Shannon here: Amanda Cabot shares her inspiration for her latest Historical Romance, Dreams Rekindled. Comment or answer the question at the end of this post to enter the drawing for a print copy, U.S. only. Deadline: March 20th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Amanda:
The Story Behind the Romance:
If you’ve read any of my books or, for that matter, my previous “Behind the Romance” posts, you know that I love creating couples who appear to be mismatched. Getting them to recognize that they’re perfect for each other is such fun! Sometimes they’re stubborn and refuse to see what’s clear to others. Other times, their friends and family put obstacles in their way. And in some cases, events from their pasts keep them apart. Dorothy and Brandon, the protagonists of Dreams Rekindled, suffer from all three problems.
Their attraction to each other is immediate, which is something neither expected or wanted. How can Dorothy be attracted to Brandon when her dearest friend is convinced he’s the man she’s going to marry? Furthermore, Dorothy has no intention of ever marrying. Her mother’s experience has convinced her that marriage is a huge risk and one she will never, ever, ever take.
Brandon has no intention of marrying, either, although his reasons are different. After the horrible events of his final days in his former town, he believes he’s unworthy of love. He’s come to Mesquite Springs to start a new life, one that will include a totally uncontroversial newspaper, a simple life, and no – absolutely no – emotional entanglements. Caring about others is the path to heartache, and Brandon’s had more than his share of that.
Why would I create characters with problems like those? In part, it’s because I believe that we’re all shaped by our past. Sometimes that’s a result of our childhood experiences. Those of us who were raised by parents who were deeply in love with each other and who lavished that love on us will have a different view of love and marriage than those of us who came from broken or abusive families. Other times, as in Brandon’s case, our own actions create barriers to future happiness. One thing is certain: the past has an effect on us.
About Amanda: Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city. Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards. A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication. Learn more & connect:
Amanda’s Website Amanda’s Facebook Amanda’s Twitter Amanda’s Blog
About the book – Dreams Rekindled:
He’s bound and determined to find peace . . . but she’s about to stir things up
Dorothy Clark dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers—until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.
Brandon Holloway has seen firsthand the disastrous effects of challenging others. He has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he’s committed to making a new—and completely uncontroversial—start in the Hill Country.
As Dorothy’s involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon’s heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Get your copy now!
Dreams Rekindled – Amazon Dreams Rekindled – Barnes & Noble
Dreams Rekindled – Christian Book Distributors
Question for Readers: How has your past shaped you?
Come back March 16th for Jaycee Weaver!
Great build up, Amanda Cabot. A newspaper man and a fledgling writer from 1850? This plot and the premise for this story grabbed me. The hero and heroine sound interesting with their many emotional layers. I would enjoy peeling off the layers and discovering how this story plays out. 19th century romances are my favorite. I would love to read this one.
Dreams Rekindled sounds really interesting. My past has affected my choices. After being abused by my first husband, I am slow to trust people, especially men. I have found people can be very deceptive as to their true characters. The ones who look the least likely, probably are the most untrustworthy. And I pay close to my instincts. This caution has protected me now.
My parents were hard working Iowa farmers who put God first. This has shaped me into always believing in God and always working hard.
Our childhood certainly plays a big part in who we are!
I was blessed to have Christian parents and grandparents growing up, and though I have made my share of mistakes and bad choices, my faith in the Lord is my firm foundation and I owe this to my Christian upbringing.
This book looks like a dream, I love the cover!
I have a winner! Joy C Hannabass won the drawing. I appreciate Amanda for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.