Review & Giveaway: Paris in Ruins by M.K. Tod


Paris in Ruins by M.K. Tod

Publication Date: March 30, 2021
Heath Street Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction


Paris 1870. Raised for a life of parties and servants, Camille and Mariele have much in common, but it takes the horrors of war to bring them together to fight for the city and people they love.

A few weeks after the abdication of Napoleon III, the Prussian army lays siege to Paris. Camille Noisette, the daughter of a wealthy family, volunteers to nurse wounded soldiers and agrees to spy on a group of radicals plotting to overthrow the French government. Her future sister-in-law, Mariele de Crécy, is appalled by the gaps between rich and poor. She volunteers to look after destitute children whose families can barely afford to eat.

Somehow, Camille and Mariele must find the courage and strength to endure months of devastating siege, bloody civil war, and great personal risk. Through it all, an unexpected friendship grows between the two women, as they face the destruction of Paris and discover that in war women have as much to fight for as men.

War has a way of teaching lessons—if only Camille and Mariele can survive long enough to learn them.

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Praise for Paris in Ruins

"The story of two women whose families were caught up in the defense of Paris is deeply moving and suspenseful." -Margaret George, author of Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero

"Tod is not only a good historian, but also an accomplished writer … a gripping, well-limned picture of a time and a place that provide universal lessons." -Kirkus Reviews.

"M.K. Tod's elegant style and uncanny eye for time and place again shine through in her riveting new tale, Paris in Ruins." -Jeffrey K. Walker author of No Hero’s Welcome

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guess who's back? Back again? MK's back...tell a friend :)

MK Tod is back with another gripping, emotional historical that will grip you from the start!

Paris in Ruins tells the story of the siege on Paris during the Franco-Prussian War through the eyes of two upper class women, Camille and Mariele. Although they are soon to be sisters-in-law the two don't become close until they are thrust into helping the city during the tumult.

Camille refuses to leave the city when her mother and siblings escape before the siege and stays to see what she can do to help. When the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt opens a hospital to help treat the wounded Camille signs up to help.

Mariele sees the disparity in the streets. Food is either scarce or too expensive. The poor are dying from starvation and battle for the city is imminent. She soon becomes involved in a group that helps young children, while she waits for word from her fiancé who is fighting.

I was blown away by the courage and conviction of these two women, and the love they had for their city. I think this quote sums them both up pretty well:

"I'm doing it for Paris, for my family and friends, and for France. It's important, and I want to do something important. I'm privileged, Monsieur. Privileged to be part of an educated, wealthy class. With privilege comes responsibility."

Paris in Ruins is truly a remarkable read! There is never a dull moment. In fact, the scenes where Miriele and her mother try to escape seriously had me at the edge of my seat! There was romance, and a little mystery as well so truly something for everyone.

This is my first read about the siege of Paris and MK Tod did a fabulous job at bringing it to life! I highly recommend it!

About the Author



Paris In Ruins is M.K. Tod’s fourth novel. Mary began writing in 2005 while living as an expat in Hong Kong. What started as an interest in her grandparents’ lives turned into a full-time occupation writing historical fiction. Her other novels are Time and Regret, Lies Told in Silence, and Unravelled. Beyond writing novels, Mary’s award-winning blog, www.awriterofhistory.com features the reading and writing of historical fiction. When she’s not writing, or thinking about writing, you can find her hiking, golfing, traveling, or hanging out with friends and family. Mary is married and has two adult children and two delightful grandchildren.

For more information visit M.K. Tod's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, March 30
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Wednesday, March 31
Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, April 1
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Friday, April 2
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Sunday, April 4
Review at Carole's Ramblings

Monday, April 5
Review at Madwoman in the Attic

Tuesday, April 6
Excerpt at Reading is My Remedy

Wednesday, April 7
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Thursday, April 8
Feature at Mia Reads

Friday, April 9
Review at Bibliostatic

Saturday, April 10
Review at Girl Who Reads

Monday, April 12
Review at Reader_ceygo

Tuesday, April 13
Interview at Reader_ceygo

Wednesday, April 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Excerpt at Wishful Endings

Thursday, April 15
Review at Unabridged Chick
Review at Books, Writings, and More

Friday, April 16
Interview at Unabridged Chick

Monday, April 19
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Tuesday, April 20
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at The Enchanted Shelf
Review at Library of Clean Reads
Review at With a Book in Our Hands

Giveaway

We have one paperback copy of Paris in Ruins up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on April 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Paris in Ruins


Excerpt & Giveaway: The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper


The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper

Publication Date: March 9, 2021
Thomas Nelson
Paperback & eBook; 384 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery


A young prodigy in need of family. A painting that shatters a woman’s peace. And a decades-old mystery demanding to be solved.

Australia, 1906

Orphan Jane Piper is nine years old when philanthropist siblings Michael and Elizabeth Quinn take her into their home to further her schooling. The Quinns are no strangers to hardship— having arrived in Australia as penniless immigrants, they now care for others as lost as they once were.

Despite Jane’s mysterious past, her remarkable aptitude for mathematics takes her far over the next seven years, and her relationship with Elizabeth and Michael flourishes as she plays an increasingly prominent part in their business.

But when Elizabeth reacts in terror to an exhibition at the local gallery, Jane realizes no one knows Elizabeth after all—not even Elizabeth herself. As the past and the present converge and Elizabeth’s grasp on reality loosens, Jane sets out to unravel Elizabeth’s story before it is too late.

From the gritty reality of the Australian goldfields to the grand institutions of Sydney, this compelling novel takes us on a mystery across continents and decades as both women finally discover a place to call home.

Deeply researched. Emotional. Atmospheric and alive. . . Tea Cooper transports the reader to a sweeping landscape of turn of the twentieth century Australia—from the raw realities of the Australian goldfields to the sophisticated institutions of Sydney—and does so with an expert pen. Combining characters that are wonderfully complex with a story spanning decades of their lives, The Girl in the Painting is a triumph of family, faith, and long-awaited forgiveness. I was swept away!” —Kristy Cambron, award-winning author of The Paris Dressmaker and the Hidden Masterpiece novels

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound



Excerpt

Birkenhead, England, 1862

“Ó’Cuinn. Michael.” The clerk studied the sheath of papers in his hand, then spat toward the rail. The globule missed, landing with a plop on the deck. “Where’s your sister?”

A small hand crept into Michael’s palm and his sister turned her face up, leaned against his legs.

The mismatched group of people—men, women, children—standing behind him pushed closer, impatient to present their papers and secure a berth.

“Get a move on. Answer the question.”

He stared up at the mast, his mind in turmoil. The crowd behind him rumbled. “She’s here.”

The clerk scribbled a series of unintelligible marks on their papers and glared down. “Got you down for the single men’s accommodation.” He flicked his thumb over his shoulder, down into the bowels of the ship. “No berth for her down there. Says here she’s in the family accommodation with Nuala Ó’Cuinn.”

“That’s me aunty. She died six months ago. I told them in the office.” A bloke behind him gave a shove, releasing the festering coil of anger deep in Michael’s gut. “We’ve been on the manifest for almost a year, down for family accommodation.” He stabbed at the papers. “Says so right there. You sort it out. You’re the one pushing your weight around, keeping everyone waiting.”

“Remarks like that ain’t going to get you anything special. No single men in family accommodation. How old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

“Over fourteen. Too old for family accommodation.”

Michael drew in a slow breath. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! What was a man supposed to do? It couldn’t be the first time a brother and sister had immigrated to Australia.

A stout woman who barely reached his shoulder pushed forward. “I’ll take the little angel with me.”

Michael reached down and hitched the mop-headed little bundle of bones up against his shoulder.

“Who are you?” The clerk rolled his eyes and leaned on his elbow.

“Mrs. Cameron. Mrs. William Cameron. Full fare-paying passenger.” She thrust her ticket at the clerk and smiled down at Michael’s sister. “You’re a pretty little thing, ain’t you, with them big blue eyes and lovely curls. Lucky you didn’t get your brother’s black looks.”

What was a man to do? The woman looked kindly enough.

“I’ll get her settled with me. Be good to have some company. What’s your name, poppet?”

“Elizabeth. Her name’s Elizabeth.”

About the Author

Tea is an award-winning Australian author of historical fiction. In a past life she was a teacher, a journalist, and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is the bestselling author of several novels, including The Horse Thief, The Cedar Cutter, The Currency Lass, The Naturalist's Daughter, The Woman in the Green Dress, and The Girl in the Painting.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, March 9
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Wednesday, March 10
Review at Crystal's Library

Thursday, March 11
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Review at Proverbial Reads

Friday, March 12
Review at Jessica Belmont

Monday, March 15
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Tuesday, March 16
Review at Bibliostatic
Excerpt at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Wednesday, March 17
Review at the.b00kreader

Thursday, March 18
Review at Novels Alive
Review at Book Drunkard

Friday, March 19
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, March 20
Review at Nursebookie
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, March 22
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Tuesday, March 23
Review at Heidi Reads

Wednesday, March 24
Review at Library of Clean Reads

Thursday, March 25
Review at Read Review Rejoice

Friday, March 26
Review at Hallie Reads

Saturday, March 27
Excerpt at Passages to the Past

Monday, March 29
Review at Bookworlder
Review at Jorie Loves A Story

Tuesday, March 30
Review at Rachelle Loves Books

Wednesday, March 31
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary

Giveaway

Enter to win a paperback copy of The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on March 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Girl in the Painting

Interview & Giveaway: Knight of Runes by Ruth A. Casie



Hello, dear readers! Today on the blog I am very excited to share my interview with Author Ruth A. Casie with you! Ruth is currently on Blog Tour for Knight of Runes and she's here to talk about the book, researching, and more! Hope you enjoy getting to know Ruth and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Hello Ruth and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about Knight of Runes!

Hi Amy, Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Amy. I’m excited to be here.

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?

I’m happiest when I’m telling stories either chatting in a group or writing them down. I love to put my hero and heroine in tough situations and dare them to work it out—together, always together. They haven’t disappointed. Oh, they complain but in the end their love and relationships are stronger than ever.

I have three series. The Druid Knight stories are a historical time travel series. The Stelton Legacy is historical fantasy about the seven sons of a seventh son. Havenport Romances are stories set in a small coast Rhode Island town. I also write stories in the connected world the Pirates of Britannia.

What inspired you to write Knight of Runes?

Before I retired I was an international product manager for a large US bank. One of my responsibilities was giving product seminars for clients. I know I will be dating myself here, but this was in the days before webinars. I traveled overseas conducted the seminar and afterwards met with clients to close deals. To optimize on my airfare, my trips were a minimum of two weeks. I usually traveled alone and met with my bank’s in-country officer at their location.

I read on the long plane rides and found it much more tolerable to read a book when I dined alone. I would stuff my suitcase with 6-8 romance novels. They were quick reads, and I would give them away when I finished them. That’s how I got hooked on romance stories.

Fast forward to 2009. A good friend told me she was going to write a romance novel and I volunteered to brainstorm, beta read, do anything to help her. Once we started I realized I had my own story to write. We decided we would each write our books and try to sell them together. She had several other priorities. She was busy with training for the NY marathon and looking at colleges with her daughter. So, while she put her writing on hold I continued to write and in four months I had 104 thousand words and my first book completed.

What research did you undertake when writing Knight of Runes?

There was so much that it’s hard to know where to start. I knew the essence of the story. A modern accomplished female researcher goes back in time to the seventeenth century, faces society norms of what a woman can and cannot do, must overcome them to find her way back to her century, but oh… she falls in love a Druid Knight. She scoffs at his magic until she realizes he’s her only hope to return… if she still wants to. I researched what a historical researcher needs to know and do. I took an online class at Stanford to understand the technical and historic issues about manuscripts. There was a lot of online information about druids. I read myths and belief systems to better prepare. My hero was not only a knight but a druid grand master. I even delved in magic and belief systems around them. The overarching research was the perception and treatment of women in seventeenth century England. It made for great conflict between the hero and heroine.

What would you like readers to take away from reading Knight of Runes?

The power of love (not to be confused with Huey Lewis, or do I date myself?) This is a love story of two people that work hard against obstacles in order to overcome challenges to their basic beliefs and the accepted norms of the time. For Arik and Rebeka, nothing could keep them apart, not even four hundred years. That’s the kind of love I want.

What was your favorite scene to write?

The opening scene is Runes is fight scene. You asked about research before. The best compliment I received for that scene was from my husband. He sat by my desk and asked how I had written the scene. Somewhat surprised, I asked him why. “Because you don’t fight. You don’t do any martial arts, yet you had me right there in the middle of it all.”

Researching, watching YouTube videos, and choreographing the scene was challenging and thrilling at the same time. It wasn’t just the fight itself, but the characters reaction. Arik sees Rebeka fight for the first time and realizes there is more to this woman than meets the eye.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

I cried when I wrote the black moment. In this scene, Rebeka must take some responsibility for Arik’s actions. She has kept her time travel from him. Arik is forced to decide between what he believes (society norms) and how he feels about her. As a result, he suspects Rebeka is the villain in our story and because he is unable to see any other explanation makes a nearly fatal mistake.

I loved these characters from the moment they came to life on the page. I can see them racing across the field, fighting side by side, and loving each other. Pitting them against each other wounded me as much as it did them. I still read that scene and cry.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Some people know they want to be writers at an early age. They’re encouraged in school and at home. While my family and teachers encouraged me to grow and learn, I didn’t show any great literary tendencies. As a matter of fact, my high school English teacher is probably spinning in his grave at the thought of me being an award-winning author. That said, when I told my older sister that I had written and had this book published she told me she wasn’t at all surprised. I always had a story in my head. I would make her dress up and act them out with me. (She’s fifteen years older than me. I wish I could find the picture of her in a cowboy shirt and me on a tricycle as a cowgirl.) While writing wasn’t my start, storytelling certainly was.

What does your daily writing routine look like?

It is just my husband and me. Our three children are all grown and on their own. I wrote my first book while I was working full time and president of the board of a moderate size not-for-profit. I found time at night and on weekends.

I made writing my job after I retired. Now, I sit down at my desk after my morning routine, breakfast. I take a break around lunchtime and run errands or visit with friends (before Covid). I was in the habit of writing after dinner but now that I can write all day I make an effort to close down and spend more time with my live-in knight in shining armor. Writing on weekends depend on our plans and on my deadlines. My knight is very understanding.

I usually write about 1,500-3,000 words a day. It really depends on how diligent I’ve been with my character study. For me that’s the secret. The better I know my characters the better (and faster) I can write. I can put them into situations and know how they will react.

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

I have unruly characters. I know. You would think that I would have total control of my characters. After all, I create them. That’s true but there are times when my character is at my shoulder and tells me, “I wouldn’t say that.” In one story one character had the nerve to tell me he had a twin sister.

Actually, I enjoy when my characters speak up. I’ve learned to worry when they don’t. You see, when my characters take on a life of their own they become real, relatable. Although there is a draw back like the time I got stopped for going a bit too fast on the parkway. When the patrolman asked why I was in a hurry I told him… Well, for the full story sign up for my newsletter and you’ll find the full story along with a free book. I can tell you my hero saved me from a traffic ticket.

Who are your writing inspirations?

The authors in my genre who have inspired me are Eliza Knight, who was an early mentor of mine, and Katheryn LeVeque. Both women write powerful historical fiction and romance and are well respected in the genre. Their guidance and friendship have been meaningful and encouraging.

What was the first historical novel you read?

One of the books I took with me on my first international flight was Jude Deveraux’s Knight in Shining Armor. That perked my interest in time travel romance and knights. Up until then I read adventure stories by Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy.

What is the last historical novel you read?

I am a Julia Quinn fan. After watching the Bridgerton series on Netflix. I ransacked my bookshelf, found my copies. and re-read the first three books in the series. It was as much fun to read now as it was the first time. What are three things people may not know about you?

Here are few things only a few people know about me:

1. I filled my passport up in one year. (I did a lot of traveling through Europe and Asia for the bank)
2. I did a rap for my son’s first grade class (he was my percussion section) to “How Many Trucks Can a Tow Truck Tow If a Tow Truck Could Tow Trucks.” (He’s 37 now, but I still remember the event very clearly.)
3. When I cook I dance. (I have music on when I cook. My husband would rather I dance than try to sing,)
Bonus: My Sudoku book is in the bathroom. I’m not saying anything else about that.

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

I attended a conference (in days we could actually attend in person) where Maya Rodale spoke about why romance matters. I enjoy romance because the stories are about women who triumph. I love historical romance because the stories are about women who triumph in a world that didn’t want or think that women could triumph.

What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?

I love historicals—medieval and renaissance. Some women are turned on by a uniform. I love knights in kilts and armor. I enjoy the conflict between strong men and empowered women who fight against society norms and how they must work together to reach their goal and their happily ever after.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Aside from reading just about anything and I enjoy my children and grandchildren, I enjoy cooking. Here is one of my favorite recipes.

Recipe Title: Rebeka’s Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

Ingredients:

¼ cup packed light brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 2 teaspoons dried)
4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets
Salt and Pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the broiler
2. Spray the rack of a broiler pan with nonstick spray
3. Mix the brown sugar, mustard and dill together in a small bowl.
4. Salt and pepper both sides of the salmon and place on the broiler pan and spoon the brown sugar glaze on top. (You will not use all of it – it keeps forever in the fridge)
5. Position the broiler pan about 7 inches from the heat and broil just until its opaque, about 6 minutes

NOTE: Don’t turn the fillet. The glaze works well on chicken and pork.

This is a favorite recipe of our sorceress scholarly heroine, Rebeka Tyler. She was ecstatic when she found the ingredients for this recipe in Doward’s wagon (the traveling tradesman). Imagine her surprise when Lord Arik brought home a fine salmon along with a healthy appetite. She couldn’t wait to tempt him with her offering(s). Luckily for both of them, this recipe takes less than ten minutes. This is the 21st century version.

PS…Rebeka served the salmon to Lord Arik in the Great Hall. Tantalized, he licked the sticky glaze from his fingers never taking his eyes off her. But that’s a totally different story that’s available in KNIGHT OF RAPTURE.

PPS…My son made this recipe whenever he wanted to impress his roommates, their parents, or his heart throb. With a side of whipped potatoes and a vinaigrette salad, all you need is a decadent chocolate cake to finish off the meal.

UPDATE…My son and said heart throb recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. I claim no credit. Well, maybe just some.

Lastly, what are you working on next?

Knight of Remorse. The third book in this series. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will tell you that being a villain isn’t always what it appears.

Love it! Thank you for being with us today, Ruth!

 

Knight of Runes by Ruth A. Casie

Publication Date: May 21, 2020
Timeless Scribes Publishing LLC
Paperback & eBook: 368 pages

Genre: Time Travel Romance


England, 1605. When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka Tyler wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he's intrigued.

Rebeka is no ordinary 17th-century woman - she's travelled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return to her own time. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what's killing Arik's land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik.

As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik's household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author


Hi – I’m Ruth A. Casie and I write historical and contemporary romance. You might be wondering what I’m about. Sit back and let me tell you.

I’m happiest when I’m telling stories either chatting in a group or writing them down. I love to put my hero and heroine in tough situations and dare them to work it out—together, always together. They haven’t disappointed. Oh, they complain but in the end their love and relationships are stronger than ever.

My stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. They will keep you turning the pages until the end. I hope my books become your favorite adventures.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 15
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Tuesday, March 16
Excerpt at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Wednesday, March 17
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Thursday, March 18
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, March 19
Review & Excerpt at Books, Cooks, Looks

Sunday, March 21
Excerpt at Reading is My Remedy

Tuesday, March 23
Feature at Coffee and Ink

Wednesday, March 24
Review at Amy's Booket List

Giveaway

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on March 24th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Knight of Runes

Interview & Giveaway: Queenie's Place by Toni Morgan



Hello all and please welcome Author Toni Morgan to the blog today! Toni is currently touring for Queenie's Place, her fabulous new historical that I greatly enjoyed. You can check out my review here.

Hello Toni and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about Queenie’s Place!

Thank you!

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?

It is my pleasure to be here. I am a westerner—born in Alaska, raised in Oregon, married in Hawaii, spent 30 years traveling the world as a military spouse, returned to Oregon and am now living in Boise, Idaho. I have three sons and nine grandchildren, including 18-year-old triplets. I discovered the pleasure of reading when I was nine or ten, and writing when I was a teen. At sixteen I wrote a short story—you know that advice that you should write what you know? Well, at sixteen, I’d never had a boyfriend and never flown in a plane, so naturally chose to write a romance between a pilot and a stewardess, as we used to call flight attendants. I sent it to the old Saturday Evening Post then waited on pins and needles to be ‘discovered.’ Although a very kind editor wrote me a personal note to keep on writing as I had talent, it was still a rejection (the first of hundreds) and I was crushed. I turned my attention to non-fiction articles for years. It wasn’t until I retired from banking that I returned to my first love of writing fiction. Besides Queenie’s Place, my published books are Patrimony, about the Quebec separatist movement in the 1960’s and 70’s, Two-Hearted Crossing, a companion to Patrimony set in northern Idaho, Echoes From a Falling Bridge, about WWII from the viewpoint of rural Japanese, Harvest the Wind, second of my WWII trilogy, this one set in a Japanese internment camp in Idaho, Lotus Blossom Unfurling, the third in the trilogy, set in Japan and Idaho following the war, plus Between Love and Hate, a collection of short stories set around the world.

What inspired you to write Queenie’s Place?

One day when my husband was stationed in North Carolina, my neighbor called. She told me that her car had broken down out in the country and would I come and pick her up. I said of course and wrote down directions. Before hanging up she whispered, “And hurry. This place is weird.” It actually didn’t look weird. Flowers bordered the walk to the front door of a plain-looking house. It was a brothel. We giggled all the way home about telling our husbands where we’d been. But I thought about those women for years, wondering what their lives were like, how they got there, and what they thought of two middle-class, middle-aged white women dropping into their lives.

What research did you undertake when writing Queenie’s Place?

I needed to do some brushing up on the Vietnam War, dates for instance, but for the most part I didn’t need to do much. I’d lived it—the protest marches and all the anger, and life as a military spouse. I’d also lived for a time in the Jim Crow south before Civil Rights legislation and desegregation. The military is very leveling, by the way. It had desegregated long before the rest of the country. It took a bit longer for women in the military to be treated equally, however.

What would you like readers to take away from reading Queenie’s Place?

A few have dismissed Queenie’s Place as just another story about a White woman going to the rescue of a Black woman. I sincerely hope most see it as a true friendship of two strong women—Queenie gives just as much to Doreen as Doreen gives to Queenie. I think it’s also a window into the life of a military family. Some of my friends think that Doreen is me, that Queenie’s Place is memoir. No. Doreen is the woman I would like to have been, but sadly didn’t have the courage. Mostly, I hope Queenie’s Place will give readers a perspective they hadn’t had before.

What was your favorite scene to write?

Queenie’s memories.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The Klan scene and Charlotte’s reaction to Doreen afterward.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a kid.

What does your daily writing routine look like?

I’ve recently taken a break from writing and been concentrating on my art, but I’m getting back to it, working on a novel about three women in the early 1900’s who come together to work for women’s suffrage. Two of the women are based on my maternal and paternal grandmothers. I’m an early riser and do most of my writing before noon.

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

My greatest challenge, and I suspect most writers, is realizing that writing is what I do, my product, so to speak, it’s not who I am as a person. So, I have no problem with critiques and criticism—I have the choice whether to incorporate or ignore it. I include rejections (and I received hundreds over the years) in the same category.

Who are your writing inspirations?

Hemingway, Kate Atkinson, Anthony Doerr, Abraham Verghese, and Sharon Kay Penman among many more.

What was the first historical novel you read?

I not sure of the names, but I read a lot about nurses in the Pacific during WWII when I was still in grade school. When I was a teenager, Gone With the Wind and Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Do you see a through-line here?

What is the last historical novel you read?

Jennifer Winspear’s, The Care and Management of Lies

What are three things people may not know about you?

1) I was born in Alaska when it was still a territory and I lived (and married) in Hawaii when it was still a territory;
2) I was an exchange student to Denmark when I was sixteen—it there that I became interested in history;
3) I always loved words, even when I didn’t know the meaning—at ten or eleven, I famously asked my dad if he was a communist or a pedestrian. He told me he was a communist and kept his flag in the closet. That sailed right over my head. Now I wonder if I told my teacher my dad was a communist.

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

I like writing historical fiction because the skeleton of the story is there. Fleshing it out is the challenge.

What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?

The war years, I and II. In the past, I’ve enjoyed reading about England during the thirteenth-fifteenth centuries.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

I paint.

Lastly, what are you working on next?

Walla Walla Women. This is a story inspired by my maternal grandmother, who left England to marry a man twenty years her senior, sight unseen—he was a goldminer and the family black sheep. His brothers were her mother’s borders and they talked her into it because they thought it was time for him to settle down; my paternal grandmother, who received her doctoral degree from Cornell University in 1910; and my late husband’s maternal grandmother who traveled with her mother and four younger siblings from Rising Star, Texas, to Calgary, Canada, to Walla Walla, Washington, in a covered wagon, following her cowboy father. Kind of fun.

That sounds like a lot of fun! Can't wait to read it! Thank you for being here today with us, Toni!


Queenie's Place by Toni Morgan

Publication Date: December 6, 2018
Adelaide Books Publishers
Paperback & eBook; 302 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


Queenie's Place, set in rural North Carolina in the early seventies, is the story of an unusual sisterhood between a thirty-something white woman from California and a fifty-something black woman from the south. From the moment Doreen Donavan sees the “Welcome to Klan Country” sign outside Goldsboro, North Carolina is one culture shock after another. She thinks the women she meets on the military base, where she and her family now live, are the dullest, stuffiest, most stuck-up women she’s ever run across, and frankly, they don’t think much of her either. She’s hot, miserable, and bored. Then one day, BAM, her car tire goes flat, right in front of a roadhouse outside the town of Richland, near where MCB Camp Puller is located. Inside, Queenie is holding forth at the piano. The place is jumping. Besides the music, there’s dancing and the best barbecue in North Carolina. Doreen’s husband, Tom arrives and must practically peel her out of the place. Queenie doesn’t expect to see Doreen again, but Doreen comes back and their unlikely friendship begins. Without warning, Queenie’s place is closed, the women accused of prostitution and bootlegging. A born crusader (she cut her teeth demonstrating against the Vietnam War—yes, even with her husband over there), Doreen quickly dons her armor and saddles up. Things don’t go quite as planned.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author


A longtime military spouse, TONI MORGAN has lived in many parts of the US and also for nearly four years in rural Japan. There she had the good fortune to work part-time in a Japanese pottery factory. That rich experience led to the first in her WWII trilogy ECHOES FROM A FALLING BRIDGE, which gives a unique view of life in rural Japan during the war. Second in the trilogy is HARVEST THE WIND, partially set in a Japanese internment camp in Idaho's Magic Valley. The third in the series is LOTUS BLOSSOM UNFURLING, which continues the saga after the war ends. She also wrote PATRIMONY, and TWO-HEARTED CROSSING, companion books set in Montreal Quebec Canada during the Quebec Separatist Movement and 20 years later, in northern Idaho. Her novel QUEENIE'S PLACE is a 2019 National Book Award in Literature nominee. Her short stories have appeared in various literary magazines and journals, and her short story "Tin Soldier" was included in MOORING AGAINST THE TIDE, a creative fiction and poetry textbook published by Prentice Hall. Her most recent release is BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE, a collection of short stories, including Pushcart Prize nominee "The House on East Orange Street" and the aforementioned "Tin Soldier."

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 15
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, March 16
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Wednesday, March 17
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, March 19
Feature at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, March 20
Review at Rajiv's Reviews

Monday, March 22
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Wednesday, March 24
Review at YA, It's Lit

Friday, March 26
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Saturday, March 27
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Sunday, March 28
Interview at Reader_ceygo

Monday, March 29
Review at Reader_ceygo

Wednesday, March 31
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Thursday, April 1
Review at American Historical Novels Book Club

Friday, April 2
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

Enter to win a set of signed paperback copies of Toni Morgan's WWII Trilogy!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on April 2nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Queenie's Place

Review & Giveaway: Queenie's Place by Toni Morgan


Queenie's Place by Toni Morgan

Publication Date: December 6, 2018
Adelaide Books Publishers
Paperback & eBook; 302 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


Queenie's Place, set in rural North Carolina in the early seventies, is the story of an unusual sisterhood between a thirty-something white woman from California and a fifty-something black woman from the south. From the moment Doreen Donavan sees the “Welcome to Klan Country” sign outside Goldsboro, North Carolina is one culture shock after another. She thinks the women she meets on the military base, where she and her family now live, are the dullest, stuffiest, most stuck-up women she’s ever run across, and frankly, they don’t think much of her either. She’s hot, miserable, and bored. Then one day, BAM, her car tire goes flat, right in front of a roadhouse outside the town of Richland, near where MCB Camp Puller is located. Inside, Queenie is holding forth at the piano. The place is jumping. Besides the music, there’s dancing and the best barbecue in North Carolina. Doreen’s husband, Tom arrives and must practically peel her out of the place. Queenie doesn’t expect to see Doreen again, but Doreen comes back and their unlikely friendship begins. Without warning, Queenie’s place is closed, the women accused of prostitution and bootlegging. A born crusader (she cut her teeth demonstrating against the Vietnam War—yes, even with her husband over there), Doreen quickly dons her armor and saddles up. Things don’t go quite as planned.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Marine Corps Wife for Peace"

Doreen Donavan isn't afraid to stand up for what she thinks is right and protesting the Vietnam War even when her own husband is over there fighting is something she is passionate about despite the criticism she receives for doing so.

When her husband returns from war they are relocated to the military base in Camp Puller, North Carolina. Moving from California Doreen is in for a shock when she sees a Klan sign in her new neighborhood. She's horrified at seeing such hate. She happens upon Queenie's Place one day when her car tire goes flat and that is the start of Doreen and Queenie's friendship. Although they are from completely different backgrounds and racial tensions are high around them, the two women quickly bond and establish a relationship of love and trust. When Queenie's Place is being threatened to shut down and her and her family are in physical danger, Doreen knows she has to do all that she can to try and help Queenie, despite the danger involved and possibly hurting her marriage as Doreen takes on the local officials.

I really loved Doreen and Queenie - both women were smart, strong, and resilient. There are also some fabulous secondary characters, especially Doreen's son.

Toni Morgan's writing is excellent and the plot moved deftly. Queenie's Place is an important and entertaining read that I highly recommend!

About the Author


A longtime military spouse, TONI MORGAN has lived in many parts of the US and also for nearly four years in rural Japan. There she had the good fortune to work part-time in a Japanese pottery factory. That rich experience led to the first in her WWII trilogy ECHOES FROM A FALLING BRIDGE, which gives a unique view of life in rural Japan during the war. Second in the trilogy is HARVEST THE WIND, partially set in a Japanese internment camp in Idaho's Magic Valley. The third in the series is LOTUS BLOSSOM UNFURLING, which continues the saga after the war ends. She also wrote PATRIMONY, and TWO-HEARTED CROSSING, companion books set in Montreal Quebec Canada during the Quebec Separatist Movement and 20 years later, in northern Idaho. Her novel QUEENIE'S PLACE is a 2019 National Book Award in Literature nominee. Her short stories have appeared in various literary magazines and journals, and her short story "Tin Soldier" was included in MOORING AGAINST THE TIDE, a creative fiction and poetry textbook published by Prentice Hall. Her most recent release is BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE, a collection of short stories, including Pushcart Prize nominee "The House on East Orange Street" and the aforementioned "Tin Soldier."

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 15
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, March 16
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Wednesday, March 17
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, March 19
Feature at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, March 20
Review at Rajiv's Reviews

Monday, March 22
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Wednesday, March 24
Review at YA, It's Lit

Friday, March 26
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Saturday, March 27
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Sunday, March 28
Interview at Reader_ceygo

Monday, March 29
Review at Reader_ceygo

Wednesday, March 31
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Thursday, April 1
Review at American Historical Novels Book Club

Friday, April 2
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

Enter to win a set of signed paperback copies of Toni Morgan's WWII Trilogy!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on April 2nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Queenie's Place

Interview & Giveaway: The Steel Beneath the Silk by Patricia Bracewell


Hello, dear readers! Welcome to my interview with Author Patricia Bracewell! Patricia is currently touring the blogosphere for the release of The Steel Beneath the Silk, the last book in her Emma of Normandy series, and she graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us! Please enjoy the interview and be sure to enter the giveaway!

Hello Patricia and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about The Steel Beneath the Silk!


To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?

I have always been an avid reader, and although I have always lived in California, at a very early age I fell in love with novels set in Britain—I think The Secret Garden started it all. It wasn’t until many years after I’d I earned a Master’s Degree in English Lit, while my husband and I were raising our two sons, that I started taking writing workshops, trying to convince myself that I could be a writer. The novel was always what I leaned toward, but it seemed like an impossible dream. I finally realized that the only way to fail was to not make the attempt, and I wrote two unpublished novels—I think of them as practice novels—before I decided to try historical fiction.

The Steel Beneath the Silk is the 3rd book in your Emma of Normandy series, what inspired you to write a series about her?

Once I stumbled upon Emma of Normandy and realized how significant she was and that no one yet had written about her I was hooked. I felt that it would take more than one novel to really explore Emma’s 11th century world and the history of a period that few people really knew about, so I decided on a trilogy. And even from the start, I knew that I would not be covering all of Emma’s long and very influential life. There is even more to tell!

What research did you undertake when writing the series? Did you find anything about Emma that surprised you?

A lot of my research was done in the stacks at U.C.Berkeley, but I also took a summer course titled Kings, Queens and Vikings at Downing College, Cambridge that was all about this period in English history. I also traveled to Normandy, to Denmark, and numerous times to England to conduct ‘boots on the ground’ research for the settings of my novels. I think the biggest surprise about Emma was something I discovered very early on: that sometime late in her life she commissioned the writing of a book about events she had witnessed or had taken part in. It was a sort of defense for her actions as a queen. It was written in Latin, and presumably, she could understand, if not read, Latin. Mind you, this is the 11th century. It implies a great deal about her education and about her political savvy. But the most fascinating thing about it is that it begins with her second marriage. Her first marriage, to the widowed king who had been on the English throne for two decades was not mentioned at all. What was that about? THAT, I decided, was the story I wanted to tell.

What would you like readers to know most about Emma of Normandy?

Even today there are scholars who paint Emma as an ambitious woman and a cold mother who sacrificed her children’s inheritance for her own gain. I honestly believe that, when one looks closely at the difficulties she faced during a time of war and foreign conquest, she did everything that she could to keep her children alive—to give them a future. That is the Emma that I write about.

What was your favorite scene to write?

In this book, it was a scene set in an abbey between the king’s son, Edmund, and the imprisoned widow of a man who had recently been murdered on the orders of the king. It was based on this sentence from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the historical record of events of the time: “After a little interval, Edmund ætheling went (to the abbey) and seized her, against the king’s will, and had her to wife.” I enjoyed imagining the scene that took place between Edmund and the widow.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

It’s a scene between Emma and Cnut, in Emma’s point of view. It was difficult because although it takes place on a single evening, Emma is reflecting back on numerous, similar evenings, and in a matter of just a handful of paragraphs I tried to show the growing understanding between the queen and this viking conqueror of England who she initially hated. I had to revise it numerous times until I felt I’d gotten it right. The Historical Novel Review called it “a perfectly choreographed dance.” I hope readers agree!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

At about the age of 10.

What does your daily writing routine look like?

I hesitate to call it a routine. I can only tell you that if there is writing to be done, I know I have to tackle it first thing in the morning when my mind is fresh, and that by 3pm my brain shuts down. I think that’s a leftover from my days as a high school teacher.

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

I have never been able to just throw down a rough draft and get an entire manuscript finished before going back to edit. I edit constantly and often will write as many as 30 drafts of a chapter before I move on to the next one. I’ve never been able to overcome it.

Who are your writing inspirations?

Bernard Cornwell. Diana Gabaldon. Tolkien. Louisa May Alcott (I wanted to be Jo March.)

What was the first historical novel you read?

I can’t swear that it was the first, but Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff had a big impact on me. I actually designed an independent study course for myself at university about the Arthurian legend, and Sutcliff’s book was part of it. I read a lot of Jean Plaidy, too, when I was in high school.

What is the last historical novel you read?

Susan Meissner’s new one, set in 1906 San Francisco: The Nature of Fragile Things.

What are three things people may not know about you?

When I was in college I sang in a bar. Also in college, I played Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. (Some say I was typecast.) I play the guitar.

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

Writing it: the research. Reading it: stepping into another time and place where I’ve never been before.

What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?

Looking at my bookshelves, I’d have to say Medieval even though it’s not popular with publishers just now.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Travel, when there isn’t a pandemic keeping everyone at home; gardening, which mostly involves pulling weeds; reading; playing tennis; going for walks with my husband.

Lastly, what are you working on next?

I’m weighing several ideas, but I’m not ready to throw myself into anything yet. I wish that I was like so many authors I know whose minds are full of ideas, who finish one book and immediately start another. I can only focus on one thing at a time, and I’ve been focused on Emma for about 15 years. It’s hard to break free. Just now, the future is a mystery.


The Steel Beneath the Silk by Patricia Bracewell

Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Bellastoria Press

Series: The Emma of Normandy Series, Book 3
Genre: Medieval/Historical Fiction


A breathtaking conclusion to Bracewell’s Emma of Normandy Trilogy, brimming with treachery, heartache, tenderness and passion as the English queen confronts ambitious and traitorous councilors, invading armies and the Danish king’s power-hungry concubine.

In the year 1012 England’s Norman-born Queen Emma has been ten years wed to an aging, ruthless, haunted King Æthelred. The marriage is a bitterly unhappy one, between a queen who seeks to create her own sphere of influence within the court and a suspicious king who eyes her efforts with hostility and resentment. But royal discord shifts to grudging alliance when Cnut of Denmark, with the secret collusion of his English concubine Elgiva, invades England at the head of a massive viking army. Amid the chaos of war, Emma must outwit a fierce enemy whose goal is conquest and outmaneuver the cunning Elgiva, who threatens all those whom Emma loves.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble


 About the Author


Patricia Bracewell grew up in Los Angeles where her love of stories led to college degrees in Literature, a career as a high school English teacher, and a yearning to write. Her first novel, Shadow on the Crown, about the 11th-century queen of England, Emma of Normandy, was published in 2013. Its sequel, The Price of Blood, appeared in 2015. The final book of her Emma of Normandy Trilogy, The Steel Beneath the Silk will be published March 2, 2021.

Patricia lives with her husband in Oakland, California.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Sunday, March 1
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Monday, March 2
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Tuesday, March 3
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Wednesday, March 4
Review at Into the Hall of Books

Friday, March 6
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Monday, March 9
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, March 10
Interview at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, March 11
Feature at Reading is My Remedy

Friday, March 13
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Sunday, March 15
Feature at Coffee and Ink

Monday, March 16
Review at Madwoman in the Attic

Wednesday, March 18
Feature at The Whispering Bookworm

Thursday, March 19
Review at Rajiv's Reviews

Sunday, March 22
Review at Novels Alive

Monday, March 23
Interview at Books & Benches

Tuesday, March 24
Guest Post at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Thursday, March 26
Feature at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Monday, March 30
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Review at The Enchanted Shelf

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of The Steel Beneath the Silk!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on March 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Steel Beneath the Silk

Book Blast: The Bareknuckle Groom by Holly Bush

It's release day for The Bareknuckle Groom! Happy Pub Day to Author Holly Bush! You can check out the book below and links to where you can grab your copy!


The Bareknuckle Groom by Holly Bush

Publication Date: March 9, 2021
Holly Bush Books

Series: The Thompsons of Locust Street, Book #2
Genre: Historical Romance


Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by storm…

1869 Bareknuckle champion, James Thompson, is confident his future continues with beautiful women and victories in the boxing ring. Men admire his skills, power, and quick fists, and are more than willing to bet their hard-earned coins on his name. Women admire his handsome face, his undaunted confidence, and his powerful body. Nothing will change his successfully plotted course, until…

Lucinda Vermeal arrives on the Philadelphia social scene when her father moves them to the city in the hopes that his only daughter will find a suitable partner. After all, her husband will be intimately involved with Vermeal Industries whose business interests and political connections touch France, England and all of the United States. Lucinda’s pale statuesque beauty attracts the finest of Philadelphia’s young men, but her cool and reserved attitude keep them at arm’s length. Until she meets a man willing to challenge her at every turn. Will James Thompson expose Lucinda's passionate nature like no other man ever could?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author


“Love always has something to say. Sometimes it shouts from the highest hill, and sometimes it whispers so softly one must listen closely to hear. Do not turn away. It is a rare and precious commodity. Treasure it.” The Gentrys of Paradise

Holly Bush's historical romances are set during the turbulent and transformative years of the late 1800’s. The first two books in her newest series, The Gentrys of Paradise, released in the spring of 2017 and began with the novella Into the Evermore where readers meet Virginia horse breeders, Eleanor and Beauregard Gentry. The following books feature their children, Adam, Matthew, and Olivia. For the Brave is Matthew’s story and is the first full length book of the series. Olivia's book, For This Moment, released in the spring of 2018. The final book, For Her Honor, is now available.

The Crawford Family Series following the fortunes of the three Boston born Crawford sisters and includes Train Station Bride, Contract to Wed, Her Safe Harbor, and companion novella, The Maid’s Quarters. Cross the Ocean and Charming the Duke are both British set Victorian romances. Fan favorites stand-alone historical romance novels include Romancing Olive and Reconstructing Jackson. Holly's books are described as ‘emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance.’

She also writes General Fiction under the name of Hollis Bush.

Holly makes her home with her husband, one happy Labrador Retriever and a clever Jack Russell rescued from the pound, and two difficult cats in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Connect with Holly at www.hollybushbooks.com, on Twitter @hollybushbooks, and on Facebook at Holly Bush. Follow Holly on her Amazon author page to receive new release updates and on BookBub to check out her reviews and get sale information.

Book Blast Schedule

Tuesday, March 9
Passages to the Past

Wednesday, March 10
Pursuing Stacie

Thursday, March 11
Reading is My Remedy

Friday, March 12
American Historical Novels

Monday, March 15
Bookworlder

Tuesday, March 16
Books & Benches

Thursday, March 18
Coffee and Ink

Monday, March 22
The Book Junkie Reads

Tuesday, March 23
Bitch Bookshelf
A Darn Good Read

Interview & Giveaway: Zahara and the Lost Books of Light by Joyce Yarrow



Hello, dear readers! Today on the blog I am excited to share my interview with Author Joyce Yarrow today! She is currently touring the blogosphere for Zahara and the Lost Books of Light!

I hope you enjoy getting to know Joyce! Be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Hello Joyce and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about Zahara and the Lost Books of Light!

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?


I was born in the Southeast Bronx and escaped to Manhattan at an early age, where I wrote poetry while riding the bus through the Lower East Side and set some of these poems to music. I ‘graduated’ to writing short stories and then novels but I have always striven for an economy of words. I enjoy writing suspense fiction, since it is a good channel for processing the violence that surrounded me as a child and that pervades our world in many ways. Having my protagonists use brains rather than brawn to prevail is also quite therapeutical.

What inspired you to write Zahara and the Lost Books of Light?

ZAHARA AND THE LOST BOOKS OF LIGHT was inspired by a song, Cuando el Rey Nimrod –a joyous retelling of the birth of Abraham with lyrics composed in Ladino (a mixture of Judeo-Spanish and Hebrew originally devised to confuse the ears of the Inquisition). Whenever I performed it with my vocal-with-percussion group, Abráce, I would introduce it along with the wish that someday Muslims, Jews and Christians would come to honor their common ancestor and as another song says, “turn their swords into plowshares.”

I wondered if the Convivencia (a period in Medieval Spain when interfaith artistic collaboration was at its height) had managed to survive, what form might it have taken? I came up with the premise that a hidden library of books still exists in Spain, manuscripts penned during the Convivencia that were rescued from the fires of the Inquisition.

I decided that my protagonist, Alienor Crespo, would be an American returning to Spain to claim her right to citizenship after the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Part of her adventure would be her discovery of this hidden library and its ongoing struggle to survive. Alienor also has the gift of ‘second sight’ and has vijitas (visits) with her female ancestors, during which she experiences life through their eyes.

What research did you undertake when writing Zahara and the Lost Books of Light?

For a year I devoured books on Medieval Spain, Islamic and Jewish history, and the Francoist era in Spain. “When will you stop checking out books from the library and start writing?” my husband asked. I looked around at the stacks I’d accumulated. Was I capable of distilling all this accumulated knowledge into a simple premise on which I could base a compelling story?

That’s when I realized that I had to forget every word I’d read and trust my creative process to synthesize what I’d learned as part of the writing process. Thank goodness this worked!

What would you like readers to take away from reading Zahara and the Lost Books of Light?

A sense that if we are going to live meaningful and peaceful lives we must uncover gifts from the past and build on them, rather than blindly moving forward.

What was your favorite scene to write?

It may sound funny, but what I most enjoyed was writing the prologue after I’d finished the book.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

There scene where the most dangerous villain in the book has a change of heart because of the death of his son. It was difficult to make this believable after he’d done so much harm. But I have seen people transformed by staggering revelations that rocked their world. So I went for it.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I can’t remember. I could make up something but that wouldn’t be fair.

What does your daily writing routine look like?

While I’m researching and outlining a book I grab time when I can but also let gardening, long walks and cuddling with my cat distract me so that the creative process has room to work in the back of my mind. Once I have the story and characters firmly etched in my mind, I write in the mornings for at least four hours at a stretch.

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

Oy! I’d say it was learning how to let scenes breathe and not stop them abruptly. My nomadic ways up until my thirties were a result of a continuous flight response stemming from early childhood trauma. I learned to control the impulse and channel it into my writing but sometimes it gets the better of me and I run away from an emotionally complex scene.

Who are your writing inspirations?

For ZAHARA I would have to choose FARENHEIT 451 as the main source of inspiration. In both the book and the movie I was moved to tears by the “book people” who walked by the river, reciting aloud the text of classics they memorized before all the books were burned.

What was the first historical novel you read?

BLACK BEAUTY, although it was not an historical novel at the time it was written 😊.

What is the last historical novel you read?

THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN’S UNION, although it really belongs to the genre of alternative history. 😊

What are three things people may not know about you?

Only three? That I was once in a street fight and won; that my father grew up in a Catholic Orphanage; and that because my father was beaten by the nuns I inherited his hatred of them and was afraid of being punished if I ever entered a church. Finally, at seventeen (It Was a Very Good Year) I went into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY during a wedding and was bored to tears by the Latin sermon.

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

It makes me happy to hear a reader call ZAHARA a “genre-bender.”

What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?

Lately I have been enjoying science fiction, so I’d have to say “the future.” Is that an historical period? For me, it is.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Take my canoe out on Lake Washington, a 30-mile-long body of water here in Seattle that I’m lucky enough to live close to. (Feels good to end that sentence with a preposition and have it work.)

Lastly, what are you working on next?

I’m tackling Book II and am reading about the stolen children of Spain never reunited with their parents, the war between the Goddesses and the Gods that led to the domination of patriarchy over our species, and—what’s that third thing?---I won’t know until I’ve finished writing.

That sounds like a fascinating read! Thank you for being here today, Joyce! Enjoy the rest of the tour!

Zahara and the Lost Books of Light by Joyce Yarrow

Publication Date: December 13, 2020
Adelaide Books

Genre: Historical Fantasy


When Seattle journalist Alienor Crespo travels to Granada to apply for citizenship as a descendant of Jews expelled from Spain in 1492, she uncovers her own family story, along with a hidden treasure trove of medieval Hebrew and Arabic books, saved from the fires of the Inquisition.

This “Library of Light” is being protected by a secretive group of literary caretakers. Alienor joins their struggle to safeguard the priceless manuscripts from discovery and destruction by a fanatical group devoted to restoring limpieza de sangre, purity of blood, to the Iberian Peninsula.

Crespo forms mystical bonds with her female ancestors, both Jewish and Muslim, who once faced the same dark forces aligned against her. What began as a routine, freelance assignment becomes front page news in Spain’s growing confrontation with its troubled past.

With a touch of magic realism honoring the mystics of Andalusia, as well as an emerging romance entangled in mystery, this fast-paced novel is rich with conflict and suspense.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author


Joyce Yarrow is the author of literary novels of suspense that “appeal to readers who enjoy unusual stories with an international setting.” - Library Journal

Her latest offering is a historical fantasy - ZAHARA AND THE LOST BOOKS OF LIGHT - from Adelaide Books in Dec 2020.

A New York City transplant now living in Seattle, Joyce began her writing life scribbling poems on the subway and observing human behavior from every walk of life.

Her published novels include ASK THE DEAD (Martin Brown), RUSSIAN RECKONING - available in hardcover as THE LAST MATRYOSHKA (Five Star Mysteries), RIVERS RUN BACK, co-authored with Arindam Roy (Vitasta, New Delhi).

She is a Pushcart Prize Nominee with short stories and essays that have appeared in Inkwell Journal, Whistling Shade, Descant, Arabesques, and Weber: The Contemporary West and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Yarrow is a member of the Sisters in Crime organization and has presented workshops on “The Place of Place in Mystery Writing” at conferences in the US and India.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads


Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 22
Review at @the.b00kreader

Tuesday, February 23
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Wednesday, February 24
Review at With A Book In Our Hands

Thursday, February 25
Feature at Books, Cooks, Looks

Friday, February 26
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Sunday, February 28
Interview on Reader_ceygo

Monday, March 1
Review on Reader_ceygo

Wednesday, March 3
Feature at Bookworlder

Saturday, March 6
Feature at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, March 8
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, March 9
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, March 12
Review at Kellie Butler
Review at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

Enter to win a $20 Gift Card to Powell's Books!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on March 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

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Passages to the Past
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