Thursday, September 19, 2013

Book Barrage for "By Love's Honor Bound" Interview with Patricia Bond

By Love's Honor Bound
by Patricia Bond
Historical Romance
Categories: Action/Adventure, Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Release Date: July 17, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count: 98,000

Available at:

Description:
Someone is killing Conductors on the Underground Railroad one by one. With a cellar full of runaway slaves, Olivia June Mathieson must decide - is the handsome Fenton Pierce-Smythe savior or traitor?

Both Fenton Pierce-Smythe’s fiancee and grandfather were killed when runaway slaves spooked their horses. Determined no one else will face that pain, he hunts runaways to return them safely to their owners. But can he remain unmoved by their plight? And unaffected by the beautiful woman who risks her life to lead them to freedom?

About the Author:
Ever since her first encounter with a long hooped skirt gown at age 5, Ms. Bond fell in love with the style. Her love of historical romance began a bit later, when she discovered Gladys Malvern’s books and scoured the public library for every one she could find. Reading Gone With the Wind as a teenager cemented her suspicion that she was born about 100 years too late. She daydreamed about writing novels but knew it was beyond her ability at that time.  Instead, she tried her hand at poetry and really bad iambic pentameter flowed from her fingers. Thankfully, for the world at large, it was a short-lived obsession.

After attending an all-girl high school run by Felician nuns, she enrolled in a local men’s college that had just opened its doors to women. (A Libra, she understands the need for balance.) She earned her B.A. in English, and met her future husband there.  Many years, four children and a grandchild later, the man who made her see fireworks with the first kiss is still her go-to research assistant for all things romantic.

The desire to write books never left, even as she worked selling property and casualty insurance, Avon, and craft kits. She sold luggage at a local department store to earn the money to attend her first RWA national conference and finally feels safe enough to admit to hiding a legal pad under her counter where she wrote scenes in between customers. She still does much of her writing longhand. (100 years too late, remember?)

RWA is the best thing to happen to her writing career, teaching the art as well as the craft of writing. It also brought her together with four of the most amazing women she’s ever known - critique partners and friends.  Special thanks and much love to Helen, Karen, Carol and Jan. An amateur photographer, Reiki master and Guild knitter, Ms. Bonds lives in Western New York one mile from the home she grew up in. You can often find her at the lakeside, camera and notebook in hand.

Connect with Patricia Bond



Interview Questions:

1.      Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's sort of a combination of things – I live in Western New York which has a rich history, including being a major stopping point for runaway slaves to enter into Canada. There are several buildings in the area that were used as “stations” for the Underground Railroad and are designated as historic sites. I had heard a best-selling author say that she found story lines by giving her hero and heroine opposite occupations, like the preservationist and the developer. I thought of a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and the natural opposite to that is the bounty hunter. And so were born Livvy and Fenton.
2.      What genre does your book fall under?
My book is a historical romance with a subplot of murder, betrayal and all sorts of mayhem.
3.      Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh. . . that's kind of tough. I think maybe a younger Pierce Brosnan. He's got the look – that dark, dark hair and the blue eyes, and maybe Kiera Knightly as Livvy – blonde, spunky and cute as hell.

4.      What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
How long a sentence can I use? How about. . . . Underground Railroad conductor Olivia Mathieson mistakes bounty hunter Fenton Pierce-Smythe for her next contact on the railroad, but can Fenton remain unmoved by the runaways' plight and the woman who guides them?
Sounds about right to me **smile**
5.      Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
My book is published through SoulMate Publishing.
6.      How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first draft took me 2 yrs to write.
7.      What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Not many that have been written lately. Most of the books with this setting were popular in the 80's and 90's, so any comparison would be very dated. I can tell you I loved reading Jennifer Blake's early books that she set in Louisianna in the early to mid 1800s, and have been patiently waiting for the market to once again embrace America in the 1800s. It's been a long time coming.

8.      Who or What inspired you to write this book?
As I said, the story idea of an Underground Railroad conductor and bounty hunter had been bouncing around in my head for a bit. I was actually working on a different novel where I had put the characters on a trans-Atlantic crossing. They were at dinner and I realized I needed other people to sit at their table, and that was where I met Livvy, fully growed and everything, with Fenton at her side. Admittedly, they were 60 years old at this time, but their characters were already so fully developed and vibrant, it took me no time at all to realize I had my bounty hunter and conductor. They were so alive they nearly took over that book and were like little kids constantly tugging at my sleeve asking “Is it our turn yet?” Honestly, I don't think I could have NOT written this book – they would have nagged me to death..
9.      What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Besides the love story, I think the history is fascinating. It was an amazing time in our country's history and the issue of slavery in all its variants is still compelling now. I tried to faithfully render the treatment the slaves received. Not all were abused and when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing them, there were a lot who refused to leave their masters who had treated them well, who were afraid and didn't know how to provide for themselves. Of course, there were those who were treated horribly, and I touch on some of that as well. There's also an intriguing cast of supporting characters that I had a lot of fun with, and am currently brewing up a story for Livvy's brother, Bobby. Grandmere and Jean Claude are also tickling my mind – I just hope they're more patient than Livvy and Fenton were.
Excerpt One

1860

God, it was awful.

The whiskey was bad enough, and the stench of sour ale, unwashed bodies, and horse hung in the air like a sail in a calm, but this caterwauling could bring a strong man to his knees.

The girl was pretty, Fenton acknowledged. Remarkably so. She had blond ringlets, brown eyes, and a pair of delicate rosy lips pursed in an invitingly kissable shape. But, the noise coming from them was enough to make one wish for a fence full of toms serenading their lady love.

He closed his eyes and raked his fingers through his hair, praying for the singing to stop. Fenton Pierce-Smythe considered himself a patient man, unflappable and usually tolerant of his fellow man. Truly, though, this was testing even his limits.

Temperance songs were far from popular fare. Especially in taverns. Reactions ranged from drunken jeers and catcalls to being ignored. Fenton admired her courage though, both for her attempt to redeem the souls of his fellow patrons, and for her actually singing with that voice. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing he had the guts to put his fingers in his ears instead.

The singing came to an end, praise God. He opened his eyes to see the object of his fantasies heading his way with a coffeepot. As she approached, the color of her eyes became clearer, a deep, rich brown capable of drowning a man as surely as sable invited one’s touch. Many souls had been lost for less. He watched her serve coffee at the next table. Then she was right there, standing by his table.

“Save your soul, sir, and give up the devil’s libation.”

He raised a brow and looked from his glass to her face, then slowly smiled. “Only if you’ll stay with me and keep me from temptation.”

Her blush charmed him. “I-I c-can’t. I must try to save all of you.” Her gaze flitted around the room, unable to land on any one place before returning to his face.

“Most of these poor sods could care less about saving their souls,” he said. “As soon as you leave, the whiskey will flow freely again. Wouldn’t you rather know you’ve saved one soul, than try to redeem many and fail?”

She stood there, speechless, which was a pity, for however horrendous her singing was, she spoke with a voice smooth and deep as velvet.

“Join me?” he asked, rising halfway and pulling a chair out from the table.

“I can’t,” she repeated. “Please, take some coffee instead.” She reached behind her for a chipped cup from a tray her companion held, and then took a step forward. Her foot hooked on the leg of the chair he had been bringing out for her, and she lurched forward. As she tried to catch herself on the back of the chair, the hand holding the coffeepot drooped down, pouring the hot liquid directly onto his lap and thigh.

Fenton yelped and jumped up as the coffee ran over him. His eyes cleared from the mist of pain in time for him to see the horror on her face. She looked as if she were about to cry. “I’m sorry,” he heard himself say, and wondered why he was apologizing. It was his manhood and parental possibilities that were at risk here.

From habit, his hand moved to his pocket for a handkerchief instead of reaching for the kerchief tied around his neck. He was immediately grateful he remembered to leave his monogrammed handkerchief at home. Plucking at the cloth of his rough trousers, he tried to get the warm fabric away from his skin. She was still staring at him, and despite his discomfort, he found himself thinking about the feel of her soft lips on his. Her chin trembled, ending his reverie.

“I’m all right,” he assured her, even though his thigh still hurt like hell, and the rest of him . . .

Her eyes sparkled though her smile was watery. “Are you sure?” she asked.

Well . . . “Truly.” He nodded. What the hell? He didn’t want to make her feel too guilty. He doubted he was permanently impaired.

“I’m so glad,” she said in a rush. “I really thought I had hurt you. Would you like some coffee?” She brandished the pot in his general direction. He quickly side-stepped away from her.

“I think I’ve had all I care for, tonight. Thank you just the same.” He restrained himself from grabbing the pot from her hand before she could come close again.

“You’re not from around here,” she stated, studying him. “Not many sailors come this far away from the Potomac. What are you doing here?”

Ah, well. Yes, what was he doing here? Looking for someone who was running slaves to the north, that’s what, but it was decidedly unhealthy to make that kind of information available. Still, perhaps the girl might know someone. “I was told there was a captain here, looking for crewmen. I hoped I could find him, and sign on.”

Not bad as lies went. In truth, he was looking for a captain, and had been told that one of the “conductors” codenames was Captain. He watched her face intently. Her tears threatened to fall and he handed her the kerchief he’d used to wipe his leg.

Olivia June Mathieson, Livvy to her friends, took the proffered cloth, acutely aware of the paper in her pocket. The note from Dragonslayer was very specific. Was this man the Marauder? He’d given Jedidiah’s codename, but not the password she’d expected.






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