Kincaid's Hope Excerpt, with giveaway

Since we are featuring Kincaid's Hope on the blog this week, I thought I would treat my readers to an excerpt of Grace Greene's wonderful writing. After you read, be sure to go to http://adf.ly/67LDk and enter to win this book. One winner will be selected at random on Saturday evening.

Grace Greene writes fiction with romance, suspense and inspiration, but always with a strong heroine at its heart. Her debut novel, Beach Rental, was released in July 2011 and Kincaid's Hope, her second novel was just released in January 2012. Beach Rental recently became a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. Please visit Grace at www.GraceGreeneAuthor.com

Chapter One

She’d built her life before; she could do it again.
Beth Kincaid had awakened before dawn, but the memory of yesterday, of being fired, was a dark, gnarly place in her brain. She pulled the goose down pillow over her head hoping to slip back into sweet oblivion.
Not happening.
She kicked off the covers. She was an early riser and always had been. Apparently, that didn’t change with the circumstances.
First, a hot shower, pounding and steaming, a brisk blow-dry of the hair and then a little makeup‒a swish of the hand towel to shine up the faucet completed the morning routine.
Beth shook out her folded jeans and held them up to her waist. She hadn’t seen them in a long time. She sorted through the shirts hanging in the closet, bypassing the silk shells and dressier button-downs, opting for a sky blue cotton shirt with pearl buttons.
Next, coffee, but there was no rush. She wouldn’t be among the DC beltway commuters this morning.
On the counter separating the kitchen from the living room, the answering machine splashed its blinking red light onto the wall‒the same as it had last night when she came home. She turned her back to it and concentrated on getting the coffee maker working.
Soft strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March came from nearby. Beth jumped, startled, and coffee grounds scattered across the countertop. Stephen‒she’d called him yesterday, but he’d asked all the wrong questions. She found her purse and dug the cell phone out of the side pocket.
“Hi.”
“Hello, beautiful. How are you? Better today?” His tone dropped. “You scared me, you know, not answering the phone. I was worried.”
“I didn’t feel like talking.” She sniffled and was embarrassed that she couldn’t help it.
“Remember, I’m the guy you’re going to marry.”
“I know. It’s just….”
“Beth, please let me help. Getting laid off is bad news and it’s tough for you now, but Haddin Technology gives generous severance packages. You’ve been there for almost ten years.”
She cringed. Stephen’s mind was always on money these days. His investments had tanked and she sympathized, but….
“I can’t talk about it now. I’ll call you later.”
Her finger hit the End button without consulting her good manners.
Beth clutched the phone. She could see him‒almost as if he were right in front of her‒his dark eyes, almost black, so concerned, so sincere.
He’d stopped asking her to take a loan against her 401K, but since yesterday it was severance, severance, severance. If he said that word one more time, she’d scream.
When the Wedding March began playing again, she stuffed the phone under the chair cushion. He didn’t understand. No one could.
But that wasn’t true. Maude always encouraged and supported her. Maude Henry, no relation and under no obligation, had rescued Beth and her brother, Daniel. She’d done her best to help them‒two troubled children with no one to protect them. Years later, just before Beth left town, Maude had given her a book.
Beth stopped in front of the bookcase and ran her fingers along the spines of the books. There it was‒Clarissa’s Folly. She slid it from its spot on the shelf.
The dust jacket was gaudy and melodramatic, an illustration of a young woman in a long, full-skirted dress standing in front of a gray stone house and clutching a red cape about her, against the wind. In the background, a man stood near the corner of the house watching her. Tall and slim, dressed in black, his face was shadowed below the brim of a tall hat.
The jacket branded it a gothic romance, decades out of fashion and a misfit among her other books. Almost an embarrassment. She’d considered discarding it many times, or, at least ripping off the dust jacket. Why hadn’t she? Because of Maude. She didn’t have the heart‒or the lack of heart‒to throw it away.
The inscription was the important part. She flipped open the cover to the words Maude had written on the title page in her disciplined and perfectly formed handwriting:

To Beth on her eighteenth birthday,
Make your own life. Don’t let it be made for you.
Love, your Maude

Beth appreciated the advice, but had always been bemused by the choice of book.
She whispered, “Maude, I did what you said and look where it’s gotten me.”
A photo stuck out from between the pages. She brushed the edge gently with her fingers, then pulled it out. Michael. Dark hair, blue eyes and a smile that set her tingling from head to toe. Back then, of course. Not now. Not in a long time. They’d been so young then. Only a decade ago? It seemed like another life. And beside him, Daniel, always looking so serious, but as mischievous as his ginger hair suggested.
She reached up and touched her own–more gold than red, but otherwise so much like her brother’s.
One page of the book was bent. Beth smoothed out the rumple and the text caught her attention.

The maidservant conducted her down the stairs and through the tall doorway of the dining room. Madam was already seated at the table to the right of a handsome, well-dressed dark-haired man. Clarissa’s breath caught in her throat. Quickly, she sought to regain her composure.
The footman drew a chair from the table, opposite Madam, and waited. Clarissa approached and with each step she was surer.

It was escapist, nonsense fiction. Nothing to do with real life.
Beth returned the book to the shelf and grabbed her old comfort sweater from the sofa. She slid her arms into the loose sleeves, then pulled the front together to hold the softness closer.
So, what next?
She’d like to see Maude.
There was no employer to notify and her neighbor, Celeste, could get the mail. Why not drive to Preston and visit her?
Beth pushed open the sliding door and stepped out onto her small balcony. She breathed deeply hoping fresh air would cool her brain.
The parking lot below was almost empty. The spring-freshened breeze lightly masked the mingled odors of asphalt and stale exhaust. Beyond the parking lot and a buffer of cedar trees, most of the Route 50 traffic headed north and east, away from Fairfax and toward the DC environs. The world–the employed part–was en route to work. Her car sat idle a few rows back with the morning dew still clinging to the windshield.
Only one person was in view, a man sitting in a shiny dark SUV. He was almost invisible behind its tinted windows. The side window was down and his large, muscled arm rested on the sill. The morning sun glinted on gold jewelry around his wrist and on his hand.
He was a stranger and she was glad. She didn’t want nosy neighbors speculating why workaholic-no-time-for-gossiping, all-business Beth was home at this hour on a work day.
The damp, metallic cold of the wrought iron railing reached through the nubby knit of her sleeves. Beth pressed her fingers to her face, to her throbbing temples. Her omissions were catching up with her. She’d never lied about her past, but she didn’t believe she owed anyone, including Stephen, her life story.
She'd told him her parents died when she was young and that a local woman had raised her. That had satisfied him. He liked being free of family ties and emotional baggage. They both did. Romance and hearts and flowers had never been a part of their relationship, but then again, neither had regret or remorse. Until now.
Yesterday’s shock had provided some kind of catharsis and opened her eyes. Their relationship‒once so sparkly‒had no more substance than a cheap trinket.
But breaking up? He wasn’t going to make it easy. All the more reason to disappear for a few days.
Beth went back inside and yanked the suitcase from the closet and opened it on the bed. She didn’t need to pack much. She wouldn’t be gone long–just long enough to hear Maude’s calm common sense advice.
Her toiletries fit into specially-sized plastic bags and her clothing into packing cubes. Nice and neat. With a satisfied grunt, Beth closed the suitcase and carried it into the living room.
Beth pictured Maude, thin with perfect posture and iron-colored curls tight to her scalp‒and with a wide smile when she opened the front door and saw Beth.
The blinking red message light caught her eye again. Time to take care of it. She flexed her fingers and punched the blinking red light.
“You have three messages. First message.” There was a brief pause, then, Stephen’s voice said, “Beth? You aren’t answering your cell. Are you there? Call me.”
Groan. She hit Erase.
“Second message.” This time it was a woman’s voice. Familiar. It caught her attention with the first words. “This message is for Beth Kincaid. This is Ida Langhorne calling from Mr. Monroe’s office. You might remember me?” There was a pause. “Well, I’m sorry to leave a message like this, but Miss Maude has passed. A few days ago.…”
Beth’s mind went blank. Mrs. Langhorne’s slow, southern lilt made ‘a few days ago’ sound like a question. The words hit her brain, but she couldn’t think. Mrs. Langhorne continued speaking. Beth slapped the Stop button.
…has passed. A few days ago…
Something tore in her heart. With a trembling hand, she pressed Play again.
“…he sent a letter, too, because we had trouble tracking you down. Your number’s unlisted. Anyway, we found your phone number in her address book today. We had a small funeral service yesterday‒just the way she wanted. I’m real sorry, honey. When you get to town, stop by the office and we’ll give you Miss Maude’s papers. Bye, now.”
Only Maude had her contact information.
There was no love lost between Beth and the people she’d left behind in Preston ten years ago. In the years since, her trips to Preston had been brief and solely for the purpose of visiting Maude.
The red light continued to blink, waiting, insisting she listen to the third message. She pushed the button.
“Third message. Beth, this is Michael. Maude gave me your number awhile ago. You’ve probably heard by now, but I wanted to make sure you knew. It’s about Maude. She’s gone. If you’d like to talk, call me.” He left a phone number.
One person from Preston had called, after all. His voice touched her in a way that the old photo hadn’t. Her eyes hurt. She waited for the tears to start. Expected them. Wanted them. Her eyes burned, but no tears fell.
It was the effect of shock. Maude was gone. Employer was gone. Reality had suffered a sudden inversion.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. This apartment in Fairfax was her present. The small town of Preston was her past.
Look forward, Bethie, not back.
But sometimes the past returned to claim its share of the present.
She called Mr. Monroe's office and left a message on his answering machine. “It's Beth Kincaid. I'll be in town this afternoon.”
She unplugged the coffee maker. She’d grab a cup on her way out of town. But she had to tell Stephen something. She couldn’t simply disappear.
Beth practiced excuses and explanations as she made two trips down the stairs taking her suitcase and other items to the car. She tossed her suitcase onto the back seat and put her laptop bag on the floorboard, then stood in the open driver’s side door drumming her fingers on the car roof. It wasn’t his fault that, more and more, being around him made her feel trapped. Or, maybe it was partly his fault, but it was totally her fault she hadn’t done anything about it.
She hit his number on the speed dial.
“Beth? I’m glad you called back. I was about to come over. I’m not angry that you hung up on me. I know you’re going through a lot of negative stuff right now.”
The morning damp hung over the asphalt. She slipped into the car and closed the door. She should tell him about the trip and why–as she should tell him the truth about being fired and about Maude’s death. Instead, she said, “I need time away.”
“What are you talking about?”
“A few days. Alone.”
“Just like that? No discussion?”
A deep breath. “I’m sorry. I'll call you when I get back. We’ll talk then.” She disconnected.
She backed out of the parking space, her foot powered by adrenalin, and almost ran over a man, probably the man she'd seen earlier in the SUV since no one else was around. Either she hadn’t noticed him crossing the nearly empty lot and or he’d moved quickly because, suddenly, he was there, his gray t-shirt filling her rearview mirror. He was unusually tall, and, thankfully, nimble. She was glad not to add manslaughter to her sins.
Come hell or high water or from the frying pan into the fire–choose your cliché, pick your poison, Bethie–it all came down to the same thing. Next stop, Preston.
But running away was tougher than expected.
Stephen called before she reached Starbucks and again, as Beth settled back in the car with her coffee.
She parked away from the store, around the side out of the eyes of passersby. She took a deep, cleansing breath, then dialed. He answered before the first ring ended.
“I was about to call the police.”
Muted voices rose and fell in the background. Office noises.
“Why? I told you I needed a few days away.”
“Because I’m worried about you. Losing your job was a huge shock.”
She stopped mid-reach for her coffee, seeing her hand tremble. “I’ll be okay. I will. But that’s part of why I want to go away for a few days.”
“Fine. Understood. I’ll go with you. You shouldn’t be by yourself right now.”
“I’ll be fine.” She sniffled again and rummaged through her purse and glove compartment searching for a tissue.
“Talk to me, Beth. We’re engaged. That should mean something.”
Over the phone came the click of a door closing and the background voices ceased as he said, “Your voice sounds funny. Are you crying? No worries. You'll find a new job.”
“I hope so. I have bills to pay.”
“You’ve still got your savings, and now you have the severance monies.” His voice took on a familiar, bitter edge. “I wouldn’t have suggested that investment to you, or anyone else, if I hadn't believed in it. You were right not to trust me.”
He was tuning up to run through the story of his investment failure all over again. She couldn’t deal with this.
“It was never a question of trusting you. The market was too volatile. Outside of my comfort level.” Sunlight sparked off of the side of a black SUV as it drove slowly past. She shielded her eyes. “You aren’t a broker. They knew you weren’t licensed. It’s not like you took a percentage or a kickback.” There was a brief silence. “Or had inside information or anything.”
“Good intentions won’t matter if they go public about it. Unlucky investments blow up into big scandals now. My employer won’t want to be associated with it even if it has nothing to do with our marketing clients.”
“I understand.”
“And you’re tired of hearing about it.”
She should say ‘not at all,’ but it was the truth–she was sick of it. She tried to remember what had attracted her to him and came up empty. Beth took a deep breath and said, “I’m sitting in my car in a parking lot. It’s not a good place for a conversation.”
“Tell me where you are. I’ll be there in minutes.”
“No.” She spoke as gently as she could, yet still sound firm. “I'll talk to you when I get back. Please understand. Bye, Stephen.”


Please leave a comment on the previous post to be entered to win this book. http://adf.ly/67LDk

Grace Greene's new release, Kincaid's Hope, with giveaway

Wow! Has it been seven months already since we celebrated the debut of Beach Rental? Well, good news! My good friend Grace Greene is back to share with us about her second novel, Kincaid’s Hope. Here is the blurb.

Beth Kincaid left her hot temper and unhappy childhood behind and created a life in the city free from untidy emotionalism, but even a tidy life has danger, especially when it falls apart. In the midst of her personal disasters, Beth is called back to her hometown of Preston, a small town in southwestern Virginia, to settle her guardian’s estate. There, she runs smack into the mess she’d left behind a decade earlier: her alcoholic father, the long-ago sweetheart, Michael, and the poor opinion of almost everyone in town. As she sorts through her guardian’s possessions, Beth discovers that the woman who saved her and raised her had secrets, and the truths revealed begin to chip away at her self-imposed control. Michael is warmly attentive and Stephen, her ex-fiancé, follows her to Preston to win her back, but it is the man she doesn’t know who could forever end Beth’s chance to build a better, truer life.

Grace, welcome back! Tell us about how it feels to be a published author. What are the highs and lows of this past year for you?

Highs and lows? And everything in-between! I think I share this in common with many aspiring authors – the feeling that writing and publishing will be easier after we’ve passed the magical threshold of that first publication. Not true.

Don’t misunderstand. It’s a wonderful feeling, but the next book still needs to be written and sold – and the potential for highs and lows is ever-present. Some people like the roller coaster; some don’t. For some of us, the next story just needs to be told and so we continue writing and seeking publication.

The best ‘highs’ come from reader feedback. I love hearing from readers. They are amazing. I hit a new high a few days ago when I was notified that BEACH RENTAL is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. That's amazing, too!

Congratulations! That's exciting. So how has this book been a different journey for you than Beach Rental?

With BEACH RENTAL it was all new – everything was scary and everything was exciting. With KINCAID’S HOPE, the new worry was that readers who enjoyed BEACH RENTAL might be disappointed in my second book. So far, the feedback is wonderful!

As it should be.
What message do you hope your readers come away with after reading Kincaid’s Hope?

The themes in KINCAID’S HOPE are forgiveness and trust – forgiving oneself and others and trusting oneself and others.
Forgiveness is a gift – one that we must accept for ourselves before we can give it to others. Without forgiveness we can’t move forward, but are forever trapped in our bitterness.

If we learn to trust ourselves, we may find our biggest flaws can also be turned into our greatest strengths.

What advice do you have for us starry-eyed literary wallflowers who are still waiting to be invited to dance?

I advise flexibility. Many of us have/had a mental picture of what publishing should look like and it usually involved an agent, a brick and mortar publishing company and a prominent place on the display tables at Barnes and Noble. But the industry is changing so quickly that, without flexibility, authors, both new and seasoned, may find themselves forever waiting for The Call.
The second piece of advice is to understand how much work you’re willing and able to take onto your own shoulders. Being flexible may mean you’ll consider less traditional modes of publishing, but be sure you have the time, skills and the will to do most of the work (both publishing and marketing) yourself.

Excellent advice, Grace. Thank you so much for being with us this week, and for giving us a glimpse into the published side of writing.

Grace has graciously agreed to give away a copy of her new book, Kincaid’s Hope, to one lucky commenter. Please leave a question or comment for Grace for a chance to enter. Be sure to leave your email addy with your comment like this: youremailaddy (at) server (dot) com
The deadline for entries is Saturday 10 PM eastern. Winner will be drawn at random and announced here Sunday.

Photos of Newtown Battle Field

Elmira, New York was not only the site of some important Civil War history, but also hosted a key battle in the American Revolution.

Continental Army General Sullivan's campaign against the Iroquois came to a pinnacle in upstate New York, right outside Elmira, on an eastern bluff overlooking the Chemung River Valley.

A plaque on the site reads: "One of the most violent battles of the Revolutionary War occurred at Oriskany on August 6, 1777. It was the first time that Oneida warriors, who openly sided with the rebellious Americans, fought against other Haudenoshaunee warriors who allied themselves with the British."
Oneidas at the Battle of Oriskany
painting by Don Troiani 2005.

The Iroquois people came from all over New York state, and were historically comprised of five nations, The Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida and Cayuga, with a sixth joining them, the Huron.

Another plaque reads: The soldiers in Sullivan's army were surprised to find cultivated fields and beautiful orchards. Following the war many returned to settle here. Some historians contend that opening the Indian lands for settlement was General George Washington's ultimate purpose for Sullivan's expeditions.

The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements, and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planitng more.
General George Washington

A great time for Civil War fiction

April marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. Fort Sumter's guns echoed in publications such as Smithsonian Magazine, accompanying a spate of new Christian fiction. What I had feared dead, interest in Civil War has actually revived in several new releases.

Golden Keyes Parsons has one coming out in November called His Steadfast Love.
The Civil War—a defining time of great sacrifice, change, and betrayal which will determine the fate of the Nation. It isn’t until it comes into her very home that Amanda Belle must face impossible choices of love, loss, and loyalty.

I just read and reviewed another, called Love's Raid by Darlene Franklin.
Clara Farley thinks she'll never marry so she draws up plans to run a school for girls in Maple Notch, Vermont during the Civil War. Daniel Tuttle has returned from war without one of his arms, and believes no woman would have him. He serves as town constable during a rash of bank robberies on the heals of a Confederate raid in a nearby town. As the robberies threaten his family's banking business as well as her plans for the school, Daniel must prove himself competent to the town, to Clara and to himself by solving the crime and catching the criminals. But as he gets closer to the culprit, will he drive away the woman who finally might consider him a suitor?

Yet another is Vickie McDonough's Long Trail Home.

A weary soldier returns from the War Between the States to discover his parents dead, his family farm in shambles, and his fiancée married. Riley Morgan takes a job at the Wilcox School for Blind Children and tries to make peace with God and himself. When a pretty, blind woman who cares for the children reaches through his scarred walls and touches his heart, he begins to find renewed faith and hope for the future. But when he discovers Annie feigned her blindness just to have a home, will his anger and hurt drive him away and ruin all chances for a future filled with love, faith, and family?

Ramona Cecil has Civil War ties throughout Freedom's Crossroad, which is a bundle of three novellas about Indiana history. The Underground Railroad makes an prominent feature in one of those novellas.

So, it turns out that this is a good time to write--and read--Civil War after all.

Interview With Grace Greene

Today I have the pleasure to introduce debut author Grace Greene.

Grace writes women’s fiction with romance, suspense, and inspiration, always with a strong heroine at its heart, and a happily-ever-after ending—most of the time. Grace is also an artist and photographer. She is drawn to houses and landscapes that ooze character and is fascinated by history and human nature. When she’s writing all of these interests show up on the page. She’s been honored with a number of writing awards over the past years as a finalist in The Golden Pen, Linda Howard’s Award of Excellence, Fool For Love, and other's. Grace is a member of Romance Writers of America, Virginia Romance Writers, International Thriller Writers, Faith-Hope-Love, and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). A Virginia native, Grace lives in central Virginia with her husband of many years who is also her biggest fan and supporter.

KATHY: So Grace, we met during the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. You were one of the sane voices on those crazy loop discussions. It was instant friendship for me. Then I read your excerpt, which rose pretty high in the rankings as I recall. I remember you as an atmospheric writer, creating a real chilling mystery with your unforgettable character Kath Havens.
Recently you’ve gotten your coveted first contract. How did that all come about?

GRACE: Those Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contests were pretty crazy! We were kind of like pioneers being in the first ones, weren't we?

About that first contract - I was looking for a small press that offered print in addition to e-format. It was especially important to me to have a print edition for my first book. When Kim Jacobs at Turquoise Morning Press offered me that opportunity, I was thrilled - after I recovered from the shock. When I realized she was offering a contract for my second book, too - well, I was nearly overwhelmed. This was the opportunity I was looking for, the chance to share my stories and hopefully, to find readers who'll enjoy them and look forward to more.


KATHY: I am soo excited to celebrate the release of your debut novel! Tell me about Beach Rental.


GRACE: BEACH RENTAL takes place on Emerald Isle, an island off the coast of North Carolina, also in Morehead City and Beaufort. The heroine, Juli, grew up in foster homes, dropped out of school and worked hard to get by on her own. She was proud of her self-reliance - until she begins to realize she's worked herself into a dead end and all of her hard work won't build her a future worth living. The central theme is about trust and faith - learning to trust other people and having the faith NOT to do it all on your own, but to put your life in God's hands.

Here's the blurb:

On the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, in the small town of Emerald Isle…
Juli Cooke, hard-working and getting nowhere fast, marries a dying man, Ben Bradshaw, for a financial settlement, not expecting he will set her on a journey of hope and love. The journey brings her to Luke Winters, a local art dealer, but Luke resents the woman who married his sick friend and warns her not to hurt Ben—and he’s watching to make sure she doesn’t.
Until Ben dies and the stakes change.
Framed by the timelessness of the Atlantic Ocean and the brilliant blue of the beach sky, Juli struggles against her past, the opposition of Ben’s and Luke’s families, and even the living reminder of her marriage—to build a future with hope and perhaps to find the love of her life—if she can survive the danger from her past.

Something else that's important about this novel is the source of the inspiration. In recent years, several of my friends died of pancreatic cancer. They lived their lives to the fullest until they couldn't, doing everything in their power to ensure their families were provided for and important decisions were made to the best extent possible. They inspired me. One of the primary characters in BEACH RENTAL is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he, like my friends, lived his life for the quality of each day and directed his care and concern toward his friends and family. These brave, selfless people inspired the plot and I couldn't think of a better setting to frame the story than with the peace of the beach at dawn and sunset, and the eternity of the ocean.

KATHY: Wow, Grace, that sounds like a powerful story. How many years have you been writing? What are your completed novels to date?

GRACE: I've been writing on and off for many years. Aside from the first completed one many years ago which I don't count, I've completed three and am well along with the fourth. The third, BEACH RENTAL, is the book that was just released. The second, KINCAID'S HOPE, is due out in January 2012.


KATHY: What do you enjoy reading, and how do you feel your books are similar or different?

GRACE: I enjoy books in almost every genre. I prefer a strong female protagonist and I must have a happy ending, or at least an ending with hope.


KATHY: Who or what are your muses?

GRACE: Muses...everything, I guess. Story ideas are around us all the time. Muses inspire us with ideas, right? And also help propel us forward when we flag? For overcoming obstacles, my muses are my writing friends, activities that reset my brain like bike riding and playing the piano, and prayer. All things are possible with God.


KATHY: Besides writing, what are your guilty pleasures? (mine are chocolate, Hobby Lobby and flea markets) :D

GRACE: My guilty pleasures? Sometimes certain foods or electronics, especially new computers or camera gear. My guiltiest pleasure (and my best re-charging) is to spend an entire day with a book, or watching movies with not one productive action to show for it.

KATHY: I love it! Lazy days can be so energizing. What are your wildest dreams? (skydiving, digging for buried treasure, a weekend at the spa, joining the Olympic equestrian team . . .) And have you done any of them?

GRACE: My wildest dreams are growing a readership and seeing the sights around the world (ie pyramids, Louvre, Hadrian's Wall, ). Seeing BEACH RENTAL in print and holding the book in my hands was like a dream come true. Better than that is hearing from people that they enjoyed reading the book. I'd like to compose and snap the perfect photograph that takes my breath away, paint the painting that speaks to others, write the book that lingers with the reader and maybe changes something in them - for the better, of course.

KATHY: What are you working on next?

GRACE: I love the old gothic and romantic suspense novels - those treasures from Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Dorothy Eden and so on. I still re-read them when I want to visit old friends. In KINCAID'S HOPE, I bring that genre in as a thread throughout the story. In my current WIP, I'm writing a contemporary version of the crumbling, atmospheric mansion and the dark, brooding master with a mystery. I'm loving it!


KATHY: Tell us how we can order or purchase BEACH RENTAL.



GRACE: BEACH RENTAL is available in eformats and print at the usual retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble Online, Smashwords, etc. I have links to some of these options on my website -
www.GraceGreeneAuthor.com



KATHY: It’s been a joy to have you here, Grace. I am sure I join my readers in wishing you all the best with Beach Rental and all of your future endeavors.

Grace has graciously offered to give away a copy of BEACH RENTAL to one lucky commenter. Please leave your email addy with your comment, and we will draw a name Friday evening.

Upstate New York and Memorial Day

The commemoration of Memorial Day has its roots in upstate NY. In between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in what is known as the Finger Lakes region sits the quiet little town of Waterloo, NY. Waterloo holds the distinction of conducting the first community event to honor the fallen veterans of the Civil War.

Decoration Day, as it was called in Civil War times, had been celebrated all over the South as women decorated the graves of their glorious dead. These were for the most part independent ceremonies, and varied from town to town, and county to county throughout the south, until the efforts of Henry C. Welles, a druggist who resided in Waterloo, NY unified and dedicated a day of observation. Welles and local war hero General John B. Murray organized a single, cohesive day to honor those who had fallen in defense of the Union.

On May 5, 1866, flags flew over the village of Waterloo at half mast. Dressed in black mourning clothes, a procession led by General Murray marched to the town's three cemeteries and decorated the graves of the slain. A band accompanied the march with martial music along the evergreen-festooned avenues. The following year, Waterloo commenced with the same commemoration on May 5.

By 1868, other communities organized their own events on May 30, which has been the official day of observance in the North ever since. The South continued to mark their own events and days to honor the Confederate fallen, and it wasn't until WW1 when all soldiers who gave their lives on the battlefield were honored that the south officially observed Memorial Day on May 30.

One hundred years after General Murray and Mr. Welles set aside a day in May to honor the men who died in battle, through a series of events, NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the United States Congress, and President Johnson himself recognized Waterloo, NY as the origin of Memorial Day.

Interview with Nike Chillemi, debut author of Burning Hearts

Welcome Nike, and congratulations on your imminent debut with Desert Breeze! I am excited about your Sanctuary Point series on a personal level. My mom grew up downstate New York during WWII, so this series will likely be very nostalgic for me, and a wonderful read for any fan of romance, suspense, and crime fiction. I have a feeling you are going to be the next big thing, and I am excited to have you here to discuss your wonderful book, Burning Hearts, which is set to release May 15.

I'm thrilled to be here. I love the 1940s. There's a kind of natural glamour and sophistication to the period. Ordinary women loved to dress up. The men were so debonair. I love the downstate, Long Island area because it's on the Atlantic ocean. I am crazy about the ocean. There's nothing better than sitting under a cabana, watching the surf come in with a good book. Again, thank your for having me.

Can a sheltered young seamstress, disillusioned by the horrors of WWII, escape an arsonist/murderer who has killed her employer and mentor, while trying to decide if she can trust the dashing war hero who’s ridden into town on his Harley—who some say is the murderer? Erica Brogna’s parents doted on her and taught her to think for herself. Many boys she grew up with have fallen in the war, shaking her childhood faith. In rides a handsome stranger, at the hour of her most desperate need. A woman who is her best friend and mentor is trapped in a burning house. After making an unsuccessful rescue attempt, Erica stands by as this man rushes into the inferno and carries her friend’s lifeless body out.
Lorne Kincade can’t out run his past on his Harley Davidson WLA, the civilian model of the motorcycle he rode in the war. He’s tried. He’s been a vagabond biker in the year since the war ended. His Uncle Ivar bequeathed him a ramshackle cottage in Sanctuary Point, on the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY and now he’d like to hope for a future again, repair the miniscule place, and settle down. The only problem is, a young woman with hair the color of mink is starting to get under his skin and that’s the last thing he needs.

So, a few questions for you. You are a pioneer in Christian edgy crime fiction. What authors have shaped your writing? and why do you feel that the Christian literary world is ready for this genre? (I know I am!)

A few years ago, when I seriously began writing for publication, I was shocked to find some inspirational judges in writing contests found my writing edgy. Erica Brogna, my heroine in Burning Hearts, is rather naive as far as men are concerned. And for that matter, Lorne Kincade, the hero, is awkward around women. They don't even kiss until the final chapter. So, that feedback floored me. I thought, what's edgy about this? When I did get more in-depth criticism, I realized it was because I don't present the darkness of life in a neat package. I don't soften the edges of evil, so I guess my writing is edgy in the classic sense of the word. I think Christian readers are not only ready for realistic writing with plausibility, they're hungry for it.

I couldn’t agree more, Nike.

The authors who shaped my early writing were general market authors. I couldn't find any Christian writers who wrote the way I wanted to. They were out there, but it took me a while to find them. Michael Connelly, who was the crime beat reporter for the LA Times for twenty-five years and who writes the bestselling Harry Bosch series influenced my writing the most. His knowledge of police and court procedure is vast and the man can write. The movie, the Lincoln Lawyer, recently out, is based on his book. Matthew McConaughey did an outstanding job -- oh, pluck my eyes out.
Then of course, I did find Christian writers. James Scott Bell was the first, then Robert Liparulo, J. Mark Bertrand, Steven James, and Sibella Giorello. I guess you could say, I follow in their footsteps.


New York City has been on the hearts of many this week recently. With the passing of Reverend David Wilkerson, and of course the death of Osama bin Laden, New York City seems to be in the cross hairs spiritually, politically and emotionally. You’ve been a long time resident downstate, and a passionate Christian. How are the two—New Yorker and Christian—disparate, and how are they inseparable for you?

I just Googled, "how many Christian churches in New York City?" The answer was 6501. So, the Christian church is alive and well in Gotham. Any place where you have a population of about 8 million, you're going to find activity of many sorts going on. Also, an urban environment so vast offers anonymity and cover for those engaging in nefarious activity. If you want to do something immoral or illegal what better place to do it than where you aren't known by everyone and can operate largely unseen. I write about villains who choose to behave in this premeditated fashion, but they may live in a small village like Sanctuary Point.
David Wilkerson who recently died in a car accident in East Texas founded the Times Square Church. He was the spiritual force behind the renaissance in the formerly degenerate Times Square area. Rudi Guiliani was the political force behind the cleanup. Rev. Wilkserson also founded Teen Challenge. His passing is definitely mourned in the body of Christ.
As to Osama bin Laden. Oh, Lord, words fail me. I'm so proud of our Navy Seals who completed such a complicated military operation with such finesse. It seems so obvious to me that the US intelligence community is largely responsible for this terrorist's demise and probably for keeping the homefront safe all these years since the 9/11 attack. I thank our military and CIA, Homeland Security, FBI and all other agencies from the bottom of my heart.

How have both influenced your world view?

I suppose urban living has influenced my worldview and my writing. Though NYC is so vast, I actually live in a residential area filled with houses that have backyards. Our house is only a short walk to a protected salt marsh that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. I am just as drawn to the ocean as I am to the city. That's why my Sanctuary Point series is set on the Great South Bay of Long Island. Yet its urban neighbor influences my tiny fictitious village. Erica reads a fashion forward women's magazine and makes slacks for herself that she wears around the village. Needless to say, some eyebrows are raised.

What do you hope that readers will take away from Burning Hearts and the Sanctuary Point Series?

I want to show how ordinary people can rise to great heights in standing for what is right and against evil. I hope my readers can see the "natural nobility" unpretentious people can display when against all odds they do the right thing. I hope my main characters Erica and Lorne come off in this way. As we've talked about in the earlier questions, there is great ugliness in the world. I don't want to deny the ugliness, but want to show there is greater beauty. I hope my readers come away knowing the greatest, most powerful force on earth is love.

Give our readers a link or two where they can order your book, and where they can learn more about you and your writing.

Burning Hearts can be purchased from the Desert Breeze Publishing site. http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok
It can also be obtained through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
You find me shooting my mouth off mostly on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1408995495&ref=profile#!/profile.php?id=1408995495
My blog is http://crimefictionandfaith.blogspot.com

Thank you so much, Nike, for sharing your heart and allowing us to celebrate with you on your upcoming debut. I thrilled for you and wishing you every success!

Thank you for having me. This was great fun.