CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH ANTOINETTE FOURNIER

By Caroline Clemmons 

As I mentioned earlier this week, all my characters are alive to me. My goal is to bring them alive to you! Today I've invited Antoinette Fournier, the heroine of SIDNEY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 6 in the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series. Won't you grab the beverage of your choice  (mine is hot tea) and join me here in my small office.

CC: Come in, Miss Fournier. Thank you for joining us today.

A beautiful woman glides gracefully in wearing a lavender silk pongee dress. She is regal as a queen, but wears a wide smile that sets her dark eyes sparkling. Her pale skin appears flawless. Her coal black hair is thick and glossy and she's left it hanging loose so the curls tumble down ger back.

AF: Thank you so much for having me. I must remind you that I'm now Mrs. Garton, but no matter. Please call me Antoinette.

CC: Of course, Antoinette. Tell us something about your family and where they live.

AFG: I'm from New Orleans. (She pronounced it N'Orleans.) My sisters Cappucine and Ottillie and I attended Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, where we learned almost nothing of a practical nature. Our younger brother Gaspard Jr. was more fortunate. Our father was a successful businessman who provided all the comforts money could buy. He and Maman met and married in New Orleans.

ANTOINETTE

CC: Does that mean you traveled widely?

AFG: To the contrary, our father was far too consumed with his business to take any time away and he insisted the family stay together.  We did through the war and various hurricanes.

CC: Still, it sounds as if you had a nice lifestyle. What prompted you to become a mail order bride?

AFG: Maman insisted my sisters and I attend her favorite social functions. Believe me, that means hundreds a year. She always chose the designs her dressmaker used to sew our gowns, regardless of what we wanted or our protests that the ballgown bodices were too... um, well, revealing. An odious man named Declan Venables decided to court me even though I assured him he wasted his time. Then at a ball at his home, he told me about a fabulous new rose his mother had acquired and offered to show it to me. I am a keen flower gardener, especially roses. Fool that I was, I allowed him to show me the rose.

CC: Oh, no. It was a trap?

AFG: Fortunately, my sisters followed at a discrete distance behind us. Declan ripped my dress from neck to bodice and tried to assault me. My sisters and I screamed and people rushed to the garden.

CC: I suppose that fixed the blackguard. Did your father beat him to within an inch of his life?

AFG: (Tears glistening in her eyes.) Quite the opposite. My father chose to believe Declan over me. He and Declan set a wedding date only two weeks away. Papa insisted I remain in my room until I consented to the marriage. Instead, my sisters and brother helped me become a mail order bride.

CC: Either way, you took a terrible chance.

AFG: That is so true, and so many things went wrong. (She rolled her eyes) I could never have imagined the problems we'd have. All the same, it was definitely the right choice for me. Sidney agrees and we're the happiest of couples now. I'm very fortunate!

CC: Readers, to read the exciting complete story of Antoinette and Sidney Garton, please go to Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNTP95FD

This book is also available in paperback. It is enrolled in Kinde Unlimited.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and be kind.

 

INTERVIEW WITH KEITH

By Caroline Clemmons

Welcome, Friends.

Our special guest today is Keith Martin, hero of the historical western romance KEITH AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, book 5 of the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides. Come in, Keith, and have a seat. [Keith takes a seat facing me. He’s wearing a business suit, has blue eyes and dark brown hair and a short beard. He’s probably a little over six feet tall and is a strikingly handsome man.]

CC: Tell us about yourself, Keith.

KM: I’m a banker in Harrigan Springs in what’s called the Hill Country of Texas. It’s a real nice community. Let’s see, what else can I tell you? Oh, I recently bought a house there, a place so fancy I can’t believe I own it.

CC: How did you come to own your home?

KM: The previous owner was a wealthy politician who decided to move back to Washington D.C. Levi, who often buys property, alerted me the place was for sale.

CC: Tell us about your friends there.

KM: Sheriff Jesse Cameron and Levi Iverson, the blacksmith, are my two best friends. Ed Ferguson, the attorney, and Reverend Isaac Wood, and Sid Garton at Garton’s Mercantile are also good friends. In fact, I guess most people in town consider me a friend.

CC: Surely there are people in town you don’t care for.

KM: Well, I don’t like to gossip about people, but since you asked a direct question, I’ll admit I don’t care for the precious owner of the bank or his wife, the Worthingtons. Let’s change the subject please.

CC: Tell us your age and about your background. Where did you grow up and what was your family like? Siblings?

KM: I’m thirty-one and I’m an only child. [He flashes a charming grin] My favorite relative was my great-grandmother, Nonna. She raised my father and uncle after my grandparents died when my dad was just a toddler. Nonna was an amazing woman who lived to be ninety-nine.

CC: Living that long is unusual. What about the rest of your family?

KM: [shifting in his chair and looking down] Um, I’d rather not talk about them.

CC: Are there any special difficulties in your job? Any problems fitting in when you first arrived?

KM: Harrigan Springs is a friendly community. Gradually, I’ve increased the number of bank depositors. One problem was I didn’t know anything about the manners needed for formal social situations. Mrs. Alice Pickard, a local widow and the church pianist, has been secretly teaching me things like which fork to use. She’s another of my favorite people here. Oh, man, she makes the best pies I’ve ever eaten.

CC: What are your plans for the future?

KM: [He leans forward and his eyes sparkle] I intend to sink roots here for life. I want my children and grandchildren to grow up here. Now that I have a fancy house, I’m going to send for a mail order bride.

Italianate Home similar to Keith's

[He leans back and shakes his head, frowning slightly] I hope she won’t be disappointed. My house is empty except for a few pieces of furniture, so I expect she’ll want to start furnishing our home—a little at a time because I used all my cash to make the down payment on the house. I hope she starts with the parlor.

CC: I’m sure she won’t mind since she’ll have a beautiful place to live. Thank you for coming, Keith, and good luck with your bride.

KM: Thank you for having me, ma’am. [He stands and leaves the room}

Friends, read about Keith’s adventures and misadventures in KEITH AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. You can find it at Amazon in e-book and in print. Of course, it’s also in Kindle Unlimited.

https://www.amazon.com/Order-Bride-Texas-Country-Brides-ebook/dp/B0BZDT6Q1J/

Take care and keep reading. 

INTERVIEW WITH PRISCILLA BRADFORD

 By Caroline Clemmons

Please welcome Priscilla Bradford, heroine of QUINN AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. Priscilla, thank you for agreeing to an interview today.

Priscilla, folding her hands in her lap: Thank you for inviting me. I don’t quite understand the reason for your invitation.

Priscilla Bradford

Me: Readers like to know more about the characters about whom they read. More information than can be included in the book. For instance, where did you attend school?

Priscilla: Mrs. Dempsey’s School for Young Ladies. It was a boarding school but only a few blocks from my home, so I didn’t board there. Entry into the school was limited to those she called of "good families." My father was a descendant of William Bradford of the Mayflower colony. The curriculum was quite rigid, preparing students to entertain and manage a large household after marriage. The staff thought students would marry soon after graduation. I’m afraid I was a disappointment to Mrs. Dempsey because I didn’t marry right away.

Me: You’re a beautiful woman who must have had many beaus. Did none of them suit you?

Priscilla: I confess I found them superficial and more interested in obtaining the heir and a spare than in the needs of their wife. I didn’t enjoy being viewed as a brood mare, so to speak. At least, that’s what it seemed to me. I realize now that was my mistake.

Me: What brought you to this conclusion?

Priscilla heaves a big sigh: I didn’t realize I would lose everything except my brother, Richard. We had never considered that our livelihood was in jeopardy.

Me: My goodness, what happened?

Priscilla: First, Papa’s business burned to the ground. Then, we discovered he had let the fire insurance lapse to conserve money. He was so devastated by his failure that he shot himself. Richard was the one who found him, so I was spared that, at least.

Me: Goodness, that must have been terrible for you and your brother.

Priscilla: A staggering blow, but not the end of trouble. Immediately after the funeral, a banker came to tell us that our father’s loan payments were long overdue. We had no idea Papa had mortgaged the house. Bradford House had been in the family since just after the American Revolution.

Me: That must have been a devastating shock. What did you do?

Priscilla: What could we do? We had no close relatives. Each of our parents was an only child. The banker gave us a few days to clear our personal things from the house. The furnishings were part of the loan. Richard helped me gather my things into two trunks. We moved to a boarding house. Richard wanted me to remain there until he could rent a small house for us, but I wanted to escape all the sad memories.

Me: I don’t blame you, dear. How did you accomplish your escape?

Priscilla: I have accepted the invitation of a man in Texas to become his mail order wife.

Me: Aren’t you afraid of who the groom might be?

Priscilla: Terrified, but I’m determined to have my own home and children. This man named Quinn McRae lives on a ranch with a cook/housekeeper. That sounds fairly secure, and welcome since my cooking and cleaning skills are lacking.

Me: You’re a brave woman, Priscilla, and I wish you the very best.

Read Priscilla and Quinn's story at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Quinn-Order-Bride-Country-Brides-ebook/dp/B0BSTMWV5X

Dear Readers, thank you for reading this post. Stay safe.

SHERIFF JESSE CAMERON, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

By Caroline Clemmons

Welcome Sheriff Jesse Cameron as our guest today, the hero of JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. Jesse, thank you for agreeing to our interview.

Thank you, ma’am. I’m honored to be invited, though I dinnae ken why your readers would be interested in the Harrigan County Sheriff.  

I know you’re a Texas sheriff, but I detect an accent in your speech. Would you tell us from where you’ve come?

Aye, I came from Scotland. First, I worked as an indentured sailor for 7 years to pay for my passage to America. I started my indentured service at 14—almost 15—because I could pass for 18, you ken? I was tall for my age.

An indentured sailor sounds hard. Did you like life on a ship?

Nae, I hated every day, but I'd given my word to work 7 years. I never break my word, you ken? A man's word is his honor. I wanted to come to America, and didnae have the money for the fare. This was the only way I could manage to get here.

What was life like growing up in Scotland?

My family lived on a farm not far from Kelso. We raised sheep. Mum also had chickens and a few goats for milk. She made and sold her goat cheese. We also had a couple of cows. You can tell I didnae escape caring for the animals. We lived in a small cottage, but we enjoyed one another. I had a grand time growing up. I didnae mind working with Da on the farm, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.

Your leaving must have upset your parents.

Aye, they worried about me leaving so young. Mum and Da are great parents who understood my wish to leave and live in America. In fact, they will join me here after my Gran dies. She’s a grand lady, so no one is eager for that day to come.

What brought you to send for a mail order bride?

Several months back, I helped fight a grass fire on a local ranch. Volunteers barely saved the house, but much of the grass and some cattle were destroyed. A couple of people collapsed from the heat and stress. If not for a sudden downpour, more would have been lost, including men exhausted from fighting the fire. The sudden danger presented to so much land and so many people reminded me how fleeting life could be. I evaluated my life and realized it was time to settle down. I bought a house and sent for a bride. My best friend is my deputy, and he decided to send for a bride from the same matchmaker. Turned out our brides are cousins.

Rosalin

That sounds like a good result. Are you each pleased with your bride?

Aye, the plan worked out grand. My bride, Rosalin, is beautiful, regal, intelligent, and works hard to please me. I couldn’t be happier—except I feel like there’s something she’s hiding from me. I haven’t worked out what it could be, and she insists there’s nothing. She brought her nephew, who’s 8. He’s a good boy, but he has a lot of nightmares. My deputy is sure pleased with his bride, who is a pretty chatterbox.

Oh no, I dropped my list of questions. Pardon me while I gather them.

Ma’am, I appreciate you having me here today, but I have to get back to work. Tell your readers if they’d like to learn more about me, check out my story in JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD64JC1D?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

   

The Medina River near Harrigan Springs. Texas

CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH KATIE WORTHINGTON, HEROINE OF GABE KINCAID

Prizes from each participating blog!

I'll be giving away three ebook copies of THE MOST UNSUITABLE COURTSHIP and three ebook copies of GABE KINCAID on August 1st. To enter, simply leave a comment between now and midnight July 31st telling me why you like western romance.

Even though I have a variety of posts scheduled for this time period, the contest will continue each day.

The complete list of participating blogs for this Blog Hop:

---

1. Books and Benches (Int)	2. My Devotional Thoughts (WW)	3. MYTHICAL BOOKS (INT)
4. LOVE. WITHOUT YOU	5. Romancing The West with Jacquie Rogers	6. Bookworm Lisa (Int)
7. Susan Heim on Writing (US)	8. Batch of Books (Int)	9. Deal Sharing Aunt (USA)
10. 3 Partners in Shopping (USA)	11. Rockin Book Reviews	12. Dare to Dream
13. Diane Estrella @ Thats What Im Here For. . . (US)	14. I Love to Read and Review Books : ) (INT)	15. Elisabeth Grace Foley - The Second Sentence
16. Shanna Hatfield	17. BookHounds	18. A Writer's Life

And now for today's post:

Dear Readers, today my guest is the heroine from my latest release, Kathryn Elizabeth Worthington, from GABE KINCAID, book four of the Kincaid series. I thought you might like to learn more about her, so I’m happy she’s agreed to an interview. She arrives dressed in a dress of gorgeous blue foulard trimmed with white lace. Down the front are ribbon revers forming bretelles that edge a vest made of rows of the lace laid outside the foulard. Sleeves are half-long with a little jabot of lace and a small bow of ribbon set inside the arm. A rosette of matching blue ribbon is in her auburn hair.

Caroline: Ms Worthington, please tell us something about growing up.

Kathryn sits and adjusts her skirts. When she smiles, her green eyes twinkle: Please, call me Katie. I grew up in Savannah, Georgia. My father and mother were both only children, and we lived with my Worthington grandparents. My grandmother died when I was ten, and then my parents died when I was twelve. After that, my grandfather and I were left with only one another. I’m afraid he spoiled me, but I’ve tried not to become self-centered. How I loved our life. We had many friends and traveled up and down the eastern seacoast.

Caroline: What changed that?

Katie smoothes a hand self-consciously down her skirt: When my grandfather died, I witnessed the men responsible. I had to escape them without endangering any of my friends. You see, one of the men was a trusted friend who knew everything about me.

Caroline: That must have been frightening. What did you do?

Katie: I’d never been so scared in my life. In spite of my sorrow over losing my grandfather, I escaped by joining the circus as Dorothy Duncan.

Caroline: That was clever. Do you think your friends believed you’d died?

Katie: Not my best friend, Mary Lou Chitwood. The men who killed my grandfather made it look as if I killed him and fled. I corresponded with Mary Lou. (Katie smiles) She told her parents I was a friend from school traveling the country with her parents. That way she could write to me when I let her know the circus’ scheduled stops.

Caroline:  What did you do with the circus?

Katie: At first I washed dishes in the employee dining room behind the circus tent. That was dreary. Then I mended costumes and made new ones, which I enjoyed. My favorite job was as the fortuneteller, Maharani Shimza, Mystic of the East. That crazy name was the circus owner’s idea and so was the ridiculous turban he had me wear. To make myself look the part, I dyed my hair black. I made a cute costume based on a picture in a book I’d found at a library of a town we stayed in. The book was about India, and showed this lovely garment called a sari.

Caroline: Why was that fun? Can you really tell fortunes?

Katie: Why, yes, I can. You see, when we were at school, Mary Lou and I found a book about reading palms and what all the lines mean. I studied the book and amused my classmates by telling their fortunes. So, when I became the circus fortuneteller, I was able to use that knowledge on the people who bought tickets. Sometimes they were so happy they’d give me a tip, and I got to keep that for myself.

Caroline: Did you enjoy living with the circus?

Katie ponders the question: Not really, even though there were some things I did like. For instance, seeing different parts of the country was interesting. But I missed my home and friends. I liked my roommate, but I hated our cramped quarters. I was afraid the men after me might find me, so I was never really comfortable unless I wore my costume.

Caroline: What happened to end your time with the circus?

Katie smiles mysteriously: You’ll have to read the book to find out. I will tell you that the answer involves a wonderful man named Gabe Kincaid.

Caroline: Why, I do believe you’re blushing. Folks, here’s where you can buy GABE KINCAID, book four of the Kincaids:

Amazon      Nook       Kobo     GooglePlay  and also at Apple iBooks and iTunes.

And if you buy and read GABE KINCAID, please leave a review at Amazon or wherever you bought the book. I'll truly appreciate your effort. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Interview With Deirdre Dougherty, Heroine of OUT OF THE BLUE

Yes, I do realize that to others, Deirdre Dougherty from OUT OF THE BLUE is not a real person. She is very real to me, though, and the cover image of her is very much like my mental image for her--long dark hair, pale skin, and light brown eyes.. To help you understand her (and in the hope you'll buy the book) here is an interview with Deirdre.

CC: How did you come to be an herbal healer?

DD: The women in my family have been healers as far back as we know. We grow many herbs, but we buy others in Galway City. We're also clairvoyants. Some call it he gift of sight, but for us it's been a curse. No one trusts another who has the sight. Oh, but let them have sickness, and they come running to us then.

CC: How did your father and grandfather feel about your gift and your healing?

DD: Da was that proud of ma and me. Grandad, too, but he died in the rebellion of 1798 when Ma was a babe.

CC: Tell us about growing up in Ireland.

DD: Oh, it's a grand place is Ballymish. Right on the Atlantic, it is. How I loved to sit on a huge rock and look out over the ocean. The sea breeze tasted of salt and promise. Out cottage was small--only two rooms and a bit of a loft--but it was filled with love. Flowers grew everywhere except the vegetable garden. Thinking on it makes my heart glad

CC: What sort of industry was nearby?

DD: Only the marble quarry. The marble there is that pretty you wouldn't believe it. Many shades and colors. The green was my favorite. Da worked in the quarry until Eoghan the Elder killed him.

CC: Heavens, did you say someone murdered your father? What happened?

DD: No one could prove it, but we all knew who was responsible for the rock slide that crushed poor Da. His mates took a collection for Da's burial and stone, for Da was well-liked by everyone but Eoghan. The evil man had wanted to marry Ma, but she turned him down and married Da. Eoghan harbored a grudge every day. You know the saying, "He might forget a favor, but he'll never forget a grudge." That sums up Eoghan and his son Eoghan the Younger. When I was ten, Da was raised up—you’d say promoted--it was too much for Eoghan. He killed Da.

CC: What about your Ma and your Gran?

DD: The women in our family married late. By the time I was twenty, Gran was growing feeble. Ma and I went to Galway City to buy herbs that we couldn't grow, but Gran didn't feel up to walking that far. Da had cousins there and we stayed with them for two nights. It was like what you call a holiday vacation. When we returned, we found Gran laid out on out kitchen table and Mrs. Fraser sitting with her. The kind lady said Gran was found that morning by the road. Her head had been smashed with a large rock. Guilt and sorrow wracked Ma and me. We knew we should never have left Gran alone, and we were that sure Eoghan or his son had killed Gran.

CC: How did you come to travel through time from 1845 Ireland to 2010 Texas?

DD: Before I was born Gran had a terrifying vision. She insisted that Da and Ma dig a tunnel from the center of the cottage floor, under the cottage, and coming out about twenty yards behind the cottage. They dug a couple of hours each evening all winter long. Before dawn, Da spread the dirt on the garden. When the tunnel was completed, they planted shrubs to conceal the exit. That was the first vision that helped me.
          When I was twelve, Ma made me learn to swim. Do you know they say that if a woman can swim it proves she's a witch? So Ma rented a boat at Ishkerrig and we rowed out so no one could see us from shore. Then Ma taught me to swim in the ocean. We took off our dresses and swam wearing only our underclothes. I was that shocked the first time Ma told me, but it was wonderful. That was the second vision that saved me.
         After Ma died, I had visions of a man reaching for me. Oh, he was a handsome one, but I thought he intended to choke me. That was the third vision that affected me leaving Ballymish. Let me tell you, I was frightened. I was alone, and Eoghan the Younger had started calling me a witch. He was turning the villagers against me, when I had done no one harm. He said I cursed their potato crops and that's why the plants were dying. I knew I had to leave so I planned to walk to Galway City and stay with my cousins until I could find me own place. I packed my carryall and readied myself to leave as soon as the village was quiet. It didn't get quiet, though. Eoghan the Younger banged on the door just before full dark. He had a mob with him and they had torches. He told me to come out, but I wasn't stupid. I scooped up my cat Cathbad and shoved him into the carryall. Quickly as I could, I moved the rug over the trap door to the tunnel and slid inside. Already I smelled the roof thatch of our lovely cottage burning. I emerged in the brush and headed for the road to Galway City. Someone spied me and the mob gave chase. They cut me off from all escape except to leap off the cliff into the Atlantic. I was so scared I prayed to Saint Brendan and Saint Brigid to deliver me. Eoghan almost caught me, but I leaped off into the sea.

CC: What a terrible series of events you've endured.

DD: Ah, but I've found the place I belong now. I like this Texas and my job. I won't tell too much about that or it will spoil the book for readers.

CC: Thank you, Deirdre, for sharing your past. I'm glad to know your future is peaceful.

DD: Peaceful? No, not atall. Well, maybe now it is, but there was such trouble getting to the peaceful part. So many times Brendan almost died. I was near kidnapped and then almost killed. Whew, this was a scary book you wrote.

CC: Hey, it ends happily-ever-after. What more do you want?

You can find OUT OF THE BLUE at www.thewildrosepress.com and Amazon.in print and e-book.

Happy Father's Day weekend to everyone!