Today I am so happy to once again have author Linda Weaver Clarke as a guest on my blog. This is an author whose books I love to read. I think the Bear Lake Family Saga Series is probably my favorite of all! If you haven't had a chance to read this series, I would highly recommend it!
Who is Author Linda Weaver Clarke?
I was raised among the Rocky
Mountains of southern Idaho and live in Color Country in southern Utah. I am
the author of 23 books. I have several genres that I write in—a Historical
Romance series: Bear Lake Family Saga,
a Mystery Suspense series: The Adventures
of John and Julia Evans, a Cozy Mystery series: Amelia Moore Detective Series, and a Period/Adventure Romance: The Rebel Series. I am also a missionary
at the FamilySearch Center. I help people find their ancestors and learn about
their heritage.
What draws readers to this historical romance series: Bear
Lake Family Saga?
This series has strong female
characters who have a destiny to fulfill. Each woman wants to make a difference
in someone’s life. No matter the trial that comes her way, she is ready to
fight for what she believes. I love the male characters. Even though they are
strong and masculine, they have their tender moments that can melt your heart. Bear
Lake Family Saga has plenty of adventure along with a tender love story.
What was the inspiration for this series?
My ancestors were my
inspiration. I was writing their histories so my children would learn to
appreciate their heritage. Their stories were intriguing and full of adventure.
When I was done, I decided to write a historical romance series and give these true
experiences to my fictional characters.
Give us a brief description of each story in this
series?
Melinda and the Wild West (Book 1): Melinda is a
schoolteacher. She has many challenges but it’s a rugged rancher who challenges
Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared—love.
Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (Book 2): Edith is a nurse.
When a mysterious stranger starts writing to Edith, she gets to know a man's
inner soul before making any harsh judgments. Whoever he is, this man is a
mystery but is he as wonderful in person as he is in his letters?
Jenny’s Dream
(Book 3): Jenny is an aspiring author. She has a
dream to fulfill, but the only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant
memory, which has haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before
she can follow her dream.
Sarah’s Special Gift (Book 4): Sarah is a beautiful and successful dance teacher but she is
not an average young woman. Sarah is deaf, but this does not stop her from
living life to its fullest. And it does not stop her from falling in love with
a man who needs her help.
Elena, Woman of Courage (Book 5): The Roaring Twenties was a time of great
change, when women raised their hemlines and bobbed their hair. As Elena fights
to prove herself as the town’s first female doctor, the town’s most eligible
bachelor finds it a challenge to see if he can win her heart.
Are your books in audiobook form?
Yes. I have a narrator who is
narrating them for Audible. I have one narrator for Melinda and the Wild West, and
then changed to a different narrator for the next four. Carolyn Kashner
actually sings in Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, and she has such a lovely
voice.
Who is the most intriguing character in this series?
I love all my female
characters, but I feel that Elena from Elena Woman of Courage is the most
interesting. She has to endure a lot of
prejudice from the town bully who feels that women doctors have no right
to practice medicine. But that isn’t all. This story takes place during the
roaring twenties, and Elena has decided to be a part of this new generation by
bobbing her hair and raising her hemlines. That
takes a lot of courage. Of course, the town’s most eligible bachelor
finds her most intriguing. He actually admires her tenacity. I admire Elena, as
well.
(For history buffs: Bobbed hair caused a lot of commotion. A teacher in Jersey City was
ordered to grow her
hair
back by the school board or she would be fired.
Women with bobbed hair were fired from prestigious department stores without any warning. A preacher pounded the pulpit, saying that a “bobbed woman was a disgraced woman.” The
raising of hemlines had its problems, as well.)
They developed a new vocabulary during the roaring
twenties. What were some of the words you discovered while writing this story?
This was the fun part of
writing Elena Woman of Courage. During this time period, they spoke a language
foreign to their parents. Here are some
examples.
If you were excited about
something, you say: Cat’s pajamas!
If you didn’t agree with someone,
you say: Ah, horsefeathers!
If you were a feisty woman,
you were referred to as: a bearcat.
If you were an attractive
woman, you were referred to as: a doll.
Women were also referred to
as: a tomato.
When John wanted to “spoon” with Elena, she said: The bank’s closed.
A woman’s body was referred
to as a chassis and her legs were gams.
Where can readers find you?
My website has sample
chapters to read: www.lindaweaverclarke.com
My Audible Page: https://www.audible.com/author/Linda-Weaver-Clarke/B004P47EWO
My Book Trailer:
My Book Trailer:
To enter the contest, tell me why you love historical romances in the comment area. Please state in your comment, as well, whether you would prefer an ebook or Audible audiobook. We will have a winner for both an ebook and an Audible! The contest will run from now till July 14th, 2018. Please leave your email address in a safe format so that we can contact you if you are the winner!
I love to do ancestry research and learn more about my families history. when I read Historical Romance stories it helps fill in the gaps of how these people may have lived. grandmabkr at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by Brenda!
ReplyDeleteHistorical romances give a fullness to historical periods that reading a straight history book can leave out. If well done they give a real picture of life ain different time frames. Linda is gifted in presenting life in a full picture. I would like to receive an ebook.
ReplyDeletestraitfromthehive(at)gmail(dot)com
Congratulations Shirley Strait. Thank you for your comment. I will email you an ebook.
ReplyDelete