Shannon here: Donna Schlachter shares her inspiration for her latest Historical Romantic Suspense, Claire: Rescue Me – Mail-Order Brides. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: June 10th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Donna:
When I was invited to write a book for the Rescue Me: Mail-Order Bride series, I was thrilled. I’d already written several mail-order stories, loved the dynamics of romance, and particularly appreciated the opportunity—and indeed the encouragement—to include suspense or mystery in the plot.
My character, Claire, was actually supposed to be somebody else. Sort of. I had envisioned her as looking a lot like my sister-in-law Tina. In fact, I started writing a book named after said SIL, then realized I had the wrong storyline. However, being two chapters in, I didn’t want to trash the words I’d written, so I went back and revised this storyline a smidge to incorporate the difference. In Tina, my heroine is running from her mob-connected murdered husband, and in this one, from a contract on her own life that just resulted in her father’s death.
My hero, Toby Gilbert, is a Pinkerton operative. I named him after my father, whose middle name was Gilbert, and who was also a Pinkerton agent, although in a more administrative and modern-day role. Still, Toby is very much his own man, determined to be the best agent he can be, and he won’t let anybody get in his way. Not even whichever woman he chooses to reinforce his story. He’s placed an ad for a mail-order bride, even though he has no intention of marrying.
A particular trait I thought Toby should have that would serve him well as the story gets underway is that he never forgets a face. So when he sees Claire on the same train heading to Denver, he knows he knows her from somewhere. And he also knows he’ll eventually recall where. Another quirk is that he always sits with his back to a wall, facing the door. Except when my heroine purposefully seats herself in that vantage point to throw him off his game.
Question for Readers: Do you remember faces? Can you put a name with them? Or do you rack your brain trying to figure out where you know them from? If you’re good at remembering faces and their names, share your tips for remembering?
About Donna: A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She also coaches writers at any stage of their manuscript.
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About the book – Claire: Rescue Me – Mail Order Brides:
Claire Wallace flees New York in 1894–as far away from her dead father’s bank robbing gang as she can. But apparently, even two thousand miles isn’t far enough. Toby Gilbert, an undercover Secret Service operative, places an ad for a wife as part of his cover. He has no intention of falling in love for real. What happens when Claire’s father’s associates come looking for her, thinking she’s making a deal with the government? And what happens when Toby’s plans fall by the wayside? Will he love her by laying down his life? Or does God have other plans?
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Claire- Rescue Me Mail-Order Brides Donna’s Books
Rescue Me – Mail-Order Brides series
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can remember