Sep 4, 2009

Excerpt from Lila's Vow by Diane Wylie


Setting: Gettysburg, PA during the Civil War

Captain Jack Montgomery is home on leave, recovering from malaria contracted in Andersonville Prison.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the kitchen he found Lila and Beatrice making bread. Both ladies were up to their elbows in flour. Dressed comfortably in loose trousers and a soft flannel shirt that was not even tucked into his waistband, Jack was at home in the tiny kitchen. This was his house, his and Lila’s, but it was still hard not to think of it as Mrs. Sutton’s house. But she wasn’t even Mrs. Sutton any longer, she was now Mrs. Quinn Markley, and she lived next door.


Rubbing his bristly chin, he considered shaving the beard later. He plopped into a chair.


“Hello, Ladies.” Two bright smiles, looking very much alike in two different faces, beamed back at him.


“Feeling better, son?” Beatrice spoke first.


Jack nodded. “Hungry.”


“I’ll take care of that!” His mother-in-law turned away, wiping her hands on her apron.


Lila continued to knead the bread, just smiling at him, a little moisture shimmering in her eyes. She had flour on her forehead and nose, and a big white swath of it across the front of her. A little bit of the white stuff was sticking in her dark hair as well. She was breathtaking!


He watched her hands working the dough, pressing it in, picking it up, and patting it down again. Then she rolled a lump of dough between her palms. It grew long and longer. With a deft touch, she took one end and gently pulled it.


Jack swallowed. Fascinated, he watched her pour a little oil in her hands. When she worked the oil all over the dough, his senses went on overload and he got as hard as a rock. “W-what are you making, sweetheart?” he croaked.


“The oil makes the crust a little bit crisper when it bakes. The longer shape lets it bake quicker too. You said you were hungry.”


“Yes. I am.”


Beatrice placed a cup of coffee and bowl of lumpy stew in front of him. The aroma from both made his mouth water even more. Picking up the cup, he immediately scalded his tongue with the hot brew. In front of him, Lila’s hands continued their work, molding and teasing the bread dough so that it took the form and shape she wanted.


“When it rises, you need to work it until it goes down again,” she told him.


He almost choked on a bite of carrot.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I hope you enjoyed this tidbit. Here are the links to purchase LILA'S VOW, if you liked it.


~Diane






Aug 4, 2009

Teryl Cartwright Author of A Sensible Match

Pride and Prejudice: A Tweet Story in 2009



Imagine how Jane Austen would feel to live in a 140 character world where briefs are king and too many words are instantly tuned out. I think she’d still find a way to poke fun and satirize our techy times. But, oh, what a difference in how. Do you think some of her most famous quotes would now look like this?

It is well known, though unwritten law that a single man in possession of a Fortune 500 company must be in want of a tax deduction.
Mrs. Bennett’s business was to get her daughters married, or failing that, placed on a reality show.
Mr. Darcy didn’t IM or Text or Twitter. It was rumored he denied everyone on Facebook, set his MySpace to private and had a restraining order against the paparazzi.
“Liz is okay,” he admitted in a chat room, “but not really tempting. I am not about to friend her just to add to her MySpace count when she has so few friends to begin with.”
Lizzie texted his comments to her friend Charlotte and added, “I could easily forget his insult if he hadn’t posted it on YouTube too.”
“Don’t rule him out,” Charlotte IM’d back.. “Marriage is like Lotto, you are better gambling on what you don’t know than settling with what you do.”
“It is your turn to talk now, Mr. Darcy,” Ms. Bennett said at their next meeting. “I talked about the weather and you should now make some comment about the latest celebrity scandal or who will win Survivor.”

It’s just not the same is it?
I could go on, but I hear the echo of Lady Catherine voice in protest, “Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?” (Actual quote from Pride and Prejudice)
I write historical fiction to celebrate a different time and world. How else could I travel to meet such wonderful characters? I cannot write like Jane, but, as you can see when comparing the original to the parody, no one should even try.

In my stories I hope that you will find faith, humor and maybe a hint of all the influences like Jane Austen that have been inspirations for my writing journey. For like Jane, I write to poke fun too, though at a different target. One that needs satirized most.
(With apologies to Austen for yet another mangled phrase) “For what do we live, but to make sport for our memories, and laugh at ourselves in perpetuity?”
I guess what I’m trying to say is this: Take God seriously, but yourself not so much so. Thank you for letting me visit, TAL! Sincerely, Teryl Cartwright

P.S. As a special bonus, here’s an excerpt from my current book, A Sensible Match, about the unwilling victims of matchmaking and the question of whether we choose destiny or it chooses us.

An excerpt of A Sensible Match:
“Well?” Constance tapped her toe impatiently, awaiting Abby’s response.
“I am sure I must see him soon enough. I need not appear eager for I am not.” Abby’s heart raced; she wished she could just go home.
What must everyone be thinking? Were they watching her, too?
Constance moved to put her arm around Abby’s shoulder. “Truly I sympathize with you, sister, though I don’t understand.”
“You would not wish to marry against your will,” Abby explained. She really didn’t want to meet this man and resented her parents for insisting upon it.
“But if you don’t marry, I may have to wait!” Constance whined. “It doesn’t seem fair to do that to me. Now, does it?”
“Fair…what is fair?” Abby kept her voice low. “Should I marry to please you, Mama, Papa, his family, him…all but myself?” She ended up sputtering rebelliously.
“Isn’t it a Christian duty to forget the self? Besides, from what I can see of him, he looks a man of fine mettle.” Constance smiled provocatively. She kept stealing glances across the room to see the newcomers more clearly.
“Fine mettle.” Abby looked over her shoulder. She saw the top of his head with some difficulty for many people had moved to greet him.
“Look how he enters a room and makes it his own. Oh, how I hate how everyone crowds around him. How well pleased he must be with all the attention.”
She watched him move and talk. His smile was charming and his looks handsome… not at all what she had expected. Surprisingly, he did not look sickly; he looked very fit and well dressed for a country assembly.
He looked fine, but Abby told herself that Christian character remained more important above all. She would not be fooled by looks; she knew what he thought of her.
“His is the gift of a silver tongue and a smile that speaks as well,” Constance observed. She almost looked envious of her staid older sister and continued lightly tapping her fan against her arm as if preoccupied.
“Mettle indeed…fine metal. I’d rather he have a heart of gold than quicksilver wit or…or iron will.” Abby was not impressed by him or his winning ways.
“Perhaps he has lead feet as well. That would indeed be tragic if you must dance with him,” Constance teased. “Fine metal, Abby, just for you.”
Abby became envious of the ease with which he graced the dance. This man looked as if he had the gift of social graces. He seemed so eloquent that surely he could have his choice of bride. So why was he not already engaged? What was wrong with him?



Visit Teryl on the web at http://www.terylcartwright.com/

Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble
Abby’s parents want her to marry a man she’s never met. But how can Abby marry someone who’s secretly insulted her? The only solution is to make sure he doesn’t propose. After all, Abby knows that the only sensible match is a love match



Read excerpt

Jul 23, 2009

Diane Wylie Blog Tour



Diane, thank your for making the TAL Blog one of your blog tour stops. We are glad to have you.

(TAL) Lila’s Vow is your third book based on civil war romances; can you tell our readers what sparked your interest in writing about the civil war?

(Diane) The first time I can remember even having a clue about the U.S. Civil War was when I was assigned to write a report about Abraham Lincoln in fourth grade. He was a fascinating president and became a person that I greatly admired. Later I watched Gone with the Wind with my family. After that I realized how that time period could be the setting for lots of action, adventure, and passion. I was hooked.

(TAL) Can you tell us some of the different ways that women help during the civil war?

(Diane) Before the Civil War it was unheard of for women to be in nursing as a profession. But the huge amount of men marching off to war, coupled with large casualties and injuries, resulted in the need for women to get into the field. Not only did women fulfill the role of nurse, but they also contributed greatly to the spying efforts on both sides. The full skirts were good for hiding messages. That, along with the naïve attitude of the day—women would never stoop so low as to dirty their hands with such business—led to many successes for those brave ladies.

Of course, the bravest of the brave would be the ladies who cut their hair, bound their breasts and marched off to war beside the men. I was shocked to find they actually did, and got away with it. Well, so many young boys were enlisting in the army that a beardless young man was nothing unusual. You may find it interesting how some of those lady soldiers got caught. One was discovered when her manners were too good, and another put her socks on in a way that made her suspect. I can’t really think how someone could put on socks like a woman, but there it is.

(TAL) I recently read Secrets and Sacrifices and just loved it by the way. I can’t imagine my self in Charlie position and all that she had to go though and see to be closer to the man she loved. According to your bio on your website you said that Secrets and Sacrifices, boast a hero from your own town of Harvre de Grace, Maryland. Can you tell us who that hero is and why he/she is your hero?




(Diane) Anyone who has read Secrets and Sacrifices will remember my hero, Captain Daniel Reid. I made him from my hometown of Havre de Grace so I could give him a family that was divided in their loyalties like many families of Maryland were at the time. In addition I was able to set the escape of the slaves from Maryland at the Rock Run Mill, which is near my house. After visiting the mill and finding out that it was a stop on the Underground Railroad, I just had to include it in my book. Choosing my hometown for Daniel also put his family close enough to Fort Delaware where the exciting climax of the story occurs.


(TAL) Can you tell our readers about your latest release Lila’s Vow?


(Diane) First, I have to tell you that I had a great time writing Lila’s Vow. It has been the easiest story to flow out of me yet. I think the reason it came so easily is because I already knew the two main characters, Jack and Lila, from their roles in my first book, Jenny’s Passion. Jack Montgomery enlists in the Pennsylvania cavalry to follow his best friend on what he thought would be a great adventure. He soon finds out what war is all about and hates it. But, being the honorable person he is, he keeps going and ends up at Gettysburg, where he meets his ladylove, Lila. While Jenny’s Passion tells the story of two single lovers, Lila’s Vow explores what it might have been like for a married couple torn apart by war.

(TAL) Jack and Lila was character in your book Jenny’s Passion. While you were writing Jenny’s Passion did you know then that you would be writing Lila’s Vow, and do you plan on writing in any more books where characters will continue on to another story?


(Diane) I originally had no plan to write a sequel to Jenny’s Passion, which was first published in 2005, under the title My Enemy, My Love. After the book was released, a reader wrote to me about how much she loved the book. This lady asked me to write Jack and Lila’s story. Well, since it was my first book and I was so very flattered by the request, I did it. Lila’s Vow was actually written after Secrets and Sacrifices. It was my third book.

(TAL) Are you currently working on any new stories?

(Diane) I just signed a contract for my next release. Adam’s Treasure should be coming out in 2010. This is not a Civil War story, but set soon after the war is over. Adam is a Pinkerton agent who is tasked with recovering the gold and jewelry that was stolen by outlaw soldiers during the war. A series of clues leads him and female agent, Marilla Logan, on a chase to recover the treasure.

I also have a new manuscript in the works. Fans will have to check back about this one. I am keeping it under wraps for now. I will tell you that it is very different from my current stories.

(TAL) According to your bio you said your day time is a technical writer. What is a technical writer?

(Diane) A technical writer’s job is to take complicated technical information from engineers and chemists to turn it into material that is understandable for a non-technical person. I’ve written user manuals for scientific instruments and software programs, in addition to editing highly complex reports. A good understanding of things like chemistry, biology, and physics comes in handy with this job.


(TAL) I also see you taught high school science, what made you give up being a teacher and do you miss it, and can I send my 16 year old son to you for science help. LOL.

(Diane) I’d be happy to help your son! I gave up teaching after four years because I really don’t have the personality it takes to be a high school teacher. I am basically a shy person and I don’t like confrontation or yelling at people. Unfortunately, I had to learn how to be much more forceful when I was teaching. I loved working with the kids, but having to deal with all of the issues surrounding teaching just was not for me.

(TAL) Well Diane it has been wonderful having you on our TAL blog. Thank you so much for allowing us to be one of your blog tour stop.

(Diane) Thank you for having me on the blog. The Author’s Lounge is a wonderful place for authors to promote their books. As a member I recommend this site to anyone. Keep up the good work! Your readers can find out more about me and my books at my website, http://www.dianewylie.com/.


Follow Diane's Blog Tour and Win
July 20 - http://www.wewriteromance.com/blog/
July 21 - http://www.romantictimes.com/news_blog.php
July 23 - http://talwriters.blogspot.com/
July 25- http://dianewylie.blogspot.com/

Come along on my blog tour in July. I will be drawing another lucky winner from among all of those who leave comments or questions at any of the blogs. The winner will be announced at my blog, http://dianewylie.blogspot.com/ on July 25th. I hope you come along on the tour!

You can purchase any of Diane books at Amazon.com. Barnes and Noble, Target or order from your favorite bookstore.

Jul 19, 2009

Follow Diane's Blog Tour and Win!


In honor of my latest, award-winning release, LILA'S VOW, I am inviting you to follow Diane's Blog Tour and Win.
July 20 - http://www.wewriteromance.com/blog/
July 21 - http://www.romantictimes.com/news_blog.php
July 23 - http://talwriters.blogspot.com/
July 24 - http://nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/July 25 – http://dianewylie.blogspot.com/

Come along on my blog tour and win a free book--your choice from my three releases. I will be drawing another lucky winner from among all of those who leave comments or questions at any of the blogs. The winner will be announced at my blog, http://dianewylie.blogspot.com/ on July 25th. I hope you come along on the tour!

Jul 5, 2009

Happy Independence Day!!



Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy July 4th!

Diane

http://www.dianewylie.com