Sam Time

 

Sam Time

by Donna Balon

 

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GENRE: Historical Fiction, Time Travel

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BLURB:

 

When her fiancé is away on business, lonely Samantha Hunter despairs and absorbs herself in historical research. Her nighttime dreams being so vivid, Samantha believes she’s traveling to a past century. As she navigates the Victorian era rules of dos and even more don’ts, she charms Ulysses S Grant while struggling to maintain her present-day romance.

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EXCERPT

 

During the night, Samantha had a vivid dream. She was in a rural town wearing her Victorian-style dress. The weather was cool so she wrapped the crocheted afghan around her shoulders. And her sockless feet were cold in her slip-on shoes.

 

The few men she saw were in worn, soiled work clothes and walked with purpose. The so-called roadways were not paved but dirt paths. No cars or trucks, but horses and carts. A few wooden one-story buildings scattered here and there.

 

This must be a dream in which the clock has been turned back, Samantha thought. But where am I?

 

She strolled, aware she had not seen any other women. Pulling the afghan around herself snugly, she walked with her head tilted down to avoid catching the eye of any man in whatever this place was, glancing up often to learn more of her surroundings.

 

Then two women hurried toward her, each carrying a wooden bucket of water. Their cotton dresses hung to their ankles, with full skirts gathered at the waist of fitted bodices. Plain white cotton bonnets covered their heads, and shawls were wrapped around their shoulders. They looked at Samantha disapprovingly. Her dress was too fancy for this rural town. Moreover, she wasn’t wearing a bonnet or hat; a bare head was a means of solicitation by prostitutes. She hugged her body with the afghan, which served as a shawl to hide her uncorseted torso.

 

The dream seemed authentic. Despite her uneasiness, she thought, Enjoy the dream. If I don’t like it, I’ll wake myself up.

 

Around a corner, she spotted a few men in uniform. Soldiers. Maybe the army. This might be a small town next to an army fort, Samantha guessed. Still, not a good place for a woman.

A Word With the Author

What chapter was the most fun to write?

The chapter in which Grant is drunk was fun to write. Throughout the book, I wanted to give an intimate portrait of Grant with deference. I could indulge, however, and do whatever I wanted to in the scene when he was drunk. 

 

What is your reoccurring dream?

Every month I have the same dream: I’ve enrolled in too many University classes, which have I not attended, and the exams are in a couple of weeks.

 

What was the scariest moment of your life?

I was in my office across the street from the World Trade Center towers on September 11^th, 2001. When the first plane hit, I heard the gloved impact. From the 27^th floor, I descended a staircase to the outside to see the North tower on fire. After the second plane hit the South tower, everyone scrambled to get off the island. Looking up at the two burning towers was surreal. 

I walked to the East River and waited for a ferry with my husband. White smoke consumed the area. About a half hour later, black smoke surrounded us. We didn’t know the towers had fallen. My husband said he knew I was scared because I was talking.

 

What is your favorite movie? 

It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart. 

 

What’s the top item on your bucket list?

Publishing this novel is first on the list. 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Author Donna Balon debuts Sam Time, a novel well-researched and professionally edited by quality talent from the publishing industry. Donna resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/41018186.Donna_Balon

Website: https://samtimebook.com/about/

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/donnabalon

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

 

 

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