What I do for love, for my granddaughters

February is slated as the true-love month, due to Valentine's Day, where you give flowers and chocolates to your special partner. I posted last February about how I met my husband. But I want to talk of another kind of love, the love I have for my two lively granddaughters. The crazy things I do for love, to entertain them.



Now eight and five years old, my husband and I started babysitting the girls when Jocelyn was a baby and Jorja only four. Jorja was so smart (I know all grandparents say that) but this is true, that she challenged me on every level. Did you know that artificial flowers are "flowers pretending to be flowers"? We got a good laugh out of that one.

Jorja and me with make-up

We colored and painted, played hair dresser (where she looked at my post-menopause curly locks with disgust and proclaimed "you have crazy hair") and played games. She was a ball of energy I had to rush to keep up with. I learned all the cartoon programs: Paw Patrol; Bubble Guppies; Sponge-Bob Square-Pants--I know all the characters in Bikini Bottom.
Jocelyn grew older and wanted to join in the fun. At first, her sister objected but now they have a friendly sisterly competitive spirit (most of the time).

The girls enjoy doing make-up, and making me up. I've been a Cat Vampire, and other characters I have no idea what they were supposed to be. Both girls painted my face with lipstick, eye-shadow, and Jocelyn loves to slather nail polish on my hands and feet.

Jorja, me and Jocelyn Mother's Day

You love your children, but grandchildren are special, that second chance to cuddle a baby, play hide and seek, be painted like a clown, and sweetly send them home when you're tired!




Jocie in blue

 

 

For different sort of love, my novel On a Stormy Primeval Shore, explores the love that develops between a well-bred Englishwoman and a wild, frontier Acadian trader in remote New Brunswick, Canada.

 

 

In 1784, Amelia sails to New Brunswick, a land overrun by Loyalists escaping the American Revolution, to marry a soldier whom she rejects. Acadian Gilbert fights to preserve his heritage and property—will they find love when events seek to destroy them?

 

Purchase ebook or paperback in Amazon and All Markets.

 

 Or visit my website: dianescottlewis.org

 

 

 

Diane Scott Lewis grew up in California, traveled the world with the navy, edited for magazines and an on-line publisher. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband.

Big Book Giveaway in Honour of Canadian Historical Brides

I’m very excited to blog about the Canadian Historical Bride series published by BWL Publishing. These are books created especially to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary of confederation. My novel, Fields of Gold Beneath Prairie Skies is coming out on Sept. 19^th. Can’t wait. So to promote the Canadian Historical Bride series, I’ve asked the various authors to give one of their other novels for free! And to start out, here’s mine: www.instafreebie.com/free92piu.

Today, I’m interviewing Victoria Chatham, author of Brides of Banff Springs, book 1 of the CHB series.

So tell us about your Canadian Historical Bride novel. I loved the paranormal element in it. Who knew that the Banff Springs Hotel was haunted?

The story of the Ghost Bride has been around since the late 1920s. According to the story, while she descended a winding staircase at the hotel, her heel caught the hem of her wedding gown and she fell. Other reports state the skirt of her gown brushed against a candle flame, causing her to fall. The sad fact is that, whatever the cause, the bride did not survive her fall. Guests and hotel staff have reported seeing a veiled figure on those stairs or a figure in a wedding gown dancing in the ballroom, so the story has had a lot of publicity.

Ohhhh, I love it – a good ghost story! What made you decide to write about Banff besides the awe-inspiring beauty and the ghost?

I’m a very visual person and the photographs I’d seen of Banff as it was prior to the hotel being built to the town, and as it is today, intrigued me. When I started researching my story I found there was so much more to Banff than I had realized, much of it because of its connection with the Canadian Pacific Railway. It really wasn’t difficult to go and do on-site research as Banff is only roughly an hour’s drive from where I live. Here’s the blurb:

In the Dirty Thirties jobs were hard to come by. Having lost her father and her home in southern Alberta, Tilly McCormack is thrilled when her application for a position as a chambermaid at the prestigious Banff Springs Hotel, one of Canada’s great railway hotels, is accepted. 

Tilly loves her new life in the Rocky Mountain town and the people she meets there. Local trail guide Ryan Blake, is taken with Tilly’s sparkling blue eyes and mischievous sense of humor, and thinks she is just the girl for him. Ryan’s work with a guiding and outfitting company keeps him busy but he makes time for Tilly at every opportunity and he’s already decided to make her his bride. 

On the night he plans to propose to Tilly another bride-to-be, whose wedding is being held at the Hotel, disappears. Tilly has an idea where she might have gone and together with Ryan sets out to search for her. 

Will they find the missing bride and will Tilly accept Ryan’s proposal?

I so enjoyed reading this. I may just have to read it again. So what’s the link to buy it?

The best link is http://bookswelove.com/authors/chatham-victoria-romance-historical-canada/

Just click on the book cover and it will show all available markets.

And what’s the book you’re giving for free?

His Dark Enchantress. It’s a Regency romance and the first in my Berkeley Square series. You download it here: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/FI0wg

Great! Thanks! I’m off to download it.

I’m very excited to blog about the Canadian Historical Bride series published by BWL in honour of  Canada’s 150^th anniversary. My novel, Fields of Gold Beneath Prairie Skies is coming out on Sept. 19^th. Can’t wait. So to promote the Canadian Historical Bride series, I’ve asked the various authors to give one of their other novels for free! And to start out, here’s mine: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/92piu

Today, I’m interviewing Katherine Pym, co-author of Pillars of Avalon, book 5 of the CHB series. Hey, Katherine, how’s it going?

Great, thanks.

So tell us about your Canadian Historical Bride novel. I’m reading it right now and I have to say I’m really impressed with the realistic language you use from that era. I feel as though I’ve gone back in time.

The language comes from reading so much of the era, so it attaches naturally to my thought processes as I write.

Now, to tell you of Pillars of Avalon, a story that covers several decades and centers on the early colonization of Newfoundland: King Charles I gives David Kirke a letter of marque, allowing him the freedom to pillage any French ports in New France (now Quebec). He is successful but after King Louis XIV cries foul, King Charles reneges and forces David to return everything he’d fought for, even furs he’d negotiated on his own.

He marries Sara Andrews whom he’s known most of his life and refers to her as ‘Twig’, since she’s so slight. They are each other’s match and support each other during their marriage. David gives Sara free reign to run portions of their companies which she does very well. I had to make her a strong woman because Lady Sara Kirke is considered the foremost North American Female Entrepreneur, and there is an award given each year in her name. 

How did you come up with this idea?

I discovered David and Sara Kirke one day while searching for information on events of the 17^th century. You see, my expertise is London 1660’s, which I’ll admit is pretty narrow, but due to the heavy tomes I borrow or purchase, a lot of history expands to both sides of the 1660’s. During the research phase, and again during the writing of Pillars, I found some amazing books published in the 17^th century that helped me with the colonial days of Newfoundland.

I love Newfoundland. I had an ancestor land there only to move to Quebec later on. So what’s the link to buy it? https://books2read.com/u/3k0pWR

And what’s the book you’re giving for free? 

Erasmus T. Muddiman, a story of a lad who is caught up in the buildup of the 2^nd Anglo/Dutch war. He’s press-ganged to caulk new and used ships at Deptford. After he escapes, he finds London embroiled in the great plague of 1665. 

https://www.instafreebie.com/free/2yrlU

Great! Thanks! I better go and check this out. Nothing more fascinating than the Bubonic plague!!!

Big Book Giveaway in Honour of the Canadian Historical Bride Series

I’m very excited to blog about the Canadian Historical Bride series published by BWL Publishing. These are books created especially to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary of confederation. My novel, Fields of Gold Beneath Prairie Skies is coming out on Sept. 19^th. Can’t wait. So to promote the Canadian Historical Bride series, I’ve asked the various authors to give one of their other novels for free! And to start out, here’s mine: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/92piu

Today, I’m interviewing Nancy M. Bell, author of His Brother’s Bride, book 2 of the CHB series. Hey, Nancy, how’s it going?

Hi Suzanne, thanks for inviting me. Things are crazy! It’s been a busy summer with book signings and events to promote the Brides collection. I’m excited to report that in October I’b going on a 20 library/10 day tour of northern Alberta for the Northern Lights Library System. I’ll be talking to various age groups about my books, books in general and the writing process. I’ll also be seeing you at the Surrey International Writers Conference at the end of October. Always so much fun.

Wow! Sounds like you’re the hot author of Alberta! I totally understand why. So tell us about your Canadian Historical Bride novel. I absolutely loved it. It was poignant and kept me on the edge of my seat, plus I didn’t see that ending coming. You totally got me.

Thanks for the kind words. His Brother’s Bride is set in Ontario during the first world war. The location is Eaganville and then the Sprucedale/Huntsville area. It touches on the story of the “Dr. Barnardo children” those who were sent to Canada as children to be ‘adopted’ by families here. Some were treated well, some were no more than endentured servants who were not treated so well. Annie Baldwin is the youngest daughter of a reasonably well to do family who farm outside Eaganville. She meets and becomes friends with two brothers who were both sent to Canada from Liverpool, England as Dr. Barnardo boys. They were lucky enough to be placed close to each other even though they came at different times on different ships. Both boys end up going to France while Annie waits at home for them and her brothers to come back.  The trio also take a bit of a side trip early in the story to explore the caves along the Bonnechere River. Today the caves are a tourist attraction with guided tours, but in the early 1900s they were entered via a sink hole and the explorers were on their own.   

What made you decide to write this particular story?

The premise of the novel is based very roughly on my grandparent’s story. I took some liberties with their actual story line, but the foundation is there. It just seemed like it would be a good story to tell and it had a lot of personal meaning to me. I felt closer to my grandfather and his brother as I delved into the research. It also helped that I’ve been to the places in the novel, Sprucedale, Doe Lake, the Bonnechere Caves and the Haliburton Highlands.

I know what you mean about feeling closer to your grandfather. My story is about my grandparents as well, and even though I’ve never met my great grandfather, I feel like I know him well after having written this story. Now please do tell where can we get His Brother’s Bride?

His Brother’s Bride is available in e-format and print. It can be found on all the normal ebook sites as well as in print from Chapters/Indigo in Canada and the Red Tuque Books website.

Here is the link to my author page. If you click on the cover of a book it will take you to a page where you can take your pick of vendors. 

http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/bell-nancy-romance-ya-canada/

And what’s the book you’re giving for free?

I thought I’d add some humour here, so I’m giving away The Teddy Dialogues.  Here’s a bit about Teddy, a most remarkable dog.

Do you ever look at your dog and wonder what he’s thinking? Well, wonder no more. The Teddy Dialogues takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of what goes in a dog’s mind and how they perceive the odd way their humans behave. Teddy’s dry wit and irascible personality make this a quirky and fun read. You’ll never look at your dog the same after you read The Teddy Dialogues. Prepare to be entertained.

https://www.instafreebie.com/free/lB5uZ  Here’s the giveaway link.

Great! Thanks! I really laughed when I read that book, but His Brother’s Bride is my favourite so far.

Thanks Suzanne, I always enjoy reading your work. Love those unicorns.

And in case you'd like to be one of the first to read Fields of Gold Beneath Prairie Skies, you can pre-order it here:

Fields of Gold Link