by Roseanna White | Sep 22, 2016 | Book News
In each of the first two books of the series, I had third point-of-view character who was the heroine’s lady’s maid. I obviously needed another third character to give us that below-stairs view in this books . . . but I wanted to shake it up a bit. So instead of getting to know the heroine’s maid, I decided we’d get to know the villain’s.
I loved introducing Kira Belova, who introduces us in turn to the mysterious Russian buyer of the diamonds that we’ve heard mentioned since book 1. Well let me just tell you, Andrei Varrenikov is quite the piece of work. And Kira is his mistress (though we never see them in any such situations, don’t worry!). Once the prima ballerina with the famous Ballet Russe, a knee injury has left her broken and desperate to cling to the life she’d worked for. Willing to do anything to keep her pretty Parisian flat and the facade of wealth she’d gained through Andrei.
Even spy for him. Even though it means posing as a maid–a servant’s position her family had worked generations to escape from.
Through Kira, we get a glimpse into Russia before the Bolshevik Revolution. A hint of a very different culture than the English one we’ve otherwise seen. And, I hope, a few surprises. =) It’s also thanks to Kira that we get the 3 scenes in the book set somewhere other than the Cotswolds–PARIS!
Photo of the Eiffel Tower taken by my daughter, by the way. And we crossed right over the Place d’Iena and saw signs for the Guimet, the museum mentioned there! How cool is that?!
Now. Today begins the Celebrate Lit Blog Tour for A Lady Unrivaled, which means lots of chances to get some opinions about the book and enter my giveaway that’s exclusively for Celebrate Lit!
Included in this giveaway is a tin of tea from England. But not just from England. From HRH Prince Charles’s Highgrove Shop–a shop attached to his Cotswold estate, where he’s an avid organic farmer/gardener. (All proceeds from the store go to a charity.) So this isn’t just any tea, this is prince-approved tea. š
Here’s the Celebrate Lit line up!
by Roseanna White | Sep 21, 2016 | Book News
I knew it would be a little tricky, making my hero in book 3 a man who wasn’t exactly likeable in the first two books. But that was part of the challenge.
In book 1, we see Cayton marry for money and break the heart of Brook’s cousin. In book 2, we see him newly widowed and overwhelmed by the guilt of having never come to love his wife.
I do have a soft spot for characters who need redemption, and Cayton was certainly one of those! As A Lady Unrivaled begins, he has already repented, he has already determined to be the man God wants him to be . . . he’s just finding it more difficult to accept forgiveness than it had been to ask for it.
Naturally, this is what makes him so much fun!
There’s one going on right now at Overcoming With God! You can also read Noela’s gracious review of the book on that site.
And on Friday, it’s time for another Colonial Quills tea party! Join me on the blog for a giveaway and on our Facebook event for a chat at 12 noon EDT!
by Roseanna White | Sep 19, 2016 | Book News
Hello, lovely readers! I’m back from my tour of England and Paris and ready (er…something, LOL) to dive back into the world of blogging. =) And of course, last week A Lady Unrivaled released!
Bethany House and I will be hosting a truly spectacular giveaway soon–stay tuned for dates and details!
And beginning this Thursday, the book will be on tour with Celebrate Lit, along with another fun giveaway that includes a tin of tea from Prince Charles’s Highgrove Shop in Tetbury!
My big blogging plans for this week are basically to share a few pictures we took that relate to the book.
In the very first chapter, we see Ella sneaking into the Library at Ralin Castle. I had the pleasure of touring Knightshayes in Devon, and their library–oh my gracious. So my little visual tour of the book will begin with this.
by Roseanna White | Jul 18, 2016 | Announcements, Book News
While I’m at the Montrose Christian Writers Conference this week and away from normal blogging, I thought it would be the perfect time to let the blog do some work on its own. š
And so, it’s time to build the Launch Team for Giver of Wonders!
Giver of Wonders is a couple things–it’s my first Christmas story. It’s a biblical novel. It involved the same Visibullis family readers have come to love through A Stray Drop of Blood and A Soft Breath of Wind, but 150 years later–so none of the same characters, no related plots. Instead, we see what one branch of the family has turned into as Christianity has spread throughout the Roman Empire. Cyprus and her sisters end up in Patara, Lycia (present-day Turkey) when a Wonder Worker lives there . . . a Wonder Worker the world now knows as St. Nicholas.
Official blurb:
A miracle once saved her life ~ will another give her a future?
Cyprus was little more than a child when a fall left her paralyzed…and
when the boy known as the Wonder Worker healed her. Ever since, she has
wondered why the Lord spared her, what he has in store for her. But her
pagan father thinks she was spared solely so she could be introduced to
the wealthy Wonder Worker, Nikolaos.
Nikolaos has never
questioned that his call in life is to dedicate himself to the church
and to God. Never, that is, until he and his cousin Petros meet the
compelling Cyprus Visibullis. For years he struggles with the feelings
she inspires…and with the sure knowledge that Petros loves her too.
Petros knows he will never be good enough for Cyprus’s father to
consider him as a match for his favorite daughter ~ not as long as
Nikolaos is there. But when tragedy strikes the Visibullis family, he
will do anything to save his beloved. Unfortunately, his beloved is
determined to do anything to save her sisters ~ even at the cost of
herself.
As the festival of lights bathes their Greek city in
beauty, Cyprus, Petros, and Nikolaos celebrate the miracle of their
Savior s birth together one last time. And in remembrance of their
Lord’s greatest gift, one of them will make the ultimate sacrifice for
the others…and a centuries-long tradition will be born.
L A U N C H T E A M B A S I C S
For those who have been on previous launch teams, you probably already have an idea of how this will work. I will:
- Create a private Facebook group for all launch team members to join
- Send you complimentary copies of the book prior to its release
- Have a special giveaway for you guys only
- Share lots of behind-the-scenes info and come to you first for opinions and with ideas
Members of the team will:
- Write reviews to post to social media/online retailers
- Consider asking local libraries/bookstores to stock the book
- Share ideas with each other on ways to promote
- Promise to help spread the word through word of mouth, online postings, etc.
There will be two different options you’ll be able to sign up for. These are:
Thank you all SO MUCH for you interest in helping me spread the word about Giver of Wonders! I couldn’t do it without you amazing readers!!!
(You can also fill out the form here.)
by Roseanna White | Jul 14, 2016 | Announcements, Book News
Thank you for your interest in helping me promote A Lady Unrivaled! I’m so excited for this book to release, and so blessed to have readers like you who want to help me spread the word. =)
At this time I only have 15-20 slots open for paperback reviewers, so I’ll have to make a decision based on who I feel will best help with the promotion efforts. How you plan to help will play a role in deciding this, so get creative. š
For those who prefer digital copies, or if you don’t have a U.S. address, you can sign up to receive a digital ARC (advance reader’s copy) via Netgalley; my publisher will send you a widget. Fill out this form instead.
And don’t forget that I’ll be building my influencer team for Giver of Wonders next week!
Ready? Set . . . Fill!
by Roseanna White | Jul 11, 2016 | Announcements, Book News
It’s that time again! I’m filling out my influencer list for A Lady Unrivaled! I will be posting a public link to the sign-up form on THURSDAY, 14 July at 2 p.m. EDT. There will only be 15-20 slots available for paperbacks, so in the interest of giving everyone a fair shot at them, you’re getting advance warning. š
I’ll also be doing a Celebrate Lit tour for this book, so if you’re part of that blog team, you don’t need to try to get a copy via this list. =)
ALSO…
Next week, I’ll also have a sign-up form for my very first Christmas story, Giver of Wonders, launch team! I’ll only have 15-20 paperbacks available for this one too, but will have various digital options for interested readers, including beta readers who will get to read the book in August or September instead of November. Stay tuned!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, sheās homeschooling her two kids, editing, 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. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her booksā¦to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.