Shannon here: Amanda Cabot shares her inspiration for her Historical Romance, Echoes of Sunrise. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: April 12th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Amanda:
“Is the romance in Echoes of Sunrise based on your own love story?”
My first reaction when one of my early readers asked me that was, “No. Of course not.” But as I thought about her question, I realized that even though I hadn’t been aware of it at the time, some parts of Sophia and Gideon’s love story had been—if not based on—at least inspired by my experiences.
Let’s start by talking about a couple similarities.
This book marked the first time I’ve written about a hero and heroine who knew each other before the story began. Was that because my husband and I knew each other before we began dating? Perhaps. We attended the same school and church, so we were aware of each other well before March 20, the date of our first date. He’d even driven me to a lecture at a local college three or four months before then, but unlike Sophia and Gideon whose attraction was immediate, there hadn’t been any hint of romance at that point.
Gideon’s courtship, which included special ways of celebrating significant dates, is similar to things my
husband did. Sometimes he gave me flowers, candy, or even jewelry, all traditionally wrapped and presented, but other times he’d leave a gift somewhere I didn’t expect to find it, like inside a cupboard. When he did that, his goal was to make me laugh, and he succeeded.
Then there’s the French connection. No, I’m not talking about the old movie but the fact that the French city where I lived as a college sophomore plays a role in Echoes of Sunrise just as it did in my life. My husband and I didn’t meet in Poitiers the way Sophia and Gideon did. In fact, the semester that I spent there was the first time we’d been separated for so long. But that time apart deepened our feelings for each other and showed us that what we shared was true love.
While those stories might make you think that Echoes of Sunrise is a fictionalized account of my own life, it isn’t, because there are major differences. First of all, there was no tragedy or dangerous situation compelling us to marry. Secondly, ours was not a marriage of convenience, and I can assure you that I never, ever considered insisting on the stipulation Sophia makes when she agrees to marry Gideon. And, no, I won’t tell you what that stipulation was, because that would spoil the story.
However, and this is a big however, the one thing that Sophia and Gideon’s story has in common with my life is that my fictional characters share a deep and abiding love, just as my husband and I did. So maybe that early reader was right: maybe this book was a tribute to the many happy years he and I shared.
Question for Readers: And now I have a question for you. If you were writing a romance, what is one of the things you would have the hero do or say to convince the heroine of his love?
About Amanda: From the age of seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She is now the bestselling author of more than forty novels and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. For her, a day is incomplete unless it includes books and at least one pot of tea. Learn more & connect:
Amanda’s Website Amanda’s Facebook Amanda’s Blog
About the book – Echoes of Sunrise:
A baby to protect. A town to save. Is a marriage of convenience the only answer?
Sophia Carr knows her recurring dreams of an identical twin sister are just that – dreams. She also knows that eventually she will inherit the hotel her grandfather built. When a fire at the hotel kills her mother, Sophia returns to Carr Valley to rebuild and ensure that a planned railroad line chooses a route that will keep the town alive. But her grandfather’s will states that she must be married to inherit, and the only man she can imagine marrying seems to have forgotten her.
Up-and-coming architect Gideon Spencer couldn’t say no when his dying friend begged him to marry his widow and raise their baby as his own rather than let a cruel grandfather gain custody. But when the young mother dies, leaving Gideon a single parent, the grandfather poses a new threat unless Gideon manages to marry again. Sadly, the only woman he’s interested in is the one he’s ignored for six months: Sophia.
Knowing he needs to protect the baby, Gideon heads to Carr Valley. When he discovers that Sophia needs a husband as much as he needs a wife, he proposes a six-month marriage of convenience. Sophia agrees but adds a stipulation of her own, one that will test his resolve, even as their wedding day reveals that Sophia’s dreams of a twin sister might be more than dreams.
As Sophia and Gideon join forces, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a baby’s life, a town’s future, and love.
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Echoes of Sunrise Amanda’s Books
Come back April 2nd for Angela D. Shelton!
Shannon — Thanks so much for inviting me to be part of your blog!
Thanks for sharing ladies!
As for your question Shannon, only based on my relationship, the hero would tell the girl that even before he actually talked to her he knew he was interested just from observing her, and the attraction/love just grew from there=)
I have a winner! Patty Rude won the drawing. I appreciate Amanda for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.