Stacy Henrie, Author Blog

I’m in the middle of writing Book #2 in my WWI series. So although it’s 2012 in the real world, it’s 1918 in my head! 🙂 I think this time period is so fascinating – the clothes, the cars, the budding technology, the brutality of a war where tanks, airplanes and machine guns were new. I also love the lesser known pieces of history from WWI.

This is a propaganda poster from 1917. Both liberty bonds and propaganda play a part in my first book in this series, which explores the conflict of a schoolteacher and a German-American handyman who fall in love while anti-German hysteria divides the population of their small Iowa town.

I knew a little about the German prejudice during WWI from a couple other novels I’d read, but it wasn’t until I began researching it for this book, that I realized how rampant it really was. German-Americans changed their last names, German-sounding streets or cities were also changed, even sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage.” German-Americans were forced to buy liberty bonds, were tarred and feathered, were made to kiss the flag and subjected to numerous other injustices. It was both interesting and sad to read accounts of what many Germans here in the U.S. faced during the war.

How much do you know about WWI? Is it a time period that you find interesting or would like to learn more about? Like me, are you counting down the days until Downton Abbey starts again? 🙂

Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered the An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere giveaway. The winners of the two advanced reader copies are … karenk and Jes! I’ll be emailing you, ladies, for your addresses. Congratulations; it’s a great read. The book releases October 30th, but you can pre-order it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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*In an effort to spread the word about my favorite type of book – inspirational romance – I occasionally share my recommendations for books in this genre.

An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere

What It’s About:
A youthful indiscretion has cost Lizzie Poole more than just her honor. After five years living in exile, she’s finally returning home, but she’s still living a secret life. Her best friend Ria’s dying wish was for Lizzie to assume her identity, return to London, and make amends that Ria herself would never live to make. Bearing a striking resemblance to her friend, and harboring more secrets than ever before, Lizzie embarks on a journey that tempts her reckless heart once again . . .

A committed clergyman, Geoffrey Somerville’s world is upended when he suddenly inherits the title of Lord Somerville. Now he’s invited to every ball and sought after by the matchmaking mothers of London society. Yet the only woman to capture his heart is the one he cannot have: his brother’s young widow, Ria. Duty demands he deny his feelings, but his heart longs for the mysterious beauty. With both their futures at stake, will Lizzie be able to keep up her façade? Or will she find the strength to share her secret and put her faith in true love?

My Thoughts:
The premise of this book drew me in right away – a young woman pretending to be her best friend in high society London! I love the characters in this book. Lizzie is an independent heroine, trying to do what she thinks is best as she attempts to right the past. Geoffrey is a fabulous hero – serious but kind! And James is the perfect flirty, not-a-care-in-the-world cousin who provides great humor. The romance is full of great chemistry between the characters, while never crossing a line – and though, I did have to wait a bit for the hero and heroine to kiss, it was well-worth it. 🙂 The inspirational/faith elements of the story are very light and will definitely appeal to those who like the romance to be at the center of the story. I can’t wait for the other two books in the series!

Giveaway!

I’m giving away TWO advanced reader copies of An Heiress at Heart! If you’d like to enter the giveaway, just a leave a comment on this post between now and next Tuesday (the 23rd). I’ll randomly select two commenters and announce the winners on my post next Wednesday.

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My to-read pile beside my bed is so large right now that I’ve had to relegate some of the books to my closet shelf! I’m currently reading an advanced reader copy of this book.

And I’m really enjoying it! This is Grand Central’s first inspirational historical romance – and it’s a good one. I’m excited to be part of the team with my WWI series and I will definitely be giving Jennifer’s book my recommendation!

What are you excited about reading?

*Today Jessica Nelson is reviewing Lady Outlaw on her blog and doing a giveaway!

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Today I’m answering questions over on Melissa Tagg’s blog, which is quite an honor. She has a fabulous blog, plus Melissa is funny and nice!

Come find out more about my upcoming WWI series with Grand Central Publishing and enter to win a copy of LADY OUTLAW.

*To see where else I’ve been this month, check out the side bar for all the details on the LADY OUTLAW blog tour for September!

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As I write this Thursday night, I feel tired and humbled. My kids got to bed way too late – like hours late in my 2-year-old’s case :), and my kitchen sink is still full of today’s dishes. But it doesn’t matter. What matters tonight and in the days ahead is the gratitude I feel right now.

Thank you to everyone who came tonight to the launch party for LADY OUTLAW. Thank you to everyone who helped us pull this party off with a bang. Thank you to everyone for your support! It is truly amazing, humbling and encouraging.

Big Announcement!

For those unable to attend the launch party, I wanted to share my big announcement here! I will be publishing a three-book, inspirational romance WWI series with Grand Central Publishing. The first book is slated for release in March 2014 – the 100-year anniversary of the start of WWI. Grand Central has been doing romance for a long time, but they’re just starting into inspirational romance and I’m so excited to be part of that venture.

Launch Party Photos!

More LADY OUTLAW Fun!

– If you’d like to win a copy of LADY OUTLAW, hop over to the blog of my good friend and critique partner Ali Cross for a giveaway!

– Check out Clean Romance Reviews today for her review of LADY OUTLAW.

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Eight years ago this summer, when my oldest son was just a couple of months old, I began writing my first book. This was my first serious attempt to accomplish a goal I’d written in my journal at the age of 11 – write and publish a book.

I wrote during naptime, went to my first writers’ conference and finished my book. I wrote another book (which became Lady Outlaw). I had another son and wrote another book. I lost a baby girl at 20 weeks gestation, then later had my second daughter – all while reaching for this dream.

Three times I had a manuscript with a publisher – and all three times I received a “no.” I queried most of  last year and racked up more rejections.

This wasn’t the quick jump to publication I might have envisioned early on.

The end of last summer, I hit a real low. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing, but it wasn’t happening like I’d hoped or thought.

If I could have only seen what would happen four months later – an acceptance of publication from Harlequin and signing with my agent. I couldn’t see it, but Someone could. Through all the struggle and rejection, the Lord was right with me. He knew it would be eight years of work and growth and triumph and failure. But He knew that it was exactly what my journey needed to be – for me. 

Today I feel an abundance of gratitude to Him, to my family and to all the friends and family who’ve helped with fulfilling this dream in any way. Thank YOU!

Who’s been the biggest help in reaching for your dreams & goals? What is the biggest stumbling block to fulfilling our dreams & goals?

*Today my good friend and critique partner Elana Johnson is giving away 3 copies of Lady Outlaw on her blog!

*And check back here on Friday – I’ll have pictures from my Western-themed launch party happening tomorrow night!

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*In an effort to spread the word about my favorite type of book – inspirational romance – I’m doing Christian Fiction Fridays here on my blog where I share my recommendations for books in this genre.

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

What It’s About:

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this story! It has everything I want in a good, contemporary romance – lots of laugh-out-loud humor, real growth in the main character and great romantic chemistry. It’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. Maggie is hilarious and definitely someone you want to cheer on, and Connor is the perfect match for her.

Find it here on Amazonand Barnes & Noble.

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I thought it would be fun to share “how” we each read books!

Here’s how I read:

Format: I don’t own an e-reader yet – gasp, I know – maybe someday. So I read hard copies.

Time: The best reading time for me is at naptime or bedtime.

How: I read pretty piecemeal, meaning in starts and stops, a little at a time. On rare occasion, I may stay up to finish a book. But I need sleep so that doesn’t happen very often.

Where: I read on my bed – it’s the most comfy spot.

Secret: I sneak and read the ending! That’s probably more shocking than not having an e-reader, right? 🙂 But when I can’t stand not knowing another minute how the hero and heroine are going to get together – or if I want to find out if a good kiss is coming – then I totally skip ahead to see what happens. Once I know, I’m good to go back and keep reading!

What about you? E-reader or hard copy? Day-time reader, night-time reader or stay-up-until it’s finished reader? Where’s your favorite reading spot? Do you ever sneak a peek at the ending or patiently wait for all to be revealed?

*Photo from here.

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Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo

What It’s About:
English professor Emma Grant has always done everything just the way her minister father told her she should — a respectable marriage, a teaching job at a good college, and plans for the requisite two children. Life was prodigiously good, as her favorite author Jane Austen might say, until the day Emma finds her husband in bed with another woman. Suddenly, all her romantic notions a la Austen are exposed for the foolish dreams they are.

Denied tenure in the wake of the scandal and left penniless by the ensuing divorce, Emma packs up what few worldly possessions she has left and heads to England on a quest to find the missing letters of Jane Austen. Locating the elusive letters, however, isn’t as straightforward as Emma hoped. The owner of the letters proves coy about her prize possessions, sending Emma on a series of Austen-related tasks that bring her closer and closer to the truth, but the sudden reappearance of Emma’s first love makes everything more complicated.

In the end, Emma learns that doing the right thing has very little to do with other people’s expectations and everything to do with her own beliefs. Laced with fictional excerpts from the missing letters, Jane Austen Ruined My Life is the story of a woman betrayed who uncovers the deeper meaning of loyalty.

My Thoughts:
Don’t you just love the title and cover? 🙂 I finally got my hands on this book, which is the first in Beth Pattillo’s contemporary series based on Jane Austen and her novels. I really liked Emma – she was a great heroine and her journey to self-discovery was believable and heartwarming. I absolutely loved the ending of the first chapter – you’ll have to read it to see what I mean. But it was laugh out loud funny and Adam is such a great character. The author has definitely done her research when it comes to Jane Austen, but I also liked her speculation on the story behind Jane Austen’s possible true love. The ending isn’t typical of a romance – more like women’s fiction – but it is happy and there is promise, so I was satisfied.

Find this book here on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

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The last time we were there was last October  – eight months ago. At that time, I brought our laptop along to “work” because I was jamming to rewrite Lady Outlaw to send it a second time to Harlequin.

This weekend I was thinking back to that time and all that’s transpired since. I had no idea last fall that in January I would get “the call” about my book or that almost a year later I will have that published book in hand.

Would I have wanted a glimpse into the future as I madly rewrote my book, feeling both hope and trepidation? Do I wish I could have known what was to come this year? I don’t think so. It would have robbed some of the sweetness from those moments.

As much as I sometimes wish I knew what lay ahead in life, I’m grateful we rarely get to see very far down the road – that we have to walk in faith and trust. Because then we don’t shy away from the hard things that make us strong and help us learn, and the our victories and accomplishments are even more rewarding.

Do you wish we could see into the future, to know what lies ahead? If you were granted a glimpse at what was to come, what would you hope to see? Do you have a favorite vacation spot you visit every year?

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