Showing posts with label historical romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical romance. Show all posts

Audry Fryer's Until Next Sunday Blog Tour, Author Interview, and Book Giveaway

Monday, May 09, 2022

 



I'm excited to announce the WOW! Women on Writing book blog tour with author and Audry Fryer and her book Until Next Sunday. 

This book is written with so much heart - you can't help but fall in love with the characters from this historical romance!

Here's a bit about the book:

 After bravely leaving the life she knew to come to America, 
illness threatens Rosina’s happily ever after. 
When separated, will letters keep their love alive? 

Rosina leaves Italy to build a better life, but the reality in America is nothing like the dream. She is far from the Italian countryside and the beautiful olive groves where she grew up. Here the work is endless, and the winters are cold and desolate. She never expects to find love in such a place. 

Then she met him. Gianni, the shoemaker’s apprentice, is gentle, handsome, and everything she never knew she needed in her life. 

But when Rosina falls ill and is quarantined, their future is at stake. All she can do is cling to the beautiful letters Gianni writes. Each week she tries to survive the long, lonely days until next Sunday for his brief visit. 

Will fate bring Rosina and Gianni together once more? Or are they destined to remain star-crossed forever? 

Until Next Sunday is a sweet historical romance inspired by a true story. It is based on actual Italian love letters which were discovered a century after they were written (some of which are contained in this book.) It is a portrait of the times, and a true immigrant experience. Feel the force with which these two lives find love, against all odds.

Purchase your own copy on: Smashwords, Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo.

About the Author


Audry Fryer is an author and professional freelance writer from Pennsylvania. Formerly a teacher, Audry wrote her first novel while her toddler son and twin babies napped. As her children have grown into teenagers, she has expanded her writing career. Audry lives with her family and two pugs in a quiet corner of Southeastern PA. To learn more about Audry, please visit her website at www.audryfryer.com.

Social Media Links:

#untilnextsunday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AudryFryerWriter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audryfryerauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AudryFryer Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/awdry/_saved/

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60169629-until-next-sunday

...............interview by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto 

WOW: How was Until Next Sunday born? I loved the book and can't wait to hear the behind-the-scenes details about how everything started! Do tell us all the great details! 

Audry: You could say that Until Next Sunday was born over a hundred years ago when Gianni wrote his very first love letter to Rosina. Over the next several months, they would write over a hundred love letters to each other as they persevered to keep their love alive during a difficult separation. Later in life, Rosina lovingly archived those letters in an album intended for photographs and stored them in her attic. When Rosina died, the box containing the album of love letters was passed from family member to family member, attic to attic. Eventually, a family member took an interest in the letters. But they were written in an Italian dialect that couldn't be easily translated. Amazingly, the family found a translator, a professor at the University of Delaware, who was traveling to visit his family in the same region of Italy. Until Next Sunday includes a beautiful letter from Biagio, the translator. The family, specifically three sisters, the granddaughters of Rosina, could finally read the letters. They knew they had to share this beautiful love story with the world. First, they pursued making it into a movie. However, they received advice that they should create a novel first. Here's where I come in! 

One of the sisters, Laurie, married my husband's uncle. She knew I was an author and had self-published two ebooks on Amazon. She asked if I'd be interested - I jumped at the opportunity. Soon, I received a box of papers containing the typed-up copies of the love letters. That was the summer of 2016. During the next five years, I would write and rewrite the story several times. I eventually worked with an editor and, finally, an independent publisher. By the time we published Until Next Sunday on February 14th of this year, those love letters had made an incredible journey- much like Rosina and Gianni had when they immigrated to America! 

WOW: That is such an amazing story in and of itself. Definitely a labor of love for everyone involved! What was the most difficult part of this project? How did you overcome it? 

Audry: There were two difficult parts. 

First, the love letters only told part of the story. I had to research, imagine, and piece together what must have occurred from letter to letter. 

The second difficult part was making sure the story made sense. There were so many unanswered questions the letters left us wondering. For example, what was the true cause of Rosina's illness? Was it tuberculosis or an infected tooth? And, what prevented Rosina from leaving the sanitorium? By the time we, meaning myself and the three sisters, reached out to an editor, I had created several versions of the story. The developmental editor we worked with was incredible. She guided me to where changes needed to be made and helped shape the story into a true page-turner. 

WOW: As someone who has read the book, I must say you did a fabulous job making everything seamless - it never felt like any pieces or details were left out! Who has been your greatest supporter when it comes to writing and publishing your work? 

Audry: My parents have been my greatest supporter of my writing and publishing work. I credit my mom for my love of reading, leading to my desire to write. We both share and discuss books often. She reads so much more than me, so she's always letting me know her critique. If she says I'll like a book, she's usually right! And, best of all, she loved reading Until Next Sunday. As for Until Next Sunday, the story's creators, Linda, Susan, and Laurie, have boosted my writing career. When they entrusted me with their grandparent's story, I felt honored. And because of them, I was finally able to have a print version for sale. I'll never forget Laurie handing me the advanced copy of the paperback. It felt unbelievable to hold a book I wrote in my hands! 

WOW: Now you've held your book baby! I definitely love that term and congratulations to you and your tribe of supporters on this birth!

If Until Next Sunday was made into a movie, what song do you think should be part of the movie version? (and why) 

Audry: When Until Next Sunday is made into a movie (and I say "when," not "if" because it's a real goal), I found the perfect song - "A Sunday Kind of Love" by Etta James. It's a classic, soulful, romantic song that's not well known. I love her voice. Most people know Etta James for "At Last" which is another fantastic song. I found the song, "A Sunday Kind of Love" when I created a playlist on Spotify for Until Next Sunday. The playlist is part of my free book club kit download that you receive for signing up for my bi-weekly newsletter at www.audryfryer.com. You don't have to be in a book club to enjoy it - it's fun for all readers. Also, if you want to listen to the playlist I made of romantic songs with a flair of Italian, search Spotify for the playlist entitled, Until Next Sunday. It's a great soundtrack to play in the background when you're cooking an Italian-inspired meal. 

 

WOW: That's such a great song - thanks for the explanation AND now I will be waiting (rather impatiently) to watch the movie of Until Next Sunday!

In the meantime - What's next for you? 

Audry: The only critique we've received for Until Next Sunday is that readers want more. They want more backstory, more details, and more scenes. They want to know what happened before the story began and more about their lives after the story ends. So I'm open to writing a prequel or a sequel in the future. For right now, I'm working on my website and my Book Lover's Blog. I want my website and my blog to be a helpful resource for readers to find fantastic book recommendations and informative tips for living their book lover lifestyle to the fullest. I plan to write posts about everything from creating a reading nook to finding the best reading apps and more.

WOW: There are so many exciting things in the work for you Audry, and we here at WOW! can't wait to see all your dreams come to fruition! Thanks for reaching out and having us be part of your plan to spread the word about Until Next Sunday! We are excited for your tour and beyond! 



- Blog Tour Calendar

May 9th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer. We interview the author about her book and also give away a copy to one lucky reader.

May 10th @ Create Write Now 
Today's guest post at Create Write Now comes from Audry Fryer as she pens an article titled: "The Importance of a Talented Editor." Hear from Audry on this important topic and find out more about her latest work: Until Next Sunday.

May 11th @ Pages & Paws 
Kristine from Pages and Paws reviews Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer. This historical romance is delighting readers. Find out what Kristine thinks!

May 13th @ Rebecca J. Whitman
Audry Fryer pens today's travel inspired guest post on Rebecca J. Whitman's blog. Find out more about Fryer's book Until Next Sunday and the region of Italy featured in the book.

May 16th @ What is that Book About
Today's book spotlight at What is that Book About is none other than Audry Fryer's latest Until Next Sunday. Readers will want to add this gem to their TBR pile right away!

May 16th @ Rebecca J. Whitman
Don't miss today's podcast with Rebecca J. Whitman as she features Audry Fryer and Audry's latest book Until Next Sunday.

May 17th @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A. Baird welcomes Audry Fryer to her blog today. Stop by and learn more about Fryer's latest book Until Next Sunday and find out the inside story about "How 100 Love Letters Became a Novel."

May 18th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Book Reviewer, Author, Behavioral Psychotherapist, Artist, Oral Historian, and Public Speaker Linda Appleman Shapiro, reviews and shares her thoughts after reading Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer. Don't miss Shapiro's insight on this beautiful historical romance.

May 19th @ A Storybook World
A StoryBook World welcomes Audry Fryer and Until Next Sunday to the spotlight today! Stop by and find out more about the historical romance everyone is talking about!

May 20th @ Rebecca J. Whitman
Rebecca J. Whitman reviews Audry Fryer's Until Next Sunday and shares her thoughts with readers on her blog; don't miss a chance to learn more about this historical romance that is delighting readers young and old!

May 20th @ Word Magic
Readers at Fiona Ingram's blog will hear from Audry Fryer today as she writes about the difference between historical romance and historical fiction. Is there a difference? Find out today and learn more about Fryer's latest work Until Next Sunday.

May 24th @ Mindy McGinnis
Readers at Mindy McGinnis' blog will hear from Audry Fryer today as she writes about how to create a book club kit for your readers. Sop by and learn more about Fryer's latest work Until Next Sunday.

May 24th @ Author Anthony Avina
Readers at Anthony Avina's blog will hear from Audry Fryer today as she writes about Roses and what they symbolize in books. Stop by today and learn more about Fryer's latest work Until Next Sunday.

May 25th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Fellow author Madeline Sharples has Audry Fryer and Until Next Sunday in the spotlight at her blog today! Stop by and see what all the fuss is about!

May 30th @ Bring on Lemons with High School Student, Carmen Otto
Teenager Carmen Otto offers her 5 star review of Audry Fryer's Until Next Sunday. Otto can't wait for her school library to add this gem to their collection! Read more from Carmen about this historical romance today!

May 31st @ Reading is My Remedy
Chelsie Stanford of Reading is My Remedy offers her review of Audry Fryer's Until Next Sunday. Find out what Chelsie has to say about this historical romance and it's talented author!

June 1st @ Lisa's Reading
Lisa from Lisa's Reading has Audry Fryer's Until Next Sunday in the spotlight today! Stop by and see the historical romance everyone is talking about!

June 2nd @ KnottyNeedle Creative
Judy from the Knotty Needle offers her review of Audry Fryer's Until Next Sunday for readers of her blog. This is a delightful historical romance and readers will want to hear what Judy has to say!

June 2nd @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A. Baird reviews Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer. This historical romance is getting lots of attention - find out what Beverley thinks!

June 3rd @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina reviews fellow author Audry Fryer's latest historical romance, Until Next Sunday. Find out from one author to another what Anthony thinks of this book!

June 4th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Linda of Boots Shoes & Fashion interviews Audry Fryer about her latest historical fiction, Until Next Sunday; don't miss this insightful interview!
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com/

June 5th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Madeline Sharples welcomes a guest author to her blog - today, readers will hear from Audry Fryer about Until Next Sunday as well as learning what Audry has to say about Top Strong Female Characters in Literature.

June 9th @ The Frugalista Mom
The Fruglista Mom, Rozelyn, shares her review of Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer! This is a book and review you won't want to miss!

June 10th @ World of My Imagination
WOW! Blog Tour Manager Nicole Pyles shares her review of Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer. Nicole's review wraps up the book blog tour for this historical romance - find out what Nicole has to say about this beautiful story!


***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a copy of Until Next Sunday by Audry Fryer by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway ends May 22nd at 11:59 CT. We will announce the winner the next day in the Rafflecopter widget and follow up via email. Good luck!

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The Woman of La Mancha by Karen Mann Blog Tour

Monday, March 16, 2015
& giveaway contest!

The Woman of La Mancha, a companion book to Don Quixote, tells the woman’s story of Don Quixote by recounting the story of the girl he called Dulcinea, the woman he loved from afar.

It’s 1583. An eleven-year-old girl wakes in the back of a cart. She has lost her memory and is taken in by a kindly farm family in La Mancha. She adopts the name Aldonza. She doesn’t speak for quite some time. Once she speaks, there is a family member who is jealous of her and causes a good deal of trouble, even causing her to be forced to leave La Mancha in tragic circumstances. Having to create a new life in a new location and still unaware of her birth family, she adopts the name Dulcinea and moves in the circles of nobility. While seeking her identity, she becomes the consort of wealthy men, finds reason to disguise herself as a man, and learns herbal healing to help others.

The novel also features a parallel story of a young man, Don Christopher, a knight of King Philip and the betrothed of the girl, who sets off on with a young squire, Sancho, to find the girl. Christopher’s adventures takes them across Spain and forces him to grow up. Does he continue the quest to find his betrothed or marry another and break the contract with the king?

Both young people have many experiences and grow up before the readers’ eyes. Floating in and out of each other’s paths as they travel around Spain, will they eventually find each other and be together?

Paperback: 354 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Fleur-de-Lis Press (May 5, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0965252043
ISBN-13: 978-0965252041

 The Woman of La Mancha is available in print at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Book Giveaway Contest:
To win a copy of The Woman of La Mancha, please enter using the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway contest closes this Friday, March 20 at 12:00 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day in the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author:
Karen Mann is the Administrative Director of the brief-residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing Program at Spalding University in Louisville (spalding.edu/mfa) of which she is also the co-founder. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in various anthologies. Her second book, The Saved Man: The First Century, is available as an ebook on Amazon. After having lived in Indiana most of her life, she now lives in California.

Visit Karen online at:

http://www.karenmannwrites.com

http://www.facebook.com/karenmannwrites

-----Interview by Renee Roberson

WOW: How did you first get the idea for The Woman of La Mancha?

Karen: Before I begin, let me say, “Thank you!” for interviewing me. The idea of The Woman of La Mancha came from my friend Terry Lester. I was telling him that I had been a reader for Sena Jeter Naslund’s Ahab’s Wife, the companion book to Moby Dick, and he asked, “Why don’t you write the woman’s story of Don Quixote?” It scared me to death. I had no confidence I could do it, but then I felt it was a huge challenge, and I wanted to take it on.

WOW: Your book has a very colorful cast of characters, which I very much enjoyed. I have to admit I had a special fondness for Sancho, the fearless and impulsive young squire who attaches himself to Don Christopher. Who is your favorite character from the book and why?

Karen: I do love my protagonist, Cinda, because she is a courageous, smart woman, but I’d have to say my favorite character is Christopher, the male protagonist, because, while he is always a kind person, he starts out as an arrogant, privileged young man who learns by experience to take care of himself, to make his own decisions, and to love unconditionally.

WOW: Some writers find that writing historical fiction can be a little intimidating. How much time did you spend researching The Woman of La Mancha before you actually started writing? Or did you do both at the same time?

Karen: Yes, researching an historical novel can be intimidating, but I also find it challenging and enjoyable. It’s rather like a mystery that one has to solve by finding the necessary information to make your book come alive, as if you knew those times and that setting firsthand.

For The Woman of La Mancha I researched for six months before I wrote a word of the book. After that, I researched as needed. I was writing it in the late nineties before one thought to turn to the Internet for research. Now the Internet is invaluable, but still libraries and other such resources are a must. Buying books can run into money, but I discovered Better World Books, which is a site with a lot of used books and free shipping, plus they donate books to promote literacy around the world.

WOW: You also have another book out now, The Saved Man, available as an e-book and the first in a planned series. What is that book about and do you find working on a series to be more challenging than writing a stand-alone novel?

 Karen: The Saved Man series is about four men who find themselves immortal in the first century A.D., the time of the Emperors Augustine, Nero, and Caligula; of Jesus; of the fall of the Jewish Temple; and of end of Pompeii. Each man loves a woman beyond reason, yet the men come to realize their lovers will die and they will not. This paranormal romance series follows the men through the centuries as they discover their lovers’ souls reincarnated in new bodies and in different places.

Working on a series is more complicated because you want some cliff-hangers or intrigue that will last for more than one book. You have to plant the clues in the first book because you can’t go back and re-write that book. You are also writing about the same characters over a longer period of time, so I developed a spreadsheet where I keep track of the characteristics and actions of each character. At some point you forget which character has green eyes or which one has which scars . . . you need help to remember!

WOW: The spreadsheet sounds like a great organizational tool--thanks for the tip! You’ve stated that you didn’t have the courage to write creatively until you were in your late 30s. How did you finally make the leap?

Karen: I had the desire to write in high school, but when I went to college I didn’t have the courage to follow up on it. Because I loved reading, I majored in literature. I defaulted to being a reader so I didn’t have to write. Then I got caught up in being a wife and mother and didn’t think about what I wanted until I was older. When I finally began to hear other women talking about making time for themselves or taking care of themselves, I started turning inward to see what I wanted. There it was—that desire to write that had been pushed down for years.

WOW: You are the co-founder and Administrative Director of the brief-residency Masters of Fine Arts in Writing at Spalding University in Louisville. Can you tell us a little about the program and what you do in your specific role?

 Karen: I am the co-director with Program Director Sena Jeter Naslund of Spalding’s low-residency MFA in Writing program. As Administrative Director, I oversee the nuts and bolts; I ensure the program runs smoothly. We have about 150 students and 35 faculty. We have three residencies a year where faculty and students come together for 10 days at a time. Our spring and fall residencies take place in Louisville, KY, and our summer residency takes place abroad in a different international location (Paris, Rome, Athens, London, Berlin, Prague . . .) each year. At the residencies, students are assigned a mentor to work with one-on-one for the rest of the semester through an exchange of 5 packets of writing. Now we have more than 500 alumni, and it’s important to me to keep them connected to the program. There’s lots to do. Working with writers day in and day out is my joy. For more information about the program, see http://spalding.edu/mfa.

WOW: That sounds like a great program! When you're not working at your day job, what is the writing process like for you? Do you outline extensively, use a specific software such as Scrivener or write as you go along and revise later?

Karen: I think I have approached each book differently (I’ve written or started seven other books). If I have an idea of the complete story, I write briefly about the idea, not in outline form but just to get down the ideas. Usually I forget I’ve written this document, and at whatever point I find it, I see the book has taken a different direction! For The Saved Man series, I started by writing an interview from the point of view of each of the main characters. Besides asking things like, “What were your parents like?” and “Tell us about your childhood,” I asked things like “What is your secret that no one else knows?” or “What do we, the readers, know about you that you don’t know?” Learning their backstory helped a lot when writing the book. I do not use a special program to write. I write through to the end, doing a bit of revision along the way, but the real revision comes with the completed manuscript. It’s important to find people who will read your manuscript, then you revise, revise, revise, taking in account your readers’ suggestions and your own knowledge of the story.

WOW: What advice would you give to writers who are also hesitant about following their dreams of writing fiction?

Karen: It’s something I’ve heard my colleague Kathleen Driskell say over and over again, “If you can’t not write, then write.” To do that you need to read, read, read, including some books about craft. Or take a class or join a program, but nurture your creative nature in a way that nourishes your passion to write.

WOW: What are you working on now?

 Karen: I have two books in progress: the second book in The Saved Man series and also a dystopian, sci-fi novel set in the 2070s, which includes aliens and war among humans, all those elements you’d expect. To order my current books, see http://karenmannwrites.com. Thank you again. It’s been a pleasure.

----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday, March 16 (today!) @ The Muffin
Stop by for an interview with Karen Mann and a book giveaway!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, March 17 @ Selling Books
Karen Mann discusses lessons she learned while writing The Woman of La Mancha and more in a fun interview at Selling Books.
http://www.sellingbooks.com

Friday, March 20 @ Renee's Pages
Interested in learning more about The Woman of La Mancha? Stop by to read an excerpt and Renee's review of the book.
http://www.reneespages.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 24 @ All Things Audry
Author of the historical romance novel The Woman of La Mancha, Karen Mann, offers advice on developing your idea for a novel in this informative guest post.
http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com

Friday, March 27 @ The New Book Review
The New Book Review features a review of Karen Mann's novel, The Woman of La Mancha.
http://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com

Monday, March 30 @ Writers on the Move
Karen Mann outlines tips for researching the historical novel, from beginning to end.
http://www.writersonthemove.com

Tuesday, March 31 @ Writing Room 101
Stop by for a guest post from Karen Mann on why finding a writing community is beneficial to your career.
https://writingroom101.wordpress.com

Wednesday, April 1 @ Fresh Fiction
Fresh Fiction shines the spotlight on author Karen Mann, who explains how you can keep track of your book's characters using a spreadsheet. Also, enter to win a copy of The Woman of La Mancha!
http://www.freshfiction.com

Monday, April 6 @ Choices
Karen Mann, author of The Woman of La Mancha, shares tips on writing about places you've never been.
http://madelinesharples.com

Tuesday, April 7 @ Lisa Hasleton's Reviews and Interviews
Karen Mann discusses the story behind her historical romance, The Woman of La Mancha, at this interview at Lisa Hasleton's blog.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 8 @ Create Write Now
The process of your revising work can be fun, as the author of The Woman of La Mancha shares with readers of Mari L. McCarthy's blog.
http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog/

Thursday, April 9 @ Writing Room 101
Melissa Barker-Simpson interviews Karen Mann, author of The Woman of La Mancha.
https://writingroom101.wordpress.com

Friday, April 10 @ Words by Webb
Karen Mann shares tale from the writing life and her experience writing The Woman of La Mancha as she answers 5Ws at Words by Webb.
www.jodiwebb.com

We have a few more dates left in Karen's tour, so if you'd like to join us contact Renee (renee[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com).

*****BOOK GIVEAWAY*****

Enter to win a copy of The Woman of La Mancha by Karen Mann! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget THIS Friday, March 20th!

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Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris, Blog Tour & Book Giveaway!

Monday, February 21, 2011
We're thrilled to introduce Kristina McMorris, an amazing author and new friend. Inspired by the true story of her own grandparents' courtship during World War II, Kristina captures the heartache and sacrifice of love and war in Letters from Home, an award-winning debut novel that is timeless, tender and unforgettably moving. It's the must-read novel of the season!

Kristina has such a fantastic video for her book that we wanted to share this with you first so you can get to know her a little better. [If you're reading this via Feedburner e-mail and can't see the video below please visit www.tinyurl.com/McMorris or click on blog title link.]



Book Giveaway Contest: If you'd like to win a copy of Letters from Home, please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in random drawing. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, February 24th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday February 25th. Good luck!

----- More about the book:

In the midst of World War II, a Midwestern infantryman falls deeply in love through a yearlong letter exchange, unaware that the girl he's been writing to is not the one replying...

Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief conversation--cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty--but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.

Beautifully rendered and deeply touching, Letters from Home is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war--and the chance encounters that change us forever.

Letters from Home is scheduled for release in trade paperback from Kensington Books (2-22-11; U.S.) and Avon/HarperCollins (5-5-11; U.K.). Various book club rights have been sold to Reader's Digest and Doubleday, and the film rights are represented by the prestigious Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles.

It's available for purchase at Amazon, B&N, IndieBound, Books-a-Million, and at bookstores nationwide. A portion of the proceeds will benefit United Through Reading®, a nonprofit organization that video records deployed U.S. military personnel reading bedtime stories for their children.

Click here to read the first chapter of Letters from Home.

----- About the author:

Kristina McMorris lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She has garnered more than twenty national literary awards since writing her first novel, Letters from Home. A graduate of Pepperdine University, she spent twelve years hosting weekly television shows, including an Emmy® Award-winning television show at age nine, and most recently served as the six-year host of the WB's weekly program Weddings Portland Style. Adding to her diverse résumé, McMorris is a professional emcee, literary workshop presenter, and former owner of a wedding/event planning business. Her previous writing background includes being a contributing writer for Portland Bride & Groom magazine and ten years of directing public relations for an international conglomerate. She has been named one of Portland's "Forty Under Forty" by The Business Journal. She is currently working on her next novel.

Find out more about Kristina by visiting her website: www.KristinaMcMorris.com.

----- Interview by Robyn Chausse

WOW: Welcome to The Muffin, Kristina! Letters from Home follows the experiences of several characters from July of 1944 through October of 1945, during WWII. Those are a lot of timelines to juggle--the historical timeline of the war and the individual timelines of the characters--how did you keep it all straight?

Kristina: All I have to say is, thank goodness for multi-colored Post-its! Since I was alternating four points of view while interweaving several storylines, all set in very different geographical locations, I used not only posterboard covered sticky notes but also a timeline sheet and chapter breakdown summary to help me remain consistent. And I definitely referred to all three on a regular basis.

WOW: What made you decide to cover the time from July through October?

Kristina: I knew I wanted the story to conclude soon after the war ended, and due to the deceptive nature of the letter exchanges between two of the characters, I didn't feel comfortable allowing the correspondence to span much longer than a year. The reason I chose to start the story on July 4th, quite honestly, was because I loved the visual idea of fireworks exploding over the city. Only after I completed the book did common sense set in regarding the lack of gunpowder due to the war effort. I therefore had to adjust the opening paragraph, and instead had my female character reflect on the absence of such vibrant displays, along with happier times.

WOW: Very clever! So tell us about your research process with Letters from Home. Did you have a plan or get lost in a sea of reference material?

Kristina: I often tell people that I wouldn't advise first-time novelists to tackle a book set during World War II. Aside from the potential criticism you face, given the sheer number of WWII enthusiasts out there, the time period requires an incredible amount of research to bring authenticity to the story. Keeping my timeline to a window of roughly a year certainly helped focus my efforts. But that didn't stop me from obsessively researching until the wee hours of the morning everything from the origin of fountain pens to Christmas tree lights (which is fascinating, by the way). Fortunately, I discovered that most inventions I wanted to reference were patented in the 1930s. It's a wonderful thing when history conveniently fits with a writer's vision!

WOW: The story went through several "reads" before the contract was offered. What were the concerns?

Kristina: I believe the primary concern was the story's World War II backdrop. At the time, popular women's fiction novels set during this era were fairly uncommon. Over the two years since, of course, there have been several such novels that have enjoyed widespread readership, The Postmistress and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (say that one ten times fast!) to name a few. The fact that both of these examples also revolve around a premise of letter exchanges gives me even more hope that my own novel will find a welcoming audience.

WOW: How many rewrites did you go through and in what ways is the final story different from the original?

Kristina: How many rewrites? Oh, goodness, how high can you count?! I can't say I've ever kept track, but I do fondly refer to this book as my first and twelfth novel. The Cyrano de Bergerac-twist of the story has remained consistent since the very first draft. Aside from a good amount of trimming and improved writing in general (at least I hope so!), the most significant change has been increased complexity through higher stakes, additional conflict, and multiple storylines. When I first wrote the book, it was basically a sweet tale spotlighting a single war-torn couple. But as my craft developed so did the secondary characters, until it became clear that this was really a novel about the journeys of three close yet diverse girlfriends, whose lives change drastically as a result of the war. Apparently all three women had something to say; it just took me a while to listen. ;)

WOW: Your writing has been mainly in the non-fiction arena with Letters from Home being your first work of fiction. In fact, I read that at the time you began writing this novel you did not even read much fiction! In what ways were you surprised with the process of writing and publishing a novel?

Kristina: I hate to admit it, but yes, it's true; at the time, I hardly read any books, let alone fiction. As a movie buff, I actually saw my story play out as a film in my head, and decided (who knows why I thought I could?) to write it as a book. After all, how hard could getting published be? Uh, yeah. I received my answer in a stream of form rejections from just about every major literary agent in town. Yet at that point, it was too late to turn back; I'd already written an entire manuscript. So instead of giving up, I became more determined than ever to reach my goal of publication, and to do that meant learning, listening, networking, and doing lots of rewrites.

The greatest surprise, of course, was just how challenging the business can be for all authors, no matter how green or seasoned. When I began, I knew nothing of the process--from acquisition meetings to copy editing to an author's role in marketing. My non-author friends are always shocked when I explain the true basis of the New York Times bestsellers list, or how book covers are stripped for store refunds. No doubt, with how rapidly the industry seems to be changing, I'll continue to have much to learn as time goes on.

WOW: Thank you for sharing your journey. We are in a tough business, for sure. What else are you working on? I read that you were working on some children's books and another novel--do tell!

Kristina: Given that my kids are young and still huge fans of picture books, I decided to try my hand at writing one myself during a small gap between publishing deadlines. I've since put it on the back burner, as my second novel took priority, and really, that's where my passion lies. I'm happy to share that I just turned in my second novel to my editor a few weeks ago, and I can't tell you how proud I am of this next book.

BRIDGE OF SCARLET LEAVES is about a Caucasian violinist who secretly elopes with her Japanese-American boyfriend--against families' wishes and societal molds--the night before Pearl Harbor is bombed.

Once again, there are interwoven storylines, alternating points of view, and a whole lot of conflict! I'm very eager to share this one with the readers, as it features some shocking aspects of history that most people have never heard about, as well as heroes that are too often passed over. Also, being half Japanese, I was able to infuse a unique perspective of living between worlds.

WOW: Ooh, I can hardly wait! Kristina, what words of inspiration or advice would you like to share with your readers and fellow writers?

Kristina: Don't give up. Believe in your voice, hold onto it, and learn how to improve the rest. When someone offers a literary critique, whether solicited or not, listen with open ears. Consider the suggestions. Then, like a cafeteria line, pick and choose what works for you.

----- Blog Tour Dates:

Join Kristina on her tour! Check out these dates and mark your calendar! You can also snag a copy of WOW's Events Calendar HERE.

February 22, Tuesday: Have fun learning about cooking amid rationing during WWII from Kristina McMorris. Also, enter to win a copy of her debut novel, Letters from Home. http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

February 23, Wednesday: Connect to your family's past with the help of Kristina McMorris, who was inspired to write a novel by the romance of her own family history. You can also enter to win a copy of her novel! http://www.amomentwithmystee.com/

February 24, Thursday: Don't miss Dana's audio interview with debut novelist Kristina McMorris. She'll also be giving away a copy of Letters from Home. http://www.niapromotionspodcast.com/

February 25, Friday: Today Kristina tells us about the bliss of literary ignorance...if writers knew about the journey to publication they might never write that first word! Happily, Kristina traveled that bumpy road and is giving away a copy of her debut novel Letters from Home. http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/

February 28, Monday: Kristina will be posting about the challenges of writing historical fiction. She's also giving away a copy of Letters from Home and hopes no one finds any glaring historical inaccuracies! http://www.jhsiess.com/

March 1, Tuesday: Kristina tells readers about the long and bumpy road to publication. She's also giving away a copy of her book! http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

March 2, Wednesday: Ever wonder about the person behind the book? Kathy uncovers the woman behind the novel Letters from Home. We learn Kristina McMorris's favorite candy, superhero, song, guilty pleasure...and a few things about her writing life! Share something about your life for a chance to win Kristina's novel. http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/

March 3, Thursday: Valentine's Day may be over but it's never too late to pen a great love letter. Get some tips on letter writing from novelist Kristina McMorris and a chance to win her debut novel Letters from Home. http://www.cathychall.blogspot.com/

March 4, Friday: Don't miss the opportunity to learn where novel ideas come from in an interview with Kristina McMorris. You can also enter to win her novel! http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

March 7, Monday: Kristina tells us how to laugh if our books are labeled a "tough sell" and plan to succeed anyway. She's also giving away a copy of her book! http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

March 8, Tuesday: Moms? Daughters? Come by to learn why Letters from Home is a great book for moms and daughters to share during an interview with author Kristina McMorris. You can also win a copy to share with your daughter! http://motherdaughterbookclub.com/

March 9, Wednesday: The publishing industry is full of ominous proclamations such as "Your book will be a tough sell." Kristina tells us what a "tough sell" is and gives readers the opportunity to win her WWII era novel! http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/

March 10, Thursday: Stop by to learn what novelist Kristina McMorris has to say about the challenges of writing historical fiction when the "history" is recent enough that folks are alive to say, "Hey, you got it wrong!" She'll also be giving away an e-book of her debut novel Letters from Home. http://www.bookpage.com/the-book-case/

March 11, Friday: Stop by for a review of Letters from Home and a fun 5Ws interview with author Kristina McMorris. http://jodiwebb.com/

March 14, Monday: To paraphrase Bette Davis, "Fasten your seat belts, publication is going to be a bumpy ride." Debut author Kristina McMorris tells us how she survived it and is giving away a copy of her debut novel. http://writingisablessing.blogspot.com/

March 15, Tuesday: Crazy for Books reviews Kristina McMorris's debut novel Letters from Home today. You can also win a copy. Do you feel lucky? http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

March 16, Wednesday: Mass Blogging Event: Everyone's Talking About...Surprises!
Celebrate the grand finale of Kristina McMorris's WOW! Blog Tour with a mass blogging event called "Everyone's Talking About...Surprises." Stop by The Muffin for Kristina's surprise and a list of all her blogging buddies today. Visit her blogging buddies to enter to win a copy of Letters from Home. There's also a Surprise Grand Prize for those who buy her book today. [If you have a blog and would like to join in on the fun, please e-mail Jodi: jodi@wow-womenonwriting.com]

Book Giveaway Contest: Remember, if you'd like to win a copy of Letters from Home, please leave a comment below, or ask Kristina a question, to be entered in random drawing (via random.org). The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, February 24th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday February 25th. Good luck!
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