Love Inspired Historicals discussion

Winnie wrote: "Paula-O wrote: "Good morning Winnie, always good to read about your books-love them. I would pick this one up for the title, like the idea mail order brides so this is just little twist and the gu..."

Another Southern girl waving Hi to Winnie. Love those mail order bride books! And you're such a beloved LIH author.

Now, I don't want to stop anybody who has more questions for Winnie, but since our next Featured Author lived down in New Zealand, it's already Friday morning for her, so I don't want to wait another twelve hours to introduce her.

Abby Gaines is a well known name to anyone who reads contemporary series romance. She has written many books for Harlequin Superromance and the Nascar series - now she's branching out to Regency inspirationals. I'm in awe of her productivity and versatility! The Governess and Mr. Granville is the second book in Abby's Parson's Daughters series for LIH.

Abby can you tell us a little bit about Dominic Granville and Serena Somerton?

Cheryl wrote...Another Southern girl waving Hi to Winnie. Love those mail order bride books! And you're such a beloved LIH author."

Oh wow! Thanks Cheryl. And waving hi right back atcha!

Deborah wrote: "Now, I don't want to stop anybody who has more questions for Winnie, but since our next Featured Author lived down in New Zealand, it's already Friday morning for her, so I don't want to wait anoth..."

Hi Abby! I just peeked at the blurb for your book and it looks like a fun read. I see you have five children in there - wow! Did you have trouble giving them all personalities of their own and keeping up with them as the story progressed?

I need to check out both books. What is the Parson's Daughter series about?

Hello Abby, I checked your series and book #1 of the Earl marrying mistakenly sure seems like a wonderful plot, reminds me of the Bible story of Leah and Ruth- Marrying one and wanted the other sister. I Think it will be fun reading this series. It is nice to meet another LIH author that I want to read.

Paula-O wrote: "Hello Abby, I checked your series and book #1 of the Earl marrying mistakenly sure seems like a wonderful plot, reminds me of the Bible story of Leah and Ruth- Marrying one and wanted the other sis..."

I'm looking forward to reading Abby's book!

Abby, you are a new-to-me author and I see that you have written quite a few books. Would you say that all of your books are "clean" reads?

Hi Abby, hope you are having nice spring weather in NZ. it looks actually nice this morning here.
When doing research did you learn anything surprising?

Hi everybody
I'm so sorry I didn't make it on Friday! I was away for the weekend (your Friday is my Saturday!) and thought I would have internet access, but it didn't work out.

Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by. I will belatedly answer those questions now...

Laura, The Parson's Daughters is kind of like "Pride and Prejudice with Christians"! Their father is a noble-born parson whose family wasn't happy with his determination to serve a small parish without the trappings of luxury he grew up with. Now, his living in the church is under threat, so his 5 daughters need to find husbands.

Hi Winnie, it was fun writing five kids for Serena Somerton to be governess to in The Governess and Mr Granville. They do have quite distinct personalities (those of you who are moms will know you can never assume your kids are all the same!), though the twins are more alike than any of the other children. I have a particular soft spot for one of the children, Charlotte, whose complex personality isn't a million miles from one of my own kids!

Hi Paula, yes, The Earl's Mistaken Bride is based very much on the story of Rachel and Leah. What a difficult time Leah must have had! Her struggle, or what I imagine to have been her struggle, inspired me.

On an altogether different plane, The Governess and Mr Granville is partly inspired by my favorite movie, The Sound of Music!

Hi Carolyn
My books are all what I consider to be clean reads - I would be comfortable handing them to anyone at church to read. However, the characters in my Superromance and NASCAR novels definitely have more physical awareness and observation of each other, the kisses involve a lot more description, and the characters do consider and talk about the possibility of sleeping together (however, they don't get to do so, except in my marriage of convenience stories).
I hope that helps...
Abby

Hi Jenny, the thing that surprises me in my research is how many words that I think are new are old, and vice versa. The Oxfored English Dictionary is a wonderful resource, which gives examples of the different uses of words over the centuries. For example, I always think of drat / dratted as Americanisms - I lived in England for a number of years, and didn't hear them there. But drat was around in London in Regency times.
Of course, sometimes it doesn't matter if a word was in use then - if it sounds "modern" it's still going to jar the reader out of the story, so it can be best to omit it altogether.

After reading your description I will definitely be checking out this series!! Reminder!! The Harvest Festival for Love Inspired is on the Harlequin boards this week!

Abby wrote: "Hi Carolyn
My books are all what I consider to be clean reads - I would be comfortable handing them to anyone at church to read. However, the characters in my Superromance and NASCAR novels definit..."

Yes,that helps. I know I'll be on the lookout for your books. Thanks so much for taking time to answer all of our questions. You've gained at least one fan, me! BTW, one of your books, Married by Mistake is free for Kindle right now.

Sorry I'm running behind. It's deadline week!

I just wanted to thank Stacy, Lily, Winnie and Abby for taking part in this month's Q&A -- your books all sound So good!

And congratulations to our giveaway winners - CarolynB, AusJenny, Dawn and Barbara! If you see this but haven't received a Goodreads message from me, please get in touch with me via Good reads or email (hrwdebhale @ aol.com) so I can get your mailing address and you can get your book!

I hope you'll join us for the October Q&A Oct 8-12, kicking off on Canadian Thanksgiving!

thanks Deborah this is so exciting. I do love these weeks.

Thank you so much!

Deborah, thanks so much!

Deborah thanks so much. I love finding out a bit more from the authors and their stories.

congrats to the winners-happy reading days...