Thursday, July 30, 2015

Interview with historical romance author Regan Walker (and a bonus recipe!)

Today, it is my pleasure to interview Regan Walker, the author of the historical romance novel To Tame the Wind. Read on and don't forget to check out the rest of the tour schedule on the bottom of the post.


About To Tame the Wind
Publication Date: May 9, 2015
CreateSpace
eBook; 294p
Series: Agents of the Crown (Prequel)
Genre: Historical Romance


Paris 1782…AN INNOCENT IS TAKEN
All Claire Donet knew was the world inside the convent walls in Saint-Denis. She had no idea her beloved papa was a pirate. But when he seized Simon Powell’s schooner, the English privateer decided to take the one thing his enemy held most dear… her.
A BATTLE IS JOINED
The waters between France and England roil with the clashes of Claire’s father and her captor as the last year of the American Revolution rages on the sea, spies lurk in Paris and Claire’s passion for the English captain rises.

Author Interview with Regan Walker

Hi Regan, it is such a pleasure to have you here today!

Tell us a bit about your latest work. What was your inspiration for it?
After I finished my Agents of the Crown trilogy, set in the Regency period, I thought it would be interesting to tell the story of the parents of the heroes in books 2 and 3, Claire Donet and Capt. Simon Powell. So I did… in a prequel, To Tame the Wind. Since their love was born out of the American Revolution as played out in London, Paris and the English Channel, there was a lot of history to draw upon. It’s set in 1782, the last year of the Revolution, and features a French pirate, an English privateer and spies lurking in both England and France. Oh and did I mention there are ships?

What is your favorite historical period to write about and why? Favorite historical location?
So far, it might be the late 18th century, the period in which To Tame the Wind is set. But now that I’m writing Rogue Knight, book 2 in my Medieval Warriors series, I love being back in England in the 11th century. As for location, it would be difficult to compete with London and Paris but I do love Scotland and have a series in mind set in Skye and the Isles, beginning in the 12th century.

You mention in your bio that you traveled a lot and you love meeting new people. What are your favorite places to travel to?
The South Pacific is an amazing place… Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and all the island countries. But I also love Europe, particularly the older parts. Last year I returned for the 3rd time to the Highlands of Scotland and loved diving into the deep past of that wonderful country with its proud heritage. I have a Pinterest board from my trip you might like to see: https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/regans-trip-to-the-western-highlands-of-scotland-s/.

  I ask this question of all the authors I have a chance to interview. What is your advice for aspiring writers?
I think it’s important to read in the genre they want to write in to get a sense of the storytelling and what you want your style to be. I like books with real history in them, the deeper ones. And that is what I want to write, too. I also suggest finishing their first book (at least) and then get some critical eyes on it… a critique group, a beta reader. If you like being in control, you might prefer being an Indie. I began with a publisher but I’m happy as an Indie now.

 If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be?
Probably Sir Winston Churchill. But William Wilberforce and the Apostle Paul are also favorites.

  I saw a number of great recipes on your website. Can you share a recipe with the blog readers?
I would love to. How about Ginger Carrot Soup from To Tame the Wind? This is the soup the Irish cook, McGinnes, served (with Claire's help) onboard the Fairwinds just before they sailed for London. Simon was surprised to see soup as they did not typically have soup onboard the ship and he was skeptical as McGinnes was new at his craft. McGinnes' soup turned out to be a hit and, being as Claire is French, of course it was made with cream.




Ingredients

·         2 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter
·         2 onions peeled and chopped
·         2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
·         2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced (about 4-6 cups)
·         4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
·         1 cup half & half or whipping cream
·         1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions


Heat oil (or butter) in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and cook, stirring often until onions are translucent and limp. Add broth, carrots and ginger. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender, about 30 minutes.

Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a blender. Working in batches, pulse at first, then puree the mixture. Be sure to release one corner of the lid to avoid creating a vacuum. You can also place a towel over the top of the blender.

Return soup to saucepan and add half & half or cream. Stir over medium until hot. Add salt and pepper to taste and cinnamon (optional). Mix in ground cinnamon. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing, thinning with more stock if necessary. Ladle soup into bowls.

Lightning round questions:
1.      Tea or Coffee: Tea, Green tea with Jasmine
2.      City or Country: country
3.      Cat or Dog (both is ok J): dog (I have a Golden Retriever)
4.      Favorite season: Spring
5.      Favorite TV show: Masterpiece Theatre’s Poldark series at the moment


  Thank you for stopping by to chat with us!



Praise for To Tame the Wind
“A sea adventure like no other, a riveting romance!” -NY Times bestselling author Shirlee Busbee
“Another exciting historical romance from Regan Walker” –NY Times Bestselling Author Virginia Henley
“I was hooked from the first page! Political intrigue, a bit of mystery and a beautifully developed romance that swept me from Paris to London and to the waters of the English Channel! Very, very, very well done!” –The Reading Cafe

About the Author
Bestselling author Regan Walker loved to write stories as a child, particularly those about adventure-loving girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of her professors encouraged her to pursue the profession of law, which she did. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding sovereign who taps his subjects for “special assignments.” And in each of her novels, there is always real history and real historic figures. Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.
For more information please visit Regan Walker’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, July 27
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, July 28
Review at Diana’s Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 29
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Guest Post at Susan Heim on Writing
Thursday, July 30
Interview at Yelena Casale’s Blog
Friday, July 31
Review at Kristin Un-Ravelle’d
Saturday, August 1
Spotlight at Genre Queen
Monday, August 3
Review at “Good Friends, Good Books and a Sleepy Conscience: This is the Ideal Life.”
Tuesday, August 4
Review at Shelly’s Book Shelves
Thursday, August 6
Spotlight at Long Ago Love
Friday, August 7
Review at Book Nerd
Thursday, August 13
Interview at Books and Benches
Friday, August 14
Guest Post at Passages to the Past

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Quote of the Day


Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day you've had everything to do and you've done it.
  ~ Margaret Thatcher

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Turn of the Moon by L.P. Dover - Cover Reveal



BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Turn of the Moon by L.P. Dover
(Royal Shifters – Standalone, #1)
Publication date: August 24th 2015
Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:
 
One girl. Two wolves. Promised to one. Destined for the other.
To escape the cruel, overbearing, Kade, the Yukon Pack alpha she’s been promised to, Bailey Whitehill flees her home in search of a new life, one of freedom where she can make her own choices. However, Kade will stop at nothing to make her his and begins the hunt.

As Bailey starts her new life, everything she’s known to be true, is not. Time is of the essence and choices have to be made or consequences suffered. Not only does Bailey fear Kade, but another danger lurks deep in the recesses of the forest. Unbeknownst to her, that danger is what she’s been searching for all along. At the turn of the moon, her fate hangs in the balance . . . and it’s up to her to make the right choice.



AUTHOR BIO:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.


L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

You can find L.P. Dover here:
www.lpdover.com
Email: authorlpdover@gmail.com
Twitter: @LPDover
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpdover
 


Friday, July 17, 2015

Friday Art & History Feature - The Art of Alexandra Miron + Interview

Give Me Wings to Fly. Pencil. By Alexandra Miron
 As you know, I'm always on the lookout for artists that awe and inspire me. In the past year, I have joined many art FB groups and forums, and had the pleasure of meeting many incredible artists. One of these is a remarkable young lady, Alexandra Miron. It is such a pleasure to have Alexandra on the blog today! I will let her answer a few questions and then I hope you enjoy some of her work. She primarily draws in pencil and pen. Enjoy!

When did you start drawing?
I started when I was 10 or 11, I was spending the summer holidays at my grandparents and I was drawing from some history books. But I stopped drawing for a while and 3 years ago when I joined deviantart, I started to dedicate more time to drawing.

Did you have instruction somewhere and did you learn on your own?
When I was 11-12 I went to some drawing classes, then at 22 I was thinking to study art in the university (I studied first foreign languages: Portuguese and Greek, in 2007 I earned my degree) so I took 3 or 4 classes, but then I took a study scholarship in Greece, so again I gave up on drawing. And in 2010 I ended up in Cyprus. Since then I am working in a 4 star hotel as a receptionist and I draw in the mornings, before I go to work (most of the time I work from 15 to 23 hours, late shift) and I work 6 days a week, so not too much time for drawing. 

Autoportrait. Pencil

What is your inspiration?
My inspiration...I study on my own history of art...I admire all the artists, and I admit I am not too much into modern art...I mean, I love romantic, Gothic, renaissance, baroque, romantique, neoclassicist, impressionist and symbolic art...but the 1900's art...not a huge fan, although there are a few like Tamara de Lempicka or Dali that I like... 

What are the media that you draw/paint with?
I draw in pencil, using between 2 and 8B, and lately, I am trying to master the ballpoint pen.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
My advice to aspiring artists would be: hard work and don't give up on your dreams.  




Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings. Pencil

Lucrezia Borgia from the show The Borgias. Pencil.

The Crown

Daenerys from the show The Game of Thrones. Pencil

Edward Scissorhand. Pencil

The Trapped series in ballpoint pen.


Madonna. Pencil

A pencil study after Michelangelo.


 
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