 |
Series: My Heart Belongs
Genre: Adult, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Romance Publisher: Barbour Publication date: July 1 Journey now to Mackinac Island where... A Tangled Gilded Age Love Story Unfolds. Although the Winds of Mackinac Inn has been in her mother’s family for generations, Maude Welling’s father refuses to let her run it without the guidance of a husband. So she seeks to prove her worth and independence by working incognito as a maid at the Grand Hotel. |
Undercover
journalist Ben Steffans, posing as a wealthy industrialist, pursues a
story about impoverished men chasing heiresses at the famed hotel. While
undercover, he becomes attracted to an intriguing maid. By an act of
heroism Ben endears himself to the closed-mouthed islanders—including
Maude—and he digs deep for his story. But when scandal threatens, will
the growing love between Maude and Ben be scuttled when truths are
revealed?
ECPA-bestselling
author Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of a
dozen Christian historical romances. Twenty-five years as a psychologist
didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! A self-professed “history
geek,” she resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia
but grew up as a “Yooper.” Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel –
but not all at the same time! You can connect with her at
www.CarrieFancettPagels.com.
GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | AMAZON | LINKEDIN |WEBSITE
OVERCOMING WITH GOD | COLONIAL QUILLS
OVERCOMING WITH GOD | COLONIAL QUILLS
1. We stayed at the Grand Hotel for me to conduct some of my research.
2. We also stayed at the Windermere, which is the inspiration for my heroine’s inn.
3. The owner of the Windermere is Margaret Doud, Mackinac Island’s mayor and I’d wager we could rightly call her Mackinac Island’s “First Lady.”
4. The Round Island Lighthouse was being built in 1895, as indicated in the story, but on my cover there are two lighthouses, which there weren’t then – but it’s still a gorgeous cover, isn’t it?
5. This is my “Problem Child” manuscript and I knew I wanted this story to matter so I called in the “big guns” to help me. Julee Schwarzburg, a top editor in Christian fiction, came in and consulted on the overall proposal and theme and some of the editing. Sue Brower, who had been at Zondervan for decades, helped edit the first three chapters for the Maggie Unpublished awards, which this story finaled in. Julie Gwinn, a wonderful editor who had switched to agenting but took my story as a freelance job, came in and did a great job of directing me in which way I should go – but she didn’t molly coddle me, and I needed for her to treat me like that – as if I could fix it, and I did, PTL!
6. Maude was originally a much more “neurotic” type of character in that she had some OCD stuff that her maternal grandmother had instilled in her. One of my consultants, not mentioned above, said she was too “crazy” and I should tone her down. So I did.
7. I went to Arch Rock a number of different ways and on different days, to get a feel for the special scene I have toward the end. On one of these, the transportation almost left without me!
2. We also stayed at the Windermere, which is the inspiration for my heroine’s inn.
3. The owner of the Windermere is Margaret Doud, Mackinac Island’s mayor and I’d wager we could rightly call her Mackinac Island’s “First Lady.”
4. The Round Island Lighthouse was being built in 1895, as indicated in the story, but on my cover there are two lighthouses, which there weren’t then – but it’s still a gorgeous cover, isn’t it?
5. This is my “Problem Child” manuscript and I knew I wanted this story to matter so I called in the “big guns” to help me. Julee Schwarzburg, a top editor in Christian fiction, came in and consulted on the overall proposal and theme and some of the editing. Sue Brower, who had been at Zondervan for decades, helped edit the first three chapters for the Maggie Unpublished awards, which this story finaled in. Julie Gwinn, a wonderful editor who had switched to agenting but took my story as a freelance job, came in and did a great job of directing me in which way I should go – but she didn’t molly coddle me, and I needed for her to treat me like that – as if I could fix it, and I did, PTL!
6. Maude was originally a much more “neurotic” type of character in that she had some OCD stuff that her maternal grandmother had instilled in her. One of my consultants, not mentioned above, said she was too “crazy” and I should tone her down. So I did.
7. I went to Arch Rock a number of different ways and on different days, to get a feel for the special scene I have toward the end. On one of these, the transportation almost left without me!
8.
Mackinac Islanders are considered Yoopers in that the island is counted
as part of the Upper Peninsula. But they are really in a league of
their own.
9. Would you be surprised to know that a number of owners of the fudge shops, even today, have the owner or the “heir” making the yummy fudge produced?
10 Believe it or not, at this time, there were resorts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that were considered more prestigious than the Grand Hotel and attracted a wealthy clientele.
9. Would you be surprised to know that a number of owners of the fudge shops, even today, have the owner or the “heir” making the yummy fudge produced?
10 Believe it or not, at this time, there were resorts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that were considered more prestigious than the Grand Hotel and attracted a wealthy clientele.
Grand Prize Giveaway
– Kindle Fire + Mackinac Gift Pack Set: postcards from Mackinac Island,
bookmarks, hand-made earrings, winner’s choice of a signed paperback of
this novel (or an upcoming release or other book if you already have
read My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island), and a Mackinac Island mug.
If
10 or more unique commenters post on this blog, one commenter will be
selected to receive a print copy of Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order
Husbands (US only).
July 10--Novel-ties*
July 11--By The Book
July 12--Katie's Clean Book Collection
July 13--
July 14--A Baker's Perspective*
July 15--Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
July 17--Faithfully Bookish
July 18--Cafinated Reads
July 19--Baker Kella*
July 20--Reading Is My SuperPower*
July 21--Paulette's Papers
July 22--Singing Librarian Books
July 11--By The Book
July 12--Katie's Clean Book Collection
July 13--
July 14--A Baker's Perspective*
July 15--Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
July 17--Faithfully Bookish
July 18--Cafinated Reads
July 19--Baker Kella*
July 20--Reading Is My SuperPower*
July 21--Paulette's Papers
July 22--Singing Librarian Books
Hello Carrie, on Mackinac Island sounds great. I think I have a little of the OCD also. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! Thanks for coming by! If you only have a little then you're ok! Hugs!
DeleteI just love the, "she was too “crazy” and I should tone her down" part. I know people like that.
ReplyDeleteI found her way more interesting like that! I am such a psychologist!
DeleteI love the behind the scenes facts, how fun! And I had to laugh at you toning down the character :-D
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Husbands (on my TBR pile) and also looking forward to reading it very soon :-)
Tricia she was way more fun to me personally with her issues but I think the consultant was right!
DeleteCarrie it was so fun to read about some of the background info for the book! I've already read and enjoyed it so that made it fun to think back about the locations and characters! I really liked seeing your picture of Arch Rock, it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading it!
DeleteI'm anxiously looking forward to reading My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island. I so need to make a trip into the Soo soon to the book store. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading Maude's story. The cover on it is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDelete