by Roseanna White | Oct 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
(I’m leaving this up on Wednesday too, because . . . um . . . well, because it’s been a really hectic week, I woke up with a headache, and I’m still enjoying seeing my cover front and center. 😉 Back to usual posts Thursday.)
I just looked down at the calendar on my computer and realized that Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is only one month plus a few odd days away from release. Squeeeeeeeeeee! And so, because we have lots to be excited about with Annapolis these days, I’m going to take today to talk about it. Mostly because I’ve already given sneak peeks of the other books I’m reading, LOL, and haven’t finished them yet to offer a more thorough review. 😉
In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton.
Never did Lark think she’d want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life, but then he betrays her with her cousin. She flees to Annapolis, Maryland, the country’s capital, and throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes.
Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his bride. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new country he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater… before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.
~*~
I’ve received from advance feedback from authors and now from RT Book Reviews, so I’m going to share those. Each and every one was a surprise blessing–seriously, I have been floored by the feedback. I guess I shouldn’t be, because this book was all God. I don’t think I ever could have finished it had He not given me the words I needed every day. Some days it was like pulling teeth, but He was faithful, and I’m excited to see what He has in store for the book. =)
4 1/2 Star TOP PICK
“White writes an unpredictable love story that will keep the reader cheering for the characters. The setting of this creative and believable romance is the country’s then-capital, Annapolis. This will definitely be a favorite in the Love Finds You series.”
~Lindy J. Swanson reviewer
~*~
“Delightfully intoxicating, Love Finds you in Annapolis, Maryland captured me on page one and never let go. I didn’t want the story to end. Roseanna White’s flawless prose and captivating characters deliver in every way. Thoroughly enjoyable!”
~Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of A Lasting Impression and Within My Heart
~*~
“Beautifully written, Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is a treasure trove of romance, American history, and spiritual truths. Lark is the most winsome character I’ve encountered in a long time and the wooing back of a broken heart is exquisitely done, brimming with surprises and tender moments, tears and hope. You won’t want to leave Annapolis after this moving journey of the heart – and you don’t have to, as this book is destined for your keeper shelf!”
~Laura Frantz, author of The Colonel’s Lady
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“What a delightful read!”
~Laurie Alice Eakes, award-winning author
~*~
Okay, blatant self-promotion over. Though I’ll provide the pre-order links for Amazon and ChristianBook in case you’re just sooooooo intrigued now. 😉
by Roseanna White | Oct 24, 2011 | Word of the Week
I’ve studied Ancient Greek. As in, took 2 years of the language, in addition to reading a slew of the texts. So things Ancient Greek I like–and tend to use. And assume I know pretty well. 😉
And so, I’ve never hesitated to use the word “kudos” in a historical manuscript because, well, I know it’s directly from the Greek. I know it’s old.
But apparently the English didn’t pick up on this fun word until 1799. Sigh. 😉
Kudos, taken directly from Greek (if altered slightly because of a non-meshing of the alphabets), means “fame, renown.” Though it may sound plural to an English speaker with that -s ending, it is in fact singular.
When kudos first entered our language, it was in academic circles only–among those who would have read the Greek, go figure. =) But by the 1920s, journalists had picked up on it and began to use it in articles, which entered it into the mainstream.
And to give kudos where it’s due, I’d love to direct everyone to the
Colonial Quill Anniversary Celebration today! We’re especially celebrating the releases of two members’ books this month, but also the founding of our oh-so-delightful Colonial group blog. Please stop by and join in our e-party. =)
Oh! And though I’m
not sharing this for the kudos (tee hee hee), I just learned that
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is RT Book Reviews’ Top Pick for Inspirationals for December! So exciting!!
by Roseanna White | Oct 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
Today we’re moving forward into I Corinthians 2. For your convenience, I’m pasting it here, this time in American Standard Version. =)
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:
7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:
8 which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
9 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.
10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.
14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
~*~
Today’s passage continues the theme we started last week about man’s wisdom v. God’s wisdom, man’s weakness v. God’s strength. But chapter 2 names it, reminding us all that it is the Spirit who instructs.
Can you share a time the Spirit spoke His wisdom to you?
Is there another part of this chapter that struck you?
by Roseanna White | Oct 20, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
I’m going to try to share news in a way that doesn’t tell what I’m not at liberty to tell yet. =) Let’s see how I do.
This much I think I can say: In the last two weeks, I’ve gotten two offers for book contracts. One for a three-book deal. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m not going to say what books or what publishers given that the contracts haven’t been settled yet, but yeah. Wow. I have been one EXCITED woman, and have done much calling to family and best friend so I can squeal. =)
The funniest part was that when I told my daughter (who will be 6 on Sunday! Where did the time go??) about the more recent of the two, I said, “Xoe, remember this story I told you about? Well a publisher bought it!” And Xoe’s eyes got really big, she jumped up and down, and said, “Where is it? Let me see!”
LOL. If only it were so quick. 😉
But it’s really neat to see how the Lord worked all this out at once, and both a relief and an excitement to know that my next writing-year is now filled. I work well with direction. =) It’s also a blessing to be working with these publishers and editors who I really admire. I’ve already had a phone call with the second editor, chatting about all the aspects she loved, the gleam that had lit the president’s eye when she described my story to him, and how excited they all are about this project. Music to an author’s ears!
But alas, after the initial jigging comes reality, which in this business means WAITING. And in the case of October, it means a lot of family activities taking my time. So these next few days I’m going to be making a birthday cake with a pirate ship, cutting out the same from a giant cardboard piece for the kids to play in at the party, assembling a variety of homemade games and decorations, and trying to squeeze research and writing in there wherever I can.
Oh, and I just got a Kindle! That, at least, is helping me with my reading. Yesterday it read to me as I packed books into envelopes. =)
Well, there you have my exciting, amazing two weeks. I’ll share the details as soon as I can!
by Roseanna White | Oct 19, 2011 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Though I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of the research I need to do for my Savannah-set work-in-progress, thanks to Saving Savannah and the mountains of research the author has done, I’m beginning to get an idea of what oh-so-interesting details I want to work in.
And of course, one of the biggies is the slave culture in lowland Georgia All I knew of it was what I’d picked up from novels and movies–I’ve already learned more just from the first chapter of this book, LOL.
Most of Savannah’s slave population came from West Africa, and after their years here they developed a mish-mash of African and American ideas. Some meshed together well, other aspects seemed to clash. The culture of South Carolina and Georgia slaves has come to be termed Gullah-Geechee. Their language was Geechee–a combination of English and West African dialects. And they used Geechee to speak through metaphors, which I find really interesting. Gonna have to find a good way to do that among the slaves in my book!
The Gullah-Geechee culture draws a lot from its landscape, and the lowland, marshy regions in which the enslaved now served had a lot of similarities to their homeland, where waterways were sacred–they were in fact believed to host spirits and allow them to circulate among the living. So you can imagine that everyday life in an area spiderwebbed with marshlands fostered a spiritual existence for these people.
Which leads right into their faith and religion. Some stuck solely to West African beliefs, but even those who embraced Christianity had a unique type of it that integrated their traditions into it. Most believed in ghosts and spirits–they were a fact of life in their eyes, not up for debate. Christian baptism reinforced their beliefs about water being sacred. Their stories began to shift to include what they were taught and what was around them–another something I’m looking forward to integrating into my story!
The final detail I’ll put in here today is their trade and economy. When a slave had finished his allotted labor for the day (if he/she could finish it, which wasn’t always possible), they were permitted to work for their family. Most slave families ended up with chickens and gardens, with hogs and goods that they traded first among themselves and then were allowed to take in the cities. Some–few–ended up with a little nest egg. Mostly, though, these resources were what fed and clothed them–and the masters took it as an excuse not to do so themselves.
So there we have the first glimpse of what will be a secondary, underlying setting for my book. My little brain’s just a-turning, trying to figure out how to smoothly put a storyline in that will showcase this unique culture that would have been pulsing alongside the world of hoop skirts and balls!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.