WELCOME MARY ADAIR, AUTHOR OF NATIVE AMERICAN ROMANCE

Please welcome my longtime friend, Mary Adair to the blog. Here's Mary:

Thanks to Caroline for hosting me on her blog today. To show my appreciation to her readers, I’ll give away an e-copy of PASSION’S VISION to one person who comments today.

The first book in the Passion Series, PASSION'S VISION was inspired by one of my husband’s ancestors who lived in the mid 1700’s here in America. This man was an agent for the King of England; he was a physician, an animal skin trader and the author of a book that became referred to as the first and best information on the American Indians. His name is James Adair and his book is THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN INDIANS.

The second book of the series, PASSION'S PRICE, takes place in England. In the second story, Golden Dawn Fitz-Gerald goes to England to save her childhood friend, Raven Cloud. Dawn is the daughter of James Fitz-Gerald and New Moon. In book one New Moon is a warrior in every since of the word. She raised her daughter to stand proud and strong and to honor her birthright as a Cherokee warrior. New Moon taught Golden Dawn to cherish and listen to the gift of vision she inherited from her mother.

Golden Dawn learned her lessons well. When she had a vision that her childhood friend, the man she knew was for her, was in mortal danger she knew what to do. She would go to England and save the man she loves. Dawn is a delightful mix of her mother and father as well as having a personality and temperament all her own. She will go to England, she will face down any obstacle and she will pay any price to save the man she loves. Dawn is not the typical English lady. In appearance she can easily pass for high society, but as a Cherokee warrior on a mission she causes quite a stir.

Currently, I’m writing the third book in the series, PASSION'S PROMISE. This is the story of Johnny Cloud, son of Golden Dawn and Raven Cloud. Johnny returns to the land of his mother’s people in a time of great strife for the Cherokee. This is where he believes he belongs. He marriea a beautiful Cherokee woman who is sweet and gentle yet possesses a strength that amazes him. He learns she is pregnant just when they were about to leave to visit his parents. She explains she cannot go but he must go without her.  She assures him she will be safe with her people but extracts from him a promise that he will love and protect his expected daughter as much as he would a son. He laughs and promises that he will love and protect their child no matter the sex. He also promises to return as quickly as he can. He truly believes he will be back before the child is born. He is wrong. PASSION'S PROMISE is a story of a father who will do what he must to keep his child safe in a time of war and violence.

Here’s the blurb for the first in the series, PASSION’S VISION:

Passion's Vision takes place in the mid 1700's in the Carolina Cherokee villages. James Fitz-Gerald is an agent for the Court of King George II. James is on an undercover mission from the King when he arrives in the Cherokee village, Chota Town. He knows this mission will be his most difficult with the lives of both white families and Native Americans in the balance. With this responsibility weighing heavily on him, the furthest thought from his mind is a romantic entanglement. That is, until his life is saved by a proud and beautiful Cherokee woman.

New Moon, sister to Chief Dancing Cloud, is a warrior in her own right. She hardly notices the white man whose life she saves in battle. But when James arrives in her village, she is reminded of the troubling visions sent to her by the Great Spirit. She determines within her heart, even after a vision from the Great Spirit telling her otherwise, she will never belong to a white man, and most assuredly not to this one her villagers call Red Panther.

PASSION’S VISION is the story of the love and respect that grows between an agent for the Court of King George II and a Cherokee Princess. Their lives are destined to be filled with adventure and triumph, sometimes with loss and pain, but always with passion.

Here’s an excerpt from PASSION’S VISION:

New Moon sat back on her haunches and rubbed the small of her back with one hand as she wiped the other arm across her sweaty brow. Breathing a soft moan, she arched backward in an attempt to ease the persistent ache. There were other chores that needed her attention, but she felt safe here in the garden. She was sure she would not run into him here among the vegetables.

Her heart was not happy to think the spirits might actually send such a man to her. Not when the good man that was her husband had been killed by one of his kind.

A shiver of apprehension ran down her spine and she glanced over her shoulder. Her gaze landed on the very one she tried to avoid. She knew she should turn her back and continue with her work. Instead, she twisted herself around so she could watch him better.

He leaned against a nearby tree lazily watching the clouds float above his head. He no longer wore the buckskins he had arrived in, but instead wore the narrow loincloth and short moccasins of the Ani-Yunnuiya, the Principal People.

She grunted in disapproval. Does he think dressing as a warrior will make him a warrior? If that is what he thinks, then he is wrong. She shifted her position slightly as she watched him closely. He didn’t even sense her scrutiny. No wonder his party walked into an ambush, she mused with disgust. This man was no warrior. Surely her vision had come from the prankster!

Against her will, New Moon’s gaze was drawn to his hair, which hung long and straight to just below his shoulders. She had never seen hair of that color. It shone with the deep rich color of the river clay, just as her dream had shown her.

So his hair is an unusual color, she scolded her inner voice. It was probably common where he came from. Maybe hair of such a color was a bad omen.

He turned in her direction and raised his arms to rest them on a branch that stretched just above his head. She observed the way his muscles rippled along his large frame when he moved.

Something caught his eye and he turned his face away. Grinning, he propped his temple on his forearm.

New Moon tore her gaze to look toward the playing field. He watched Buffalo, the young half-breed from the trading post. Her attention returned to the white man and her heartbeat quickened. His new position gave her an excellent view of his firmly muscled chest and upper arms.

An unwelcome tingling erupted in her belly. A trembling breath filled her lungs and she allowed her gaze to wander lower along the rippled length of his narrow waist.

Why shouldn’t she look? She excused herself and relaxed. Her eyes were drawn lower still to his powerfully built legs that looked as if they could run forever, and she wondered how it would feel to run at his side. Her senses reeled with the eerie feeling of dream walking. Someday she would know.

She steeled herself against the flood of anticipation that washed over her body and sent her every fiber of being into chaotic response.

Her vision began a slow return trip upward, lingering over the rounded muscles of his calves. Her fingers tightly gripped her bent knees as her gaze continued upward to the sleek strength of his thigh and hip that showed on each side of his loincloth…which, she realized with a start, was draped in the most peculiar angle.

Great Spirit!

Her gaze flew to his and then quickly away, but not before she saw an auburn brow arch and his lips quirk in amusement.

The buy links for PASSION’S VISION are

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/238620

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Passions-Vision-Series-ebook/dp/B006QQ0LVA/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371940548&sr=1-2&keywords=Mary+A+Adair

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passions-vision-mary-adair/1102609965?ean=2940045005364

Mary Adair, Author

Mary A. Adair is an Amazon bestselling author of Native American romance, including the poignant PASSION’S VISION, recipient of the Betty Hendricks Award. Mary did extensive research on several Native American tribes for the eighteenth century setting of her books. One of her many sources for learning about the rich Cherokee culture of that period was a book written in the mid 1700s by James Adair, an ancestor of her husband.

Mary is also the author of CAPTIVE SPIRITS, a young adult fantasy. In addition to being an author, she is a registered laboratory technician in radiology and phlebotomy. After spending most of her life as a Texan, she now lives in Souteastern Oklahoma with her husband and their menagerie of animals.

Links:

Website www.maryadair.com

Blog http://authormaryadair.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ma.adair.5

Twitter @MaryAdairdotcom 

Thanks for stopping by!

MARY ADAIR SHARES HER PASSION



Mary Adair

 Today I’m happy to welcome my first ever critique partner, Mary Alice Adair. We joined Romance Writers of America and a local Fort Worth chapter at the same time. Each of us had a burning desire to create stories and have them turned into published books, but didn't know the first thing about technique, craft, character arc, yada yada. We still do have that fire to create books! Hopefully, we have each improved our craft along the way. Mary writes Native American historical romance, much based on family research that includes both Cherokee and English ancestry.

Much to my sorrow, Mary moved from my area to Eastern Oklahoma. Selfish of me to wish her still here, because she and her husband live in a cottage on the side of a beautiful mountain forest where they have dogs, chickens, and a menagerie of animals. Mary is a skilled medical technologist who works as radiologist at the local hospital. She has regained the rights to her first two books and published them on Kindle. She'd like to tell you about them today. Introducing you to my friend, Mary Adair is my pleasure.



Caroline: Readers love to get to know authors. Please tell us about growing up.


Mary: I was actually raised by foster parents. My first set, the only parents I called Mommy and Daddy, raised me from the age of about 18months to 8 years old. Mommy was a full blood Native American, and Daddy was Chief of Police in the small town where we lived. When I was 8 years old, Mommy died from cancer. Daddy died from a broken heart the next year. I actually found out not too many years ago that Mommy was related to me, though I don’t know how and no one is living now that can tell me.


After my parents died I went to live with Mommy’s grown up and married son, Gary, his beautiful wife and their two younger girls. I grew up in a rural area just outside of the little town where Mommy, Daddy, and I had lived. When I wasn’t enjoying playing with my two younger sisters, I was riding my horse. I stayed in this family until I grew up and married my very own Prince Charming.


Caroline: When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?

Woods near Mary

Mary: I love to read and I love movies. I also enjoy walking in the woods, so I guess it is a good thing I live in the country.


Caroline: I love country life, too. Would you like to share any guilty pleasures that feed your muse?


Mary: I don’t think this would fall under “guilty,” but I love to sit on the porch with my husband and just talk about my stories, the characters, and my plot. He has such an imagination and it always amazes me how much history he knows. On second thought, maybe I should feel guilty. My husband is wonderfully patient with the time I spend with my characters.


Caroline: How long have you been writing?


Mary: I think my joy of writing started when I was very young. I remember writing little stories and reading them to Mommy. She always made a big deal of each story. When I went to live with Gary, I would write stories for the girls.


Caroline: Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?


Mary: I do not need music, quite or solitude, though all those are nice. When I’m planning a book, I write on paper napkins, gum wrappers, the edge of a newspaper, the palm of my hand, any surface I can find. This all while sitting in a movie, eating at a restaurant, or pretending to be listening or paying attention to whatever I am supposed to be doing at the time. I use both a PC and laptop.


Caroline: Are you a plotter or a panzer?


Mary: Great question! I love to plot, but it has to work with my title, which I choose first. Then of course, there are those many wonderful scenes that came to me while standing in the grocery check out or while I was feeding the chickens or pretending to listen to the news. Of course, none of them work with the plot, so you just have to change it or add to it. I think that makes me a plotting panzer.


Caroline: I think they call that being a plotzer. I have been so impressed with the details of your research. Tell us about the research you did for this series. Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?


Mary: I love to write stories that are historically correct. My first book was very loosely based on an ancestor of my husband’s. Some of the things I read about him would put Indiana Jones to shame! When I wrote about my main female character, I thought about my biological sister and how I think she would react or what she would do in that spot. I knew my sister growing up, but we were not raised together and did not see each other often. After we grew up, we have made it a point to get to know each other. She has told me a lot about her life when we were apart, and I can see how she has become the brave and self-reliant person that she is. I wanted New Moon to have her spirit and her beauty. I also looked back at the love shared by my Mommy and Daddy and drew on that as well. Oh my, does all this make me a romantic plotting panzer?


Caroline: What do you hope your writing brings to readers?


Mary: Shear enjoyment. I want to bring joy, excitement, a bit of fantasy, adventure, mystery and always a happy ending.


Caroline: What long-term plans do you have for your career?


Mary: I plan to create and tell stories for as long as I live. It would be nice if everyone that read one of my books enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it, but even if not everyone enjoys my books, I will still keep writing.


Caroline: Me, too. I think I’ll have to live to be 200 years old to get all my current ideas written. Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Artist's rendition of a Cherokee
village like the one in PASSION'S VISION

Mary: I am working on book three of the Passion series as well as a Fantasy Adventure. There is also an inspirational story tugging at my heartstrings, so I may have to bring it up on the list.


Carolyn: What advice would you give to unpublished authors?


Mary: Never, never, never give up.


Caroline: Oh, yes, the famous quote by Winston Churchill. I believe that’s true. Tell us about your rerelease.
 

Mary: Here's the blurb:


PASSION'S PRICE is the story of a woman willing to pay any price to realize her passion and a man who will deny his own passion to keep her safe.


The Great Spirit has blessed Golden Dawn with a gift of visions. A vision sends Dawn to England to protect her childhood friend, Little Buffalo. Will she be strong enough to stand between Buffalo and the danger threatening him? Can she convince her beloved Buffalo their paths are destined to be joined forever?


Raven Cloud is the adopted son of James Fitz-Gerald. He came to see himself as a half-breed savage who doesn't fit into the white man's world or the red man's world. Because of his rebellion he was asked to leave the village shortly after earning his warrior name Raven Cloud.


Excerpt:


Raven turned his attention to his mysterious visitor. "How may I be of assistance?" His eyes focused on her veiled face. He felt a twinge of familiarity and the heaviness of the bad wind threatened his balance.


The woman lifted the veil. What greeted him were eyes shining with the warmth of a summer sky. There was a spark of mischief in their blue depths, and he thought at once of another pair of blue eyes. His head swam when he noticed strands of dark golden curls beneath her bonnet that gently kissed her cheeks and clung to her neck. His throat tightened.


Then she smiled...and he knew.


"Dawn?" his voice cracked.


"Yes, Buffalo, it's me."


It took only a moment for Raven to regain his composure, yet it felt like a lifetime. "What are you doing here?" he demanded in his most commanding tone. Her response did little to ease his confusion.


"I came because you need me."


She'd changed little since he last saw her. She'd grown, most definitely, but her ability to toss him right over the edge with simple statements, spoken as if nothing else needed saying, remained.


"What?" He turned on Thomas, "What in the world is she talking about? Why have you brought her here? Does her father know?"


"Not exactly. Now settle yourself." Thomas took Dawn by the arm and shoved her behind him.


Dawn pushed at Thomas and resumed her position before Raven. She stood straight and tall, and tiled up her chin. "My mother knows I'm here."


There it was again, her one sentence 'that's all you get' answer. Raven scowled at Thomas.


Thomas slapped his hands together and chuckled, "Well, now that we have everything all straightened out, I must get Dawn settled in a room."


"You will get her settled right back on the Golden Lady, or whatever other ship you were so foolish to bring her here on..."


"Well, yaw see, I can't do that. The Golden Lady will be leaving in the morning to make a very important pickup. A pick up that is of no concern to you, because the Golden Lady is Dawn's ship. And, I might add, the one ship in James's fleet you have no control over or interest in." He hooked his thumbs in his belt and chuckled.


"Stop that, Thomas," Dawn scolded…


Caroline: I love that book, but I recommend  readers start with book one, PASSION'S VISION. Even though the books are stand alone, I like the continuity of beginning with the earliest story. Besides, at this price, why not buy both? Where can readers find your books?

Mary: Here are the links:
PASSION'S VISION is at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QQ0LVA


PASSION'S PRICE is at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006UKCAG6


Caroline: Anything else you’d like readers to know? How can readers learn more about you?


Mary: My website is www.maryadair.com and I'm on Twitter as @maryadairdotcom


Caroline: Mary, thank you for being here today and sharing your passion (pun intended)




Readers, please return on Monday when another Mary visits, Mary Martinez. In the meantime, please remember our Amazing Authors Event is ongoing through January 24th. Here's the lineup:

Jan. 13. Beth Trissel (historical & light paranormal romance) http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/
Jan. 14. Roseanne Dowell (romance)
http://roseannedowellauthor.blogspot.com

I'll include links for the following next week:

Jan. 15. Cathie Dunn (historical fiction & romantic adventure)
Jan. 16. Maggie Toussaint (romance & mystery with a Southern dash)
Jan. 17. Patsy Parker (paranormal fantasy romance)
Jan. 18. S.G. Rogers (fantasy, romantic fantasy, young adult fantasy)
Jan. 19. Linda LaRoque (western contemporary & time travel romance)
Jan. 20 Jacquie Rogers (dragons, princesses & romance)
Jan. 21. Karen Nutt (paranormal romance)
Jan. 22. Anna Kathryn Lanier (sensual contemporary & historical westerns)
Jan. 23. Barbara Edwards (riveting romance with an edge)
Jan. 24. Ginger Simpson (historical & contemporary romance)
On the last day of the tour, Ginger Simpson is going to post some fun and easy questions you must answer for the chance to win free reads. (Hint: there will be a link to each author’s post so you can quickly double check).

Thanks for stopping by!