shades of the human psyche. Give me a well write suspense or thriller, wrapped inside of a historical fiction or a period drama and I will be happy as a clam! There is always a part of me (truly, I think its part of all readers!) which would love to take a bit of an adventurous risk, see inside the dangerous netherworlds people get caught up inside and see if they can just as boldly detach themselves without harm, scrapings, or ill-wonted side effects. There is always a measure of darkness on the tiptoes of light, whilst even the most good-natured individual can side-step and get their lives in a bit of a muddlement! I like seeing the dexterity of a writer take on harder hitting themes and giving us a bit of a hearty narrative to chew on! After all, not all of life is predictable nor is it glistening with happiness, there are undercurrents of events where fear lies in wait and I am not a reader who backs down or away from a more serious topic or subject as it presents itself in fiction. Sometimes too, I think that it is good to throw a wench into the wheel of our reading adventures and take a chance on a story that might unexpectedly take us down darkened corridors and within the heart of where darkness broods ill will. We can always carry the lantern of light and hope that the characters who are finding themselves a bit blighted can emerge out of their situations, a bit weathered but perhaps, wiser for the experiences?
Book Synopsis: How much would you pay for a clear conscience?
Adelaide Leeson wants to prove herself worthy of her husband, a man of noble aspirations who married her when she was at her lowest ebb.
Lord Tristan Leeson is a model of diplomacy and self-control, even curbing the fiery impulses of his youth to maintain the calm relations deemed essential by his mother-in-law to preserve his wife’s health.
A visit from his boyhood friend, feted poet Lord James Dewhurst, author of the sensational Maid of Milan, persuades Tristan that leaving the countryside behind for the London Season will be in everyone’s interests.
But as Tristan’s political career rises and Adelaide revels in society’s adulation, the secrets of the past are uncovered. And there’s a high price to pay for a life of deception.
Author Biography:
Beverley Eikli wrote her first romance when she was seventeen. However, drowning the heroine on the last page was, she discovered, not in the spirit of the genre so her romance-writing career ground to a halt and she became a journalist. After throwing in her secure job on South Australia’s metropolitan daily, The Advertiser, to manage a luxury safari lodge in the Okavango Delta, in Botswana, Beverley discovered a new world of romance and adventure in a thatched cottage in the middle of a mopane forest with the handsome Norwegian bush pilot she met around a camp fire. Eighteen years later, after exploring the world in the back of Cessna 404s and CASA 212s as an airborne geophysical survey operator during low-level sorties over the French Guyanese jungle and Greenland’s ice cap, Beverley is back in Australia living a more conventional life with her husband and two daughters in a pretty country town an hour north of Melbourne.
Beverly won Choc Lit’s Search for an Australian Star with The Reluctant Bride. Beverley’s Choc Lit novels include: The Reluctant Bride and The Maid of Milan.
Self-Published: H.H. Miller (@HHMillerBooks) 9 January, 2014 Official Author Websites: Facebook | Twitter Converse via: #InscriptionTour Available Formats: Trade Paperback and E-Book Page Count: 278
Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Inscription” virtual book tour through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I received a complimentary copy of the book direct from the author H.H. Miller, in exchange for an honest review.I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Book Synopsis:
The year is 1851 and the Grand Guard is ravaging Mainland. Arrests. Floggings. Swift executions. Twenty-year-old Caris McKay, the beautiful heiress of Oakside Manor, is sent to live with distant relations until the danger has passed. It’s no refuge, however, as Lady Granville and her scheming son plot to get their hands on Caris’s inheritance with treachery and deceit.
Soon, alarming news arrives that the ruthless Captain James Maldoro has seized Oakside and imprisoned Caris’s beloved uncle. And now he’s after her.
Caris escapes with the help of Tom Granville, the enigmatic silver-eyed heir of Thornbridge. But when a cryptic note about a hidden fortune launches them on a perilous journey across Mainland, Caris and Tom must rely on wits, courage, and their growing love for each other if they hope to survive.
Filled with adventure, intrigue, and romance, Inscription will transport you to a historically fictional world you’ll never want to leave.
Author Biography:
H. H. Miller is the author of the novel Inscription, a historically fictional romantic adventure. In real life, she’s content director at Stoke Strategy, a brand strategy firm in Seattle, Washington, where she specializes in transforming what some might call “boring” technology jargon into compelling, readable, memorable stories. Her favorite escape is Manzanita, Oregon – a place of beautiful beaches, wild storms, chilly nights around the bonfire (even in July), and time to enjoy life with her husband and three children.
For more information please visit H.H. Miller’s Facebook Page.
On how I enjoy beginning a novel:
I am not sure the rituals other readers go through when they start to delve into a novel, but for me, I like to take a bit of time coaxing myself into the narrative hidden beneath the pages of the covers! I like to note the subtle definitive descriptions of the story on either the inside flaps of hardcovers or the back-covers of soft-cover editions. I like to take a nod and a pause to read the Acknowledgements, the Dedications, the Author’s Foreword, as well as see if the writer included a Table of Contents. This last habit is a bit remiss these days, but thankfully Inscription is the exception! Quite a lot can be found about a writer and their story prior to consumption, and what I appreciate the most are all the little hidden bits you can wander around a book and find! For instance, Miller likes to leave a bit of a trace of humour and intellectual curiosity for those who like me, are always a bit on a search for interesting words and turns of phrase. To include a scientific word I had not yet seen but knew was a nibbling of a clue of sorts was the kind of folly I cherish! For you see, a quick whirl of the One Look Dictionary Search I came to denote that the word ‘lepidopterist‘ is the particular person of interest who appreciates moths & butterflies!
My Review of Inscription:
The ominous beginning of Inscription left me murmuring about the atmospheric way a novel can transport us into that humming void of forethought and regret once we begin an adventure. Miller has the instinctive nature of writing a level of intrigue into her narrative that propels you forward, whilst yearning to see what shall happen next at the same time. Her deft skill is in giving such a vivid display of well-bodied characters set amongst the backdrop of turmoil. She eludes to the devastatingly brutal eclipse of a military state of fear all the while noting the charm of an Uncle’s love for his niece. Maddox and Caris are two characters you want to stand behind, due to the fullness of their heart and character.
I personally love to see authors knit in a proper dose of moxie into young female leads. To break the barriers and reveal the unique few who lived boldly in the 1800s. Pioneers so to speak who were rebels with the cause towards equality and the freedom to choose your own destiny as a woman. Care and attention was taken to have a flushed out back-story to weave together the in-between bits of Caris’s past. I love the broad and layered strokes Miller etches into the story-line. She makes reading Inscription a delight for the imagination. I truly celebrated her choice in giving her female lead the advantage over William Granville who is far more rake than gentleman! Even denoting this, Miller envelopes him with a dash of intrigue as he foolishly cannot make the leap as to how any woman can dismiss his advances. And in that bit of self-conceit, I always mirthfully feel a twitching in knowing an electric battle of the wills shall ensue!
Caris blessedly held her head and her carriage to an astute level of calm when facing down an adversary as thick and slick as William Granville. Her disdain for his reckless behaviour and his ill-wont attitude of elite privilege was never lost on her either. In never giving him the upper hand he craved she was slowly and calculating nibbing away at his ego. A trait that served her well as the danger started to heighten and her more immediate concerns turnt to survival.
The extenuating circumstances which led Caris to Thornbridge (relatives by marriage not blood) and away from her Uncle’s estate at Oakside Manor would reappear in her life to lead her back to the starting block. The entirety of her life was properly out of balance and sync with her heart, as she was running from danger from the moment she first left her Uncle. Danger has a cheeky way of catching up with you, as though a mark of its arrival is attached to you and only when you finally unravel the full scope of the deceit can you firmly step outside its reach.
Every inch of detail is set to the rhythm of events as they are unfolding for Caris; Tom William’s long-lost brother who returned home with quite the barrage of ill-justice attached to his heels. A motley crew of two seeking to find redemption and revenge on behalf of their circumstances and situations, they travelled together towards Oakside to see what if anything had become of Caris’s home. Whilst they travelled, I felt Caris was shedding her childhood skin a bit with each click of the horses hooves. She had become aware of her independence at Thornbridge surely, yet on the road back home she started to settle into her skin and realise this for herself. Part of reading her story felt like a woman on the verge of owning her own life, emerging out of a period of respite and entering into her future a bit stronger despite the grief of her adventure.
Inscription is told in three parts, much like a play on the stage. For all the entrances and exits, you find yourself so emerged into the story you struggle to re-adjust your eyes to the reality around you. It is a story enriched by courage, faith, love, and the determined grit to overcome all odds which become stacked against you. It is not for the faint of heart in some passages, as it does ruminate about the floggings (lashings by a cat-o-nine-tails) and the grisly vigilante murder by a lawman consumed by madness; but at the core of Inscription is the plight of one woman (Caris) and one bloke (Tom) finding their true destiny. And, that dear hearts is far worth the anguish of a few passages of turmoil! I devoured this text in one sitting as I could not bear to wait to know the outcome!
On Ms. Miller’s writing style :
Ms. Miller’s writing style reminds me distinctively of Jane Austen & Charlotte Bronté as she takes the best of what I love of both women’s style of the craft. She has picked up on the subtle grace of Austen’s observational narrative and of the beguiling atmosphere of Bronte. She has writ such an alarmingly brilliant drama that each page turn meant digging deeper into the suspense of the Granville family! In this, the joy of reading Inscription truly lay as it was within the layered threads of the Granville tapestry which beheld the best bits of intrigue!
Of course, one of the most startling revelations was in finding that William was a mere apple fallen too close to the tree! His mother Lady Granville was the spitting image of Danielle’s step-mother in Ever After! Where pride fell strong towards marital wealth and how the coffers of a family were paramount towards all other pursuits. As if the notion that wealth would bring true happiness rather than the gift of love providing true joy. Miller lets her readers think hard on the thematic she explores whilst giving a well-written story to be savoured.
I cannot wait to see what Ms. Miller writes next. She is one of the self-published authors who is re-defining the bar of excellence in self-publishing. Even the copy of the final draft was free of errors from my eyes!
Have you ever opened a book and begun to read what was inside its pages completely unaware of the story which would unfold? Only to realise that the story you are reading is writ in such a unique fashion, that your heart doesn’t want the pages to end? You want more of either this story or more titles by the author to consume next? This is how I felt as I read Inscription! It is even hard to describe *exactly* the kind of novel it is as at the heart of the story its a romance between two young twenty-somethings caught up in the middle of events that are beyond their control. Their harrowing journey is both towards each other and away from the danger others seek to see befall them. I could not take my eyes off the pages, as I loved how Miller elected to tell this story. Which book have you recently read which mirrored my own thoughts on this story?
{SOURCES: Inscription Book Cover, synopsis, tour badge, and HFVBT badge were provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and were used by permission. Book Review badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Tweets embedded by codes provided by Twitter.}
Whilst hosting #ChocLitSaturdays since January 2014, I have noticed that I would love to find a way to bring more awareness to the ChocLitUK novels I am reading & reviewing as much as I wanted to engage with romance readers who are seeking wicked sweet quality romances which are uplifting in scope, inspiring to read, and focus on the relationship side of romance rather than superficial lust and/or causal dating where the heart of the story is not hinged to the connection between the couple. I love ChocLit novels as much as I love the Inspirational Romances I read because they each in their own way give the reader a well-rounded story full of dynamic heroes and heroines who are just as strong as their male leads! I like the dimensional quality to the blokes and the way in which the stories are paced. I’ve been toying with hosting a weekly ‘chat’ on Twitter ever since I first started to discover weekly Twitter chats,… I love the community aspect of them & I love being able to connect to book bloggers, avid readers, emerging & new authors, writers working on manuscripts, and published authors who are receptive to chatting with the readers who adore their stories. I felt it would be a great bridge into my Saturday Feature as well as expand the knowledge of the feature itself. This is the short story of how it started to evolve,..
The idea to host a chat on Twitter on *Saturday* has been nibbling around my head for a little while now, not more than a week, but not a full seven days either! Then, inside #StoryDam tonight something quite magical happened as when I went to respond to a tweet within the conversation at hand, I somehow slipped this IDEA out into the open, and it felt like it was the right thing to do even though I was hesitating at the same time! For starters I had not run this past ChocLit yet, but I felt confident they would appreciate the gesture as in my mind the whole basis of the #ChocLitSaturdays chat would be to not only expand the knowledge of the books I am being blessed to read & review, but to incorporate a genuine love of reading *romance!*
By uniting readers & writers alike in a conversation where we can talk about why we love Romance and the kind of stories which encourage our spirits & hearts, as much as give us a calming balm when we sit down to read. I know the chat will expand and grow as time shifts forward however, I’d love to invite ChocLit authors to drop in if they were available to do so, as much as welcome other writers to join in on the fun too! I see it as a celebration of Romance for all that Romance offers but at the same time have it a bit hinged to the book I am reviewing that particular Saturday and use the themes inside the novel as a jumping off point of what to talk about in the Romance field in general.
I have been wanting to incorporate what the tagline on my #ChocLitSaturdays badge declares: romance, chocolate, and a cuppa tea is simply divine on the weekends! I’d love to talk and share about our favourite bits of chocolate, romance reads, and which cuppa tea or tea latte works brilliantly with the book in our hands! I’d like to start off the chat with the focus on the recent ChocLit novel I read and then, segue from there to talk about the themes inside it before going into the Romance genre as a broad stroke of conversation. Again, I’d like to offer the authors of ChocLit a chance to drop in and converse with us as well.
Everyone in #StoryDam & a few in #ChickLitChat tonight were encouraging me to think I was onto something with this idea, and therefore, I am launching this post as a way to get feedback before proceeding forward! I have written up a Poll on ideas for when I can host the chat but please, if your time zone is awkward to meet-up on the options I have given, in the comment threads I welcome feedback on which hours is best for everyone!
I also want you to take a moment in the comment threads to respond to my loosely conceived ideas & let me know if you would like to spend an hour with me on Saturdays talking about ChocLit, chocolate, tea, romance, heroes, heroines, and the joy of reading romance! Readers & writers will always be welcome but I’d love to keep the focus on reading romance and not turn this into a ‘how to write’ romance chat. We can always talk about the craft of writing as it organically evolves, as chats tend to organically go here or there naturally, but I simply meant, I wanted this to be from the reading point of view verse the writing perspective.
I am going to keep the Poll up for a week, but if enough of you respond by midnight Friday the 18th, I might surprise you and host my first #ChocLitSaturdayschat THIS Saturday! Go! Vote! Write me in the comment threads! Let’s pull this idea of mine together! Tweet & share this with your bookish friends! Help me get the word out and let’s see where this off the cuff idea of mine leads!
Be sure to read my contribution to Mailbox Mondays from the 14th,
First hour is EST USA | Second hour is England | After most votes are cast I might create a second as I had accidentally forgotten to account for the time differences! You’d think I’d remember the five hour time difference by now! Therefore, you can vote more than once, if you already voted cast a second hour you’d be available!
{SOURCES: Jorie Loves A Story badge created by Ravven with edits by Jorie in Fotoflexer. Book covers for ChocLitUK novels provided by ChocLitUK for promotion & reviews; used with permission. The collage of book covers & the notice for #ChocLitSaturdays was created by Jorie in PicMonkey.}
Beverley Eikli wrote her first romance when she was seventeen. However, drowning the heroine on the last page was, she discovered, not in the spirit of the genre so her romance-writing career ground to a halt and she became a journalist.
After throwing in her secure job on South Australia’s metropolitan daily, The Advertiser, to manage a luxury safari lodge in the Okavango Delta, in Botswana, Beverley discovered a new world of romance and adventure in a thatched cottage in the middle of a mopane forest with the handsome Norwegian bush pilot she met around a camp fire.
Eighteen years later, after exploring the world in the back of Cessna 404s and CASA 212s as an airborne geophysical survey operator during low-level sorties over the French Guyanese jungle and Greenland’s ice cap, Beverley is back in Australia living a more conventional life with her husband and two daughters in a pretty country town an hour north of Melbourne.
