by Roseanna White | Mar 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
For those who pay lots of attention, you know that Shadowed in Silk is the next title due out from our publishing company, WhiteFire Publishing. I’ve probably even shared a bit about it. But now that we’re about five or six weeks away from digital release and have the full cover in our possession, I’m thrilled to get to talk about it in more depth.
She was invisible to those who should have loved her.
After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.
Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.
Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.
~*~
Usually I share my own summary of the story rather than back cover copy, but given that Christine and I wrote the back cover copy . . . =)
This isn’t going to be a typical review, but I’m going to share with y’all what caught our attention about this book, and why I’m loving it more, the more times I read it.
First and foremost, Christine researched the Indian culture for years, and that comes through brilliantly. Within the first few pages, the reader is plunged directly into the India of the British Raj. She describes in amazing (but never overwhelming) detail the sights, the smells, the feel of this land that she and her characters adore. You can feel the pain of the Indian people, the disdain of the British memsahibs, the hope and dread of the officer and American/British heroine who only want fairness for the people of their hearts. You can smell the bazaar, feel the brassy sun upon your head, and taste the fear when your realize there’s a Russian spy underfoot.
It’s brilliant.
I’m nearly done edits on it, and many of my last few comments have been “This scene is amazing.” “Another perfect scene.” “My favorite line in the whole book.”
And how did she achieve it? By being passionate about her subject. I know Christine through a historical list, and I know that she has a special place in her heart for India, where her own British forefathers served in the cavalry. This story is, in its abstract anyway, her family’s story. And that connection comes through and excites the reader. As does Christine’s love for the Christian ministry trying to win over the souls of the great sub-continent.
Plenty of experts have written about how setting can be a character–that’s definitely the case in Shadowed in Silk, and through this book I have fallen in love with India as surely I have with plucky Abby and honorable Geoff. I am so, so thrilled to get to help bring this amazing book to life and get it into the hands of readers, and so, so thrilled to be a fellow-author with Christine on WhiteFire’s list.
The digital version of Shadowed in Silk will be out May 1, and the print September 1. Rest assured I’ll remind everyone when it’s available! =)
by Roseanna White | Mar 21, 2011 | Word of the Week
Can’t say as I’ve ever looked up the etymology of “giddy” before, but since I’ve been using it to describe my emotional state all week, I decided it would be an appropriate Word today. =) (For any who haven’t yet heard why I’m giddy, check out my “Woo Hoo!” post.)
In Old English, the word that’s very close to giddy meant “insane, mad, stupid, possessed by a spirit.” But for whatever reason, that questionable madness, by the 1540s, had come to describe the happy, elated feeling we associate with the word today. I suppose those who are insane can demonstrate it, which would account for the move of meaning, but I sure hope my behavior this past week didn’t make anyone think “Is she possessed?” LOL.
Honestly, I find it pretty surprising that a bunch of other meanings haven’t sprung up in that amount of time, but I consider this one of those words that gets to keep its nearly-original meaning because it sounds like it means. Giddy–doesn’t it just perfectly convey the happy, bubbling euphoria of its meaning with those quick syllables? (Contrast with “quagmire,” which is so long and sluggish in sound, much like the marshy mire of its meaning . . .)
Here’s to continued giddiness all week!
by Roseanna White | Mar 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
Special announcement bringing me out in the evening! I wanted so badly to share this yesterday, but I had to wait until things were official. And official they are!
That
Annapolis story I’ve been working on? Summerside Press bought it!
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland will be coming out this December, and I am honored and thrilled to be joining the illustrious ranks of Summerside authors.
So here’s the dish on getting the Call. My kids had spent Monday night at their grandmother’s, and she brought them home just in time for me to pack them up for Story Time at the Library. I had them buckled in and realized I’d forgotten my car keys. Ran down to the house . . . where the door was locked. So I ran back up, grabbed my house keys, and ran back down. Just as I grabbed the keys, the phone rang. My husband had heard me trying to get back in and emerged from his office to unlock the door, so he grabbed the phone. “It’s Janet,” he said.
Now, my agent doesn’t call me just to talk about the weather, but I was standing there with keys in hand and kids in the car, and my thoughts were a little scattered. So I answered, my heart thudding, but not with the single-minded clarity I would have expected.
“Are you sitting down?” she asked.
My mind flashed the kids in the car, who were hopefully not screaming, LOL. “No,” I said. “Should I be?”
She chuckled. “Yes. Sit down.” Once I was–on the step stool, mind you–she said, “We’ve got a sale! Summerside is buying
Annapolis.””
Me: “Oh, glory hallelujah!”
David made some positive kind of gesture–I couldn’t tell you what–and hugged me. Janet’s going on to talk deal points, I’m trying to crane to see if the kids have killed each other in the car, and David’s going, “What do you want me to do?”
So I send him out with the kids–one worry down–and then sink back down onto my step-stool to try to take it all in. Advance numbers. Royalty rates. Publication dates, dates the manuscript is due . . .
And inside, the Hallelujah Chorus is still gaining in volume. After getting the gist of the offer, I promise to talk to my agent later and squeal my way out the door. The kiddos–who don’t quite grasp the importance of a book deal with a big house–think Mommy has lost her mind as I sing and steering-wheel-thump my way to the Library. My mom was going to be there with my niece, so I knew I’d get to tell her in person. So I called my best friend and crit partner, Stephanie, totally not caring that it wasn’t even 9:00 in her time zone. Gave her a good start to her morning!
Now, let me just say that it’s hard to sit still through kids’ St. Patrick’s Day books when you’re buzzing with this kind of news. I managed it–barely–and then while they were chowing down on green cupcakes, Mom and I and the librarian let the glow
Shine and indulged in a few squeals and bounces.
Naturally I had to share with my friends right away, but it wasn’t until Friday that I was given leave to share with the world. So share I am!
It’s hard to believe that after a year of waiting for an answer, this is going to happen so fast! Nine months, in December, and my book will be out. On shelves. In stores. EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! (Still a little giddy, LOL.) And this release date is just perfect for the story, which is set in the winter, from November through February. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
I’ve done a lot of praising over here these last few days. It was a twisty, turning path a lot of the way, but the Lord has brought me right here, right now, leading me firmly each step of the way. I’m so thrilled to be able to join the Summerside family, and to add this story of early American history to my roster list of books–a departure from the Biblical, but a fun one.
Now, here’s a little one-paragraph blurb about
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland:
In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton. Never did she 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 social circle with new friends–-ones that force her to examine all she believes. Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his bride. But he soon comes to realize that in this new country he calls 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.
by Roseanna White | Mar 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
Today I’m happy to welcome Connie Stevens to my blog to chat about her romances from Heartsong Presents. She had one just release in January, and its sequel coming in the next month!
Connie has generously offered a copy of Revealing Fire to one lucky winner, to be sent once she gets her author copies (should be very soon). To enter, just leave a comment below with an email address!
~*~
About Revealing Fire
Pearl Dunnigan is in her September years, well beyond the age when most women fall in love.
She married her childhood sweetheart years ago. Now as a widow, she operates Willow Creek’s only boardinghouse and is content with her life. . .until Hubert dares to convince her to dream again.
During Hubert Behr’s youth, blind ambition and careless actions destroyed his family and his marriage. Have the lessons he’s learned since then made him worthy of a second chance, or has his past made him unsuitable for love? Hubert is willing to try again, but what will Pearl say when she learns his secrets? When Hubert’s estranged son arrives in town, his anger and scorn threaten to undo Hubert’s and Pearl’s plans.
Torn between what her heart knows and what she’d been told, Pearl is faced with a heart-rending decision. Is her love strong enough to do what is best, and will God give her the strength to endure what she must for the man she loves? When all the truth is revealed, will their love be destroyed or refined by fire?
~*~
About Connie
Connie Stevens lives in north Georgia with her husband of 37 years, John. One cantankerous kitty—misnamed Sweet Pea—allows them to live in her home. (John calls her Crabby Tabby.) When Connie isn’t writing, she loves reading, sewing, browsing antique shops, collecting teddy bears, and gardening. She also enjoys making quilts to send to the Cancer Treatment Centers Of America. Visit Connie’s Web site and blog at
www.conniestevenswrites.com.
~*~
What’s your latest book?
The first book in the Willow Creek series was LEAVE ME NEVER, which was released in January. The latest book is the second in the series, REVEALING FIRE, which comes out in April with Heartsong Presents, division of Barbour Publishing.
Congrats on the releases! What was the hardest part to write?
The hardest scene for me to write was when Hubert asked the doctor when his son would recover, and the doctor had to give Hubert an answer he didn’t want to hear. I had to call on some painful memories and relive some brutal emotions in order to give those same emotions to my character.
Oh, that WOULD be hard to write! What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
I would hope a reader would realize their worth comes from who they are in Christ, and their value in His eyes doesn’t depend on how important or how wealthy they are or how the world views them.
Beautiful lesson. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
I love to write and read historical romance.
Hey, your answer’s the same as mine! 😉 Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?
Primarily I keep pictures of my son around me. I can almost him cheering me on. When I wrote REVEALING FIRE, I kept a small silver music box that belonged to my mother on my desk. A silver music box plays an important part in the story.
Awwwww, sweet. Are there any people (family, writing group, editors) who you rely on when writing?
I couldn’t write without The Posse. Not only are they the best critique group on the planet, they are some of my dearest friends and prayer partners. We bounce everything off each other, writing-related or otherwise.
Well, I won’t get into an argument about who has the best critiquers, but . . . 😉 Do you remember where you were when you got your first or most important call about a book contract?
Goodness yes!! I was sitting with The Posse at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference (2009). They have a tradition on the first night of the conference. Two Barbour editors take the stage and announce the awarding of first-time contracts. When JoAnne Simmons announced the title of my first book (LEAVE ME NEVER) my first thought was I would have to come up with another title because someone else had the same title. My second thought was I wondered why The Posse was screaming. After that I vaguely remember hugging a bunch of people as I made my way to the front to accept the letter of intent from Barbour Publishing. It didn’t occur to me to scream myself until after the session was over. The expression “in a daze” has a whole new meaning for me now.
Oh, hey! I was there! I remember that, LOL. Any funny stories about being a writer?
I once started to buy a Christmas present for Tessa Langford…until I remembered Tessa is one of my characters.
LOL. Sounds about right. What are you writing right now?
A generational historical series set in north Georgia. It begins in 1838 around the time of the Trail Of Tears.
Oh, cool. Any upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?
The third book in the Willow Creek series, SCARS OF MERCY, will release with Heartsong Presents in August.
Fun stuff. Is there another author who has greatly influenced your writing?
Kim Sawyer and DiAnn Mills. Both of these ladies taught me how reach deeply into myself and give the emotions I have experienced to my characters, thus creating people on the page who aren’t just fictional characters—they’re friends.
~*~
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 3/25/11. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.
by Roseanna White | Mar 17, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
It’s been an awesome week and a half. I can’t share everything that has made it so (yet), but really, it started last week when I got to tell Dina Sleiman that WhiteFire will be publishing her medieval novel, Dance of the Dandelion. We’ve had a blast diving into plans for that, including getting the cover design ready to roll. My awesome friend Karlene has volunteered to be our costume designer, and I just know this is going to be awesome.
And since WhiteFire will be in the 2012 edition of the Christian Writer’s Market Guide, I dedicated much of last week to preparing our information and catalog for that too. Of course, that required the covers of the above-mentioned Dandelion and Christine Lindsay’s Shadowed in Silk, neither of which are finalized yet. So I also had a blast playing with some unofficial cover designs. =)
(Special thanks to Michael of ArmStreet and Vitaliy Mirgorodskiy for giving me permission to use the photo of their model and costume for this temporary design of Dina’s book!)
We’re also pleased to welcome Dina onto the staff of WhiteFire as an acquisitions editor–which makes me the Senior Acquisitions Editor (how heady is THAT? LOL). Dina was one of the first to get excited about the vision of our company, so we’re really excited about the energy and insight she brings. And also excited to announce that she’ll be representing us at the Blue Ridge conference this May! Then I’ll be at the Oregon Christian Writers conference this August.
Tuesday night I also got the heads-up that official cover design of Shadowed in Silk is underway, and I know Tekeme Studios will be coming up with something astounding. Can’t wait to see it.
And I’m going to shut up now.
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. 
