1.DOES YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW YOU ARE A WRITER............IF
SO WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION?
SO WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION?
I presented my mother with a fully illustrated manuscript when I
was five. I told her I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I continued to author
short stories and poetry throughout my childhood. Blessed with friends who read
my material, I continued to learn and develop my skills as an adult. It was
generally assumed that one day I’d get there.
5.ON AVERAGE HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK?
Violetta, thanks so much for coming today. I really enjoyed your interview. And now for a blurb, excerpt, and author information.
BLIND ALLEGIANCE
By
Violetta Rand
BLURB:
It’s
a risk of a lifetime loving a man you’re supposed to hate…
Betrayed
by a brother she hardly trusted before the bloodthirsty Viking, Jarl Randvior
Sigurdsson, attacks her home, Noelle Sinclair is conveniently bartered as a
means to save her cowardly sibling’s skin. Forced to leave her homeland and
accompany the petulant Viking to the untamed wilderness of central Norway,
Noelle is ever-aware of the burgeoning dangers around her—including her
weakening resolve to resist Randvior.
Should
Noelle surrender to his resplendent charms and seduction, or fight with every
ounce of strength she possesses to get home?
EXCERPT:
Dark clouds always gathered in Noelle Sinclair’s dreams.
Hundreds of nightmares had played out in her mind since childhood. Why should
tonight be any different?
The
smell of burning wood invaded her sleep. Smoke snatched her breath and she
tried to purge her lungs by taking deep breaths. She ran for the great hall and
all she could see were scorched rafters and floorboards. Guards scrambled to
the battlements, while women and children fled the castle. She searched for her
sisters among the people migrating outside ...
Noelle’s
eyes snapped open at the sound of dire warning. By God, this was no dream! She
flung blankets aside and rolled over, shook her older sister awake, and jumped
out of bed.
“What’s
wrong?” Margaret asked sleepily.
“The
castle’s on fire. Get up, now!”
Margaret scurried from bed and ran with Noelle
to the windows overlooking the eastern edge of the castle. Through the swirling
fog, Noelle could make out a tangle of men with torches and weapons in the
courtyard below. She further scanned the shoreline where the North Sea pounded against
the rocks and dunes. The castle was under siege and poorly defended. Most of
the soldiers and her father were in Ireland, leaving only her brother and a
skeleton army behind.
Her
gaze still locked on the beach, Noelle caught sight of three, silvery-white
longships anchored beyond the walls. Their blood-red sails snapped in the wind.
She stared in horror as the pattern on the sails came into focus—the shape of a
dragon.
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Violetta
Rand holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy and a master's degree in
Environmental Management. Serving as an environmental scientist in the state of
Alaska for over seven years, she enjoys the privilege of traveling to remote
places few people have the opportunity to see.
Violetta
has been "in love" with writing since childhood. Struck with an
entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, at five, she wrote short stories
illustrated by her best friend and sold them in her neighborhood. The only
thing she loves more than writing is her wonderful relationship with her
husband, Jeff. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading whatever she can get her
hands on, music, and losing herself in the ancient worlds she enjoys bringing
to life in the pages of her stories.
Thanks for hosting today.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteI think that memorable, sweet or great deeds can make any hero attractive.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I enjoyed the interview and excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Hello Mary, nice to see you again. Actions do speak louder than words--so great deeds are so very important to set a hero apart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in Ingeborg.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your interview today. I agree with you about the 'not so goodlooking' hero. Same goes for the heroine who is not the raving beauty. Makes for interesting reading, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteAre all 3 books in this series set in the same time period? What was your inspiration to write a book set in the 11th century?
kareninnc at gmail dot com
Wow! You write fast! I love Alaska. I used to live in the Yukon and visited Alaska on several occasions.
ReplyDeleteHello Karen.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Blind Series will follow the events of the 11th century. Book 2, Blind Mercy, opens up in 1066 at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, seven miles from York. Here, my hero, Tyr Sigurdsson, the middle son of Randvior and Noelle, finds himself one of the few survivors of the war that really ends the Viking Age.
The 11th century is full of important events and religious conflict. One of my favorite things for historical fiction.
Book 3, Blind Vengeance, is a redemption story. It takes the antagonist from Blind Mercy and offers him as the hero.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Thanks for the awesome interview! You've got some great answers!
ReplyDeleteandralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
Greetings Tracy. The Yukon is so beautiful. Did you live in White Horse? I could stay in that town forever. What's your favorite spot in Alaska? I adore Juneau. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Andra. Glad you enjoyed the interview. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the giveaway!
ReplyDeletehense1kk (at) cmich (dot) edu
Hello Kate, good luck with the win.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the excerpt from Blind Allegiance! Great interview. I am also a fan of the Outlander series.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add my email.
ReplyDeletebhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
Nice to see you again Book Lady. What's your favorite book in the Outlander series? I prefer the first. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI can identify with Noelle in so many ways, from the man she isn't supposed to love, to the horrible brother. Thank you for the wonderful excerpt.
ReplyDeletekbinmich@yahoo.com
I like the idea of the less than perfect hero. I like that your next novel features a man with a great heart rather than a great body
ReplyDeletefencingromein at hotmail dot com
Hi Violetta,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the first book in the Outlander series; however my favorites are Breath of Snow and Ashes and An Echo in the Bone because they are set in the American Revolution.
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
Wow! This book sounds great and I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks :-)
Lori
lorih824 at yahoo dot com