Morgan L. Busse – Real Life & Fictional Romantic Interview – Part 2 of 2

Shannon here: Christian fantasy author, Morgan L. Busse shares insight into her real life romance & a chance to a copy of her debut novel, Daughter of  Light. Comment on any post dated Jan 2 – 4 to get your name in the drawing. Deadline: Jan 12th, 11:59 am central time. Here’s Morgan:

• Where is the most romantic place you and your spouse have ever been?

Early in our marriage, Dan and I lived in Washington State. He was born and raised there, so he knew all these wonderful vacations spots. The first place he took me was Whidbey Island. Before that trip, I hated the ocean. My only experience had been a trip to California and all I could remember was how dirty the beach was. When we visited Whidbey Island, I fell in love. I stood on that rocky shore, with the wind blowing and gray clouds overhead, crabs crawling over seaweed, colorful starfish along the cliffs and white gulls crying above me. That moment took a hold of my soul.
The second place Dan took me was to a bed and breakfast in Enumclaw (a small town close to Mt Rainier). It was a huge Victorian house with a four-poster bed and claw bathtub. It was during the Fourth of July weekend and we spent the day up on Mt Rainier. We had a snowball fight (yep, right in the middle of summer), then ate at a beautiful lodge near the mountain top. Wonderful and romantic. 

• Do you and your spouse have a favorite romantic restaurant?

Before we had kids, we would go to Priest Lake in Idaho and snowshoe. At the end of the day, we would eat dinner at Hill’s Resort. It is a huge lodge with a fireplace and windows overlooking the lake. Usually it would be snowing. Since the place is not really busy in the winter, we would get a table between the fireplace and the windows. The fireplace would warm our backs as we watched thick flakes fall outside. After dinner, we would share a huckleberry parfait. 

• Who is most romantic, you or your spouse?

Dan by far. He is always doing romantic things, like bringing me mochas, or buying my favorite candy, renting a movie to share (we are huge sci-fi/fantasy geeks, so he always knows what movie to get), or bringing home dinner when I have had a hard day. That may not seem very romantic, but it touches my heart that he cares so much for me, and knows me so well that he knows what to buy me, or what will help me wind down.  

• What’s the most romantic thing your heroine ever did for your hero?

Daughter of Light is the story of Rowen, a woman who—with a touch of her hand—can see inside the soul. She discovered this power when she touched a young man from her village and saw the hatred he carried inside. He saw it too. Her village feared her and exiled her.
This experience caused Rowen to fear people and to hide her true identity by wearing a glove over the mark on her hand and distancing herself from everyone. She obtains the position of bodyguard for the high lady of the White City, and therefore trains under Lore Palancar, the Captain of the Guard. During their time together, they develop a strong friendship. When Lore is mortally wounded during an assassination, Rowen has to make a choice to use her hand and heal him, or hide her true identity and let him die. She chooses to heal him, and reveals her secret. 

• How soon after meeting the heroine did the hero know she was the one?

In my story world, people bond, a meshing of the heart, soul, mind, and body. I think that real love in our world happens this way as well (the two shall become one). Lore is first attracted to Rowen physically, but slowly his heart binds with hers as they work together. Eventually, Lore realizes he has bonded with her, that there can be no other woman, because the binding is so strong. Rowen, on the other hand, has a long way to go before she will open up her own heart.

• Who is most romantic, your hero or your heroine?

Captain Lore Palancar is. Because Rowen cannot touch people and because she was banished by her own village, she has closed her heart to loving people. It hurts too much to love, then be shunned, so she never lets anyone close. Lore is gentle as he slowly builds a trust and friendship with Rowen. Soon he realizes he has fallen in love with her. When Lore discovers her power, although frightened by it, he assures her he will not leave her. Ironically, his love language is touch, so he is constantly touching her, something that Rowen eventually realizes she has missed by closing herself off to people.
About Morgan: Morgan L. Busse is passionate about authentic Christianity and shares from her own life her fears and triumphs as a follower of Jesus Christ. The wife of a pastor and mother to four children, she has plenty of adventures to draw from. Along with blogging, Morgan also writes speculative fiction and released her debut book, Daughter of Light, with Marcher Lord Press. You can visit Morgan at www.morganlbusse.com 
About the book – Daughter of Light: What if with one touch you could see inside the soul?
Rowen Mar finds a strange mark on her hand, and she is banished from her village as a witch. She covers the mark with a leather glove and seeks sanctuary in the White City. She lives in fear that if she touches another person, the power inside her will trigger again, a terrifying power that allows her to see the darkness inside the human heart . . .
But the mark is a summons, and those called cannot hide forever. For the salvation of her people lies within her hand.
Purchase link: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/bookstore/fantasy/daughter-of-light-by-morgan-busse/ or  http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Light-Morgan-L-Busse/dp/1935929496/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1355274522&sr=8-3&keywords=daughter+of+light
Come back Jan 7th for Tina Pinson!