Book Birthday Party Day Four, Author Maggie Brendan

Only two days left to party after today, can you believe it?! Don't worry though, you can extend the party (trust me) by buying any one of these wonderful books and settle in for a trip to the 1800s, the 1930s or even just a few states away during Christmas morning. Please join me in welcoming historical fiction author Maggie Brendan and celebrate the release of Deeply Devoted.

********

Could you please start off with a little bit about yourself for those who aren’t familiar with you or your work?

I love to read and write historical novels. I love the west and all things western, so my first series was The Heart of the West. It was a dream of mine to be an author when I was in grammar school. I lived in Colorado for nearly eight years and enjoyed visiting the historical mountain towns that eventually serve as the backdrop for my books. I’m a Southern gal, born and bred, but always lived vicariously through Zane Gray novels growing up. My brother, Jess McCreede, now deceased, also wrote seven westerns and was my inspiration and mentor.

I traveled to Cheyenne, Wyoming to research the first book in the series, Deeply Devoted. It helps me create a more authentic story, and I hope the reader can see Cheyenne through as it was in 1886 through my eyes.


What’s your favorite thing about birthdays?

Oh, that’s easy! The cake and ice cream! Of course, if there’s a gift even better,
but normally we celebrate birthdays with a dinner out. The one thing I don’t like—is getting older. Lol!


Please tell us a little bit about your new series, The Blue Willow Brides.

My love affair with Blue Willow china began as a little girl when my oldest brother gave me a Blue Willow tea set for Christmas. The Blue Willow china, gracing my hutch today, inspired the idea for my new series, The Blue Willow Brides. The china remains a thread throughout the series, beginning with Deeply Devoted. It explores our devotion to the most important people in our lives, despite the costs, and the reflection of God’s devotion to us.

Deeply Devoted introduces Catharine Olsen, a mail-order bride arriving in America from Holland with the residual pain of a tragic past, her mother’s Blue Willow china, and has her two younger sisters in tow. Catharine finds a love that enraptures both her heart and mind with Peter, but is troubled by Peter’s mother’s endeavors to sabotage their precious marriage. She becomes terrified that her haunting past will be discovered.

Just as china has a pattern, so is God patterning us, engraving us and is the potter of all marriage. Her sister Greta eventually leaves Cheyenne to become a mail order bride to a mercantile owner. The youngest sister, Anna, becomes a mail order bride as well.


If Catharine Olsen attended this birthday party what would she wear?

She’d wear a crispy, white Battenberg high neck blouse and a navy skirt with her hair pulled, up much like it is on the cover of Deeply Devoted. Revell did a fabulous job on the cover with my idea for the heroine and the Blue Willow plate in the background.


Could you share a favorite scene from Deeply Devoted or an interesting scene that didn’t make the final draft?

Copyright 2011
Maggie Brendan

As the rain pelted them, she leaned forward and saw her high-top boots sinking into a muddy hole. She lost her balance and fell over on her hands and knees in the squishy street. “Ja, but not near as bad as you are going to look!” She flashed him a mischievous smile. Peter reached out his hand to assist her with an impish look on his face. She gave a hard yank, catching him off guard, and he tumbled down in a heap. Before he knew what hit him, Catharine
had scooped up a handful of mud and wiped it across his nose and face. “That’ll teach you to laugh at a helpless, wet female.”

He looked at her with shock, sending them into fits of laughter. They drew themselves upright, and Catharine was laughing so hard that she leaned over, a hand to her stomach, as tears streamed down her mud-streaked face.

Peter grabbed her wrist, chuckling the entire time, and held her close to his body, mud and all, unmindful of the passersby. “It’s so good to hear your laughter. I’ve missed it.” His eyes glistened with amusement. “You look rather cute with the embellishment of mud to enhance your outfit, even if your feet are sinking!”

Catharine gazed up at him, and their eyes locked. She liked the feel of his strong arms about her. “Is that so?”

His lips curved into a broad smile, the brim of his hat dripping water down her shoulder. “I have just the cure for being splattered with mud on a rainy night.” His eyes teased her, and he leaned down to kiss her. “A nice hot bath where we can both peel off these wet things and soak to our hearts’ content. What do you say? Shall we get out of this rain?”

Catharine’s answer was a slow, lingering kiss while they stood in a tight embrace, ignoring the rain. A harrumph came from a person walking by, and they slowly pulled apart. Peter grabbed her hand tightly, and laughing and gasping for breath, they sprinted the rest of the way to the hotel.

~Deeply Devoted available from Amazon and other booksellers~

~Please visit Maggie at her warm and welcoming website,

********
Giveaway:
Enter to win a signed book plate from Maggie and a copy of Deeply Devoted from me!

~To enter you must fill out the form below. US residents only. Ages 13 and up. Void where prohibited. Open until 9/11/11 @ 12:01am.

~ For two extra entries, leave a comment for Maggie. If you do this, leave your name and last initial in your comment so I can match your extra entries with your form entry. Simple!



[E71051A476806AF34863DC84F40396F4.png]

Comments

  1. Oooooooooo! First commentor ^_^ Welcome Maggie!!! That cover is GORGEOUS! Wow :O Seriously makes me wanna pick it up right now lol. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its' cover, but dang that cover makes me wanna read it! As does that excert. I've never read you, I'll admit it. But after today I'll certainly be on the lookout for your books :) Thanks for coming to celebrate!

    Renee! Nice pick again!!! You just doin' so well ;) Where are your presents? LOL! Muah, love ya, babe. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAAAAAAAAAAAIN!!!
    Hannah C.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mixing a mail-order bride from Holland out to the West is unique! Sounds like a great read.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the Blue Willow connection in this new series. Will definitely be looking for these.

    Happy Birthday, Renee. Hope you had a wonderful day!

    countrysunset40 (at) aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love that you used the Blue Willow thread in this series, and I love mail-order bride stories. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I absolutely love the cover art. I love mail order bride stories. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Rebecca H.
    agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Maggie I love the cover of "Deeply Devoted". Believe it or not..I use to have a blouse very similar to the one she is wearing. I felt very feminine and dainty in it! It would be great to win a copy.

    Blessings,
    Judy B

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the Blue Willow aspect!! I very much hope one day to have my own set of it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. haha, LOVE the teaser - had me chuckling :o) And like others have said: Gorgeous cover & love the use of Blue Willow china! You've got me interested, for sure! :o)

    Rebecca F

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi, Maggie! I love the book cover, it's beautiful! Hopefully one day I can read one of your books. :) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Maggie,

    I never noticed that china in the background until you pointed it out. When I first saw blue, I thought sky and moved on. Now that I see it's china....WOW! That makes the cover look so much more interesting, and now I'm really intrigued to read the book! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  11. So nice to meet Maggie here - I think we share the same editor:) Beautiful cover! Revell's art team is inspired. Since readers love mail-order bride stories I think they'll love this. The excerpt is wonderful. Please don't enter me, Renee, just wanted to meet Maggie and say hello. Bless you all!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh! I've been wanting to read 'Deeply Devoted'! Please enter me in your giveaway!!!

    Melanie D.

    frequentreader19(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Welcome, Maggie, to Renee's birthday party!!! ;-) Love the excerpt so I'm sure I'll love the book. What is the best, and the worst, thing about being an author?

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi gals! Great to see you all like to party. ;-) I'm really excited to read this one too and look forward to sending a copy to one of you lucky people! Thank you so much for all your great comments!

    XOXO~ Renee

    ReplyDelete
  15. MAGS!!! LOVE learning more about you, my friend, and I can't wait to see you (and Laura!) at Revell's dinner at ACFW!!

    NOTE TO COMMENTERS: I had the pleasure of endorsing Deeply Devoted and it is my favorite of all Maggie's books, which is saying something because they are ALL wonderful!! Beautiful cover, beautiful story and beautiful author -- you cannot go wrong!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  16. Another new author for me! Love the cover of the book, and the story sounds fabulous!

    Beth B.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm just so thrilled to see y'all so interested in Deeply Devoted. I don't think you'll be disappointed. I'm so sorry that I couldn't post a hello or comment yesterday. I had a to be out all day Wed. and Thursday this week. Thank you, Renee and Happy Birthday! Blessings to y'all and good luck :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. maggie...looking forward to reading your latest novel...what a beautiful cover, too.

    renee...happy birthday :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. you certainly knew which scene to share with us! i'm already anticipating the rest of the read =)
    i was surprised to learn of your brother's writings and impressed how you both followed the same call. a bit unusual. often heard of child following parent's writing, but not the bro/sis... cool!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a beautiful cover, and I love Mail Order Bride stories.
    Thank You

    Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hey Maggie,

    This sounds like a fun book. I have a book that comes out next spring where the heroine has a similar encounter with a mud puddle. Can you imagine what a mess that would be back then. I shudder to think of it.

    I'm really glad you have a new series coming out!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your cover is so pretty and very interesting to tie in a china pattern for a series.

    ReplyDelete
  23. AmyA-I was writing before my brother was. He used to write a lot of poetry, so I didn't really follow him, it was just something I did since 3rd grade. I think it was just a natural thing for us. We could not "not" write! Lol. I have to agree with all the comments about the beautiful cover. Revell asked what I envisioned and I told them and it became the cover. They do great artwork with real models. Julie, can't wait to see you again in St. Louis. Thanks so much for your endorsement taking the time to post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'd love to win your book, Maggie!

    Ann Lee Miller

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love your comments, keep 'em coming!!!

Popular posts from this blog

Book Birthday Party, Day Two: Author Julie Lessman

November Giveaway Hop: Young Adult ARC Pack (US Giveaway)

Happy 50th, Doctor Who (Giveaway Post!!)